ENCANTO REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

There’s no denying that Walt Disney owns one of the most successful animated studios and it’s easy to see why as they tell original and enjoyable stories through imaginative animation. This is definitely the case with their latest animated feature, Encanto.

The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift except Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz). However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.

Encanto tells a meaningful and heartwarming story about self acceptance and family through visually stunning animation. The story, written by Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith, focuses on Mirabel, an ordinary yet lovable individual who is an outsider as she doesn’t have a unique gift unlike her family members. However, Encanto isn’t about Mirabel going on an adventure to find her gift in order to feel as special. Rather it’s about Mirabel accepting herself, which makes for a heartwarming and inspiring watch. Most of Disney’s early animated features focused on a female character falling in love with a Prince whilst a menacing villain tried to interfere. While their early films were well made and featured stunning hand drawn animation, their story became formulaic. Disney’s most recent animated films have focused more on telling original and meaningful stories that can be enjoyed not just by children but by older viewers as well. Most people think that animated films are just for children, as a lot of them tell a predictable and safe story and feature immature jokes, however, although Encanto will be enjoyed more by children, it will also, most likely, enchant older viewers. 

The imaginative and unique world of the Encanto is brought vividly to life through Disney’s trademark three dimensional animation and is filled with bright and colourful visuals. Encanto is worth watching just to appreciate the hard work that has gone into making one of the most visually stunning animated films of the year.

Disney are known for their inspiring and leading female characters, including sisters Anna and Elsa from Frozen, Moana from their 2016 animated film of the same name and Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon. That’s still the case with Mirabel who, although she doesn’t have any special gifts like her family, is still an interesting individual. What I liked most about Encanto was that it wasn’t about Mirabel going on an adventure to find her gift, rather it was about repairing her relationship with her family and accepting herself. Mirabel is the same at the end as she was at the beginning, however, that’s not a bad thing as there was nothing about her that needed changing. Mirabel is voiced by Stephanie Beatriz who is best known for her role as Rosa in the popular sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She had a small role in Destin Daniel Cretton’s moving 2013 drama, Short Term 12,  and also appeared in Jon M. Chu’s feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical, In The Heights, which was released earlier this year. In Encanto, Beatriz delivers a warm and bubbly vocal performance as Mirabel making her an easy character to like. She also impresses with her singing skills during the lively musical numbers. Unlike a lot of Disney’s previous films, there are no famous actors that distract from the story, which makes the characters all the more easy to accept. What’s refreshing about Encanto is that there’s no villain that is simply created in order to provide conflict. The writers know that there’s already conflict between Mirabel and her family and they focus more on the former trying to make amends with the latter. 

Encanto is at its most entertaining during the energetic musical numbers. The songs are written by Lin Manuel-Miranda, who is one of the most talented and successful musicians working today. He is best known for his Broadway show, Hamilton, and for writing the songs that featured in Moana. Although Miranda’s songs aren’t as memorable as the ones featured in the latter film, they’re still a lot of fun, especially the opening song, The Family Madrigal, which focuses on Mirabel introducing her gifted family to a small group of children. 

Filled with lively musical numbers and featuring imaginative animation, Disney’s latest film, Encanto, tells a meaningful and heartwarming story about self acceptance and family.

8/10

JUNGLE CRUISE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Because it was based on a ride at Disneyland, Disney’s live-action feature, Pirates of the Caribbean was a surprise hit both with critics and at the box office when it was released in 2003. Its success led to four sequels being released over the next fourteen years. Like Pirates of the Caribbean, the story Disney’s latest adventure packed film, Jungle Cruise, is also inspired by a popular attraction located at Disneyland.

Jungle Cruise focuses on wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) who travels from London, England with her brother, MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank's questionable services to guide them downriver on his ramshackle-but-charming boat, La Quila. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities that possess the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate hangs in the balance.

Although it’s not without its flaws, including weak special effects and a predictable narrative, Jungle Cruise benefits from the chemistry shared between Blunt, Johnson and Whitehall and the lively adventure sequences. It’s clear that the trio are having a lot of fun and, as a result, I enjoyed watching them. Blunt stands out as Lily, who is Disney’s female version of Indiana Jones. She’s a scientist seeking the Tree of Life as its petals have healing properties. Johnson is charming as Frank who is the captain of the steamboat. Prior to watching Jungle Cruise, I noticed that Whitehall has been criticised for his portrayal of Lily’s sister, MacGregor. However, I found him to be amusing. The main problem with his character isn’t Whitehall’s performance, it’s the fact that Disney have described him as his first gay character, however, this is only briefly hinted in a scene he shares with Frank. I think that if Disney want to include characters that represent the LGBTQ community, they should embrace it. Another fun character is Jesse Plemons’ villainous Prince Joachim, a deranged and ambitious German aristocrat who finances and leads a military expedition to claim the Tree of Life for himself.

I think that those who have been on the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland will, most likely, enjoy the film more than those who haven’t. Although I visited Disneyland when I was a child, I don’t remember going on Jungle Cruise, however, following my watch of the film, I definitely want to return to Disneyland and ride it. Many people will argue that Jungle Cruise is simply a way to promote the attraction and make money off it. Although I do agree with this, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Following the release of Jungle Cruise, I can imagine that the popularity of the ride will increase. I can also imagine that the producers behind the film are hoping that it’ll be just as successful as Pirates of the Caribbean and lead to several sequels being made. Although Jungle Cruise is a lot of fun and packed full of adventure, I found the narrative one of the weakest aspects as it’s predictable and unimaginative. Because of this, I think that a sequel is unnecessary, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if one is made in the next few years.

Prior to watching Jungle Cruise, I read a few reviews and a quote that stood out to me was it’s “a movie that implicitly asks ‘What’s wrong with good old-fashioned entertainment?’ The answer is ‘Absolutely nothing’.” I agree with what this critic is saying as a film doesn’t have to be perfectly made in order to be enjoyed. I knew that Jungle Cruise wasn’t going to be the best film I’ve ever seen. However, I was hoping that it would provide me with other two hours of escapism through fast paced adventure and fun performances delivered by its cast and that’s what I got. Those looking for a film with realistic special effects and an original story will be disappointed.

Jungle Cruise was originally meant to be released in cinemas last year but, like a lot of films in a similar position, its release was delayed until now. However, as well as being shown in cinemas, it’s also available to watch on the streaming service, Disney+, for a premium access fee of £19.99/$29.99. I think that this pricing is expensive as it’s more than a single cinema ticket but is suitable for a big family wanting to save money. Since the release of Jungle Cruise in cinemas and on Disney+, there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding this decision with actor Scarlett Johansson suing Disney for violating her contract that said her film, Black Widow, would only be released in cinemas. Although I can understand that Disney don’t want to risk anyone’s safety, with the pandemic still going on, I don’t think that releasing a film both in cinemas and on streaming on the same day is a good idea as piracy has become easier with people recording films from their home. It’s also unfair to cinemas that have struggled financially since they were forced to close last year. I’ve frequently said this but I much prefer watching films on the big screen as they’re the perfect form of escapism especially in these difficult times. Although I could have easily watched Jungle Cruise at home, I’m glad I didn’t as it was actually cheaper for me to experience it on the big screen. 

Jungle Cruise is adventure packed with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt delivering fun performances.

7/10

CRUELLA REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Cruella De Vil is one of the most memorable villains from a Disney animated film. She made her first appearance in One Hundred and One Dalmatians, which was released in 1961. She was evil because she wanted to make a coat out of puppies’ fur. In Disney’s 1996 live action remake, 101 Dalmatians, Cruella was portrayed by Glenn Close. Close captured Cruella’s fierce and eccentric personality and returned to the role in the 2000 sequel, 102 Dalmatians. Because Cruella is one of the most memorable villains, it’s easy to understand why a new live action film has recently been released that explores her life before she became obsessed with dalmatian fur.

Set during the 1970s punk rock revolution in London, the story follows a clever and creative young grifter named Estella (Emma Stone), who is determined to become a successful designer. After Estella befriends a pair of young thieves, Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser), who appreciate her appetite for mischief, the three build a life for themselves on the London streets. Before long, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute fashion legend (Emma Thompson). But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

The strength of Cruella lies in the amusing performances delivered by both Stone and Thompson. The former delivers a fresh portrayal of Cruella. She captures both Estella’s kind and friendly personality and the wicked side of her alter ego, Cruella. Because Cruella is a villain, I think that a lot of people were worried that the film would redeem her and try and make her sympathetic. However, this isn’t the case with Cruella which shows both the dark and light sides of the eponymous character who is seen as a flawed individual. Although Cruella isn’t the most likeable of characters, she’s, by far, one of the most interesting villains and is brought to life through Stone’s performance. Another standout performance is delivered by Thompson who is a scene stealer as Cruella’s rival, the Baronness. Both Stone and Thompson are having a lot of fun portraying their characters and, as a result, I had a lot of fun watching them. Fry and Hauser are funny as Cruella’s side kicks, Jasper and Horace, who help her with her devious plans. Although Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Cruella’s childhood friend, Anita, and Mark Strong as the Baronness’ valet, John, deliver solid supporting roles, they are underused. I would have liked to seen more of the friendship between Cruella and Anita, who is a journalist and reports on Cruella’s increasing fame. The entirety of Cruella is worth watching just for Stone and Thompson’s performances.

Most of Disney’s recent live action films, including last year’s Mulan, Aladdin and The Lion King, have been been straightforward but unimaginative remakes of the original animated features. Fortunately, the same can’t be said about Cruella, which explores the background of one of the most memorable and interesting characters in all of Disney’s animated films. The screenplay is written by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara and is based on a story by Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marcel and Steve Zissis and is filled with entertaining rivalry and fun twists. The majority of Cruella focuses on the back and forth rivalry between Cruella and the Baronness. The latter is the most famous fashion designer whose personality is very similar to that of Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly in the 2006 romantic comedy The Devil Wears Prada and is narcissistic and is rude to her staff. It’s easy to see how Estella becomes Cruella after she works for the Baronness. Estella wants more than anything to be a famous fashion designer and, after working for the Baronness, she quickly becomes Cruella and is soon stealing all of the attention with her outrageous and over the top costumes. What I liked most about Cruella’s story was that it features a clever twist involving both Cruella and the Baronness that I didn’t see coming. Because of this, it made the film all the more interesting. Although I’m one of the few people who enjoy Disney’s live action remakes, I can understand why a lot of people think they’re unnecessary. However, Cruella is one of their best live action films as it tells an original story.

Craig Gillespie previously directed I, Tonya which starred Margot Robbie as figure skater Tonya Harding who became involved in a controversial scandal. It was a highly entertaining film that showed another side to Tonya that a lot of people might not be familiar with. Harding wasn’t perfect by any means but she wasn’t as villainous as the media made her out to be. A similar comment can be made regarding Cruella who is seen as an antagonist in both the animated film and the live action feature. However, Cruella shows her early life and how she became the famous villain everyone knows her as. Gillespie is an ideal choice to direct and, with Cruella, he has created a widely entertaining film. 

Because Cruella is known for wanting to make a coat out of Dalmatian fur, a lot of people were concerned that Cruella would try and excuse her actions. However, the majority of the film focuses on the rivalry between Cruella and the Baronness. The former does briefly kidnap the latter’s three pet Dalmatians after one of them swallows a luxurious necklace that was lost by Cruella when she was a child and found by the Baronness. For those worried about what happens to the Dalmatians needn’t be as nothing bad happens to them. Cruella is a family friendly film so it’s highly unlikely that Disney would want to create a film where dogs are harmed. Cruella even has a pet dog of her own named Buddy, as does Horace whose dog is small and half blind and is named Winky. 

Because Cruella and the Baroness are talented and creative fashion designers, the costumes and clothes worn by them had to match their creativity. Fortunately, the costumes designed by Kelly Beavan are iconic. From Cruella’s white cape that transforms into a red dress after she lights it to the Baroness’ luxurious dresses, the costumes are the most impressive aspect of Cruella. I’ll be surprised if Beavan, who won an Oscar for her work on Mad Max: Fury Road, doesn’t receive a nomination for Best Costume at next year’s Academy Awards.

Cruella has been released in cinemas and also on the streaming service, Disney+, for an extra premier access fee of £20 ($30 in the United States). However, because I saw it at the cinema, I actually saved a lot of money. I think that Disney+'s premier access fee is quite expensive as most cinema tickets are about £10-12. Although I enjoyed Cruella, I don’t think it’s worth paying the access fee unless you really want to watch it and don't want to see it at the cinema.

Although I enjoyed Cruella, including the performances by Stone and Thompson and the rivalry between their characters, it’s not without its flaws. The soundtrack is filled with famous and catchy pop songs from the 1970s, including Blondie's One Way or Another, Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash and Nin Simone's Feeling Good, however, I found them too distracting from certain scenes. The opening scene, which focuses on Estella’s childhood and rebellious behaviour in school, is overlong. Fortunately, these flaws didn’t prevent me from finding Cruella to be entertaining and an interesting exploration of the story behind one of Disney’s most famous villains.

7/10

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Disney’s recent animated features, Frozen, its sequel, Moana and Zootropolis have all been successful, including at the box office and at the Academy Awards, with Frozen and Zootropolis winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The films have also been lauded by critics with most of them praising their animation. Because of this, expectations were high for their latest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon, which was originally meant to be released in cinemas in November last year, unfortunately, the pandemic caused by the worldwide spread of COVID-19, led to the closures of cinemas with a lot of films having their release dates postponed. Raya and the Last Dragon has recently been released on the streaming service, Disney+. However, does it live up to the high quality of their previous animated features?

Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned, and it's up to a lone warrior, Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) to track down the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina) and stop the Druun for good.

Although Raya and the Last Dragon doesn’t rank as one of the best films created by Disney, it is still a fun and adventure packed feature that is suitable for the whole family to watch, however, many people may be put off by the Premier Access fee of £20 that you have to pay in order to watch it. The reason behind the additional payment is because Raya and the Last Dragon was originally scheduled for a cinema release, however, because in the UK, they’re still closed, the feature has been released on Disney+ before it’s released on Video On Demand and DVD and Blu-Ray in a couple of months time. Because Raya and the Last Dragon was one of my most anticipated films of last year, I didn’t really mind paying the additional payment, however, I do think that £20 is expensive, especially when a lot of people are struggling financially. 

Unsurprisingly, the strength of Raya and the Last Dragon lies in its imaginative and vibrant animation. It’s set in a fantasy land called Kumandra, which is inspired by Southeast Asian cultures of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The filmmakers and production team traveled to all these countries to do background research except Myanmar, Malaysia, and Brunei. The Head of Story for the film was headed by Thai artist Fawn Veerasunthorn. The team formed the Southeast Asia Story Trust, a collective of consultants for the film including Dr. Steve Arounsack, an associate professor of Lao Anthropology at California State University. It’s clear a lot of hard work and creativity has gone into making Raya and the Last Dragon look visually stunning. What I love most about animation is that there is no limit to one’s imagination and that’s certainly the case with Raya and the Last Dragon. The characters and creatures all have unique appearances, especially the dragon, Sisu, and a "con baby" named Little Noi and her trio of monkey-like companions known as the Ongis, who adopted her after her mother was lost to the evil Druun. It’s because of its vibrant animation why I wished I’d seen Raya and the Last Dragon at the cinema. Although not a fault of the film, I was frequently distracted and struggled to fully focus. I do plan on rewatching Raya and the Last Dragon one day, hopefully, my feelings towards it will improve.

One of the weaker aspects of Raya and the Last Dragon is its story which follows a formula that has been used several times in Disney’s other animated films as it follows the main character as she and her companions travel to restore peace to their world. During my watch, I felt that it was very similar to Moana which focused on its titular character also travelling with another character in order to save her world. Because of this, Raya and the Last Dragon felt predictable and a bit repetitive as the characters travelled to different tribes in order to find the missing orb pieces. This is disappointing as, prior to watching the film, I was hoping for a more original story.

The script for Raya and the Last Dragon was written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim and sends out an important message about why trust is important. Over the course of the film, the characters learn to put their differences aside and trust each other in order to live in a more peaceful world. 

In the majority of their animated features, Disney have succeeded in creating memorable characters who have gone on to leave lasting impression. This is still the case with Raya and the Last Dragon which is filled with unique and interesting characters. Raya is a brave and inspiring heroine and a great role model for younger viewers to look up to. Despite losing her father near the beginning of the film, Raya continues to search for the missing pieces of the orb in order to bring peace to her world. Her personality is similar to that of Moana as both are determined to succeed in their mission. At first glance, Sisu looks like she could be a serious dragon, however, her personality is witty and energetic and is similar to Mushu from Mulan. Voiced by comedienne, Awkwafina, Sisu steals almost every scene she appears in. Raya and Sisu’s companions include Little Noi, the Ongis, a young entrepreneur named Boun (Izaac Wang), who is a skilled cook, and a fearsome warrior, Tong (Benedict Wong). Another tradition most Disney animated films have is a cute little animal that is the main character’s side kick. In Tangled, Rapunzel had a chameleon named Pascal and Moana had a pet rooster named Heihei. Raya’s sidekick is Tuk Tuk (Alan Tudyk), a steed that is a mix of an armadillo and a pill bug.

The most impressive aspect of Raya and the Last Dragon is the talented voice cast, which includes Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong and Sandra Oh. Tran first rose to fame as Rose (pun unintended) in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi. Unfortunately, following a cruel backlash from fans, Rose’s screen time was cut in the follow-up, The Rise of Skywalker. As Raya, Tran delivers a heartfelt performance, making her character all the more likeable. Awkwafina is clearly having a lot of fun with her portrayal of Sisu and delivers a lively performance. Chan voices Namaari, who is a warrior princess of the Fang Land and Raya's enemy, with Oh voicing her mother, Virana. 

What’s most refreshing about Raya and the Last Dragon is the lack of an unnecessary love interest for Raya and no musical numbers. In many of their earlier features, including Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, one of Disney’s traditions included a Prince Charming character for the main female character to fall in love with and catchy songs. However, recently, Disney has realised that it isn’t necessary for their female characters to have a love interest. That’s still the case with Raya and the Last Dragon. Although I’ve enjoyed most of Disney’s original songs and think that the musical numbers made their features all the more entertaining, I’m glad that there weren’t any in Raya and the Last Dragon as, because it’s an adventure packed film, I think that a random song would have felt a bit out of place.

Featuring imaginative animation, Raya and the Last Dragon is a fun animated feature that is packed full of adventure.

7/10

MULAN (2020) REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Like a lot of films due for release this year, Disney's live action adaptation of their 1998 feature, Mulan, was postponed after the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closing of cinemas across the globe. However, instead of releasing Mulan in cinemas, Disney made the decision to release the film on their streaming site for an additional fee (£20 in the UK). I was disappointed by this decision as I was really looking forward to watching Mulan on the big screen. Since its release on Disney+ earlier this month, Mulan has received a mostly positive reception from critics, however, I've noticed a more negative response on social media. 

Mulan (Yifei Lu) is a fearless young woman who risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. When the Emperor of China (Jet Li) issues a decree that one man per family mist serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders. Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honoured warrior, Hua Zhou (Tzi Ma), steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua June, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner strength and embrace her true potential. It's an epic journey that will transform her into an honoured warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation and a proud father.

While Mulan isn't as great as I was hoping, it's not a bad film. I think I'm one of the very few people who don't mind Disney's live action remakes of their animated features, however, I can understand why people think they're pointless. 

One of the problems with many of Disney's live action remakes is that, because the story has already been told, they are predictable and unoriginal. However, Mulan features several changes in order to prevent it from feeling like an exact copy of the original animated film. One of the highlights of the animated film was Mushu who was a small dragon voiced by the comedian, Eddie Murphy, and stole every scene he appeared in. In the live action remake, the character doesn't appear. I think that this was a good decision as I think Mushu would have felt out of place. The live action remake has a more serious tone and, unlike most family films, can be enjoyed by older viewers. By making several changes, Mulan doesn't feel like an exact replica of the original animated film. Another significant change in the live action remake is the lack of musical numhers. While the songs, including Reflection and I'll Make A Man Out Of You, in the original animation were memorable and one of the highlights, the live action version focuses more on the story. I think a random musical number would have been too distracting.

Although the original animated is superior, I felt that it lacked in action. This minor flaw is improved in the live action remake. The action sequences are exciting and where Mulan is at its best. They highlight Mulan's impressive fighting skills. The stunts are over the top, however, they added to my overall enjoyment of the film. Mulan features several martial arts scenes and Liu handles them all with grace, Whilst I was watching the film, I often thought about how great it would have been to watch Mulan at the cinema which has high quality sound and high definition picture. Cinemas provide audiences with unique viewing experiences that can't be replicated at home. Although I'm fortunate to own a good quality television with speakers, I know that a lot of people and families with smaller televisions struggling to watch Mulan. I would advise familes to wait until December to watch Mulan when it will be available to watch on Disney+ without paying the premium access fee.

The original Mulan represents one of Disney's best animated features as its story highlighted the inequality between women and men and sent out an important message that the former could be as strong as the latter. The live action remake also highlights this issue. Because Mulan is a female, she is seen as nothing more as a potential bride for a male suitor. Unfortunately, after her clumsiness leads to an embarrassing incident with a matchmaker, Mulan is told that she will never bring honour to her family. She soon proves her wrong though after taking her father's place to fight in the war. Over the course of the film's 115 minute runtime, Mulan develops into a fierce and brave individual, making her one of the best female characters. She's a great role model to young women who feel inferior to men.

Many of Disney's live action remakes starred famous actors in many of the roles, including Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Emma Watson as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Will Smith as the Genie in last year's Aladdin. While I think that these actors delivered solid performances, the decision to have a cast of Asian actors portray the characters in Mulan was the right choice. Prior to watching, I was familiar with only a few of the actors as they've appeared in Hollywood films. As the titular heroine, Liu Yifei delivers a strong performance and captures the character's bravery and strengths. The rest of the cast is ethnically appropriate and features several of the best Asian actors, including Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Jason Scott Lee who take their roles seriously, despite appearing in a Disney film. 

While the main villain in the original Mulan was intimidating, he lacked enough screen time to make him memorable. However, the live action remake have replaced the character with a shape shifting witch, Xian Lang (Gong Li), who I felt was far more interesting and more threatening because of her unique powers.

Although it's not as great as it could have been, I don't think that Mulan is a bad film as it provides viewers with exciting action sequences and an empowering story that highlights the issue of gender inequality. 

7/10

MARY POPPINS RETURNS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

After its release in 1964, Walt Disney's Mary Poppins went on to be a big success, both at the box office and at the Academy Awards, earning Julie Andrews her first Oscar for her performance as the titular magical nanny. Because of its success, a sequel would be released a few years later, however, the author of the books Mary Poppins was based on, P. L. Travers, was unimpressed with Disney's adaptation, she refused to give the rights for a sequel. After the author passed away in 1996, the Disney producers began thinking about the possibility of a sequel. It wasn't until 2014 when the President of Walt Disney Pictures, Sean Bailey, pitched his idea for a sequel to director, Rob Marshall. With approval from Travers' estate, Disney greenlit the project with the film taking place 20 years after the first, featuring a standalone narrative, based on the remaining seven books in the series. Marshall was hired to direct.

Making a sequel to Mary Poppins over fifty years after its release was always going to be a challenge. The original film has been deemed a classic and one of Disney's best features. The special effects were really impressive at the time too as it mixed live action with animation really well and the performances have all left lasting impressions. This lead to high expectations for Marshall's follow-up.

Mary Poppins Returns is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in P. L. Travers' additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children, Annabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh) and Georgie (Joel Dawson), and their housekeeper, Ellen (Julie Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Lin Manuel Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Meryl Streep).

While Mary Poppins Returns isn't as good as its predecessor, it's still a great sequel and it met my expectations. It's fun, lively and there's hardly a dull moment to be found in its 130 minute runtime. The sequel features an impressive ensemble cast, who all give strong performances. While I prefer Andrews' portrayal of Poppins, Blunt does a great job and, by not attempting to copy Andrews, she makes the character her own. Miranda is a scene stealer as Jack, a lamp lighter who is friends with Poppins. Whishaw and Mortimer give solid performances as the now grown-up Michael and Jane. Walters brings comic relief to her portrayal of Elaine, the Banks family's maid. While she only appears in one scene, Streep makes an unforgettable appearance as Poppins' eccentric cousin, Topsy. Colin Firth is best known for portraying likable characters, however, he plays against type as the main antagonist,  William 'Weatherall' Wilkins, the current president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. Cameos come from Dick Van Dyke, who portrayed Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr in the original and returns as Mr. Dawes Jr, and Angela Lansbury who appears at the end of the film as a Balloon Lady. Originally, this part was offered to Andrews, however, she turned it down as she didn't want to steal the limelight away from Poppins, which is a very respectable decision. I think Lansbury was a great choice for this cameo as, like Andrews, she appeared in a Disney classic, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which also combined live-action with animation. The ensemble cast is definitely one of Mary Poppins Returns' biggest highlights. 

While I really enjoyed Mary Poppins, I didn't think that there was much of a story to it, the narrative focused on Poppins taking Jane and Michael Banks on various adventures, which was very entertaining. However, the sequel's plot deals with an adult Michael who is struggling with debt and is heartbroken over the recent death of his wife and mother of his children. Two lawyers turn up at his house and declare that, if he doesn't pay back the money he owes the bank within seven days, he will lose his home. The majority of the sequel focuses on Poppins returning and taking the children on exciting adventures, with the climax featuring a race against time as the characters work together to save the Banks family home. While over two hours may seem a bit long for a family film, there's hardly a dull moment to be found and the feature is full of adventure and energetic songs. Mary Poppins Returns will undoubtedly appeal to children, however, I'm sure it will be enjoyed by older viewers, too, especially those who liked the original. The story doesn't offer anything new and it is predictable, however, that doesn't prevent it from being as entertaining as it is.

One of the most impressive aspects of Mary Poppins was its combination of live-action with animation. Since its release in the early 1960s, special effects have improved a lot, and the same can be said for the sequel. While it would've been easy to use computer generated imagery to create the special effects, Marshall chose to use hand-drawn animation, in order to pay homage to the original. The Disney executives, on the other hand, initially wanted the film to have computer animation for its animated sequences, which infuriated Marshall. He then fought hard to convince the Disney executives to let him use hand-drawn animation, and he also argued why it would be the right choice to use for the film. Ultimately, the Disney executives gave in and allowed Marshall to use hand-drawn animation for the film. The hard work paid off as the live-action/animated sequences is one of the most entertaining scenes from the sequel.

The songs in Mary Poppins were memorable, catchy and emotionally touching, especially the ballad, 'Feed The Birds'.  The music and score for the sequel was composed by Marc Shaiman, with song lyrics written by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. The score includes musical references to the songs and score from the first film written by Richard and Robert Sherman, with the former serving as a music consultant, with Shaiman stating that "if he had something that he thought should have been different or changed, he would have said so. But lo and behold, he didn’t. He was loving what he was hearing, and he really loves the new movie". I think that the new songs are just as memorable, with 'Trip Little Light Fantastic' and 'The Place Where Lost Things Go' being personal favourites. I also really enjoyed 'Can You Imagine That?', a song that takes place inside the children's bath tub and is a fun sequence. 

Mary Poppins Returns ends a year of great films on a high and, while it's not as good as its predecessor, it's still very enjoyable and is the true definition of a family film and will appeal to viewers of all ages.

7/10

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

At the time of Wreck-It Ralph's release in 2012, Walt Disney Animation Studios were best known for their animated features starring princesses and based on fairy tales, such as Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Tangled and The Princess and the Frog. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's refreshing when the studio releases features based on original and innovative ideas, inspired by the modern day world. Wreck-It Ralph was an example of that. By focusing on a world that existed within video games, the animated feature proved to be thoroughly entertaining for the whole family. While the story focused on original characters, including the titular Ralph (John C. Reilly), the villain of the video game he appears in, the film made references to classic video game characters such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Pac-Man and Q*bert. After its release, Wreck-It Ralph proved to be a success, receiving critical acclaim and impressing at the box office. This lead to a sequel being announced and released six years later, titled Ralph Breaks The Internet. However, is it just as entertaining as its predecessor or a disappointment?

Ralph and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) leave the comforts of Litwak's arcade in an attempt to save her game, Sugar Rush. Their quest takes them to the vast, uncharted world of the Internet where they rely on the citizens - the Netizens - to help navigate their way. Lending a virtual hand are Yesss (Taraji P. Henson), the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site "BuzzzTube" and Shank (Gal Gadot), a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race, a place Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces - so much so that Ralph worries he may lose the only friend he's ever had.

Fans of Wreck-it Ralph will be happy to discover that its sequel is a great follow-up as it's entertaining and funny. Because the majority of the narrative takes place in the world of the Internet, many of the viewers will be able to understand many of the jokes and references. On their adventure, we see Ralph and Vanellope visit eBay and we briefly see social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter and Google. In this modern day and age, a lot of people, young and old, are using social media and the Internet so I can understand why the writers, Phil Johnston (who co-directed with Rich Moore) and Pamela Ribon, chose to have their main characters explore the universe that exists within the Internet. Over the course of its 114 minute runtime, we see Ralph go viral on BuzzzTube and Vanellope becomes enamoured by the racing game Slaughter Race and she begins to wonder if she wants to return to Sugar Rush. This all makes for a thoroughly entertaining animated feature.

Because the creators behind Ralph Breaks The Internet know that the majority of its audience will be young children, they've sent out an important message about friendship. In Wreck-it Ralph, Ralph and Vanellope's friendship is what drove the film and was a highlight as it was so unlikely, with him being a large antagonist that wrecks things and her being a sweet little race car driver. However, in this sequel, we see Ralph worrying about losing his friendship with Vanellope so he does everything he can to prevent that from happening. When Vanellope considers staying in the Slaughter Race video game, Ralph sends Insecurity Virus that replicates any flaw it finds. Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan, and he almost loses Vanellope in the process. This is when Ralph learns that he can't hold Vanellope back from her dreams and what she really wants to do. Many viewers, especially children, will have friends and, through its story, it teaches them that, in order to keep friends close, you've got to let them go sometimes. In the beginning, we learn that Ralph and Vanellope spend every evening together, hanging out in other video games, however, while it seems fun at first, it's only natural to want to spend time apart every now and again. By trying to keep Vanellope, he almost loses her. I think that this message was executed really well.

When the trailer for Ralph Breaks The Internet was released earlier this year, one of the scenes that stood out was when Vanellope meets a group of the Disney princesses including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Ariel, Anna, Elsa, Tiana, Pocahontas, Mulan and many others. This was the scene that I, and many others, was looking forward to seeing and, fortunately, I wasn't disappointed and it is one of my favourite scenes. At the end of Wreck-it Ralph, it was revealed that Vanellope is the Princess of Sugar Rush. However, as we clearly see in this memorable scene, she's not your typical princess, as she wears a hoodie instead of dresses, doesn't sing songs or talk to animals, which makes the other Princesses doubtful until she says that people assumed all of her problems get solved because a big, strong man showed up. It's a really fun scene and made me wish for a spin-off that focuses more on Vanellope interacting with the various Princesses. 

While Ralph Breaks The Internet shows the highs of the Internet, the film proves that it's not all fun and games. This is shown in a scene where Ralph discovers the comment section after he goes viral on BuzzzTube. After a few positive comments, he soon notices a lot of negative and cruel comments which, unsurprisingly, hurt his feelings. Users of the Internet and especially social media will have encountered at least one cruel comment from an anonymous and faceless person. While it may be hard, Ralph learns from Yesss that he shouldn't pay attention to any of the negativity and it's a lesson everyone should learn. I really appreciated the writers for including this scene and for including the message of friendship within their story as they didn't want viewers, especially parents who have children and are worried about them using the Internet, walking away thinking that it's all fun and games as it isn't. If a person receives ninety-nine positive comments and one nasty comment, what they're going to remember is the latter, which is unfortunate. While people should be thinking more about what they say online, those who receive the comments need to learn to ignore it.

While there is a lot to like about Ralph Breaks The Internet, it's not a perfect feature. Vanellope's song, 'A Place Called Slaughter Race', didn't fit in with the rest of the film and it felt out of place. I understand that she was trying to sing spontaneously, like the other Disney princesses, however, it didn't work for me and Vanellope could've expressed her feelings without singing. The climax also felt like it was dragging. Because there was no main villain, I think that the writers struggled coming up with a way to end the film, so they decided to make Ralph's insecurity the main villain, which seemed like a good idea, however, I just didn't think it was necessary. Despite these small criticisms, I still enjoyed Ralph Breaks The Internet and think that it's a great follow up to Wreck-it Ralph. 

7/10

MARY POPPINS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Release in 1964, Mary Poppins stars Julie Andrews in one of her most iconic and memorable roles and is a thoroughly entertaining feature that is enjoyable for the whole family. The film was produced by Walt Disney and is based on the titular character that appeared in P. L. Travers' children's books. However, the journey from book to screen was not an easy one. Disney's daughters loved the books which lead to him wanting to make a feature film adaptation and attempted to buy the rights to the film from 1938, however, Travers refused as she didn't believe a film version of her books would do justice to her creation. Disney was known at the time primarily as a producer of cartoons and had yet to produce any major live-action work. For more than 20 years, Disney periodically made efforts to convince Travers to allow him to make a Poppins film. He finally succeeded in 1961, although Travers demanded and got script approval rights. After the two decade struggle, Mary Poppins was released in 1964 and proved to be a big success, especially at the box office. However, does it still hold up as classic over fifty years later?

Mary Poppins is set in Edwardian London in 1910 and focuses on the titular nanny as she helps to look after the Banks children, Jane (Karen Dotrice) and Michael (Matthew Garber), after their previous nanny quit. The family also includes the parents, George (David Tomlinson), who is very strict and works at the bank, and Winifred (Glynis Johns), who is a suffragette and is depicted as a member of Emmeline Pankhurst's "Votes for Women" movement. After Poppins' arrival, she soon impresses the children with her magical presence. Along with Bert (Dick Van Dyke), a cockney jack-of-all-trades and Poppins' closest friend, the children are taken on adventures that exist within Bert's chalk drawings and inside a house where Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn) can't come down from the ceiling due to his uncontrollable laughter. All of this makes Mary Poppins a fun film to watch.

In answer to my earlier question, yes, Mary Poppins still remains a classic, even after over fifty years. When I first watched it as a child, it quickly became one of my favourite films, and, even now, as an adult, I still enjoy it. 

One of the best aspects of Mary Poppins is, undoubtedly, Andrews' performance as Poppins. It's hard to believe that this was her feature film debut as she proves to be a natural in front of the camera. As stated in the film, Andrews is "practically perfect in every way". Because of her performance, Andrews won her much-deserved Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. The supporting cast all give strong performances too. While Van Dyke's British accent is one of the small issues within the film, he still gives a charismatic performance as Poppins' friend, Bert. To be honest, as a child, I didn't notice his poor accent as, at the time, I didn't know that he was American and thought that he was British. It wasn't until I watched it as an adult that I realised Van Dyke's accent was over-the-top. Aside from Bert, Van Dyke also portrayed Mr. Dawes Sr., the old director of the bank where Mr. Banks works. Again, as a child, I didn't notice this as the make-up made Van Dyke look unrecognisable. Another strong performance comes from Tomlinson as Mr. Banks who, in the beginning, is seen as strict and isn't a likable character, however, he soon changes his outlook on life in the film's ending. Both Dotrice and Garber are impressive as the Banks children.

Aside from the performances, another stand-out aspect of Mary Poppins are the songs which were written by the Sherman brothers, Richard and Robert. The most memorable song is 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'. The song occurs in the chalk-drawing outing animated sequence, just after Poppins wins a horse race. Flush with her victory, she is immediately surrounded by reporters who pepper her with leading questions and comment that she probably is at a loss for words. Poppins disagrees, suggesting that at least one word is appropriate for the situation, and begins the song. While 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' is the most memorable song from the film, the Academy recognised 'Chim Chim Cher-ee' with the award for Best Original Song and the brothers also received a song for Best Original Score. While I love both of the aforementioned songs, other favourites of mine include 'A Spoonful of Sugar' which is sung by Poppins when she helps the children to tidy up their nursery in a more fun way and 'Feed The Birds' which is a moving ballad also sung by Poppins about an elderly woman that sits on the steps on St. Paul's Cathedral and sells bags of bird food to feed to the pigeons that surround her. The songs that feature within Mary Poppins are the reason why it works as a musical. The lyrics are memorable and the tunes are catchy and infectious.

After its release, Mary Poppins was successful, not only at the box office, but at the Academy Awards as well. Aside from winning Andrews her first Oscar for her performance and the Sherman brothers awards for their songwriting work, the feature received two more wins for Best Editing and Best Visual Effects. It was also nominated for eight other Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director for Robert Stevenson, Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design.

Mary Poppins is widely considered to be Walt Disney's "crowning achievement". It was the only film of Disney's to garner a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars in his lifetime. Since its release in 1964, it has been enjoyed and appreciated by families of many generations and it still remains a classic. 

8/10

INCREDIBLES 2 REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Those who know me will know that The Incredibles is my all-time favourite Disney/Pixar feature. Because of this, you can imagine my excitement when the director, Brad Bird, announced in 2014 that he would be releasing a sequel to his superhero-based animated feature. Fourteen years after its release and the wait is finally over. 

Everyone's favorite family of superheroes is back in Incredibles 2 - but this time Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is in the spotlight, leaving Bob (Craig T. Nelson) at home with Violet (Sarah Vowell) and Dash (Huck Milner) to navigate the day-to-day heroics of "normal" life. It's a tough transistion for everyone, made tougher by the fact that the family is still unaware of baby Jack-Jack's emerging superpowers. When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the family and Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) must find a way to work together again - which is easier said than done, even when they're all Incredible.

While it's been released to impressive results in the US, Incredibles 2 isn't released in the UK until next month, on July 13th. I was expecting to see it then, however, my local cinema announced they were holding a 'Secret Screening' of a film, which meant audiences wouldn't know what they were watching until the film started. As I sat down in my seat, I wasn't expecting it to be the sequel to one of my favourite films so I was so incredibly happy (no pun intended) when Incredibles 2 popped up on my screen. With a lot of sequels, they tend to disappoint, due to it lacking quality of its predecessor. Fortunately, this can't be said for Incredibles 2 which lives up to expectations and is just as action packed and entertaining as the previous film.

Sequels that are rushed and released within a few years of the first film tend to disappoint, however, because Bird took his time with the sequel for The Incredibles, the overall result is successful. Over the years since its release, Bird has discussed ideas for a sequel but didn't want to rush it and wanted to make sure he had the perfect story. He didn't want to retread the first film, instead, he wanted to pick the film up from where it had left off, with the family of superheroes fighting the Underminer, who makes his appearance right at the end of the first film. This was a good idea as it doesn't feel like fourteen years have passed since we last saw the superheroes. 

The plot for the first film involved Mr. Incredible returning to his superhero lifestyle and he got the most of the action, whilst Helen was the stay-at-home mother, looking after the children. After Mr. Incredible gets into trouble, we do eventually get to see Elastigirl in action as she uses her super stretching abilities to save her husband. Those who wanted to see more of Elastigirl in action will not be disappointed with this sequel. In the first film, superheroes are deemed illegal due to the many lawsuits they faced and the damaged they caused. After failing to capture the Underminer, the family are forced to resume their ordinary lives and, due to the events of the first film that led to their home being destroyed, live in a motel. However, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl and Frozone are contacted by Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), the owner of DEVTECH, who is also a big superheroes fan. He proposes a publicity stunt to regain the general public's support of supers. Because Elastigirl is considered to be the least destructive of the three, she is selected to undertake the stunt by openly fighting crime in New Urbem. This means that Mr. Incredible will have to be the stay-at-home parent and, in the beginning, he finds this very difficult, due to Violet's boy troubles, Dash's maths homework and the new found discovery of Jack-Jack's powers. This is where the majority of the humour comes from and I'm sure a lot of parents will be able to relate to Bob's struggles as a single parent.

Meanwhile, Elastigirl is enjoying being a superhero once more, however, she soon discovers that there is a villain, known as the Screenslaver who is causing chaos with mind controlling abilities. This becomes her main focus as she is determined to find out who is behind the Screenslaver's mask. Unfortunately, things go wrong leading to Elastigirl succumbing to the Screenslaver's mind controlling powers. This leads to Mr. Incredible, Frozone, Violet, Dash and even Jack Jack teaming up to defeat the Screenslaver. The sequel also introduces us to new superhero characters, including Voyd (Sophia Bush), who can create voids where objects can appear and disappear; Krushauer (Phil LaMarr) who has the power of telekinesis; Helectrix (LaMarr) who has the power of controlling and projecting electrical currents and Reflux (Paul Eiding) who is an elderly Super who has the power of heaving hot lava. While these new superheroes don't get as much screentime, I would like to see them in a future sequel as they each are interesting and have unique superpowers.

We're only six months into 2018 and we've already had our fair share of superhero films released with Marvel dominating the genre and box office with their releases of Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Deadpool 2. However, Incredibles 2 proves that there's still room for animated and family friendly superhero films. At the time of writing this review, Incredibles 2 has been released in the US for less than a week and it's already made close to $300 million. With its release in the UK approaching, I'm sure it'll continue to become more successful.

A problem with many animated films is that they are aimed more at young children which mean that adults, who are watching the film with them, may find it boring and predictable. However, one of the praises that most Disney/Pixar films have receive is its ability to appeal to the whole family. They are the definition of family films as there's something for everyone to enjoy, including humour, action and a story that's easy to follow. The same can be said for Incredibles 2. Teenagers will be able to relate to Violet and her relationship issues with Tony Rydinger (Michael Bird), a boy she's had a crush on since the first film. Children will find Dash's energetic behaviour and Jack Jack's powers funny and parents will be able to relate to Bob's struggles of looking after the children alone. 

Despite the impressive success Incredibles 2 has received, it's hard to say whether a third film will be released. The film ends with the family preparing to save the city once more as they don their black masks which could be a hint that there's more to come. A post-credits scene also shows that the Underminer is still at large so, if a third film was to be released, it could focus on the Incredibles defeating him once and for all. While I'm unsure about a third film, it's definitely something I'd be happy to see.

Overall, featuring plenty of action and humour, Incredibles 2 is a sequel that lives up to expectations and doesn't disappoint. 

8/10

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN TELL NO TALES REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of the first film in 2003, the Pirates Of The Caribbean films have gone on to become one of the most successful franchises. Despite this, the films themselves have received a lot of criticism. The first film, The Curse Of The Black Pearl, received a lot of praise for its originality and fast-paced adventure and the humour that came from Johnny Depp's performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, the sequels have been criticised, mainly for the plot and length of the film. However, for me, personally, I love the Pirates films, especially the first three. I recently re-watched them and I can't understand the criticism they received. Both Dead Man's Chest and At World's End featured a compelling story full of twists and turns and it featured a lot of interesting character developments, especially in Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swann, the Governor's daughter who wants to be a pirate. The final battle sequence that took place in At World's End was thrilling and dramatic. I think that the reason why the first three were really good was because of the director, Gore Verbinski, who is best known for directing The Ring. In all three of the Pirates films, he captures the dark tone and scary atmosphere of the world that the titular pirates live in. Unfortunately, he didn't return for the fourth film, On Stranger Tides, and was replaced by Rob Marshall who, at first, didn't seem the most likely director as he'd previously directed the musical, Chicago. However, while On Stranger Tides wasn't as good as the first three, it wasn't that bad. To be honest, I think that the series should've ended with the fourth one, however, the film left on a cliffhanger, indicating that there was going to be a fifth film. And, six years later, Dead Man Tell No Tales (also known as Salazar's Revenge) has finally been released. 

Dead Man Tell No Tales finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea-notably Jack. Jack's only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

Unfortunately, Dead Man Tell No Tales doesn't feel like a Pirates Of The Caribbean film because, for one, it's not even set in the titular Caribbean. The tone is different to the first four and it, at times, feels like a parody with all the slapstick comedy. I think this is mainly down to the fact the film has two directors, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, directing their first Hollywood film. There are many sequences that are intended for comic relief but look too ridiculous to be funny. I think that if Rønning and Sandberg had focused more on telling a compelling story that is just as good as its predecessors, they could've toned down the humour. That's what I liked about the previous films. They had moments of comic relief but it wasn't necessarily a comedy as the films focused more on the narrative rather than making people laugh. 

One of the best things about the Pirates films was Depp's performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. He brought humour to the role and improvised most of his dialogue which made him even more of an unpredictable character. Unfortunately, because of the controversy surrounding his relationship with Amber Heard in 2015 and last year, his performance isn't as good as what it once was. 

One of the newcomers include Bardem as the villain, Salazar, who is an improvement on On Stranger Tides' Captain Blackbeard, played by Ian McShane. Bardem is best known for his villainous roles including Silva in the 2012 James Bond film, Skyfall, and his Oscar-winning performance as Anton Chigurh in the 2007 film, No Country For Old Men. While Salazar isn't as scary or unpredictable as the two aforementioned characters, he still poses a threat to Jack and, like Anton Chigurh, kills a lot of innocent people in order to achieve his plan of getting revenge on Jack. 

As Will Turner's (Orlando Bloom) son, Thwaites captures his on-screen father's charm and determination. Like Will with his father in Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, Henry wants to free his father from the curse of the Flying Dutchman. Scodelario is fierce and feisty as Carina and, despite judgments from other people, she remains headstrong throughout and leads the pirate to finding the Trident of Poseidon. Both Thwaites and Scodelario have more chemistry than the two love interests, Philip (Sam Claflin) and Syrena (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), from On Stranger Tides. 

For those hoping to see a lot of Bloom and Knightley in this latest installment, you'll be disappointed as Bloom is only seen in the opening sequence and doesn't appear again until he's reunited with Knightley in the film's climax. For me, I loved seeing both Will and Elizabeth reunite as their love story was effectively written throughout the three films. 

While Dead Man Tell No Tales doesn't feel like a Pirates Of The Caribbean film, it's still fairly entertaining and is never boring. To those argued that the running length of the previous films was too long will be happy to know that this latest installment only runs at 129 minutes. This means that the action runs at a fast pace and features a lot of adventurous sequences. 

It's a shame that the quality of the Pirates films have decreased since On Stranger Tides. The Pirates film have the potential to tell creative and imaginative narratives with interesting characters. 

A sixth film has been announced and, if this latest installment is as successful as its predecessors as the box office, it'll be released within the next few years. I just hope that the next film can improve on Dead Man Tell No Tales' flaws. 

7/10 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017) REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS* 

There has been an increase in live-action adaptations of Disney's classic animated films. The majority of them have succeeded in being just as entertaining and remaining faithful to the original source. Personally, my favourites include Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, Cinderella and, most recently, The Jungle Book. This lead to high expectations for the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast.

Out of all the animated films Disney has released, Beauty and the Beast is one of their most popular. It was the first ever animated film to win an award for Best Motion Picture at the 1992 Golden Globes. At the Academy Awards the same year, it won two Oscars for Best Music, Original Song and Best Music, Original Score. Because of this, it went on to become one of Disney's most successful films and it is still regarded as a masterpiece over twenty years later. 

Recreating one of Disney's most beloved animated films must have been an incredibly challenging task but, nevertheless, the cast and crew have worked hard and created a live-action feature film that lives up to expectations and manages to be just as enchanting as the original.

After being placed under a spell after revealing his selfish personality to an Enchantress (Hattie Morahan) in disguise, the Prince (Dan Stevens), now a hideous-looking Beast, must find love again before the final petal from an enchanted rose falls. The years past and the Beast loses hope. Meanwhile, a young woman, Belle (Emma Watson), is dissatisfied with her life in a small village in France due to her fellow villagers thinking that she's odd. However, there's one man who is determined to win her affections and that's Gaston (Luke Evans). Because of his narcissistic personality, Belle couldn't be less interested. After her father, Maurice (Kevin Kline) leaves the village to go to a market, he soon loses his way and becomes trapped in the Beast's enchanted castle. This leads to Belle finding him and taking his place. Could Belle be the one to help break the spell that's been placed on the castle?

This live-action version of Beauty and the Beast was directed by Bill Condon who is best remembered for directing the Academy Award-winning musical, Dreamgirls, in 2006 and he also wrote the screenplay for the 2002 musical, Chicago. This is what makes him a good choice to help bring the classic 1991 animated film to life.  Fortunately, he has succeeded. Beauty and the Beast can go up alongside Cinderella and The Jungle Book as one of the best live-action adaptations. 

The performances are all solid and every actor gives a strong performance as their characters. Watson makes Belle a brave and independent individual. In this remake, there is more to Belle and we see that she has a knack for inventing things and proves to be useful in certain situations. Unlike in the original animation, we learn more about Belle, her childhood and what happened to her mother, giving her more background. 

Likewise with the Beast who also had similar traumas as a young child. Stevens, who is best known for appearing in the periodic drama series Downton Abbey, is almost unrecognisable as the Beast. He brings a softer side to the character and we feel more sympathetic towards him, especially when he's singing Evermore, which is one of the new songs that is featured in this live-action remake. In the beginning, we clearly see that he is selfish but he soon develops a more kinder personality and learns that true beauty is on the inside. Both Watson and Stevens have great chemistry together and the film is at its best when the two are developing their romantic relationship which is shown in the Something There montage.

As the villain of the film, Evans is the perfect choice for Gaston. Despite his good looks, he is a true monster on the inside and, over the course of the film, we despise him more and more. Gaston and his friend, LeFou (Josh Gad), bring most of the comic relief and the pair make a great rendition of Gaston's titular song. This scene is the film's most energetic and feature some strong choreography. Regarding Gad's character, there has been some controversy as, in the final dance sequence, LeFou dances with another male. However, this scene is pretty much blink-and-you'll-miss-it. Fortunately, I did see it and I think that it's great that Disney is finally including a wider range of relationships in their films. This is also the first Disney film to feature two interracial relationships: Lumiere (Ewan McGregor) is married to Plumette (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Cadenza's (Stanley Tucci) wife is Madame de Garderobe. By having a more diverse cast and featuring wider relationships, this will hopefully lead to a more accepting society.

The voices of the enchanted objects are all well-chosen. As Lumiere, the charming candelabra, McGregor admitted to struggling with the French accent, at first, and had to re-record his dialogue. Fortunately, he managed to master it and his rendition of Be Our Guest is just as good as the original sequence. The computer-generated visuals are at their most impressive here and the entire screen is filled with a wide range of bright colours as the kitchenware serves Belle her dinner. 

As the serious clock, Cogsworth, Ian McKellan is a great choice. Throughout the film, we see plenty of Cogsworth and Lumiere's disagreements which add to the humour. Emma Thompson is perfectly sweet as the teacup, Mrs. Potts, and makes her sound like a true motherly figure. Overall, there's not a bad performance to be found in this star-studded cast.

The ballroom dance was the big highlight of the original animation so this must've been an incredibly daunting task for both Watson and Stevens to recreate. Fortunately, with Thompson singing the titular song, this dance sequence manages to capture the beauty of the scene.

As a child, I loved watching the original Beauty and the Beast and I was fortunate enough to see the stage adaptation twice. This lead me to having high expectations for this live-action remake and I wasn't disappointed. I think that this is the perfect film to watch if you loved the original as it increases the feeling of nostalgia. Children of all ages will enjoy this too and find the characters, especially the enchanted objects, really entertaining. 

Overall, with an enchanting cast, beautifully crafted songs, and a painterly eye for detail, Beauty and the Beast offers a faithful yet fresh retelling that honors its beloved source material.

8/10

My Favourite Live-Action Adaptations of Disney Films

As of late, there have been many live-action adaptations of Disney's classic animated films. For me, personally, I enjoy watching these live-action takes as it's entertaining watching well-known actors perform as some of the most popular characters. In this blogpost, I'll be talking about my four favourite (see above) live-action adaptations of Disney films.

101 Dalmatians (1996)

The original 1961 animation was a massive success for Disney following the unexpected flop of Sleeping Beauty. It's hard to believe but the company was in serious debt and they desperately needed a hit. There was even talk of closing down the animation division as the company was refocusing on live action films, television and theme parks. Fortunately, 101 Dalmatians went on to become the highest grossing film of 1961 in the United States. In 1996, the live-action remake was released by Disney and was one of my favourite films as a child. To be honest, I think that this is really underrated because, when everyone discusses live-action adaptations, nobody really mentions 101 Dalmatians. While it might not be a great film, it's still worth a watch just for the performances, especially Glenn Closes' as the iconic villain, Cruella De Vil, who wants to make a spotted fur coat out of dalmatians. She really makes the character her own and captures her vulgarity. Because of her strong performance, Close was nominated for a Golden Globe the following year. In the original animation, the main characters were the adult dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita, and, because they all had voices, we could hear the pain and sadness they felt at losing their young puppies. However, in this remake, the dogs don't talk and it's hard to connect with them as, from the viewer's perspective, they're not Pongo and Perdita, they're just two dogs looking for their puppies. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though, because I don't think giving voices to the dogs would work. Because Glenn's performance was a success and it earned over $320 million at the international box office, a sequel was released three years later. While it wasn't as good as its predecessor, it was still an entertaining film for children who were fans of the previous film. 

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Disney's 1951 animation, Alice In Wonderland, is one of my favourite films released by Disney. It's full of energetic, fun characters and tells a entertaining story. The animation is one of Disney's best as we see the titular Wonderland come to life through vibrant and bright colours. In 2010, Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland was released. However, it wasn't a direct remake of the animated film. Rather, it was inspired by the animated film but mainly based on Lewis Carroll's books, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass. Burton's film managed to bring Wonderland to life through impressive visuals and computer-generated imagery. However, despite this, it received mixed reviews from critics. While it might not be an accurate adaptation of Carroll's classic books, the film is entertaining enough on its own. Johnny Depp, who frequently appears in Burton's films, gives a quirky performance as the Mad Hatter and is almost unrecognisable underneath the bright and colourful make-up. Mia Wasikowska also gives a strong performance as Alice who is a brave and determined individual. Another performance worth mentioning is Helena Bonham-Carter as the evil Red Queen who has an enormous head and is nicknamed 'Bloody Big Head'. Bonham-Carter makes the Red Queen her own and perfectly captures her loud outbursts and angry tantrums. Burton's Alice In Wonderland may have sacrificed the book's minimal narrative coherence, however, it's still a highly entertaining film that is worth watching for the performances and visually-stunning Wonderland. After its release, it went on to receive over $1 billion at the box office worldwide. Because of this, a sequel, Alice Through The Looking Glass, was released six years later. Unfortunately, despite being just as visually impressive as its predecessor, it had an underwhelming narrative. Due to its darkness and minor violence, especially in the climax, Alice In Wonderland proved to be more suited to older viewers, however, its sequel will probably only entertain youngsters. 

Maleficent (2014)

Like the live-action adaptation of 101 Dalmatians, Maleficent focuses more on the titular villain. Maleficent is known for being the evil witch in Disney's 1959 animated film, Sleeping Beauty, who casts an curse on the princess so that when she turns 16, she'll prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. In the original animated film, Maleficent was a one-dimensional wicked witch who had no reason for cursing the young princess other than the fact she was evil. However, Maleficent brings a whole new perspective and actually makes Maleficent a more sympathetic character. The story brings depth to Maleficent and it's because of this we end up rooting for her throughout the entire film. Angelina Jolie proves why she's one of the most talented actresses in her leading role as the titular character. She doesn't just portray Maleficent, she becomes her. She understands what she's been through and perfectly captures her true emotions. Her make-up and costume also make her look exactly like the animated version. Truth be told, Maleficent is worth watching for Jolie's performance alone. The visual effects are impressive here too, especially in the opening scene where we first meet Maleficent as a child. We see her home in the forest which is filled with colourful imagery and mythical creatures such as goblins and fairies. The brightness of this setting indicates Maleficent's mood and how happy she is. However, after she is betrayed by her friend, she is soon filled with anger and the film's tone becomes darker. It's this betrayal that leads to her cursing the princess as an infant. However, we can now understand Maleficent's actions and feel sympathetic towards her when she tries to undo the curse after bonding with the princess as she grows up. It's because of Jolie's mesmirising performance and the added depth to her character why Maleficent is actually an improvement on the original animated film. Elle Fanning gives a strong performance as the princess Aurora who believes that Maleficent is her fairy godmother.

The Jungle Book (2016)

Disney's 1967 animated film, The Jungle Book, tells the story of Mowgli who was raised in the jungle by wolves but, now a fully grown child, he must return to the man-village or face being killed by a terrifying tiger, Shere-Khan. However, this return home proves to be more difficult than Mowgli and his friend, Bagheera the black panther, thought and Mowgli encounters a snake, elephants, a large bear and more on his journey. It was a highly entertaining film with interesting characters and catchy songs such as 'Bare Necessities' and it went on to become a Disney classic. It's because of this I can understand why a live-action adaptation was released and, fortunately, it lived up to expectations and managed to successfully recreate the original through computer-generated imagery. The jungle is brought to life and is visually stunning. The same can be said for the animals as well. It's hard to believe none of it is real and is all created through technology. Neel Sethi is the only actor that appears fully in the film. Speaking of which, Sethi gives an impressive performance in his debut feature film. He captures Mowgli's cheeky and brave personality really well. The voices for the film are good choices too and include Ben Kingsley as Shere Khan, Idris Elba as Shere Khan, Bill Murray as Baloo the bear and Scarlett Johansson as Kaa the snake. Each bring their unique talents to the role and are all great individually but the stand-out is Murray as Baloo. In the original animated film, Baloo brought most of the humour so it make sense that Murray would voice him. He and Mowgli develop a bond over the course of the film. Because it's an adventure-based film, The Jungle Book never fails to lose our attention and keeps us entertained throughout with its fast-paced action. It's because of the stunning visuals, an impressive performance from Sethi and strong voice work from its A-List cast that The Jungle Book is one of the best live-action adaptations of a Disney film.

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Creating a live-action adaptation of Disney's most successful animation must have been an incredibly challenging task but, fortunately, director Bill Condon and the entire cast and crew have worked hard and created a feature film that captures the magic of the original. I think that a lot of people will have high expectations as the 1991 original animated film was a huge success. At the Golden Globes, it won the award for Best Motion Picture and at the Academy Awards, it won two Oscars for Best Music, Original Score and Best Music, Original Song, all of which it most certainly deserved. It showed Disney at their best so it's no surprise that a live-action remake was created. As a child, I loved watching the original Beauty and the Beast and I was fortunate enough to see the stage adaptation twice. This lead me to having high expectations for this live-action remake and I wasn't disappointed. I think that this is the perfect film to watch if you loved the original as it increases the feeling of nostalgia. Children of all ages will enjoy this too and find the characters, especially the enchanted objects, really entertaining. As a child, I loved watching the original Beauty and the Beast and I was fortunate enough to see the stage adaptation twice. This lead me to having high expectations for this live-action remake and I wasn't disappointed. I think that this is the perfect film to watch if you loved the original as it increases the feeling of nostalgia. Children of all ages will enjoy this too and find the characters, especially the enchanted objects, really entertaining. Overall, with an enchanting cast, beautifully crafted songs, and a painterly eye for detail, Beauty and the Beast offers a faithful yet fresh retelling that honors its beloved source material.

Those are my favourite live action adaptations of Disney films. 

As more get released in the coming years, if they're good enough, I'll update this list.

Thanks for reading my blogpost, I really appreciate it.