Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

 

In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) rebuilds a wrecked racing car that his children Jeremy (Adrian Hall) and Jemima (Heather Ripley) are fond of.  The car is named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang because of the sounds it makes. The Potts meet Truly Scrumptious (Sally Anne Howes) when she brings the children home after they skip school.  Truly's father, Lord Scrumptuous (James Robertson), is the owner of a candy factory.  She goes with the Potts on a beach picnic, where Caractacus tells the story of how Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe), the tyrant who rules the fictional country of Vulgaria, wants to steal Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  With the help of  the local toymaker (Benny Hill), the Potts and Truly prevent Baron Bomburst from keeping Chitty.

It turns out that Lord Scrumptuous and Caractacus's father, Grandpa Potts (Lionel Jeffries), know each other.  Lord Scrumptuous offers to buy some candy Caractacus has invented to market as dog treats, which means Caractacus is going to be rich.  He proposes to Truly and they drive off in Chitty.

I was reminded when I rewatched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang what a delightful movie this is.  Part of the reason is because of Dick Van Dyke; all of his work is enjoyable.  The portrayals of the other characters are engaging also.  Other elements of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's appeal include the story being imaginative and the positive theme of a father spending time with his children.  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the kind of movie that you can watch many times without getting tired of it.

The Mummy

In The Mummy (1999), treasure hunters on an archeological dig in the Sahara Desert in 1925 get more than they bargain for when a 3,000-year-old mummified Egyptian priest wanting revenge is reincarnated.

      

I had the opportunity to be entertained once again by The Mummy when I watched it on Netflix recently.  Ancient Egyptian history interests me, the plot is engaging, the cast does an excellent job in their roles, and the interaction between the characters is enjoyable, if somewhat campy.  That is part of what makes The Mummy likable however.  I especially enjoy Brendan Fraser as Rick, Rachel Weisz as Evelyn and Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep.  

The Mummy is definitely worth seeing more than once, and that isn’t the case with very many movies.

God's Not Dead

In God’s Not Dead, Christian college student Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper) accepts a challenge by his atheist college professor, Jeffrey Radisson (Kevin Sorbo) to debate God’s existence versus non-existence.

God’s Not Dead has a good underlying message concerning speaking up about and sticking to your beliefs, but there are parts that are rather stereotypical.  Atheism doesn’t necessarily equal hating God, not all Muslims are violent and hate Christianity, and not all Christians are fanatics who try to force their beliefs on everyone else.  The purpose of this may have been to address some of the different belief systems.  However, this could have been accomplished in a less clichéd manner.

The classroom debate is my favorite part of the movie.   Harper’s character makes good points about how believing there is a Creator makes more sense than believing everything exists because of chance, and that we have free will.  Sorbo’s character is extremely hostile towards Christianity, and it turns out this is because he lost his mother at a young age.  I understand why someone would wonder why God would allow bad things to happen, but not everyone who goes through hard times blames God.  There is also a good message that God is bigger than your circumstances.

I liked this movie in spite of the issues I mentioned, and I am interested in watching the rest of the series.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Movie)

I watched The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks online recently and liked, didn't love it.  As is usually the case with movies based on books, I prefer the book.  The story of the family dealing with a relative's cells being collected for research without permission is interesting, and the performances are good in my opinion.  However, the movie focuses on the family's anger at the medical establishment (John Hopkins specifically).  That is an issue in the book, but isn't really the point or focus of the author.  The book discusses other issues that aren't brought up in the movie that are important also.

This is a movie worth watching at least once, but I doubt I'll go out of my way to watch it again.

Guardians of the Galaxy

In Guardians of the Galaxy. Peter Quill is abducted from Earth by a group of space pirates (the Ravagers) led by Yondu Udonta.  On the planet Morag 26 years later, Peter steals an orb.  It turns out there are quite a few others who are interested in this orb.  The orb is actually an Infinity Stone, which gives great destructive power to whoever happens to possess it.  Peter has quite an adventure as he attempts to keep the orb from being used for evil.  He has to deal with others attempting to get the stone and being attacked and taken prisoner by aliens, and he shows courage and resourcefulness in handling his challenges.

I re-watched Guardians of the Galaxy recently and enjoyed it as much as the first time I saw the movie.  The plot is interesting and the characters are entertaining, particularly Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Groot (Vin Diesel) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper).  The whole cast does an excellent job and the interaction between the characters is well-done.  I like how Peter, Groot, Rocket, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Drax (Dave Bartista) start out as rivals and end up working together for the common good.

This is a movie worth seeing more than once.

Zootopia

Zootopia is a metropolis where predators and prey live together in harmony.  When some carnivores disappear, young rabbit police officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) works with wily fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to solve the case and uncover prejudice against carnivores.

Zootopia is an enjoyable movie.  Judy and Nick are likable, and the interaction between the characters is entertaining.  The theme of a diverse society living together peacefully is a good one, although the idea of carnivores and herbivores not doing things according to their nature is rather far-fetched.  Still, the issue of prejudice is a relevant one, as is the idea of Judy being discriminated against and not being allowed to be a police officer because she is a rabbit. 

I would give this movie a 4/5.  It might be a little too intense for very young children, but older children would probably like Zootopia.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has returned home after his experience with the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War and begins to explore his identities as a high school student and Spider-Man.  With Tony Stark/Iron Man’s (Robert Downey Jr.) help, Spider-Man takes on the Vulture, AKA Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) who is stealing advanced weapons.

I don’t usually care much for sequels in a movie series, but I enjoyed Spider-Man: Homecoming a lot.  It is a typical superhero-saves-the-world film with a lot of action in some ways, but the acting is good. The theme of a young person having to choose to go his own way or do the right thing is thought-provoking.  The interaction between young Parker and Stark’s characters is entertaining.  Holland captures the enthusiastic teenager discovering his purpose very well, and Downey was born to be Iron Man as far as I’m concerned.  I’ve always loved his portrayal of Iron Man.  Michael Keaton makes a pretty good bad guy too. 

I would definitely recommend Spider-Man: Homecoming. It is worth seeing.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is the story of Diana, the Princess of the Amazons.  She is growing up in Themyscira, an island inhabited by a race of female warriors created by Zeus.  Diana wants to train as a warrior, but her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), won’t allow it.  However, with the help of Hippolyta’s sister, high-ranking Amazon officer Antiope (Robin Wright), Diana begins her training and becomes a skilled warrior.

Later, a grown Diana (Gal Gadot) rescues Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) when his plane crashes.  Trevor tells the Amazons about the conflict (World War 1) in the outside world.  Diana is sure Ares is behind this war and wants to find and confront him.

Diana and Steve work together to stop a plot to sell the Germans a biological weapon, and Diana confronts Ares (David Thewlis).

Wonder Woman is a very enjoyable movie.  The plot, setting, acting, cinematography and Wonder Woman’s kindness and optimism all contribute to this.  The island of Themyscira is gorgeous, and I like movies set in the early 1900s.  Diana is a strong character, but her compassion for those suffering because of the war provides balance.  Wonder Woman is more than just a warrior.  The chemistry between Diana and Steve is well done.  Ares’ statement that, although he may influence them, humans ultimately make the decision to cause violence because they are basically corrupt is an interesting concept.  I would be glad to see Wonder Woman again.

Logan

The year is 2029, and mutants are nearly extinct.  James Howlett, AKA Logan and Wolverine, is now a chauffeur in Texas.  His healing powers are fading, and he has to deal with chronic pain.  He is also caring for Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), who suffers from Alzheimer’s, which makes his telepathic powers unstable.  He is asked by Gabriela Lopez (Elizabeth Rodriguez), a nurse who works for the biotech corporation Alkali/Transigen, to take her and a young girl, Laura (Dafne Keen) to a safe haven in North Dakota.

They are attacked by mercenaries along the way, and Logan barely escapes with Laura and Professor X.  Logan discovers Laura is very much like him, and in fact has been cloned from his DNA by Alkali/Transigen.  Together, Logan, Laura and a small group of mutants battle the corporate bad guys.

I did like this movie.  Jackman’s performance as Logan coming to terms with his mortality is thoughtful.  I like the interaction between Logan and Laura, and how Logan cares for Professor X. This movie is a bit more somber than previous X-Men movies, but there is a lot of action, and the idea of biotech corporations experimenting with DNA to make clones isn’t that farfetched.    

Logan is enjoyable.

Batman: The Lego Movie

I went to see Batman:  The Lego Movie recently and it is entertaining.  The interaction between Batman/Bruce, Batgirl/Barbara and Robin/Dick is fun, and I like Alfred a lot.  The references to the various Batman movies, the old TV series and the Justice League are amusing.

Batman being a loner because he is afraid of losing people he cares about is a good concept to work with, and so is the idea that even though Batman and the Joker are enemies, they need each other.  The idea that you have to care about someone to be able to hate them is interesting.

Batman: The Lego Movie is worth seeing.

Fantastic Beasts and How to Find Them

Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is completing a project to find and document magical creatures.  Things become complicated when he arrives in New York, runs into a Muggle (or No-Maj in America) named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Folger), and some of the Fantastic Beasts escape from Newt’s magical case.

Newt discovers that the New Salem Philanthropic Society has an agenda to find and kill witches and wizards, and that a secret group, the Magical Congress of the United States of America, wants to keep the magical world secret.  With the help of Jacob and two magical sisters, Portentina “Tina” (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol), Newt prevents the wizarding world from being exposed.

This is a fun movie.  I like the setting, the 1920s, and I like the references to Hogwarts before Harry Potter’s time.  Fantastic Beasts and How to Find Them is first referenced in the Harry Potter books as a textbook written by Newt Scamander that belongs to Harry, and I like origin stories.  The cast does a good job in their roles, and the interaction between the main characters (Redmayne, Folger, Waterston and Sudol) is entertaining.  The special effects are well done and the creatures are interesting.  I would recommend this movie.

Dr. Stange

Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), an arrogant, self-centered neurosurgeon, is in a life-changing car accident that results in him losing the use of his hands.  When traditional treatment doesn’t help, he searches for healing outside of traditional medicine after hearing about a paraplegic, Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt), who can walk again.

Dr. Strange travels to Tibet, where he meets the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), and under her guidance learns about magic, alternate dimensions and the astral plane.  Dr. Strange ultimately has to decide whether to use what he learns for his own benefit or for the greater good when confronted with a sorcerer, Kaecillus (Mads Mikkelsen), who has his own agenda.

This is an enjoyable movie, and Cumberbatch’s performance is a big reason.  He captures the personality of an egotistical individual learning it’s not all about him well.  Tilda Swinton does as excellent job in her role as the Ancient One who has taken on the task of helping her student realize he must overcome his arrogance, although the whole cast contributes to the film with strong performances.  The special effects are well done and imaginative also.   Dr. Strange is worth seeing.

Suicide Squad

In Suicide Squad, U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) assembles a group of dangerous supervillains to fight a mysterious enemy.

Suicide Squad is an okay, not great, movie.  The acting is good.  The performances of Will Smith as Deadshot, Joel Kinnamin as Rick Flag and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn in particular are enjoyable.  Jared Leto is good as the Joker; however, I prefer Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson,  That isn't a reflection on Leto as an actor; it's a matter of preference.  The movie in general isn’t especially impressive.  Making criminals do the government’s dirty work is an interesting concept, and there is plenty of action, but it doesn’t work here, largely because of the weak plot. I like the Batman cameo, although it doesn't make much difference in the overall storyline.

I read the comic book in the late 80s-early 90s, and I don’t recall Harley Quinn being with the Suicide Squad, and I don’t remember them dealing with Batman, at least not often.  He may have made a few appearances, but he wasn’t the focus of the comic.  I don’t recall them dealing with Joker either, although again there may have been a few references.  Admittedly it has been a while since I have read the stories, and I do realize movies based on books or comic books will be different.

I liked, didn’t love Suicide Squad, and it’s not a movie I care about seeing again.

Star Trek Beyond

In Star Trek Beyond, the Enterprise is attacked and forced to crash-land on a mysterious planet.  Their attacker, Krall, needs an ancient artifact that is on the damaged starship.  The Enterprise crew is left stranded and must battle an alien race while trying to escape from a hostile world.

I don’t consider myself a Trekkie, but I enjoy the Star Trek franchise.  Of course I like the original series, and I like Star Trek:  The Next Generation and Star Trek:  Enterprise (ENT is my favorite).  I’m honestly not very familiar with Deep Space Nine or Voyager.  The latest movie installment is good.  The interaction between Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Bones (Karl Urban) is funny.  The dialogue between Spock and Bones is especially amusing, and the rest of the cast does a good job with their roles.

Overall Star Trek Beyond is an entertaining movie with a lot of action, and it’s good to see the crew work together to figure out how to get out of their predicament. 

Captain America: Civil War

I went to see Captain America:  Civil War, and the movie is very enjoyable.  There is some pretty intense action, but there is enough humor to lighten the tense moments.  The interaction between the cast is well done and believable. I love Spiderman's character, and as always, Robert Downey is delightful as Iron Man.

When the government pressures the Avengers into an accountability system overseen by the UN after events lead to the death of several people, the team is divided.  Captain America thinks the government shouldn’t interfere, and Iron Man thinks there should be government regulation.

The issues are presented in an intelligent way; I can understand where both sides are coming from, and the plot comes together with Cap and Iron Man working to solve the actual problem.  The plot can be confusing if you haven't seen Captain America: Winter Soldier or Avengers: The Age of Ultron, and there are a lot of characters to keep up with.  However, those are minor issues.

Movies in a franchise don't always stay interesting or entertaining, but that isn't the case with Captain America:  Civil War. 

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

I went to see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and for the most part I liked it.  The story begins after the events and battle with General Zod in Man of Steel make Superman a controversial character.   Bruce Wayne sees Superman as a threat, and Clark Kent decides to expose Batman by publishing articles in the Daily Planet.  Lex Luther uses the resulting mistrust between Batman and Superman to manipulate them into a battle, hoping to destroy them both.

There is certainly a lot of action. The big battle at the end is impressive and the special effects are well done.  Ben Affleck did a better job with the Batman character than I expected.  I'm not a big Ben Affleck fan, but that is a matter of personal preference.  I like Alfred's character and the interaction between him and Bruce/Batman. Jeremy Irons does a good job with all of his characters though.  I also like Lois Lane's (Amy Adams) character, and the interaction between her and Clark/Superman is well done.

However, the way the beginning of the movie goes from Gotham to Metropolis to the Indian Ocean is somewhat confusing.  I like the Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) character, but was confused about how she fit into the story (other than to help out in the big bad battle at the end) too.  It is probably a matter of trying to put too much information into a two or two and a half hour movie.

Overall, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a good, not great, movie.  I may opt to just wait for any future Batman/Superman films to come out on DVD.

Avatar

I re-watched Avatar for the first time since seeing it shortly after the movie was released in 2009.  

The story follows the experiences of a paraplegic marine, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) who takes the place of his murdered brother in a mission on the distant world of Pandora.  His job is to win the trust of the native Na’vi and convince them to relocate so that a valuable ore in their forest can be mined by greedy corporate types.  Humans can’t breathe the air on Pandora, so they have to have to use an Avatar (a remote control alien body) to survive. Things become complicated when Jake falls in love with a Na’vi woman, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).   

The special effects are impressive, particularly the Pandora mountain and forest scenes. The battle at the end where the bad guys get their behinds kicked is well done.  The movie is worth watching for these elements.  

Sigourney Weaver (Grace Augustine) and Worthington do a good job with their characters.   I like the interaction between Jake and Neytiri and the other Na'vi (specifically Omaticaya clan) people.

The overall plot isn't earthshaking.  The themes aren’t new; there are other movies about natives being driven from their land.  I see elements of Dances With Wolves, Aliens, Terminator, a few other Sci-Fi movies, and other movies critical of military-type activity here.  

In general, Avatar is enjoyable, but as is the case with many movies, is overrated.

Stardust

Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox) crosses into the magical fairy realm of Stormhold to bring a fallen star to Victoria (Sienna Miller) to win her love and marry her.  Tristan discovers the fallen star is a woman, Yvaine (Claire Danes), and that the evil witch Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer) wants to use Yvaine to gain eternal youth.  The princes of Stormhold also want Yvaine for their own reasons.  Tristan finds himself dealing with their ghosts and some flying pirates in the process of getting Yvaine to Victoria, and things become more complicated when Tristan and Yvaine fall in love.

Stardust is a delightful movie.  First of all, it's based on a book by Neil Gaiman, and the chances are good that anything based on his work will be delightful.

There are a lot of characters and subplots to keep up with, but this fits together into the overall story nicely.  The movie is somewhat dark in places, but it's mostly quirky and funny.

I especially enjoyed Michelle Pfeiffer's performance as Lamia; she does an excellent job of being funny and gruesome at the same time.

Robert De Niro as the cross-dressing Captain Shakespeare is hilarious, as are the ghosts of the brothers who died trying to take over their father's kingdom.  The whole cast is outstanding, but these performances are my favorites.

Stardust is a film I'd be very glad to watch again.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Here is a link to my Wordpress site for my thoughts on the latest Star Wars film,  Good stuff.   The Force Awakens

Necessary Roughness.

I watched Necessary Roughness not long ago, and like it, although it's not a great film.  I enjoy Scott Bakula even if I don't care for the particular material or storyline; he always does a good job.  The idea of an older guy getting a second chance to play football years after high school has potential; I do like movies where characters get second chances. The interaction between Coach Gennero (Hector Elizondo) and Coach Rig (Robert Loggia) is funny, and Sinbad does a good job in his role as Andre Krimm. The scenes with the convict football team led by Dick Butkus are amusing.  Overall it is an okay film, but not extremely memorable.