Rango (2011) - M7.4/E8

I almost didn't see this movie.  The only reason I ended up seeing it (and so soon) is that it is currently on Nexflix Instant!  I'm glad I saw it too.  Despite the negative reviews from others (including Uncle Orson), I really enjoyed this movie, though would not recommend it for young kids, even though it is an animated PG-rated film (again, no thanks to the MPAA for consistency).

[Slight Tangent: How do movies like Kung Fu Panda, Despicable Me, How to Train Your Dragon, and Tangled get mixed up with movies like Rango and Shrek (1,2,3,4) - all rated PG?  Well, for one, there's never a clear line between one rating and another other than the types of swear words allowed, and that seems to be it. (I know Shrek didn't have much, if any, swearing; but the bathroom humor and off-color jokes were rampant).]

Rango has it's fair share of swearing for a PG-rated animated flick as well as some inappropriate comments for younger kids; but for those of us desensitized or mature enough, there's plenty to enjoy.  The number one thing I loved about Rango was the musical score provided by the mariachi owls.  I just might go out and buy the soundtrack.  It's not filled with popular music, but a vivid latin/mariachi sound that really draws you into the story and brings you right a long for the "riiiiidde".

I struggle with writing about the morality of movies.  People don't go to a movie to be educated or morally uplifted, they go to be entertained.  Hopefully the people that actually read my posts are looking for more than entertainment, but are actually looking for ways to deepen their movie watching experience.

There's a big difference in being entertained by a sporting event or the circus and watching a movie or reading a book.  The latter two have a lot of power to influence our lives for good or bad.  The spectrum of evil and good in these media is so much greater than in any other venue for entertainment.  This spectrum of Good and Evil is necessary to help us learn, it provides a laboratory where our thoughts can see the consequences of good/evil without us actually experiencing the consequences (providing the director/screen writer/author are competent enough to do this).

So, back from another tangent, there were a few quotes that really helped the movie make a lot of sense in my mind and really brought the "ride" to a point.  Of course, it all comes when Rango has hit bottom; he's been revealed for who he really is, just a lonely lizard who never had any real friends and not a gun toting sheriff.  He finally meets the Spirit of the West and is taught some important lessons that are not just trite platitudes, but really bring all the events of the story together.

The alabaster-carriage-driving Spirit says to Rango, "No man can walk out of his own story."  Rango's experience in Dirt wasn't an imaginative experience, even though he was acting the majority of the time he was there.  His actions and confidence touched real people and made real differences, it wasn't just one of his plays he rehearsed back in his lonely terrarium.  He needed to realize that.

Secondly, Rango's told that the people saw what they needed to see.  They needed a hero, so that's what they saw in Rango.  He filled that part well, even if he didn't believe he was a hero from the start.  Sometimes we need to get outside ourselves and be there for people in need.  When we stop lamenting about how pointless our life is and try in some measure to fill the voids in others' lives, we actually become somebody. (I'll have to watch the movie again to figure out exactly what was said and to whom it was said, but I think this covers the gist of it).

Last word, check it out, you might enjoy it.

Calamity Jane (1953) - M7.8/E8

This a fun family film. This movie is probably the main reason I’ve never really enjoyed Doris Day in other movies; her character in this movie is just ingrained in my mind as who she must really be. The music is good and the comedy keeps coming. The relationships are believable and true, almost standard; yet at the same time fresh interpretations of love and friendship.

The majority of the movie takes place in a bar/gentleman’s club, which isn’t the best setting for a family film. I had to explain to my daughter what it was that every one kept drinking (is telling her that it’s juice bad? In reality I doubt they had real alcohol on the set...) She knows that drinking alcohol isn’t good for us, but at her age it doesn’t matter who the person is, that person is a bad person if they’re doing something that my daughter is told not to do. So for the sake of allowing her to enjoy the movie, we fibbed. She’ll figure it out soon enough.

The movie focuses a lot on the female image. Calamity is a rough, saloon-frequenting, stage-protecting woman who is often confused for a man. It isn’t until she begins to understand what it is men actually want to see in a woman (and her own growing gender-awareness) that she feels that it’s time for her to change if she ever hopes of winning the heart of her Danny.

To some, this idea of femininity may seem appalling. However, I think it’s important for women to focus on their own natural characteristics instead of trying to become and do everything that a man is and does. Men and women are different for a reason, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Sure, the world tends to paint the picture as man being “better” just because they tend to be stronger and bigger, but if you rely on the world for your definition of man and woman and don’t have a strong understanding of your own individual self-worth and identity, it’s easier to give in and clamor for equality.

At any rate, this is a great show for the whole family. Music, Indians chasing a stage, gun fire, drinking, dancing, you name it... Check it out while you still can on Netflix Instant.

True Grit (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This movie was very faithful to the book, but I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I remember having enjoyed John Wayne’s True Grit (it’s been a while since I’ve seen it). Some movies can do a great job at being faithful to the book (e.g., To Kill a Mocking Bird), others aren’t so great at it. Though close to the book, I still enjoyed the book better. The language in the book was very awkward and they carried that awkwardness into this film - a time in our history when contractions hadn’t been taught yet (not sure if people ever really talked like that, or if it was meant to illustrate some sort of obfuscated point.) All in all, the film was entertaining.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Rooster Cogburn’s grit was a good quality some of the time, and resulted in over-confidence and stubborness in other situations - that ultimately ended in a lot of people’s deaths (albeit they were bad people and deserved it, according to the marshall). There were some scenes of graphic violence (not uncommon in a Cohen Bro’s film) and mild swearing, but with western’s rare now-a-days, this is a decent one to see.

The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

This along with The Ghost and Mr. Chicken are two of my favorite Don Knott’s movies. He does such a good job at playing a weenie. Check this one out with your family and you won’t be disappointed (it looks like you can watch the entire show on youtube.com in 10 minute increments).

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Maybe you could say that even weenie’s can do some good sometimes, so don’t underestimate them. Don’t always trust your preacher, he could be selling guns to the Indians. People in California have a great need for dentists, being out in the wild west and all. The word “wahtay” can be used to get yourself out of all kinds of trouble, even though it’s translation is something like “this baby needs a diaper change, you change it.”

High Noon (1952)

Entertainment Rating: 5 of 5

This was a great movie. Gary Cooper did a great job, even if he isn’t your typical cowboy character. Even though the film only runs 83 minutes, they don’t waste a single second of it and executed it perfectly; we’ll definitely watch this plenty more times in the future. The Ballad of Frank Miller played throughout the film added a very nice touch.

Moral Rating: 5 of 5

We found ourselves constantly hoping that someone in the town would recognize all the good Marshal Kane had fought for and lend him a hand. Even though the climax occurs when the fight happens at the end, the crux of the movie is on the audience wondering and hoping that the Marshall is going to get someone to help him against the deadly quartet at the train depot. We found ourselves sickened by the townspeople’s lack of goodness.

We’re led to believe at the beginning when Kane gets married that the townsfolk have his best interest at heart and want him to enjoy his honeymoon. However, it turns out they were more likely tired of having to be good with him around. They missed the debauchery that existed when Frank Miller and his gang ran the town. Even though Marshal Kane helped convict a murderer and cleaned up the town so that women and children could feel safe there, the townsfolk didn’t seem to care - they almost seemed to think that Marshall Kane was the reason that Frank Miller would be coming back in the first place. (This last idea is very similar to Batman’s predicament - he gets blamed for all the crazy psychopaths that come to Gotham; if he weren’t there the Gotham citizens/PD would just have to deal with normal criminals).

While we didn’t feel happy or triumphant at the end of the show, it sure made us reflect on how much we sometimes don’t want the good around because it makes us feel guilty of the worldly pleasures we enjoy. We need to learn to give place to good and righteousness in our lives and be willing to sacrifice temporal pleasures for eternal joys.

Jeremiah Johnson

I really enjoyed this show.  Jeremiah Johnson (Redford) tries to run away from troubles in society (war, corruption, etc.) thinking he can find peace living on his own.  He runs into plenty of wild animals, savage Indians, and ravaged settlers, learning different lessons throughout his journey

After leaving, Jeremiah soon finds out that there is no running from troubles, life will always bring you challenges. As Jeremiah overcame these challenges he became wiser, and he learned to love people instead of being critical of them. He was pretty much forced into marriage, and was obligated to take in a boy whose family had been ravaged and killed by the Indians. These experiences helped Jeremiah see the good in people, and particularly the love and joy that comes with being a part of a family.

[Spoiler Alert] This movie didn't end on a very happy note. Jeremiah ended up going against his understanding of the Crow Indians to help the military rescue a town under threat of Indian attack. By doing so, he ended up losing his family. He spent the rest of his days fighting off Indian challengers and became a legend in their culture.