10. The Lego Batman Movie

For someone who likes a true life story, something realistic, and is obsessed with documentaries, you may be surprised to know that I LOVE Batman, and I also love Lego, and The Lego Movie. So the combination of Lego and Batman is a hit already with me.

I'm fascinated just thinking how they produced this film; it's fun, colourful, and full of nostalgia. I saw the film in the evening, and the cinema was full of grown-ups, but this film is great for little ones, and I really do think it's a film all the family can enjoy. Again, the story has a good solid moral, which you'll know by now, I enjoy, so kids can take something from it as well.

It's got a good storyline, slightly obvious in parts, but fun all the same, and there are lots of Lego cameos from some of our favourite villains throughout the ages - special shout out the Voldemort (Eddie Izzard), who I thought was hilarious. There were some parts where I was completely doubled over laughing, however, I also did this during The Revenant, so I'm not sure I'm a good test on what is funny and what is not.

Another thing I really enjoyed about the film was the music. A running Michael Jackson joke throughout, lots of power ballads and classics, it really was great. I think it adds to the playfulness of the film, along with adding the to nostalgia factor. This is another thing that I think makes this film work for all ages, and I do think it can be enjoyable for adults.

Unfortunately for me, this film didn't quite hit the mark. It wasn't as good as any Batman film I've seen, and it wasn't as good as The Lego Movie. I left the cinema feeling great and happy, and I do feel like the film was charming and lighthearted and filled with laughs, but I don't think it was overly memorable. It's a film with lots of big names - Ralph Fiennes, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis, and Rosario Dawson and Will Arnett (who I've not heard of before but IMdb tells me they're great), but I think it could have been better. I can't put my finger on if it could have been a better story line, more jokes, or more character development, but it wasn't the best animation I've seen. It did it's job, and if you want to watch a feel good film for an hour and a half you won't be disappointed, but there are other films out there, like Zootropolis, that will give you that and much much more.

Because I did leave the cinema feeling great, I had laughed and I did enjoy myself, I give The Lego Batman Movie a 7/10. Not the best animation, but not the worst by any stretch of the imagination. If you've got kids tugging at your sleeves wanting to go, I think you'd enjoy it, and it serves it's purpose, but it's not the most memorable film of the year.

3. Moana

Fingers crossed the last 2016 film of 2017! As part 2 of my day off cinema adventure, I went to see Moana. It's no secret that I love an animated film; Zootropolis was one of the two films that was dished out a 10/10 on my much adored spreadsheet last year.

Moana is different from the traditional female lead animation. During the film, our lead, played by Auli'i Cravalho, states that she is 'not a princess', and I think this is a really important step forward for a Disney film. Although Moana is a chief's daughter, and therefore someone living with privilege, we're slowly moving away from the traditional lead, living her life to marry a prince, and so on. I also thought it was important that Moana isn't white, or impossibly skinny, and again, I really do think Disney are taking a step in the right direction. 

As with most Disney films, there were laughs for children and adults, and some real belters in song form; perhaps not Frozen's 'Let It Go', but some would argue we don't need anymore of that! Some of the songs were a little iffy, I took particular distaste to a jazzy number sang by a bedazzled crab, but then and again, over the top musical theatre doesn't really do it for me. Whatever floats your boat and all that. 

I found the plot interesting, with Moana setting sail, to get a (tattoo-ed, nipple-less) Demigod on her side, and to restore a heart to save her people. On the way there are various monsters, and with the help of her shapeshifting Demigod friend, she must defeat them. I feel like I didn't really understand what restoring the heart would actually do, and I feel this was only explained briefly, however I could have been mid-nacho during this crucial part of the film, or suffering from brain freeze from my tango ice blast. That aside, the plot was fun and easy to follow, but I can imagine that some parts could be a little frightening for little ones. 

I really enjoyed the morals behind the film, I do love it when justice gets served, and when kids can learn something from the story. As I mentioned in my previous post about Sully, this film also looked at heroism. I think it was really important that the film showed that it's not wanting and trying to be a hero that makes you a hero, it's courage and bravery and loyalty, all great traits to aspire to.

I had a lovely afternoon watching this film, and I did find some parts of it really refreshing to watch, and I really liked the way that cartoons nowadays are really trying to teach lessons and no longer focussed on a princess finding a prince, but more about women being badasses and fighting evil! When I finished watching Zootropolis, I honestly could have gone straight back in and watched it again, as I found it so engaging, funny, and forward thinking. Moana didn't quite hit this mark for me, but for all it's good points, and the fact Jermaine from Flight of the Conchords lends his voice to one of our enemies, I think it deserves a solid 7.5/10.