Holiday Inn

"I like it here... with you and Linda."

"And we love having you. When  are you leaving?"

Jim Hardy (Crosby), Ted Hanover (Astaire), and Lila Dixon (Dale) have a popular singing and dancing act.  Jim is tired of acting and plans to retire to a farm in Connecticut with Lila.  His plans are derailed with Lila announces that she is in love with Ted and does not want to quit.  Jim is disappointed, but continues his plans.  Life on the farm is not what he expects, so a year later he returns to New York with a new plan: he is going to turn his home into a performing inn that is only open for holidays.  Ted thinks he is crazy, but their manager Danny Reed (Abel) agrees to send some talented people Jim's way.

Danny discovers Linda Mason (Reynolds) at a floral shop and encourages her to go to Connecticut, where she becomes the first member of Jim's holiday team.  Meanwhile, back in New York, Ted is broken and depressed after Lila dumps him and leaves the group.  He goes to Connecticut to visit Jim and falls in love with Linda.  Jim also loves Linda and doesn't want to lose her to the allure of fame and fortune with Ted.


The Good:
The cast is great.  Bing Crosby has a beautiful voice and sells all of the songs.  Fred Astaire is an excellent dancer and this film features his iconic dance with firecrackers to "Let's Say It with Firecrackers."  Marjorie Reynolds manages to keep up with her male costars and sell her role in the film, although her songs are performed by Martha Mears.

The Bad:
The film is good, but it hasn't aged well.  There are some scenes that are cut when the film appears on TV.  Many of the songs are not memorable, and the good songs appear in other films / musicals.

Other Comments:
-The Inn set from this film was used again in White Christmas.
-The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Irving Berlin for "White Christmas."
-Berlin wrote all of the songs for the film, the majority of which are performed by Crosby.
-Marjorie Reynolds costumes were designed by legendary costume designer Edith Head.
-I enjoy the film, but it isn't for everyone.

Holiday Inn (1942) 100 minutes
Director: Mark Sandrich
Starring: Big Crosby as Jim Hardy
Fred Astaire as Ted Hanover
Marjorie Reynolds as Linda Mason
Virginia Dale as Lila Dixon
Walter Abel as Danny Reed
Louise Beavers as Mamie
Irving Bacon as Gus

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding

A year after falling in love with King Richard of Aldovia (Lamb), journalist Amber Moore (McIver) is preparing for her wedding and life in Aldovia.  The wedding will be held at Christmastime, so Amber and her father, Rudy Moore (Guerrasio), travel to Aldovia to celebrate.

But life in Aldovia is far from perfect.  Richard's new reforms are failing and receiving opposition from the kingdom.  He rarely has a moment of peace.  Amber has her own problems.  Her actions are scrutinized by the protocol-loving Mrs. Averill (Douglas), while the wedding is being controlled by overzealous designer Sahill (Bajaj).  She is frustrated by her lack of control of her own life.  Matters are further complicated by the return of Richard's trouble-making cousin Count Simon (Devaney).  Can Amber take control of her life and help Richard save Aldovia?


After the success of Netflix's A Christmas Prince, the studio reunited the cast for this film.  The story takes place a full year after the original film, to celebrate the wedding of King Richard and Amber.

The Good:
Like it's predecessor, this film has beautiful scenery and elaborate decorations.  The leads are still charismatic and have good chemistry.  The majority of the main cast returns from the original film, although John Guerrasio now plays Amber's father (Daniel Fathers played the role in the original film).

The Bad:
It's predictable... not in a bad way, but the twists are not altogether surprising.  Some of the characters are a smidge insufferable, but they tone it down by the end.

Other Comments:
-Like it's predecessor, the film is a lighthearted Christmas movie.  It makes you smile, cringe, laugh, and maybe even cry... is it a classic that you need to watch every year?  Probably not, but it is still an enjoyable flick.
-Netflix released a third film in the series: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby, in 2019.
-At the end of the film everyone is happy, which is exactly what you want to see in a Christmas movie.

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (2018) 92 minutes
Director: John Schultz
Starring: Rose McIver as Amber Moore
Ben Lamb as King Richard
Alice Krige as Queen Helena
Honor Kneafsey as Princess Emily
Sarah Douglas as Mrs. Averill
Theo Devaney as Count Simon
John Guerrasio as Rudy Moore
Andy Lucas as Mr. Zabala
Simon Dutton as Lord Leopold
Katarina Cas as Chef Ivana
Richard Ashton as Mr. Little
Raj Bajaj as Sahill
Tahirah Sharif as Melissa
Joel McVeagh as Andy

Holiday in the Wild

"Take good care of my elephant."

"OUR elephant!"

Kate Conrad (Davis) is looking for a change.  Her son Luke (John Owen Lowe) is off to college and her husband Drew (Moss) moves out.  She was planning to surprise Drew with a trip to Africa to celebrate a 2nd honeymoon, but decides to go on the trip alone.

As she is preparing to change resorts, she meets pilot / tour guide Derek Hollistan (Rob Lowe).  Mid flight they take a detour to rescue a baby elephant.  Kate was trained as a veterinarian and wants to help.  She follows the elephant to the elephant sanctuary, where she offers her services.  She works alongside Jonathan (Mpela) in caring for the elephants, while growing closer to Derek.  As she falls in love with the elephants, her trip extends from a few weeks to a few months.  Can Africa give her a new sense of purpose?


This is a Netflix original film.  Netflix approached Kristin Davis to star in the film due to her efforts to raise awareness of conservation issues in Africa.  Davis produced a documentary about these issues in the 2014 documentary Gardeners of Eden.  They plan to release additional information about "The Making of Holiday in the Wild."

The Good:
The movie was mostly filmed in Africa.  The scenes with the elephants were filmed at Game Rangers International Elephant Orphanage in Zambia.  The elephants are the real stars here.  They did not use trained elephants, instead working with wild animals and body doubles.

The Bad:
The acting is ok, but not great.  The main focus is on the elephants and the efforts of the elephant sanctuaries / orphanages in Africa, so the story doesn't expect much from the cast.  They are fine, no weak links.  Some characters are one dimensional: Kate's New York friends and Leslie Van De Mere-Jones (who works for the foundation that is funding the elephant sanctuary), and could be condensed into a single, unlikable character.

Other Comments:
-Rob Lowe and Davis have good chemistry.  He is charming and she is passionate, and that works well here.
-Kate's son Luke is played by Lowe's son John Owen Lowe.
-Fezile Mpela was funny and endearing as Jonathan, and I want to watch him in other movies / TV shows.
-This isn't a Christmas classic, but I enjoyed the film.  It doesn't focus on Christmas, although it does take place over the Thanksgiving / Christmas / New Year's time frame.  It was an entertaining film that focused on the plight of orphaned baby elephants in Africa and the people that work to save them and return them to the wild.

Holiday in the Wild (2019) 86 minutes
Director: Ernie Barbarash
Starring: Kristin Davis as Kate Conrad
Rob Lowe as Derek Hollistan
Fezile Mpela as Jonathan
John Owen Lowe as Luke Conrad
Colin Moss as Drew Conrad
Hayley Owen as Leslie Van De Mere-Jones
Faniswa Yisa as Aliyah

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Mr. James Lee Wong (Karloff) receives an unexpected visitor in his home.  Before the mysterious woman can reveal the purpose for her visit, she is killed by a poison dart.  His friend Police Captain Bill Street (Withers) arrives to investigate the death and asks for Mr. Wong's help.  They are joined by reporter Bobbie Logan (Reynolds), who will do anything to get a story.

The woman was Princess Lin Hwa (Lotus Long) and she has powerful relatives in China.  No one knows exactly why she is in the U.S. or why she was killed.  Captain Jaime (Royle), who brought her to the U.S., is hiding something.  Captain Guy Jackson (Lynn), who owns an aviation company, met with her.  She met with Mr. Davidson (Gordon) from the bank and now her accounts are empty.  Can Mr. Wong find the killer before more bodies pile up?


This is the 3rd film (of 6) films based on Hugh Wiley's "James Lee Wong" series.  Wiley wrote 12 short stories about Wong for Collier's Magazine from 1934 to 1938.  Monogram Pictures produced all 6 films about Mr. Wong: Mr. Wong, Detective in 1938, The Mystery of Mr. Wong in 1939, Mr. Wong in Chinatown in 1939, The Fatal Hour in 1940, Doomed to Die in 1940, and Phantom of Chinatown in 1940.

The Good:
Boris Karloff starred in 5 of the 6 Mr. Wong films.  He continues to be great as Mr. Wong.  He is intelligent and charismatic.  You understand why his name commands respect and his counsel is sought in difficult matters.  He also has a great relationship with Grant Withers as Captain Street.

The Bad:
I didn't love Marjorie Reynolds' character.  Bobbie Logan is an interesting character, but she comes off as annoying in this film.  Apparently she returns for the next 2 entries in the series and I can only hope she is less grating.

Other Comments:
-The mystery is good and keeps you guessing.
-It has a short running time and keeps moving, avoiding unnecessary fluff.
-Angelo Rossitto plays the silent little person, in an uncredited role.  Rossitto was a well-established actor and voice actor.  He is an interesting character and I wish the part was a little more developed.
-Another enjoyable entry in the Mr. Wong franchise.

Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939) 71 minutes
Director: William Nigh
Starring: Boris Karloff as James Lee Wong
Marjorie Reynolds as Bobbie Logan
Grant Withers as Police Captain Bill Street
Huntley Gordon as Mr. Davidson
George Lynn as Captain Guy Jackson
William Royle as Captain Jaime

The Thirteenth Guest (1932)

On her 21st birthday, Marie Morgan (Rogers) returns to her family estate.  She was gone for thirteen years, after the death of her father.  Thirteen years ago, her father called the family together to discuss his will.  The table was set for 13 guests, but the 13th guest did not appear.  By the end of the meal, her father was dead.  That evening, they shut up the house, leaving everything as it was.

Marie has not spoken to her family, other than her brother Harold "Bud" Morgan (Eagles), since that day.  The family hates each other and will do anything to be the only person to inherit the Morgan estate, but Mr. Morgan left the majority of his estate to the mysterious 13th guest.

Before Marie can dig into her father's secrets, another person is murdered in the house.  The murder draws the attention Police Captain Ryan (MacDonald) and Private Investigator Phil Winston (Talbot).  Can they find the culprit before the remaining guests are killed?


The film is based on the 1929 story "The Thirteenth Guest" written by Armitage Trail.

The Good:
I discovered this film by accident, but was intrigued by the cast (Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot).  Rogers is best known for her partnership with Fred Astaire, but she is also a talented comedic actress.  This is one of her earliest film roles, and shows her ability to do dramatic roles.  Talbot was also a well-known actor, and while Rogers' Marie is the main focus of the film, he gets to do the heavy lifting as the investigator.  His Winston is exceptionally good at his job, while also imbibing the story with some much needed levity.  The side characters, especially Captain Ryan and Detective Grump, are entertaining and add to the comedy.

The Bad:
The Morgan family, with the exception of Marie, are fairly one-note.  They are portrayed as petty and vindictive and all have a motive.  For that reason (and because there are so many suspects), it is hard to know is the obvious villain.

Other Comments:
-The film was remade in 1943 as The Mystery of the 13th Guest, directed by William Beaudine and starring Helen Parrish.
-I watched this film on Amazon Prime, and the print is not the best quality.  Sometimes the picture is too dark, so it's hard to really know what is going on (especially during the struggles in the house), but the sound quality is fine.
-I've never read Trail's book, so I don't know how it compares.
-I enjoyed the film and Rogers performance.  It keeps you guessing and the ending is satisfying.

The Thirteenth Guest (1932) 69 minutes
Director: Albert Ray
Starring: Ginger Rogers as Marie Morgan
Lyle Talbot as Phil Winston
J. Farrell MacDonald as Police Captain Ryan
Paul Hurst as Detective Grump
Erville Anderson as Uncle John Adams
Ethel Wales as Aunt Jane Thornton
James Eagles as Harold "Bud" Morgan
Eddie Phillips as Thor Jensen
Frances Rich as Margorie Thornton
Phillips Smalley as Uncle Dick Thorton
Robert Klein as John Barksdale

Men With Brooms

The death of curling enthusiast Donald Foley (James B. Douglas) reunites his former team: Chris Cutter (Gross), James Lennox (Outerbridge), Eddie Strombeck (Rees), and Neil Bucyk (Allodi).  The team was successful, until Cutter left the team and Foley's daughter Julie (Nolden), without warning.  They have not seen each other for over a decade.

Foley left a message for the team and his family: he wants the team to compete in the Golden Broom curling competition, with his ashes placed in one of the stones.  The team reluctantly agrees to compete.  Neil is a funeral director and hates his life. Eddie and his wife, Lily (Spidell), are trying to get pregnant.  Lennox is a drug dealer with questionable ethics and Cutter has secrets.  They also ask Cutter's estranged father Gordon (Nielsen) to coach them.  At the same time, Cutter tries to make amends with Julie and pick-up his friendship with her sister Amy (Parker).  Can they find a way to work together and not embarrass themselves?


This was Paul Gross' directorial debut.  I know next to nothing about curling, but that doesn't really matter.  The characters explain the sport to Joanne (played by Polly Shannon).  It is a predictable sports film, but it is still entertaining.

The Good:
The cast has good chemistry and the story is lite comedy that plays with Canadian stereotypes.  The CGI of the beavers was ridiculous, but works to illustrate the plot.

The Bad:
The female characters are not well fleshed-out.  They are not the main focus of the story, but they are pretty one-dimensional.  The pregnancy plot-line could definitely be better.

Other Comments:
-Leslie Nielsen can be a talented actor... unfortunately, most people know him for the over-the-top comedy performances.  In this film, he holds back and gives an almost-human performance.
-It is quirky and entertaining.

Men With Brooms (2002) 102 minutes
Rating: R for language, sexuality and some drug use
Director: Paul Gross
Starring: Paul Gross as Chris Cutter
Peter Outerbridge as James Lennox
Jed Rees as Eddie Strombeck
James Allodi as Neil Bucyk
Molly Parker as Amy Foley
Michelle Nolden as Julie Foley
Leslie Nielsen as Gordon Cutter
Jane Spidell as Lily Strombeck
Greg Bryk as Alexander "The Juggernaut" Yount

TV: Downton Abbey

"I take that as a complement."

"I must've said it wrong."

In the 1910s, the Crawley family is in turmoil.  Robert Crawley (Bonneville), the 7th Earl of Grantham, does not have any sons and upon his death, the beloved estate and the title will go to the next male relative.  The heir presumptive was killed when the Titanic sank, leaving the family wondering what will happen next.

The next available heir is Matthew Crawley (Stevens) is a solicitor that has never met the family.  He and his mother, Isobel (Wilton), move to town to meet the family.  Isobel immediately clashes with Robert's mother, Violet Crawley (Smith), the Dowager Countess of Grantham.  While the Crawley's get used to Matthew and Isobel, Robert and his wife Cora (McGovern), Countess of Grantham, are thinking of their daughters' futures.  Headstrong oldest daughter, Lady Mary (Dockery), has a connection with Matthew, but they also clash from the beginning.  Middle daughter Lady Edith (Carmichael), is often overlooked in the family and is trying to find her own.  Youngest daughter Lady Sybil (Brown Findlay) wants more from life than a country estate and the life of a lady.

The family servants are also concerned about the future.  Led by traditional butler Mr. Carson (Carter) and thoughtful housekeeper Mrs. Hughes (Logan), they try to keep life running smoothly while supporting the family they serve.  With the world changing around them, can Downton Abbey survive?

The show was inspired by the 2001 film Gosford Park written by Julian Fellowes.  Fellowes originally wanted to spin-off from the film, but ultimately decided to create a new story.  Three of the cast members from the film, also appear in the film: Maggie Smith (Constances, Countess of Trentham in the film and Violet, Dowager Countess of Gratham in the show), Jeremy Swift (Arthur in the film and Spratt in the show), and Richard E. Grant (George in the film and Simon Bricker in the show).

The 6 series of the show take place between 1912 and 1926.  The costumes are fantastic, and historically accurate.  The estate, Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, is beautiful.  The cast is great, with Maggie Smith as the clear stand-out.  Smith steals every scene as the Dowager Countess.  She gets the best lines and you can't help but love her character.  Her scenes with Penelope Wilton, especially their arguments are always entertaining exchanges.  The rest of the cast is great as well.  Over the 6 seasons (and 14 years they cover), the characters grow and change.  Some characters I did not like from the beginning, grew on me by the end of the show.  Each season introduces new characters, both upstairs and downstairs.  The seasons are short, just 7-9 episodes per season, including annual Christmas episodes with a longer running time.

The show was popular and received numerous awards including Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie in 2011, Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film in 2011, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

The series finale gave audiences a satisfying conclusion to the lives of the Crawley family and their servants.  It tied up loose ends and left the characters in believe-able places.  It ends in a place of hope and joy for the characters, as you want all stories to end.

Fellowes and the cast will reunite for the 2019 film Downton Abbey.  The film will continue the story of the Crawley family a few years after their last episode.

Downton Abbey (2010-2015)

Creator: Julian Fellowes

Starring: Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Jessica Brown Findlay as Lady Sybil Crawley
Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley
Jim Carter as Mr. Carson
Raquel Cassidy as Miss Baxter
Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates
Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley
Kevin Doyle as Mr. Molesley
Siobhan Finneran as Miss O'Brien
Michael C. Fox as Andy Parker
Joanne Froggatt as Anna
Matthew Goode as Henry Talbot
Harry Hadden-Paton as Bertie Pelham
Thomas Howes as William Mason
Lily James as Lady Rose MacClare
Rob James-Collier as Mr. Barrow
Allen Leech as Tom Branson
Rose Leslie as Gwen Dawson
Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes
Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
Sophie McShera as Daisy
Matt Milne as Alfred Nugent
Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore
Amy Nuttall as Ethel Parks
Julian Ovenden as Charles Blake
David Robb as Dr. Clarkson
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Ed Speleers as James Kent
Dan Steven as as Matthew Crawley
Cara Theobold as Ivy Stuart
Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley

Support Your Local Gunfighter

"That's murder!"

"I've studied law. OF COURSE it's murder!"

Latigo Smith (Garner) is a con artist.  While escaping his latest scheme, he ends up in the mining town of Purgatory.  Purgatory is in the middle of a rivalry between miners Colonel Ames (Dehner) and Taylor Barton (Morgan), both on the hunt for a big score called "the mother lode."  They are willing to do anything, including hiring gunfighters, to get to the "mother lode" first.  Ames hired notorious gunfighter Shifty Morgan to defend his claim.  No one has ever seen Morgan and they believe Latigo is the gunfighter.

Latigo becomes the target of all the would-be gunfighters, including Barton's headstrong daughter Patience (Pleshette) "the Sidewinder," who just wants to get out of the town.  Latigo cozies up to bar owner Jenny (Blondell) and wanderer Jug May (Elam) to find a way to survive the town and make some money in the process.  Can he convince the town that Jug is Morgan, make a big payday, and escape with his life?


This film, written and directed by Burt Kennedy, is a parody of classic western films.  The story also mimics the setup of many western films, while also laughing at the absurd situations.  Kennedy previously used this formula for the 1969 film Support Your Local Sheriff! with most of the same cast (in different roles).  James Garner and Jack Elam star in both films, and this is the better film of the two.

The Good:
James Garner is effortlessly charming as con artist Latigo Smith.  He is the reluctant hero, trying to stay one step ahead of everyone else.  Jack Elam is good as the quirky sidekick.  Suzanne Pleshette is funny as Patience Barton, a character with a violent temper and an overwhelming desire to escape the town.  She is a terrible shot and earned the nickname the Sidewinder, but she wants to get out of town to go to an etiquette school on the east coast.  The cast is filled with character actors getting their chance to shine.  They underplay the comedy and sell the story.

The Bad:
The female characters aren't great.  Suzanne Pleshette is entertaining as Patience and Kathleen Freeman is good as Martha, the owner of the local inn, but the rest are mildly irritating.  The actresses are good, but the characters are not.

Other Comments:
-The story is good, it feels like a real western, with a comic twist.  It works well and with a few minor tweaks it could play as a regular western.
-John Dehner gets to play the mustache-twirling villain and throws himself into the part with gusto.  He isn't menacing, but definitely has his own agenda and isn't willing to budge.  You don't like the character, but you can't fault his ambition.
-Chuck Connors is imposing as the uncredited Shifty Morgan.  He is the most serious character and gets the biggest laughs at the end.

Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) 91 minutes
Director: Burt Kennedy
Starring: James Garner as Latigo Smith
Suzanne Pleshette as Patience Barton
Harry Morgan as Taylor Barton
Jack Elam as Jug May
John Dehner as Colonel Ames
Marie Windsor as Goldie
Dick Curtis as Bud Barton
Dub Taylor as Doc Shultz
Joan Blondell as Jenny
Ellen Corby as Abigail Ames
Kathleen Freeman as Martha Perkins

When You're in Love

Australian opera singer Louise Fuller (Moore) is stranded in Mexico.  She was expelled from the U.S. on an expired visa and is desperate to get back for an upcoming concert.  She meets Jimmy Hudson (Grant), an American artist who can't pay his bills.  Her assistant, Marianne Woods (MacMahon) and his lawyer convince them that the best way to solve their problems is to get married.

They reluctantly agree to team up to get married, with provisions to go their own ways and get a divorce in 6 months.  The marriage allows Louise to return to the U.S. to sing at her Uncle Walter's (Stephenson) big concert.  The marriage gives Jimmy the money to pay off his debts.  They agree to go their separate ways and get divorced in 6 months, but Jimmy is unwilling to walk away.  Will they decide to stay together or make a clean break?


This was screenwriter Robert Riskin's first (and only) film credit as the director.  Riskin regularly worked with director Frank Capra, and this film feels like many of the other films he wrote for Capra.

The Good:
Grace Moore was an opera singer and actress and receives star billing in this film.  She has a beautiful voice and performs several songs.  Cary Grant was not a big star at the time, and this film didn't change that.  But he is charming, as always and has good chemistry with Moore.  The film also features a solid cast of side characters, led by Aline MacMahon as Louise's assistant Marianne.

The Bad:
The film has pacing issues... the story works, but it has problems getting to the point.  It was smart to give Moore different types of songs for this film, but several slow the story or completely derail it.

Other Comments:
-This is not a well-know film, but it interesting to see Grant earlier in his career.
-The "Minnie the Moocher" sequence is interesting (pictured above).  The cast looks like they are having fun, but Moore's version of the Cab Calloway classic, is not my favorite version of the song.  It is ok (and the sequence is funny), but not great.
-I enjoyed the film, and it is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, but I'm not sure I would watch the whole film again.  Yes, it had good moments, but it not great.

When You're in Love (1937) 104 minutes
Director: Robert Riskin & Harry Lachman
Starring: Grace Moore as Louise Fuller
Cary Grant as Jimmy Hudson
Aline MacMahon as Marianne Woods
Henry Stephenson as Walter Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell as Hank Miller
Catherine Doucet as Jane Summers
Luis Alberni as Luis Perugini
Gerald Oliver Smith as Gerald Meeker

Fast and Furious (1939)

"I've got to see the manager. He distinctly promised me a room overlooking the ocean."

"But this one overlooks the ocean."

"But I don't like this ocean."

Joel (Tone) and Garda (Sothern) Sloane sell rare books in New York.  When a heat wave strikes, they escape to Seaside City.  Their friend Mike Stevens (Bowman) is managing a beauty pageant in Seaside City.  Stevens brings Joel on as an investor and judge, despite Garda's protestations.  Stevens learns that his boss, Eric Bartell (Miljan), is planning to skip town with the pageant money.  He goes to confront Bartell, only to find him dead.

Stevens is arrested as the prime suspect, but the Sloanes' don't think he is the culprit.  Joel is asked to help with the investigation.  He is joined by old friend and newspaper man Ted Bentley (Joslyn).  The list of suspects is long and includes criminal Ed Connors (Nedell), Bartell's publicity director Lily Cole (Hussey), and his mistress Jerry Lawrence (Hughes).  Can they find a way to get to the truth and save their friend?


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer made 3 films about Joel and Garda Sloane from 1938-1939.  Each film had a different director and a different set of actors in the lead roles.  Fast and Furious is the third film in the series.  The trilogy started with Fast Company, directed by Edward Buzzell and starring Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice.  The second film, Fast and Loose, was directed by Edwin L. Marin and starred Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell.

The Good:
Franchot Tone and Ann Sothern have great chemistry and exchange easy banter.  I wish they made another film with these two as sparring partners.  The camera work is impressive, I expect no less from director Busby Berkeley.

The Bad:
The story feels like a lite version of The Thin Man.  That isn't a bad thing, but it isn't original.  The story drags a little in places.

Other Comments:
-I like Joel and Garda Sloane, but the story seems like an after thought - it's mostly an excuse to fill the screen with pretty young women in bathing suits or pageant attire.
-The scenes with the lion tamer, played by Frank Orth, and his lions are entertaining.  They don't seem to have a purpose, other than humor, but they did make me laugh.
-I feel like actress Ruth Hussey is wasted here, but I did enjoy seeing her in the film.
-It was also great to see Allyn Joslyn in this film, and I enjoyed his story arc.
-It wasn't the best or most interesting film, but I don't regret watching it.

Fast and Furious (1939) 73 minutes
Director: Busby Berkeley
Starring: Franchot Tone as Joel Sloane
Ann Sothern as Garda Sloane
Ruth Hussey as Lily Cole
Lee Bowman as Mike Stevens
Allyn Joslyn as Ted Bentley
John Miljan as Eric Bartell
Bernard Nedell as Ed Connors
Mary Beth Hughes as Jerry Lawrence
Cliff Clark as Sam Travers

Mary Poppins Returns

"Nothing. Such a useful word, isn't it? It can mean anything and everything."

In 1930s London, Michael Banks (Whishaw) is raising his children in his childhood home.  After the death of his wife, Michael has struggled to keep things together.  His three children, Annabel (Davies), John (Saleh), and Georgie (Dawson), try to help around the house and take care of their father.  They are helped by Michael's sister Jane (Mortimer), who lives nearby, and their housekeeper Ellen (Walters).  The future looks grim when the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank comes to collect a loan on the house.  They have until Friday to pay the loan or lose the house.

As Jane and Michael try to find a way to save the house, the kids go to the park where they meet Mary Poppins (Blunt) and lamp lighter Jack (Miranda).  Mary Poppins returns to the house to be their nanny.  She takes the children on adventures, while Michael tries to talk to bank president Mr. Wilkins (Firth) about the loan.  Can they find a way to save the house and the family?


This film is the sequel to the 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins.  Both films are based on P.L. Travers' "Mary Poppins" books.  There are 6 books in the series, beginning with "Mary Poppins" in 1934.  The film features some elements from the books, but is an original story written by David Magee (who also wrote the screenplay), Rob Marshall (who also directed the film), and John DeLuca.

I love the 1964 film and I was nervously optimistic about this film.  My 8-year old niece, who was obsessed with the original, gave it a rousing endorsement, so I decided to give it a chance.  I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

The Good:
The story feels familiar and comfortable, while still new.  It hits all the same beats as the original, but it in new ways... it isn't an exact repeat.  Emily Blunt is great at Mary Poppins.  She is different from Julie Andrews' Poppins, but still captures the character.  She has good chemistry with the the Banks family and with Lin-Manuel Miranda.  Miranda is good as Jack, the new Bert.  He has a terrible Cockney accent, to mirror Dick Van Dyke's character from the original, and he dives into the role with the same gusto.  Speaking of Van Dyke, his cameo made me smile.

The Bad:
Topsy... I like Uncle Albert from the original, and I understand why they wanted to bring in another of Mary Poppins' eccentric relatives, but it definitely took me out of the film.  I like Meryl Streep, but not here.

Other Comments:
-The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards in 2019: Best Original Score, Best Original Song (for "The Place Where Lost Things Go"), Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design. The film did not win any of these awards.
-The new music, by Marc Shaiman, is good.  "The Place Where Lost Things Go" is a standout, alongside the lamp lighters' song "Trip A Little Light Fantastic."
-Angela Lansbury plays the Balloon Lady, a part that was offered to Andrews.  She is great in the role.
-Karen Dotrice, who played Jane in the original film, has a small cameo in the film.  Van Dyke is the only other original cast member to return for this film.
-Marshall and Blunt expressed interest in making another Mary Poppins film, but there is nothing official at this time.
-I thoroughly enjoyed this film and look forward to watching it again.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018) 130 minutes
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins
Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack
Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks
Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks
Julie Walters as Ellen
Pixie Davies as Annabel Banks
Nathanael Saleh as John Banks
Joel Dawson as Georgie Banks
Colin Firth as William "Weatherall" Wilkins
Meryl Streep as Topsy

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

"You know, you really are... fantastic."

"I try."

Mr. Fox (Clooney) is a well-known thief.  He loves planning and carrying out heists, until he and his wife, Mrs. Fox (Streep) are caught and he agrees to change his ways.  12 fox years later, Mr. Fox writes a newspaper column.  He, Mrs. Fox, and their misunderstood son  Ash (Schwartzman) live in a hole.  He dreams of his old life and moves the family, including his visiting nephew Kristofferson (Anderson), to a tree.

Their new home is the perfect place to spy on the neighboring farms.  The farms are successful and the animals fear the farmers.  Fox convinces their landlord, Kylie (Wolodarsky), to help him with a grand heist of the farms.  Mr. Walter Boggis (Hurlstone) is a chicken farmer.  Mr. Nathan Bunce (Guinness) is a duck and goose farmer, and Mr. Franklin Bean (Gambon) is a turkey and apple farmer.  Fox loves the heists, but his actions cause the farmers to go after all of the animals.  Can they outsmart the farmers?


The film is based on Roald Dahl's 1970 children's book "Fantastic Mr. Fox."  The book remains popular and has been adapted to stage as a play, a musical, and an opera.

The Good:
This was director Wes Anderson's first stop-motion film (followed by 2018's Isle of Dogs).  The medium was a smart choice for this story (the way Anderson wanted to tell it).  It has all of the Anderson trademarks: intricate details, the usual cast, etc.  The animation is well done and earned all of it's accolades.  The story, by Anderson and Noah Baumbach, adds some background and fleshes out the other characters.

The Bad:
The film is marketed as a "family film," but I'm not sure I agree.  Yes, the original book was a children's book... but the film is much darker.  They don't actually swear (just use the word "cuss" for any number of curse words), but it is violent and mildly off-setting.  I don't think I would show the film to children, at least not young children.  It is dark (the book is also dark for a children's book).  A character is killed on screen and bleeds to death.

Other Comments:
-The film was nominated for 2 Academy Awards in 2010: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score, but did not win either.
-It wasn't my favorite... but it was still a well-made film.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) 88 minutes
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: George Clooney as Mr. Fox
Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox
Jason Schwartzman as Ash Fox
Bill Murray as Clive Badger
Willem Dafoe as Rat
Michael Gambon as Franklin Bean
Owen Wilson as Coach Skip
Wallace Wolodarsky as Kylie
Eric Anderson as Kristofferson Silverfox
Jarvis Cocker as Petey
Wes Anderson as Stan Weasel
Robin Hurlstone as Walter Boggis
Hugo Guinness as Nathan Bunce

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

"This could literally not get any weirder."

"It can get weirder!"

Miles Morales (Moore) is a New York teenager trying to find his place.  He is a talented artist and struggling to fit in at his new boarding school.  Everything in his life changes when he is bitten by a spider.  The next day he starts exhibiting strange abilities that he can't control.  He discovers the Kingpin (Schrieber) has built a super-collider to access parallel universes.  He uses the machine, but is thwarted by Spider-Man (Chris Pine), who is killed in the aftermath.  Before Spider-Man dies, he tells Miles how to destroy the collider and save the world.

As the world mourns the loss of Spider-Man, Miles finds another Peter Parker (Johnson).  This Peter is Spider-Man in a parallel universe and was sucked into this world by the collider.  Peter agrees to help Miles, so he can return to his time.  They also discover Gwen Stacy (Steinfeld), Spider-Man Noir (Cage), Peni Parker (Glenn) and her robot, and Spider-Ham (Mulaney) were pulled into Miles world by the collider.  Can they team up to defeat Kingpin and his murderous minions and save the world?


Spider-Man was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962.  He is a popular Marvel comics characters and has two iterations: Peter Parker and Miles Morales.  The character has appeared in numerous animated TV shows since the late 1960s.  Parker has appeared in films since the late 1970s.  Nicholas Hammond starred in 1977's Spider-Man, 1978's Spider-Man Strikes Back, and 1981's Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge.  Tobey Maguire starred in the Sam Raimi trilogy: Spider-Man in 2002, Spider-Man 2 in 2004, and Spider-Man 3 in 2007.  Sony rebooted the franchise in 2012 with Marc Webb as the director and Andrew Garfield as the title character: The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012 and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014.  Sony came to a licensing agreement with Marvel Studios, allowing the character to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and solo films for Sony.  This version of Parker is played by Tom Holland, who starred in Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 and Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019 and appeared in the MCU films Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.  The Morales version of Spider-Man was created in 2011 by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli.  This is the film debut of the character.

The Good:
Most people know Spider-Man and his origin story (at least the traditional Peter Parker origin story) is well-known.  They give each of the various Spiders a chance to do a brief recap of their origin story, while the file serves as Miles origin.  The film also references the live-action Spider-Man films, the animated TV shows, etc.  It is a love letter to Spider-Man fans

The Bad:
I don't have any complaints.  The story is interesting and moves as at a good pace.  The villains aren't overly defined, but they aren't bad.

Other Comments:
-The animation is great.  The style is distinct for each of the Spiders: Spider-Man Noir is black and white, SP//dr is cartoony-anime, and Spider-Ham is kiddie animation almost like the Looney Tunes.  Everything looks hand-drawn, but is CGI animation.  The film won the 2019 Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
-It feels like a comic book.  After Miles is bit by the spider, thought boxes appear.  It doesn't seem gimmicky and adds to the story.
-They use well-known villains: Kingpin, Doc Ock, Green Goblin, without taking the focus away from all of the Spiders.
-They wisely leave the story open for potential sequels.  Two sequels, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, are also in the works.

-They are also planning to make a spin-off about the Spider-Women. 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) 117 minutes
Director: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Starring: Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man
Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker / Spider-Man
Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman
Mahershala Ali as Aaron Davis
Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis
Lily Tomlin as Aunt May
Luna Lauren Velez as Rio Morales
Zoe Kravitz as Mary Jane Watson
John Mulaney as Peter Porker / Spider-Ham
Kimiko Glenn as Peni Parker / SP//dr
Nicholas Cage as Peter Parker / Spider-Man Noir
Liev Schrieber as Wilson Fisk

Love Finds Andy Hardy

Andy Hardy (Rooney) wants to buy a car.  He saved enough money to make a down payment, but needs to pay the rest by December 23.  He needs the car to take his girlfriend, Polly Benedict (Rutherford) to the Christmas Eve dance.  But everything changes when he learns that Polly will be away over Christmas.

He vows to go to the dance alone, until his friend Beezy (George P. Breakston) asks for favor.  Beezy will be away for Christmas and offers to pay Andy to take his girlfriend, Cynthia Potter (Turner), to the dance.  He also has an admirer, Betsy Booth (Garland), who is staying with a neighbor. Betsy also wants to go to the dance with Andy
  As Christmas approaches and Polly's plans change, can Andy find a way to take the right girl to the dance?


From 1937 to 1958, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer made 16 films about Andy Hardy and his family (A Family Affair, You're Only Young Once, Judy Hardy's Children, Out West with the Hardys, The Hardys Ride High, Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever, Judge Hardy and Son, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante, Andy Hardy's Private Secretary, Life Begins for Andy Hardy, The Courtship of Andy Hardy, Andy Hardy's Double Life, Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble, Love Laughs at Andy Hardy, Andy Hardy Comes Home); this is the fourth film in the series.  All 16 films star Mickey Rooney as Andy.

The Good:
Mickey Rooney is great as Andy Hardy.  I love the family dynamics and family values portrayed in the film.  The Hardy family is very close and they listen to the advice / guidance of patriarch Judy Hardy.  It is a clean, easy going film that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
The three love interests add to the comedy of the film, without making the characters into caricatures.

The Bad:
It drags a little in places.  As much as I enjoy Judy Garland and her voice, there were too many songs.  The songs were fine, but they take away from the film and slow it down.

Other Comments:
-This was one of Lana Turner's first films.  MGM liked to use the series to introduce new stars.
-It might be a little corny and outdated, but it is still a fun film.

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) 91 minutes
Director: George B. Seitz
Starring: Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy
Lewis Stone as Judge James Hardy
Fay Holden as Emily Hardy
Cecilia Parker as Marian Hardy
Judy Garland as Betsy Booth
Lana Turner as Cynthia Potter
Ann Rutherford as Polly Benedict

Shakespeare Uncovered: Series 3

After the success of Series 1 (aired in 2013) and Series 2 (aired in 2015), PBS commissioned a third season of Shakespeare Uncovered to take a deep look at 6 more of William Shakespeare's plays.  Each episode focuses on a Shakespeare play and is hosted by an actor or actress with a tie to the play.  They look at the play, with clips from live and film versions, discuss the historical context, legacy, etc.

Part One: Much Ado About Nothing with Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt looks at Shakespeare's romantic comedy: Much Ado About Nothing.  It is the story of lovers Claudio and Hero, but audiences are drawn to Benedick and Beatrice.  The title should be read as "Much Ado About Noting" or listening to other people's conversations, which is the focus of the story.

Hunt has played Beatrice twice and is interested in returning to the character.  There are two film versions of the story, Kenneth Branagh's 1993 period piece and Joss Whedon's 2012 modern take in black and white.  Both versions are fascinating looks at the play.


Part Two: The Merchant of Venice with F. Murray Abraham
F. Murray Abraham looks at Shakespeare's polarizing comedy: The Merchant of Venice.  The play starts as a comedy, but in the end there are no winners.  The most memorable character in the play is Shylock, but he is not the lead... the Merchant is question is his rival, Antonio.  The play is indirectly about dealing with trauma - dealing with things, without addressing them.

Abraham's investigation focuses on the culture clash in the play and the feeling of being an outsider.  The play may not resonate with everyone, but it still manages to captivate audiences.  I was not familiar with the play before this, and I'm still not sure if I want to look into it further.


Part Three: Measure for Measure with Romola Garai
Romola Garai dives into Shakespeare's "problem play:" Measure for Measure.  The city of Vienna is morally in decay.  The Duke put Angelo in charge and then disguises himself as a friar to see how it goes.  It is styled as a dark comedy and focuses on Angelo's actions.  Angelo comes into direct conflict with Isabella, a nun who is very smart and passionate.

Audiences have problems with the play.  Angelo is an extreme and an illustration of when lust corrupts power.  The Duke doesn't fare much better... he observes all and only intervenes at the end.  The story ends with marriage proposals, but does not resolve the problems.  It ends without an answer to the final question.


Part Four: Julius Caesar with Brian Cox
Brian Cox takes on Shakespeare's political drama Julius Caesar.  While the play is called Caesar, Brutus is the charismatic and pragmatic center of the play.  He is the axis  around which everything happens.

Cox looks at the the politics of the play.  It paralleled life in Elizabethan England: Queen Elizabeth was a powerful leader with no successor, like Caesar.  The parallels would be apparent to the audience, echoing their fears of the future.  It also questions how well we know our selves and what we are willing to do for the things we believe.


Part Five: The Winter's Tale with Simon Russell Beale
Simon Russell Beale focuses on Shakespeare's psychological The Winter's Tale.  King Leontes is a man who has everything and is in a good place: he is happily married, has a beautiful son and is expecting a second son, and his best friend is visiting.  And goes downhill from there, ending Act 3 with Leontes in despair and broken.  The focus changes in Act IV and Act V brings everyone together again together again.

Winter's tales are fairy tales / ghost stories.  Beale focuses on the magical elements of the story.  Beale portrayed King Leontes to critical acclaim.  I didn't know anything about the play before this, but I am interested in exploring this play.


Part Six: Richard III with Anthony Sher
Anthony Sher takes on one of Shakespeare's most notorious figures, Richard III.  Richard III's legacy lives on in Shakespeare's play, but how close is that to the real figure.  In the play, he is a master manipulator... winning over the audience and his harshest critics, all while doing terrible things.

Sher played the character in 1977 and the role has stuck with him.  My first introduction to the character was in The Hollow Crown: War of the Roses: Richard III as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.  I am interested in discovering other versions of the play.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

"You said you had a plan."

"I do have a plan. Trouble is, it won't work."

In 1868, an alleged sea monster is sinking ships in the Pacific Ocean.  The U.S. Navy puts together a team to prove the monster exists.  The team includes noted scientist Professor Arronax (Lukas), his assistant Conseil (Lorre), and harpooner Ned Land (Douglas).  They discover and confront the monster, only to have it sink their ship.  Arronax, Conseil, and Ned survive the attack and discover that the monster is a high-tech submarine.

The submarine is commanded by Captain Nemo (Mason), who does not tolerate spies.  He is familiar with Arronax's work and begrudgingly allows them live.  They are confined to the submarine.  Arronax is fascinated by Nemo and his submarine and spends his days seeking their secrets.  Ned doesn't trust Nemo and hates being trapped on the submarine.  And Conseil want life to return to normal.  Can they survive life aboard the submarine?


This is the definitive film adaptation of Jules Verne's 1869 novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: A Tour of the Underwater World."

The Good:
The cast is incredible.  James Mason dominates the film as Captain Nemo.  He commands the screen and is the most memorable character in the film, without showboating.  His quiet intensity is matched by Kirk Douglas as Ned Land.  Ned is a fascinating, big character.  He sings the only song in the film, the catchy "Whale of a Tale."  Peter Lorre and Paul Lukas are also good, and the scenes of the four actors together are great.
It is a big, fantastic film that still holds up despite the years and the advances in special effects.  The effects are fantastic and garnered the film 2 Academy Awards: Best Art Direction - Color (John Meehan and Emile Kuri) and Best Special Effects (John Hench and Joshua Meador).

The Bad:
The film drags in a few places.  I have never read the novel, so I don't know if the problem comes from the source material  or the film's screenplay (the screenplay was written by Earl Felton).

Other Comments:
-In 1874, Verne wrote the novel "The Mysterious Island" as a sequel to this story and "In Search of the Castaways."  Disney made a live-action film of In Search of Castaways, but did not adapt "The Mysterious Island."
-Most people remember Mason as Nemo and the scene with the squid... the squid looks fake (when it initially attacks the submarine), but the scene is well done.  It is intense and memorable.
-The film holds up well and still holds the attention of modern audiences.  It may be too intense (and at 2+ hours, it may be too long) for younger audiences, but it is still an interesting, well-made movie that is worth checking out.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) 127 minutes
Director: Richard Fleischer
Starring: Kirk Douglas as Ned Land
James Mason as Captain Nemo
Paul Lukas as Professor Pierre Aronnax
Peter Lorre as Conseil
Robert J. Wilke as First Mate of the Nautilus

Oscar Picks 2019

This is my 13th year of predicting the Oscar winners.  Last year I saw 7 of the nominated film and correctly predicted 5 of 7 categories (I don't predict them all).  This year I saw 5 films (for the full list of nominees, go to the Academy Awards website):

Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
Christopher Robin
Isle of Dogs
Ready Player One

Avengers: Infinity War is nominated for Best Visual Effects
Black Panther is nominated for 7 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing
Christopher Robin is nominated for Best Visual Effects
Isle of Dogs is nominated for Best Animated Film and Best Original Score
Ready Player One is nominated for Best Visual Effects

My pick for Best Animated Short Film is Bao (pictured above) from Pixar Animate Studios.

Best Supporting Actor
*Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice

Mahershala Ali
Ali will probably win.  If he doesn't, I expect Richard E. Grant to take the award.


Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Vice
Marina de Tavira, Roma
*Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Regina King
I like Amy Adams, but I'm not sure her performance / film has enough good will to make a difference.  King will win.


Best Actor
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity's Gate
*Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Rami Malek
Malek will probably win.  I don't think anyone else stands a chance.


Best Actress
Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
*Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Glenn Close or Olivia Colman
Close and Colman are the front runners.  They have won most of the Best Actress prizes this awards season.  Close's performance is the only nomination for The Wife.  She has received several prizes for the role.  Colman's movie has the most nominations.  It could go either way, but I give the edge to Close.


Best Director
Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
*Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
Adam McKay, Vice

Alfonso Cuaron
Cuaron's direction is universally praised for this film.


Best Animated Film
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
*Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
I enjoyed Isle of Dogs, but I think Spider-Man will take the win.


Best Picture
A Star Is Born
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
*Green Book
Roma
Vice

Roma or Black Panther
Most people are predicting a win for Roma.  Black Panther was the most widely popular film on the list... so I think it could take the win.



EDIT: 5 of 7, same as last year.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

"Who are you guys?"

"We're you, dude."

"No way. No... way."

"Yes way."

In the 1980s, teenagers Bill Preston (Winter) and Ted Logan (Reeves) are trying to start a band.  Their dreams for stardom are in jeopardy as they are failing history.  If they fail, Ted will be sent to military school in another state and the band will break up.  To pass the class, they need to get an A on their final project.

For the final project, they must describe how historical figures would feel about modern life.  Things look bleak for the duo, until Rufus (Carlin) from the future brings them a phone booth time machine.  They decide to use the time machine to meet historical figures for their report.  Can they get the report done in time to pass the class?


This film was a surprise hit and propelled it's leads to stardom.  It also spawned a franchise: a film  sequel (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey) in 1991, an animated TV show (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures) from 1990-1991, a live-action TV show (also called Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures) in 1992, and several video games.

The Good:
The film doesn't take itself too seriously.  It is ridiculous, and somehow it works.  You don't need to think much to enjoy the movie... and you don't need any knowledge of the historical figures that appear (but if you have even a passing knowledge, you will get a few extra chuckles).

The Bad:
The film is definitely a product of it's time: the clothes and language.  That isn't a dig against the film, it is just something you have to get past.

Other Comments:
-I tried to watch this film before, but gave up after a few minutes.  Some friends challenged me to give the film a second chance, and I enjoyed it more than expected.
-The story, written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon (who also wrote the sequel) doesn't try to hard and has an effortless charm
-I never understood why people liked Keanu Reeves.  Now it makes sense (and I understand his acting style a little better).  He and Alex Winter are a great pair and I plan to check out the sequel.
-Reeves, Winter, and the writers (Matheson and Solomon) reunited for another sequel: Bill & Ted Face the Music, set to be released in 2020


Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) 89 minutes
Director: Stephen Herek
Starring: Keanu Reeves as Ted "Theodore" Logan
Alex Winter as Bill S. Preston Esq.
George Carlin as Rufus
Terry Camilleri as Napoleon Bonaparte
Dan Shor as Billy the Kid
Tony Steedman as Socrates
Rod Loomis as Sigmund Freud
Al Leong as Genghis Khan
Jane Wiedlin as Joan of Arc
Robert V. Barron as Abraham Lincoln
Clifford David as Ludwig van Beethoven

Ready Player One

"People come to the Oasis for all the things they can do, but they stay for all the things they can be."

In the future, escape the trauma in their lives through a virtual reality system called the OASIS.  OASIS was created by James Halliday (Rylance) and Ogden Morrow (Pegg).  Halliday created a challenge, to find his successor, and hid it within the system.  After his death, the details of the challenge were released to all OASIS users.  He hid 3 challenges within the system, after completing the challenge, players are awarded a key.  The winner is the first player to obtain all three keys.  Years after Halliday's death, no one has passed the first challenge.

The main competitors are gunters, gaming enthusiasts who are egg hunters, and Sixers, nameless characters that work for Innovative Online Industries.  Teenager Wade Watts (Sheridan) is a gunter and Halliday expert.  Every day he escapes life in the Stacks with his aunt and abusive boyfriend to try and complete the first challenge.  He is joined by his friends Aech (Waithe), Sho (Zhao) and Daito (Morisaki) and the legendary Art3mis (Cooke).  They are connected by the game, but don't know anything real about each other.  Each day they try to stay one step ahead of the Sixers and their ruthless boss Nolan Sorrento (Mendelsohn), who wants to turn a profit from the system.  Can Wade and his friends get all the keys before Sorrento?


This film is based on Ernest Cline's 2011 novel "Ready Player One".  I loved the book and was intrigued by the trailer and the fact that Steven Spielberg (who is referenced in the novel) was directing it.

The Good:
The effects are great and the OASIS scenes are well done.  The cast is game and does well in their roles, especially Ben Mendelsohn as Nolan Sorrento and Mark Rylance as James Halliday.

The Bad:
As with most adaptations, the book is better.  The screenplay, written by Zak Penn and Cline, makes numerous changes from the novel.  It retrains the overall structure, but changes some of the specifics.  It isn't bad... it just isn't as good as it could be.

Other Thoughts:
-The film is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
-Cline is working on a sequel to the novel, which would bring the characters back and again feature many pop culture references.  If the sequel novel is as popular as the original, I expect it will also be adapted as a film.
-I loved the novel and noticed the changes... but I enjoyed the changes that were made to the story and enjoyed the film.


Ready Player One (2018) 140 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence, bloody images, some suggestive material, partial nudity and language.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts / Parzival
Olivia Cooke as Art3mis
Ben Mendelsohn as Nolan Sorrento
T.J. Miller as i-R0k
Simon Pegg as Ogden Morrow
Mark Rylance as James Halliday / Anorak the All-Knowing
Lena Waithe as Aech
Hannah John-Kamen as F'Nale Zandor
Philip Zhao as Sho
Win Morisaki as Daito

Christopher Robin

"There's more to life than balloons and honey!"

[doubtfully] "Are you sure?"

Christopher Robin (McGregor) is an efficiency expert at Winslow Luggages.  He is consumed by work and rarely has time to enjoy life or spend time with his wife Evelyn (Atwell) or daughter Madeline (Carmichael).  He promises to take a weekend away with his family, but their plans are interrupted when Giles Winslow (Gatiss) forces him to work or fire members of his staff.  He agrees to work, and Evelyn takes the trip anyway.

After a long day at the office, he goes to the park and discovers his childhood playmate, Winnie the Pooh (Cummins).  As a child, Christopher would go through a door in the tree in his front yard and spend the day in the Hundred Acre Wood with his friends: Winnie the Pooh, Tigger (Cummins), Eeyore (Garrett), Piglet (Mohammed), Rabbit (Capaldi), Kanga (Okonedo), Roo (Sheen), and Owl (Jones).  His carefree days in the Hundred Acre Woods came to an end when he went away to boarding school and life changed.  His friends are missing and Winnie the Pooh is eager to once again go on an adventure with Christopher.  Can Christopher remember how to have fun again, find his friends, and save his job?


The character of Winnie the Pooh was created by author A.A. Milne in the 1926 book "Winnie-the-Pooh."  The book, which featured illustrations by E.H. Shephard, was popular and led to a sequel, "House at Pooh Corner."  The character's popularity led to additional sequels (made without Milne), TV shows, and films.  Walt Disney Animation Studios made 2 animated Winnie the Pooh films: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1977 and Winnie the Pooh in 2011.

The Good:
The effects are impressive.  The characters look like they belong in the same world and keep the innocence of Shepard's illustrations.  The story is interesting and the beloved characters from our childhood maintain their innocence and charm.  Ewan McGregor is great in the title role.  He is convincing and likable throughout.

The Bad:
I really didn't have any issues with the film.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Other Comments:
-This film is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
-Jim Cummins has voiced the characters of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger since 1997
-The iconic "Winnie the Pooh" theme, written by the Sherman Brothers, plays in the background, but is not featured prominently
-Two other classic Winnie the Pooh songs are sung by the characters: "Up, Down and Touch the Ground" and "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers"
-Richard Sherman wrote new songs for the film, and appears during the end credits performing "Busy Doing Nothing"

Christopher Robin (2018) 104 minutes
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin
Hayley Atwell as Evelyn Robin
Bronte Carmichael as Madeline Robin
Mark Gatiss as Giles Winslow
Jim Cummins as Winnie the Pooh, Tigger
Brad Garrett as Eeyore
Nick Mohammed as Piglet
Peter Capaldi as Rabbit
Sophie Okonedo as Kanga
Sara Sheen as Roo
Toby Jones as Owl

Colossal

Gloria (Hathaway) is an unemployed writer who is partying her life away.  Her behavior prompts boyfriend Tim (Steven) to end the relationship and evict her from their apartment.  With nowhere else to turn, she moves into her childhood home in New England.  Her first day back in town, she reconnects with childhood friend Oscar (Sudeikis).  She spends the evening at Oscar's bar with his friends Joel (Stowell) and Garth (Nelson) and sleeps on a park bench.

That evening the city of Seoul is plagued by a giant monster.  The world is shocked by the destruction of the mysterious creature.  The following night the monster returns, at the exact same time and place.  Oscar gives her a job at the bar and her life starts to have a routine.  She also realizes that she may have a connection to the monster.  Can Gloria get her life in order and stop the monster's destruction?


The Good:
The story is unique, and even though every trailer spoils her connection to the monster, it still pulls off some surprises.  The monster looks great and is imposing enough to make an impact.  Anne Hathway is good, especially as the story progresses and you can see growth in her character.  I like the relationship between Hathaway's Gloria and Jason Sudeikis' Oscar.  It is refreshing to have the male and female leads in a film as friends, without turning it into a romantic relationship.

The Bad:
While the story is interesting, it drags in places.  The male characters are ok, but they aren't as well defined as Gloria.  The film has excessive language, earning it an R rating... it isn't cursing for the sake of cursing, but it is still unnecessary.

Other Comments:
-The main cast is good and playing against type.
-The film was written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo.  He has made several films (both with writing and directing), but to my knowledge, this was his biggest film to date.
-People seem to love or hate this movie.  If you are expecting a traditional monster movie (like Godzilla) or a traditional comedy, you will be disappointed.  If you are looking for something out of the ordinary and enjoy science-fiction / fantasy and dark comedies, then you should give this film a shot.
-I enjoyed this film and watched it a few times, discovering something new each time.

Colossal (2016) 110 minutes
Rating: R for language
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Starring: Anne Hathaway as Gloria
Jason Sudeikis as Oscar
Austin Stowell as Joel
Tim Blake Nelson as Garth
Dan Stevens as Tim

Ocean's Eight

"If you're going to have a problem with stealing, then you're not going to like the rest of this conversation."

Debbie Ocean (Bullock) is a convicted thief.  While serving five years in prison, she plans her next heist.  She reconnects with her former partner-in-crime, Lou (Blanchett), to put the plan in motion.  They are going to steal a $150 million dollar Cartier necklace, the Toussaint, from the Met Gala.  To pull off they heist, they turn to old friends Amita (Kahling) and Tammy (Paulson) and recruit some new faces.  Amita is a jewelry maker who wants to change her life.  Tammy is now a stay-at-home mom, but used to be a talented fence.  Rose Weil (Bonham Carter) is a disgraced fashion designer in massive debt.  Constance (Awkwafina) is a street hustler and pickpocket and Nine Ball (Rihanna) is a hacker.

Actress Daphne Kluger (Hathaway) is the host of the Gala and she is their pawn in the heist.  Rose is hired to design Daphne's dress and convinces her to request the Toussaint as her jewelry for the event.  The necklace comes with an insurance agent, John Frazier (Corden), and a security detail, along with the security at the Gala.  Can the ladies steal the necklace without getting caught?


The character of Danny Ocean was created for the 1960 Rat Pack movie Ocean's 11.  In that film, Danny (played by Frank Sinatra), gathers his old Army buddies to rob five Las Vegas casinos.  In 2001, Steven Soderbergh reimagined the film with George Clooney as Danny.  In the 2001 Ocean's Eleven, Danny is a thief who gathers a team of criminals to rob a single Las Vegas casino.  The film was a success and led to a sequel, Ocean's Twelve, in 2004, which reunited the cast and director and set the action in Europe.  The made a third film, Ocean's Thirteen in 2007, that returned the franchise to Las Vegas.  They did not want to make another film in the franchise, but Soderbergh expressed an interest in creating a spin-off with a female cast.

The Good:
The story and the heist are interesting.  Like the other films in the franchise, it features an intricate plan and keeps you guessing.  The characters are interesting and each get a moment to shine.  Sandra Bullock is always good and this film is no exception.  You believe that she is the mastermind here and takes up Clooney's mantle easily.  Mindy Kahling and Awkwafina are great, I just wish they had slightly bigger parts.  Anne Hathaway is great as the shallow socialite / actress.

The Bad:
Rihanna is not an actress.  The character of Nine-Ball could be great in the hands of an actress, but here she just falls flat.  She is the weak link in the film and just doesn't work.

Other Thoughts:
-The film features cameos by two members of the Soderbergh franchise.  The cameos work and do not feel forced.
-The Gala features cameos by well-known fashion designers and icons, and the gowns are gorgeous.
-The film doesn't reinvent the genre, but it is an enjoyable film that fits into the world created by it's predecessors.  I would be happy to see another Ocean's film with this cast (just replace Rhianna), but at this point there are no plans for a sequel.

Ocean's Eight (2018) 110 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for language, drug use, and some suggestive content
Director: Gary Ross
Starring: Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean
Cate Blanchett as Lou Miller
Anne Hathaway as Daphne Kluger
Mindy Kaling as Amita
Sarah Paulson as Tammy
Awkwafina as Constance
Rihanna as Nine Ball
Helena Bonham Carter as Rose Weil
Richard Armitage as Claude Becker
James Corden as John Frazier