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SF Radio 8.22 High-Speed Heroes in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2

April 17, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Now that SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 has sped into theatres, its box office success shows that this franchise actually has legs after all. With fun and furry, the sequel sees Sonic run far beyond the limits of Green Hills as he and new friend Tails work together to find the Chaos Emerald before his new adversary, Knuckles (Idris Elba). This week, Kirk Haviland (InTheSeats.ca; Blood in the Snow Film Festival) stops by to talk about the success (and failures) of video game films and what makes a hero.

You can stream on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify, iHeart Radio or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can downoad the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

8.22-Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2Download

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Podcast Tagged With: Idris Elba, James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Knuckles, Sonic, Sonic 2, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails, Tika Sumpter

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Faster and More Furry-ous

April 7, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

Faster and more furry-ous than the original, Sonic 2 manages to take the franchise to the next level.

Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 sees the return of the Blue Blur as he eagerly seeks to prove that he has what it takes to be a hero. Although he has settled in Green Hills, he frequently seeks out crime in order to show off his skills. However, his ultimate test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns from the Mushroom World with a new ally. Teaming up with the powerful echidna Knuckles, the two begin a quest for an all-powerful emerald that could destroy civilizations. As he battles Robotnik’s evil drones, Sonic must also team up with a brilliant fox named Tails in order to retrieve the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

Leaning further into its video game roots, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a wild and frenetic chase around the world. As with the first film, Sonic 2 is energetic and enthusiastic across the board. Known for his speed and ‘attitude’, pop culture references and 90s music fly at such an astounding rate that they’re practically dizzying. Much grander in scale than its predecessor, the sequel expands the world extremely quickly, bringing in many more of the franchise’s characters that we know and love. As a result, the film feels more like a superhero film than its predecessor with its emphasis on global threats and powerful team-ups. Whereas the first film was a more intimate affair about Sonic’s connection with a small-town family, the sequel expands at… well… a sonic pace.

The addition of Sonic’s besties Tails and Knuckles to the world combined with the global adventure for an all-powerful emerald make the film feel massive in scale and changes the tone of the film. As a result, admittedly, the sequel does miss the more intimate moments that made the first film special. While there are some quieter character pauses that are memorable—like Sonic’s conversation with his friend/father Tom (James Marsden) in a rowboat—they often get lost amidst the chaotic story going on around them. However, in all honestly, the film has such humour and heart that it still feels special somehow.

Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

Amidst the CGI mayhem, performances still remain enjoyable and fun. Fueled by Ben Schwartz, Sonic has the same whiz-bang personality that we have come to know and love. (There’s even a Parks and Recreation reference to fans of his Jean-Ralphio character.) After the success of the original, Schwartz’ voice has become synonymous with the character due to his ability to carry both innocence and attitude at the same time. What’s more, returnee Jim Carrey continues to find new energy as the villainous Robotnik. In many ways, it’s surprising to see Carrey so enthusiastic about returning to a franchise as he has remained (mostly) averse to sequels throughout his career. Even so, stepping into the role of Sonic’s arch-nemesis seems to have rejuvenated him by giving him an opportunity to lean into his more over-the-top performance style. (In fact, one could argue that he’s created a character who is allowed to literally mustache twirl his villainy.) 

Jim Carrey in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

However, the best addition to the franchise may be its new characters, especially Idris Elba‘s Knuckles. All brawn and very little brains, Knuckles is a strong addition to the canon and has some of the film’s best dialogue. Signifying brute force, Elba‘s intense growl works well for the character yet his mighty warrior mindset is frequently offset by his innocence. (Incidentally, Tails is quite the opposite to Knuckles, with an ‘all brains and no brawn’ demeanour.)

In some ways, the film is reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz insofar as it involves three protagonists all on their own separate emotional journeys. (In fact, it’s also worth noting that the goal of all three characters remains the all-powerful Emerald…) For Tails, his arc seems to be about finding courage. Following his hero Sonic around the universe, the young fox doesn’t believe that he has anything to offer the mission. Of course, this isn’t the case… but he must discover that for himself. At the same time, the Tin Ma… er… Knuckles may have a rough exterior yet he is struggling to understand what it means to open up his heart to friendship. Although he believes he’s found one in Dr. Robotnik, their alliance is an uneasy one at best and he must learn who is worthy of his trust. 

Knuckles (Idris Elba) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

Even so, the primary emotional arc throughout the film remains Sonic’s understanding of what it means to be a hero. Wanting desperately to be able to use his powers to help people, he spends his nights stopping crime in the big city. (He even refers to himself as ‘Blue Justice’.) To Sonic, heroism is about being the standalone force for good that gets the glory for their actions. Unfortunately, that’s simply not the case. Instead, Sonic must learn that true heroism requires self-sacrifice, humility and putting others needs before your own if he ever truly wants to leave his mark. 

For sure, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is often silly and definitely over-the-top but frankly it’s still wildly enjoyable family fare. It’s also clear that the franchise is far from over. As with the first film, a post credit scene suggests that another adventure is on the way. (Without giving any spoilers, the scene’s introduction of another fan favourite character elicited almost Marvel-like enthusiasm from those in our theatre.) 

Assuming that’s the case, I know my kids and I are ready for the next level.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is available in theatres on Friday, April 8th, 2022.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaunessy, Idris Elba, James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tika Sumpter

Comfort Films #5 – OCEAN’S [MAD MONEY]

May 1, 2020 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

When times are tough, what stories do you turn to? Our new series, Comfort Films, is designed to look at the stories that are important to us and why they help bring us up with everything feels down. This week, Allen Chabot and Adam Howard return to chat about the sleek star power of Ocean’s Eleven, coming together in Mad Money and growth in The Truman Show.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Podcast Tagged With: Comfort Films, Diane Keaton, Jim Carrey, Katie Holmes, Mad Money, Matt Damon

Sonic the Hedgehog: Gotta Go Fast!

February 17, 2020 by ScreenFish Staff Leave a Comment

By Johnathan Stowe

When the first trailers came out for Sonic the Hedgehog, I was very sceptical to see it based on the animation of Sonic (like many Sega fans were) but, once they made the changes and got the design right, it looked more like a movie to see. But would the plot of the movie work and draw interest? And that question has been answered after seeing Sonic the Hedgehog. 

Told by his adoptive mother Longclaw (Donna Fulks) to avoid danger, Sonic moves between worlds with the rings in his collection. All this traveling comes with a heavy price, however, as Sonic has no friends and becomes lonely. Once he travels to earth, he resides in Green Hills where he runs into Sheriff Wachowski (James Marsden), an officer who is looking to leave his county in order to make a name for himself in San Francisco. 

The villainous Dr.Ivo ‘Eggman’ Robotnik (Jim Carrey) is introduced as a crazy doctor who loves technology and is hired by the government to track unusual power outages created by Sonic. This is where I give Jim Carrey a big high five! He nailed the character and personality of Dr.Eggman flawlessly, especially through the comedy that the character has shown throughout the video games. Ben Schwartz, who voices Sonic, is another actor who did an amazing job. The film really gets Sonic’s personality down, as he speeds by as a cool but cocky character who doesn’t listen but who also makes lots of funny joke references. 

Sheriff Wachowski is a character you warm up to as the movie goes on as well. Married and trying to do his best to make a name for himself, Wachowski becomes someone worth saving. Because of his actions, Sonic loses his rings and they’re forced to team up with together to get his them back and to stop Dr.Eggman. 

The message of the film was the importance of friendship and family. Throughout the movie, Sonic dealt with loneliness and did not want to leave earth to go to a new planet. In one of the scenes, he writes on his bucket list that he just wants a best friend. However, through his relationship with Sheriff Wachowski, Sonic finds the new wave of power that he needs to defeat the villain. Just like the video games, Sonic uses the power of friendship and teamwork to stop Dr. Eggman. 

Sonic the Hedgehog has excellent visuals and really great comedic moments that both kids and adults would enjoy. Because the plot and story-telling are good and don’t feel forced, you really buy into the characters. (Also, the film has a ton of Easter eggs from the video games and a post credit scene that hints at another character joining Sonic in a possible sequel.) 

Overall, this was a great movie and I believe that this is the movie Sega needed in order to push Sonic back into relevance in a society dominated by so many other video games. Hopefully, we will get to see Sonic Mania back once again for a whole new generation.

Sonic the Hedgehog zoomed into theatres on Friday, February 14th, 2020.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: Ben Schwartz, Dr. Eggman, James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Sega, Sonic the Hedgehog, video games

David Bowie, Jim Carrey & “this terrible search”

January 13, 2016 by Matt Hill Leave a Comment

David Bowie and Jim Carrey
lots of people
are talking about
David Bowie,
as they should

icons, artists,
musical geniuses
like him
seldom appear,
and when they do
it behooves us to
consider,
to reflect

however, i
don’t want to
just say more
words
about Bowie himself . .
plenty are
being said
and by people
with better ones
to say than i

and other than
just now,
i don’t even want
to share my
personal appreciation
or favorite songs
or memories
related to him,
chief of which
is how my
siblings and i
would watch Labyrinth
(starring David Bowie)
often,
happily and repeatedly,
most notably at
our father’s
post-divorce
bachelor pad
on weekends,
our escape into
the fantasy of that story,
perhaps,
no, definitely,
vital at the time

what i do want to do,
however,
is pause to note
an interesting,
real-life
(serendipitous,
hopefully
thought-provoking)
juxtaposition

i heard about
Bowie’s passing
on Monday morning . .
the night before,
i watched the
Golden Globe Awards . .
at said awards,
Jim Carrey,
typically hilarious,
before announcing
nominees for
best comedy,
joking about how
he’s “two-time
Golden Globe winner,
Jim Carrey,”
said this:

And when I dream, I don’t just dream any old dream. No, sir. I dream about being three-time Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Carrey. Because then I would be enough. It would finally be true, and I could stop this terrible search, for what I know ultimately won’t fulfill me.

But these are important, these awards. I don’t want you think that just because if you blew up our solar system alone you wouldn’t be able to find us or any of human history with the naked eye. But from our perspective, this is huge.

playing the part of
the wise “fool,”
smuggling truth
inside laughter,
Carrey took the
Globes as an opportunity
to poke fun at the
whole idea of
awards:
humans congratulating
humans for endeavors,
for fame,
which finally,
in the grand cosmic sense,
is inconsequential,
eventually nonexistent,
ultimately unfulfilling

but despite
sensing this,
joking about it,
we sure do
still try, don’t we?
which brings us
to Bowie

according to
multiple people
in the know,
he spent
what he knew
to be his
last months
creating the
death-obsessed
songs and videos
of Blackstar –
his final album,
released only
days before his death –
as a sort of
“parting gift”
to the world . .
his death,
says producer Tony Visconti,
was “a work of art”
(see here and here . .
and see the poignant,
telling video “Lazarus” here)

in “Lazarus,”
Bowie croons,

Look up here,
I’m in heaven…
Everybody knows me now…
This way or no way
You know, I’ll be free
Just like that bluebird
Now ain’t that just like me

so, is Bowie singing
as himself?
did he truly,
as the song seems
to suggest, see
art and fame
as the pathway to
freedom,
heaven,
Lazarus-like
immortality?

one cannot
say for certain,
of course,
but between
what was known of
him before (plenty),
what is known
of his intentions
for Blackstar,
and lyrics like these,
it seems safe to say
that, yes, he
may have seen it
this way . .
or at least
acted like it

but
so what?
many have seen
it thus for ages . .
and our modern
social-media-steeped
world is nothing
if not a machine
for quick
dopamine-infused
fixes of “fame” . .
Bowie deserves
no indictment,
of course . .
still:
that comment
from Carrey,
sounding like
Ecclesiastes:
“fame and power
are meaningless” . .
so terrifyingly obvious
with but a
moment’s sober thought . .
again though:
“From our perspective,
this is huge.”

bah . .
this is not the place
to be comprehensive . .
only to note the
juxtaposition:
one famous man
orchestrating his
last act of fame –
a bowing at
its altar . .
another famous man,
making jokes at
fame’s expense –
a clown pulling down
the pants of the king
who feeds him

at the very least,
these represent
two ways
of seeing,
two approaches
to fame,
itself just one
(of many)
approaches to
meaning,
ultimate fulfillment,
the end of
“that terrible search”

and though i
won’t simplify
to the point of
asking whether
you’re a
Bowie or a Carrey,
something like that,
hopefully,
is what you’re
wondering

or, hopefully,
maybe you’re
wondering,
whether in fame,
or something else,
what is my hope in
when it comes to
“that terrible search?”
and why is it
that there is
so obviously
a search anyway?
and am i really
undertaking said search?
and doesn’t a search
imply that there is
a specific thing
to be found?
and what is that?
and, . . ? and, . .?

and . . ?

Filed Under: Current Events, Editorial Tagged With: Blackstar, Bowie, David Bowie, death, Ecclesiastes, fame, famous, Golden Globes, Jim Carrey, Labyrinth, meaning

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