Animated - Cinema Crespodiso

Review: ‘Sausage Party’

“Sausage Party” is the story of how a fella named Frank goes on a journey of discovery, as he always “knew” one truth about The Great Beyond but then suddenly was presented with evidence that showed him something else, something that propelled him to figure out what really awaits everyone in the next world, and he becomes determined to take this new information and let everyone else know about it so they can all be in on the grand ultimate truth together.

You see, when things start out, Frank (Seth Rogen) and Brenda (Kristen Wiig) are just a couple of lovebirds waiting for the correct, predetermined time for them to be able to consummate their love, and they are surrounded by like-minded folks all wanting the same thing. And near them are other groups, with differences throughout but still all united under one common theme – awaiting The Great Beyond. In The Great Beyond they know they only have good things waiting for them, and these good things change depending on what each group wants, but it all boils down to “good times for all.” Everyone is so excited for the grandness of The Great Beyond that they are desperate to get their soon, hoping every morning that would be the day they are chosen to move on.Continue Reading …

Review: ‘Finding Dory’

After an initial viewing, it doesn’t appear that there is anything “wrong” with the newest movie from Pixar and Disney, “Finding Dory,” the sequel to the smash hit “Finding Nemo” that no one was really asking for, and yet here it is, and you know what? It is pretty damn good, which of course we should be expecting from these fine artists, who have now spent decades crafting finely made and expertly tuned feature length movies, many of which seemed ridiculous at the outset, only to end up being deeply moving and effective pieces of art. If this were coming from another studio, it would feel like a cash grab, but since this is from Pixar, it is more of a chance to revisit some beloved characters and introduce new ones and tell a solid story with some familiar pieces and some new pieces.

There are a couple of similarities between “Finding Dory” and its predecessor. In the first movie, Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), the blue tang fish with short term memory loss, helps the clown fish Marlon (Albert Brooks) find his missing son Nemo. This time around, Marlon and Nemo agree to help Dory find her parents, whom she got separated from at a young age and naturally forget them over time. But she remembers them suddenly and wants to go find them, and it is important to note that this movie isn’t called “Finding Dory’s Parents” because really the story is all about Dory finding out who she is and really gaining a sense of self worth as she uncovers her past, and they manage to get quite an emotional journey out of this set up.Continue Reading …

Review: ‘Zootopia’

“Zootopia” is a pretty chill movie, mostly because its central message of acceptance and tolerance is most welcome in this divisive “us versus them” climate currently being stoked in the mainstream media and out on the streets. Fear Of The Other is a very real and palpable thing and there is no shortage of folks who make it their mission to use it to drive as many wedges as possible between communities via propaganda and campaigns of hate, which means now is a great time for a big commercial piece of art to come out and literally say out loud “hey, stop judging each other and start being cool because we’re all in this together and it is our differences which bring us together and complete us and allow us to function together brilliantly.” Is it a daring message? No. Is it important? Absolutely.

Review: ‘Inside Out’

“Inside Out” is another one of those “it’s for the kids but it’s REALLY for the parents” kind of animated movies, you know, the ones Pixar has excelled at for about two decades or so, the movies that are cute, brightly colored and imaginative in a way that sucks in the young ones and holds their attention, but traffic in ideas that are decidedly the stuff of adults, requiring some life experience and perspective for the themes to really resonate, which rest assured they do. Want to take the kids to a movie about the imminent end of their childhoods? Then “Inside Out” is for you! That’s what I’d put on the poster anyway.

In “Inside Out,” 11-year old Riley moves with her Mom and Dad (because where else is she gonna go?) from somewhere in Minnesota to San Francisco. The move is due to Dad getting involved in some fledgling tech business, with Mom and Riley dutifully coming along, and this all has some negative effects on Riley, who has trouble adjusting to her new surroundings. A pretty dull set up, as far as plots go. But while this story plays out, a majority of the movie takes places inside Riley’s brain; the emotions of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear are personified as five little characters that “work” inside Riley’s head, looking through her eyes like a giant viewscreen and collecting and collating her memories around the clock and storing them in the right places, with Joy leading the charge, doing her best to ensure that Riley is having a happy life.Continue Reading …

Review: ‘The Book of Life’

“The Book of Life” is a few stock stories smashed together into one story, and while none of these bits are original and perhaps the overall story suffers a little from there being too much going on with the various characters and general plot lines, this is still a pretty enchanting film thanks to the lush and intricate visual style and an earnestness and heartfelt approach to the movie.

The story centers on three friends – Manolo, Joaquin and Maria. Manolo comes from a long line of bullfighters and his father expects him to be one as well, but Manolo would much rather play the guitar and sing, which his father looks down upon as a lowly and unfit vocation for his son. Joaquin, meanwhile, wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was killed fighting against a bad guy named Chakal and whom the town venerates as their greatest hero. And then Maria is a free spirit kind of person, one who resists gender stereotypes and wants to be seen as an equal to her male counterparts and not just some prize to be wed off by her father. The three of them grow up together, and of course both Manolo and Joaquin love Maria and both vie for her attention. Meanwhile, Maria has no problem with leading both boys on and giggling and laughing at both of their advances and going a very long time without showing her hand as to which person she prefers.Continue Reading …

Review: ‘The Lego Movie’

Boom. Insta-classic. Just like that. If only it was as easy as these guys make it seem, but here we are with “The Lego Movie,” a film that traffics in both hilarity and profundity and never at the expense of either one. How did this happen? This really does not make much sense. This should not be. No one has been able to take plot-less toys and games and turn them into truly great movies, let alone good ones (we’re looking at you “G.I. Joes” and “Transformers” and “Battleship“). Yet here we are.

“The Lego Movie” is about Emmet Brickowoski (Chris Pratt), who is a very bland and featureless construction worker Lego guy (in a sentient, active, awesome looking Lego world) and he goes about his day to day routine super happy to be bland and follow the instructions and fit in like he’s supposed to. And then he literally stumbles ass backwards into an ancient prophecy, in which he is told he is actually the most special and unique person in the universe, and as such he will save the Lego universe from Lord Business (Will Ferrell), who seeks to end the Lego world as they know it by using a secret weapon to make all the world’s pieces permanently stuck together, as per the instructions.Continue Reading …