Kong: Skull Island

"I thought you were crazy."

"I wish I was."

In 1973, Bill Randa (Goodman), the head of government organization Monarch, wants to lead an expedition to a newly discovered island, called Skull Island.  He and geologist Houston Brooks (Hawkins) convince a senator to fund the expedition with a military escort.  Randa leads the expedition, and brings Brooks and biologist San Lin (Tian).  They are joined by a team of scientists from Landstat, led by Victor Nieves (Ortiz).  Randa hires British Special Air Service Captain James Conrad (Hiddleston) as a tracker for the expedition and photographer Mason Weaver (Larson).  Their military escort is U.S. Army helicopter squadron the Sky Devils, led by Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard (Jackson).

When they arrive on the island, the scientists setup on the ground while the Sky Devils drop special seismic charges for Brooks to map out the island.  They are interrupted by a giant ape who attacks the helicopters.  They fight back, but all of the helicopters are destroyed.  Many of the soldiers and scientists are killed and the survivors are divided.  Packard is devastated by the loss of his men and vows revenge.  He leads a team to find Jack Chapman (Kebbel), who is injured and alone.  The other group, led by Conrad, is trying to get to the extraction point in time.  Will anyone survive the island?


We all know the story of King Kong.  It is the story of a gigantic ape who is captivated by a beautiful actress, which ultimately brings his downfall.  The iconic moment is Kong at the top of the Empire State Building swatting at planes, while holding a screaming blonde.  The character debuted in 1933 and has been a part of popular culture since then.

The original story was written Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper.  Cooper co-produced and co-directed the 1933 King Kong film.  This Kong is stop-motion, and the blonde is Fay Wray... Wray was an iconic scream queen and is best known for this film.  The film was remade in 1976, again titled King Kong.  This film is different from the original, with new character names and sends Kong up the World Trade Center.  This was Jessica Lange's film debute, as the screaming blonde.  The film was remade again (and much longer) in 2005.  This King Kong casts Naomi Watts as the screaming blonde (but does much less screaming than her predecessors).

In 2014, Legendary Studios announced plans to create a MonsterVerse, featuring Godzilla, King Kong, Mothra, and other huge monsters (Rodan, King Ghidorah).  They started building a franchise around the group Monarch, as a way to introduce each monster and then bring them together for battle.  The franchise began with 2014's Godzilla, and this film is the second entry.  They next film in the series will return to Godzilla with Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019 and then pit Godzilla and Kong against each other in Godzilla vs. Kong in 2020.

This film is essentially a reboot of the Kong films.  The characters and story are original, and does not involve the iconic Empire State Building scene.  But it does feature homages to the previous Kong films (including the non-origin story films).

The cast is filled with well-known and talented actors... but the acting here is ok.  John C. Reilly is entertaining... and I don't have a problem with Tom Hiddleston, but both have given better performances in other films.  The story is non-existent, just an excuse to destroy stuff and play with CGI effects.  Kong looks good, but there isn't much to this film.  It is a mindless summer flick, and I don't really care about the MonsterVerse or have a desire to see any of the other films (not that I've seen any Godzilla film, or any of the other monsters listed).

Kong: Skull Island (2017) 118 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for brief strong language
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Starring: Tom Hiddleston as James Conrad
Samuel L. Jackson as Preston Packard
Brie Larson as Mason Weaver
John C. Reilly as Hank Marlow
John Goodman as Bill Randa
Corey Hawkins as Houston Brooks
John Ortiz as Victor Nieves
Jing Tian as San Lin
Toby Kebbel as Jack Chapman
Jason Mitchell as Glenn Mills
Shea Whigham as Earl Cole
Thomas Mann as Reg Slivko

Royal Wedding (1951) (1000th post)

Just shy of 11 years I get to celebrate reaching 1000 posts!!

Check out the previous milestones: 100 ... 200 ... 300 ... 400 ... 500 ... 600 ... 700 ... 800 ... 900

"Do I look like a gentleman?"

"You look like a banker."

"But do I look like a gentleman?"

Tom (Astaire) and Ellen (Powell) Bowen are a sibling song-and-dance team.  Tom is a confirmed bachelor, while Ellen has a new boyfriend every few days.  After their latest show closes, their agent Irving Klinger (Wynn) tells them about a show in England.

England is preparing for the royal wedding, and Irving's brother, Edgar Klinger (also Wynn), wants them to do their show during all of the excitement.  They take the offer and set sail for England.  On the boat, Ellen meets Lord John Brindale (Lawford) and they are instantly smitten.  After they arrive in England, Tom begins casting for their show.  He meets dancer Anne Ashmond (Churchill), casts her in the show, and immediately asks her out.  She is engaged, but they decide to continue seeing each other.  Can Tom and Ellen find real love and success in England?


Director Stanley Donen started as a choreographer.  In 1949 he made his directorial debut with On the Town, starring his friend (and co-director) Gene Kelly.  Like that film, many of his subsequent films were musicals with strong dance numbers.  This is Donen's second film as the director, leaving the choreography duties to Nick Castle.  The film was an original story, written by Alan Jay Lerner and featured new songs by Burton Lane (music) and Lerner (lyrics).

The story is ok... but the real reason to watch this film is the dances.  Fred Astaire has 2 iconic dances in the film, but every dance is phenomenal.  The first iconic dance is to "Sunday Jumps" which features Astaire dancing alone in a gym and interacting with the equipment.  The second iconic dance (pictured above) is to "You're All the World to Me" which features Astaire dancing on the walls and ceiling of his room.  This is one of my favorite Astaire routines.

Jane Powell dances alongside Astaire in a few numbers, and takes on most of the singing.  She is good here... I don't love any of the songs, but I don't fault her for that.  Peter Lawford is charming and has good chemistry with Powell.  Sarah Churchill doesn't dance much, despite her character being a dancer... she is ok.  Donen directed Astaire again in Funny Face and Powell again in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (my favorite musical).

This film showcases Astaire's incredible talents and is worth watching for that reason.  But this is far from Donen's best.

Royal Wedding (1951) 93 minutes
Director: Stanley Donen
Starring: Fred Astaire as Tom Bowen
Jane Powell as Ellen Bowen
Peter Lawford as Lord John Brindale
Sarah Churchill as Anne Ashmond
Keenan Wynn as Irving Klinger / Edgar Klinger
Albert Sharpe as James Ashmond

Penny Serenade

Julie Gardner Adams (Dunne) is heartbroken.  As she prepares to start over, she begins to reminisce.  Years before, she was working in a music store and meets newspaper report Roger Adams (Grant).  She longs to to be a mother, but Roger is a confirmed bachelor with no interest in children.

The newspaper is sending Roger to Japan, and he proposes to Julie.  They marry quickly and move to Japan.  Julie is overjoyed to learn that she is pregnant, but that joy is overshadowed by money worries.  Then she loses the baby during an earthquake.

They return to America where Roger buys a newspaper.  He hires his closest friend Applejack Carney (Buchanan) to manage the paper.  They move into the apartment above the paper and try to move on with their lives.  Applejack suggests adoption and they begin working with Miss Oliver (Bondi) to make their dream a reality.  Can they find a way to have it all: great marriage, successful business, and a child?


The film is an emotional tear-jerker.  The emotion is present from the beginning and is amplified by the music choices.  The performances keep the film grounded, even as it threatens to veer into sappy territory.

Irene Dunne is great here.  She has phenomenal chemistry with Cary Grant, who is also great here.  This is the third and final film collaboration between Grant and Dunne, following The Awful Truth (1937) and My Favorite Wife (1940).  Edgar Buchanan is also good as Applejack, and I love his interaction with Jane Biffle and Eva Lee Kuney.  Jane Biffle, credited as Baby Biffle, is an infant... and adorable.  Eva Lee Kuney is precious and you will fall in love with her immediately.  And Beulah Bondi is wonderful as Miss Oliver.

The film was adapted to a radio play in 1941, 1942, 1944, and 1953.  Dunne reprised her role in several of the adaptations.

Watch this movie if you like the cast and a good cry.

Penny Serenade (1941) 119 minutes
Director: George Stevens
Starring: Irene Dunne as Julie Gardner Adams
Cary Grant as Roger Adams
Beulah Bondi as Miss Oliver
Edgar Buchanan as Applejack Carney
Ann Doran as Dotty

The Glass Bottom Boat

"I wasn't exactly fishing."

"Then what were you doing?"

"Maybe I was hunting for mermaids."

Jennifer Nelson (Day) is a widow who occasionally dons a mermaid tail to entertain the customer's on her father, Axel Nordstrom's (Godfrey) glass bottom boat.  One day the tail is hooked by a fisherman, who she yells at then swims away.  The following day she learns that the fisherman is Bruce Templeton (Taylor), a high ranking executive at NASA, where she works.  Templeton and his partner Zack Molloy (Martin) are working on a secret project called GISMO.  It is top security and leaves little time for romance.

Templeton gets Jennifer assigned to be his biographer.  She accompanies him everywhere on the job and the two begin to fall in love.  But security guard Homer Cripps (Lynde) is suspicious of Jennifer.  He has a detailed dossier of her life and notices that she makes the same mysterious call every day.  At the same time, someone is sending coded transmissions to the Soviet Union.  Cripps believes Jennifer is a Soviet spy, sent to steal the plans for GISMO and monitors her actions.  His fears are shared by CIA agent Edgar Hill (Fleming) and their boss General Wallace Bleecker (Andrews).  Can they find the real spy before GISMO is completed?


This was the second (of 2) film collaboration between Rod Taylor and Doris Day.  The previous year they starred in Do Not Disturb as a married couple.  They have good chemistry and you want them to end up together (like you know they will).

This romantic comedy embraces the absurd.  Day gets to wear crazy costumes and embrace some over-the-top accents (as a Russian spy and Mata Hari).  She even gets to do some physical comedy with Dom Deluise (pictured above).  Deluise is always funny and he and Day are surprisingly funny together.  Parts of the plot are ridiculous, but it is a fun ride.

Day performed the title song, "The Glass Bottom Boat," over the opening credits and during the film alongside Axel Nordstrom.  She also performs "Soft as Starlight" and "Que Sera, Sera" in the film.

This was Day's first collaboration with director Frank Tashlin.  She appeared in his next film Caprice in 1967.

The Glass Bottom Boat (1966) 110 minutes
Director: Frank Tashlin
Starring: Doris Day as Jennifer Nelson
Rod Taylor as Bruce Templeton
Arthur Godfrey as Axel Nordstrom
John McGiver as Ralph Goodwin
Paul Lynde as Homer Cripps
Edward Andrews as General Wallace Bleecker
Eric Fleming as Edgar Hill
Dom DeLuise as Julius Pritter
Elisabeth Fraser as Nina Bailey
Dick Martin as Zack Molloy

Meet John Doe

"Why can't that spirit, that warm Christmas spirit, last all year long?"

Ann Mitchell (Stanwyck) writes for "The Bulletin" newspaper.  When the paper is purchased by businessman D.B. Norton (Arnold), Ann and many others are fired.  For her final column, Ann writes a fictitious letter from a man named John Doe.

The letter causes a stir in the town, with everyone asking who is John Doe?  The editor of "The New Bulletin," Henry Connell (Gleason), calls Ann to get the official letter so they can learn his identity.  When Ann admits she wrote the letter, they decide to capitalize on the hype and hire someone to portray Doe until his suicide at Christmas.  Thankfully, the offices of "The New Bulletin" are filled with desperate men who claim they wrote the letter.  They ultimately hire Long John Willoughby (Cooper).  Doe and his friend the Colonel (Brennan) are housed in a hotel with babysitters from the paper.  Can Doe maintain the facade as the pressure and scrutiny mount?


Director Frank Capra was best-known for making patriotic films (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) and films that tug at your heart strings (It's a Wonderful Life).  My favorite of his films is a screwball comedy (Arsenic and Old Lace, which is based on a popular play).  This film, considered Capra's most controversial film, was released as the U.S. was on the cusp of WWII and the country was filled with uncertainty.  It is patriotic and pulls at your heart strings.

In 1941, Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck starred in 2 films.  This film was followed by screwball comedy Ball of Fire.  Cooper was the first choice for the role, and he signed on without reading the script.  He previously worked with Capra on 1936's Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and enjoyed the experience; he also wanted to work with Stanwyck.  This was Stanwyck's 5th film with Capra, and the most successful (following Ladies of Leisure in 1924, The Miracle Woman in 1931, Forbidden in 1932, and The Bitter Tea of General Yen in 1933).  Cooper and Stanwyck work well together and have a great chemistry.  I also enjoyed Cooper's chemistry and friendship with Walter Brennan's Colonel.

Cooper, Stanwyck and Edward Arnold reprised their roles for the 1941 radio production of the film.  The film was adapted as a stage musical in 2007 and again in 2011.  And in 1989, it was remade into a Bollywood film Main Azaad Hoon.  The film appeared in the American Film Institute's (AFI's) 100 Years...100 Cheers.

I enjoyed the film... but the ending was a disappointment.  Apparently Capra filmed 5 different endings for the film, he ultimately chose the 5th one.  He didn't have the ending planned when they started film, and even though he committed to an ending, he still didn't think it was quite right.  As a whole, it is fine... but it isn't my favorite from anyone involved.

Meet John Doe (1941) 122 minutes
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Gary Cooper as John Doe / Long John Willoughby
Barbara Stanwyck as Ann Mitchell
Edward Arnold as D.B. Norton
Walter Brennan as The Colonel
Spring Byington as Mrs. Mitchell
James Gleason as Henry Connell
Gene Lockhart as Mayor Lovett
Rod La Rocque as Ted Sheldon
Irving Bacon as Beany

Absolutely Anything

"I could solve every problem in the world!"

"Have you thought this thing through?"

A group of aliens (Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin), known as the galactic council come across Earth.  They want to pass judgement on the Earth and whether to destroy it or welcome it to the council.  To determine if the planet is worth saving, they give a random human, high school teacher Neil Clarke (Pegg), the ability to do anything he wants for 10 days.  If he can prove worthy, they will spare the planet... otherwise the Salubrious Gat (Idle) will obliterate Earth.

Clarke is struggling.  His students don't care, the Headmaster (Izzard) makes his job difficult, and he can't catch a break.  He loves his neighbor Catherine (Beckinsale), but doesn't try to pursue a relationship.  He accidentally discovers that he has the power to do anything and uses it for his own benefit.  He makes his boss and students nicer, his gives his dog Dennis (Williams) the ability to speak, and decides to win Catherine's affections.  He also causes a co-worker to worship his friend Ray (Bhaskar).  With the fate of the world in his hand, can Neil prove the Earth is worth saving?


This film sounds hilarious: Simon Pegg in the lead, all 5 of the surviving members of Monty Python, and a funny premise.  But it lacks something in the execution.

The film was written (with Gavin Scott) and directed by Terry Jones, in his first film in 19 years.  Jones and Scott spent almost 20 years working on the script, inspired by H.G. Wells' "The Man Who Could Work Miracles."  Jones used the opportunity to reunite with the other members of Monty Python: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin, which has not happened since 1983's The Meaning of Life (which also featured the 6th Python, Graham Chapman).  They portray the aliens, although Jones also has a brief cameo as the truck driver.

The story and characters are ok... but never reach the heights you expect.  Pegg is enjoyable and the rest of the cast is fine... although Rob Riggle's Grant is annoying.  This was Robin William's final film and was released one year after his death.  He is funny as Dennis the Dog, and the credits feature a video of Williams recording some of his lines.

It isn't a bad film, but it's forgettable.  Nothing stands in a good or bad way... and I just wish the film was as good as I expected it to be.  It is fun to hear the Monty Python actors as the aliens, and to figure out which actor voiced each alien... and that is probably the best part of the film.  Not necessarily the alien characters, but the men behind their voices.  Williams and Pegg are also funny... but the film can't rise to the level you expect from them.  Not terrible, just average (which somehow feels worse).

Absolutely Anything (2015) 85 minutes
Rating: R for language including sexual references, and brief nudity
Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Simon Pegg as Neil Clarke
Kate Beckinsale as Catherine West
Sanjeev Bhaskar as Ray
Rob Riggle as Grant
Eddie Izzard as Headmaster
Joanna Lumley as Fenella
Robert Bathurst as James Cleverill
Emma Pierson as Miss Dorothy Pringle
John Cleese as Chief Alien
Terry Gilliam as Nasty Alien
Terry Jones as Scientist Alien
Eric Idle as Salubrious Gat
Michael Palin as Kindly Alien
Robin Williams as Dennis the Dog

Table 19

"It's the same wedding; it's the same celebration no matter what table you're at."

Eloise McGarry (Kendrick) was supposed to be the maid of honor at her best friend Francie's (Rya Meyers) wedding, but loses the job two months before the wedding.  She was dating Francie's brother, Teddy Milner (Russell), but when their relationship ended, she was replaced as maid of honor by his current girlfriend Nikki (Crew).  She decides to still attend the wedding and is seated at Table 19.

As she tries to avoid Teddy, she meets the rest of her dinner companions.  Jo Flanagan (Squibb) was Francie and Teddy's nanny, who they haven't seen in years.  Jerry (Robinson) and Bina (Kudrow) Kepp own a diner and are connected, through Facebook, with the groom's father.  Renzo Eckberg (Revolori) is there to meet a girl and Walter (Merchant) is awkward and unwilling to talk about himself.  She also meets Huck (Cocquerel), a handsome stranger at the wedding.  Can Eloise survive the wedding?


I saw the trailer for this film and was intrigued.  It looked like a fun romantic comedy, with a great cast and I decided to give it a try.  The film was panned by critics, but I enjoyed it.

Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass wrote the story.  In 2009 Fox Searchlight Pictures purchased the story and named Jeffrey Blitz as the director.  This is Blitz's 4th feature film as a director, following Spellbound in 2002, Rocket Science in 2007, and Lucky in 2010.

All of the characters seated at Table 19 are in a place of transition... all need to make a change.  Each character gets a moment to shine, and they aren't afraid to show the ugly parts of the characters.  Anna Kendrick takes the lead as Eloise.  This is her second collaboration with Blitz.  The characters are the table are comprised of strong actors and have good chemistry.

The film isn't what you expect, but it is an enjoyable ride.

Table 19 (2017) 87 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, drug use, language and some brief nudity
Director: Jeffrey Blitz

Starring: Anna Kendrick as Eloise McGarry
Craig Robinson as Jerry Kepp
June Squibb as Jo Flanagan
Lisa Kudrow as Bina Kepp
Stephen Merchant as Walter Thimble
Tony Revolori as Renzo Eckberg
Wyatt Russell as Teddy Milner
Amanda Crew as Nikki
Thomas Cocquerel as Huck

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown

"What's 0500?  Noon time?"

"Nope, it's 5 in the morning."

"5 in the morning?  I don't get up at 5 in the morning!  Maybe I should resign"

It's summer and Charlie Brown (Watson) and his friends are heading to Camp Remote in the mountains.  At camp, Charlie Brown immediately runs into the bullies and the vicious cat.  The bullies pick on them and constantly brag about their big win in the annual raft race.

They all have a hard time adjusting to camp life, but are excited about the upcoming raft race.  Charlie Brown, Linus (Martin), Schroeder (Felton), and Franklin build a raft for the contest.  The girls, Peppermint Patty (Brotman), Sally (Davis), Lucy (Kohn), and Marcie (Ahrens), also build a raft.  The girls make decisions about their raft and trip by secret ballot.  Snoopy and Woodstock also make a raft for the competition.  As the race begins, can Charlie Brown and friends beat the bullies?


This is the 3rd Peanuts feature film, after A Boy Named Charlie Brown in 1969 and Snoopy, Come Home in 1972.  Unlike it's predecessors, this film is not a musical.  This was also the first Peanuts feature film to be produced after the death of composer Vince Guaraldi.

The film is a little rambling at times, but is still an enjoyable film.  It begins as the group leaves for camp and ends as they board the bus to go home.  The group interacts as a whole and each person has a moment.  Linus gets to chase away the bullies with his blanket.  Snoopy and Woodstock add the comic relief.  And Snoopy has a motorcycle.  I prefer some of the TV specials, but this was still a fun film.

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977) 75 minutes
Director: Bill Melendez & Phil Roman
Starring: Duncan Watson as Charlie Brown
Greg Felton as Schroeder
Stuart Brotman as Peppermint Patty
Gail Davis as Sally Brown
Liam Martin as Linus Van Pelt
Melanie Kohn as Lucy Van Pelt
Jimmy Ahrens as Marcie
Bill Melendez as Snoopy & Woodstock
Joseph Biter as Franklin