This Thanksgiving 2017, let's give thanks to Disney/Pixar because they've brought us an animated movie that not only brings us endless feelings, but also brings us a story that we, the Hispanic community, can relate to. “Coco” is what people like me (that are both American and Mexican) have been waiting for: a movie that we can identify with thanks to our Hispanic roots but that maybe haven't lived completely or that we haven't seen on the big screen, and a film that we want to share with the non-Hispanic community.
The executions that these actors and actresses brings us as they lend their voices to animated characters make us believe in them and in a wold where we can see our loved ones that have left us. Whether you believe in the afterlife or not, while watching "Coco" you'll want to see your family and friends that are no longer alive, because Pixar makes us believe and they remind us that we must never forget them.
"Coco" is the story of a Mexican boy named Miguel who loves movies but, due to his family's tragic past, music is not permitted; it's neither played nor heard in their house. His destiny is another one, according to his parents and the rest of his family, but Miguel feels an incredible love to movie, thanks to Ernesto De La Cruz, a character that reminds us of the unforgettable Pedro Infante.
On the Day of the Dead there'll be an event for local musicians at the main plaza. Miguel decides to compete, but because he needs a guitar, he decides to enter Ernesto De La Cruz's tomb and use Ernesto's guitar. This takes him to the land of the dead where Miguel encounters his ancestors. Miguel is asked to return to his world so that his deceased family can pass onto the living world to see their live family, Miguel has other plans: he needs to meet and ask for the blessing of a family musician so that music will be permitted at home and so that Miguel can become a musician.
One of the advantages that I had versus the general public around me at that time is that I recognized many of the characters that Pixar renders homage to, from Pedro Infante to Frida Kahlo to Cantinflas, and more; people I got to watch on the small screen with my family on holidays.
I loved "Coco" since I could identify a lot with themes like family and the importance of our traditions. Like all Disney/Pixar movies, prepare yourself and have your hanker chief or plenty of napkins because you will cry just as much as you will laugh. For all you Spanish speakers, if you have the chance (which I did not), watch the movie dubbed in Spanish; your experience will be so much more than watching it in English.
"Coco", with the voices of Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt and Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel, directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, will be released November 22nd.
“Justice League” finally brings togehter those superheros that we already started seeing in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe): Batman, Wonder Woman & Superman, and although we've already briefly seen them on "Batman V Superman" Cyborg, Aquaman & the Flash. I had fun watching the movie, but I didn't feel that emotion I felt when I saw the MCU characters together for the first time. At least with Marvel, when I saw Thor fight Iron Man while Loki watched this spectacle, I felt watching those characters from my favorite comics and those gods that I would read about as a kid in mythology books; they jumped out from the pages to something that could be real. That magic was missing while I watched one of my favorite comic book teams on the big screen.
It's a movie that we've seen before: something out of this world or out of our control threatens us and the villian wants to destroy humanity; one person or a group with powers come together to save everyone. They don't get along at first, they unite and they save the world. We've seen it on other films. Unfortunately, "Justice League" doesn't give us more than that. The biggest problem in this situation, and in this movie in particular, is the villian: Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf wants a world where he'll rule after destroying humanity. Sound familiar? Honestly, that didn't interest me; on the contrary, it bore me.
Beside the same ol' story, the special effects were not the best. There are scenes that look more like video game scenes instead of something that could possibly happen in our real world.
"Justice League" is a world that now lives without Superman. We start with Batman hunting a Parademon. The problem that I had with this initial scene is that we start with aliens without any explanation. Why is he looking for them and hunting them? Where did they come from? What's their purpose.
Batman needs Wonder Woman's help to recruit beings with powers: a man that "talks to fish (Aquaman), a kid that suddenly disappears (Flash), and a football players that, after an accident, is now more that a man (Cyborg). Batman needs the help of these marvelous beings because this is no longer a world of clowns nor of exploding ducks. After Superman's arrival, and death, the world that one lives in is one of powerful beings and of forces that are out of this world.
Of the three characters already known, Superman was the most enjoyable. We finally have a Superman that everyone likes, whether you're a fan of his character in comics or in cartoons or in movies, this Superman is more enjoyable than the one we started off with in the DCEU. Batman is what you'd expect: a hero that gives more of himself that we would. Wonder Woman didn't have the same charisma that we saw in "Batman V Superman" nor in "Wonder Woman". I liked them both but at no moment was I wowed by either.
Of the three new characters, Cyborg surprised me. Many times with characters that are half-machine, they tend to be monotonous. With Cyborg we saw the humanity of a man that is now more machine than man. Cyborg is confused and he's angry. Flash, although funny, a lot of his jokes are kiddish. Besides, he's clumsy. Aquaman is that macho character that we see in a all groups, one who prefers to work alone. We know he is strong in water, but outside of water he is no more than a strong man.
Director Zack Snyder, with the help of Joss Whedon (of the MCU), bring us a move with humor and one that is not boring. Unfortunately, with the success and how wonderful "Wonder Woman" was, they take a step back with this movie. Fortunately not too far back to what "Suicide Squad" was but it wasn't the quality that "Wonder Woman" was or what you'd expect from their competition, Marvel.
If you're hoping to watch a fun movie, by yourself or with your family, you're going to have a good time. If you're looking to watch a surreal movie as was lived when you saw "The Avengers" for the first time, prepare yourself because that magic that you felt, unfortunately, is not there. If you're looking to see something completely new, stay home. Would I recommend it? Yes, but there's no hurry in watching it.
"Justice League", with Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Henry Cavill, directed by Zack Snyder, will be released November 17th.
It's that time of the year, when we all gather with our family & friends and watch those holiday favorites, and I'm curious to know what your favorites are.
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| Christmas Movie Time |
There's the holiday favorites you can't miss like A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and It's A Wonderful Life, then there's the newer ones such as Krampus and A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas. There's also those that some consider Christmas movies even if they're not entirely to other people (I don't care what anyone says, Batman Returns IS a Christmas movie). Whatever we prefer to watch, the important thing is to enjoy those films that bring us such joy and nostalgia.
Below are my and our (my wife and mine) top 10 favorites. Because there are so many movies to consider, I've included others that we still watch but can skip if we end up watching others. There's a ties in there (FINE! This would make it a top 11). The top 10 favorites, though, are can't miss movies for us... or at least for me.
- Elf - This is a must-watch. To me, this is THE Christmas. Typically we tend to watch it when we put up our Christmas tree but I can watch this at ANY time.
- It’s A Wonderful Life
- A Very Sunny Christmas (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - This isn't technically a movie but it's on our movie watch-list, soooo... Plus, it was sold as a DVD separately to the other seasons. We tend to watch this after Elf. A VERY HILARIOUS one to watch.
- Love Actually - This plot-less movie is one of our favorites. This tends to be the first, or one of the first, we watch after Thanksgiving. There's just so much love and the different kinds of love that we experience, from our first crush to those we love at work to that one love that will never be with us. As the Beatles said, "All you need is love.".
- Home Alone
- The Family Stone/The Holiday - We tend to watch both of these closer to Christmas day. I love these two just the same.
- Serendipity - A very cheesy movie with a dumb plot but I'm a fool for this movie.
- Batman Returns - Like I said, THIS IS A CHRISTMAS MOVIE with my favorite superhero!
- Scrooged
- While You Were Sleeping - This is one of the first movies where I paid attention to it being set in my hometown, Chicago, and over time I grew to love watching it at Christmas time.
Others we watch but can skip: Krampus, A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, Hook, Edward Scissorhands, The Family Man, Trading Places, The Santa Clause, A Christmas Story (only because it plays 24 hours each Christmas Eve/Christmas).
What about you? What's on your watch-list? Maybe we'll pick up a few this season.
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