Tag Archives: Summer Blockbuster

Entertainment, Movies

Finally! A Dark Summer Comedy that is Forking Hilarious, The Art of Self Defense Hits all the Marks

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/independent/the-art-of-self-defense/the-art-of-self-defense-trailer-2_h1080p.mov

And A Rear View Mirror

Don’t get me wrong, I am down with trips to see the Summer Blockbuster Sequels, Re-makes and Prequels, kids in tow and everyone knowing what to expect.

The Lion King, a film with huge promotion and advertising, and, in spite of the critics complaining about it being a computer generated clone, story wise, will nevertheless kill at the box office, Toy Story 4, an always skillful addition to the long and vaunted story of Toy Story, Spider-man: Far From Home, where nobody knows what number this sequel is, 6(?), by now we just pay and watch.

All of these are perfectly ok, solid summer tent pole fare, and only those living under a proverbial rock could miss seeing them at some point this season.

But an entertainingly ridiculous, and yet dark and even topical film (addressing “toxic masculinity” as a problem and a punch line at the same time), that has no superheroes and no computer generated kitty cats? That, I admit, I did not see coming.

Never mind that Jesse Eisenberg has played a Super Villain in a Superhero movie (no, I don’t mean Zuckerberg although that’s a good point), as Lex Luther in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and in the recently announced Justice League Part Two.

Read More: 5 Books that Could Shed light on our Time: Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds

Dark, Meaningful and Insanely Funny

“The Art of Self Defense”, currently in theaters, is the second film by writer / director Riley Sterns and stars Eisenberg who plays Casey Davies, an introverted, passive weakling who, after being attacked by a gang, is inspired to search for self defense methods.

After exploring the possibility of arming himself, he happens across an advertisement for a karate dojo.

This, inevitably, leads to a continuous transformation as the weakling gains not only skills of self defense, but goes on a wild ride into the universe of aggression and toxic masculinity that is at once incredible entertaining, tremendously funny and also, somehow, unsettling. It carries an altered tone in light of the recent explosion of animalistic behavior exposed from the likes of Weinstein, JefferyEpstein, and the guy in the White House.

A SEQUEL TO KARATE KID? Ha Ha, Nope

Alessandro Nivola is spot-on as the charismatic Sensei, while Imogen Poots is the perfect macho-chick foil as Anna, but the film ultimately rests on, and revolves around, it’s identity as the perfect vehicle for Eisenberg’s trademarked awkward, meekness. A meekness that belies a dark, yet thoughtful intensity beneath.

In a world of endless super hero sequels and remakes, I don’t about you, but for this scribe, a dark, intense and absoforkinglutely hilarious indie comedy is a powerfully satisfying and welcome break from all that, and some of the dire realities of our world as well.

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Entertainment, Movies

Toy Story 4: Pixar Smash Hit To Kick Off Summer?

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Poster from Toy Story 3 (2010) Directed by Lee Unkrich

Old Friends meet New Friends

After several writers were replaced and the crew survived a laborious pre-production process, Disney and Pixar are finally back with Toy Story 4. Nearly 25 years old, the original “Toy Story” first hit theaters in 1995.

The first computer generated full length animated film, using the latest and most advanced technology available at that time, it had a budget of “only” $30 million dollars and grossed over $350 million dollars worldwide at the box office. 

With all the issues in getting to the screen, Toy Story 4’s release was ultimately delayed almost 2 years, originally scheduled to launch in the summer of 2017 but Cars 3 was put in its slot. In 2018, after the aforementioned pre-production and re-writing struggles, a summer release was again pre-empted in favor of Incredibles 2.

Read More: Disney, Universal and Pixar Films available to Stream in advance of original VOD release date

“[Toy Story 4] was supposed to come out this year and then they threw out three-quarters of it and rewrote. Usually, it takes – from start to finish – two years. But because they threw most of it in the bin and started over [my time on the project has] been extended a little bit. I’ve done a lot of work on it.”

-Annie Potts (voice of Bo Peep)

Finally and thankfully, this year will be the year. The 4th installment of the storied franchise reunites the whole gang; Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep and Mr. Potato Head.

This time around, Sheriff Woody befriends the newest addition to the cast, a homemade “toy” named “Forky” (although obviously built from a plastic “Spork”). The utensil is Voiced by Tony Hale, best known for his work on television series “Arrested Development” and “Veep”.

Drama ensues as Forky, in an existential crisis, does not want to be a toy, but rather resume life as an eating utensil, as his maker, presumably the spork factory, intended.

Don Rickles, the original voice of Mr. Potato Head, passed away in 2017 but, thanks to the magic of archived audio files, he will still remain the voice behind the beloved character. 

Read More: Summer Books to Mark a Most Unusual Adventure and Unexpected Circumstance

Many fans of the first three Toy Story films felt that the third installment had what appeared to be a definite and satisfying conclusion for the “trilogy”, and assumed there would never be a Toy Story 4. Although aware of the skepticism that the fourth installment could extend and conclude in an equally pleasing fashion, the creative team have shown confidence that this is indeed the case. We’ll see in June.

In a side note of interest, there are rumors that numerous Pixar “Easter eggs” are specially and purposefully hidden within the film. Attention to detail, a long standing Pixar speciality, is said to be incredible. Fans of arcane digital minutia will not be disappointed.

Toy Story 4 is directed by Josh Cooley and stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, and Keanu Reeves.

Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4”: in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.

Find books on Big Tech, Sustainable Energy, Economics and many other topics at our sister site: Cherrybooks on Bookshop.org

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