The choice for today was a totally conscious one because I am huge fan of Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog) and Anna Kendrick (Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates). So, it was only natural that I would go and check out their latest film that just hit theaters in Dreamworks Trolls. At one time, the Trolls would openly sing and dance because they were so happy until a big and evil Bergen showed up. The Bergen was a depressed being that when it ate a Troll it became happy. The Bergen’s would continue to do this once a year until the Troll King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor) risked his life to help the Trolls escape. After being in hiding for twenty years, his daughter Poppy (Kendrick) decides that it’s a good idea to throw a party, but they are spotted by a Bergen and most of the village is kidnapped. Now along with the curmudgeon Troll named Branch (Timberlake), they will risk it all to save the Trolls before they are eaten. The film also stars Zooey Deschanel (Eulogy) as Bridget, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad) as King Gristle, Christine Baranski (Cybill) as Chef, Russell Brand (Hop) as Creek, Gwen Stefani as DJ Suki, James Corden (Begin Again) as Biggie, and the film was directed by Walt Dohrn (Shrek 2) and Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After).
This is one of those films that if you were trippin this would be the film to see because of the content and the colors. The film is just so out there, but it’s honestly one of the funniest kids movies of the year by far. I’m sure there is someone out there that is going to say that the film is a hidden message for some sort of social inequality or a representation of war or something like it, but not me. The film is almost fairy take like in it’s nature as it talks of these creatures that eat you because they think it brings them happiness, but it really comes from inside you. Dreamworks is one of those companies that has done a fantastic job in the past with their films (e.g. Shrek, How To Train Your Dragon, Home, etc.). I have to be honest in saying that I thought the idea of the film was stupid because I doubted they could come up with a good story, but to my surprise they did. The soundtrack to this film is one of it’s strong suits because it features great original music plus some cool covers in it. One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Timberlake and Kendrick’s characters meet this weird cloud (voiced by Walt Dohrn) because of the interaction they have with each other. It’s genuinely a very funny scene in the film. This was a very fun movie to watch so check it out for yourselves. I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade.
For today’s film, I wanted to watch something from Johnny Depp (Blow) that I hadn’t seen before and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street seemed like the perfect movie to choose. In the film, Depp plays the title character Sweeney Todd, a man who was once known as Benjamin Barker, one of the best barbers of London. You see Barker was forced out of London and into exile because an evil Judge by the name of Turpin (Alan Rickman) had eyes for his wife Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly). He now returns to London, 15 years later under a new identity to find that his wife is dead and his daughter is being held captive by Turpin. With the help of Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), he will set up shop once again in hopes of carrying out some good ole fashioned revenge. The film also stars Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) as Pirelli, Timothy Spall (Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire) as Beadle, Jamie Campbell Bower (The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones) as Anthony, Jayne Wisener (Jane Eyre) as Johanna, Ed Sanders (Hugo) as Toby, and the film was directed by the one and only Tim Burton (Alice In Wonderland).
Everyone needs to watch a musical every once in a while and I didn’t mind this one because it had that horror edge to it. What can be side about Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tim Burton that hasn’t already been said yet? Well, for one they are constantly working together so this must mean that it’s a dream team that works. While everyone including the late Alan Rickman does a great job int he film, Carter and Depp are simply masterful portraying two strange bedfellows. One wants revenge while the other has a sick sadistic way to get her meat pie business back up and running. Nevertheless, their performances are spot on and they really command the screen and they get the best out of others. The film definitely has that Tim Burton look to it where the world is bleak and grey and certain colors stand out more than most. One thing in the film that kind of bothered me was the fact that when he cut someone their blood looked like spaghetti sauce and not anywhere close to the color of blood. Sacha Baron Cohen is only in the film for a brief amount of time so if you can’t stand him then you don’t have to worry. You’ll only have to endure him for a brief amount of time. If you do like him, then I am sorry for that last sentence. I want to look into more of what England called Penny Dreadful’s which were stories that were printed in newspapers in Victorian England for a penny. That is where Sweeney Todd first appeared and it seems that they have more incredible stories. If you are a fan of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tim Burton then check out this movie because it is worth your time. That is why I am giving the film an A for a final grade.
365moviesin365dayschallenge 