TomHanks – Credits Rolling

We all know the story of Pinocchio. A puppet made out of pine comes to life after his maker wishes upon a star. In order to become a real boy, he must listen to his conscience in doing the right thing. The original 1940 animated feature was never one that played constantly in my house. Though it had an important message for children, it didn’t hold up to the likes of The Lion King, Aladdin or Oliver and Company for me. And if I’m being honest, the scenes at Pleasure Island were terrifying.

When you hear that a movie is getting a reboot or a remake, you expect an updated version of its predecessor. Something that will take it into a modern age so that today’s generation can enjoy it right along with those who grew up with it. Unfortunately, this new version missed the mark. So many things were lacking and while I finished watching it only twenty four hours ago, I can tell you that I’ve already forgotten a lot of it.

Although this fairytale was never one of my favorites, there was something about it that kept even me glued to the screen. The same cannot be said this time around. That Disney magic that we have all come to know and love was nowhere to be found.

For a movie that was supposed to be live action, that aspect was severely lacking. I understand that Pinocchio needed to be CGI, but the animals and some of the backgrounds just did not look realistic enough to me. On top of that, the additional scenes that were included did little to nothing to add to the overall story.

If it wasn’t for Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo and Keegan Michael Key, I probably wouldn’t have pushed myself to finish it. It may not be the worst Disney remake I have ever seen (I’m looking at you Mulan), but it is definitely in the top three.

Rating: ♥♥

From acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann comes Elvis (Austin Butler), the biography about the King of Rock and Roll himself. Told through the eyes of his on again off again manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), Elvis rose to fame in Memphis, Tennessee before taking the world by a storm.

Not only is Elvis one of the biggest movies of the summer, it is arguably one of the most anticipated of the year. When news broke that mostly unknown actor Austin Butler would be starring in the titular role, a lot were skeptical that he would be able to embody such a character. After hearing that the film received a twelve minute standing ovation in Cannes, I knew I had nothing to worry about.

Austin Butler was Elvis. You could tell that he endlessly studied the legend’s movements and mannerisms because they were completely down pat. At times, I completely forgot that I was watching someone else and was completely swept up in his performance. I truly believe he will be getting a lot of nominations within in the next year.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Butler’s screen partner in Tom Hanks. Usually a force to be reckoned with, the accent he put on for his role as Parker was distracting and not at all authentic. It took away from most of his scenes which was a pity.

Another downside to the film was the fact that instead of focusing primarily on Elvis, we experienced his life from the perspective of someone else. I’m not too sure that was the right route. I would have liked to see more inside Elvis’s head, especially since it seemed he was struggling with so much.

With that being said, Elvis is truly a spectacle. The way in which it was shot and put together is a sight to be seen, thanks Luhrmann’s signature style. The music was outstanding with many famous hits sprinkled throughout, but where the film really excels is in its lead actor who I simply won’t be getting over anytime soon.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5