Christmas is Impossible to Hate in 'The Grinch'

United International Pictures

The grumpy, green, hairy, Christmas hater is back to steal the holiday from everyone. This time, he's not a live action figure played by Jim Carrey. Instead, it's Benedict Cumberbatch taking a stab as the voice of the newest The Grinch.

Staying true to the Seussian spirit, the film tells the timeless story of the Christmas thief Grinch who had a change of his 'two sizes too small' heart after a little girl from Who-ville showed him what Christmas is really all about.

Of course, a film about The Grinch wouldn't be The Grinch without the endless cynicism. It's all in the beginning of the film where it almost makes hating Christmas a little bit fun. Since everyone is positive, especially in Who-ville where everyone celebrates Christmas like it's the only event in the world, Grinch does his best to ruin the community's source of joy. It's hilarious to watch him kill everyone's positivity and the film doesn't want you to feel sorry for it. It actually wants you to laugh at him while he gets even more mad.

United International Pictures

And you won't be sorry for him because he actually has company in Max, the cute sidekick dog who refuses to leave him despite his bad attitude. And with another new found friend, a fat reindeer named Fred, they become an unlikely dysfunctional team. With Fred and Max's innocence and cuteness plus Grinch's hatred and mishaps, they balance each other out and they make the film even more likable than it already is.

United International Pictures

It also helps a lot that the whole Who-ville looks incredibly colorful and flashy, and the animated little citizens are as cute as a button, making The Grinch a stand out. Benedict Cumberbatch's voice makes him even more distinct from the rest especially when it has Rashida Jones' soft and playful voice as the little girl Cindy Lou Who, and Pharell Williams' pleasant and calming poetry narration.

As negative as The Grinch is known for, it's also a certified heartwarmer. The film poetically explained where Grinch's negativity is coming from, and it feels justified to a point where he becomes agreeable and sympathetic. Even after stealing everyone's "Christmas". But as we know, his Christmas is about decorations and lights when it's completely the other way around for the rest despite their community's facade. It has always been about belongingness and at the end of the day, that's also what Grinch dreams to have.

Being faithful to Dr. Seuss' story is what this film needs and it grants us that. It gives us another reason why Christmas is impossible to hate in spite of the pleasure we get when The Grinch tries to destroy it.

'Creed II' is a Great Sports Flick, and An Even Better Family Drama

Movie franchises are everywhere. Some seem unnecessary, but some just feel right. Creed II falls on the latter. Because a Rocky reboot or remake or sequel, however bad or good they may be, always feels right. They always stick to its essence and never forget the important stuff--aside from passion, it always goes back to family, friendship and love. That is the legacy of Rocky, and Creed II continues to strengthen that gift.

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Creed II jump starts three years after Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) found his footing under Rocky Balboa's (ever charismatic Sylvester Stallone) wing. With his success, he is now also ready to start a family with his longtime lover Bianca (Tessa Thompson), a rising star who's also finding her place in the music scene. These three are the heart of the film, and they carry it together from start to finish.

As always, it's not rainbows and butterflies. Adonis Creed still struggles to follow the footsteps of his father, Apollo Creed, who as we know is also a former heavyweight champion. To worsen it, a younger newcomer confronts his self-doubt. His name is Viktor Drago, and he's none other than the son of Ivan Drago, the Russian boxer who killed his father three decades ago. A bit cliche if you ask me, but Rocky is all about that and we're just here to eat it all up.

Warner Bros. Pictures.

If there's anything this year has taught me, is that using the same good old formula isn't so bad. If it works, then I really don't mind. Creed II is just like its predecessors. It lacks Ryan Coogler's flair from Creed, sure, but it's still as compelling, as heartwarming, and as heart-racing as ever.

The good thing about this sequel is that it returns to its origin but it keeps on making compelling arguments as to why it needs continue. Like in this sequel, everyone seems like a hero and it still makes complex dilemma for the protagonists. Even the alleged villain Viktor Drago is someone we could root for because of his tragic history with his parents. The future of this franchise could explore further on that. Although I wouldn't mind if they continue to focus on Adonis' growing family.

Warner Bros. Pictures.

Which leads me to Bianca and their baby. One of the most heartbreaking moments of this film is when they found out that their baby inherited Bianca's hearing problems. This scene is a true standout to Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson's overall stellar performance. It would make people weep and root for them. Then we have Sylvester Stallone who hasn't lost his charisma over the years. They make a great ensemble that each of them offers something likable to the table. I particularly enjoyed Thompson's singing and numbers, Stallone's pleasantries, and Michael B. Jordan being a boss.

On its own, Creed II is a great modern sports flick, but it is an even better family drama. Bottom line, it captures what Rocky is all about. Formulaic or not, it still rules.

'The Girl in the Spider's Web' is Light in Action, and Heavy with Emotion

I find Claire Foy's take on Lisbeth Salander brave and admirable, not only because the role is complex and one-of-a-kind, but also it's inevitable that she will be compared with the prominent portrayals of Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara back in 2009 and 2011 respectively. The latter even garnered an Academy Award nomination. Needless to say, Claire Foy held her own. The movie? A different situation. First, this is from a different book. Second, it's totally lighter in action, albeit heavy with emotions.

Claire Foy as Lisbeth Salander | Columbia Pictures

The previous adaptations focused on Lisbeth Salander's psyche. They're more of a character study capturing her substance. Fede Alvarez' adaptation is more interested in the action and back stories which made Claire Foy's Lisbeth a bit thankless except for that one scene at the end where we, once again, witness how great of a dramatic actress she is.

In Spider's Web, Lisbeth Salandar finds herself entangled into a violent web of intrigue and history after evildoers attempt to take encrypted nuclear launch codes, blasts her apartment, and leave her for dead. As she tries to retaliate, she is drawn to her mysterious past which dramatically connects the beginning of the film to the end.

To be fair, they made Salander the center of the film, a feminist that wants to make a statement. She's portrayed as a feminist savior and they made that clear from the beginning when she tortures and blackmails a misogynist pig who assaults prostitutes. That whole sequence is my favorite in the film and too bad, it's part of the beginning and did not pick up from there. The cinematography is top-notch which makes every black and white scenery breathtaking and slick. The score is a bit over-the-top but it helps the light action a bit more intense.

Alvarez shows his skills in executing big action set pieces. The blast of Lisbeth's apartment for one, is a great display of style. But the film still leaves you wanting for more. As polished as it looks, it demands more violence and surprises.

Overall, The Girl in the Spider's Web is a customary spy-action film at best. It's stylish, it's James Bond-ish, and it's well-acted.

'Ralph Breaks the Internet' Finds the Good and Bad Side of the Web

Vanellope and Ralph | Walt Disney Studios

Feels like only a few years ago when video-game bad guy Ralph won our hearts in the beloved Wreck-It-Ralph--a mix of old-school-new-school video game animated feature by Walt Disney Studios. I cannot believe that it's already six years since. Now Ralph is back in Walt Disney Animation Studios' first ever sequel since they did Fantasia way back in 2000.

This time, Ralph, along with his video game pal Vanellope, leaves Litwak video arcade to venture into a way bigger world we call the internet--a new world that tests the strength of their friendship, and opens their eyes to endless possibilities for their future as video game characters.

In their arcade world, Ralph learned to love his role and his community. Vanellope, on the other hand, got tired of the repetitive and predictable races of her own video game. The internet becomes a deal breaker for both of them. Ralph struggles to cope with its chaotic nature, while Vanellope is thrilled of the unpredictability of it all--particularly the internet place called 'Slaughter Race' that gives Vanellope her own princess song "A Placed Called Slaughter Race". This gives the film a good dilemma for their friendship. At the same time, it caters both the good and bad side of the internet.

Ralph Breaks the Internet is not limited to the growth of its main characters. It also effectively shows the good and hazardous effect of its titular setting. Like in real life, internet could be fun at times or at first, until it gets ugly. It's certainly a source of entertainment but it lures some people in until it becomes unsafe--may it be because of addiction, bullying, and even destroying our motherboards with its virus. It's all in this film.

The animation of the internet world here is astounding. It's colorful, lively, and it's a smorgasbord of the never-ending internet features. It has all the social media, the cat memes, and other websites that we visit. The only thing it doesn't have is porn, but there's a small possibility that I just missed it. Case in point, it's a big world and it's very pleasing to the eyes. Not to mention, it has several Disney characters not exclusive to the Disney princesses like Star Wars. But the latter are certainly the highlight I did not expect to fully appreciate. I find the trailer for this a bit gimmicky because of them but they certainly exceeded the promise and delivered a great sequence around the film's climax. Also, because of this sequel, I think it's safe to say that Vanellope is now officially a Disney princess.

Disney Princesses  | Walt Disney Studios

It's not the world of the princesses that would make people love this, though. It is the lesson and the characters' relationship that would warm people's hearts. The test of friendship between Ralph and Vanellope goes into something real and relatable. It asks the questions, how long would friendship last if it's not anymore convenient for the other? Would you hinder your friend's happiness to satisfy yours?

Ralph Breaks the Internet packs a nice message about selflessness and friendship. It achieves it amidst all the chaos and unpredictability of the cyberspace. It's not all colors, video games, and memes, it also has a huge heart like the first one.

'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' Continuously Expands the Wizarding World

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J.K. Rowling has no plans in keeping the Wizarding World in a frozen state. She continuously gives us new stories and answers about our favorite world and characters that ignited our imaginations several times. Just two years ago, she introduced us to a new Harry Potter spinoff that opened a new world of magic and spells. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them gave us a lovable character to follow, Newt Scamander, a magizoologist who was kicked out of Hogwarts.

Now, as he continues his adventure with his new friends and sole Hogwarts defender, Dumbledore, they plan to stop the rise of Gellert Grindelward, who threatens to destroy both the wizarding, and non-wizarding worlds. There is a lot at stake, and with The Crimes of Grindelwald, J.K. Rowling seems like she's just about to start.

True enough, this sequel sets up a lot of bridges for its future -- the mystery surrounding Credence's identity whom we are unsure of which side he's on, the thing between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, the future of Newt's friends Queenie and Jacob, the awkward but supposedly cute love story of Newt and Porpentina, the evolution of the 'fantastic beasts', so on and so forth -- and it's impossible to know if it'll be worth it at this time.

It ambitiously expands the forthcoming of the wizarding world, to a point where it reaches even real life monumental events. In the process, however, it also forgets to close open doors and answer flaming questions. And sometimes when it does, it underwhelms. One example is the mystery between Grindelwald and Dumbledore. It certainly wants to be big, and at this point, it's just a promise that we either look forward to, or forget altogether.

The great news is, it's visually appealing from start to finish. It has always been the franchise's strength and it's slightly safe to say that it makes up for the convoluted stories of this sequel. Even the characters and beasts are as colorful and creative as ever. Fans of anything creature-related will be delighted by the new beasts that they've introduced--an enormous swimming horse made up of seaweeds, wild Siamese looking cats with plain blue eyes, a Chinese monstrous cat dragon like something straight from a Ghibli film, you name it. They are one of the reasons why this feels different from Harry Potter, good way or not.

With all the abovementioned quibbles, Crimes gives fans something to be giddy about. This sequel has references that will induce nostalgia. It would be just more awesome if it didn't seem like a filler. One day, we'll look back at this sequel as a footnote, rather than a remarkable chapter in one of the most beloved stories of our generation. It'll always be worth a watch.

Part War Zone, Part Monster Horror, 'Overlord' is a Cool Addition to Both Genres

Nowadays, it's rare to see a hybrid of two completely different film genres. On top of my head, only a few movies in recent years accomplished this feat, one being Dan Trachtenberg's 10 Cloverfield Lane, a fusion of monster horror and kidnap drama. So when something like Overlord happens, a concoction of a war film and monster gore, it's always overly refreshing.

Photo Credit: United International Pictures

Overlord is about a team of American soldiers on the eve of D-Day, who fell into Nazi-occupied France after their plane crashed on a mission to destroy a German radio transmitter atop a barricaded church. There they meet a French villager who became instrumental in taking down the Nazis and accomplishing their mission. Little did they know, they must also fight otherworldly creatures created by their enemies hiding beneath the church.

With this interesting plot, it's hard not to be glued on screen from start to finish. On top of that, the film begins in a pulse-pounding scenery of World War II. Introducing us to paratroopers with different personalities, and a war zone so loud and intense, it immediately grabs you along in the ride.

The first half brims with serious war zone action from the soldiers led by no-bullshit Corporal Ford played by Wyatt Russell, and the young and determined Pvt. Boyce, played by Jovan Adepo. When they fell into a bomb-infested forest, they also meet their other troops. Things get a little more interesting when they finally meet the mysterious French villager Chloe (Mathilde Ollivier), who took them home with her younger brother and her aunt hidden inside a closed room in their house.

Photo Credit: United International Pictures

It's purely a war film at first until we get bangingly introduced to Chloe's aunt. It perfectly shifts the tone from military adventure to horror slash science fiction really quick and hilariously scary. The thing about Overlord is it never takes itself seriously and that's when we eat it all up even if it's freakishly a fantasy material.

The second half of the film thoroughly elevated everything. War films are cool, but the monster horror portion of this is bonkers. It doesn't hold back in utilizing the gore factor. Bloods splatter everywhere, open flesh, bones clunking. It's all there and there's a lot of it. It makes for a lively and intense theater experience that is both fun and horrifying. It doesn't hurt that all the characters are also a mix of buffoons, yet all of them are badasses.

Overlord is a great addition to both war and monster horror genre that I don't mind seeing another take of this crazy and fun ride.