(2025) How to Train Your Dragon - A Wonderful Live Version Remake of the Hit Animated Movie

I have known about this film for quite some time, but it was not something that I was truly excited about, although it was part of the summer movie list that obviously I would love to see. So when it was finally released this Wednesday, my wife and I decided to have another movie marathon as there was another film that we wanted to give a try. OK, without further ado, here's more on the movie.

Brief Story Line

In the Viking village called Berk, the villagers had to fight against continuous dragon attacks as they frequently stole their live stocks. Hiccup (Mason Thames - The Black Phone etc) the son of Berk's chief Stoick (Gerard Butler - Den of Thieves 2, Plane etc) was training under blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost - The Nevers TV series, Hot Fuzz etc) since he was thought to be weak in nature, although he always wanted to kill dragons to make his father proud. During one of the night's attack by dragons, Hiccup was convinced he had shot the most dangerous and unknown dragon, Night Fury though no body trusted him.

(2025) Lilo & Stitch - One of the Nicest Remake of Disney's Animated Movie With Plenty of Heartwarming Moments

This movie was available since Wednesday together with the wide release of another action film that I was eager to see. Since we were only available to see both during the weekend, my wife and I had another one of our movie marathon day yesterday with this as the first. OK let's get started then.

Brief Story Line

Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis - Ron's Gone Wrong, The Hangover trilogy etc) did an illegal experiment in his home planet Turo where he created a destructive creature called Experiment 626 (voiced by Chris Sanders - The Croods: A New Age etc). After 626 somehow escaped and landed on the island of Hawaii, Jumba and Earth expert Agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen - Road House 2024 remake, No Time to Die etc) were assigned to capture him. 626 who arrived on earth realized that in order to save himself, he need to be shielded by humans. He managed to be "adopted" by 6 year girl named Lilo (Maia Kealoha) who was living together with her older sister Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong). 

(2023) The Little Mermaid - Despite Surrounding Controversy, Still a Beautiful Enough Live Version Remake of Another Disney Classic

As I am not a major fan of musical films, I have my doubts on seeing this one. But I know my wife loved the animated version a lot and even though she was a bit skeptical, she still wanted to give this a try. Obviously I would accompany her doing so and we did it yesterday at the cinema nearest to our home. Well all right, I will dive into it now.

Brief Story Line

As the daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem - Dune etc) who ruled the seas, the mermaid Ariel (Halle Bailey - Grown-ish TV series etc) had been really fascinated with the human's world. Her infatuation was enhanced after she saw prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King - A Dog's Way Home etc). But the king was adamant that Ariel should avoid humans at all cost and he assigned his trusted advisor Sebastian the crab (Daveed Diggs - Snowpiercer TV series etc) to monitor her. However, Ariel disregarded her father's wish and still went on with her best friend Flounder the fish (Jacob Tremblay - Good Boys etc) and the seabird Scuttle (Awkwafina - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings etc) to collect anything related to humans.

Peter Pan & Wendy - Not the Greatest Live Action Remake of Disney's Animated Classics

I saw this movie in the coming soon section of Disney+ few days ago and thought of giving it a try. Since there was no other new movies in cinemas or other streaming platforms that really intrigued me, I immediately watch it on its day of release last night. OK now, let's get to it.

Brief Story Line

In the early 20th century London, Wendy Darlings (Ever Anderson - The Black Widow) was spending her last night at home with her younger brothers John (Joshua Pickering) and Michael (Jacobi Jupe) playing around as she was supposed to go to nursery school the day after. However, she was not really keen on growing up despite the demand from her father (Alan Tudyk - Strange World, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story etc) and mother (Molly Parker - Lost in Space TV series, Deadwood TV series etc).

(TV SERIES) Fate: The Winx Saga - A Much Better than Expected Series of Magic Fairies based on Popular Animated Nickelodeon Series

I saw this series promoted few days ago on Netflix and I decided to give it a try as it has magical element in it. Plus it only has 6 episodes which I should be able to complete easily in 1 day. OK, I'll just get into it now.

Brief Story Line

In the world where fairies and magical creatures exist, a 16 year old girl named Bloom (Abigail Cowen) started to go to a special school for fairies in Alfea. Being a person who just realized she was a fairy, made Bloom having difficulties to adjust with her new life. Luckily she stayed in a suite together with friendly first year students like Aisha (Precious Mustapha), Terra (Eliot Salt), Musa (Elisha Applebaum) and a snobby second year student Stella (Hannah van der Westhuysen). Bloom also befriended a second year specialist named Sky (Danny Griffin) who has a best friend fellow specialist Riven (Freddie Thorpe). Aside from those students, there was also a new fairy named Beatrix (Sadie Soverall) who had a knack for Alfea's history.

(2020) Mulan - The Live Version of 1998 Disney Animated Classic with Some Distinctive Changes

This movie has been very hype in the internet since it was officially released on Disney+ few days ago. I was thinking of watching it later but the temptation was too hard for me to resist, so I decided to watch it by myself last night, especially after many comments have been circulating around in various social medias. Anyway let's get on with the movie now.

Brief Story Line

Hua Mulan (Liu Yifei - The Four trilogy, The Return of Condor Heroes 2006 series etc) was the first daughter of an army veteran Hua Zhou (Tzi Ma - Rush Hour, Wu Assassins TV series etc) who had the seeds of becoming a great warrior herself. However, being a woman, she had to suppress her talent and become a common woman at that time. When the country was being attacked by powers from North led by Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee - The Jungle Book 1994 version, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story etc) who was assisted by powerful witch Xian Lang (Gong Li - Miami Vice, Farewell My Concubine etc), the emperor (Jet Li - Fist of Legend, Romeo Must Die etc) decreed that every family must provide 1 man to become part of the army to defend the kingdom.

(2019) The Lion King - A Beautifully Done Live Version Remake of a 1994 Disney Animated Classic

At last I got the chance to see this highly anticipated movie. When it premiered in Indonesia last week, my wife and I went for a holiday trip till Sunday. And just when I thought I could see it on Monday, I was assigned for business trip which lasted till Wednesday. So we could only see this last night. We decided to see it in a Dobly Atmos theater to enjoy the sounds better. 

As I believe that most people have either seen this movie or the original animated version, I would not go into details of the story and just straight to my personal views.

This movie was just as I expected from the glimpses of scenes I saw in the trailer. The visual effects were stunning and the cinematography was absolutely gorgeous. The jungle's scenery and the real life-like various animals truly made us feel like we were in the actual forest in Africa. During the whole movie, my wife and I could not help but feel in awe of how great jobs the special effects team had done in order to bring this movie to life. 

(2019) Aladdin - An Enjoyable Ride and A Decent Live Action Remake of 1992 Classic

I was pretty surprised that this movie got so much promotion in Indonesia and it even got the Advance Ticket sales event which was quite rare and normally given to major blockbuster movies such as those superheroes films. Anyway my wife and I bought the tickets since last weekend for its premier date show. Even if there was some chaotic moments due to the heated political condition in Indonesia particularly on that day, our studio was still packed with audience, though some studios in the area of demonstrations were not so lucky as they had to cancel few or entire show for the day. OK enough of that stuff and let's just get on with this movie.

Brief Story Line

In the kingdom of Agrabah, a petty thief named Aladdin (Mena Massoud) and his pet monkey called Abu was quite infamous for his acts. One day he somehow met and became attracted to princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott - Power Rangers the movie etc). As he was trying his best to be close to her, Aladdin found himself trapped in the political struggle masterminded by the evil Prime Minister Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) to become the most powerful person in Agrabah.

Dumbo - Another Disney's Live Version of Classic Animated Movie of the Legendary Flying Elephant

Yesterday was the premiere of another Disney movie which was quite famous many years ago. It was a live version of the animated movie and it was intriguing how we would be able to see the flying elephant. Good thing the film was showing in the theater near our home so it was convenient for me and my wife to see it. Well now we should go on with the movie.

Brief Story Line

Set in the year 1919, Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell - Total Recall, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them etc) came back from war to Medici circus where he previously worked with ringmaster Max Medici (Danny DeVito - Taxi TV series, Twins etc). Holt's very young children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) were trying their best to cope with the life at circus. As Holt was no longer able to perform his usual act, he was given new task of taking care the elephants, including Jumbo who was pregnant.

Beauty and the Beast - The Beautiful Live Version of 1991 Disney's Classic Animated Movie

I have known about this movie going to play in Indonesia since early this year and my wife had been reminding me many times that we should watch this one when it premiered. Last week, we found out that the movie would be playing on 17 March onwards. It's a good thing that we already have the card that would allow us to buy the tickets online, so we were able to buy it since last week and chose our favorite seats in the nearest cinema from our home. After passing through some surprisingly heavy traffic, I reached the location almost at the start of the movie. Without further ado, let's continue with the movie.

Brief Story Line

In a small village in France, lived a young girl named Belle (Emma Watson - as Hermione in Harry Potter film series) who loved to read books and was being ridiculed by the village people for it. She lived with her father Maurice (Kevin Kline - A Fish Called Wanda, Definitely, Maybe etc) who was working as a music box inventor. The village's most famous bachelor Gaston (Luke Evans - Fast & Furious 6, The Hobbit trilogy etc) was very much interested in marrying Belle as he believed she was the only one compatible with his handsome looks. He was always accompanied by his best friend/sidekick LeFou (Josh Gad - The Angry Birds and as Olaf in Frozen) who was very supportive of Gaston.