The film takes place in Whoville, which is populated by the Whos. The Whos love Christmas, but what they really love is buying presents. The title character, The Grinch, was born in Whoville but never quite fit in. This may be because he inexplicably has green skin and fur, or because he is a bit socially awkward. Either way, the Grinch decides it is best for him to run away to Mount Crumpit. Years later Cindy Lou Who decides to try and bring him back to the community. Through some dirty tricks by Mayor May Who the Grinch was once again driven from town. At this point he decides to steal Christmas from the Whos, with the help of his trusty dog Max. Despite all that the Grinch has been through I think Max has a rougher time than the Grinch does. Its hard to be friends with a Grinch. Through all of the zaniness that ensues the Grinch manages to steal every last bit of Christmas in Whoville. But despite all his thieving the Whos still come together to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. The Grinch is so moved that he returns all the gifts and he is welcomed back to the community.
Now just for a little background, several of us here at ItsJustAwesome.com met while working at a popular retailer. This gave us a first hand view of the rampant consumerism that really comes into its own this time of year. Its great to see this whole system broken down by little Cindy Lou Who early on in the movie. While the movies uses the term Christmas, I think it could easily be a commentary on what it means to simply be Kind. Just like Christmas, Kindness doesn’t come in a box with a bow, and sometimes you have to lose everything before you’ll show it to others.
Its also worth noting that this movie was nominated for three Oscars and won one, for makeup. The entire look of the film captures the look and feel of the original Dr. Seuss book. Its goofy and silly and filled with lots of practical effects that make the world come alive. And yes, the makeup is great. But no matter how much makeup you pile on his face Jim Carrey still shines through.
The Grinch is silly, cartoonish, and full of over the top humor. But at its heart it the story of finding the true meaning of Christmas. Tomorrow Charles will finish off our 12 Days of Christmas Movie Reviews with Elf (2003).
On a serious note, in recent days bullying has become such an issue that there is actually a website setup by the US government, StopBullying.gov, to try and prevent it. Now I’m not going to say that everyone that is bullied will become a Grinch who steals Christmas, but it certainly is a real problem.
The post Day 11: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>In this telling Rudolph is born to Donner, one of Santa’s reindeer. It quickly becomes obvious that he is different, and despite his amazing flying ability he is rejected because of his red nose. Meanwhile Hermey the elf is having trouble fitting in as well. You see elves are supposed to make all the toys Santa delivers on Christmas Eve, but Hermey just wants to be a dentist. What kid can’t relate to that? Both Rudolph and Hermey find themselves wandering the Arctic wilderness where they meet Yukon Cornelius, a prospector looking to find his fortune and driving a sled pulled by poodles and dachshunds. This trio of odd balls meet the toys on the Island of Misfit Toys, and eventually defeat the Abominable Snowman. In an effort to get Santa to help the toys on the Island of Misfit Toys Rudolph goes back to the North Pole. Once there he is called upon to use his shiny red nose to guide Santa’s sleigh through a snow storm.
Other than the classic songs and the wonderful animation, the best part of this movie is the characters. It should be obvious that most, if not all of the main characters are misfits. A red nosed reindeer, an elf with dental ambitions, a prospector with sled poodles, and of course an entire island of misfit toys. This begs the question, is the movie saying we should accept misfits, or that we are all misfits? I can’t speak for every child, but I know that I and most of my friends felt like misfits growing up. So maybe we could use this movie as a way to teach that we are all a little weird, and thats Ok.
The other perspective is of course that Rudolph isn’t a misfit at all. He is a hero, endowed with super powers, who has come to save the day. He is like so many great people throughout history that were seen as crazy or weird, but in the end prove to be gifted or even genius. This goes for all the heroes in this story. Only Rudolph could guide the sleigh, only Dr. Hermey DDS could extract all the teeth from the Abominable Snowman, and only Santa could save the toys from the Island of Misfit Toys.
So perhaps both perspectives are true. We are all weird misfits, and you never know who is going to be the hero that saves Christmas. I really hope you will watch this movie again this year, I found it to be just as charming today as it was the first time I saw it.
Tomorrow Micah will take a look at A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). You won’t want to miss that one. Enjoy!
The post Day 5: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>What makes White Christmas interesting is that it isn’t really a Christmas movie. Other than the title and title song, there isn’t really much about Christmas in the whole movie. Sure it is set at Christmas and the cast even dresses in fur trimmed red velvet outfits, but not much else. Other Christmas movies tend to talk about the true meaning of Christmas, or the Christmas spirit, or something of that nature. Not White Christmas. Even the two love stories seem to be somewhat tangential to our heroes main focus. In the end this is really the story of two Army buddies trying to save their old general who they greatly respect. Oh and they really want it to snow.
The movie opens in 1944 during the war where Bob and Phil, played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kayne, are serving. Here it becomes quite obvious that their commanding general, Major General Waverly played by Dean Jagger, is a loved almost father figure to the men. Fast forward several years through the shenanigans that lead our duo to a ski lodge in Vermont, and they once again come face to with their beloved general. The general owns a ski lodge that is having a hard time making ends meet due to the lack of snow, and the general is afraid he’s going to lose it all. Bob and Phil manage to get the message out to their old outfit that they need their help, and they all come to the aid of Major General Waverly. To these two men the most important thing in their lives was the war and the men they served with, that is their true family. So from that perspective this is the story of two men trying to get the whole family together for Christmas. I’m sure someone somewhere could use this movie as a starting point to examine the deep effects of the war and PTSD on the Greatest Generation. This idea seems just as relevant today, which may be why it still holds up so well.
I don’t say any of this to diminish the amazing performances of Rosemary Clooney or Vera-Ellen, both are great in their respective roles. And don’t over look the musical aspects of this movie either, “White Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby is the best selling single of all time. And the dance numbers are great too, Vera-Ellen was one of the youngest Rockettes, and her dancing skills are amazing. But to call this movie a “Christmas Movie” and relegate it to sentimentalism that pops up once a year is selling it short. This is a movie that brings up the topics of war, growing old, exploitation in media, and what it means to be a family. This is a great movie, and I hope you will enjoy it with an open mind.
Tomorrow is Santa Claus (1959) by Kelley, hope to see you all then!
The post Day 3: White Christmas (1954) first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>The podcasters try to unwind and “solve” a murder that took place in Baltimore in 1999. A high school girl goes missing and is eventually found in a shallow grave in a wooded park. Police suspect her ex-boyfriend, and are given a tip that seems to confirm their suspicions. Long story short, he’s convicted and has been in prison ever since, all the while maintaining his innocence. Much remains unanswered and there are many people who feel that he was wrongly convicted. I’ll stop there with the details, I don’t want to spoil anything and the show is better at explaining it anyway. I think the more interesting aspects of this show are not the cell phone records, or endless police interview tapes, but rather the peak it gives us into just how complex real life (and real crimes) can be.
Everyone in this story, including the man convicted of murder, is sympathetic. They are also all highly suspect. This is in large part due to the intense scrutiny placed on every single detail, and there are lots of details. No one’s life can stand up to that kind of study. The minutia washes over you like a wave, its almost too much at times. But it really makes you feel like you know these people. All those random bits also have a way of keeping you hooked. “Could that be it? Is that the clue that’ll break this case?” We have all been so programmed by movies and TV shows that we can spot the killer in act one, and we can guess which clues matter and which ones don’t. All those scripted formulas don’t apply to Serial, some times a random detail is just a random detail. It makes for a rich story but a maddening puzzle, which I guess is the same thing.
The second piece that makes this show so compelling is that they are making it as they go. They were still investigating when they started airing episodes. So they themselves don’t even know the outcome. Its like a true crime investigation being broadcast in real time. By the end they even have witnesses contacting them because they heard the show. Its odd, but very exciting. You feel as if you are along for the hunt, and the host doesn’t know anymore than you do.
Its also a strange thing to try and put yourself back in 1999. Cell phones are not that common with high schoolers, cars don’t have GPS, and social media doesn’t exist. Investigators now would just check Facebook and see who checked in where to create a timeline of events, but back then it was all just witness testimony. Every kid now would have a dozen selfies from lunch that are geotagged with their exact coordinates. But back then it was “I think they left together, or maybe separate, I’m not sure.” This limits the paper trail, which limits verifiable facts. This can feel very cool, they have to actually go interview people like old school detectives. But sometimes its just annoying, why don’t they just check her- oh right she didn’t have a cell phone. An 18 year old girl who didn’t have a cell phone, so strange.
If you watched The Killing you’d swear they got the idea for that show from this podcast. If you like old school radio dramas or Prairie Home Companion you’ll like this show. If you also happened to enjoy Truman Capote’s writing you’ll like it even more. The ambiguity of this show is part of the reason its so frustrating, and so addictive. I hope you’ll check it out, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
PS: The SNL sketch parodying it could not have been more perfect, be sure to look that up too.
The post Serial: Podcasting a Puzzle first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>The show follows Marco Polo as he finds himself in the court of Kublai Khan through a rather unfortunate turn of events. He becomes a member of the court and even manages to gain the respect of the Khan. The Mongols are preparing to attack the Chinese and both sides are doing their best to be sure they come out on top.
I really wanted to like this show, it’s such an interesting part of history that is so often ignored. Even the great John Milius began a Ghengis Khan movie, reportedly still in the works. But this show doesn’t quite live up to the grandeur and the barbarism that the subject matter demands. Oh there are some brutal scenes and some gorgeous landscapes, but it never manages to really hit home.
I loved to palace intrigue of The Tudors, as well as the viciousness of Game of Thrones. This show offers neither, but it tries really hard. The cast does quite well, the costuming and set design are great, and the battle scenes aren’t too bad (for TV). But what is missing is a compelling story, or should I say a well written compelling story. There are many characters and story lines that would have been enough for a series, but they aren’t fleshed out enough. This leaves the whole thing feeling like a case of great potential but poor execution. I really wanted to love this show, but I just couldn’t.
To add to the mediocre writing it also seems to be trying to see what it can get away with. The nudity is excessive, but the violence isn’t. The ruthless history of the Khans should imply the opposite. The blind Kung Fu master who trains Marco is great, but feels very out of place. Why can he do flying back flips in this historical drama? The whole show suffers from this disjointed feel. Any one of the stories/character would be great, but together they just don’t quite work.
What I do like about this show has nothing to do with the show itself. Netflix has its sights set on HBO. They have done great things with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Marco Polo should help to bring in some of the same audience that regularly tunes into HBO on Sunday nights. I hope that Netflix keeps pushing. The more competition the better the product for us to enjoy.
In the end if you enjoyed The Tudors or Game of Thrones you may enjoy Marco Polo as well. Just don’t expect the same brilliance you found in those two. As for me, I’ll be patiently waiting for John Milius to bring the Khans to the screen.
The post Marco Polo: Traveling the Silk Road Without a Map first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>The actual work of the team is interesting, but the real joy in this film is what they do the rest of the time. It’s like an episode of M*A*S*H that’s set in Antarctica and directed by Wes Anderson. I love Wes Anderson films, so my bias might be playing into why I enjoyed this film so much. Whether it’s the narration or the awkwardly long close ups of people, this film just oozes Anderson, but that’s a good thing. The feeling that Steve Zissou might show up anytime is great, but the people in this film are plenty interesting on their own. Some seem a bit off, like too much time living on the ice has taken its toll. But some just seem to genuinely love their jobs, and that’s rare and wonderful to see these days.
The world of the film is so bizarre and alien that it becomes a character itself. The sun never sets, white outs are frequent, and they heat their tents with jet fuel. Who lives like that? But they still have movie nights and birthday cakes. It’s a strange and beautiful life they live at the end of the world.
I know this seems odd, I’m reviewing a film that can be seen on Vimeo, not in theaters or video. But maybe that taps into the other reason I love this film. Just like the characters are making a home in the wilderness, so is this film. It’s been released by Studiocanoe, and can be watched for free online. I don’t say that to cheapen the film, like Antarctica itself, this film may be enhanced by the very freedom of accessibility it offers.
I cannot recommend this film enough. It’s fun, it’s gorgeous, and it touches on some serious topics. I hope you watch the film and enjoy Welcome to Union Glacier as much as I did.
The post Welcome to Union Glacier: The Life Antarctic first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>The film follows a park ranger tasked with taking care of orphaned gorillas, most left for dead by poachers. He is the heart of the film, his love for the gorillas is so genuine and pure it aches. I think I might have watched an entire film just about him, but the film also follows his fellow park rangers, they are responsible for fighting poachers. When I say fighting I mean literal fighting, with automatic weapons. This is a war, and the prize is elephant ivory and gorilla pelts. Its shocking how violent this can be. The dichotomy is great, the peaceful man who simply wants to take care of the gorillas, and the men who take up arms to defend them.
Then the film shifts gears, rather suddenly, when oil is found in Virunga. With oil comes multinational corporation, bribes, and war. The rangers are stuck in the middle of the chaos and must find their way as their country is literally sold to the highest bidder.
If the film was any one of these stories it would probably be good, but with all three its great. It really feels like you are seeing the story in three dimensions. All too often documentary film makers get tunnel vision and forget that their subjects are surrounded by other compelling characters. Here the background enhances the drama of the main characters. The most painfully emotional moment of the film for me was watching the care taker of the gorillas put on his uniform as he prepares to take up arms to defend the creatures he loves.
This film falls somewhere between “Gorillas in the Mist” and “The Constant Gardener” but with added punch of knowing that its all real. Its a sad reality, but the film reminds us that there are some things worth fighting for. I would highly recommend Virunga.
PS: On a lighter note, I had no idea gorillas like Pringles.
The post Virunga: Guerrillas in the Mist first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>For those of you who know me, you know I am rather obsessed with Stanley Kubrick’s films, all of them, but especially 2001: a space odyssey. I am also a big fan of Terrance Malick’s Tree of Life, despite the objections of my family and friends. Darren Aronofsky is also one of my favorites (except for Noah, which Charles perfectly summed up) and I feel The Fountain to be one of his best. I mention all of this because I believe that Christopher Nolan has mostly achieved what these great film makers were going for in their films, but to achieve it he had to fail where they succeeded.
Interstellar is huge, not only is it projected on 70mm IMAX, but the story spans lifetimes. Characters travel light years, and experience things that no human has ever experienced, yet. But in the end what makes this film work is how small it is. It’s not about man’s place in the universe, or the next step in our evolution, it’s about a father trying to save his daughter. He may have to travel through a worm hole to the other side of the galaxy to do it, but it’s all for her. This is the strongest point of the movie and also the thing that seems out of place. In the other movies I mentioned before it was as though the filmmakers knew that once you started looking at humans in the context of the enormous universe we seem pretty insignificant. This allows them to tell stories that stretch way beyond the lifespan of any one person, and ultimately to really examine what our place in the universe is. Nolan forgoes all this. He would rather examine a father daughter relationship, and kudos to him for doing it. He keeps the audience hooked by that emotion, when the other directors lose their audience.
The brilliance of a film like 2001 is that the story isn’t about a man, but is the story of Man. Same with Tree of Life, it isn’t just about little boys in Texas, its about the Nature of Man. But Nolan makes us think, AND he makes us feel. Does this make it better than the others? In some ways yes, in others no. I don’t think he was trying to say the same things that Kubrick, Malick or Aronofsky were. He was examining the love between a father and a daughter, who happen to be on other sides of the galaxy.
So in the end my feelings about Interstellar are exactly what makes it superior to other space epics, it made me feel.
-Christopher
PS: I will readily acknowledge there are huge, complex plot holes in the movie. But for Christopher Nolan it’s all about that relationship, so a couple missing pieces are Ok. I tend to agree with him, just don’t dig too deep into the astrophysics.
The post Interstellar: Traveling lightyears to go home. first appeared on It's Just Awesome DOT com.]]>