Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton
Week of May 27, 2019
Aladdin
Rated PG for some action/peril
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 58%
In Theaters
The newest addition to Disney’s live-action remakes is this take on Aladdin from Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie. So far the remakes have been close to the originals (aside from the disappointing Dumbo), but still different enough to stand on their own. This time the similarities are the most noticeable with all of the classic songs present and only one big addition (sung in two parts). Where this one is different is Disney made the very wise decision to cast two relatively-unknown actors as Aladdin and Jasmine, with their casting based on talent rather than Hollywood status. After all, they were able to get Will Smith as the Genie, so landing two A-listers with less-than-stellar voices would have proved to be an unnecessary mistake that I’m glad they didn’t take. Ritchie’s action style is a bit much for some folks, but here I thought it to be a great attribute, adding a ton of visual flair to an already exciting musical. And Will Smith proves to be the perfect replacement for Robin Williams’s iconic genie, bringing to the character the same fun spirit, only with a different quirky personality. I was honestly a bit worried about this movie before seeing it, especially with how little buzz was out there. But I quickly fell in love, and while I know it’s only May, this is the most fun I’ve had at the movies in 2019 so far. A
Greta
Rated R for some violence and disturbing images
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 59%
Available on Disc and Streaming
A sweet young woman (Chloe Grace Moretz) trying to make it on her own in New York City finds a purse one night on the subway and decides to track down the owner. Upon returning the purse to an older piano teacher (recent Oscar-winner Isabelle Huppert), the two become friends until the older woman’s secrets start to unfold. The story plays out like a strange little psychological thriller but never really gets scary enough as the turns are due more to the stupid decisions of the characters rather than an organic twist driven by a smart script. Both of the leading actresses do well with the material, but when the material isn’t great, that doesn’t help much. By the end, we are left with merely a forgettable Hitchcock wannabe. C
South Park: The Complete Twenty-Second Season
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
Available on Disc
Yes it’s been 22 seasons now. This season Matt and Trey again went out of their way to offend as they covered school shootings and other acts of conveniently ignore violence, as well as Amazon and a not-so-subtle take on global warming featuring Al Gore and Man Bear Pig. The show is still funny, more than two decades later, and while still pushing buttons, the buttons are more and more socially conscious than ever before. Not every episode is a hit this season, but the writing and subject matter is more relevant than ever. B+