Saturday, August 25, 2018

Story Announcement #9

On September 7th, I will post my fifth and final Pokémon story, Poketropolis. It will be a Pokémon version of Disney's Zootopia, and it's a project that's been on my mind for a while. However, like Zootopia, there will only be mammalian Pokémon in the story, so there will be absolutely no Bug, Ghost, or Dragon-Type Pokémon in the story. Like how the characters in Zootopia rely on Smart Phones, iPhones and iPods, the characters in Poketropolis rely on Pokétches. A Pokétch was an item that the player would use in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, and bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch.
Also, like Little Lost Luvdisc, there will be numerous Easter Eggs/references to the Pokémon video games. The Type Matchup will also play a role.
Image result for Pokemon Type matchups chart
For Judy Hopps, the spunky bunny who dreams of becoming a cop, I used a Lopunny. Her name will be Dawn Lopps, named after Dawn from the Diamond and Pearl video games, as well as the anime.
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For Nick Wilde, the red fox con artist who thinks that you can only be what you are, I used the Dark-Type Zoroark. His name will be Zach Wilde.
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I didn't use Ninetales or Delphox because there are scenes in which Nick gets wet, and both Pokémon are weak against Water. Not to mention that they would melt the snow. However, Zoroark isn't weak against Water.
For Finnic, the fennec fox who's partner's with Nick, I of course used Fenneckin. His name will be Fax.
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Like how Finnic 'wants to be an elephant', Fax secretly dresses up as a Donphan. This suit would be made from Everstone, which explains why he's been a Fenneckin for so long.
Everstone
For Chief Bogo, the hard-to-please cape buffalo, I used Terrakion, since it's based on a Cape buffalo itself. This Terrakion is named Chief Taki, named after Taki from the anime film Your Name.
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For Benjamin Clawhauser, the overweight cheetah, I used Snorlax, since it loves to eat, but with the eyes of Munchlax.
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The Snorlax in my story will be named Gabriel 'Gabe' Snorlock, named after video game designer Gabe Nool.
For Mayor Lionheart, I used a Pyroar. His name will be Leroy Tajiri, named after Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri.
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For Flash, the fan favorite sloth at the DMV, I decided to use Slowbro.
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I am aware that some people would except me to use Slakoth, but Slaking, Slakoth's final form, looks too much like a primate, and primates are too similar to humans.
Image result for Slakoth, Vigoroth, and Slaking
For Yax, the scrawny yak who runs a nudist sanctuary, since we don't have a yak Pokémon yet, I decided to use a Hypno named Tapes.
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However, he won't have his signature pendulum.
For Mr. Big, the Arctic shrew reminiscent of Marlon Brando in The Godfather, I decided to use a Dedenne named Mr. V, named after the V-shape in his whiskers.
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Instead of being Electric/Fairy like a regular Dedenne, Mr. V and his daughter Izuzu will be Electric/Ice, to suit the cold conditions of the tundra. They'll also be blue instead of yellow.
For Gazelle, the famous pop star in Zootopia, I of course used Verizion. She will be named Utada, named after famous Japanese singer Utada Hikaru.
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If you're wondering about Cobalion, the third Sword of Justice, it will take the place of one of the news announcers late in the film.
And finally, for Assistant Mayor Belleweather, I of course used Flaaffy. I didn't choose Ampharos because it doesn't have enough wool.
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For everyone else, you'll find out as the story progresses. However, like in Zootopia, the citizens of Poketropolis walk on two legs and wear clothes. I unfortunately didn't have time to make designs for them, so you have to use your imagination.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Movie Review: Christopher Robin

Movie Review: Christopher Robin                                                                                                    8-4-18
Christopher Robin Poster

In this different take on the world-famous Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) grows up, marries a lovely wife, and has a daughter named Madeline (Bronte Carmichael). Robin now works for a luggage-producing company called Winslow Enterprises. One weekend, when Christopher gets overloaded with paperwork for an important presentation, Winnie the Pooh visits him through a magical door. Pooh is upset that he can't find his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, so Christopher reluctantly agrees to help him. Christopher discovers that they were not lost, but simply hiding from 'Heffalumps and Woozles'. When Christopher returns to London to show his work at Winslow, the Hundred Acre Woods residents discover that the papers were left behind, and now it's up to Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore, along with Madeline, to journey to London to deliver the right papers before Christopher Robin gets fired.
If Chip and Dale were Disney's answer to Tom and Jerry, then Christopher Robin is probably their answer for Paddington. For starters, the character designs stay true to Ernest Shepard's original illustrations.
As for the story, I feel that it's kind of similar to Enchanted; A character from a happy world ends up in the depressing real-world of New York City/London, and the character he/she meets is a workaholic father with family issues. Robert Phillips, the overworked lawyer in Enchanted whom Giselle slowly falls in love with, married a woman who happened to be a jerk, while Christopher Robin is having a difficult time trying to balance family and work.
In conclusion, while Christopher Robin may not be as good as the remakes of Cinderella, The Jungle Book, or Pete's Dragon, it's definitely better than A Wrinkle in Time. I found that film to be disappointing, underwhelming, and confusing.
I will review both Paddington films in November.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.

Friday, August 3, 2018

Movie Review: Babe

Movie Review: Babe                                                                                                              7-16-18
Babe Poster

Based on the book by Dick King Smith, Babe is about a young pig named Babe (Christine Cavanaugh), who gets adopted by an elderly sheep farmer named Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell). When Babe arrives on the farm, all the animals think that pigs have no purpose except for being eaten. However, one Christmas, when Babe saves the flock of sheep from being robbed by sheep rustlers, Arthur starts bringing him on daily sheep round-ups with his sheepdogs Rex (Hugo Weaving) and Fly (Miriam Margolyes). However, Rex gets mad at Fly and bites her leg and Arthur's hand. Now he has to train Babe to be the best sheep dog there is for the annual sheep herding competition.

For four years now, Babe has stood out as one of my favorite live-action films of all time. Babe is a timeless gem with unforgettable acting from both the humans and the animals, enjoyable music from  Nigel Westlake, gorgeous scenery, and incredible animatronics from Jim Henson's Creature Shop
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Babe also has one of my favorite comic reliefs in a live-action film to date: Ferdinand the Duck, a duck who hates being a duck and tries desperately to be a rooster.


Image result for Ferdinand the duck from Babe

If I were to complain about one thing, I feel Esme, Arthur Hoggett's wife played by Magda Szubanski, gets too much screen time. However, Esme does serve a purpose in the story, but since there are some viewers out there who probably haven't seen Babe yet, I'll keep it a surprise.

She isn't exactly the prettiest flower in the garden.
In conclusion, Babe is, in my opinion, one of the best kid's films ever made. It deserved to get the Oscar nomination for Best Picture and win Best Visual Effects.
Rating: The perfect rating of 5 stars.
That'll do, pig. That'll do.