by Logan Butts | Jun 20, 2013 | Opinion
Hello, readers! Welcome back to another week of Logan’s Home Video Update! This week’s edition will be featuring animated movies. Two of the films have new installments this summer, so I figured this would be a great opportunity to review them. The other was my favorite animated film from last year. Despicable Me (PG, 95 minutes- starring the voice of Steve Carell) A surprisingly huge box office and critical success in the summer of 2010, Despicable Me surprised everyone with its charm and wit. What a few detractors called Pixar-lite, I called a heart-warming film with an awesome soundtrack and some memorable characters (mainly Agnes and the Minions). I will use a slightly paraphrased version of Agnes’ now famous quote to sum up the movie. “It’s so good, I’m gonna die!” Monsters, Inc. (G, 92 minutes- starring the voices of John Goodman and Billy Crystal) Speaking of Pixar, Monsters Inc. was another overwhelming success from the Pixar assembly line. It was the first original Pixar movie to come out in three years after the underrated A Bug’s Life, and it was definitely worth the wait. It has become beloved enough over the years to garner a prequel 12 years later. Wreck-It Ralph (PG, 101 minutes- starring the voice of John C. Reilly) In my opinion, this was the best animated film of last year and one of the best non-Pixar animated films in a long time. The universe in the film was filled to the brim with eye-popping visuals and familiar characters from both past and present video games. The movie brings out all sorts of emotions in the...
by Logan Butts | May 20, 2013 | Opinion
Welcome back, readers, for the second edition of Logan’s home video update! Due to the lack of quality new DVD releases this week, I will be suggesting two slightly older releases to catch up on. If you are like me, then I am sure your list of movies to see can never be too long. Life of Pi (PG, 127 minutes- starring Suraj Sharma) With a slew of Oscar nominations and a well-deserved four wins, Life of Pi was one of the biggest winners from the 2012 awards season. Although the performances from newcomer Suraj Sharma and veteran Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan were great, the true star of this film was the visual effects. It almost felt like the dazzlingly-beautiful set and CGI in the film were characters in their own right. Instead of making the film feel artificial, they brought an emotional depth to an already emotionally-rich story. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (PG-13, 169 minutes- starring Martin Freeman) Though it drags on a bit, which was expected considering they are adapting one book into three different movies, The Hobbit was a welcome return for one of the most familiar and beloved film series of the last decade. One of the highlights of the film was the chemistry between all of the dwarves. Their characters were all cast very accurately, and the actors all had a natural chemistry with each other. That’s a wrap for this week’s edition of the home video update. I hope you enjoy the...
by Logan Butts | May 13, 2013 | Opinion
Hello, readers! I have decided to revamp the old Lumination staple that was the Redbox Report! In my darker, grittier rebooted version, I will be presenting two or three home-viewing options every week. At least one of the films will be a new release, and at least one will be a slightly older release (in case you are trying to play catch-up on last year’s films during the summer months as I am). So, with that in mind, I guess I should change the name to something more accurate. How about the home video update? I will work on the name. Without further ado, here are this week’s home video viewing options. New Release: Mama (PG-13, 100 minutes- starring Jessica Chastain) Admittedly, I am a pretty large fan of horror films. So, it may be a little bit biased that I am recommending this hauntingly creepy supernatural thriller. I really do believe that this is a solid choice for home video viewing if you are up for a quick scare or if you are a horror movie aficionado like me. It also doesn’t hurt that the always wonderful and recently Oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain stars. Slightly Older Release: Lincoln (PG-13, 150 minutes- starring Daniel Day-Lewis) If you have not yet seen Lincoln, it is a must see for any fans of film or American history. Lincoln was one of last year’s biggest success stories in film, grossing 270 million at the box office and garnering 12 Academy Award nominations, winning two. Daniel Day-Lewis was magnificent in the title role, taking home the Best Actor Oscar along with every other award...
by Logan Butts | May 3, 2013 | Opinion
“Ever since the guy with the hammer fell out of the sky, subtlety kind of went out of the window.” And just like that, Iron Man 3 had been summed up in one quote from Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes a.k.a. War Machine a.k.a. Iron Patriot. My job was done. No need for a review. But, seriously, this one quote, delivered with expert comic timing by the cheeky Don Cheadle, had everything you need to know about Iron Man 3. After the enormous success of The Avengers, expectations were high for Iron Man 3. Director Shane Black, new to the superhero genre, decided to respond to those expectations by going for broke. Black took his usual nineties buddy cop action formula and applied it to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There were enough edge-of-your-seat set pieces to indulge any action junkie. All of the action scenes, along with Black’s trademark comedic touch, were not subtle whatsoever, which is exactly what this franchise needed to stand out after the massive box office haul and critical adoration of The Avengers. Robert Downey, Jr. was his usual charismatic self as Iron Man, the role he was born to play. With an array of one-liners and an unexpected touch of feeling, Downey continued his winning streak as the most compelling on-screen Marvel hero. As it has come to be expected from the Marvel movies, the cast was rounded out by a group of highly respectable actors turning in more than capable work. Gwyneth Paltrow’s role as Pepper Potts was expanded to include more vital screen time in this segment of the trilogy, as was Jon Favreau’s...
by Logan Butts | Apr 18, 2013 | Opinion, Sports
After a season full of surprising upstarts, fantastic play, intriguing storylines and the Miami Heat Harlem Shake video, I am more than ready for this year’s NBA playoffs. With an unbelievably talented Western Conference and everyone in the Eastern Conference gunning for the Heat’s throne, this is shaping up to be one of the best playoffs in a decade. Let’s jump right in to my 2013 NBA playoff predictions. All seeds are my projections. Eastern Conference First Round 1. Miami Heat vs. 8. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis will have a game where they catch fire and score a combined 60 points, which will be the only thing keeping this series from being a sweep. 2. New York Knicks vs. 7. Boston Celtics: If Rajon Rondo were still healthy, this series would be much different. The return of all their injured players, combined with the hot streak Carmelo Anthony is on, makes this series a fairly easy one for New York. 3. Indiana Pacers vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith and company will end their streak of second round exits this year…by exiting in the first round. The Pacers balanced play should win them the series. 4. Brooklyn Nets vs. 5. Chicago Bulls: This Bulls team will not go away. Without the injured Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, they still somehow managed to capture the fifth seed in the East. I think their toughness will be enough to knock out Deron Williams and the underachieving Nets. Second Round 1. Miami Heat vs. 5. Chicago Bulls: Even though the gritty Bulls ended the Miami Heat’s record-approaching win streak,...
