Big Hero 6: The Sweetest Thing!

You know, having a little brother is one of the best things in life, and I'm speaking from my own experience. Mine recently told me to watch Big Hero 6 because he knows I'm a sucker for animated movies, and I simply adored it.

Big Hero 6 comes from the same Walt Disney team that worked behind "Frozen" and "Wreck-It Ralph"... Judging from my opinion, what a team it must be!

Baymax, the fatty clumsy robot, is purely the sweetest robotic character I've met and Hiro is just a genius kid struggling with the tragic death of his elder brother, Tadashi. They develop a very special bond during their adventurous search for justice in the city of San Fransokyo and they end up being best friends for life. Don't you just love a happy ending?

Newsflash: I cried. Like.. a lot. More than I'm happy to admit. 

But seriously, it's a beautiful story about family, friendship, love and lost, and you should go watch it right now! 

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

The Theory of Everything

Eddie
Credits

I completely fell in love with Eddie Redmayne while watching The Theory of Everything, Stephen Hawking's biopic that turns out to be such a beautiful and truthful love story. He proved that he is a great actor, who certainly was up to the challenge of playing a very difficult character.

Eddie looks so sweet and so nerdy at the same time, he made me believe that I would actually fall in love with him too if I met him at that time. It's interesting to see the other perspective, while his body and his health were completely degrading after he was given only two years to live, and his wife, played by the gorgeous actress Felicity Jones, was always by his side, making sure that his talent and geniality had the chance to be noticed - and she was successful.

This movie made me think about the persistence that we need to go through life without losing our hope and will to live, not only because we're here - so we have to endure this anyway - but  because we want to make a difference, we want to stand out and shine while we are alive in this world, always pushing our own boundaries to be better. I have to say that it was really inspiring. 

After the movie, only one question remains, and I don't think we will ever know the answer. Where does time go? Wouldn't you like to know?

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

The Normal Heart

The Normal Heart
Credits

Have you watched The Normal Heart yet? After watching the trailer I thought it should be an interesting movie to see and now I can tell you it's absolutely worth your time. This is a movie about a group of gay activists attempting to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during the early 1980s.

The thing you realize as the movie goes on is how lost they were and how clueless everyone was when people started dying from AIDS. Doctors where calling this disease "Gay Cancer" and no one really understood what it was and how they were getting it.

According to the Vulture's review, the movie's political agenda is clear: to carve out a "Never Forget" space in the national psyche. It wants the official governmental non-response to AIDS in the early '80s to be placed on a list of the most contemptible acts of calculated neglect in the nation's history.

When you watch the movie you understand why this has to be remembered. The cast is great, from  Matt Bomer to Joe Mantello. I believe that they all did a wonderful job, although I have to say I am a fan of Mark Ruffalo from now on. His character, Ned Weeks, is so disruptive, constantly fighting, always frustrated with everything that was happening. He stands up for him and for his cause, against all odds, and demands the world to accept him exactly as he his. It's a powerful message.

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

Transformers: Age of Product Placement

For those who don’t know, product placement is defined as “an advertising technique used by companies to subtly promote their products, usually through appearances in film, television, or other media”.

Even if you technically didn't know that this is what they call it, I bet you already noticed that product placement has been used for some time now, and it’s happening progressively more in the movies industry. Subtle or not, this technique profits both the brand and the media company where the product is being advertised. It’s a win-win situation. 

Age of Product Placement
Credits

In my opinion, this is a very interesting and successful form of advertising because while we create empathy with the different characters, we want them to succeed, we want to be just like them, and this is the way we create good associations with the brands and the products, increasing their value and also our consuming habits.

Yesterday at the movies, while watching a definitely too long Transformers sequel, I realized that they took product placement to a whole different level. It’s everywhere: from Chevrolet, Bud Light, Tom Ford, Beats by Dre to Victoria’s Secret!

The funny thing there is that they don’t confine themselves to show the products now: they include them on the scenes in such a noticeable way that it just became ridiculous at some point. I’m serious; brands were popping out of the screen every minute!

There’s one scene where a giant beer truck is destroyed by an awesome Transformer, and after the crash Mark Wahlberg picks a Bud Light and drinks it - because he’s so cool and everyone who is trying to save the world as we know it from Aliens, should refresh from time to time. This is just brilliant and funny in one way, but too evident in another, which I think ruins the whole purpose of the product placement technique.

In conclusion, I believe that they really have to rethink the way they are doing this. Consumers/spectators  don’t like to be confronted with this kind of advertising in such an obvious way - let's face it, it's kind of insulting!

Apart from that, if you’re the kind of girl/boy who wants to see a Transformer riding a dinosaur, then this is the movie for you, don’t expect more than that… and brands everywhere!

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela