How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Genre: Christmas / Fantasy / Comedy
Directed by: Ron Howard
Cast: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski
Time: 105 minutes

 Based on the famous Dr. Seuss children’s book of the same name, this film tells the story of the Grinch, a mean and unhappy green creature who sets out to ruin Christmas for the residents of Whoville, after they mistreated him years before.

This is very effective retelling of the old tale, thanks in large part to Jim Carrey’s natural ability for physical transformation. He was so perfect to play the Grinch. Taylor Momsen also shines off the screen with cuteness as Cindy Lou. This is such a fun film that I love to revisit every Christmas season. Some find the tone too dark, but I dig it.

Rating: ««««

Red One (2024)

Genre: Christmas / Comedy / Fantasy
Directed by: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, Lucy Liu
Running Time: 123 minutes

 

On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is kidnapped by a black ops team. Callum Drift, head of North Pole security, has to team up with hacker and bounty hunter, Jack O’Malley, to locate the jolly man before its too late and December 25^th is ruined for the whole world.

This is such a fun movie. Sure, there is some silliness, but the filmmakers did a good job marrying the comedy and fantasy genre, sprinkling it with Christmas spirit in the process. It is entertaining. The cast is solid. Johnson and Evans especially make for a good on-screen team. Enjoyed this one very much.

Rating: ««««

All of Us Strangers (2023)

Genre: Romance / Fantasy
Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy
Time: 105 minutes

 

Andrew is a screenwriter living alone in his London apartment. While writing, he decides to visit his suburban childhood home, now empty. He becomes haunted by the presence of his parents, who died in a car accident when he was 12 years old. At the same time, Andrew embarks into a relationship with his mysterious neighbor Harry.

Once we get past the weirdness of the fantastical aspect of the storyline of this film, we find a movie that offers a compelling look at loss, at love and at grief. It was a little confusing at first, but it all came together nicely, with good storytelling and talented actors. Overall, well worth the effort.

Rating: ««««

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

 Genre: Fantasy
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Live Tyler
Time: 201 minutes

 

Frodo Baggins and Sam continue to long and difficult journey to Mordor, following Gollum, whose hiding evil plans behind his role as a guide. In the meantime, the rest of Fellowship and joining forces with other allies to fight against Sauron and the legions from Mordor.

The same preface applies here. This type of film is not my cup of tea, but I have to give props for the visuals and the acting. I might have suffered from Lord of the Rings fatigue by the end of this third installment, because I enjoyed this one a little less. Good, Frodo did it, let’s move on.

Rating: ««

47 Ronin (2013)

Genre: Fantasy / Action
Directed by: Carl Rinsch
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tanadobu Asano
Time: 118 minutes

 

In 18^th century Japan, a group of masterless samurais called Ronin join force with a half-breed outcast to avenge the death of their lord by battling the rival that caused his demise.

I was not quite sure what to expect with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was decent and the story was compelling. While not my regular cup of tea, this was an entertaining flick, in spite of what the critics might say.

Rating: «««

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Genre: Fantasy
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Live Tyler
Time: 179 minutes

 

Now separated from the rest of the fellowship, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee continue their long journey to Mordor. Along the way, they cross path with the mysterious Gollum, a former bearer of the magical ring that Frodo now wants to destroy. The other members of the fellowship and engaged in a battle of their own.

Again, while this sort of film is not what I would call my sort of thing, I must give it its props for the cinematography and the visual aspect of it. It is incredible what they managed to put on screen. It is mind blowing. As for the rest, it is not my cup of tea, but I still find it entertaining for what it is.

Rating: «««

The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Genre: Fantasy
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Live Tyler
Time: 178 minutes

 

Hobbit Frodo Baggins inherits a magical ring from his old uncle Bilbo. In the wrong hands, this ring could mean the end of Middle-Earth. With a group of eight companions, Frodo forms the Fellowship of the Ring and starts a treacherous journey to Mount Doom, in Mordor, the only location where the magical ring can be destroyed.

This type of fantastic tale is not my regular cup of tea, but I must admit here that the cinematography is something to witness here. The images shot in that scenery are majestic. The story itself and the acting are fine for what they are meant to be. Overall, it is entertaining, in spite of gibberish spoken in the script.

Rating: «««

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

Genre: Romance / Fantasy
Directed by: Richard LaGravanese
Starring: Aiden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson
Running time: 124 minutes

 

Ethan Wale is a teenager who is getting kind of bored with life in small Gatlin, South Carolina. In class, he meets newcomer Lena, a mysterious girl he has dreamt about before without knowing her. Ethan starts a relationship with Lena, but her dark secret and her family might be more than he bargained for.

Most of the cast members show much talent in their performance, but the story, based on a novel of the same name by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, just seem to plod along aimlessly without a clear direction. The end result is quite forgettable.

Rating: ««

Field of Dreams (1989)

Genre: Fantasy / Drama
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Starring: Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones
Running time: 107 minutes

 

Based on the W.P. Kinsella novel titled Shoeless Joe, Field of Dreams tells the story of Ray Kinsella, a man living on his farm with his wife and their young daughter. A voice he hears on his farm urges him to transform part of his cornfield into a baseball field. Once built, the baseball field attracts the ghosts of various deceased members of the Chicago White Socks, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, who are back to play after being banned from the game in the 1920’s.

I had not seen this particular film in years, and I am glad that I revisited it. Sure, it is sentimental and the whole premise seems so weird, but the finished product is so good for the soul. All of the cast was solid, and the story is so brilliantly told. I was hooked from beginning to end even if I knew how it all went.

Rating: «««««

Winter's Tale (2014)

Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Directed by: Akiva Goldsman
Cast: Colin Farrell, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Russell Crowe
Running Time: 118 minutes

 

Peter Lake is a thief that decides to leave his boss Pearly Soames’ gang. Pearly is a supernatural demon that raised Peter with the same superpowers. When his protégé leaves, Pearly starts hunting him down, but Peter escapes on a magical white horse. In the process of escaping, Peter finds the love of his life, Beverly, a fragile woman that suffers from consumption.

This film, which is based on the novel of the same name, written by Mark Helprin, offers a good visual presentation, but the story just never hooked me. I found the characters uninteresting and the story simply too silly to care about.

 

Rating: «

Snow White and The Huntsman (2012)

 

Genre: Fantasy
Directed by: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Kristen Steward, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth
Running time: 127 minutes

 

King Magnus is enchanted and killed by Ravenna, an evil sorceress who then becomes almighty queen. Queen Ravenna has Snow White, Magnus’ young daughter locked up in a dungeon. As Snow White gets older, the Queen wants to kill her stepdaughter and take her power to contribute to her eternal life. Snow White escapes and then comes back with a army to battle her evil stepmother.

 This is a dark reimagining of the German fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. It is entertaining as such, in spite of a loaded plot and uneven acting. Not bad, per se, but nothing special either.

 Rating: «««