Ralph Breaks the Internet Wreck it Ralph 2 3D Movie Review

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2 3D Movie Review

 3D Section Written By: 

Jake Jarvis  

Movie Section Written By:

Adolph Vega 

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3D

I enjoyed the 3D aspect this movie, but it falls short because it misses too many obvious opportunities to fully realize the 3D effects. For starters, why doesn’t the pop up ads (which is a legitimate part of the story) actually pop out in 3D? The beautifully rendered 3D character designs, especially the Disney princesses, don't really need 3D. At least not the pathetic 3D offered up in this film. The 3D disappoints in the various gaming sequences or the locations within the Internet. The 3D is not terrible, it is fine but it doesn’t wow the eye. Like most big studio animation films, the 3D is good but it doesn’t go the extra mile to be great.

Final Verdict: Good 3D

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Movie

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2 is a strange yet familiar movie. It continues the story of the original Wreck it Ralph movie, but it also serves as a meta commentary on internet pop culture.

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2 (awful title by the way) is set six years after the events of the original movie. In the original Wreck it Ralph movie video game characters come to life after the arcade closed its doors for the night. In this movie the video game character of Vanellope has an existential crisis. Vanellope’s arcade machine needs to be repaired or else she won’t have a place to call her home. Ralph has the brilliant idea to visit the internet (newly installed into the arcade) to help Vanellope repair her arcade machine. In many ways Ralph Breaks the Internet feels like a rehash of the original movie. The story is very fast pace, with many fun twists and turns. The initial premise of the movie is dealt with relatively quickly and the real meat of the story is how the characters deal with the aftermath. The second half of the movie is where the movie goes into the bizarre territory. The movie is very meta and shatters the forth wall with many great jokes. This movie even shatters the self-established rules of its predecessor. It’s difficult to discuss this movie without spoilers because the second half of the movie is so very different than the first half. This movie is not what you think it is.

One of the biggest problems with the movie is the shattering of the preestablished rules of the original. I understand the movie needs to grow and move beyond its roots, but this movie conveniently forgets many key plot points of the original and shatters its own rules. Without well-established rules it’s very difficult to care about what is happening on screen. Clearly defined boundaries must exist to create a fully realized narrative. The internet this movie showcases doesn’t work. The scenario this movie creates is built in a flimsy way. I can only suspend my disbelief so much. This movie is filled to the brim with plot holes and plot conveniences. The commentary the movie has on the internet culture and isolation is very intriguing. I do wish that some of these deeper elements of the story weren’t glossed over but more fully expanded upon. The greatness of this movie is handicapped by all the plot holes. Anything can happen in this story for any reason without any real consequences. I don’t care if this is a ‘cartoon’ it needs to stay somewhat rooted in the reality that it makes for itself. Simply put this movie doesn’t make much sense.

The humor and heart are the two biggest strengths of the movie. I almost legitimately cried during one key moment of this movie. The characters feel authentic and are well written. The sentimental elements of the story are earned and the crisis the characters deal with is genuine. This emotional core is perfectly balanced by the humor in this movie. The laughs come quickly and often. Many jokes are very clever and often subvert the expectations of the viewer. The movie is very entertaining and funny and does a great job of roasting contemporary internet pop culture. I do worry if future generations will understand all the references and internet inside jokes presented in this movie. Unlike The Emoji Movie this movie knows how to do pop culture references without stopping the film to a halt and feeling like a transparent advertisement. The voice acting performances in this movie are top notch. The excellent sense of humor and the strong emotional components work well in this movie.

In some ways this movie is pandering to me. I feel very comfortable considering myself a gamer, a film fan and a citizen of the internet pop culture. Maybe I am more critical of this movie because I get all the references. Maybe the casual moviegoers watching this movie won’t be bothered by the plot holes and its contrived narrative. Overall, I enjoyed my time with this movie, but I am also very frustrated by some aspects of the story that kept me from truly loving it.

Final Verdict: 7/10

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https://movies.disney.com/ralph-breaks-the-internet-wreck-it-ralph-2

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Incredibles 2 3D Movie Review

Incredibles 2 3D Movie Review

 Written By: Adolph Vega 

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3D

Sadly low-key is the best way to describe the 3D visuals for this movie. The 3D is largely forgettable for the vast majority of the movie. The character of ‘Elastic Girl’ has some notable scenes with good pop-out 3D, but it feels muted. Objects only slightly pop out of the screen when they could easily pop-out more. 3D depth is used in a few fun scenes with portals and long hallways. I did enjoy the 3D visuals in a few scenes, but they are few and far between. The movie has many darkly lit scenes and scenes with a strobe visual effect that can disrupt the 3D aspect for the viewer. Perplexedly the end credits show off some of the best use of 3D. The credits themselves look very nice and are stylized for 3D. Some of the animated scenes in the credits also use 3D layering in fun ways. Nobody cares about having nice looking 3D end credits so this is moot point. The 3D in this movie isn’t bad but it is underutilized and left me wanting more.

Final Verdict:

Weak 3D 2D Recommended 

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Movie

People have been wanting a sequel to “The Incredibles” for over a decade so can this movie really deliver after such a long wait? Sadly “Incredibles 2” is totally dependent on the original and in many ways serves as the 4th, 5th and 6th acts for the original movie. If you haven’t seen the first movie you will be lost by this movie. It some ways this movie is a rehash of the original but also serves as a continuation of the original, but it never really feels like it’s own thing.

“The Incredibles” originally ended on a cheeky cliffhanger and this second movie starts immediately where the first movie concludes. A new villain called the “Screenslaver” is terrorizing the city and Elastic Girl is on the mission to stop him. You follow Elastic Girl for the majority of this movie. The several action scenes in this movie are well choreographed and are fun to watch. You also get a secondary plot with the father Mr. Incredible staying at home and taking care of the household. Many sequels will reference their predecessors but in many ways this movie feels like a carbon copy of the original . Many aspects of the plot directly echo events from the predecessor and it feels repetitive and unimaginative. Overall the plot feels lazy, uninspired and is largely predictable. The comedic events of the movie work well. The movie is well written and is enjoyable but ultimately it feels unnecessary. Pacing is also an issue with the movie and it can drag and become slow and boring. Many times the plot can become overly generic, cliche and simplistic. The movie expands the roster of super heroes, but it does very little with them. The new Superheroes are simply a way to advance the plot and don’t have any real depth. The movie feels rushed and is sloppy with many plot holes. The movie also has no real stakes and the plot ultimately feels meaningless.

The movie fails to deliver a compelling narrative. The movie doesn’t dramatically advance the characters or scenario in any meaningful ways. The movie is fun but is largely a frivolous forgettable affair. “Incredibles 2” lacks the charm, magic, and originality of its predecessor. There is nothing incredible about “Incredibles 2”, sadly this movie is not amazing, or spectacular, or fantastic, or super or even marvelous , it is mediocre.

Final Verdict: 6/10

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Coco 3D Movie Review

Coco

3D Movie Review Written By: Adolph Vega

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3D

I actually watched this movie twice in the theaters for the sake of this review. My first viewing was in 2D in English , and the second viewing was in 3D in Spanish. I don’t regret watching this movie twice because my second viewing was a different experience compared to the first viewing, and I enjoyed the movie enough to want to watch it again. Unfortunately the 3D visuals for this movie are a nice but minor addition to the movie. During some scenes with large crowds you can clearly distinguish between individuals within the crowd because of the depth based 3D. Pop out 3D is rarely used within this movie and is largely a non-factor. One example of pop out 3D was during one scene a specific character points their finger outward toward the camera and the finger pops out of the screen. This happens for a split second and you can easily blink during this scene and miss it . The viewing experience is not dramatically different or enhanced because of the 3D, and I literally forgot the movie was in 3D for many scenes. You can call me little crazy, but I didn’t find anything memorable about the 3D element of this movie. The 3D visuals are pleasant and done with care but ultimately I just don’t care about it. Simply put the 3D is not worthwhile and I cannot recommend it.

Final Verdict:

Weak 3D 2D Recommended

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Movie

Coco is the newest animated movie from Disney / Pixar. The movie is about a young boy named Miguel who lives in Mexico and wants to be a musician but his family disapproves. Miguel accidentally travels to the land of the dead and needs to find his way back to the land of the living. Can Miguel find his way home? Will Miguel be able achieve his dreams and become a musician?

The first thing I want to mention in this review is that I am Hispanic. I am mentioning this out of pure transparency. My parents are from Mexico and I am comfortable and familiar with Mexican culture, so I can relate to this movie. I do not believe my upbringing will influence or detract my critique for this movie. That being said, I did feel that this movie does a fantastic job of showcasing the Mexican heritage without abruptly pandering to it. The movie feels authentic and respectful to the norms and customs of Mexican culture and never seems to play up to any stereotypes or gross over simplifications. I especially enjoyed the Spanish dub for this movie. If you don’t understand Spanish I don’t recommend watching the movie in Spanish, the English version of this movie is perfectly fine. That being said the English version of this movie does occasionally mix Spanish words into the dialog. Don’t worry if you don’t understand Spanish because those words are not integral to the plot. I feel like watching this movie in Spanish is the superior way to watch the movie. The best analogy to explain why I feel the Spanish version is superior is this is to discuss the difference between bottled Coca-Cola from Mexico and the typical Coca-Cola from the US. The Coca-Cola from Mexico is made with real sugar and presented in a glass bottle. In contrast the US Coca-Cola is made from high-fructose corn syrup and usually presented in plastic bottles or aluminum cans. Both Coca-Cola from Mexico and American are essentially the same recipe, but I can taste the subtle difference in the flavor and prefer the Mexican version. In a similar fashion Coco is the same movie in Spanish and English but I was able to enjoy Coco more in Spanish because of the subtle cultural differences. The various songs within the movie are great in english, but sound wonderful in Spanish. Regardless if you watch the movie in Spanish or English I think the filmmakers managed to make an excellent movie that anyone can enjoy regardless of their own life experience. 

Spanish version of the Song "Remember Me" 

English version of the song "Remember Me"

Coco succeeds as a movie because of its fantastic storytelling and touching character moments. The story has a warm heart that is well presented . The several emotional moments feel earned and are not forced in any way.  The voice acting and dialogue are excellent and feel natural and is well written. Miguel has legitimate talent to play the guitar, but his grandmother is justified to not allow him to become a musician because of the family history. I really appreciate that both sides of this argument are valid. The movie is highly entertaining and just a joy to watch. This is partially because of the beautiful and vivid visuals. The movie has a distinct look that appears realistic yet stylized. The musical aspect of this movie is also well done with several original songs that are fun and make sense within the context of the movie. The dynamic between the major characters feels very genuine and real. Coco is an animated movie but in many ways it feels like an exaggerated live action movie, because the characters and story feel fantastical yet are grounded and relatable.

As much as I enjoyed Coco the movie is not perfect. The movie is very fast paced and hurries itself to the next plot point and feels rushed. The movie has a huge cast of characters, not all of which are given a proper introduction or sufficient screen time. Many characters are superfluous and entirely one dimensional. Why even bother to have so many characters only to give them one line or no lines at all? Many secondary characters could have been eliminated without any loss to the story. The movie introduces the idea of spirit animals but it never explains what they are in detail. Miguel never takes in the spectacle or grandiose nature that is the afterlife. I understand this is meant to be a children's movie but I felt like the elements of life and death are glossed over within the movie. I wanted Miguel to soak in what the afterlife has to offer and consider the deeper elements of what living is. Once the movie goes to the afterlife it rarely if ever goes back to the land of the living, and that aspect of the story is almost entirely forgotten. I also found several elements of the story to be predictable. I also had problems with the dog named Dante. The dog is cute but annoying and is given too much time on screen. The movie is very enjoyable, but the small issues I had with it keep it from cinematic perfection.

Overall Coco is an excellent movie. I cried, I laughed, and I was immensely entertained with this movie. Coco is not a perfect movie but it is easily one of the best movies of 2017. I won’t forget this movie, and I can easily recommend it to everyone. 

Final Verdict : 9/10

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