film reviews, interviews, features | BRWC

Author: Megan Williams

  • Soul: Disney+ Talk

    Soul: Disney+ Talk

    Soul: Disney+ Talk

    It seems that Pixar has given a mind to everything in existence: toys, cars, robots and even emotions. But they’re not done yet and are giving human souls a mind of their own with their new film ‘Soul’. This was another film that was due for a cinema release but unfortunately missed out due to the pandemic. Therefore, it has landed a place on Disney’s streaming service.

    ‘Soul’ stars Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner, a New York resident who is given the chance of a lifetime to play in a famous jazz band. But, after he suddenly dies, he must find a way back into his body before the concert starts and avoid going to the Great Beyond. Along the way, he befriends a mischievous soul, 22 (voiced by Tina Fey) who refuses to transfer to Earth. 

    Pixar once again shine through with their latest entry, and I hope this gets re-released once the cinemas reopen. It’s a delightful and heart-warming film. 

    Jamie Foxx delivers a fantastic voice performance as the teacher who is continuously turned down by various jazz bands that he desperately wants to play in, to only meet his untimely end once his big break arrives. He’s immediately likable and his motives are completely understandable. 22 is also likable, but for a different reason: she is cheeky and carries most of the humour by her recounting her previous mentors, which include Abraham Lincoln and Mother Teresa. Later in the film, a lot of the jokes are slapstick, and this works too because of the opposite personalities. Joe is so desperate to get back to Earth while 22 has no interest. However, the duo work together perfectly.

    Something I rarely bring up when talking about a film is diversity. However, this needs to be mentioned. The majority of the cast are black or Spanish-speaking, which is something I admire. It shows that Pixar are wanting to be more diverse with each film they make; their last film being the Mexican led ‘Coco’ which is still my favourite Pixar film. And, just like ‘Coco’, the soundtrack is important to the story too; it’s what drives Joe Gardner in life. Therefore, it needs to be not only good, but also meaningful. ‘Soul’ definitely has the most interesting soundtrack, with a mixture of smooth jazz and electronic music. These genres are used to separate the real world and the spirit world, giving the already dream-like world a sense of wonder compared to the more grounded real world. 

    Like mentioned at the start, I hope ‘Soul’ is re-released in cinemas for one reason only: the visuals. The divide between Earth and the spirit world is clear, not only through its music but through the visuals too: The Great Before looks dream-like and soft to match the nature of the souls that are yet to be born, while the stairway to the Great Beyond is wonderous and sparse, giving it a mysterious aura. This scene in particular was my favourite, as well as the black and white sketch lines of the drop between the two Great areas. The mixture of the impressive animation styles is wonderful to see and makes this a visually unique film. The character animation is also interesting and unique; whereas Pixar started out by cloning Andy various times as a way to animate his friends in ‘Toy Story’, this film really displays how far the company has come since then in terms of animating people. No one looks the same here, and everyone has their own unique appearance and quirks. And the souls look otherworldly but still identifiable; you can tell who they were when they lived on Earth. 

    Overall, Pixar has made another animated classic with ‘Soul’. It was a film that I was originally uninterested in, but I’m glad I watched. The music and animation make this a very unique Pixar film and I really hope it gets its chance at the cinema when the times comes, because this is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen. Not only that, but it’s clear Pixar are becoming culturally diverse with their recent entries and that’s something that I really admire and hope they continue to do in the future. 

    If you have Disney+, then I would highly recommend this. 

  • Noelle: Disney+ Talk

    Noelle: Disney+ Talk

    It’s only a couple of days until Christmas! And, while there was no Disney+ Talk article last week (due to being ill from a newly discovered allergy), that doesn’t mean the festivities stop! The next Christmas film that I’ve picked is a Disney+ Original film. This was one that was on the initial Disney+ line-up when the streaming service arrived in 2019 but didn’t come to the UK one until November this year. 

    Written by Marc Lawrence (‘Music & Lyrics’, ‘Miss Congeniality’) ‘Noelle’ follows the Kringle family in the North Pole. After her brother, Nick Kringle flees the North Pole, it’s up to his sister Noelle to travel to America to try and find him, in the hopes that he’ll be able to successfully become the next Santa Clause.

    Overall, ‘Noelle’ was a delightful Christmas film that will probably become a yearly December watch for me. 

    The cast is fantastic, and all have great chemistry with each other. Anna Kendrick (‘A Simple Favour’, ‘Scott Pilgrim vs The World’) is wonderful as the daughter of the previous Santa Clause, who becomes a fish out of water once she travels to America. Her responses to the outside world are very reminiscent of Buddy the Elf, however I found her performance more charming because of her innocent personality.

    While Will Ferrell’s performance was played towards dark humour, Kendrick’s performance is more geared towards the charming innocence of a person. Bill Hader is also fantastic, as the next Santa Clause, who has no Christmas spirit and has no interest in being Santa Clause. It’s a breath of fresh air. While a previous Disney film (‘The Santa Clause’) touched on the idea that someone was to become Santa against their will, that film ended with the main character accepting it. So, it’s nice to see that this film keeps the character of Nick consistent in his way of thinking. 

    ‘Noelle’ is also a fantastic Christmas film, as it is overloaded with Christmas spirit from the very beginning. The setting of the North Pole gives the film the opportunity to include as many holiday symbols as possible: snow, candy canes, elves, reindeer, jingle bells, presents, sweets and, of course, Santa. But the overwhelming nature of the film never felt annoying; these aspects mostly served as a backdrop for the story and were placed in the foreground when the story required it, without feeling forced. ‘Noelle’ also reminded me of ‘Arthur Christmas’ as we see Nick Kringle train to become Santa Clause and new technology is brought in as the years pass.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBDnQkQUTGU

    However, unlike the prementioned film, the technology doesn’t always work. The film brings into question whether old traditions should be thrown away or not, and it’s an interesting idea to introduce. Just because new technology makes Santa’s job easier, doesn’t always mean it’s a better solution in the long run.

    While I really enjoyed ‘Noelle’, it does have a couple of flaws: the pacing is messy. The first act starts off strong, but then slows to a crawl once Noelle goes to search for her brother. It felt like the film was clawing for new scenes as it went along, just so it could be an hour and 45 minutes, when it could’ve easily have been an hour and 20-minute film. Nearly all the CGI looks fantastic and does a great job at bringing the North Pole to life. However, the CGI revolving around the reindeer was very odd, and close-up shots of the animals made them look like odd clay statues. It’s a shame that this is the only CGI failure throughout the entire film.

    Despite its flaws, ‘Noelle’ was delightful. While it was a little too long, the performances were fantastic and charming. The setting of the North Pole was joyful and put a smile on my face, and the story was unique. Switch the Christmas tree lights on, grab some hot chocolate, wrap up in a blanket and enjoy this charming festive film!

  • Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire: Disney+ Talk

    Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire: Disney+ Talk

    Disney+ Talk With Megan Williams: Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire (Christmas Special)

    Can you believe my Disney+ Talk articles have been around for 9 months and I’ve only just gotten around to a Simpsons episode? And yes, you read that correctly: a Simpsons episode. Ever since Disney bought 20th Century Fox, the iconic animated show is now available on Disney+, so I wanted to use this opportunity to rewatch the episode that introduces the lovable pooch Santa’s Little Helper.

    ‘Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire’ is a 24-minute Christmas Special that originally aired in 1989. When Homer’s boss, Mr Burns, cancels the Christmas bonus’, Homer must get a second job as a mall Santa to make up for a lack of money towards presents, all while keeping it a secret from his family. Meanwhile, Marge has to spend their rainy days funds to pay for Bart’s tattoo removal after he thought it would make a great present for his mum. However, the episode ends on a happy note as the Simpsons go to the dog races and adopt a fluffy family member. Interestingly, this was also the first episode to air independently from the shorts that aired on the Tracey Ullman Show. So, does this episode still stand the test of time 30 years later?

    Yes. Yes it does.

    While the voice dubbing is a little off, and the animation is not as polished as it is nowadays, the episode is still a fantastic one, and a delightful way to introduce the Simpsons’ independent show. The pacing of the episode is perfect, and the voice acting is wonderful, even if some of the voice acting styles have changed over the years. Two obvious examples are Mr Burns, who I’m sure is a different voice actor in this episode (however I was not able to find this out), and Homer who has a slightly deep nasal tone to his voice here.

    Because I haven’t watched this Christmas special in years, it’s interesting to see how the characters have developed over the years. Out of all the characters in the show, Homer is the one who has changed the most, in terms of his characteristics and personality, and it’s been an eye-opener seeing what he was originally like. While he’s portrayed as a dumb Peter Griffin clone in recent seasons, in this episode and in the first few seasons, he wasn’t overall stupid. He just didn’t always think about what he was doing, leading to honest mistakes. He was also a caring family man; while he had disagreements with his son Bart (which is shown in this episode when Bart expresses interest in getting a tattoo), he ultimately loves him and wants what’s best for his family.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIfLqO3SSBs

    When he’s told that the Christmas bonus is cancelled this year, he’s scared to tell his family because he doesn’t want to let his family down and ruin Christmas for them. He was, overall, a typical Dad and I can now see, even if he was joking, why my own Dad could relate to Homer. One scene at the start especially reminds me of my own parents. Marge is writing a letter to her sisters while Homer is getting the Christmas lights out of their box. He keeps asking Marge if she knows where the extension cord and keeps pestering her for it then, when Marge gets annoyed, Homer apologizes and says he’s just excited to decorate the house.

    As someone who has a Dad who gets overexcited about things like this, that scene felt close to home in the best way. This is why the Simpsons became popular: they were a family who were relatable, even if they got into some surreal situations. Another scene that I can relate to is when Homer and Bart adopt Santa’s Little Helper. Homer doesn’t want to adopt him because he was a losing dog at the races but is then quickly won over by the dog. This brings in a cliché, a true one I might add, that the dads don’t want to adopt the pets but will then love them a few days later.

    Overall, ‘Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire’ was a wonderful introduction to the Simpsons family, and the longest running scripted show ever. While the animation quality and dubbing wasn’t as polished, and Homer’s character change is obvious, this is a fantastic episode that reminded me why The Simpsons was such a good show.

  • Pluto’s Christmas Tree: Disney+ Talk

    Pluto’s Christmas Tree: Disney+ Talk

    Today’s date means we’re now in December, which means one thing: CHRISTMAS! And, while this year will be different, we can still interact with family via Zoom or Skype, indulge in presents, make Christmas cake and decorate the house and Christmas tree. It also means that, for this month, Disney+ Talk will be solely focused on Disney Christmas films, starting with the 1952 short ‘Pluto’s Christmas Tree’.

    ‘Pluto’s Christmas Tree’ is a 6-minute short focused on Mickey Mouse and his pet dog Pluto as they go to chop down a Christmas tree for their house. However, Pluto discovers that the tree they’ve taken is the home of the chipmunks Chip ‘n’ Dale.

    This short was a piece of media from my childhood. It was a short that was recorded on a VHS tape that my Nan used to have, which would include other random recorded material (e.g.: Tom & Jerry cartoons, Tailspin, Looney Tunes), but this short was one that I used to watch a lot during the Christmas season. However, this is also one that I haven’t watched since childhood. Not only was this nostalgic, but it was also entertaining.

    The short is essentially a slapstick skit, as Pluto tries to alert the oblivious Mickey of the mischievous chipmunks. Pluto’s encounter of the chipmunks occurs right at the start, as the pair go to find a tree and notices the chipmunks teasing him. The pacing and escalation of events are perfect, as we see Pluto lose his temper more and more until he finally snaps and jumps into the already decorated Christmas tree to try and get the two animals. However, the short is also sweet, as the chipmunks are delighted and innocently curious by the decorations that Mickey has put up in their home, and then finally noticed and accepted by Mickey. 

    The hand-drawn animation is delightful too, and the attention to detail between all the characters and setting is wonderful to see. Mickey’s movements are confident but bouncy and joyful, while Pluto’s movements, especially his running, are clumsy and boisterous, reminding me of my own two dogs.

    The short is very Christmassy in its setting: their home is surrounded by snow and Christmas trees, and even their house is decorated with lights, Christmas cards and jingle bells, which Pluto carries with his tail. 

    Overall ‘Pluto’s Christmas Tree’ is an entertaining, and nostalgic, short. The pacing and humour are perfectly balanced, and the characters are delightful. Plus, the short’s setting makes this a perfect short to get into the Christmas spirit! 

  • Marvel 616: Japanese Spiderman – Disney+ Talk

    Marvel 616: Japanese Spiderman – Disney+ Talk

    Marvel 616 Episode 1: Japanese Spiderman – Disney+ Talk.

    Disney+ have recently added a new show to their streaming service called ‘Marvel 616’. This 8-episode series explores various aspects of the Marvel phenomenon in terms of previously lost media, cosplays, representation and new era comics. And the first episode is simply titled ‘Japanese Spiderman’. 

    ‘Japanese Spiderman’ revolves around the making of the Japanese version of the webbed superhero. Interviews with the cast and crew of the show document how the idea came about and what it was like to film the 41-episode series. It was a show that was exclusive to Japan, from 1978-1979. It wasn’t until 2009, when Marvel uploaded the show online, that the show was revealed to the rest of the world.

    While watching this, two points stuck out to me: the first one was that Marvel comics did not originally sell well in Japan. Due to how popular they became in the Western world, it’s interesting that this was not the case in other parts of the world, and really shows how culturally different Asia is compared to the Western world. It’s revealed that Marvel Comics didn’t sell well because of the popularity of Manga. While comics are viewed as ‘pictured storybooks’, Manga is viewed as entertaining picture books that use visuals instead of words to get its narrative across. This led to Toei, a production company that was already creating popular kids shows, creating their own version of Spiderman, complete with vehicles and robots. 

    And, yes, I said robots. While pop culture icons like Gundam, Transformers and Power Rangers are well known now, it was surprising to hear that ‘Spiderman’ was the show that introduced a transforming robot, which Spiderman uses to fight the show’s various monsters. After the introduction of Leopardon, a spaceship-type vehicle that transforms into the transforming robot warrior, Marvel ended up writing ‘Shogun Warriors’ which led to the creation of ‘Transformers’. The show is also arguably an influence on the Toei show ‘Super Sentai’ which led to ‘The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’, a show which I loved as a kid. The various monsters also replaced the well-known villains that featured in the American comics, highlighting how much of the show is different from its Western counterpart, and showcasing what Japanese audiences were looking for compared to American audiences. However, there’s no denying that, despite its deviations, it was still popular in the country it was made for, as well as making an impact on pop culture.

    The second point that stuck out to me was how the series was filmed. The show, like a lot of Japanese kids shows at the time, was given a low budget and a very tight filming schedule. Spiderman stuntman Hirofumi Koga even said that, because this was a time before CGI and visual effects, all the stunts that were shown were actually real, including an end credit scene where Spiderman is seen climbing up Tokyo Tower! While this is dangerous, it also showed what lengths the cast and crew would go to to make this Spiderman work for Japanese audiences. It’s shocking but also oddly inspirational. 

    The main purpose of these shows is to sell toys. This explains the introduction to Leopardon and Marveller; while they were key to the show’s action scenes, they were also there to sell toys. This is a tactic that has been tried in the Western world (i.e. ‘Batman & Robin’), the difference here is that the vehicles and robots are a key factor to the show’s plot, whereas ‘Batman & Robin’ showed the numerous vehicles and gadgets before discarding them in the next scene. Popy Toy Designer Katsushi Murakami explains that the toy sales were how the source material made their money back, hence why a lot of the characters had to be created to fit that category. And, like how the show introduced the idea of a transformer, Popy Toys were the first company to introduce the transforming toy. 

    Overall, the first episode of ‘Marvel 616’ is a fascinating documentation into the filming of another perspective into the well-known superhero. Not only was the show popular in Japan, but we also have a lot to thank when it comes to shows it influenced. It may be extremely dated now, but it’s interesting to watch the making of it, and see how differently some pop culture is portrayed around the world.