Change Your Image
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjQ4MTY5NzU2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDc5NTgwMTI@._V1_SY100_SX100_.jpg)
samvvd
Reviews
Wonka (2023)
An ode to Gene Wilder: I Wanted to Hate it; but I loved it!
I think, like many others, I had a LOT of concerns for this movie.
I've read the book; I love Gene Wilder's Wonka; I even sort of like Johnny Depp's too (because it's a closer to the book).
But-
What made this movie was Timothee Chalamet. He was a great Wonka that really felt like a young Gene Wilder. He was funny, wacky, and charming-and I thought his singing wasn't bad either. He had an innocence to him that I think contrasts really well against Wilder's seriousness as an older Wonka.
That being said the entire story was funny; disarming; and endearing. Multiple story arcs that all interacted together with Wonka that felt very on point of Dahl (the book's author) to me.
Is there a lot of CGI? Yes. Is it still beautifully shot?? YES.
Is it a musical? Yes. Are ALL the songs amazing? No.
But sing me "In your Imagination" and I'm a sucker.
Also: "Noodle, Noodle. Apple Strudel-"
YES.
Wish (2023)
In theory it should have worked...but it doesn't!
Basically a rehash of Snow White wrapped up in a Disney commercial.
It has a great song! It's has beautiful animation! Asha's voice is great and Chris Pine is a good villain.
It's has all the pieces but it just doesn't add up.
The story has no heart and is vague. No real background info. Nothing interesting or new. Besides the main song, all the others fell flat.
And although Asha's song is great, her personality is nothing special. She's a young woman who loves her family; and a little quirky. Like a copy cat Mirabel or Rapunzel.
Nothing special about her really. Which is a shame.
Felt like a low budget Disney channel special with a HUGE promotional budget for some reason.
Hey Disney: it's seems like your best movies are the least promoted. Stop shoving mediocre content down our throats and support other stories like Elemental and Encanto.
One Piece (2023)
As a Manga/Anime Fan....
The show is good. Definitely a great adaption, but I still don't think its worthy of a 8+ rating.
And only say this because a fan of the original material i just feel like it couldn't quite capture the true feeling of ONE PIECE. There were small moments of it, I particularly like the ending with their dreams being said on the barrel, but overall:
-Luffy could have been much much more simplistic. He is sort of a idiot (we love him tho!) and I felt like the actor was just a little too serious sometimes. I wanted him to laugh more, get knocked around in battle, and say ridiculous things more
-Zoro looked great but I do wish his voice was deeper just because the Japanese voice actor has such a recognizable voice
-Nami I thought was also too serious. I wish she charged them interest and gambled more. Hit people on the head; and when she cried for Luffy's help, I wish it was a full on child/ugly cry (snot and all!)
-Sanji deserved twirly eyebrows lol
-But surprisingly the character I thought would be the WORST, was my FAVORITE: Usopp!
(But he barely fought?! I did like he got a kiss tho)
-Arlong was wonderful too! Even if they didn't let him fight to his full potential.
-Buggy was okay but I thought they tried to make him too threatening. To those who don't know: Buggy is also an idiot too. With a wonderfully squeaky voice. Why was his voice not squeaky? :(
But In fact: I loved ALL of the random side characters. I thought they looked AMAZING (Yasopp? Merry?? Zoro'a sensei??? Zeff?? Zeff's blue haired sou-chef guy?!?! Omg) --there were people just walking around in the background that looked EXACTLY like the manga/anime.
THAT was my favorite part!!
The costumes were top notch. I just wish it was a little more light hearted, and little more silly.
Elemental (2023)
Better than People Said....
I really liked this movie!
Was it the most original plot?
No, it certainly wasn't.
Very modern Romeo & Juliet-ish.
But it was very touching, emotional, and the animation was brilliant. (The Fire! Wow.)
I read many reviews before deciding to see this movie with my family.
1) I took 3 kids under age 6 to watch it and I will admit the youngest of the children grew bored somewhere in the middle.
It is essentially a love story with father-daughter bonding weaved in it; and that may not hold younger children's interest.
2) I was pleased to see it also wasn't overtly political in nature.
I don't always agree with Disney's handling of some topics in some stories and I thought this handled how to oppose generational cultural gaps and still show respect to your parents much much (MUCH) better than say Turning Red.
That being said: although it's story wasn't original- it's something everyone is familiar with and one that I thought was truly beautiful; and the whimsy of the world it was set in just added to it.
For me personally : it's was far more touching than Inside Out. And better world building than Luca or Zootopia.
If your an adult who loves Disney stories, I think it's a must see!
His Dark Materials (2019)
A solid sci-fi that has a completed story....
I actually really enjoyed this series. But for me it was SO good, and then the last episode tanked it for me. The entire story is heavy on religious debate and forms of love.
But for some reason I felt like the last episode was just rushed and kind of a choppy string together of concepts to get a decent conclusion. It felt forced and not really relevant to the weight of the story.
Even one of the characters said "that's it?"
And I guess your suppose to by in to that?
But Exceptional performance of Mrs. Coulter, Lyra and Lin Manuel Miranda!! The voice actors were also amazing too.
I would watch it again.
House of the Dragon (2022)
I wanted to Hate it....But I love it!
I tried really hard to hate this show; I usually despise prequels as that really can't add much to the overall story.
But then I heard about Matt Smith. And I have always loved; and will love him; and he absolutely made this show my favorite thing.
It's so well written and characters are fleshed out. And I'm happy to see sex scenes that have more meaning and not just lust.
The holding hands + forehead touches were my peak happiness. God bless you Mr. Matt Smith.
Yes it does feel different from GoT. I have not read the books but this feels like a Romantic Drama. With politics. And I think people struggle with it have 1 central storyline vs. GoT having multiple. This is not about having a "favorite character", all it's focus is on Rhaenyra.
Highly highly recommend. I can't wait for the rest of it.
Turning Red (2022)
Not terrible...but not the best!
There are a few laughs and overall I enjoyed it but I didn't LOVE it by any means. Which is kind of sad since it's Pixar. Probably won't watch it again unless it's just on tv...
WHAT DIDN'T BOTHER ME:
The animation did take some getting use to: it's like Wallace and Gromet (claymation) meets Pixar meets Advernture time. Very odd and I don't think it's really helps the story telling...
To be honest the period stuff didn't bother me at all (and I have kids). It's basic biology and my 5yr old boy watched it and didn't ask anything but if he did, I don't think it would be "damaging" ???
WHAT DID BOTHER ME:
I don't like as a parent that it kind of boarder-line teaches that if can't be you then you should rebel. Sneaking out at night; going to a concert alone; lying etc...I wished it could have taught accepting the "panda" without kind of promoting those actions...straight up lying to your parents is kind of a odd choice for a Disney movie? She really didn't get any repercussions for her actions either which seems so say she was justified in doing so....
I feel like Encanto handled this theme much much better when it comes to accepting oneself...
Encanto (2021)
AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL
I love this movie...the first 10mins I was actually not that into it and it grew on me like a FUNGUS. The music got better by the song and the story grew as much as the characters did!! I can't believe the movie isn't rating better...also I know a lot of people like Luca but I really felt like THIS was the way to do a movie with no antagonist and character growth.