Tag: Brad Bird

TOMORROWLAND (2015) movie review

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“Tell me, how do you get to Tomorrowland?
Close your eyes, make a wish, and you’re there.”

…or go by jet pack. 
 ft0110.comp_.047600.1115_R-660x348In Brad Bird’s newest screen sensation, dreams come true as the Small World ride at Disneyland opens up to reveal an interdementional gondola, as the Eiffel Tower in Paris disguises a secret rocket, and as bathtubs eject you to safety. George Clooney, likable curmudgeon furrows his way into your heart as he learns to believe in dreams again. Clooney, Hugh Laurie, and Tim McGraw lead a perfect cast, and up-and-comers Britt Robertson (best in Dan in Real Life), Thomas Robinson (my favorite little character from “The Switch”), and the young Raffey Cassidy astound in their roles.

Tomorrowland-George-Clooney-620x400Trusted screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird allow the film to preach the power of positivity and to present the  old Native American morality tale (also quoted by George Bernard Shaw): there are two wolves inside each one of us, and the one who wins is the one we feed the most.

Brilliant, poignant, and timely. This film is an adventure ride. It fills you with Disneyland joy, a love for family, and a hope for the future which waits in each of our hands, like a token waiting to take us there.tomorrowlmdBe brave enough to dream in a Tomorrowland for all of us.  “We’ve saved a seat, just for you.”

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011) movie review

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I wanted to walk right back in and watch it again on the biggest screen possible –and that’s rare for me, even for an action flick. It’s lousy with intensity, explosions, and hand-to-hand fight scenes. It also has this lovely hand-of-God element, forcing a slight hesitation from each actor before the big jumps and big missions. They aren’t as cocky anymore. They shoot from the hip, on hunches, but don’t negate the possibility of death. This element makes it more suspenseful, and possibly more fun. Attainable. Personal. I maybe want to be a spy…or just write spy flicks.

Perhaps this level of pleasant, humble humanity stems from the writer / director, Brad Bird, who is new to live action. He is most famous as writer / director of both Ratatouille and The Incredibles. Impressive mantle to take on the next of the MI series.

Such a tease to play Sawyer’s (Josh Holloway) cocky mug in the beginning. Oh, J.J. Tom Cruise is back in impressive array, doing his own stunts, and taking it for the team. Despite his quirks, he’s a real movie star. Perhaps the memory of his crazy couch jumping incident lies dormant in the shrouded tomb of Oprah’s show. If Ghost Protocol is his awakening, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.