“Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure” (2015)

Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure

Brief Description:

Thomas is caught in a conspiracy to steal recently discovered pirate treasure as he tries everything to regain his position as Sir Topham Hatt's number one engine.

(from Wikipedia)

Date: 2015

Genre: British animated fantasy adventure film

Running time: 1 hour

Cast:

 Keith Wickham as Salty, Bert, Sir Topham Hatt, Bertie, & additional roles

Eddie Redmayne as Ryan

Jamie Campbell Bower as Skiff

John Hurt as Sailor John

Steven Kynman as Duck

Joe Mills as Donald, Douglas, Oliver, & Toad

Olivia Colman as Marion

Tim Whitnall as Mike & Oliver the Excavator

Teresa Gallagher as Daisy, Annie, Clarabel, & some children

Tom Stourton as Rex

Jonathan Broadbent as Bill & Ben

Nathan Clarke as Alfie

David Bedella as Victor

John Hasler as Thomas

Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, & Percy

Rob Rackstraw as Toby

Teresa Gallagher as Emily

Matt Wilkinson as Cranky, & Kevin

Steven Kynman as Jack

Director: David Stoten

Production company: HIT Entertainment

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

It's pretty enough, and I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful sunset/sunrise backdrop in a film. 

Characters: 2/5

Thomas drives me crazy; I hate Sir Topham Hatt; and Marion is a ninny. No one else really stands out, except Skiff, who's nice enough.  

Plot: 2.5/5

I watched this in the past and remembered it enough to hunt it down and watch it a few years ago. I decided to rewatch it to review here, and ended up hardly watching it at all because it's so stupid. The only remotely enjoyable part was the treasure hunt and chase, which only takes up about 1/4th of the film.  

Theme/Message/Topics: 1/5

I can't put my finger on the message of this film but seems awfully performative (do this and that and you'll be worth liking). 

Content: 4/5 (low)

A mention of ghosts; Marion believes the little engines are magic and can grant wishes. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Mild violence by Sailor John towards Skiff and the others. 

Overall: 2.5/5

I don't think I'll watch this again, even to review it more properly. 

“Barbie & the Three Musketeers” (2009)

Barbie & the Three Musketeers

Brief Description:

It's "all for one and one for all" in this action-filled adventure as Barbie stars as Corinne, a young country girl headed to Paris to pursue her big dream—to become a Musketeer.

(from IMDb)

Date: 2009

Genre: animated American fantasy film

Running time: 1 hour 21 minutes

Cast: 

Kelly Sheridan: Corinne (Barbie)

Willow Johnson: Aramina (Summer)

Dorla Bell: Renée (Nikki)

Kira Tozer: Viveca (Teresa)

Tim Curry: Philippe

Mark Hildreth: Louis

Bernard Cuffling: Treville

Merrilyn Gann: Mme de Bossé

Kathleen Barr: Hélène

Nicole Oliver: Corrine's mother

Amelia Henderson: Miette

David Kaye: Alexander

Brian Dobson: Brutus

Director: William Lau

Production company: Mattel Entertainment & Rainmaker Entertainment

Based on: The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3/5

Okay, this is about the un-Frenchiest thing I ever saw. It's worse than the Aristocats. It's so bad. If it was a fantasy kingdom, I could take it. As France, and Paris, it's just too much 😆 however, I did enjoy the palace itself, with all its secret rooms. That part really fired my imagination! 

Characters: 3/5

While I don't actively dislike the characters, except Philippe and Mme de Bossé, I also couldn't take any of them seriously. The girls were way over the top; Louis was an idiot—a sweet idiot, but still an idiot—and M. de Treville, though nice, was a bit stupid. Hélène was just confusing; Philippe actually had a good motivation, though.

Plot: 3.5/5

It's about as far as you can get from The Three Musketeers without removing the musketeers, but anyways, the plot is about the only part that redeems it. I enjoyed the last quarter of the movie despite its stupidity (Lady BBQ? Really?) because of all the drama and action. It inspired me heavily for my own fantasy retellings. But the first 3/4s are painful. 

Romance: 3/5

Nothing inappropriate, I just found it very blah.  

Theme/Message/Topics: 3/5

It's heavily "you can do whatever you set your mind on," and "all that matters is chasing your dreams" and "girls can be whatever they like" and "boys are stupid because they underestimate girls." Personally, I don't find any of inspirational. 

Content: 5/5 (low)

Can't recall any.

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Basically none. 

Overall: 3/5

The first time I watched it, I was appalled. The second time, I enjoyed parts. Mostly, I find it inspired me. 

“A Christmas Carol” (1984)

A Christmas Carol

Brief Description:

On Christmas Eve, tight-fisted businessman Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the Spirit of Christmas Past, the Spirit of Christmas Present, and the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come. Is there any chance his frozen old heart will change, and that he can escape the frightful destiny that awaits him?

(written by me)

Date: 1984

Genre: American British Christmas fantasy drama

Running time: 1 hour 41 minutes 

Cast: 

George C. Scott (Scrooge)

Mark Strickson (Young Scrooge)

Frank Finlay (Marley)

Angela Pleasence (Spirit of Christmas Past)

Edward Woodward (Spirit of Christmas Present)

Michael Carter (Spirit of Christmas Future)

David Warner (Cratchit)

Susannah York (Mrs. Cratchit)

Anthony Walters (Tiny Tim)

Louise Gasser (Martha)

Orlando Wells (Michael)

Nancy Dodds (Nancy)

Sasha Wells (Belinda)

Kieran Hughes (Peter)

Roger Rees (Fred / Narrator)

Caroline Langrishe (Janet)

Lucy Gutteridge (Belle)

Nigel Davenport (Scrooge's father)

Joanne Whalley (Fan)

Timothy Bateson (Mr. Fezziwig)

Michael Gough (Mr. Poole)

John Quarmby (Mr. Hacking)

Peter Woodthorpe (Joe)

Liz Smith (Mrs. Dilber)

John Sharp (Mr. Tipton)

Derek Francis (Mr. Pemberton)

Danny Davies (Forbush)

Brian Pettifer (Ben)

Catherine Hall (Meg)

Cathryn Harrison (Kate)

Director: Clive Donner

Production company: Entertainment Partners Ltd.

Based on: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

(watched free on Tubi)

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

Oh my stars I LOVED THIS!!! I loved the 1951 and the 1938, and this version is just as good... maybe best. A little better than the 1938, anyhow. It was amazing! I love seeing Victorian England in colour. :D And this film has allllll the Christmas feels and alllll the Victorian feels!!

Characters: 5/5

Scott is a FANTASTIC Scrooge. He portrays him as a heartless, cold old man, a broken, fearful old man, and a jubilant, reinvigorated old man all so well! Finlay was a terrifying Marley (probably not for kids??) but probably the most accurate to the book, so I have to give him that. I didn't quite like Angela Pleasence as a Spirit of Christmas Past, but she was okay, and Edward Woodward was a SPLENDID Spirit of Christmas Present. The best I've seen so far!! As for the Spirit of Christmas Future, I don't think anyone else has captured the eeriness of that spirit so well before. The Cratchits are all excellent--specially Susannah York as Mrs. Cratchit--and Fred & Janet are well done too, and Belle & her family... oh, everybody! 

Plot: 5/5

Oh yes, yes! This aligns SO well with the book--I was really delighted how accurate it is, and I love the extra scenes--like the homeless family... that was SO GOOD!!! I love how many Christmas carols it includes, too... the one written for the film is quite good and all the other random carols sung throughout are lovely. And Susannah York actually made me cry for Tiny Tim, which no one else ever did... 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

Excellent, excellent portrayal of the themes of the book. Just splendid. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

1 instance of D**mit; 1 instance of my G**.

Overall: 5/5

Oh, I loved every minute of this. I didn't think anything could replace the 1951 but this one is just as good... <3

“Curious George: Go West, Go Wild” (2020)

 Curious George: 

Go West, Go Wild

Brief Description:

 George and Ted travel to cousin Ginny's farm for a relaxing outdoor weekend, but plans take a turn when her farm animals escape.

(from IMDb)

Date: 2020

Genre: American children's fantasy 

Running time: 1 hour 25 minutes 

Cast: 

Frank Welker (Curious George)

Jeff Bennett (Ted / Conductor)

Max Mittelman (Emmett)

April Stewart (Ginny)

Phil Morris (Frank)

Adrienne Barbeau (Ginny's mom)

Dee Bradley Baker (Billy / Frick / Frack / Ricochet / Prairie Dog / Sadie / Spittoon)

Director: Michael LaBash

Production company: Imagine Entertainment & Universal Animation Studios 

Based on: the Curious George books by H.A. & Margret Ray

IMDb page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3/5

There was definitely a prairie/Wild West/farm feel, which was quite nice. I'm not a fan of over-bright animations but I didn't mind this too much. Also, watching characters cross the country always makes me wanna travel so badly!!

Characters: 3/5

The characters were pretty one-dimensional and shallow. Emmett was way too clumsy at first. But I guess for a kids' film they were okay. 

Plot: 3/5

Some stuff was wildly inaccurate, but overall it was a fun, simply film with some quite funny moments. Even the inaccurate stuff was quite amusing. I enjoyed watching the vacation and the search for the animals, and the climax was enjoyable... yeah, overall, it was a fun film. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 4/5

I enjoyed the message of believing in yourself and trying new things over and over. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Possibly some mild euphemisms.

Overall: 3/5

Not the greatest kids' film or the best George movie, but it was a fun time well spent with my siblings. 

“The Ice Age” (2002)

The Ice Age

Brief Description:

Sid the sloth was left behind by his family on their annual migration. Manny the Mammoth is going against the current of animals heading south. Diego the Saber-Tooth Tiger is struggling to keep up his position in his group. When Manny rescues Sid, the sloth on’t leave him alone. Meanwhile, Diego tries to steal a woman’s baby for his leader’s revenge, but she wrecks his plans by jumping over some falls to protect her son. When the woman hands over the baby to Manny and dies, Diego tries to convince them to hand the baby over, but Manny’s not about to trust him. Through a series of adventures and misfortunes, will the unlikely group form friendship, or will tragedy rip them apart at last? 

(written by me)

Date: 2002

Genre: animated adventure comedy

Running time: 1 hour 21 minutes 

Cast: 

Ray Romano (Manny)

John Leguizamo (Sid)


Denis Leary (Diego)


Goran Višnjić (Soto)


Jack Black (Zeke)


Cedric the Entertainer (Carl)


Stephen Root (Frank)


Diedrich Bader (Oscar)


Alan Tudyk (Lenny)

Jane Krakowski & Lorri Bagley (Rachel & Jennifer)

Chris Wedge (Squirrel)


Tara Strong (Baby)

Director: Chris Wedge

Production company: Blue Sky Studios & 20th Century Fox Animation

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 3/5

I first saw this film at some friends’ house years ago. I always remembered it and how much we enjoyed it, so I gave it another shot recently while stuck in bed with a twisted ankle. I’m taking it as fantasy, which it definitely is. The setting is pretty nondescript. Just ice and snow or rocks and dirt, etc. 

Characters: 4/5

I love Manny. Sarcasm Master, but amazingly loving & sacrificing, with a heartbreaking backstory. I love how he spent his grief through the film by doing bigger and bigger acts of love & forgiveness. Diego is also quite funny, and he comes across as a bit pitiful… really enjoyed his arc as he slowly starts softening too. And Sid is just downright dumb and hilarious. Their friendship is awesome.

Plot: 4/5

The story centres more around the relationship of the three MCs than on any actual plot, although the whole point is them travelling together to give the baby back to the humans. I enjoy the adventures and misadventures, but most of all their conversations and the moments where they display their emotions and whatnot. :) It’s a pretty heartwarming film to be honest. 

Theme/Message/Topics: 4/5

Basically just love & forgiveness… 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Probably some euphemisms. 

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Overall: 4/5

A fun, simple, heartwarming, and humorous film. :) 

“Zootopia” (2016)

Zootopia

Also known as: Zootropolis and Zoomania

Brief Description: 

In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.

(via IMDb)

Date: 2016

Genre: American animated action comedy

Running time: 1 hour 48 minutes

Cast: 

Ginnifer Goodwin (Judy)

Della Saba (young Judy)

Jason Bateman (Nick)

Kath Soucie (young Nick)

Idris Elba (Chief Bogo)

Jenny Slate (Ms. Bellwether)

Nate Torrence (Clawhauser)

Bonnie Hunt (Mrs. Hopps)

Don Lake (Mr. Hopps)

Tommy Chong (Yax)

J.K. Simmons (Mayor Lionheart)

Octavia Spencer (Mrs. Otterton)

Alan Tudyk (Duke Weaselton)

Shakira (Gazelle)

Raymond S. Persi (Flash / Officer Higgins)

Maurice LaMarche (Mr. Big)

Phil Johnston (Gideon Grey)

Fuschia! (Polar bear drill instructor)

John DiMaggio (ice cream parlour owner / Doug's assistants)

Katie Lowes (Dr. Badger)

Gita Reddy (Nangi)

Jesse Corti (Manchas)

Tom Lister Jr. (Finnick)

Josh Dallas (pig)

Leah Latham (Fru-Fru)

Rich Moore (Doug / Larry)

Fabienne Rawley & Peter Mansbridge (news anchors)

Jared Bush & Byron Howard (Judy’s neighbours)

Mark Rhino Smith (Officer McHorn)

Josie Trinidad (Mrs. Armadillo)

Kristen Bell (Priscilla)

Director: Byron Howard & Rich Moore

Production company: Walt Disney Pictures & Walt Disney Animation Studios

Wikipedia page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

I fell in love with the idea of Zootopia when I first saw it in “movie clip” videos online. Anthropomorphic animal cities are so fun! I really like how the city had the different zones—tundra, ice, desert, and rainforest—and how the different animals coexist, with all the pros and cons that takes :) Also, seeing things like iPhones and modern whatnot is pretty cool ;P

Characters: 5/5

I love Judy! She’s smart, tactful, super hardworking and driven, loyal and loving and so passionate for justice and equality. Nick is also pretty awesome. He’s cynical, but super softie, and a pretty hardworking guy as well. I hated Chief Bogo, but I couldn’t help liking Mayor Lionheart… he’s such an amiable guy after all. ;P And I felt sorry for Ms. Bellwether… she was so cute and mistreated! Clawhauser is super cute/sweet/fun, and Judy’s parents are adorable in their hardworking backcountry stereotypes. Gideon Grey might be offensive to some people, but I loved his warm southern accent and his redemption arc (A REAL HEARTFELT APOLOGY, Y’ALL!!). Mr. Big & Fru-Fru were hilarious and adorable. I mean, everyone here was so vivid and fun!

Plot: 5/5

Okay, so I love stories of young adults coming of age and all that stuff. So inspiring. And Judy is nothing if not inspiring! The plot starts with her as a kid, announcing her desire to be a police officer and defending friends against bullies. Jumping ahead, it shows all her struggles in training. Once she finally enters the force, she’s assigned parking duty, which destroys her—instead of being a hero, she’s a villain. Chief Bogo does all he can to keep her there, but with Mayoral Assistant Bellwether, Judy manages to get permission to crack a missing persons case in 48 hours. The only lead she encounters is Nick, whom she has to blackmail into helping her. Their adventures all over the city as they peel back the layers of the case… it’s awesome. Then there’s the climax with all the city in an uproar and predators being shunned & victimized… breaking up Nick & Judy’s awesome friendship thanks to her unthinking words… and then… well, I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it is truly EPIC. I didn’t want to stop watching, even as the credits rolled by!

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

It’s a comedy, but there are some real good and deep themes. 

- Believing in yourself and chasing your dreams instead of settling down out of fear of the unknown, or disrupting your current comfort zone. (Judy’s whole storyline is epic and super inspiring.)

- Being unmerciful/too quick to act, shown in Judy’s disastrous run as a “meter maid.” 

- Humility, and apologizing properly. 

- Prejudice, justice, & equality, in how the predators are treated by the prey and how the “little folks” are treated by the big animals, as well as stereotypes about foxes & bunnies damaging life for Nick and Judy respectively. Great simple little reminders about diversity and non-diveristy.

- The cons of living an ideal that “anyone can be anything.”

- The villain’s motive & arc are very thought-provoking & super well done, with all the bitterness, narrow-mindedness, and callousness it holds.

- Self-sacrifice, loyalty, & love. 

- And while I don’t like the music of “Try Everything,” I LOVE THE LYRICS!!!

Content: 3/5 (medium)

I alluded to the cons of “anyone can be anything.” There’s a scene where to get more info about the missing person she’s investigating, Judy is taken to a naturist club. The scene doesn’t last too long, but you have all these unclothed animals running around doing various activities… I don’t watch and listen instead because it’s pretty uncomfortable.

Also, when checking the character list it seems Judy’s neighbours are a homosexual couple?? It doesn’t say so in the film and I thought they were friends. 

Gazelle, the pop star, does a show at the end of the film. Lots of dancing by her in a miniskirt and crop-top and shirtless tigers, as well as the whole audience. And the music is definitely not something I’d listen to.

Mild euphemisms; “like the devil.”

Violence: 5/5 (low)

Non-graphic fighting; a scene where [MAJOR SPOILER] Nick “goes wild” and stalks Judy, and she pretends to die and screams a death scream that is brief but kinda disturbing haha. [END OF MAJOR SPOILER] 

Overall: 4.5/5

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this. It had a lot of my favourite things in films all rolled up into one, and I wish I could find a good cover of Try Everything… 

“Planet 51” (2009)

Planet 51

Brief Description:

An alien civilization is invaded by Astronaut Chuck Baker, who believes that the planet was uninhabited. Wanted by the military, Baker must get back to his ship before it goes into orbit without him.

(from IMDb)

Date: 2009

Genre: animated science fiction comedy

Running time: 1 hour 31 minutes 

Cast: 

Justin Long (Lem / Rover)

Dwayne Johnson (Captain Chuck Baker)

Jessica Biel (Neera)

Seann William Scott (Skiff)

Freddie Benedict (Eckle)

Gary Oldman (General Grawl)

John Cleese (Professor Kipple)

Mathew Horne (Soldier Vesklin)

James Corden (Soldier Vernkot)

Alan Marriott (Glar)

Rupert Degas (Chief Gorlock)

Director: Jorge Blanco

Production company: 

Ilion Animation Studios & HandMade Films International

Wikipedia page

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Disclaimer to preface all this: no, I don’t believe in aliens. But I saw nothing wrong with a fantasy movie imagining a 1950s other world. Specially when throughout the movie there’s no weird alien claims made or anything. I really saw it more as an allegory than anything. I liked how cute and 1950s-America-ish that planet is! It’s also amusing to see the differences between our world and that world, like their cars… ;P 

Characters: 4/5

I liked Lem a lot. He was very retable and had a great arc. Took him forever to decide to be a hero, which was, again, very relatable. ;P Neera was super cute and sweet and I loved her! Skiff and Eckle were hilarious—particularly Skiff—and Rover was adoooorable. So was that horrible black dog-like monstrosity that you just had to fall in love with by the end (so unfair). And Lem’s & Neera’s parents were awesome, even if they barely showed up. Vesklin & Vernkot were just great comedic sidekicks, and Glar too. Kipple was TERRIFYING and AWFUL, and so was the General… well… until… you’ll find out. ;P And finally, I know Chuck tried. It wasn’t that he wasn’t nice, it was just that his ego was about as big around as his helmet and I could never really like him much. 

Plot: 4/5

Admittedly, I didn’t get to listen to this with closed captions, so I missed some of the plot because I couldn’t get the dialogue. So there may be several parts I missed. Anyways. I really liked the plot as far as I saw it. The suspense was high (for me, anyways, because the clock was TICKING and the obstacles were MOUNTING and things just kept getting WORSE… even if it had to come out right in the end… right?? … I didn’t know, and it sure didn’t look like it would). Anyhow. I really liked how everything was set-up for the arrival of Chuck before we were dumped into the actual clock-ticking. There was plenty of humour and action, but also some cute/sweet scenes… I don’t know, I really liked it. And the ending is, like, perfect. 

Romance: 4/5

Just adorably cute and vintage, but with a great pursuit and seeking-good-character theme to add to it! 

Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

Admittedly, my favourite part about the film is the themes. First, Lem’s arc. I deeply relate to his fear of the future, his lack of self-confidence, his frantic desire that nothing challenge his status quo and dreams… His arc of learning sacrifice and choosing the right thing, even if people couldn’t see it, was great. 

Second, the themes of prejudice and mass ignorance. The completely ridiculous ideas of the general populace about humans/Chuck was laughable, but also sobering. Not because of our own hysteria/assumptions about (possible) extraterrestrial life, but because of our assumptions/prejudice against fellow humans. The added sub-themes of the scientific ignorance (such as Kipple’s bogus ideas about zombies and mind control, and his methods of figuring the character and intentions of the astronaut he never met, and also the incorrect scientific “knowledge” about their own universe) was also powerful. And from that comes the final off-shoot theme of hating people because of fearing them because of not understanding them. As silly as Glar is, I love his message of peace and love against the general fear and hatred towards the “alien” astronaut. Neera’s declaration for them was good. 

Content: 4/5 (low)

In the scenes where Chuck is (about to be) brain-operated, he is bare and covered with a blanket. In a final brief scene shot in that room, you see a shot of his legs as he gets off the table and the blanket slips off. The extraterrestrials (Lem, Neeta, Skiff, & Eckle) all stare at him before Skiff remarks, “That’s an odd place for his antenna to be.” 

I don’t remember any other content besides possibly some mild euphemisms (can’t quite remember) and for those who care about it, 1950s music and dancing. I may have forgotten some other content.

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Mild violence like shooting, etc. Threat of brain operation; a shot where the saw is almost on Chuck’s head; & a scene where extraterrestrials are carried off with their brains in boxes. A scene where a bunch of soldiers get electrocuted; in a final scene, the army base blows up. 

Overall: 4/5

When my siblings sat down to watch this I was very skeptical, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit! I think it could probably be a family film with some fast-forwarding (but don’t quote me on it because again, I missed some of the plot & dialogue and forgot more ;P).