Short reviews: Jurassic World, Incredibles 2, and Won't You Be My Neighbor?

The Incredibles 2

I am tired of Pixar doing sequels, but that doesn't mean I wasn't hyped for this one.  The Incredibles is probably the most sequel friendly of all of the movies they have done.  What surprised me the most was the decision to literally pick up exactly where the last movie left off - with the appearance of the Underminer.  The movie doesn't stop from there, instantly jumping into the main plot - the push to allow Supers back out into the open.

The action part of the movie focuses on Elastigirl, and I have to give credit to the filmmakers for continuing to come up with new and inventive ways for her to use her powers.  This shifts Mr. Incredible to a domestic role, and the movie takes the high road of making him struggle without going into easy jokes.

I won't go so far to say that it is better than the original, but it is easily the best sequel thus far (with the caveat that I have not seen Toy Story 3).  Definitely worth checking out if you loved the original.

6.5 out of 10

Jurassic World:  Fallen Kingdom

I went into this film with very low expectations.  In fact, based off of the previews, I jokingly referred to it as "The Lost Park: Jurassic World" given the similarities to the first sequel.  However, despite a script that falls apart with even the slightest bit of thought, the director (J.A. Bayona) manages to create several exciting sequences throughout that keep you entertained, even if they do fail to work under scrutiny.

Despite all this, the movie is very much a 'filler' movie connecting Part 1 to the endgame of Part 3.  It keeps up the pace and doesn't bore you, but it definitely isn't a movie going for a self-contained story.  You get some appearances from Jeff Goldblum and BD Wong, but most of the focus is on Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt again, and the movie continues the trend/need to have a child around to up the stakes for the danger.

The movie gets a 5 or a 6 out of 10 from me, but it is a very enjoyable 5/6 out of 10.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

I live in West Texas, so seeing a documentary appear in a theatre near me is a rare occasion, but what a treat it was to see this showing and get a chance to see it.

This documentary is a short look (the movie, with credits, is 93 minutes) at the life of Fred Rogers and the impact he had on children across the United States and his beliefs that shaped the show Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.

The movie does a good job of condensing his life while still hitting on what made the show so important and impactful during that time.

There's not much to say about this other than this is definitely a documentary worth checking out.

9.0 out of 10.