Encanto, by Albert W. Vogt III
There was somewhat of a role reversal for The Legionnaire this past weekend. Usually, Cameron would be the one to see the animated films given my distaste for them. Yet, the past few days had another unusual twist in terms of my typical movie going experience: company. Under normal circumstances, I will look forward to seeing a movie like House of… Read more “Encanto, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Robin Hood (1973), by Albert W. Vogt III
After returning home from a day spent at the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (did you know that is what Disney’s EPCOT stands for?), I decided to put on yet another Mouse production. Not any would do, and there are many that I am still resisting until one of you, my loyal fans, suggest them. In pondering… Read more “Robin Hood (1973), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Paw Patrol: The Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja
Hello everyone! For those who are wondering, yes, I am still part of The Legionnaire, and I still plan on writing reviews down the road. I do apologize for my absence as I’ve had a crazy work schedule, working eight days in a row at one point, and I had no weekend days off in the… Read more “Paw Patrol: The Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Toy Story, by Albert W. Vogt III
Have you ever felt like a monster for not liking a certain movie? The reverence with which people talk about Toy Story (1995) makes it seem like it could rival some of Hollywood’s all-time greats. I suppose there are those out there who would make that exact argument. I am not among that group. While I will admit to being… Read more “Toy Story, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Tangled, by Albert W. Vogt III
One thing I must hand to Disney for: their movies are usually short and to the point, even the musicals. Lately, I find myself pressed for time in the evening. Part of this is due to my desire to get back to watching Downton Abbey for the third time through, and also owing to an increasingly busy schedule. Downton Abbey is… Read more “Tangled, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, by Albert W. Vogt III
In the early 2000s, the Cartoon Network came up with the novel idea of showing animated shows late at night that were themed for adults. It made sense. After a certain time of the day, their target audience is usually in bed. Hence, how do you fill the other twelve hours or so of the day where they are not… Read more “Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Pinocchio, by Albert W. Vogt III
The last time I saw Pinocchio (1940), I believe I was about four-years-old. No, I was not four in 1940. I am not that old. Instead, the movie was playing at the old Wheaton Grand Theater, in grand old downtown Wheaton, Illinois. It is funny the things you remember, is it not? Even though I was so young, that day I saw Pinocchio there stands out… Read more “Pinocchio, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Alice in Wonderland (1951), by Albert W. Vogt III
When I wrote about The Sword in the Stone (1963), I discussed how it was one of two Disney VHS tapes my family owned. Given that it is a tale knights, chivalry, and the wizardry of Merlin (voiced by Karl Swenson), it was considered “my movie.” I also briefly mentioned how Alice in Wonderland (1951) was my sister’s. This was the situation… Read more “Alice in Wonderland (1951), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Sing, by Albert W. Vogt III
With the imminent release of Sing 2, my sister recently suggested that I take my nieces to see it. It is part of the reason she put Sing (2016) on my suggestion list on social media. I remember previews for the original. Nothing about it made me think that I must see it. It is animated and basically a musical. Well, kind of,… Read more “Sing, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Brave, by Albert W. Vogt III
Call this a pre-emptive strike. My Disney friends have been plotting for years to get me to watch every single movie the Mouse has ever produced. In hindsight, it is kind of funny that I have not seen more of them. My former distaste for everything Disney has been well-documented. However, I cannot say that was always the case. My… Read more “Brave, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Last Unicorn, by Albert W. Vogt III
There really is no accounting for taste, is there? I know there are some that have looked at the titles I enjoy and thought, “What the heck is wrong with this person?” I point out this immutable truth only as a disclaimer for what is about to follow. In the end, I will remind myself that such sentiments… Read more “The Last Unicorn, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Coco, by Albert W. Vogt III
Though I did not see Coco (2017) in theaters, part of my usual policy of avoiding animated films, the way people talked about it left one with the impression that it is the greatest film since, I do not know, Casablanca (1942)? People laughed, cried, and everything else in between. Normally, any movie that can accomplish such a visceral reaction from… Read more “Coco, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Mitchells vs the Machines, by Albert W. Vogt III
There are so many films out there today, and there does not appear to be any slowdown in their production. When motion pictures were first created, there was a great deal of consternation as to their function. Even in the late nineteenth century when the invention was in its infancy, people understood the power of images. If for… Read more “The Mitchells vs the Machines, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Inside Out, by Albert W. Vogt III
Minor complaint: when I first saw Inside Out (2015), there was a short film before it about a volcano. It was a lesson about growing old, finding new purpose, and renewal. It was cute, too, because there was another island with which it was in love. Yet, when I re-watched the same film recently, the short did not appear. I guess… Read more “Inside Out, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Moana, by Albert W. Vogt III
My brother-in-law has a hilarious penchant for singing tunes. He is not a gifted vocalist, but that is part of the fun. When he hits the high notes in certain ballads, he screeches somewhat like a teenager going through puberty. My sister and I get a kick out of it, whereas my nieces roll their… Read more “Moana, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Beauty and the Beast (1991), by Albert W. Vogt III
Another classic Disney film I have never seen has fallen. This time it is Beauty and the Beast (1991). Actually, I saw Beauty and the Beast (2017) before, but I guess the live action version does not count. Because I am only a lukewarm Disney fan at best (despite my commercial habits), I never understood… Read more “Beauty and the Beast (1991), by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Little Mermaid, by Albert W. Vogt III
The Little Mermaid (1989) is a good movie, but I do not care for it. I feel like I need to tread carefully here because I have too many friends that love this movie, and the last thing I want to do is upset them. But we all have those films, no? The ones that everyone acknowledges is good… Read more “The Little Mermaid, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Big Hero 6, by Albert W. Vogt III
To those of you who have been trying for a few years to get me to watch Big Hero 6 (2014), I am sorry it took me so long. To one person in particular, assuming this person reads this review, I particularly apologize I never watched it with you. And, maddeningly, with Hollywood not releasing… Read more “Big Hero 6, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Croods, by Albert W. Vogt III
You may remember that The Legionnaire already did this year’s The Croods: A New Age, the sequel to 2013’s The Croods. Our apologies for doing reviews out of sequence, but hey, no one asked us to take a look at the original first. So I blame all of you. I am kidding. Anyway, Cameron did… Read more “The Croods, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, by Albert W. Vogt III
A startling revelation came about yesterday as I wrote my review of Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015): they have announced a Hotel Transylvania 4. Oh . . . no. Here I was thinking my viewing of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) last night would finally end this particular Adam Sandler nightmare. But, no, there is… Read more “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Hotel Transylvania 2, by Albert W. Vogt III
Okay, here is the review of Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015). Hotel Transylvania 2 picks up pretty much where Hotel Transylvania (2012) concluded. Dracula’s (voiced by Adam Sandler) daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) is getting married to the idiot human backpacker Jonathan (Andy Samberg) who haphazardly stumbled upon the title resort in the last film. In yet… Read more “Hotel Transylvania 2, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Hotel Transylvania, by Albert W. Vogt III
It was not until I paused Hotel Transylvania (2012) about fifteen minutes in that I realized Adam Sandler was voicing Dracula. That is not a good thing, at least not in my book. There was a time in the 1990s and early 2000s when people thought he was funny, but I guess that went away.… Read more “Hotel Transylvania, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Raya and the Last Dragon, by Cameron J. Czaja
After years of sequels and a year absent of any Disney animated films, we nowhave a completely original Disney animated film, which is Raya and the LastDragon. This was a film that was supposed to be released last year but due to theongoing pandemic, it was delayed to this year. Normally, I would get botheredby… Read more “Raya and the Last Dragon, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Tom and Jerry, by Cameron J. Czaja
Throughout history there have been many rivalries that mankind has witnessed and that stood the test of time. We have the United Kingdom and France, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and Catholicism and Protestantism, just to name a few. In the fictional sense, however, there is one rivalry that has been going strong… Read more “Tom and Jerry, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Soul, by Albert W. Vogt III
How does one describe Soul (2020)? I have plenty to say about it, in case you might be worried by that opening line. But as I sit here on a chilly January morning reflecting on my experience of watching it, I am having trouble coming up with some kind of clever introduction. When I first… Read more “Soul, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Paddington 2, by Albert W. Vogt III
Often sequels attempt to build on some aspect of their predecessor. Whether the producers (or sometimes fans) feel there was an element of a film’s plot still to be resolved, or simply to continue making money off the franchise, subsequent films in a franchise tend to build off one another. That is not always the… Read more “Paddington 2, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Paddington, by Albert W. Vogt III
When I first learned to read, books fascinated me. In the small Catholic school I attended for most of my elementary school education, there was a commensurately tiny, one room library. I spent as much time there as I could. There were computers there, the only in the school (I am that old), and I… Read more “Paddington, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Incredibles, by Albert W. Vogt III
Have you ever had an identity crisis? Maybe you have worked hard in crafting one way of life for yourself, only to have unforeseen events impel you to adopt another one? As this is the Advent season, one of the themes that you find throughout the readings is the need for preparation. 1 Thessalonians 5:2… Read more “The Incredibles, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Croods: A New Age, by Cameron J. Czaja
It’s been seven and a half years since The Croods (2013) was first released and before I saw this film, The Croods: A New Age, I had trouble remembering the events of the first film. I mean, I remember the premise and the characters in it, but I had completely forgotten how it ended and I had to… Read more “The Croods: A New Age, by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Emperor’s New Groove, by Albert W. Vogt III
For a little while now, a small cadre of my good friends were trying to get me to watch The Emperor’s New Groove (2000). Okay, they really want me to see all the Disney movies. But since I have taken to letting the supporters of The Legionnaire determine the movies we review, they took this… Read more “The Emperor’s New Groove, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Ratatouille, by Albert W. Vogt III
The first time I saw Ratatouille (2007) it was during my time as an Assistant Youth Minister. I was on a bus traveling from Florida up to Hidden Lake Camp in Dahlonega, Georgia, for that wonderful week of trying to keep middle school teens in line amongst the pristine setting of the Southern Appalachians. At… Read more “Ratatouille, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Trolls World Tour, by Albert W. Vogt III
My Chicago Bears stunk up Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon in losing to the Indianapolis Colts, putting me off football for the rest of the weekend. There is enough bad news in the world. Thus I did not care to watch the Monday Night contest(s). Instead, I resumed working my way through the extensive list… Read more “Trolls World Tour, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Dumbo (1941), by Albert W. Vogt III
God’s timing is always surprising. Not in the sense that, oh no, the hamster has died, but rather the kind of surprise that leads you closer to the divine. It comes in big and small forms, and it happened as I was about to sit down to write this article. The last Disney film I… Read more “Dumbo (1941), by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Black Cauldron, by Albert W. Vogt III
As I am in a little bit of a rut, inspiration for which movies to review has been a little hard to come by for me. Thus I turned to social media and the first suggestion to come my way was The Black Cauldron (1985). Another Disney movie, of course. Weirdly, I have no recollection… Read more “The Black Cauldron, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Three Caballeros, by Albert W. Vogt III
These are strange times. I spent this past weekend at Disney, so I thought it appropriate to bookend my trip with reviews of two of my favorite Disney cartoons of all time. Last week it was The Sword in the Stone (1963). Today it is The Three Caballeros (1944). When cable television first became a… Read more “The Three Caballeros, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Sword in the Stone, by Albert W. Vogt III
Do you remember VHS tapes? Disney always had distinctive containers that encased their films. They were these white, plastic, folding contraptions as opposed to the run-of-the-mill thin cardboard sleeves. Opening them always came with the creak of flexing synthetics, but signaled the magic therein. My family had two of these treasures, one for me and… Read more “The Sword in the Stone, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Mulan (2020), by Cameron J. Czaja
After watching the CGI remake of The Lion King (2019), Aladdin (2019), and Dumbo (2019) last year I’ve come to the conclusion that Disney remakes are inevitable and I just have to just accept them. Despite all that, one Disney live action remake that I was intrigued about was the live action Mulan because of the potential it had. However because of COVID-19,… Read more “Mulan (2020), by Cameron J. Czaja”
Who Framed Roger Rabbit, by Albert W. Vogt III
When I was a much younger lad and saw Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) for the first time, I do not recall thinking much of it other than the giggles of an innocent child’s mind. I do remember it getting some attention for its use of animated characters alongside live actors, though in hindsight I… Read more “Who Framed Roger Rabbit, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, by Cameron J. Czaja
To follow up my review for The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004), I shall now do a review for the standalone sequel The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015). Unlike the first film, I had been more aware of film criticism and went into this one ready to critique it. Part of me, however, had a good… Read more “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, by Cameron J. Czaja”
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja
“Are you ready kids?!” If the first words you think of after hearing that phrase are “Aye aye, captain!” then you may be a fan of SpongeBob SquarePants like myself. I was nine years old when the series premiered in the Summer of 1999 and it couldn’t have come out at a better time. I was living in… Read more “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja”
A Goofy Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja
Ah 1995, a year in film where we great classics such as Apollo 13, Braveheart, and Toy Story. One film, however, that came out during that year that has received a cult following happens to be A Goofy Movie, which features one of Disney’s greatest characters Goofy. Despite being born in the 1990s and growing up on cartoons that… Read more “A Goofy Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Scoob! by Cameron J. Czaja
Even though I was a huge Scooby-Doo fan when I was a little kid, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about watching Scoob! or if I was going to see it when it first came out. I’ll elaborate on that part. So, because theaters are still closed due to Covid-19, Scoob! was getting the video on… Read more “Scoob! by Cameron J. Czaja”
The Lorax, by Cameron J. Czaja
For a while now I was indecisive on what movie I should review next for The Legionnaire. Then I realized that Earth Day was approaching soon, so I decided that my next review will be Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. I beat around the bush with this one. I actually strongly dislike this film and it’s one of… Read more “The Lorax, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Treasure Planet, by Cameron J. Czaja
Now that I covered Atlantis: The Lost Empire, I shall now follow up that review with another Disney animated film with similar themes: Treasure Planet. I’m sure most of you have read Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale Treasure Island before, right? Well this is almost that same story but with a science-fiction twist that I thought was… Read more “Treasure Planet, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Atlantis: The Lost Empire, by Cameron J. Czaja
The other week while I was looking for something to watch, I saw two Disney films from my childhood on Disney + that were, in my opinion, completely underrated. The two films that I’m referring to are Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Treasure Planet. Indecisive on which one to watch, I decided to do a double feature and… Read more “Atlantis: The Lost Empire, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Up, by Albert W. Vogt III
In 2018, for the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party I dressed up as a young(er) Carl Fredericksen (voiced by Ed Asner) from the 2009 Disney classic Up. I had never seen the movie before, and I am not going to rehash my “interesting” relationship with the Mouse. It was an easy enough costume to… Read more “Up, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Mulan, by Cameron J. Czaja
Earlier this month I was prepared to watch the new live-action version of Mulan, which is based on the 1998 animated film. Those plans changed however due to the coronavirus pandemic that is currently happening in America, which resulted in nationwide theater closures and a suspended release date for the new Mulan. As bummed as… Read more “Mulan, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Chicken Run, by Albert W. Vogt III
With COVID-19 making life a little harder to live, particularly for movie reviewers, I have decided to go back and watch some classic movies and review them. If you pay even the slightest attention to the news these days, it makes it seem like a seeming apocalypse is afoot. One thing this panic has done… Read more “Chicken Run, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Onward, by Cameron J. Czaja
It’s been two months since 2020 began and I finally watched a film that I was anticipating and that movie was Onward. As you know by now, animation is one of my favorite genres of film because those types of films have the potential to be something great on a visual level. Recently, however, I’ve… Read more “Onward, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Frozen, by Albert W. Vogt III
Before reading the rest of this review of Frozen, if you have been reading my previous work on this blog, ask yourself, “How do I think this is going to go?” If your answer is anything less than stellar, you may want to stop right about . . . here. One thing I would like… Read more “Frozen, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Sonic the Hedgehog, Cameron J. Czaja
Ah Valentine’s Day, a day where couples can spend time together and watch a newly released film. Unfortunately, I can only relate to the second half of that sentence and the movie that I saw on Valentine’s Day was Sonic the Hedgehog. While I’m somewhat of a fan of the video game series, I was… Read more “Sonic the Hedgehog, Cameron J. Czaja”
Spies in Disguise, by Cameron J. Czaja
The last week of December is probably one of my favorite weeks of the year because not only do we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we start to get a lot more movies coming out, some of them I’ve been anticipating for a while. This week I saw two new films, but the one… Read more “Spies in Disguise, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Playmobil: The Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja
I thought I was going to get a break from reviewing a film this week because usually there’s nothing big coming out the week after Thanksgiving. Or so I thought. What peaked my curiosity to see Playmobil: The Movie is how they were going to make a movie about the Playmobil toys and how bad… Read more “Playmobil: The Movie, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Frozen II, by Albert W. Vogt III
Very soon into Frozen II, my friend Scott leaned over to me and said, “Holy *%#$ this is the Fifth Element.” It took all my powers of restraint to not laugh out loud at an inappropriate time in the movie. Essentially Elsa (Idina Menzel) is the Fifth Element, and with her powers she is the… Read more “Frozen II, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Addams Family, by Cameron J. Czaja
I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of The Addams Family, but I am a causal one. When I heard they were making an animated film based on everyone’s favorite macabre family I was somewhat excited. The last I saw anything associated with The Addams Family was the Broadway adaptation several years ago and to… Read more “The Addams Family, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Abominable, by Cameron J. Czaja
Something I noticed before watching this film about a yeti is that this will be the third animated film within a year involving yetis. The first one was Small Foot (2018) and the second one was Missing link, which came out earlier this year. I have seen both Small Foot and Missing Link and I… Read more “Abominable, by Cameron J. Czaja”
Dora and the Lost City of Gold, by Albert W. Vogt III
Dora and the Lost City of Gold is about the title character, Dora (Isabella Moner), a socially inept teenager with deadbeat parents who seemed content to let their only child be raised by a monkey. Along the way, mom (Elena, played by Eva Longoria) and dad (Cole, played by Michael Peña) wander into the jungle… Read more “Dora and the Lost City of Gold, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Toy Story 4
Before I begin, let me get a disclaimer out of the way: I have not seen Toy Story 1, Toy Story 2, or Toy Story 3. Actually, you could probably name a Disney movie and I have not seen it. I do not typically go in for that sort of thing. But I have a… Read more “Toy Story 4”
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Before seeing Pokémon Detective Pikachu, a friend of mine who loves the franchise told me, “If you’re a fan of Pokémon you’ll love it. . . .” If you are keeping score at home, I do not fall into that category. I am not going to take the time to defend my nerd status. However,… Read more “Pokémon Detective Pikachu”
Missing Link
Movies that want to take themselves seriously try not to schedule their releases when there is a competitor involved. Sometimes this involves other reasons like the need for reshoots or world events causing them to make other plans. More often, though, it is because a movie wants to maximize its profits and another big time… Read more “Missing Link”
Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
I needed a break after last week’s Miss Bala misery. I noticed that Cold Pursuit was also out this week, but wished to avoid another bleak weekend. Something lighter was in order, I felt, and so it was off to see Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. I am not a huge fan of animated films. Being without a wife and family… Read more “Lego Movie 2: The Second Part”
Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse
I decided to make my first review a light one: Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse. Like many people, I have been taken in by the Marvel craze. Then again, given my penchant for their comics when I was younger, this was probably predictable. I have to confess, though, to not being the biggest fan of animated movies. Being usually… Read more “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse”
The Legionnaire 