RJ Writing Ink

A Review of It: Chapter Two

Normally, I file things from the horror genre under Triple A.C: Avoid At All Costs. Every now and then, though, I find something scary that I’m willing to enjoy, like Stephen Kong’s It. After I saw Nostalgia Critic review tear the 2017 film a new one, I thought I should see it for myself, and I wound up enjoying it. So I decided that I would go and see the second half of the story, It: Chapter Two.

I now know that Nostalgia Critic’s going to have a field day with this.

The Plot

Twenty-seven years have passed since the summer of 1989, and the Losers Club members have gone their separate ways. When people begin to start disappearing, though, Mike Hanlon, the only Loser to remain in Derry, realizes that Pennywise has returned. Remembering their blood oath, the Losers must reunite to finish what they started as kids. Luckily, Mike has a plan in the form of a ritual passed down by a Native American tribe that can destroy It once and for all. To do that, though, they have to dredge through some very unpleasant memories of their old foe. They’ll never know peace until It is destroyed.

The Bad

Now then, it’s time to pick apart the things that I thought were holding the film back. A big one happens to be the actions of Pennywise himself: It doesn’t learn its lesson from last time! If you got beaten by a bunch of teenagers, killing them should be top priority. It even has the perfect opportunity to do so. When Mike tells the Losers they each need to retrieve an artifact from their childhood, they all split up.

I’m sitting in the theater and thinking to myself “why split up? That’s the first thing you never do in the horror genre.” Plus, they all go around Derry unarmed without even a bat. They’re sitting ducks, and the creature just chooses to continue messing with them.

This wasn’t the first time It went after the Losers while they were split up. Through a series of flashbacks to the time of the first film when the Losers split up, It went after them then, too. Again, it does nothing beyond scaring them.

The flashbacks themselves were nice, gave us some extra padding on the characters with some moments not seen in the first film. Eventually, though, they become dead weight that makes the film longer necessary. By the time the final fight rolls around, I’m about ready to leave.

The Good of It

Thankfully, there’s plenty of good stuff to be found in this movie. The actors, for both the kid and adult versions of the Losers, all do a good job with their roles. My two favorites are Ben and Richie. Richie’s still hilarious when he doesn’t want to bail, dishing out one-liners and saying what everyone’s thinking. Ben’s still the sweet romantic towards Bev, even though I felt the love triangle subplot pointless. Plus his house is dope.

Other than the cast, the thing I liked most was how It: Chapter Two corrected some things from the novel and the miniseries that I consider a mistake. If you’ve read the novel or seen the miniseries, then they make some adjustments to Pennywise’s final form and final fight. I don’t want to give away too much, but the whole thing plays out like the final boss fight of a video game. The way they defeat Pennywise is handled better, too; none of that “spider-tipping” nonsense from before. It’s fun to watch.

Fixing Stephen King’s Mistakes

The thing about the film that I think it did best, though, was fixing the ending. In the book, after It’s defeat, the Losers go their separate ways and eventually forget everything about the events in Derry. I hate that. As terrifying as it may be, I wouldn’t want to forget what happened, since that would mean forgetting my friends. Friendships like what the Losers have can come once in a lifetime, and that’s worth all the hardship in the world. Fortunately, the movie realizes how stupid that is, has the surviving Losers remember everything after leaving Derry, and presumably keep in touch for the rest of their lives.

Also, in a meta-joke, everyone acknowledges that Bill’s novels are great, but the endings suck. It basically calls Stephen King out for his great stories but terrible endings. Except for Shawshank Redpemption.

The Verdict

So, It: Chapter Two does have a lot of glaring flaws. The run times too long, Pennywise is still trying too hard to be scary, and tons of flashbacks could have been cut. It does make some improvements, and at the end of the day, it’s a fun movie. I’d go the movie if you’re a fan of Stephen King, but don’t expect it to be the definitive adaptation of It that the film tries to be. Plus side, I can’t wait to see Nostalgia Critic and How it Should Have Ended poke fun at it.

I Give It: Chapter Two a 3.25/5. It is good, but not great, either.

…. Hollywood’s making a sequel to The Shining, you know. If Stephen King hates the Stanley Kubrick film, he’ll despise this.

Click here to see my reviews for various films.

Ducktales Season 2, Episode 19 Review/Recap

This has to be my favorite episode from last week’s dump of new Ducktales! It’s all about confronting one’s inner demons through the crazy, reality-defying realm of dreams, and it’s awesome because it stars Lena de Spell!

Recap

Webby throws a huge slumber party at McDuck Manor and invites Lena, Violet, and the Triplets to it. It soon becomes apparent, though, that Lena’s trying to avoid going to sleep. Once everyone does succumb to slumber, things get weird.

Everyone’s dragged into a shared dream that shows off a key aspect of their personalities. Things like Louie’s laziness manifesting with him as a cat, Dewey’s high school dedicated to himself. When they get to Lena, we see she’s been having nightmares of her turning into Magica. She almost lets herself succumb to Magica’s influence, but thanks to the power of friendship, Lena overcomes her aunt’s influence.

Review

I saw this episode in a different light then I normally do, as I felt it carried a powerful message about overcoming one’s fears. Magica’s a bully, authoritarian figure in Lena’s life, and it’s clear that she still has a dark influence on her. This episode shows that her deepest fear is that she’ll become just as bad as Magica one day, and while they are similar, it’s their differences that set Lena apart.

Unlike Magica, Lena has friends that she cares for and they care for her. They’re what keep her from becoming Magica. The meaning is made all the more important when it’s revealed that Magica herself was behind Lena’s nightmares. She was using a telepathic device to mess with her niece to get her magic power. The real Magica’s just a pathetic old woman, one that Lena need not be afraid of anymore. I doubt that we’ve seen the last of Magica though, but the Duck Family will be ready for anything she may throw at them.

I found this episode to be very enjoyable overall, as it delves into the kids psyches and shows us what makes them tick. What we end up seeing was pretty fun, too.

I Give “Nightmare on Killmotor Hill” A 4.5/5

Wanna See Dewey’s Dream School? It’s like a homage to High School Musical.

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Ducktales Season 2, Episode 18 Review/Recap

Sorry if I haven’t been posting enough. Ive been busy working on my review for Steven Universe: The Movie, so I had to put everything else on hold. So to make up, I’m doing a duck bomb- every new episode of Ducktales reviewed and recapped all at once. This one’s a family episode that shows off the bonds between parent and child; or parent figure and child. Or in the case of Doofus Drake, the lack of one.

Recap

In an effort to get rich without putting in the effort, Louie teams up with Goldie to pull a con on rich boy Doofus Drake. Posing as Louie’s aunt, they go to his birthday party to make off with the goody bags filled with actual gold and jewels. Turns out all the wealthy in Duckburg have the same idea and brought fake kids.

The party’s whittled down to only two groups: Louie and Goldie, and Mark Beaks and his “son”, Boyd. A son that’s actually a robot that shuts down when it realizes it’s a robot, leaving Louie and Goldie last ones standing. Twist is that the whole thing was an attempt by Doofus to find a replacement for his dead grandma, and Goldie gets picked. Even though every instinct tells him to take his loot and leave, Louie goes back with a reprogrammed Boyd to save the day. Drake’s parents adopt Boyd as their son, give Doofus the grounding of a lifetime, and everyone’s happy. Goldie takes the loot and leaves, though.

Review

While it would be awesome to see the whole “moon invasion” plot move forward, I enjoyed this episode far more. I may be reading too much into this, but it feels like the lesson here is that people don’t have to be related by blood to call each other family.

Case in point, we have Goldie. She and Louie only used each other at first, but by the end of the episode, it’s clear they’ve formed a genuine bond. Goldie may have left Louie without any loot, but the sight of her putting his photo in her wallet next to Scrooge’s shows she actually likes him. It’s a touching moment, even given the circumstances.

The family dynamics continue in the b-plot, as Huey and Della bond over an online game they enjoy. I love Della’s character, and I enjoy seeing her make up for lost time with her sons and help them grow as people. In this case, Della convinces Huey to venture outside the small comfort zone of his in-game farm to battle monsters. Bonus points for the obvious references to Dragon Ball Z that the show’s staff put in. Our generation now rules pop culture, and it is glorious.

I really enjoyed this episode as a whole, and I’d love to see more of Goldie in the future. Doofus Drake, though, is among the type of people that I can’t stand to be around. I hope we don’t see him again anytime soon.

I Give “Happy Birthday, Doofus Drake” a 3.5/5

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KAIO-KEN!

My (Spoiler-Free) Review of Steven Universe: The Movie

I’ve seen a few cartoons get the musical treatment in the past. Shoot, Spongebob Squarepants got a Broadway musical, and I didn’t even know! Of all the cartoons I’ve seen, though, I don’t think any would be better suited for Broadway than Steven Universe. The new movie Steven Universe: The Movie convinced me of that on Monday night.

It’s been two years since the events of Battle of Heart and Mind, and life seems perfect for Steven. The Diamond’s are learning to be nicer to others, the uncorrupted Gems are making a new home in Beach City, and the galaxy’s at peace. Right when Steven’s ready to live happily ever after, a new enemy emerges. Can Steven and the Crystal Gems save Earth again, and can they do it in song?

The answer to that second question’s a resounding yes. We’re treated to a a multitude of song and dance numbers the minute the curtains rise, literally. If you were to close and just listen to the music, you’d mistake Steven Universe: The Movie for a Broadway Musical. Songs are Steven Universe’s thing, so why shouldn’t the movie be a musical?

Musical Success

I liked all the songs in Steven Universe: The Movie ; I’m even listening to the entire soundtrack as I write this. From the upbeat to the tear-jerking to the hopeful, the movie covers all the bases for a musical. My favorite song, though, has to be “Other Friends,” sung by the film’s villain, Spinel. It’s chaotic and as cartoonish as the rubber-hose style Gem singing it. I especially found the contrast between the inherent silliness of Spinel’s design and the bitter and mocking tone of her voice to be entertaining. The fans think so, too: the song was trending at #4 on YouTube the day after the movie premiered.

Once you get past the awesome music and get to the heart of the movie, you’ll find that it remains faithful to the themes of Steven Universe, specifically love and change. I’ll talk more about it in my spoiler review, but the events of Steven Universe: The Movie force Steven and the Gems to accept that nothing stays the same forever. The show’s always been about change, and the movie reminds the characters of that. Being Steven Universe, it imparts these lessons through the power of catchy songs.

I’m sorry, the music’s just that good.

All in all, Steven Universe: The Movie is a musical masterpiece that more than lives up to the hype. It shows off all the charm and fun that made Steven Universe one of the most important cartoons of our time. Thanks to Cartoon Network rightfully using all its resources to promote the film, I think they got a massive hit. If you haven’t seen the film, then go watch it now wherever you can. It’s so good, I actually hope it becomes a Broadway Musical one day.

I Give Steven Universe: The Movie a 5/5. Believe in Steven

If you’ve seen the movie already, then click here to see my spoiler review where I discuss what I liked most about the film.

My Spoiler Review for Steven Universe: The Movie

Six years and five seasons since it started, and Steven Universe is an undisputed global phenomenon. It’s easy to see ehy: great characters, catchy songs and dances, and as I said in my article on the subject, it’s done a lot to help LGBT portrayals in kids cartoons. Now it’s got a hit musical film that everyone’s been talking about.

Quick Warning: there are going to spoilers ahead. So if you haven’t seen the movie, then read my spoiler free review and go see the movie.

Last Warning. Good

Two years have passed, and life’s going great for Steven Universe. The Diamonds are learning to be nicer, the uncorrupted Gems are building a home on Earth, and peace reigns across the galaxy. It seems like Steven’s days of dealing with his mom’s (many) mistakes are done.

That’s when mysterious, yet silly, new Gem called Spinel shows up, and she’s got a grudge with Pink Diamond. Before Steven can react, this new Gem’s uses a mysterious weapon to poof the Crystal Gems. When they come back out, they have none of their memories: they’re basically reset to default mode. Worse, Steven has no control over his powers at all, and there’s a giant drill pumping death poison into the planet. Now Steven has to get his friends to remember who they are and save the world, while singing!

New Look to an Old Trope

While the amnesia story may not seem wholly original, it works well considering how it’s Steven Universe. Rebecca Sugar got the idea after she accidentally reset her smartphone back in 2015. Losing her early work for the show and the photos she took with the crew made her realize how big a role our experiences play in molding who we are. Without them, we see that the Crystal Gems have little to distinguish them from the rest of Gemkind.

Luckily, Steven realizes, with some help from a now-reset Spinel, that the key is to recreate the pivotal moments in the Gems lives. It makes the movie feel like a pseudo-microcosm of the show, reminding us of where the characters started from and just how much they’ve changed in five seasons.

At its heart, I think there are two themes at the heart of Steven Universe: love, and the many forms it takes, and change. Before Steven, Gem Society was more or less static, as unchanging as the Gems were un-aging. Steven’s a Gem that can grow and change and be who he wants, which makes him so revolutionary. He’s what drives the Crystal Gems and eventually all of Gem Society to change. The movie’s a condensed version of the impact he’s had on his friends, how they’ve impacted him , and changed for the better since the show began.

Pokes A Hole in The Show’s Idealism

Steven Universe has always portrayed change as a positive thing, something to make people better. This movie pokes a giant hole in that logic with its villain, Spinel. Once a happy-go-lucky Gem, she was Pink Diamond’s best friend and playmate. When Pink got Earth, though, she didn’t just abandon her: she lied and told her to stand still until she came back. So when she found out Pink started her new life on Earth with new friends, and now no longer existed, she’s mad. So she decides to get revenge on Pink’s other friends and her son.

The show’s made it clear that Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz made a lot of mistakes and did some bad things, but this takes the cake. Steven even admits that it’s something his mom would do. Then he ends up almost doing the exact same thing. He gets Spinel to stop the drill, but then ignores her. He’s too focused on his happily ever after, and Spinel even calls him out on his selfishness.

For all the show’s focus on change, Steven’s ironically fallen into the same trap the Diamonds were in. By the time of the film, he wants things to stay that way forever. He forgot what it means to change, and thus screws up with Spinel. That almost costs him everything.

Steven Universe: The Movie’s Lesson

That, to me, is the ultimate lesson of Steven Universe: The Movie. No matter how perfect things may get, things won’t stay the same forever. Once Steven accepts that, and that there may always new hardships on the horizon, he gets his powers back.

The movie then ends how’d you expect. Spinel’s redeemed and the Diamonds adopt her since they see so much of Pink in her, Steven and the others rebuild Beach City, and everyone accepts that there will always be more challenges ahead. And I think they’re fine with that, just like I am.

Steven Universe could’ve easily ended with A Battle of Heart and Mind with everyone getting their happily ever after. Steven Universe: The Movie shows the world, though, that Rebecca Sugar and the crew are not only willing to continue the show, but they’re willing to try new things. Rebecca Sugar has more adventures planned.

Bottom line, I loved this movie, I’d pay money to see it adapted onto Broadway, and I want to see it won an Emmy next year.

I Give “Steven Universe: The Movie” a 5/5.

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