Movies: In Time, Arthur Christmas, Puss in Boots
In Time: Forgettable. I had to go look up its name again just to write this. The premise has been around in SF for decades, and it gets a pretty lackluster outing here. If there's one message to take away, it's this: Don't waste your time.
Arthur Christmas: I was completely surprised that this was actually really good. The cliches are there, but they don't overwhelm the movie, and there are some genuine tearjerker moments, as well as some great chuckles. Everything wraps up without surprises, but it does so in a remarkably sweet way without descending into being saccharine. I like that Steve and the S-1, though they play the roles of obstacle and harsh reminder of progress, don't get the karmic endings one might expect - and yet it still seems right and proper.
Puss in Boots: Just pure fun. Señor Puss confronts his past, saves the village, and attracts the attention of a very, very good thief. There are some absolute groaner visual puns for the sharp-eyed, and a couple of implied ones in the script that are just as terrible. Puss's characteristic moves from the Shrek films are there, but they don't overwhelm the action, and the ginger hero gets his day in the sun.
Arthur Christmas: I was completely surprised that this was actually really good. The cliches are there, but they don't overwhelm the movie, and there are some genuine tearjerker moments, as well as some great chuckles. Everything wraps up without surprises, but it does so in a remarkably sweet way without descending into being saccharine. I like that Steve and the S-1, though they play the roles of obstacle and harsh reminder of progress, don't get the karmic endings one might expect - and yet it still seems right and proper.
Puss in Boots: Just pure fun. Señor Puss confronts his past, saves the village, and attracts the attention of a very, very good thief. There are some absolute groaner visual puns for the sharp-eyed, and a couple of implied ones in the script that are just as terrible. Puss's characteristic moves from the Shrek films are there, but they don't overwhelm the action, and the ginger hero gets his day in the sun.