Many women wish that they could remain young forever. In fact, it is why the cosmetic industry continues to rank in millions, based on its promises of having "fountain of youth" like abilities. But deep down, we know it is all a fantasy, one that could never occur unless some magical spell fell into our laps. In the new film, The Age of Adaline, we are asked to believe in such wizardry, and enjoy a whimsical ride down a Vogue approved road.

The Disney company has a way with magic. It's something every child at some point in their life knows, especially when it comes to the classic Walt era of the Mouse House. But no piece speaks to the levels of his visual creativity and abilities more than the Oscar winning Mary Poppins. Though by far not my personal favorite Disney film, Poppins is a masterpiece in so many ways and will always be treasured as such.



But what exactly was the inspiration behind the famous flying nanny? Not too many people seem to know and always believe that she came from within Walt's own imagination. But in actuality, Mary was born from the mind of an Australian woman that many would come to know as P.L.Travers. She was a mysterious creature, much like Poppins, who came in and out of the public eye as quick as the wind. But what many know her for, beside her books of course, is the history between her and Walt. Saving Mr. Banks, the new film from Disney, gives cinematic life to these behind the scenes moments.

We begin in the past, with a familiar phrase from the original story, where we see a young girl and her father (played brilliantly by Collin Farrel) interact. We later learn this is Travers (who's real name was Ellen) during her not so "Perfectly Perfect" childhood. At the same time we meet a now middle aged Travers, who has been requested to meet Walt Disney for two weeks in California. This meeting would hopefully bring Mary Poppins to the big screen (a deal that had been a twenty year long struggle for Walt and company.)



The moments that occurred during those two weeks were some of the most interesting in Disney's history. With an unforgettable performance by Emma Thompson as Travers, you remember every single aspect of them, even down to what condition her perfectly permed hair was in. Thompson gives the kind of performance that people showcase in Oscar montages, make speeches about (like Meryl Streep did here), and quote for years to come. She's thrilling in every detail, and brings heart to a character that the public assumed had no soul outside of what came from her finger tips onto the page.


Walt is played by the always enchanting Tom Hanks, who though looks really nothing close to Mr. Disney, brings a similar sort of charming aura that can be instantly connected to his real life counterpart.  This goes very much along with those in the supporting roles, especially Paul Giamatti as Ralph (P.L's driver), who gives the oil to revive Thompson's inner Tin Man.



But what must be noted above all other aspects of this film are the elegant choices that make this a love letter to childhood nostalgia. From the recreation of the original Disney Studios title card, to the replication of the linoleum hallways of the Burbank office, this is pure Disney fanatic heaven. The moment that presents this effort at it's best comes when Richard Sherman (Jason Schwartzman) plays "Feed The Birds" in the rehearsal room. Many a knowledgeable "DVD extras watching" Mouseketeer can tell you that this was (by many accounts) Walt's favorite song, and the moment perfectly expresses this. 

Though as with any Hollywood film, the level of truthfulness can be lacking, especially when you know some of the "source material". By most accounts it's been said that Travers was not a fan of the final product put on screen of her beloved Mary. So when the final act of the film is shown, it can be hard to swallow these fantasy renderings of history, even with a spoonful of sugar. 




But when all is said and done, Saving Mr. Banks is a great movie. Though that is a generic term for a review, that's really the best way to describe it. These are the kind of cinema experiences an audience craves for: A great story that involves all your emotions, steers up your own personal connections, and leaves you feeling inspired in some degree, even to "Fly A Kite" perhaps.

2013 has come to a close, and that means it's list making time over here in the blog world! As someone that's done a lot of film criticism this year, I wanted to give a list that reflected my favorite flicks of the past 12 months. The ones that will stick with me for years to come and should be watched by all of you lovely people that take the time to read this sparkle insanity of a website.

Keep in mind this is my personal list, as in some of these movies might not be considered Academy Award winning by many out there, but I believe they bear mentioning. So here we go!

10) Pacific Rim




I couldn't make this list without including what was hilariously dubbed among my friends as "Dalin: The Movie". Featuring my dream cast, director, and scenario, Pacific Rim took the action genre films of 2013 to new, cheesy, epic heights that hadn't truly been achieved prior.

Yes, the script is less than stellar, and yes there are tons of tropes from both of the respected sub-genres (Mecha/Kaiju) showcased. But the charm of Pacific Rim is that it comes off more as an homage than something trying to advance what had been done in the past. It breathes life into the stone cold path that Bay's Transformers films had left, and yet doesn't take itself too seriously. So bravo Del Toro, you achieved what every fanboy has dreamed: giving the audience the ride of a lifetime.

9) This is The End/The World's End



Yes, this is a tie. Both these films are excellent and both deal with the same subject matter. But they are in no way shape or form the same movie. But why couldn't I pick one over the other?

Well for starts, lets discuss the American side of this story with This is The End. I can say without a doubt that The End is the best comedy film of 2013. It jumps leaps and bounds over its competitors in both it's biting dialog and incredible boldness. The last 10 minutes of this movie are some of the funniest moments put to film, ever. Channing Tatum, need I say more.

But The World's End has a slightly more serious edge that made it equally as enjoyable. This story of friendship is oddly aided by the surprise genre twist towards the middle of the movie, one that is best experienced without knowing anything when seeing it for the first time.

So in essence, if you are looking for an easy double feature, give these two a try. Just remember to bring the tissues, and the Backstreet Boys t-shirts.

8) Don Jon


I'll be blunt, you are either gonna love or hate Spring Breakers. For me, I was on the positive side. It could easily have been the worst thing to have ever been made, or the best. But during a long train ride home after seeing this MTV style art house attack on the senses, I came to the conclusion that the end result was something way ahead of it's time.

Directed by the ever so annoying Harmony Korine, we see what could be his most "accessible" film. But by no means should this give you an idea to watch this with say your mom or dad. No, this is the kind of film that midnight showings were made for, the kind you will quote for years to come.

All I can say is: "Spring Break .... forevah."

6) American Hustle



Ever since last year's Silver Linings Playbook, I've become a huge supporter of David O. Russell's work. He has an excellent handle on his actors, and gives equally great parts to women and men. But nothing got my attention more than the perfection he put into his latest effort, American Hustle.

With tons of charm, spunk, and attention to detail, American Hustle is a film that sits comfortably on the shelf with other crime tales such as Goodfellas or Casino. But what makes it stand out is the brilliant female leads. Amy Adam's shines here, with Jennifer Lawrence being absolutely unstoppable in her charm. With the addition of an effortlessly composed soundtrack and set design, American Hustle screams to be 2013's awards winner, and deservedly so.

5) The Wolf of Wall Street 

Oh...my...god. The trailer me and many a BatB fanatic has been waiting for is finally here.

I literally am a bit speechless at how truly stunning every aspect of this movie is from first glance. From the composure of the shots, to the lighting, to the costumes - every aspect of this trailer is truly breathtaking. Let's break it down with some interesting shots from the 1:58 trailer of brilliance.

Bryant Park is starting to bustle with the magic of the holiday season! The little jewelry stores are open, the hot chocolate and apple cider are steaming, and the classic ice skating rink is open. Of course one of my other favorite activities is checking out some of delicious treats offered in the area. Though I am partial to the Macarons at Macarons and Cookies or the chocolate at No Chewing Allowed, this year I was invited to take a taste of the sweet offerings at new addition Jolie's Sweet Creations.

Jolie's is actually an off-shot of Enrico's Bakery (located in Harstdale and Bronx, NY), which is exclusively offering newer trendy treats that are popular in the bakery world right now, including their take on the famous Cronuts, but Jolie's calls them Kronies. I also was lucky enough to be given a sample of their chocolate covered Twinkie cakes.
In the box (from left to ride) are the original glazed Kronie, along with a Boston Cream flavored one. On the bottom we have a vanilla chocolate covered Twinkie, along with the chocolate on chocolate version. First off, all three of these items are HUGE. I can't imagine eating any of them by myself... so with that I had help from my boyfriend for this review!

First I tried the chocolate on chocolate covered Twinkie. This by far out of all the treats was my favorite. The solid thick chocolate coating complimented the flavors of the Twinkie perfectly, and made me want to run to have another. The vanilla Twinkie was just as delicious, but I definitely think the coating works best with a chocolate filling.

Next up was the Kronies. As this was my first time tasting a Cronut, I have to say they are pretty tasty. But in all honesty I don't think they are the sweet for me, though I can definitely see why people love the heck out of them.

Out of the two flavors, the bigger hit was the Boston Cream, especially with my co-reviewer. He said the flavors worked really well, though we both agreed the Kronies are very filling and might require more than one meal to finish, even between two people.

I love animation and to say otherwise would be a cardinal sin. Animation is my favorite art form in the world, and I hold it in high regard unlike most adults do and never would disregard it as "children's only" entertainment. But in recent years, much of the Animation world has slipped into a buck for buck sort, where all the competition relies in the money and much of the quality is just automatically put to the side.

This can be clearly seen in films by the top studios like Disney, who now are stuck on princess themed movies (excluding Wreck It Ralph) and even influencing sub-company Pixar to follow their lead (Brave) And with the success of movies like Despicable Me and The Smurfs, no wonder studios are desperate for quick cash in flicks rather than effort showcasing masterpieces.


Then we arrive to the worst of the worst when it comes to these cash grabbing projects: Blue Sky. Most known for creating the lackluster Ice Age movies, the charming but only decent Rio and the similarly decent Horton Hears A Who, Blue Sky has yet to create a masterpiece that would be remembered by generations like its peers DreamWorks and Disney/Pixar have achieved.

But the studio released a new film this past weekend, entitled Epic (loosely based on the Leaf Men and The Brave Good Bugs book by William Joyce.) With being given such a different marketing title than it's source, this movie must truly be at least interesting. Let's take a moment to examine.

FYI: While speaking about this film, I would like to take into a reference two other flicks: 90's nostalgia classic Ferngully, and another recent Joyce book to movie adaptation, Rise of the Guardians, to which is not a literal adaptation but will work for what is needed in speaking about this.

AND THERE WILL BE SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT.....