Disney's Cinderella

 Hello! Sorry everyone it's been a few weeks since my last post. I've been busy! 

Welcome to Mc's Film Critique! Recently I watched Disney's Cinderella (not by choice) and I knew nothing about this particular film going in.

I watched the trailer before writing this post and if you're reading this and have not seen the film or the trailer, good for you! Don't watch the trailer as-per-usual, it gives away just about everything! I really hate when trailers do that. Here is the link to the Trailer if you want to see it (don't click unless you're sure).

This version of the fairy tale I think is second only to the Brothers Grim version which is awesome! The film starts of with Cinderella living with both of her parents, something that you will recall is not true in Disney's original motion picture. This works really well because when she is left with her step-mother and step-sisters you're far more invested in her character.

(left to right) Helena, Lily, Richard and Cate

I thought the acting was really good. Cate Blanchett played her part to the top of her performing abilities. She gave a spectacular portrayal of the stepmother. Lily James did a great job playing opposite of Blanchett and showed us a Cinderella who can hold her own. Richard Madden former star of Game of Thrones, seems to have been chosen for both his acting and his good looks. He gave a very desirable portrayal of a prince. Like I said strong cast.

There was a lot of CGI animals, and I'm ever more impressed with animators, because the CGI looks more and more real each year. Click here for a top 10 worst CGI list by Watchmojo.com

The transformation from an everyday girl to princess was over the top! I already said how good the animation was but I will say it again, it was really good! The way each different aspect of her carriage was assembled and transformed was fantastic. I particularly liked how each transformed thing retained some of its previous forms aspects.


I would have liked a little more depth from the step sisters, they were pretty dimwitted. There is also some secret past of the step mother which never really gets flushed out, which sucks because I wanted more from this aspect of the story. It's just teased, which was a shame as it could have given more to the story, but oh well.


Overall good film! Go watch it! As my friend Jeff has said "Disney has been killing it lately, eh!"





Badge: Cinematography Badge 
Rating: 9/10

Into The Woods

Movie Poster

This week on MC's Film Critique I look at Into The Woods. I have been sitting on this one for a few weeks and it's still in theatres!

Lets start off with, the fact that film is based off a musical play, based off of a book. I can not stress that enough. The film is a musical. When I was deciding whether or not to see the film, I looked it up on Tribute. I read the comments and many seemed mad that the film was a musical... These people were too focused on an aspect that I was pleasantly surprised to learn (prior to watching the film). It's like they have no possible way of finding out any information prior to watching a film. *cough read my reviews next time cough*

Lets talk about the film, I'm done my little rant.

The film starts off singing, while it seamlessly weaves many fairy tales together. The main characters are taken from Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, as well as several others. They each play a role in one another's story until the main plot brings them together in a new fairy tale involving all of the characters.

I have never seen the play but I bet it was damn good. This film had me wondering how and who would fit where! I didn't feel that the film was predictable. There was a plot point with the bakers wife that didn't seem to fit with the whole story but, you can't please everyone.
The special effects were great, they didn't look cheesy unlike the baby in American Sniper, which I just happen to review over here.

One thing I could not stop thinking during the film was that Doctor Who, played by Matt Smith was going to show up to save Stormageddon and Craig who, was played by the same actor as the baker.

The acting was great, the effects are pretty damn good, the story is excellent minus my dispute with the one plot point.

This film is a must see, as long as you like singing and fun.



Badge: Cinematography Badge

Rating: 9.5/10

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Hello! This is my first blog post ever on MC's Film Critique and I look at The Hobbit: The
Battle of the Five Armies.

In this review I am working under the assumption that you have seen The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and all spoilers for that film are fair game.

This was the final film in the Hobbit trilogy. Starting from where we left off in the last film, (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) our hero's have an angry dragon to deal with.

I personally was a big fan of everything in this film that was true to the original book by J. R. R. Tolkien. To be honest, I preferred the original story over this connecting story that was adapted for the film. However, that will not sway me too much in how I will look at the film. 

The movie throws you into the action from the get go, which is great. Although, I feel that the start of the film should have been the logical ending for the previous film.  

I wasn't a fan of the love story between Kili (Aidan Turner) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) and had expected more than what we got out of this film in terms of that sub-plot line. 

The five armies in the film really deliver. The battle surpassed my exceptions to the point where I was exhausted from the onslaught that ensued for the greater portion of the film. There were some points in the battle where I thought "really?" but, overall the battle is one for the books!

Despite what I said I disliked about the film, I Give This Film My first Cinematography Badge.

Badge: Cinematography Badge

Rating: 8.5/10