Fellowship of Filming(s)

Binge-Watching Netflix: Broadchurch

Wikipedia:

Broadchurch is a British serial crime drama television series broadcast on ITV for three series between 2013 and 2017. It was created by Chris Chibnall, who acted as an executive producer and wrote all 24 episodes, and produced by Kudos Film and Television and Imaginary Friends. The series is set in Broadchurch, a fictional English town in Dorset, and focuses on police detectives DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman). The series features an ensemble cast that in addition to Tennant and Colman includes Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Carolyn Pickles, Arthur Darvill, Charlotte Beaumont, Vicky McClure, Adam Wilson and Matthew Gravelle.

Okay, I’m not going to lie, I started watching this because of David Tennant (I did watch that series of Dr. Who). I also really do like British crime shows, and well the first season was really good, the second season plays directly off the first, in fact I would almost call it the second part of the first season.

The third season is separate, like a sequel. I liked it slightly less. It introduced new characters, a new plot, and well it did round out the plot from the first season. But I liked it less. There was less drama, which made for less tension, so I wasn’t as worried about what was happening. The plot was good, but I disliked the villain, he was too much of a stereotype. The first villain was better. Heck even the second villain was pretty good too.

I think as the seasons go on, I’ll like them slightly less than the first two, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like this series. I have yet to meet a British crime drama I haven’t rewatched.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Binge-Watching Netflix: Children of Whales

Wikipedia:

The story focuses on a boy called Chakuro, who lives on a giant vessel called a Mud Whale that drifts over the sea of sand. In the Mud Whale, society is divided into two kinds of people: the Marked, who can move objects with their minds using a strange power called “thymia”, at the expense of shortened lifespans, and the Unmarked, people who lack thymia but enjoy longer lifespans. Chakuro and his friends have never seen anyone from the outside world, and they spend their days yearning to explore and learn about it. In year 93 of the vessel’s exile, the Mud Whale encounters a lonely island and Chakuro finds a girl inside, starting an adventure that changes the lives of everyone.

The girl is called Lykos and she does bring change to the Mud Whale, in more ways than the inhabitants can imagine. The Mud Whale has been so isolated, and their world so small, so small that the inhabitants themselves can’t even remember why they are the Mud Whale, why some are Marked or Unmarked, or even where they are in the world since they can’t control the Mud Whale.

Season one answers all of these questions, with a lot of action, a lot of drama, and a lot of beautiful music. This is also one of those series that needs your attention or else you miss something.

As there is only one season of episodes on Netflix and so much happens in just one season, I am interested to see what season two brings, if there is a season two.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

The Muppets (2011)

Wikipedia:

The Muppets is a 2011 American musical comedy film and the seventh theatrical film featuring the Muppets. The film was directed by James Bobin in his directorial debut, written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman and starred Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, and Rashida Jones, as well as Muppet performers Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, and Peter Linz. Bret McKenzie served as music supervisor, writing four of the film’s five original songs, while Christophe Beck composed the film’s score. In The Muppets, devoted Muppet fan Walter, his human brother Gary and Gary’s girlfriend Mary help Kermit the Frog reunite the disbanded Muppets, as they must raise $10 million to save the Muppet Theater from Tex Richman, a businessman who plans to demolish the studio to drill for oil.

Many of the original Muppet movies are based on them on the brink of losing the theater ( I do hope this is the the last one with that plot). However, I do like to think of this as the reunion movie. The movie where they’ve all gone off and led separate lives for quite a few years before coming together again. I do also like that there is an element of copyright – there are also Moopets in this movie, and the Muppets stand a chance of not being Muppets anymore.

I also really do enjoy all the new (and old) songs featured in this movie. That’s part of why I enjoy musicals, the togetherness of the cast singing and dancing to one song.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

Binge Watching Netflix: Father Brown

Wikipedia:

Father Brown is a British television detective period drama which began airing on BBC One on 14 January 2013. It features Mark Williams as the eponymous crime-solving Roman Catholic priest. The series is loosely based on short stories by G. K. Chesterton. Apart from soap operas, it is the third-longest-running daytime drama series on BBC TV, after Doctors and Moving On.

Since I’ve been stuck inside for the last couple of weeks I’ve been binge watching some favorite TV series on Netflix. While Father Brown is only available until March 31, 2020, you can find episodes sporadically on Youtube (which I’ll probably watch some later when I need another fix).

Father Brown is based on a character in a book, the TV series use the sleuthing Catholic priest in the BBC series located in Kembleford, a small town in Gloucester, England. I quite enjoy the colorful characters presented, and have a fond memory of England.

I’m even to a point where I might try making Mrs. McCarthy’s award winning strawberry scones!

My Rating: ★★★★★

Muppets from Space (1999)

Wikipedia:

Muppets from Space is a 1999 American science fiction comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and Jim Henson Pictures. The sixth feature film to star the Muppets, it is the first film since the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson to have an original Muppet-focused plot, and is a deviation of other Muppet films as it is the only non-musical film to date. The film was directed by Tim Hill from a screenplay by Jerry Juhl, Joey Mazzarino, and Ken Kaufman, and stars Jeffrey Tambor, Pat Hingle, Rob Schneider, and Andie MacDowell, alongside Muppet performers Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Bill Barretta, and Frank Oz. In the film, Gonzo attempts to discover his origins after having nightmares. After he and Rizzo the Rat are captured by government officials during his search, Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppet gang must save them.

video

This is also one of the few Muppet movies that does not star Kermit. It’s Gonzo, and I love that. I think going forward that the Muppets should do more movies like this, one on Miss Piggy, one on Fozzie, and so forth. I think they could pull something really interesting together.

There isn’t much in plot parody in this one, but there is quite a bit of alien stereotyping movies. There are alien groupies, some government men, and for some reason … dance parties.

Also, while this technically isn’t a musical, there still is music involved, it’s just less Muppet singing, so no original songs to go with it. It’s still great though as I enjoy the plot and it finally deciphers Gonzo’s “whatever” status.

My Rating: ★★★★

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

Wikipedia:

It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a 2002 NBC television film, directed by Kirk Thatcher and written by Tom Martin and Jim Lewis and stars Whoopi Goldberg, David Arquette, Joan Cusack, the cast of Scrubs and The Muppets. The plot centers on Kermit the Frog who, after losing all hope for saving the Muppet Theatre, is assisted by an angel who shows him a world in which he had never been born. The film is a homage to Frank Capra’s 1946 film, It’s a Wonderful Life, which has a similar plot.

video

This movie is a parody of almost every famous Christmas movie on the shelf. First of all the entire plot, I can confirm, is based on It’s a Wonderful Life. Second, the Muppets’ Christmas Show, is a combination of Moulin Rouge, and A Christmas Carol.

There are characters resembling those from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Crocodile Hunter. Add in the famous Muppet comedy routines and you have yourself a Muppet Christmas movie.

The theme song though is beautiful, with a beautiful message. I find myself humming it to myself now and then.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

Wikipedia:

The Muppets Take Manhattan is a 1984 American musical comedy drama film directed by Frank Oz. It is the third of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Henson’s Muppets with special appearances by Art Carney, James Coco, Dabney Coleman, Gregory Hines, Linda Lavin, Liza Minnelli and Joan Rivers. The film was produced by Henson Associates and TriStar Pictures, and was filmed on location in New York City during the summer of 1983 and released theatrically the following summer. It was the first film to be directed solely by Oz (who also performs Sam the Eagle, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, and Animal), who previously co-directed The Dark Crystal with Henson.

The Muppets have done so well with the theater that someone suggests they take the show to Broadway. And there you go, that’s the movie, essentially. The troupe takes a couple of days together to try and sell the show, but eventually they go their own ways when the money runs out.

Kermit stays to keep trying, and of course he keeps the dream alive for the rest of the Muppets. It’s a fairly short movie, and I didn’t realize it was the third in a movie series (this was a series?), the second being The Great Muppet Caper, which I don’t have, wish I had, and remember fondly.

I absolutely loved the scene with Miss Piggy and Joan Rivers though. It’s a favorite of mine.

This movie is a little more recent in my movie viewing history, but is still rather interesting, and the ending of this movie is generally skipped over in the rest of the Muppet movies…

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

The Muppet Movie (1979)

Wikipedia:

The Muppet Movie is a 1979 musical road comedy film and the first theatrical film featuring the Muppets. Directed by James Frawley and produced by Jim Henson, the film’s screenplay was conceived by The Muppet Show writers Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns. An American and British venture produced by Henson Associates and ITC Entertainment between the first half and the second half of The Muppet Show’s third season, the film depicts Kermit the Frog as he embarks on a cross-country trip to Hollywood. Along the way, he encounters several of the Muppets—who all share the same ambition of finding success in professional show business—while being pursued by Doc Hopper, an evil restaurateur with intentions of employing Kermit as a spokesperson for his frog legs business.

video

The Muppets are a production studio I’ve loved since childhood, grew up watching the home videos, and Sesame Street. This movie happens to be the first movie that came out of the franchise, and provides the “origin” for the Muppets.

Muppet movies are known for their bad jokes, interesting plots, and cameos.

This musical road trip turns into a comedy of errors quite quickly, but can also be a fun family movie. Kermit is trying to realize a dream, and through his friendships he makes along the way, his dream does come true.

My Rating: ★★★★★

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

Wikipedia:

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is a 2019 computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by the Warner Animation Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Directed by Mike Mitchell, it is a sequel to The Lego Movie (2014), the fourth film in the franchise following the releases of 2017’s The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie. The film stars Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Charlie Day, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, and Will Ferrell reprising their roles from the previous film, while new cast members include Tiffany Haddish and Maya Rudolph (replacing Amanda Farinos). In the film, Emmet Brickowski attempts to rescue his friends from the Systar System, while dealing with a coming cataclysm known as “Armamageddon”.

This movie starts off exactly where the last one ended. The Systar System invades with Duplo monsters and kidnaps most of the characters, leaving Emmet to figure out how to rescue everyone and stop his vision of Armamageddon, which will land everyone in the Bin of Storajj.

Also, the soundtrack to this movie is 10x better, and I loved the music from the first movie.

If the first movie was the father/son movie, this one is definitely the sibling rivalry movie, or the coming of age/growing up movie. Which is the other reason I love these movies (I do really like movies that combine animation/reality).

My Rating: ★★★★★

The Lego Movie (2014)

Wikipedia:

The Lego Movie is a 2014 computer-animated comedy film written and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from a story by Lord, Miller, and Dan and Kevin Hageman. Based on the Lego line of construction toys, its story focuses on an ordinary Lego minifigure who finds himself helping a resistance stop a tyrannical businessman from gluing everything in the Lego world into his vision of perfection. Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman provide their voices for the film’s main characters. The film was dedicated to Kathleen Fleming, the former director of entertainment development of the Lego company, following her death in Cancún, Mexico, in April 2013.

This movie is one of my favorites that I keep forgetting about. I really need to ear mark this one to rewatch at least once a year or more. I love the idea behind this movie, and yes I know it’s a kid movie and I’m an adult, but family movies are for adults too.

I’ve been playing the Lego video games which led me to the movie. And then I loved the movie.

Ok so the plot does center around the Lego figures…at first. It’s a family movie for a reason, this is actually a father and son movie. It’s cute, and I love the message at the end.

My Rating: ★★★★★