47 Meters Down, Uncaged

For a horror movie, this film has more plot than one would expect. I was impressed with the effort put in to make the audience care about the main characters. They got a background story, were put in situations that are relatable, overall, the plot was well done.

Now, as for the realistic side of things, a lot of liberty was taken. So much so, that I was a bit confused at some parts. Like, how is a large shark surviving in those caves, what is it eating? How is it moving around in the caves? Are we really supposed to believe they grew up down there and are stuck in various areas?

If you’ve ever been scuba diving, you’ll find a lot of errors in how things are done. Science and biology doesn’t apply in this movie like it does in the rest of the world. There was also a lacking of presence of Mexicans for a movie taking place in Mexico.

So yes, I have a lot of complaints about the movie. But if you are looking for a horror movie, or if you enjoy shark movies, then this is a great movie to see. So weirdly, I do give this a thumbs up. I am torn between saying see it at home or see it in the theaters. At home, you can openly make fun of the twisted logic, but in the movie theater you an enjoy the special effects of the sharks on the big screen. So pick which matters more to you, and do that!

Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Movie Review

I’ll be honest, I saw this movie because there just weren’t many movies out that looked appealing. So I figured, meh, maybe I’ll learn some Spanish if I see this one. I’ve only see bits and pieces of the actual cartoon, just enough to know the basics of who Dora is. So I’m sure there were tons of things in the movie that avid fans would have laughed at or enjoyed that were lost on me. So keep in mind, this is a review from someone who doesn’t know the cartoon.

The acting, surprisingly good, from everyone. Dora keeps her upbeat spirit, but she loses it a few times when those around her lash out, making her feel very human and relatable. And although Dora seems plucked right from the cartoon, her costars are very realistic and point out the oddities everyone is thinking but won’t say. Like, “I can’t leave my cousin alone with some sweaty, anxious guy we just met.” A nice touch, since so often in kid adventures the kids just run off with random adults like that’s an okay thing.

There’s tons of funny moments, that often tie back to the cartoon. For example, when the guy says he’s prepared and all he has is juice boxes and a princess wand. But even with all the cute cartoon-ish moments, the story plot is very well thought out and has some great teaching moments. Dora goes from being a loner to understanding the benefits of having friends. And the fact she befriends people who are hard to befriend, makes it even better.

So to me, this movie is great to see. Whether you’re like me and just need a movie to get a few laughs, or if you have kids and want to show them a good PG flick, this is a great choice.