Wreck-it-Ralph 2 - Ralph Breaks the Internet Review

**Spoiler Warning** 

You've been warned

I didn't watch "Wreck-it-Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet" in the theater and I'm glad that I didn't. Seeing all the characters that we're invested in was great, I wish we could have seen more of Fix-it Felix and his Lady Love, however we had to endure through a Ralph infested King Kong (no joke), to the point he even took Vanellope up to the highest tower. I'm so disappointed in the writing and the direction that this movie took, I couldn't even get through the extended features because all I could keep thinking was "who let these fools do this?!"

The movie starts with Ralph and Vanellope shooting-the-shit in the arcade, you can tell from the start that Ralph is happy right where he is; he's never had a real friend and Vanellope fulfills a lot in his life for him. Vanellope on the other hand, has the need for more - she's looking for that "need for speed" fix, an adventure, she wants more than what she has. In expressing this, she tells Ralph that she knows all the tracks and secrets in her game, suggesting that it's boring to her. Wanting Vanellope to be happy, Ralph jumps to action creating his bestest friend a new track in her game... however, the human players playing Vanellope end up breaking the steering wheel of the game and Mr. Litwak has no choice but to unplug the game, he can't afford what a new steering wheel would cost...

Leaving all of Vanellope's game characters stranded and without hope, the community comes together to re-home the characters while Ralph and Vanellope decide to travel through the unknown "WIFI" and head to the internet to get the steering wheel! It's a cute journey to see Ralph and Vanellope go to the internet and find eBay so that they can get their steering wheel. There was someone else there bidding on the wheel, which made me think that could have been explored more. However, Vanellope and Ralph (not understanding they're bidding money, not just the highest number) they end up out-bidding each other which is cringe-worthy and then they have to learn the hard way that they have to pay with money... over $2,000.00 dollars...

It was a cute idea to have them go back to the pop-up add to earn money playing video games, and I enjoyed watching Vanellope race Shank, but I didn't feel like Vanellope belonged there - it was so different from her aesthetics; I think a better story could have been where Vanellope takes what she learned in the game with Shank and brought it to her own game. I was so highly disapointed when she decided to stay with Shank and the game she loved so much (FYI: there's a song devoted to this game and it's ridiculous) the whole time I was thinking how the game was based off of Grand Theft Auto.

It was so sweet how Ralph did so much to earn the money for Vanellope's game, while she was off talking with Shank (to me, at this point, she had given up on her game and fellow characters). I was extremely disappointed in Vanellope; I understand chasing a dream, but how she did it wasn't right. I hated the scene when Ralph calls Vanellope and Ralph overhears Vanellope talking with Shank, I felt Ralph's pain. At this point, I really wanted Ralph to make sure the wheel got back to Litwak's Arcade and let Vanellope go through this journey. I didn't appreciate how the movie made Ralph out to be the bad guy - it was never even addressed how Vanellope was willing to throw away the game, because she wasn't making a single effort to get the wheel to Litwak's she was off chasing her high at the racing track with Shank.

Then, Ralph travels to the "dark web" and meets the most disturbing character that I've ever seen come from Pixar - made me think Disney was crazy for attaching their name to this! The character was repulsive and apparently, wasn't created for the audience, but was created for the sole purpose of making one of the artists skin crawl - great job Pixar - you would have done better if you had made a movie for your target audience instead of yourselves... much like Vanellope wouldn't you say? Back to the point, Ralph decides he wants to put a virus in Shanks game and in doing so, he actually makes the game have to reboot. Which we learned from the last movie, that anyone not in code of the original game will be lost. Again, Ralph being the hero, goes to save his friend Vanellope...

However, once she learns that he released the virus, in her rage she takes off and the virus is seen sneaking out of the game and into the internet - where it copies Ralph's insecurities and if you thought the movie was bad before this, it gets even worse! Then, the virus makes replicas of the insecurity in Ralph, who doesn't want to lose his friend, and the replicas go after Vanellope... it goes from bad to even worse when they all join together to make the King Kong version of Ralph and they take Vanellope... Ralph attempts to save his friend and then, through movie magic, once Ralph isn't insecure about their friendship anymore, magically the big-bad disappears... leaving Ralph and Vanellope to figure out their friendship and how their going to work through it...

Vanellope decides to stay with Shank and Ralph returns home, they talk through their phones and it's just really sad to me that she just turned her back on everyone else to pursuit "her dream". Like I said before, I'm happy that she fell in love with the game, but she could have taken this back to her game and incorporated it to make her game better too, maybe even given it internet access so people playing in the arcade could challenge people online too. But, no - she left Ralph and everyone - so we're teaching the youth of today to chase their dreams no matter what, turn your back on anyone else and go live your selfish lives, so the people who have invested their time and love in you are left to only a few minutes once in a while on the phone - great job Pixar - way to teach great morals.

Final Thoughts:

Let's put it this way, I haven't blogged about the movies or shows I've been watching in a long time. Only recently I had thought about starting to blog again. However, this movie made me so irritated, that I needed an outlet to vent and here it was. I don't recommend this movie, I'm sad that I bought this movie, I shouldn't have wasted my hard earned money.

There are some great scenes, I particularly love the 1st half of the movie up until they split-up (when Vanellope goes to be a pop-up ad). I did hear a lot about the Disney characters and when she went to Oh My Disney, it was awesome - I wish they could have had more time there to explore more characters, but all the reviews I watched said that these scenes stole the show and I have to agree. I did like the scene with the princesses and at the end when they worked together, maybe at times way over the top, but it was still fun to see them all together like that in the movie.

However, once Ralph goes to the dark-web and Vanellope's song, I lost interest in the movie. I'm surprised that the movie took the direction that it did and there wasn't anyone keeping the creators in-check. It's just sad to see a movie when you know it could have been so much better!

imdb - Ralph Breaks the Internet

THE WALKING DEAD 6.8

Start to Finish

The mid-season finale opens with Sam, who's been locked up in his room dealing with his reality. He should really turn that record player off though... there's a creepy scene where ants are entering through his bedroom window. If you've ever experienced this, you know they form a line to where they are getting their food source. In this case, it's food (or something really weird) that's been left intentionally or unintentionally. But, I think it's also referencing, now that the Alexandrian walls have been crushed down by the tower (where we were left last week), that now the walkers will do the same thing these ants are doing. 

Sam's picture he's working on in the opening scene

Next scene is the tower outside of the Alexandrian wall crashing through. As the dust starts to settle we hear the familiar growls of the walkers, followed by stomping and other things as they start ti file in on the unprepared Alexandrian's. Rick's yelling at everyone to get back. The heard is entering Alexandria as everyone starts to run to take cover. Carol and Morgan take refuge together. Deanna's following Rick, as she's injured. Maggie's fighting off walkers as she makes it to the rickety latter that comes untied as she's hanging on for her and her unborn child's life. She fights desperately and makes it to the top of the platform as she gazes at the ascending green balloons. Cut to Eugene, he has the walkie when Daryl is trying to get a hold of someone and Eugene says "help" as Rosita and Tara come to his aide, and they take shelter in a garage. Michonne and Carl come to the aide of  Rick and Deanna, as a bunch of them take refuge in Jesse's house. The camera pans over Alexandria as we see the infestation of the walkers.

Glenn and Enid are watching the walkers going in, Glenn tries to keep positive. "This is how it happens, and it always happens Glenn" Enid. But, Glenn keeps trying to get her to understand she still needs to care, now, and even when they're gone. Cut to Sam in his room, he hears the commotion, he seems to freak out a little as he's watching Rick and Michonne deal with Deann's injury, Judith's crying, and it all sort of echoes. Back to Morgan and Carol, he wants to check her wounds (she had fallen down) she tells him how she doesn't trust him, he comments "at least you're honest." Polar opposites theologies, this will be interesting to see. But, Carol must have a concussion. It's not cool to see her weak. The Doc is with The W man; he's crazy and she's naive. I hope she realizes that he's legit psycho. He has a psychotic look on his face as she gets stuff out to patch him up - my thoughts - he's going to kill her! Cut to Michonne working on Deanna and they find she's been bitten... "Well... shit" Deanna.

Jesse and Rick discussing Deanna's wound, he tells her how she doesn't have long. Rick's trying to come up with a plan to lure the walkers away. Michonne talking to Deanna, comforting her telling her how the plans she gave them could work. Michonne asks her about the Latin "Working with my family toward a better future", she says how she got to do what she wanted, right up to the end. Carl sees Ron Jr. go out to the garage and follows him to make sure he's okay. Ron thinks Enid's dead, and he thinks they're all going to die. Carl tries to comfort him, but Ron doesn't want to hear it. Ron seems to be losing it. He locks the garage and pulls the gun, Carl charges and they're fighting, Ron has Carl up against the broken door as walkers are drawn to the sound. Rick beats down the door as walkers break through. Theyrun for the house as walkers continue to pile in. Carl lies for Ron Jr., I think the parents understand. Ron and Carl go into a bedroom, Carl pulls a gun on Carl and tells him to give him a gun and tells Ron that he needs to come to terms with the fact that his dad was an asshole.

The group in Jesse's house are watching the walkers from the windows, Judith starts to cry and Rick goes to calm her, see's that Deanna isn't in the bed where they left her, she's at Judith's crib. She hasn't turned yet. He explains how someone needs to be with her until she turns. Deanna hands a note to Rick for Spenser and Maggie; she asks him to look out for Spenser like his own and tells him that Alexandria is his now. Jesse calls Rick, he picks up Judith and leaves Deanna. Back to Rosita and Tara, they're held up in a garage with Eugene. Rosita asks if they think Alexandria is over, Tara explains how they need to work for it; continue to fight for it. Rosita worries that Abraham is dead, but Tara tries to comfort her, while Eugene just reads quietly on the floor. Eugene "Lock pickin' is within my skill set". Back to Carol, Morgan asks if she's all right, she replies that she's just resting her eyes. Carol can't be hurt!! Carol pushes Morgan out of the way and makes a run for it. Back to Rick and his group, the walkers are breaking through, Michonne goes to action, they all retreat up the stairs, trying to block the stairwell on their way. The Doc with The W man, Carol enters the room and orders her to get away from him, Morgan enters, standing between Carol and Morgan.

Rick's plan is to gut the walkers and use them to get to the armory, Michonne helps Rick as Father Gabriel, Jesse and Ron Jr. watch (they're disgusted). Rick tells them anyone who stays ther eis going to die. Father Gabriel asks about Deanna, but Rick just looks at Michonne as they continue to cut up the walkers. Carol vs. Morgan. Carol tells Morgan that she doesn't want to have to kill him. Michonne goes to see Deanna, she explains how the rest of them have to go. "Someday this pain will be useful to you" Deanna explains the Latin verse to Michonne before she leaves her. The group wearing sheets and spreading the walker blood and guts over them, Sam walks in and doesn't understand what is going on, she tries her best to get him to go along. Carol and Morgan debating over The W Man's life. Morgan knocks the knife from her hand and they fight, he picks her up and slams her down (she's knocked out) as The W Man knocks Morgan out and pulls his knife on The Doc. Ricks group all gored up and ready to go. The W Man cuts through his binding as the doctor tries to convince him not to kill him. Tara, Rosita, and Eugene walk in as The W Man takes the doc as his hostage. He leaves with The Doc, as Tara looks on in horror, she tried to tell him he won't make it out there, his response was "we'll see." Rick's group get ready to leave, as they walk by the walkers. Glenn and Enid are climbing a tree trying to get in to Alexandria as Glenn sees Maggie on the scaffoling, surrounded by walkers. Deanna holds her gun to her head, but hears the walkers outside, she opens the door and uses the last of the ammo to shoot them, screaming at the inevitable. Rick and his group stand among the walkers, they hold hands as they make their way through. Sam starts calling "Mom." That'll get the walkers attention, and like in the comics Jessie and her sons get torn apart by the walkers.

Overall, this wasn't my favorite mid-season finale. I think the episode was full of tension with the walkers entering Alexandria and the fight between Morgan and Carol, but it was lacking in the end game, if you know what I mean. I feel like there needed to be more at the end to have us on the edge of our seats itching for the rest of the season. I'm also upset that they're trying to push Into the Badlands so desperately. They included it in the Start to Finish, The Walking Dead Story Sync, and then just last last week they have the blurb during the first commercial set. I'm disappointed that it was just some thug talking about Negan and not a glimpse of him or even a tease of Lucille or something more substantial. But, I guess that's because we're so use to such excellence that even the exceptional seems less than the standard we're use to. What are your thoughts on the mid-season finale? What was your favorite part, and what do you think it was lacking (if anything)?

Link

AMC - The Walking Dead - Start to Finish - Story Sync

THE WALKING DEAD 6.7

"Heads Up"

***SPOILERS***

The last episode before the mid-season finale starts with a dark screen and Nicholas's last words echoing "Thank you" with that gunshot we all heard in our nightmares for days now. Then we see Nicholas on top of Glenn getting pulled apart as he struggled to crawl under the dumpster!! We see how Glenn survived - that's right people - GLENN'S ALIVE!!! He manages to hold out under the dumpster and when things calm down he crawls back out. When he does, he finds the flare gun's been destroyed. He hears "Heads up!" and it's Enid! She throws him a bottled water before taking off. He follows her and asks her about Alexandria, she tells him to go back, he asks about Maggie, and she doesn't respond. She takes off and Glenn takes off after her; open credits. My prediction was that the comic book character Jesus would save Glenn. I'm just glad that he's alive. We know Jesus and more of the comic book characters are coming soon.

While Rick is walking the perimeter, he tells Morgan that they need to talk, he see's Maggie on the wall watching for Glenn. I think they're both desperate to hear from Glenn, Daryl, Abraham, and Sasha. Maggie's keeping watch and Rick goes to her, they talk, but I don't know why she didn't tell him that she's pregnant, she had the perfect opportunity while she was talking about Judith and how she's starting to favor Lori. Back to Glenn; he comes to the guy that they had left before and found the note to his wife "Betsy". Father Gabriel is posting something and as Rick walks by, Rick tears it down, Carl and Ron Jr. are with him. He's teaching Ron Jr. about the gun, Ron wants to be armed, but Rick's hesitant (rightly so). Morgan goes to the doctor, Rick's walking by and he wants to talk to Morgan. Rick explains to Morgan what happened with the Wolves, Carol and Michonne are in on the meeting too. I think they're trying to get him to understand by not killing the psychopaths, it endangered Rick. "I don't know what's right anymore" Morgan.

The heard is crowding in on the walls of Alexandria, Michonne and Rick discuss strategy for drawing the walkers away "Really?" Michonne. Rick doesn't want to involve the Alexandrian's in any discussions about how to draw the walkers away, while Michonne is trying to get him to understand that they could be useful too; they're not all a liability. Deanna delivers her plans for the future of Alexandria. Rosita's giving machete lessons to people. Eugene is in the group and they discuss his fear of dying, She basically tells him to pull his big-boy panties up; he walks away. Back to Enid, she goes to leave a store she was in, Walkers were outside and Glenn comes up behind her. He doesn't want to leave her and Enid doesn't want to go. She pulls a gun on him.

Glenn is able to get Enid's gun away from her and convinces her to go with him. Back in Alexandria; Rick is trying to add extra support to the inside walls and another Alexandrian helps him out. Maybe Rick will realize the Alexandrian's could help. What do you think? Back to Glenn and Enid, she takes some balloons they had put out, Glenn tells her how there are more balloons, string, and a helium tank. Rick talking to Alexandrian while they work on the wall. Tobin's telling Rick how scary Rick first seemed, he explains to Rick not to give up on them. Enid and Glenn; he asks her who she stayed with back home, she explains how it wasn't her home and she stayed with Olivia. "We don't have to talk" Enid. Olivia in the pantry is distracted by a mess Ron Jr. made to purposefully distract her in the pantry while he goes to the gun room and takes some bullets -- not good!!

Glenn and Enid arrive back and see the walkers outside of Alexandria "My God" Glenn. Glenn stop being the strong moral compass!! We all know what that means!! But, at least he's alive! Would you have been so determined to save Enid? Rick and Tobin come to Spenser who is crossing an insane way - dangling over the herd - Tara jumps into action and starts shooting walkers, Spencer's rope gives, and he's trying to get back over the wall, Rick's trying to pull him over, Tobin comes to help. Tara taking shots and runs out of bullets, Michonne arrives to help her. Morgan comes to aide Rick and the others too. Once Spenser is safe, Rick yells at Tara, she gives him the finger (hilarious). I think he yelled at her because Abraham, Sasha, Daryl, and Glenn haven't returned yet and he doesn't want to lose anymore else. Rick yells at Spenser that if he had an idea to go to him first "Would you have listened to me?" Spenser. 

Morgan returns to the doctor, he's asking for the "W Man", he tells her it's not his wounds and he explains he doesn't want to involve her in something she might not want to get involved in; but, Carol sees them and she follows with Judith in her arms. Carol sees which house they go in to, and she takes Judith to Jesse - Carol & Sam exchange conversation about monsters "The only thing that keeps you from becoming a monster is killing" Carol, she looks alarmed at what she says. She goes in the house and confronts Morgan. Carl patrolling the streets, Ron Jr. with the gun, following behind him. Michonne looks over the plans Deanna has (the watch tower that the truck had run in to is slowly coming apart outside of the walls...) Rick talks to Tara, Deanna thanks Rick for saving her son... Alexandrian's -- everyone see the green balloons floating (Glenn & Enid). Maggie runs to Rick "That's Glenn" Maggie, as the outside watch tower finally starts to fall and begins to knock the wall down -- fade to black.

Overall the episode was great, not only because we finally get to see what happened to Glenn, but it's truly just an amazing show. I can't believe the mid-season finale next week! I believe at this point in the comics Rick is sleeping with Jessie, and when the herd breaks through the walls her and her sons are attacked and killed by walkers (I could be wrong) but, I'm also pretty sure this is the time when Carl is shot and miraculously lives. I can't wait to see what happens, if AMC decides to go this route and if Carl will lose his eye, it will be epic. Can we please get Talking Dead after The Walking Dead again!? I know that this is to help promote Into the Badlands, but I really miss having that counseling session after the show! Glenn had his own commercial, he commented how he was reading everything we (the fans) were saying and how touched he is, and how he'll be on Talking Dead!! How much I love this show and how much they give to the fans is heartwarming. Mid-season finale predictions: do we think Carl is going to get his comic book look? Do you think we'll see any glimpse of Negan? Here's my predictions, because we still need to see who said "help" to Daryl, Abraham, and Sasha. We'll be dealing with the walkers inside the walls, people in the Alexandrian community getting separated and trying to survive the walkers. Carol dealing with Morgan, I think Deanna (not knowing) will go to check out The W Man, and he'll find a way to take her hostage. Ron Jr. will either shoot Carl by accident or on purpose. It'll be a crazy and intense episode on it's own. BUT, I think they'll have an after credit scene where we'll just see the back of Negan with Lucile on his shoulder, or on him somehow hinting that he's in the vicinity and is aware of the situations. Can't wait!!

Sneak Peek "Start to Finish"

Links

AMC - The Walking Dead - Story Sync - Heads Up