Love at the Christmas Table

Kat Patton (McKellar) and Sam Reed (Milligan) grew up together.  Their fathers, Bobby Reed (Huskey) and Tom Patton (Patterson), own a furniture store and their families gather at the home of E.B. Dixon (Thompson) every Christmas for a big party.  Kat and Sam bond while hiding under the table as kids, and are forced to reunite at the party each year.

As adults, they look forward to reuniting at the party.  They hide at the kids table, get into trouble, and avoid responsibility.  Sparks fly every time they are together.  Can they get past their history to have a future?

This Lifetime Christmas movie hits all the usual notes of a TV Christmas movie, but throws in some quirks.

The Good:

The story starts in the present, and jumps back in time to Kat and Sam's first meeting.  The story jumps to memorable Christmas parties over the years and builds back to the present.  The cast is ok, but most of the characters (despite appearing over the years) don't have personalities or independent storylines.

The Bad:

The film is too long and the ending doesn't feel earned.

Other Comments:

-Don't go in with expectations... it isn't a bad film, but it also isn't going to be a Christmas classic.  Watch if you can get it for free.

-The film was enjoyable, but I don't need to see it again.

-My favorite scene is the dance to "Can't Help Myself" by Terrie and the Carlas

Love at the Christmas Table (2012) 89 minutes

Director: Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Starring: Danica McKellar as Kat Patton

Dustin Milligan as Sam Reed

Lea Thompson as E.B. Dixon

Scott Patterson as Tom Patton

Brian Huskey as Bobby Reed

Alexandra Paul as Eve Reed

William Franc Bryant as Clint

Cameron Goodman as Ashley

The Gentlemen (2019)

"A gentleman's quote is a gentleman's word."

American Michael "Mickey" Pearson (McConaughey) is a drug kingpin in London.  After years at the top, he is looking to sell the business and retire with his wife Rosalind (Dockery).  He wants to sell quietly to American businessman Matthew Berger (Strong), but he is approached by Dry Eye (Golding), a Chinese gangster, with another offer.

At the same time, one of Mickey's marijuana farms is raided by a group of delinquents.  The group are aspiring fighters and rappers, who film the act and post it to YouTube alongside their raps.  Coach (Farrell) makes them return the plants and goes to Mickey's number 2, Ray (Hunnam) to work out a deal.

Meanwhile, tabloid editor Big Dave (Marsan) wants to destroy Mickey's reputation.  He sends private investigator, Fletcher (Grant), to find dirt on Mickey and his drug empire.  Instead, Fletcher takes the evidence to Ray and asks for a higher price.

With the publicity of the raid and the pressure from Dry Eye, can Mickey successfully sell the business and walk away unharmed?

This is director Guy Ritchie's 11th feature film and a return to the British gangster films that started his career.

The Good:

As usual, the story (written by Ritchie) juggles a large cast and many moving pieces with ease.  It feels like the type of story that gets better with subsequent viewing. The film boasts a stellar cast, many who worked with Ritchie in the past.

The Bad:

I don't have many complaints... it wasn't a perfect film, but it was an enjoyable ride.  There are some unnecessary moments (i.e. the pig, the pound of flesh, etc), but most of the worst pieces are left to the audiences imagination.

Other Comments:

-The cast is great, but the main standouts are Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant

-Colin Farrell is great as Coach.  His custom tracksuits, alongside the Toddlers in similar uniforms, and overall character traits work well.

-Hugh Grant plays a different character... he is smarmy and conniving, but you can't help but be mesmerized by his character.

-I was thoroughly entertained.  The plot keeps you guessing and the performances are top-notch.  I look forward to watching this film again.

The Gentlemen (2019) 113 minutes

Rating: R for violence, language throughout, sexual references and drug content

Director: Guy Ritchie

Starring: Matthew McConaughey as Michael Pearson

Charlie Hunnam as Raymond Smith

Henry Golding as Dry Eye

Michelle Dockery as Rosalind Pearson

Jeremy Strong as Matthew Berger

Colin Farrell as Coach

Hugh Grant as Fletcher

Eddie Marsan as Big Dave

Tom Wu as Lord George

Bugzy Malone as Ernie

Chidi Ajufo as Bunny

Jason Wong as Phuc

Other films directed by Guy Ritchie

Muscle Beach Party

"Do you know what this place is?  This is a nut house.  And do you know who's running it?  The nuts!  The nuts are running it."

Frankie (Avalon), Dee Dee (Funicello), and their friends head to the beach for the summer to surf.  Their beach house is next door to Jack Fanny's (Rickles) body builders, who threaten their fun.  Life is further complicated by the arrival of the wealthy and bored Contessa Juliana Giotto-Borgini (Paluzzi).

Julie is looking for love and uses her manager S.Z. (Hackett) and lawyer Theodore (Turgeon) to make her dreams come true.  But when her plans involve Mr. Galaxy Flex Martian (Stevens) and Frankie, battle lines are drawn.  What will Frankie choose, his first loves Dee Dee and surfing or the new girl with big promises?

This is the second film in the AIP (American International Pictures) beach party film series.  AIP made 12 beach party films, most starred Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.  Most of the teens from AIP's Beach Party returned for this film.

The Good:

There isn't much of a plot, but the film is mindless fun.  Peter Lorre has a great cameo at the end.

The Bad:

There are too many characters... Don Rickles is annoying and the bodybuilders, other than Peter Lupus' Flex, are interchangeable.  They have no personality are not memorable.  Buddy Hackett and Morey Amsterdam are wasted... both have funny moments, but they could do much more.

Other Comments:

-Film debut of Stevie Wonder, billed as "Little Stevie Wonder", who performs the song "Happy Street" during the film and the credits.

-A running joke throughout the film is that Candy Johnson's character can whammy the guys - knock them off their feet, when she dances.  This is continued in the end credits, alongside Stevie Wonder singing.

-The film features 9 songs: 3 by Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner, and 6 by Roger Christian, Guy Usher, and Brian Wilson.  Some of the songs are memorable - such as "Happy Street" and Avalon's "Running Wild", while others are boring such as the Funicello "A Girl Needs a Boy" and the Avalon reprise "A Boy Needs a Girl".  Dick Dale and the Del Tones make the most of their songs.

Muscle Beach Party (1964) 94 minutes
Director: William Asher
Starring: Frankie Avalon as Frankie

Annette Funicello as Dee Dee

Luciana Paluzzi as Contessa Juliana Giotto-Borgini

John Ashley as Johnny
Don Rickles as Jack Fanny

Peter Turgeon as Theodore

Jody McCrea as Deadhead

Dick Dale as Dick Dale

Candy Johnson as Candy

Rock Stevens (Peter Lupus) as Flex Martian

Valora Noland as Animal

Delores Wells as Sniffles

Donna Loren as Donna

Morey Amsterdam as Cappy

Stevie Wonder as Little Stevie Wonder

Buddy Hackett as S.Z. Matts

It Happened on 5th Avenue

"Well, I believe that people who require money should work for it.  As for myself, I gave up working years ago.  I never could make enough to satisfy my lavish tastes.  So, I let other people work for it, and I enjoy it."

Aloysius T. McKeever (Moore), who goes by Mack, is a hobo who lives in empty mansions when the owners are away.  He and his faithful dog Sam enter the boarded-up homes, enjoy the luxuries of the owners, and leave undetected.  Their favorite home is the mansion of the Mike O'Connor (Ruggles), the second wealthiest man in the world, on 5th Avenue.  O'Connor winters in his home in Virginia, allowing Mack and Sam to spend an extended vacation in the mansion.

O'Connor's latest deal closes down a local apartment home to erect a new high rise.  One of the tenants, Jim Bullock (DeFore), makes the front page when he refuses to leave the building.  A few hours later, he meets Mack and Sam, who invite him to be their guest at O'Connor's home.  O'Connor's daughter, Trudy (Storm) arrives home to pack her things and start a new life.  She is charmed by Mack and Jim, and hides her true identity so she can remain at the home with them.  They also invite Jim's old army buddies, Whitey (Hale Jr.) and Hank (Ryan), and their families to the home.

Jim and his friends have a plan to find permanent housing for themselves and other veterans.  As they dream big, O'Connor reluctantly agrees to act as a homeless man to get to know his daughter's new friends.  His ex-wife, Mary (Harding), also moves in.  With Christmas drawing near, can everyone find happiness?

This film is a holiday classic, that fell into obscurity for several decades.

The Good:

The story has moments of comedy and heart... and the ending packs an emotional punch.  The cast is good... but most were unknowns when the film was made.  Victor Moore is great as Mack, with a mixture of humor and insight.  He is best when paired with Charles Ruggles' Mike.

The Bad:

The story drags in places, and it is hard to tell the wives apart: Dorothea Kent as Whitey's wife Margie and Cathy Carter as Hank's wife Alice.

Other Comments:

-The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay

-The film was originally supposed to be directed by Frank Capra, who chose to make It's a Wonderful Life instead.

-I discovered this film by accident, and hope to add it to my annual Christmas watch list.

It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947) 116 minutes

Director: Roy Del Ruth

Starring: Don DeFore as Jim Bullock

Gale Storm as Trudy O'Connor

Victor Moore as Aloysius T. McKeever

Charles Ruggles as Mike O'Connor

Ann Harding as Mary O'Connor

Grant Mitchell as Farrow

Alan Hale Jr. as Whitey Temple

Dorothea Kent as Margie Temple

Edward Ryan as Hank

Cathy Carter as Alice

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

Senator Ransom Stoddard (Stewart) and his wife Hallie (Miles) make an unscheduled stop in the small town of Shinbone, CO to mourn the death of an old friend.  While in town, the local newsmen want an explanation for his visit.  Stoddard reluctantly tells them about his origin in Shinbone, 25 years ago.

Shinbone is a wild town.  The people, including Marshal Link Appleyard (Devine) are terrified of notorious gunfighter Liberty Valance (Marvin).  Valance enjoys the reputation and regularly robs the stagecoach.  He robs Stoddard's coach and beats him severely.  Stoddard is later found by rancher Tom Doniphon (Wayne), the only man tougher than Valance.  Doniphon explains the only way to survive in the west is to carry a gun.  Stoddard is a lawyer and believes in the law, not guns.

Dutton Peabody (O'Briend), who runs the local newspaper, invites Stoddard to share his office and practice law.  Stoddard also helps at the nearby diner, to thank Peter (Qualen) and Nora (Nolan) Ericson and Halie (Miles) for giving him aide and shelter after the attack.  Valance comes back to town and everyone prepares for a showdown, with epic results.  But the facts are not as clear as people remember.

The film is based on a 1953 short story written by Dorothy M. Johnson.

The Good:

There are so many things to talk about with this film.  It is the type of film that you watch once and remember, and with each subsequent viewings you notice new things.  The film is a gritty Western shot in black-and-white.  Unlike most Westerns, it does not include sweeping cinematography, and focuses the story in the town of Shinbone.

This film makes the most of it's incredible cast.  Lee Marvin is menacing, brutal, and memorable as Liberty Valance.  John Wayne receives top billing and is a commanding presence.  James Stewart is the focus of the story.  The rest of the film is rounded out with talented character actors.  The story is not what you expect, especially for a Western, but it works.

The Bad:

Some parts, especially the convention, drag on.

Other Comments:

-Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote the song "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", which was recorded by Gene Pitney, but it was not included in the film.

-The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black and White for Edith Head.

-Nominated for 3 of the American Film Institute's (AFI) lists: 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains, 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes (the quote at the start of this post), and AFI's 10 Top 10.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) 123 minutes

Director: John Ford

Starring: John Wayne as Tom Doniphon

James Stewart as Ransom Stoddard

Vera Miles as Hallie

Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance

Edmond O'Brien as Dutton Peabody

Andy Devine as Marshal Link Appleyard

Ken Murray as Doc Willoughby

John Carradine as Major Cassius Starbuckle

Jeanette Nolan as Nora Ericson

John Qualen as Peter Ericson

Woody Strode as Pompey

Denver Pyle as Amos Carruthers

Strother Martin as Floyd

Lee Van Cleef as Reese

Dead End (1937)

Along the East River in New York, wealthy people live in high rises with a great view, while the poor live in the slums below.  The local hooligan kids run the streets, under the leadership of Tommy Gordon (Halop).  They beat up the rich kids in the neighborhood and run from the cops.  Tommy's sister Drina (Sidney) dreams of a better life and does everything in her power to keep Tommy out of trouble or a life of crime.

Every wants to get out of the slums, by any means necessary.  Drina is on strike to get better pay at work.  Her friend Dave (McCrea) is an architect, doing odd jobs to make some money.  While cleaning up after a job, he encounters Hugh "Baby Face" Martin (Bogart), a gangster who grew up in the neighborhood.  Martin is back to visit his mother (Marjorie Main) and romance his old girlfriend Francey (Trevor).  Martin is trying to stay incognito, but Dave recognizes him and warns him to leave.  As the boys escalate their antics, causing the ire of the police, can anyone escape the dead end life on the street?


The film is based on the 1935 Broadway play "Dead End," which was written by Sidney Kingsley and Norman Bel Geddes.  MGM purchased the film rights and brought in William Wyler to direct.  Wyler hired some of the boys from the play to play the Dead End Kids in the film.

The Dead End Kids made 6 movies from 1934 to 1939.  Some of the boys also made movies for Universal Studios under as the Little Tough Guys  Under the Little Tough Guys moniker, they made 12 films and serials from 1938 to 1943.  The group moved to Monogram Pictures and made 22 films as the East Side Kids between 1940 and 1945.  In 1946 they rebranded as the Bowery Boys under Jan Grippo Productions.  As the Bowery Boys, their 48 films were more formulaic and the characters were the same across the series (unlike the earlier films).  The boys changed over time, starting as dark juvenile delinquents and ending as comedy stars.

The Good:

The scenery is fantastic.  It feels like a real street: lived-in and authentic.  They also make great use of light and shadows.  Everything about the mise-en-scene draws you into the film.  The cast is fantastic and the story is compelling.

The Bad:

There is a little too much of the juvenile delinquents... 

Other Comments:
-This film was Humphrey Bogart's big break.

-The film was nominated for 4 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Claire Trevor), Best Cinematography (Gregg Toland), Best Art Direction (Richard Day).

Dead End (1937) 93 minutes
Director: William Wyler
Starring: Sylvia Sidney as Drina Gordon
Joel McCrea as Dave Connell
Humphrey Bogart as Hugh "Baby Face" Martin
Wendy Barrie as Kay Burton
Claire Trevor as Francey
Allen Jenkins as Hunk
Billy Halop as Tommy Gordon
Huntz Hall as Dippy
Bobby Jordan as Angel
Leo Gorcey as Spit
Gabriel Dell as T.B.
Bernard Punsly as Milton

Scoob!

"We'll go in the Haunted House this one time.  But we're not going to make a habit of this, right, Scoob?"

Shaggy Rogers (Forte) and his dog Scooby-Doo (Welker) have been best friends since they met ten years ago.  They also met Fred Jones (Efron), Daphne Blake (Seyfried), and Velma Dinkley (Rodriguez) that Halloween and solved a mystery together.  The success of the case led them to form Mystery Incorporated.

Ten years later, Mystery Inc. is still solving mysteries, but a fight about their future leads Shaggy and Scooby to walk away.  That night they are attacked by robots, but they are rescued by Dee Dee Skyes (Clemons), Dynomutt (Jeong), and the Blue Falcon (Wahlberg) and taken aboard their jet.  Fred, Daphne, and Velma are worried about their friends and start their own investigation.  They discover that Dick Dastardly is behind the attack and is trying to capture Scooby.  Can the team put aside their differences and solve the mystery?

Scooby-Doo was created by Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1969.  Since the show was created, the characters have been appeared in numerous television shows and films (both animated and live-action).

The Good:

They have some good ideas... and are clearly trying to do something bigger (this film is supposed to be the start of a Hanna-Barbera cinematic universe).  I would like to see how they treat the other Hanna-Barbera cartoons.  It was smart to start here, with better known characters, but it will be interesting to see how they handle some of the other shows that have not maintained the same level of popularity.

The Bad:

The filmmakers chose to use big actors to voice the characters, instead of the voice actors that portray the characters in the animated television shows.  The only exception is Frank Welker, who originated the role of Fred, who voices Scooby-Doo.  They also did not contact the actors who portrayed the characters in the live-action films.  In some cases it works, but in most cases it is jarring.  The worst is Tracy Morgan as Captain Caveman.  I like Morgan, and he could voice any character well, but he is not the right choice for Captain Caveman.

Other Comments:

-The montage of the gang's early adventures is a shot-for-shot duplicate of the original 1960's TV show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, including the original theme song.

-The villain, Dick Dastardly, is from another Hanna-Barbera cartoon Wacky Racers

-There is also an appearance by Captain Caveman from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels

-The end credits feature appearances by other Hanna-Barbera characters

-The film feels like a missed opportunity... there are good moments, but it misses the mark.  I enjoyed it, but they tried too hard to make it relevant and did not capture the feeling of the show.

Scoob! (2020) 94 minutes

Director: Tony Cervone

Starring: Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo

Will Forte as Shaggy Rogers

Mark Wahlberg as Blue Falcon

Jason Isaacs as Dick Dastardly

Gina Rodriguez as Velma Dinkley

Zac Efron as Fred Jones

Amanda Seyfried as Daphne Blake

Kiersey Clemons as Dee Dee Skyes

Ken Jeong as Dynomutt the Dog Wonder

Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine

 "Igor, you idiot, why must you listen to me when I'm wrong?"

Evil scientist Dr. Goldfoot (Price) wants to take over the world.  His bikini machine churns out beautiful women robots, who are trained to ensnare the wealthiest men in the world.  He sends #11, Diane (Hart), into the world to test the plan.  She accidentally charms secret agent Craig Gamble (Avalon), but quickly corrects the mistake and goes after millionaire Todd Armstrong (Hickman).  Armstrong quickly falls for Diane and they marry.

Meanwhile, Craig begins to suspect that there is something bigger going on.  His boss / uncle D.J. Pevney (Clark) dismisses the concerns and thinks Craig is overreacting.  Dr. Goldfoot is thrilled with Diane's success, and orders his long-suffering assistant Igor (Mullaney) to continue the process with the other robots.  Can Craig uncover the truth and stop Dr. Goldfoot's plans?

An off-shoot of American International Pictures (AIP) beach party franchise, this film brings together the cast and concepts of the beach party films and Edgar Allen Poe films, and throws in some espionage.  The result: a campy, 1960s comedy.

The Good:

Vincent Price is excellent.  The character is over the top and he runs with it.  The rest of the cast is fine, but they can't compare to Price.  The stop-motion title sequence is a great way to introduce the film and characters.  The title song, "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine" performed by the Supremes is fun and catchy.

The Bad:

The story is rough and riddled with plot holes.

Other Comments:

-The filmmakers originally planned to make this film a musical, like the beach party films, but the singing was scrapped from the final project.  I wish they had kept a few songs, to add to the camp and fun.

-Annette Funicello has a brief cameo in the dungeon, which is a wink to the audience about her role in the AIP beach party films and connection to Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman.

-Harvey Lembeck, another regular in the beach party films, has a brief cameo as a motorcycle thug in the dungeon scene.

-AIP made 2 sequels: a 30-minute TV special The Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot in 1965 and feature film Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs in 1966.

-The film is mindless fun, and worth watching Price swing for the rafters.

Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) minutes

Director: Norman Taurog & Ishiro Honda

Starring: Vincent Price as Dr. Goldfoot

Frankie Avalon as Craig Gamble

Dwayne Hickman as Todd Armstrong

Susan Hart as Diane

Jack Mullaney as Igor

Fred Clark ad D.J. Pevney

A Song is Born (1100th post)

Another milestone down.  Check out the previous milestones: 

100 The Pajama Game / 200 Guys and Dolls / 300 The Rocky Horror Picture Show / 400 Tea for Two / 500 Annie / 600 Mary Poppins / 700 Into the Woods / 800 Anchors Aweigh / 900 42nd Street / 1000 Royal Wedding

A group of professors are compiling a musical encyclopedia, funded by the Totten Foundation.  The professors, led by Professor Hobart Frisbee (Kaye), are bachelors and live together in an old house.  After narrowly avoiding the termination of their project, they are introduced to a new kind of music: jazz.  Frisbee is concerned that in their seclusion, they are missing new types of music.  That evening he goes out to clubs to discover more jazz performances and speak to the musicians.  He meets nightclub singer Honey Swanson (Mayo) and invites her to join the discussion of music.  She declines, until the police want her to testify against her boyfriend Tony Crow (Cochran).

To avoid the police, she goes to the professors' home and agrees to help with the encyclopedia in exchange for a place to stay.  The other professors heartily agree, despite the protests of Frisbee and their housekeeper Miss Bragg (Esther Dale) and Honey turns their world upside-down.

This film is a musical remake of Howard Hawks' hit film Ball of Fire.

The Good:

The film follows the basic story line from Ball of Fire, but changes the names of the characters and some other basic plot points.  The film features the biggest musicians, as themselves: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Barnet, Louis Bellson, Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, Mel Powell, Golden Gate Quartet, Russo and the Samba Kings, and the Page Cavanaugh Trio.  Buck and Bubbles get some laughs as the window washers.  Musician Benny Goodman is good as Professor Magenbruch, and is part of a joke about himself: Magenbruch says "You can't play without music." and the response is "Well, Benny Goodman used to."

The Bad:

Despite having the same overarching story as Ball of Fire, the film is not funny.  There are funny moments, but it isn't as good as the original.  Danny Kay is disappointing.  Normally he is an energetic, funny performer, but in this film he is the stiff, straight-man and does not sing or dance.

Other Comments:

-Virginia Mayo's songs were dubbed by Jeri Sullavan.

-The music is great and features talented performers.

-I was overly underwhelmed by this film.  The cast is good and features well-known musicians, but the film does not live up to it's potential.  It is ok, and worth seeing the talented musicians in their element... but if you are looking for the funny version of this story, watch Ball of Fire.

A Song is Born (1948) 113 minutes

Director: Howard Hawks

Starring: Danny Kaye as Professor Hobart Frisbee

Virginia Mayo as Honey Swanson

Benny Goodman as Professor Magenbruch

Ford Washington Lee as Buck

John W. Bubbles as Bubbles

Hugh Herbert as Professor Twingle

Steve Cochran as Tony Crow

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death

"Don't tell me that you met a ghost."

"Well, not so spooky as that.  Ghosts don't stab people in the neck, do they? Or do they?"

"Not well-bred ghosts, Watson."

Dr. John Watson (Bruce) is working at a convalescent home called Musgrave Manor.  The Musgrave family is notorious in the town and the manor has a reputation for being haunted.  When the other physician, Dr. Bob Sexton (Margetson), is attacked, Dr. Watson asks Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) for assistance.

When they return to the manor, Inspector Lestrade (Hoey) is already investigating the attack.  He believes the culprit is Captain Vickary (Stone), a wounded American serviceman who is dating Sally Musgrave (Brooke) against the wishes of her brothers Geoffrey (Worlock) and Phillip (Muir).  Holmes discovers the body of Geoffrey and believes there is a bigger mystery on hand.

Holmes continues the investigation, as Phillip becomes the new head of the family.  Everyone at the manor, the injured servicemen, the servants, and the remaining family members, is a suspect.  Can they solve the case before more bodies pile up?

This is the 6th of 14 Sherlock Holmes films to star Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as the titular detective and Dr. Watson.  The story, by Bertram Millhauser, is loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual."

The Good:

Rathbone and Bruce are good as Holmes and Watson.  This film marks the second appearance of Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade, and he is a good foil to Holmes.  The story is interesting and the central mystery is compelling.  The atmosphere and camera work are good.

The Bad:

No real complaints.

Other Comments:

-The film features an uncredited appearance by Peter Lawford as a sailor in the opening scene.  Norma Varden is uncredited as Gracie the barmaid.

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) 68 minutes
Director: Roy William Neill
Starring: Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce as Dr. John Watson

Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade

Arthur Margetson as Dr. Bob Sexton

Hillary Brooke as Sally Musgrave

Halliwell Hobbes as Alfred Brunton

Minna Phillips as Mrs. Howells

Milburn Stone as Captain Vickary

Frederick Worlock as Geoffrey Musgrave

Gavin Muir as Phillip Musgrave

Gerald Hamer as Major Langford

Vernon Downing as Lieutenant Clavering

Olaf Hytten as Captain MacIntosh

Doomed to Die

Shipping magnate Cyrus Wentworth (Lang) is shot in his office.  Wentworth was in the midst of a scandal after his ocean liner sunk.  He also rewrote his will, leaving everything to his daughter Cynthia (Craig).  Cynthia is in love with Dick Fleming (Sterling), the son of Wentworth's business rival, Paul Fleming (Usher).  Wentworth did not approve of the relationship, and Dick was the last person to see him alive.

Captain Bill Street (Withers) believes that it is an easy case and arrests Dick.  Cynthia is convinced that Dick is innocent and on the advice of her friend, reporter Bobbie Logan (Reynolds), hires Mr. James Lee Wong (Karloff) to get to the truth.  Mr. Wong discovers that there is more to the case than it initially appears.  Can he find the real culprit before more bodies line up?

Hugh Wiley wrote 12 short stories about James Lee Wong in Collier's Magazine, published from 1934-1938.  Monogram Pictures produced 6 films with the character: 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:

This was Boris Karloff's 5th and final appearance as James Wong.  Karloff is always good, and delivers another good performance as Mr. Wong.  He is again joined by Grant Withers as Captain Street.  Withers and Karloff have good chemistry and work well together.  Marjorie Reynolds is also back as Bobbie Logan.  She is still annoying, but not bad here.

The Bad:

Again, the film is too short.  If it was a little longer, they could flesh out the story and drama a little more.  Things move a good pace, but a slightly longer running time would make the film a little better.

Other Comments:

-The story / mystery are good and keep you guessing.  The answer isn't obvious from the beginning and keeps the action moving.

Doomed to Die (1940) 68 minutes
Director: William Nigh
Starring: Boris Karloff as James Lee Wong
Marjorie Reynolds as Roberta "Bobbie" Logan
Grant Withers as Captain Bill Street
William Stelling as Dick Fleming
Catherine Craig as Cynthia Wentworth
Guy Usher as Paul Fleming
Henry Brandon as Victor Martin

Melvin Lang as Cyrus Wentworth

Wilbur Mack as Matthews

Kenneth Harlan as Ludlow

Emma. (2020)

"With who will you dance?"

"With you, if you will ask me."

Emma Woodhouse (Taylor-Joy) looks for excitement in her life.  Her family has wealth and status, and they hold a prominent place in the town.  She is beautiful, smart, and bored by her surroundings, until she discovers the joy of matchmaking.  She successfully pairs her companion, Miss Taylor, (Whelan) with a wealthy neighbor, Mr. Weston (Graves), and wants to continue the efforts.  She befriends Harriet Smith (Goth), a young woman with no family, but a good education, and vows to find her a good husband.

Her evenings are spent trading barbs with her neighbor Mr. George Knightley (Flynn), while her hypochondriac father (Nighy) worries about every possible health issue.  They are excited about the upcoming visit of Mr. Weston's song Frank Churchill (Turner).  Emma vows she will never marry, but as she manipulates the people in her life, will love find her?

An adaptation of Jane Austen's 1816 novel "Emma".

The Good:

The cinematography and costumes are beautiful.  The film plays up the humor of the story.  Miranda Hart is excellent as Miss Bates.  The character is normally annoying, but in this film, she is the funniest part.  Bill Nighy is also a joy as Mr. Woodhouse: he does so much with a simple look.  Johnny Flynn is a good Mr. Knightley, and takes a different spin on the character than previous versions.

The Bad:

The music does not fit with the rest of the film.  I enjoyed the music, but it was jarring from the rest of the film.

Other Comments:

-I did not love Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma.  She wasn't bad, but she wasn't great / iconic either.

-I have been trying to read the novel for quite some time, but I find Emma grating.  I enjoy Clueless and the 1996 film with Gwyneth Paltrow, but I cannot get excited about the novel.

Emma. (2020) 124 minutes

Director: Autumn de Wilde

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma Woodhouse

Johnny Flynn as George Knightley

Mia Goth as Harriet Smith

Miranda Hart as Miss Bates

Bill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse

Josh O'Connor as Mr. Elton

Callum Turner as Frank Churchill

Amber Anderson as Jane Fairfax

Rupert Graves as Mr. Weston

Gemma Whelan as Mrs. Weston

Jumanji: The Next Level

"I think he went back in.  We gotta go get him."

"Are you out of your mind?"

Three years after being sucked into Jumanji, Spencer (Alex Wolff), Martha (Morgan Turner), Bethany (Madison Iseman), and Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain) have gone their separate ways for college.  They agree to meet over holiday break to catch up.  When Spencer misses the meeting, they go to his house to make sure everything is ok.  They believe Spencer went back to Jumanji, so they enter the game to rescue him.  But the game is glitchy and pulls them in without warning, along with Spencer's grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito) and Eddie's former friend Milo (Danny Glover).

Everything in Jumanji is different: Spencer is still missing, there is a new quest, and the avatars have new abilities and weaknesses.  Eddie and Milo don't understand what is happening and refuse to listen to the teens.  Grandpa Eddie is recovering from hip surgery, but in Jumanji he is agile Dr. Bravestone (Johnson).  Long-winded Milo is zoology expert Mouse Finbar (Hart).  Athletic Fridge is middle-aged and out of shape Professor Oberon (Black).  Martha is once again Ruby Roundhouse (Gillan): Killer of Men.  As they search for Spencer in the game, Bethany turns to their former ally Alex (Colin Hanks) for help in the real world.  Can they stay alive long enough to stop new villain Jurgen the Brutal (McCann) and win the game?

This is the third Jumanji film, following Jumanji in 1995 and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in 2017.

The Good:

The cast from the original (other than the villain) return for this film.  The teens are all older now and grew from their past experiences.  They start and end the film well.  The avatars are back, but get to do something new.  They each get to be at least 2 characters, as the players change avatars.  Each avatar varies their performance to show the change, and it works.  Awkwafina is a welcome addition to the cast, as the new avatar Ming Fleetfoot.

The Bad:

The new villain is imposing, but doesn't really leave an impact.  Danny DeVito and Danny Glover are always good, but their characters (when they enter Jumanji) are annoying.  They end well, but it takes some time to get there.

Other Comments:

-The film features another tie to the original Jumanji film: Bebe Neuwirth reprises her role as Nora.

-The film has an engaging story, action, humor, and heart.

-There is a mid-credit scene that sets up a potential sequel.  The director announced plans to continue the story in a sequel.

-I enjoyed this film and look forward to seeing what they throw at us in the next film.

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) 123 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for adventure action, suggestive content and some language

Director: Jake Kasdan

Starring: Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Smolder Bravestone

Jack Black as Professor Sheldon Oberon

Kevin Hart as Franklin "Mouse" Finbar

Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse

Nick Jonas as Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough

Awkwafina as Ming Fleetfoot

Rory McCann as Jurgen the Brutal

TV: Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

"You realize you were speeding?"
"Y-yes, I do, Officer."
"Okay, as long as you know."

The town of Crystal Cove is the "Most Hauntedest Place on Earth" and is rumored to be cursed.  While the town thrives on the tourism aspects of their reputation, most of the problems are not supernatural.  Teenagers Fred Jones (Welker), Velma Dinkley (Cohn), Daphne Blake (DeLisle), and Shaggy Rogers (Lillard), along with Shaggy's dog Scooby-Doo (Welker), enjoy solving the mysteries of the town.  They regularly get to the truth faster than the adults of the town, to the frustration of Sheriff Stone (Warburton).  Their parents and classmates do not understand their love of mysteries.

They soon learn that there is a darker history to their town.  A mysterious man, known only as Mr. e (Black) begins leaving them clues and alluding to secrets from the past.  Finding the truth won't be easy, especially as darker forces stand in the way. 


Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated is the 11th TV series to feature the beloved Hanna-Barbera characters.

The Good:

This series gives the Scooby gang a modern update and a darker twist.  It pays homage to the prior series, with callbacks to prior villains and jokes about polarizing characters (like Scrappy Doo).  The voice cast is great, and includes well-known actors from the franchise.  For example, Casey Kasem was the original voice of Shaggy, and voices his father in this series, and Matthew Lillard played Shaggy in the live-action films and voices the character in this series.

Unlike previous versions, this series has an overarching story that connects to each episode.  You can watch each episode individually, but you get drawn into the story and want to see what happens next with the bigger picture.

The Bad:

The series is not long enough.  It is only 2 seasons, 52 episodes total.  Each episode is strong, and they tell a complete story, but I wish it was longer.

Other Comments:

-I have enjoyed the Scooby-Doo cartoon shows by entire life.  I grew up watching A Pup Named Scooby-Doo and reruns of the original series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?  I have seen most of the other versions of the show, but this is definitely my favorite.

-The series also features other characters from the Hanna-Barbera collection, including Dynomutt and the Blue Falcon, among others.

-The show also features characters from pop culture, including the Griswold family from the National Lampoon's Vacation film series.

-There series is fun and takes a different approach to the characters and setting.  The creators clearly love the franchise and want it share that love with a new generation.  I highly recommend this show!

Scooby-Doo!: Mystery Incorporated (2010-2013)
Creator: Joe Ruby & Ken Spears
Starring: Frank Welker as Fred Jones, Scooby-Doo
Mindy Cohn as Velma Dinkley
Grey DeLisle as Daphne Blake
Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers
Patrick Warburton as Sheriff Stone
Lewis Black as Mr. E
Gary Cole as Mayor Fred Jones Sr.

Vivica A. Fox as Angel Dynamite

Udo Kier as Professor Pericles
Linda Cardellini as Hot Dog Water (Marcie Fleach)

Sherlock Holmes in Washington

"Yes, I shall write a monograph some day... on the noxious habit of accumulating useless trivia."

Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Bruce) are hired by the British government to find a classified document and it's courier.  The document was being transported from England to America by British spy Alfred Pettibone (Gerald Hamer).  Pettibone was traveling undercover as John Grayson when he was kidnapped.

Holmes and Rathbone travel to America to retrace Pettibone's steps.  But they are not the only ones looking for the document.  William Easter (Daniell), Pettibone's kidnapper, and his associates are checking on all of the people that interacted with Pettibone and they are not above violence to reach their aims.  Can Holmes solve the case and recover the document?

This is the 5th of 14 Sherlock Holmes to star Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.  This is an original Holmes story, not based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories.

The Good:

As expected, Rathbone and Bruce are good in these roles.  Rathbone gets to try out a new persona when he goes undercover.  The villains, George Zucco and Henry Daniell, are fantastic.  Both actors also portrayed Professor Moriarty in the series (Zucco in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Daniell in The Woman in Green).

The Bad:

No real complaints.

Other Comments:

-The story is set in 1940s, the same as when it was made.

-The story moves at a brisk pace and keeps the various characters in play, without overloading the audience.

-It isn't my favorite entry in the franchise, but it was an entertaining and enjoyable film.

Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943) 71 minutes
Director: Roy William Neill
Starring: Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson
Marjorie Lord as Nancy Partridge

Henry Daniell as William Easter

George Zucco as Stanley

John Archer as Lieutenant Pete Merriam

Blackhat (2015)

When hackers target high-profile targets in Hong Kong and Chicago, authorities in both countries believe it is part of a larger plan.  Captain Chen Dawai (Wang) of China, and his sister Chen Lien (Tang) team with the FBI to find the culprits.  Dawai recognizes the hacker's code and asks for the release of convicted hacker Nick Hathaway Hemsworth).  Nick and Dawai were college roommates and wrote the original code that is being used.

FBI agent Carol Barnett (Davis) gets Hathaway released into the care of U.S. Marshal Mark Jessup (McCallany), along with a tracking anklet.  Can the team keep their respective governments at bay, while stopping the dangerous hacker at the heart of the attack?

The Good:

The cast is good.

The Bad:

It takes too long to get invested in the story/characters.  They use too much hacker jargon and not enough understandable explanations.  The film is not memorable and I don't have a need to watch it again.

Other Comments:

-The film is billed as an action thriller, but meanders at a slow pace.  There are some impressive explosions, but there is also lots of talking/planning.  If you want a straight action flick, this is not the film for you.

-The film was fine, but I don't intend to see it again and I don't recommend it.

Blackhat (2015) 133 minutes

Rating: R for violence and some language

Director: Michael Mann

Starring: Chris Hemsworth as Nick Hathaway

Lei Tang as Chen Lien

Leehom Wang as Chen Dawai

Viola Davis as Carol Barnett

Holt McCallany as Mark Jessup

Andy On as Alex Trang

Ritchie Coster as Elias Kassar

The Hitman's Bodyguard

"My job is to keep you out of harm's way."

"I am harm's way."

Michael Bryce (Reynolds) is a professional bodyguard.  After a high profile customer was killed while under his protection, he lost the coveted Triple-A rating.  Now he protects sleazy executives and hates his life.

Vladislav Dukhovich (Oldman), the former dictator of Belarus, is on trial for numerous crimes.  The prosecution cannot produce solid evidence of his crimes and all of their witnesses are murdered or too afraid to testify.  Their last resort is incarcerated hitman Darius Kincaid (Jackson).  He agrees to testify, in exchange for the release of his wife Sonia (Hayek), who is in a Dutch prison.  Kincaid is placed under the protection of Interpol agent Amelia Roussel (Yung).

After her team is murdered, Roussel hires Bryce to protect Kincaid.  Bryce and Kincaid hate each other, but are forced to work together to stay ahead of Dukhovich's men.  Can they make it to the trial in time?

I had no intention to see this film.  Stars Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are known for their expletive-heavy films, and putting them in the same film just felt like a recipe for extraneous cursing.  It seemed like a action/violence-heavy film with little to no substance, and I didn't need to know more.  But a friend liked the trailer and convinced me to watch... and I was pleasantly surprised.

The Good:

Reynolds and Jackson have great chemistry and the film comes alive when they are on screen together.  They have good moments on their own, but the funniest exchanges/moments happen when it's just them on the screen.  Gary Oldman is a terrific villain, evil and conniving, and gives a strong performance.  He doesn't share much screen time with the leads, but he keeps the rest of the story interesting.  Salma Hayek makes the most of her few scenes: she is memorable and funny, and you want her to be reunited with Jackson just to see what will happen next.  It is an action-comedy, and doesn't skew too far in either director.  There is plenty of action and stunt work, and it is consistently funny.

The Bad:

Entirely too much cursing.  Some gory violence.  Lots of action tropes.

Other Comments:

-The story keeps you engaged... it won't win any awards, but it there is some substance.

-I enjoyed the film, but wouldn't recommend it.  It was fine, but I don't feel the need to see it again.

-They are making a sequel, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, to be released in 2021.  Reynolds, Jackson, and Hayek are all returning, along with director Patrick Hughes.

The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) 118 minutes

Rating: R for strong violence and language throughout

Director: Patrick Hughes

Starring: Ryan Reynolds as Michael Bryce

Samuel L. Jackson as Darius Kincaid

Gary Oldman as Vladislav Dukhovich

Salma Hayek as Sonia Kincaid

Elodie Yung as Amelia Roussel

Joaquim de Almeida as Jean Foucher

Walking on Sunshine (2014)

Taylor (Arterton) fell in love in Puglia, Italy, but left her love to go college.  Three years later she returns to Puglia to visit her free-spirit sister, Maddie (Scholey).  Maddie has a surprise: she's getting married in a few days, after a whirlwind romance.  The groom, Raf (Berruti), is Taylor's old beau and love of her life.  Taylor and Raf are shocked by the revelation, but agree to keep it a secret from Maddie.

Things are further complicated by the appearance of Maddie's ex, Doug (Wise), who she still loves.  With their friends, Lil (Brand), Elena (Lewis), Mikey (Kirrane), and Enriceo (Corso) stuck in the middle, can both sisters get what they want?

This jukebox musical breathes new life into popular songs from the 1980s with a lush setting.  I've been interested in this film since I poster and trailer.  I love musicals and this looked like a blast.

The Good:

The soundtrack is filled with hits from the 1980's, all sung with gusto.  The cast, other than Leona Lewis, are not professional singers, and most don't have dance training, but it works.  The title song, "Walking on Sunshine" is probably the best production, takes place at a tomato festival and you can tell that everyone is having a blast.

The Bad:

The story is rough.  And most of the side characters are not fully formed, just focused on a single trait.  The actors are fine, but don't have much to work with.

Other Comments:

-They take inspiration from the 80's music for the hen and stag parties.  For the hen party, they are dressed as classic Madonna, Tina Turner, and Whitney Houston.  The stag party is Adam Ant, George Michael, and Meat Loaf.

-The setting is gorgeous and everything looks good, even the characters in their worst moments.

-This is Lewis' acting debut... she's fine, but not great.

-Greg Wise is known for playing charming scoundrels, and is entertaining here.

-Many critics compare the film to Mamma Mia... it's an obvious comparison, but unnecessary.  It's an obvious comparison, but unnecessary and a disservice to both films.

-It has an obvious conclusion, but it does take a few little turns (not everyone is coupled up at the end).

-It is a mindless summer flick with a great soundtrack.  If you take it as such, it's an enjoyable ride with some laughs and heartache.  I fully enjoyed the ride.

Walking on Sunshine (2014) 97 minutes

Director: Max Giwa & Dania Pasquini

Starring: Annabel Scholey as Maddie

Hannah Arterton as Taylor

Giulio Berruti as Raf

Greg Wise as Doug

Katy Brand as Lil

Leona Lewis as Elena

Danny Kirrane as Mikey

Giulio Corso as Enrico

Tiziana Schiavarelli as Tiziana

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

"Haven't you ever seen a dinosaur before?"

"Not with the skin on it!"

Trevor Anderson (Fraser) is a professor and scientist.  His students are apathetic and his research is in danger.  His brother, Max (Jean-Michel Pare), was a scientist and explorer who disappeared 10 years ago.  Max's lab, which Trevor runs, is going to be shut down due to a lack of funding / discovery.

Later that day he is joined by Max's teenage son Sean (Hutcherson), who will be staying with him for 10 days.  While looking through a box of Max's things, they uncover his coy of Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth", filled with random notes in the margins.  The notes match readings from Trevor's lab.  They travel to Iceland to find Max's instruments, and hire mountain guide Hannah (Briem) to lead the way.  They fall through a hole in a mountain to find the lost world of Verne's novels.  Can they navigate through the treacherous land and find their way home?


Based on Jules Verne's 1864 novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth".  The novel has been adapted for film and TV many times.

The Good:
The story is good, once they start the trip, and with a 93 minute running time, the action moves at a brisk pace.  It was made as a family film, so none of the effects are overly scary or intense, but it does keep you interested in the story and the fates of the characters.  Brendan Fraser can juggle action and comedy, and is a smart choice to lead this film.  Fraser and Josh Hutcherson have good chemistry, which builds as the film progresses.  Anita Briem is the fearless survivalist that keeps them alive.  She is a strong and confident, and makes the other characters work for her trust and affections.  The trio work well together.

The Bad:
The film was made for 3D, so items are constantly thrown at, dropped on, etc the screen.  I'm sure it was great in 3D theaters, but it is jarring at home.  Some of the effects are obvious attempts to utilize the 3D experience, and they take you out of the story.

Other Comments:
-Walden Media made a sequel, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island in 2012, based on Verne's novel "The Mysterious Island."  Hutcherson returned for the film, alongside some new characters.
-The sequel sets up the possibility for a third film, based on Verne's novel "From the Earth to the Moon".  The film, called Journey from the Earth to the Moon, was planned but later cancelled.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) 93 minutes
Director: Eric Brevig
Starring: Brendan Fraser as Trevor Anderson
Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson
Anita Briem as Hannah Asgeirsdottir

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

"Elementary, my dear Watson."

After Professor Moriarty (Zucco) is acquitted of murder charges, he challenges nemesis Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone).  Moriarty vows to destroy Holmes and then retire to focus on science.

An old friend, Sir Ronald Ramsgate (Stephenson) asks Holmes and Dr. Watson (Bruce) to protect an emerald from the Crown Jewels.  Holmes agrees, but is more interested in their next guest: Ann Brandon (Lupino).  Ann is worried about her brother, Lloyd (Willes), who received an ominous drawing that was also sent to their father before his death.  Her fears are not shared by Jerrold Hunter (Marshal), her fiance and the family lawyer.  Holmes believes Moriarty is involved and takes the case.  Can he protect the Brandon family, guard the Crown Jewels, and stop Moriarty?


This is the second of 14 Sherlock Holmes film starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.  The first two films were produced by 20th Century Fox and were set in the same time period as the original novels.

The Good:
Once again Rathbone and Bruce excel as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.  As Holmes in disguise, Rathbone sings "I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside" at a party, and then reveals his identity to the audience and the character.  He is good in both roles.  George Zucco is a good Moriarty; he is smart and conniving and a challenge for Holmes.  It is an enjoyable entry in the Holmes' film series.

The Bad:
The story is fine, but I wish it was a little longer.  Parts of the story feel like they could be fleshed out more.  I did not enjoy Ida Lupino as Ann Brandon.  I don't know if it's the actress or the character, but she was a weak point in the story.

Other Comments:
-The film is set in the 1890s, which is the time period the Holmes stories were written.  This is an original story, although it shares the title with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1892 short story "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes."
-This film features the iconic Holmes' quote above, which was ranked #65 on the American Film Institute's (AFI's) 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes.
-This is the last Rathbone/Bruce film to have Holmes don the iconic deerstalker hat.  While the hat would appear in subsequent films, he would not wear it again.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) 81 minutes
Director: Alfred L. Werker
Starring: Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson
Ida Lupino as Ann Brandon
George Zucco as Professor Moriarty
Alan Marshal as Jerrold Hunter
Terry Kilburn as Billy
Henry Stephenson as Sir Ronald Ramsgate
E.E. Clive as Inspector Bristol
Peter Willes as Lloyd Brandon

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

"You are so handsome!"
"And you are very... perceptive."

The town of Bricksburg is destroyed by the Duplo aliens.  To survive, the people become darker and hardened.  Five years later, they have renamed the town Apocalypseburg and avoid building anything shiny.  Emmet (Pratt) still thinks everything can be awesome, but no one else agrees with his optimism.  He also has a dream about armamageddon and the devastation it will bring.

Invaders from the Systar System attack and General Mayhem (Beatriz) kidnaps Emmett's friends: Wyldstyle (Banks), Batman (Arnett), Benny (Day), Unikitty (Brie), and MetalBeard (Offerman).  Emmett vows to save his friends, but no one else is willing to help.  He builds a ship and flies into the dangerous Stairgate.  He is saved from a deadly collision with an asteroid by Rex Dangervest (Pratt), a rugged adventurer with a dark past and a crew of dinosaurs.  Rex agrees to help Emmet find and rescue his friends.

Meanwhile, his friends meet Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (Haddish).  The Queen offers everyone their deepest desires, but Wyldstyle is convinced that she has nefarious plans.  Wyldstyle things the Queen is brainwashing everyone.  Can Emmet and Wyldstyle save their friends?


This film is the sequel to The Lego Movie (2014) and picks up immediately after the events of that film.

The Good:
I came into this film with high expectations since The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie were so well done.  I thought the film was good, but I didn't love it.  The new characters added some charm and worked in the Lego world.  Tiffany Haddish is great as Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi and easily skirts the line between evil and funny.  Richard Ayoade is her assistant Ice Cream Cone and Ben Schwartz is her jester as Banarnar.

The Bad:
The message feels clunkier in this film.  They are trying to keep the feeling of the first film, while still doing something new...

Other Comments:
-The catchy song "Everything is Awesome" from the first film returns here in different form.  They try to recreate the magic with "Catchy Song."
-Jon Lajoie wrote most of the songs that appear in the film, all are catchy and infectious: "Catchy Song" and "Not Evil" are the standouts.
-The film did not do as well as it's predecessor and Warner Bros. decided to end their  Lego franchise.  Universal Studios now owns the film rights to Lego.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) 107 minutes
Director: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Chris Pratt as Emmet Brickowski / Rex Dangervest
Elizabeth Banks as Lucy / Wyldstyle
Will Arnett as Batman
Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi
Stephanie Beatriz as General Mayhem
Charlie Day as Benny
Alison Brie as Unikitty
Nick Offerman as MetalBeard

To Be or Not to Be (1942)

"Now, look, Tura, you're playing for our lives."

"I know. Dobash, I'm going to do the impossible. I'm going to surpass myself!"

"Don't, Tura! Take it easy and don't draw out the scene. Please! I hate to leave the fate of my country in the hands of a ham."

In 1939, the Warsaw Theater Company is preparing a play satirizing the Nazis, while performing "Hamlet" at night.  The company is led by actor Joseph Tura (Benny) and his wife Maria (Lombard).  As Joseph delivers Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" speech, Lieutenant Sobinski (Stacks) leaves the theater to meet Maria.  This happens every performance and unnerves Tura.  Everything changes when the Germans invade Poland.  Sobinski is called to fight, while the actors struggle to survive.

Months later, the theater has been shut down.  Sobinski uncovers a German spy, Professor Alexander Siletsky (Ridges), masquerading as a loyal Polish citizen.  He flies back to Poland to alert the underground, but Siletsky also returns to Poland.  Can Sobinski, the Tura's, and the actors stop Siletsky and save the underground?


This iconic screwball comedy has something for everyone: satire, politics, romance, suspense, and more.

The Good:
Everything about this film works.  The story moves at a solid pace and packs a punch, while also juggling multiple genres with ease.  The cast is great.  Jack Benny and Carole Lombard are great together.  They have never been funnier.  The supporting cast is equally entertaining and elevates the film.

The Bad:
There is really no downside to the film.

Other Comments:
-The film is now considered a classic, but audiences did not understand it when it was first released.
-It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
-In 2000, the film ranked #49 on the American Film Institute's (AFI's) 100 Years... 100 Laughs.
-The film was remade by Mel Brooks in 1983, starring Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft.
-Lombard died in a plane crash before the film was released.

To Be or Not to Be (1942) 99 minutes
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Starring: Carole Lombard as Maria Tura
Jack Benny as Joseph Tura
Robert Stack as Lieutenant Stanislav Sobinski
Felix Bressart as Greenberg
Lionel Atwill as Rawich
Stanley Ridges as Professor Alexander Siletsky
Sig Ruman as Colonel Ehrhardt
Tom Dugan as Bronski
Charles Halton as Dobosh
George Lynn as Actor-Adjutant

Police Academy 3: Back in Training

"Mahoney must think he's as dumb as we are."

Commandant Lassard (Gaynes) asks his favorite candidates to return to the police academy as instructors.  The academy is competing against Commandant Mauser's (Metrano) academy to determine which academy will remain open.  Lassard brings back Sergeant Carey Mahoney (Guttenberg), Sergeant Moses Hightower (Smith), Sergeant Eugene Tackleberry (Graf), Sergeant Larvell Jones (Winslow), Sergeant Laverne Hooks (Ramsey), and Sergeant Douglas Fackler (Mahler) to assist Lieutenant Debbie Callahan (Easterbrook) with training the new recruits.

The new recruits include former delinquent Cadet Zed (Goldthwait), nerdy Cadet Sweetchuck (Kazurinsky), Tackleberry's brother-in-law Cadet Kirkland (Paris), Japanese-exchange Cadet Nogata (Tochi), and Fackler's wife Cadet Violet Fackler (Debralee Scott).

Mauser and his second-in-command, Lieutenant Proctor (Kinsey), hire Sergeant Copeland (Thomson) and Sergeant Blanks (von Hoffman) to be their spies and sabotage Lassard.  Can Mahoney and team stay one step ahead of Mauser and save the academy?


The third of 7 films in Police Academy franchise: Police Academy in 1984, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment in 1985, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol in 1987, Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach in 1988, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege in 1989, and Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow in 1994.  There were also 2 television shows (one live action and one animated).

The Good:
The beloved characters from prior films, including Carl Sweetchuck and Zed from the 2nd film, are back and up to their usual behavior.  I enjoyed Sweetchuck and Zed more in this film, and I was happy to see Leslie Easterbrook's Lieutenant Callahan return.

The Bad:
Art Metrano's Commandant Mauser is a decent foil to our heroes, but I still miss G.W. Bailey.  This film has the most named characters, there are about 21 returning characters, and it short-changes the stories of some of the characters.

Other Comments:
-This was Metrano's final film in the series.  Bailey returned for the rest of the series, aided by Lance Kinsey's Proctor.
-The villain at the end of the film, was also a villain in the original Police Academy movie.
-The movie ending jet ski chase is a nice mix of an extended action scene, broad comedy, and impressive stunt work.

Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) 1986 minutes
Director: Jerry Paris
Starring: Steve Guttenberg as Sergeant Carey Mahoney
Bubba Smith as Sergeant Moses Hightower
David Graf as Sergeant Eugene Tackleberry
Michael Winslow as Sergeant Larvell Jones
Marion Ramsey as Sergeant Laverne Hooks
Leslie Easterbrook as Lieutenant Debbie Callahan
Bruce Mahler as Sergeant Douglas Fackler
George Gaynes as Commandant Eric Lassard
Art Metrano as Commandant Mauser
Lance Kinsey as Lieutenant Proctor
Scott Thomson as Sergeant Chad Copeland
Brant von Hoffman as Sergeant Kyle Blanks
Bobcat Goldthwait as Cadet Zed
Tim Kazurinsky as Cadet Sweetchuck
Brian Tochi as Cadet Tomoko Nogata
Andrew Paris as Cadet Bud Kirkland

Knives Out

"This is a twisted web, and we are not finished untangling it, not yet."

Novelist Harlan Thrombey (Plummer) is dead.  Detective Lieutenant Elliot (Stanfield) and Trooper Wagner (Segan) believe he committed suicide, but the arrival of famed detective Benoit Blanc (Craig) puts their results into question.  Blanc, Elliot, and Wagner interrogate Thrombey's family and staff to see if their stories still hold up.

The night of his death, Thrombey celebrated his 85th birthday, surrounded by his family and staff.  His daughter, Linda Drysdale (Curtis) is a self-made entrepeneur, who is married to Richard (Johnson).  His son Walt Thrombey (Shannon), runs his father's publishing empire, and is married to Donna (Lindhome).  Self-help guru Joni Thrombey (Collette) is the widow of his other son.  His grandchildren are Linda's son playboy Ransom (Evans), Joni's daughter college student Meg (Langford), and Walt's snobby son Jacob (Martell).  The family have conflicting versions of their evening and their relationship to Harlan.  They are more concerned with what they stand to inherit from the estate.  The only person that is truly distressed by Harlan's passing is his nurse Marta Cabrera (de Armas).

Can Blanc discover the truth about Thrombey's death?


The film was written and directed by Rian Johnson.  He set out to make a murder mystery film in the vein of Agatha Christie.

The Good:
The story keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end.  The characters are interesting and the answer is not obvious from the beginning.  The house is like it's own character.

The Bad:
I don't know that there were any downsides to the film.

Other Comments:
-I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and look forward to watching it again.  It seems like a movie that gets better each time you watch it (there are new things to notice each time).
-The film was well received and it sounds like Johnson and Daniel Craig are interested in bringing the character of Benoit Blanc back for a sequel.  Netflix produced a sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in 2022 and will be producing a third film.

Knives Out (2019) 130 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material.
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc
Chris Evans as Hugh Ransom Drysdale
Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera
Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda Drysdale
Michael Shannon as Walt Thrombey
Don Johnson as Richard Drysdale
Toni Collette as Joni Thrombey
Lakeith Stanfield as Detective Lieutenant Elliot
Katherine Langford as Meg Thrombey
Jaeden Martell as Jacob Thrombey
Frank Oz as Alan Stevens
Riki Lindhome as Donna Thrombey
Edi Patterson as Fran
K Callan as Great Nana Thrombey
Noah Segan as Trooper Wagner
Christopher Plummer as Harlan Thrombey