ian-lee17 Reviews

Rango (2011)

Unusual, fun western

[8/10 · 29 November 2011]

Rango is very fun to watch for fans of Western movies with twists. It reminds me of Kung Fu Panda in re-creating the feel of cult classic Kung Fu movies. The setting and supporting characters feel like a Western though exaggerated for humor, but it makes the characters more appealing and easier to sympathize with. In addition there are fantasy elements of destiny and supernatural phenomena that make it very different from unique and were a really pleasant surprise for me. More generally the plot is predictable, but the pace of the movie feels great. The movie grew on me the more I watched it, with Rango going from an annoying and out of touch with reality to fairly endearing.

This movie is also beautiful. The desert scenes were gorgeous and the characters had great detail and expressions.

The humor is odd and dry. There are death scenes, so I wouldn't necessarily say this is a good movie for kids.

A humorous, weird, comedic but respectful Western that was really fun to watch.

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011)

Made me want to be a puppeteer

[9/10 · 5 November 2011]

If you've enjoyed watching the Muppets/Sesame Street/or the like you'll love this movie. The story of Kevin Clash is not so dramatic as much as it is fascinating and a thorough exploration of the unique world and craft of Muppets. I frequently found myself giggling or chuckling during several scenes, and I was always excited whenever someone put a puppet on to see how they would bring it to life with their voice and motions. The movie showed me where to find the deep hidden meaning in puppets and shows like Sesame Street. This movie made me feel happy, and I don't know that I can explain why except that this is part of the magic of puppeteers like Kevin Clash and their craft.

Source Code (2011)

Better than expected

[7/10 · 5 November 2011]

From the trailer I expected an action focused film, but it ended up being a fun science fiction exploration that felt natural and as if the audience is in the same position as Jake Gyllenhaal. If you enjoy science fiction for with ethical and character issues then this is a good movie for you. Though it could have been more of a mystery or thriller style movie, the focus really is on how Gyllenhaal's character develops rather than the dramatic situation. Sometimes the next step or plot event that progresses the movie feels too easy and in once case contrived. Don't expect a lot of action despite frequent explosions. Definitely an interesting movie that touches on hypothetical ethical issues.