My Opinions on "Minions", "Inside Out", and "Star Wars VII"

I went in, bought tickets, sat down, and prepared myself for the cutest and funnest looking movie I'd been hoping to see since the FIRST trailer hit the net! ... And then it started. And ended. And when it was done, I found myself staring at the credits, wondering how dare Universal waste so much of my time on so little content and story.

I'd heard a friend once say that every time he watched a Korean music video, he felt like he was losing brain cells or getting dumber. I knew what he meant because I felt the same way because of some music videos I've watched... but then, this movie strangely made me feel the same way. I was so disappointed beyond words, I couldn't enjoy my dinner and my drive home was also filled with confusion.

Here's why:

+  The Minions in the "Despicable Me" movies were cute and adorable but also because they had purpose in serving Gru, voiced by the awesome and wonderful Steve Carrell, but in this film, they searched for their purpose, which made it all the more annoying and tiresome. They had no real purpose and instead of cutting things down and giving the film more content as opposed to showing the world they lived in, until they met Scarlett Overkill. And then, they went beyond their limits and then back behind the line when they met Gru. So the entire movie could have been one of the Pixar shorts and yet, they made it a film that dragged on.

+  I had to remind myself that this is a kid's movie. And then, everything made sense. From the corny lines to the weird humor, and the overkilling of expectations and roles for each character in the story. As much as I love Jon Hamm's acting and personality, Herb Overkill was... a non-character. He could have been another enemy or someone a bit more useful in the story telling and yet... I was so disappointed that they wasted money on Jon Hamm when they could have found a weirder non-superstar actor to play the voice of this non-character.

+  There was no emotional investment in this story. Sure, we loved the Minions but no really because we couldn't really relate to them or understand them. They were toddlers who could speak and move about in society without much care. I didn't care for any of the super villains and the best part of the film was, probably, traveling to the Super Villain Con. The family was awesome and very fun. They were, probably, of the most entertaining in the film. Everything before them and after them were a bit downhill for me. And, that is, they were only interesting and fun because the rest of the film was... too much of nothing to be something.

I won't beat this dead horse any more. I hate that expression... Why would anyone want to kill a horse? Stupid and sad that idea is. So, let's never use that analogy or whatever ever again! Okay, so I won't go on with how sad I was to see how Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm's voice talents were wasted... So I rate it 2 of 4 STARS!!

Instead, I will move on to my thoughts on "Inside Out"!!

"INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!! "INSIDE OUT"!!!

Despite loving this movie from beginning to end... there was a lot left to be desired. From the start, I looked forward to this movie because it featured the voice talents of Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith (Phyllis from "The Office")!! I loved all the emotions, their development, and the idea that there are memories and explanations for everything in our heads! Keke! I just wonder what mine are thinking and what they're like. I wonder if they love me as much as Riley's emotions loved her!

+  Was it me or were all the emotions fuzzy the entire time? Was that on purpose? It just made me doubt my vision a bit. But I loved their glows and their purposes. All of it was a bit predictable, but the story was there, and the lesson learned very important and relevant in everyone's lives, at every age and every stage of life.

+  The love story in this film was true and heartfelt. The love between Riley and her parents, the emotions and Riley, and the emotions and the memories. Everything is connected through need and want and everything is rooted in love and the power of friendship. Recognizing the connections that give us purpose and the need to be needed, and that's what makes this film stand out from the other films in the genre.

+  BING BONG!!!!! (Need I say more?)

Overall, this film was touching, sweet, and I would watch it again as many times as possible because of how amazing and brilliant it is. Putting life's emotions and feelings in such a way, I definitely rate it 3 of 4 STARS!!

(Side Note:  I LOVE running my mouse over the characters on the IMDB page, you should try it!!)

"STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!! "STAR WARS VII!!!

And I can't help but SQUEAL when I watch this!!!!! THEY'RE BACK!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!! Check out all the videos and a message from the man himself, J.J. Abrams!!! Can you feel the force awakening?!?! CHECK IT OUT HERE!!!!

What are you looking forward to this upcoming month or year?!?!?! Anything I should mention on the CoTangent Podcast?? ... Ed wants to give away gift cards... I say we should give away money, but it's like the same thing... What do you think?? Which one is better? #cot_agents or tweet me directly @tiffrz !!!