'Finding Dory' Review

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It's been thirteen years since Finding Nemo was released in theaters and became one of the most beloved animated films of all time. Even though I was only seven years old at the time, I remember the day I went to go see that movie. I was picked up early from school by my parents, along with my brother and cousin, and we headed off to the Muvico theater in Miami (now Cinemark). Why this particular memory has remained with me for the last thirteen years? I have no idea. Maybe because it was one of my earliest experiences in the theater, or the fact that I just had such a good time watching it, but even then I feel like I'm missing something. I think it had to do with the characters that were introduced in this film, along with the stunning animation. So many different characters with different personalities, and the way the setting sucked you into the film. You feel as if you're going on this adventure in the ocean, meeting all of these different characters and forming this bond along the way. It's a very hard balance to hit for most films, but Disney and Pixar hit the spot nearly every time. That's why, thirteen years later, I hoped they could do it again with a new story and new characters. Could they capture that magic once again?

Finding Dory centers around Dory's quest to find her parents, with the help of Marlin, Nemo and some new charming characters, whom she begins to remember. The film begins by taking us into Dory's past and we see her as a baby with her family. Very early on we see her parents explaining Dory's condition to her, trying to use different ways to help her remember certain things. We then see how they came to be separated, followed by Dory and Marlin's first meeting from the previous film, to present day. On her quest, Dory begins to remember bits and pieces of her past that help her figure out who her parents are, what they looked like and where they live. Unfortunately, as we see in the trailer, Dory gets taken, much like Nemo. Now, we have Marlin and Nemo trying to rescue Dory, while she is on her own journey to find her parents. Some of the characters we meet that aid Dory in the film are Bailey the beluga (Ty Burrell), Destiny the whale shark (Kaitlin Olson) and Hank the octopus (Ed O'Neil).

One of the things I was most worried about going into this film, as I mentioned above, was if this film would be able to capture that same fun, emotional, heartfelt vibe that Finding Nemo did. Many times, sequels that take thirteen years to develop and finally be released don't always live up to those expectations. However, Finding Dory definitely did. From the very beginning, you really cannot tell that it's been so long since the first film. Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks didn't miss a beat. It honestly felt as if they recorded this back in 2004 and just waited an extra twelve years to release the film. That charming humor was still there and didn't become to overwhelming, which meant that there was a great story to be told and they weren't just relying on laughs, and that was another worry going into this film. Was this story going to be the same thing all over again, just with Dory? The answer is a resounding NO. While there may be a couple of similar beats, Finding Dory can stand alone and brings a lot of new things to this story. Also, the new characters that we meet in the film, mainly Daisy, Bailey and Hank, are fantastic characters. Each has their heroic moments in the film, along with some great laughs. What else would you expect from the stars of Modern Family and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? My only gripe with this film is the Fast and the Furious moment towards the end of the third act. I understand its an animated film and we're in a world in which animals can talk, but this was just a little too out there for me. With that being said, it didn't take away from the film by any means, it was just one of those moments that you would've been fine had it been taken out.

Aside from the general plot of the film, there's also a very sobering narrative about having a disability. It's felt primarily in the beginning of the film, when Dory is a baby and when she's trying to find her parents. There's a line where she says, "But...what if I forget you?" We see Dory as this funny, well-meaning and forgetful character, that we sometimes forget that she's dealing with something that makes it very hard to make it out in the world. But, throughout the film, we see that Dory has the ability to not only be useful, after a certain character says she isn't able to do certain things, but be the one that can save the day. Again, this is Disney succeeding in bringing in very real adult themes, yet presenting them in such a way that kids can understand and showing that it is possible to overcome obstacles in life.

Once again, Disney and Pixar have hit their mark and have given us a worthy sequel in Finding Dory. They were able to capture the magic from the first film and present it to a new generation that I'm sure will fall in love with it. The new characters are a perfect fit in this world and the story is one that we can all appreciate in some way. If you have yet to see Finding Dory, I highly recommend it. My only advice to you is this: DO NOT see this movie around lunchtime on a weekend, unless you want kids yelling throughout the whole film. I understand the film is for kids, but my generation has been waiting for this movie for thirteen years, so we get a pass for feeling this way, right? Maybe I'm just getting old and bitter way too early.

'Finding Dory' Remains in the Top Spot at the Box Office

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Friday saw the premiere of Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to 1996's blockbuster hit Independence Day. There was a lot of skeptical voices surrounding this film, first with the absence of Will Smith and then the fact that there were no advance screenings for the press. From the trailers themselves, the general public seemed to be hesitant about the film. Now, we can finally look at the opening day numbers, and its safe to say that Independence Day: Resurgence did not have the showing it was hoping for, projected to rake in an estimated $43 million. On the other hand, Finding Dory continues to dominate.

After a $136.2 million opening weekend, the sequel to 2003's Finding Nemo is projected to make an estimated $75 million. To be fair, it really hasn't had any viable opponents this weekend. The Shallows was not going to unseat Finding Dory, nor was it going to be a big draw at the box office. Matthew McConaughey's Free State of Jones actually made less than The Shallows, which is only estimated to rake in $8 million this weekend. The only film that had any chance of surpassing the animated film was going to be Independence Day: Resurgance, but that is definitely not going to happen.

Disney continues to dominate the box office, which is why the release date for Finding Dory was perfect. Kids are out of school, its summer and it'll be seeing some repeat viewings. Also, the previous generation that saw the previous film as a child will most definitely be checking this film out as well, so Disney is utilizing nostalgia as well to dominate the box office. We should see the same thing with Toy Story 4 and Incredibles 2. Both have the appeal to kids and adults, and both have had quite a few years since their last film.

Finding Dory will probably see its reign as box office champ come to an end next weekend when Steve Spielberg's The BFG hits theaters. However, that will not matter in the least to Disney since they'll be handing over the top spot to themselves once again. This is the year of the mouse and we're a long way away from it being over.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - A New Hero Featurette [HD]

A new featurette has been released for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first stand alone film in the Harry Potter universe. Here, author J.K. Rowling discusses the story, along with Eddie Redmayne who plays the role of Newt Scamander, a "magizoologist" and author of the titular book used by Harry Potter in Hogwarts.

Taking place in New York in the year 1926, Newt Scamander arrives in the city with his case of magical creatures, which contains various habitats and creatures gathered from around the globe. Scamander then discovers that the wizarding community in the United States is fearful of the No-Maj folk (Muggles) and the consequences of exposure are even more dangerous than in the UK. I don't think a stern talking-to by a professor will suffice in this part of the world. We'll then see what happens when these creatures escape from Scamander's case and roam the streets.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them stars Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl), Katherine Waterston (Steve Jobs), Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Dan Fogler (Fanboys, Kung Fu Panda), Colin Farrell (Total Recall, The Lobster), Jenn Murray (Brooklyn), Jon Voight (Heat, Mission: Impossible), Carmen Ejogo (Selma), Gemma Chan (Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit), and Faith Wood-Blagrove.

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them hits theaters on November 18, 2016.

'X-Men: Apocalypse' Review

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First of all, I blame lackluster reviews for me taking so long to see this film. Sometimes, we rely too often on the Tomatometer and the reviews of our favorite critics and media personalities. This was a case in which I was fooled by both, as well as box office numbers. The two previous X-Men films (First Class, Days of Future Past) garnered praise from both audiences and critics alike, but the reception to X-Men: Apocalypse is split right down the middle. It currently sits at a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 52% on Metacritic, which I really don't understand. So, without further ado, lets talk about the latest installment in the franchise.

X-Men: Apocalypse takes place in 1983, 10 years after the previous film and sees the return of the first mutant, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), as he wreaks havoc on the world with his four followers because he feels that mankind has lost its way. One of the main things that excited fans about this film was the introduction of some iconic characters including Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan), Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee). One of the things that this film did a great job of was organically introducing each of these new characters. It reminded me of the way Joss Whedon handled the introductions in The Avengers. Everyone was in different parts of the world, yet nothing seemed out of place, and that really helped set the tone of the film early on. In fact, the story structure early on closely resembled The Avengers with the way they introduced the villain in the first scene, followed by a battle and then the introduction of new and old characters. The most interesting being the whereabouts of Magneto, which I won't spoil, but I'll just say this: forest scene.

As the film progresses and we see the plot really begin to take hold, I think this movie hits its stride. Apocalypse has his Four Horseman in Angel, Psylocke, Storm and Magneto and is ready to begin his destruction of the planet. Once they encounter Charles, and this is a scene in one of the trailers, there's a new objective: find Charles Xavier. So, now, the team consists of Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Nightcrawler, Mystique, Beast and Quicksilver, who manages to steal every scene he's in. And yes, this film has another fantastic slow-motion sequence. There's also a cameo that left me with a huge smile on my face because it gave us a glimpse of what we can expect, as far as violence, in a future film. The middle of the film also did a great job of showcasing the powers of Jean Grey, Scott Summers and Nightcrawler. We got to see Scott Summers really become Cyclops, Jean Grey show how powerful she can be (wait for the third act) and Nightcrawler using his power to get the team out of certain situations.

Now, the third act is where I have some criticisms of this movie. I felt like there were points where certain things were too easily accomplished. In a couple of instances, there could have been a lot more tension and the stakes could've been raised exponentially. Also, I expected Apocalypse to be in the fight more than he was. Now, that's not to say that he's totally absent, because he's not. You really see the menacing and imposing figure that he is, but I think if he were present for more of the battle, things could've ended a bit differently. However, the action sequences are incredible and look great as well. I also wish the Four Horseman, especially Psylocke did more, but it really wasn't a huge letdown for me. The resolution was very effective in my opinion and we got a very cool throwback to the first X-Men film with the final scene.

X-Men: Apocalypse is a worthy sequel and much, much better than the critics would have you believe. This movie contains some of the best and heart wrenching character moments in the franchise, and it gives these characters much more depth. We see relationships continue to develop, especially between Charles Xavier and Magneto, and the new characters really elevate this film. Specifically, Sophie Turner and Tye Sheridan became their characters and turned in some incredible performances. We also see their relationship begin to develop, along with Mystique finally taking a leadership role and being the one to lead this team after she had been viewed as a heroine after the events of the previous film.

Overall, X-Men: Apocalypse is one of those films that gets a bad wrap for no reason. This film, in my opinion, delivers on all fronts. It has great character moments that really pull you in, comedy that works really well in context, and it feels like an X-Men film. Granted, the film has its problems, just like any other, but it definitely delivers. In my opinion, I enjoyed this film more than Days of Future Past. But, that being said, none of the films in this franchise are bad. Each one has its merits in terms of which is best and that's how you know its a great trilogy. A lot of the time, the first film can be great and the other two can fall off the rails. Do yourselves a favor and go see this film, especially if you're an X-Men or comic book fan. There are some treats that you'll really enjoy. If not, you can go see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and be immersed in Michael Bay's world. But, lets be honest, you don't want that.

'Finding Dory' Has Historic Opening Weekend With $136.2 Million

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Finding Dory continues Disney's domination of the box office, making $136.2 million and setting the record for biggest domestic opening of all time for an animated film. The sequel to Finding Nemo also holds second place for the largest opening in the month of June, only behind Jurassic World. Finding Dory amassed $55 million on Friday, and then dropped an average of $10 million throughout the weekend. Performance in the international box office wasn't lacking either as the film posted a $186.2 million opening in 32% of the global market. It has since become the biggest Pixar showing in China and Australia. The film will continue to open throughout the summer and fall which only means one thing for the studio: success.

In a year of Disney dominance, which included Zootopia, The Jungle Book and Captain America: Civil War, Finding Dory will be no different. When a film as popular as Finding Nemo was back in 2003, there was no doubt that the opening weekend for this film was going to be big, but the question was, how big? Estimates from various film critics and personalities had it at just over $100 million and others even under that. This historic showing was definitely unexpected, but not surprising, given that Pixar very rarely misses the mark with its films.

The year will still have a heavy Disney presence in the fall, seeing the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Doctor Strange, slated for release on November 4th, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on December 16th. I think these films will far exceed the $100 million threshold, Rogue One having the best chance to cross $200 million. When all is said and done, 2016 will be the year of Disney dominance.

'Finding Dory' Sets Record On Opening Night

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The long anticipated sequel to Finding Nemo has finally hit theaters and is already making some noise. Earlier this year, Disney Animation Studios struck gold with the performance of Zootopia, which recently crossed the $1 billion, Pixar is set on making Finding Dory the second biggest box office opening of 2016. I would not be surprised to see, among tons of children in the theater, a fair amount of college aged kids who have been waiting for this film for 13 years, myself included. I think that generation will have a pretty big impact on the overall performance of this film, the same way Toy Story 3 did.

Finding Dory will follow the most popular blue tang fish in the sea as she embarks on a journey, with the help of Nemo and Marlin, to find her parents. Aside from the returning cast that includes Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks, we'll also be introduced to some new characters as well. Ty Burrell and Ed O'Neil of Modern Family will be playing the roles of Bailey the beluga whale and Hank the octopus. Kaitlin Oslon of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fame is also a great addition to the cast, playing Destiny the whale shark. Already, from the comedic talent alone, this sounds like the sequel we've been waiting for. However, I hope there are still those Pixar moments that really pull at your heartstrings. No need for me to mention the ending of Toy Story 3, right?

In a report from Deadline, Finding Dory opened in 4,305 theaters in the United States and raked in $9.2 million on opening night, which sets it up for a showing of over $100 million in its opening weekend, thus breaking the record for an animated feature film. The sequel has a little more than doubled the opening night numbers of Toy Story 3 and tripled the numbers set by Inside Out. With that being said, it will most definitely be an uphill battle if they seek to unseat the opening weekend numbers set by Captain America: Civil War, and I don't think it'll reach those numbers. However, it'll certainly be sitting atop the box office this weekend, beating out its immediate competitor in Central Intelligence, only projected to make $30 million this weekend after its $1.835 million on opening night. Unfortunately, with more releases in the coming weeks, something that films earlier this year didn't have to worry about, Finding Dory won't be sitting in that top spot for long. However, I do think it'll remain in the top five for a while. I think its wide appeal to audiences of all ages, especially being a summer movie which means school is out, will add to its longevity in theaters.

If you were a kid when Finding Nemo was released back in 2003 and were picked up from school early to go see it like I was, I highly recommend going to see this film.

Steven Spielberg Assures Fans That 'Indiana Jones 5' Will Not See The End of the Titular Character

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Star Wars fans around the world said goodbye to one of the most iconic characters of all-time in Han Solo last December. While many of us felt that the end was coming, it was no less a heartbreaking moment for fans of the franchise. Aside from Han Solo, Harrison Ford has also given us another beloved character that we'll see on the big screen once again: Indiana Jones. Granted, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wasn't too well received by fans of the films, but the fifth installment, according to The Hollywood Reporter's profile of Steven Spielberg, "is straight down the pike for the fans."

Spielberg also gave us one piece of information regarding the new film that will make fans of the character very happy. While we saw the unfortunate end of Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Spielberg has assured us that Indiana Jones will live on after the next film. Aside from that, there are no other details regarding the film since its in its very early stages. Writer David Koepp of Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is set to write the new film. It is still unknown if George Lucas will return as a producer, but given his close relationship with Spielberg, I think he'll be involved in the picture in some capacity.

As far as the story goes, I think this film will probably be the last on in which we see Indiana Jones going off on these adventures. By the time the next film is released, Harrison Ford will be 76 years old, so I wonder how many more films he'll be physically able to do in that role. We forget how much more exhausting the role of Indiana Jones is compared to Han Solo. For fans of the these films, we obviously want to see Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones forever, but we know that someday he'll have to hang up the whip for good. 

The untitled 5th installment of Indiana Jones will hit theaters in July of 2019.