Inside Out (2015)

Pixar continues its streak of making really really good movies. Pixar is as dependable as Antonio Brown is in a PPR league when it comes to making feel good, memorable movies. (Sorry, I'm getting a bit excited for the upcoming fantasy draft.)
'Inside Out' takes an inside look into a young girl's mind as she moves from the small town life style in Minnesota to big city life of San Francisco. Joy, fear, anger, sadness, and disgust portray the emotions controlling the young heroine. The cast was wonderful overall, but I felt that sadness, voiced by Phyllis from 'The Office' just stole the whole show.
Maybe it was because I had a similar experience of moving to a whole new world as a young kid that I found myself relating to the young heroine and all the crazy mix of emotions she was going through. It really can be scary to move to a whole new environment as a young kid. I found myself really enjoying this film. No matter your age, 'Inside Out' is a sweet and enjoyable film that's sure to make you smile.


IMDB- 8.6/10
Metacritic- 94/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 98%, Audience- 91%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

'We Bought a Zoo' (2011)

In 'We Bought a Zoo', Matt Damon plays a widowed father trying to create a fresh start for his kids following the loss of his wife. While searching for a new home, he comes across a perfect house to create a new life for his family. There is just one catch. The house is in a zoo, and the owner must take care of the zoo and its high maintenance occupants. Ben (Damon) sees the zoo as the perfect challenge for his family.
'We Bought a Zoo' is a heartwarming family film that I found to be very enjoyable. The film touches on many story lines that all come together very well. The rocky relationship between father and rebellious teenaged son. Challenge of being in charge of a zoo and bringing the place up to code in order to reopen it. Feelings of being utterly lost. Finding joy and love in life. And learning that sometimes twenty seconds of insane courage is all you need to discovery something amazing.
 'We Bought a Zoo' is a movie that kids and adults of all ages can enjoy, and it will leave you with a warm smile. There's nothing wrong with that.

IMDB-7.1/10
Metascore- 58/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Audience- 72%, Critics- 66%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Frozen (2013)

  It's a fact that everyone has a soft spot in their hearts for Disney movies whether they like to admit it or not. I'm not the one to hide my love for Disney movies. Recently, Pixar has been on a roll with their release of memorable hits. But, movies like 'Frozen' show Disney still has some magic left.
  'Frozen' tells the story of two sisters, Anna (Kristin Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel). The two princesses are very close growing up, but when Elsa's secret power puts Anna and everyone who she loves in danger, Elsa has no choice but to shut out the world and live in isolation. You see, Elsa has the power to create ice, snow, anything winter related with her hands. The problem with her icy powers is that Elsa has no idea how to control her power, which only gets stronger as she gets older. As much as Elsa wants nothing more than to shut out the world around her, Anna longs to experience everything that life has to offer. When an unexpected chain of events during Elsa's coronation risks putting the entire kingdom into an everlasting winter, we are treated to a wonderful adventure of self discovery and love between the two sisters.    
  I was pleasantly surprised by 'Frozen' and just how much I found myself enjoying the hell out of this movie. I'm just going to put it out there, but I think 'Frozen' will join the ranks of 'The Lion King' and 'Beauty and the Beast' as Disney classics. It's got everything you want in any good Disney movie, catchy tunes (check, 'Do you want to build a snowman...'), memorable character (Olaf), adventure, and you can't leave out a beautiful love story. I dare you to go watch 'Frozen' and not smile or walk out with a warm heart. Because if you don't, you don't have a heart.


IMDB-8.1/10
Metascore- 74/100
Rotten tomatoes- Audience- 90%, Critics- 89%
Yong's Rating- 5/5 stars

Life of Pi (2012)

Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's novel, 'Life of Pi' brings the magic of the novel onto the screen. Of course, no movie can capture the full details and the experience you get from reading a novel. But, 'Life of Pi' manages to showcase the highlights of the novel with masterful storytelling and stunning special effects.
The remarkable story of a young man's survival out on a ocean is the backdrop to a deeper storyline.   As you learn about Pi's journey from childhood to his grueling days out on the sea, you learn about one's curiosity for the truth. The search for what makes life, life. Even when one's faith is tested to its limits you find out that you always have a choice to believe and put your faith in what you hold to be true.
This film is just visually beautiful and while it may seem slow at time, I think most of you will enjoy the journey.

IMDB-8.1/10
Metascore- 79/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 88% Audience- 87%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' (2011)

"Once you decide on your occupation... you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That's the secret of success... and is the key to being regarded honorably." -Jiro Ono

  The opening lines of 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' just about sums up the life philosophy of the master sushi chef, Jiro Ono. This documentary takes us into the life of a remarkable man. A man who has dedicated seven decades of his life to the art of making sushi and is still tirelessly honing his craft. His restaurant has earned the prestigious Michelin Guide 3 star. I will admit, I have very limited knowledge about sushi. After seeing this documentary, I realize just how much work and art goes into making the perfect sushi. 
 Even in his 80's, Jiro is shown working hard as ever doing what he loves doing. It was inspiring to see such a high level of dedication to one's work. Jiro's philosophy on hard work can be universally understood and speaks to all of us. I hope I can strive to have the level of dedication to my work and life as Jiro has demonstrated. 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' is a welcoming insight into a foreign world and has a message that we can all take in. If you are a fan of documentaries, I highly recommend watching this gem. 


IMDB-7.8/10
Metascore- 77/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 99% Audience- 93%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Hugo (2011)

The bad thing about watching a movie with a lot of hype is that it's more likely to disappoint than to live up to its high expectations. Well, 'Hugo' lived up to the hype and surpassed it in my opinion. Anyone who has love for movies and film history will have a hard time not falling in love with 'Hugo'. So, you can see why it wasn't so hard to win me over. Martin Scorsese shows his versatility by proving he can make a film that parents can feel safe about their children watching.
Set in Paris, the movie follows the adventures of a boy named Hugo (Asa Butterfield). After losing his father in a terrible accident Hugo devotes all of his energy to finding a purpose to his life and his current predicament. Living hidden behind the clocks in a train station, Hugo meets a strange and grumpy toy shop keeper (Ben Kingsley), and his lovely god-daughter (Chloe Grace Moretz). His encounter with these two strangers lead Hugo into a wild and wonderful adventure that helps to give him all the answers that he was seeking. I won't get too much into the storyline because it would take away from the magic of the film.
All I can say is that it is because of movies like 'Hugo', I am reminded of why I fell in love with movies in the first place. Anyone wanting to rekindle their love affair with movies, do yourselves a favor and go watch 'Hugo'!

IMDB-8/10
Metascore- 83/100
Rotten tomatoes- Audience- 82%, Critics- 93%
Yong's Rating- 5/5 stars

You Again (2010)

'You Again' may have been an engaging and funny movie if I was still four years old and only understood Korean. Kristin Bell plays Marni, who goes through hell during high school. She is the social outcast of the school and is constantly bullied. The grown up Marni is a confident, sexy, and successful business woman. When she comes back home for her brother's (James Wolk) wedding, she learns that the girl (Odette Annable) her brother is marrying is the same girl who was responsible for her nightmare known as high school. When her high school nemesis refuses to apology and goes as far as to say she doesn't even remember her, Marni is determined to show her brother who he's really marrying.

Bad screenplay and over the top acting makes 'You Again' very hard to enjoy. The movie is very predictable and wastes talents of some very good actresses like Sigourney Weaver. Also Kristin Bell really needs to look for better roles if she ever wants to be taken seriously as a real actress because she has the charm and charisma to be a very good leading actress. But then again, maybe her goal is to dominate the really bad romantic comedy movie genre. She's doing a damn good job at it. Don't watch this please. I made the mistake of browsing through netflix and being really bored and thinking hey that Kristin Bell is pretty cute. That's how she gets you every time.

IMDB-5.4/10

Metascore- 28/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 18%, Audience- 45%

Yong's Rating- 1/5 Stars

Waiting for Superman (2010)

'Waiting for Superman' is a documentary examining the state of the public education system in America. Let's just say it's not all rainbows and sunshine. Having gone through the public education system myself (product of Chicago Public School), I was very interested in seeing this documentary. The film presents the harsh reality of where our public educational system is and where it's heading. It gives the big overall picture through fancy charts, graphs, and statistics. And adds a personal touch by focusing on a select group of families stuck right in the heart of the problem. It was disheartening to see the sad state of the public schools around the country. How a child's future can be decided solely on a random pick of a number. The worst part was that everyone knows it's broken, but the system doesn't allow for it to get fixed due to its politics. The film does provides some hope in ways that the system can get repaired, but at the rate things are now, I'm not sure even superman himself can save the children.

IMDB-7.3/10

Metascore-81/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 89%, Audience-85%

Yong's Rating- 3/5 Stars

Flipped (2010)

Your first childhood crush, the first time you felt that funny butterflies in your stomach, you wonder why she/him is on your mind all the time. Do you remember you first crush? Rob Reiner's 'Flipped' captures the essence of first love perfectly. Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) is new to the neighborhood and he is greeted by Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll), who instantly falls in love with the cute boy with the mesmerizing eyes. The movie is narrated from viewpoint of both Bryce and Juli as they grow up through grade school and get to know each other better. I really liked the way the movie presented both sides of the story, really letting you into the minds of the main characters. 'Flipped' does play the cute emotional card, but it doesn't abuse it to the point of making you feel sick. Watching 'Flipped' felt like watching a group of cute puppies playing with each other. It's so cute that you just can't turn away and you can't help but to smile. So if you like cute puppies, go ahead and give 'Flipped' a try.

IMDB-7.4/10

Metascore- 45/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 57%, Audience- 76%

Yong's Rating- 3.5/5 stars

Zelig (1983)

Deep down inside we all want to be liked, to feel accepted as a part of a group, to fit in. Let's say you find yourself with a group of people talking about the latest box office hit. They express just how much they loved all the fast paced action and the graphics. You go on to agree with them and express how much you loved the graphics as well. Next day, you find yourself with another group of people discussing the same movie. Only this time, they are talking about just how terrible the movie was. "No substance, just big explosions," they say. You go on to agree with them and say how tired you are of these big hollywood movies with no real substance. More often then not, most of us tend to let the majority sway our opinions.

In "Zelig", Woody Allen takes the simple human desire of wanting to be liked to the extreme. Set during the 1920's, "Zelig" is a mock documentary examining a man named Leonard Zelig (played by Allen). His desire to be liked is so great that he develops a condition which allows him to transform himself into whoever he is talking to. Surround him with group of Chinese men, he'll start to develop oriental features. Surround him with group with black jazz musicians, he'll soon start to develop darker complexion and even play some jazz. You see the pattern.
Zelig soon gains national attention as the "Human Chameleon." Doctors take him into custody to study the strange phenomenon. Zelig surprises the doctors by transforming himself to blend in with any group of people he is presented with. Doctors see him as nothing but a study subject and his family sees him only as a chance to make a profit. Only Dr. Fletcher (played by Mia Farrow) develops a personal attachment to him and truly wants to help him fix his problem. Dr. Fletcher makes it her personal professional duty to diagnose and help treat Zelig. To cure him of his disorder. She teaches him to think and stand up for himself. In the process, the two develop strong feelings for each other.

Woody Allen has never been known for using technology or special effects in his films. But it is worth noting that "Zelig" is definitely his finest technical film. The footages, music, and the actors all looked like they belonged to the era. I really enjoyed the use of documentary style to film this movie. Using real people as actors also added that authentic documentary atmosphere. As always, there's plenty of quick funny one-liners spread throughout the movie. "Zelig" is an unique movie that really surprised me the first time I saw it simply because I haven't seen anything like it before. I urge you to check it out for yourself sometime and I give it my highest recommendation. Let me know what you think.

IMDB- 7.7/10

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-100%, Audience-86%

Yong's Rating- 5/5 stars

Elf (2003)

Elf is another one of my favorite movies to watch during the holidays. If you still haven't seen Elf yet, just turn on USA network sometime this month. I'm betting there's about 50% chance that it will be playing. Will Ferrell is at top comedic form with his role as Buddy the Elf. If there was some kind elf oscars, he would've won it easily. I mean I was certain that smiling was indeed his favorite. The rest of the cast does an excellent job of supplementing Will Ferrell and setting him up for his jokes.

Elf tells the story of Buddy the elf, who grows up with Santa and the elves on the North Pole without realizing that he is human. Then, one day he learns about his real identity and that his real father lives in New York city. Buddy decides to go on an adventure to meet his father and tell him that he loves him. Buddy soon learns that NYC is a long ways from the North Pole. Even through the tough times, Buddy manages to spread the Christmas cheer and even fall in love with a lovely girl ( Zooey Deschanel).

Elf is just a really enjoyable holiday movie you can watch with everyone in your family. This movie is filled with laughter and a good clean message. Perfect for the holidays. Just remember the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

IMDB-6.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 84%, Audience- 73%

Yong's rating-8/10 (must see for the holidays)

How to Train Your Dragon (2010) #

Dream Works Animation shows that Pixar isn't the only company capable of making visually stunning animation entertaining for both children and adults with How to Train Your Dragon. The movie takes place a long time ago, on a Viking island where dragons roam free terrorizing the people and their livestocks. Our young hero is Hiccup, who just doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the Vikings culture. Desperately seeking approval from his father and the village, Hiccup is determined to catch the only dragon that has never been captured. His encounter with the mysterious dragon turns into an unlikely friendship, and Hiccup realizes that everything he has ever learned about dragons are not true. I really enjoyed this movie and it has the cuteness factor, comedic timing, and a good light-hearted message that every good animation must have. How to Train Your Dragon is very entertaining animation that everyone can enjoy, even if you don't have kids to watch it with.

# IMDB-8.2/10 (#171 on Top 250)

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 98%, Audience -90%

Yong's Rating- 9/10 (Highly Recommended)

Karate Kid (2010)

I've always been a huge fan of Jackie Chan. I even went through a Jackie Chan phase when I was younger. I must've rented all the Jackie Chan movies at the local blockbuster. So, I was a bit excited when I learned that Jackie Chan was going to be in the new Karate Kid remake.

The 2010 remake basically follows the similar premise as the original. Just switch NJ to Detroit, California to China, Daniel Larusso to Jaden Smith, and Mr. Miyagi to Mr. Chan.

Well, if you haven't seen the original. Mother and son moves into a new neighborhood and the kid gets picked on by the local bullies. He is helped by a mysterious maintenance man to defend himself from the bullies. He must enter a local karate tournament in order to prove to himself and the bullies that he can stand up for himself. Along the training, the master and the student go on to learn valuable life lessons from each other.

After watching this remake, I just didn't feel that magic that made the original so special. There are some funny scenes, but overall I just didn't think a remake was necessary. It may just be best to skip this one and go with the original.

IMDB- 6.2/10

Rotten Tomatoes- critic-67% audience- 75%

Yong's rating- 5/10 (Skip it)

New in Town (2009)

New in Town is a romantic comedy featuring Renee Zellwger and Harry Connick Jr. The premise is pretty simple, an independent business woman from the big city gets transferred to a small town and falls in love with the town cutie and the town, and becomes a better person in the process. There isn't anything ground-breaking about this movie. In fact, you can pretty much guess what is going to happen. Maybe I was in a good mood, but I thought this was a very sweet movie that is worth watching if you are in a mood to just relax and have a few laughs.

IMDB-5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-28% community- 40%
Yong's rating- 6.9/10 (worth a look)

Leap Year (2009)

I have always had a soft spot for the romantic comedy genre. To me there's nothing better than watching a well-made, intelligent romantic comedy when it comes to movies. Well, Leap Year is not one (feel free to read on if you want to know why).

Being a fan of Amy Adams' work, i decided to give Leap Year a try.The movie is about a woman (Amy Adams) who has everything in her life going according her plan. Successful career, comfortable lifestyle, and an ideal boyfriend. The only thing missing in her plan is the wedding. When her boyfriend (Adam Scott) goes on a business trip to Ireland, Adams character comes up with the perfect plan to propose to her boyfriend on leap day(Feb.29th) based on an old Ireland tradition. However, getting to her boyfriend is not as easy as it seems as she runs into some transportation problems. And, with time running out, she must seek help from a local inn keeper (Matthew Goode) to get to her boyfriend on time.

This movies does have some beautiful shots of Ireland, but i guess that really isn't that hard to do. The storyline is very predictable, and the acting is mediocre at best. Leap Year is just one of many generic romantic comedies the studios are turning out these days. But, to its credit, it's slightly better than the average generic romantic comedy. So, if you are in a mood for a simple romantic comedy flick, where you can just sit back and not have to think very hard, Leap Year just might make your night.

IMDB-6/10

Rotten Tomatoes- critics-20% community-50%

Yong's Rating-5.5/10 (skip it)

Up (2009)#

Here's my review of Up (2009) from last year. enjoy.

Up is the new movie from Pixar. and like any other Pixar movies, it is hard not to resist its charm. Up tells the story of Carl Fredricksen, who we first see as a young boy. he meets and falls in love with his wife to be, Ellie. the start of the movie establishes the strong love between Carl and Ellie as we watch clips of them starting their lives and growing old together. the rest of the movie is about the old Mr.Fredricksen who is all alone following the death of his sweetheart. As you can tell from the title and movie posters, Mr.Fredricksen flies his house up using a lot of balloons. he does this to keep a promise he made to Ellie as a young boy. and the wonderful adventure starts. he lands in a mysterious land along with a talkative young wilderness explorer where he meets talking dogs and a fast moving bird. Up really is a sweet movie that everyone can enjoy. and one you should check out if you are looking for a uplifting story.

#-imdb- 9.2/10 #151 in top 250
Rotten tomatoes- critics-98% community-90%
Yong's star-9/10 (highly recommended)

Finding Neverland (2004)

-Hello everyone, I had started making movie recommendations from my facebook notes, and i have decided to start blogging instead. I will gradually move most of my reviews from facebook to the blog and start to make new reviews as well. Happy movie watching! here's my first post from when i decided to start making movie recommendations.


-Since I love watching movies, i mean who doesn't? I've decided to start recommending a movie every or every other week, in other words whenever i feel like it. everyone has been out at the local movie rental store and couldn't find a movie to rent, or in today's terms, queue up on your netflix. so i'm just trying to help out. I will write about how i discovered the movie and why i think it is worth watching.
so I thought I would start out with a wonderful movie i discovered during one of my own long trips to the blockbuster. That movie is Finding Neverland, directed by Marc Forster, who i believe is one of best directors making movies today. when i first picked up the box for Finding Neverland, I thought, who needs another movie about peter pan, and i put the box down. after circling around the entire store about five more times, i found myself back at the same spot. once again i picked up the casing, and by this time, a movie about peter pan didn't sound too bad. i mean i loved Hooked. Plus it starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, so i thought it couldn't be too terrible. once i watched the movie, it quickly became one of my favorite movies, and i was glad there was nothing else good to rent that night.
Finding Neverland is about the author of Peter Pan, and how he was inspired to write the timeless classic. the movie is heartwarming and shows what a wonderful gift a child's imagination is. also how a little kindness to a stranger could build into lasting friendships. Johnny Depp and Kate are superb in this film and truly makes you feel what they are going through. who wouldn't mind taking a little trip to Neverland?

Imdb rating-8/10
Rotten tomato- 91%, critic-83%
Yong's Stars-10/10 (must see)