The Madagascar film series is one of the highest grossing animated film franchises of all time. Since 2005, three feature length films, a spinoff series and tons of merchandise have been produced to capitalize on the animated animals and their various adventures. A fourth film, Penguins of Madagascar is now out and it focuses on the exploits of the four lovable penguins who appeared in supporting roles throughout the franchise. With a mission to simply make more money, DreamWorks Animation is continuing its successful crusade but sadly, Penguins is overstuffed with stimulation which will delight young ones but will fall somewhat flat with parents.
The King and the Mockingbird
Animation is a realm in which pretty much anything is possible. Worlds and characters are created and art and story combine to form true visual magic. The French film The King and the Mockingbird is an animated adventure where such things are possible, good versus evil and heroes battle darkness. Originally conceived in 1948, the film took over three decades to finally be completed and was eventually released to the masses. 1980 saw the release of the film and with various modifications and tweaks over the years. It finally came to be and audiences and lovers of animation were in for a real treat. Even today, the film continues to soar and resonate with animation fans and lovers of good stories worldwide.
Butter on the Latch & Thou Wast Mild and Lovely
Josephine Decker is a brave young experimental artist in modern times, something of a rarity this day and age. Her medium of choice is film and she takes full advantage of the camera, lighting, and mise en scene. Every shot of her films tells a small story and when all of those shots combine, artistic magic begins to take place. She has two experimental films out now, Butter on the Latch and Thou Wast Mild and Lovely, and while both films are different, they each share strong similarities and highlight Decker’s artistic strengths.
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Take Care
There is no doubt that the break-up of a romantic relationship will yield certain residual awkwardness. That awkwardness would come usually come if or when one of the partners has a request of some sort. In the new indie rom com Take Care, this scenario is presented quite nicely and the results are relatively light and enjoyable. It is a film that feels as though it might have fared better on the small screen but the chemistry between the film’s two leads is so good and the script quite decent, that the pros certainly outweigh the cons.
Phobia
The human mind is capable of a great many things. A person’s perspective on a particular situation can be amplified to extreme heights and be either a blessing or a curse. In the latest horror/thriller Phobia, the limits of one man’s mind are pushed to absolute breaking point. An indie film, through and through, Phobia has some very strong performances and a very original plot, though it may feel a tad familiar. The film’s lead actors do an admirable job here and the apparent shoestring budget actually helps the film significantly by adding a great sense of realism and grit.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
In the past few years, vampires on film have undergone something of a change. Thanks to Twilight, the vampire and romance genres have blended to make the fanged creature of the night into a hunky heartthrob with a soft side. Thankfully, that morphed version of Nosferatu hasn’t morphed the genre as a whole. The Iranian horror/western hybrid A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is faithful to vampires as bloodthirsty monsters but instead of making a love story fit only for the teenage girl demographic, this vampire tale has blood, genuine scares and yes, a quirky union between vampire and human.
Reach Me
The self help book business is a thriving industry for many reasons: people want to better their lives, people don’t know where else to look for the answers to their problems and they often turn to a false prophet to help fix said problems. In the new dramedy Reach Me, a colorful group of characters played by an equally eclectic ensemble of well-known actors are all effected by a self help book and its recluse author. Each character who is touched by this “magical” book are from all walks of life and the finale eventually brings all of these random individuals together for one rather average film.
Wolves
With the teen supernatural genre boom courtesy of Twilight, movies dealing with dark creatures have been dumbed down and cater to kids hungry for mindless entertainment. Sometimes, a film slips through that is intelligent and pays homage to the characters and their stories in a respectful manner but sadly, Wolves is not one of them. It has all of the ingredients that made the Twilight saga successful and then some. Unfortunately, those qualities aren’t the same as quality cinema. It has a very cheap feel to it and will probably fall into Netflix Instant obscurity.
Bad Turn Worse
Crime stories are often filled with colorful characters, interesting plot points and evoke everlasting emotions. The Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino are notorious for bringing noir and crime to movie audiences in fresh and original ways. However, they aren’t the only filmmakers to delve into the crime/thriller genre with decent results. Directing team (and brothers) Simon and Zeke Hawkins have come out with Bad Turn Worse, an independent western thriller that has all the elements necessary for a disturbing yet highly entertaining film but sadly because of its indie flavor, mass audiences will probably overlook it.
Beside Still Waters
Friendship is a subject explored in movies pretty extensively. Togetherness and bonding are the touchstones of many film stories. Large groups especially like those in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire provide for some of the more memorable friendship sagas. The latest dramedy Beside Still Waters is a perfect example of this and while it shares many of the themes and tropes of friendship films before it, it does contain a few original ideas and some really great performances, making it one of the better indies out there today.
Unger the Radar 