Musical: **^ Rhythm in the Clouds (1937)

Here is an old musical from the era when musicals where generally show songs with a bit of plot added in.  Such is the case here.  There movie has a bit of a silly plot.  A girl down on her luck, forges a letter from a song writer to move into his apartment while he was away.  She also pretends they have co-wrote a few songs which begin to be a smash for a radio broadcast.  She has a conflict with her neighbor, who turns out to be a lyricist who adds lyrics to her music.  All is well until the song writer returns and wants his revenge for the fraud played on him. 
The girl: Judy Walker (Patricia Ellis)
The neighbor: Bob McKay (Warren Hull)
The song writer: Clyde Lyons (William Newell)
Song writer's fiancé and singer: Amy Lou (Joyce Crompton)

In Theaters: ***^Incredibles 2 (2018)

Most of the new crew is back, but who knew it would take 14 years, or that it was really that long between Incredibles movies.  We pick up where we left off.  However in this case two siblings come forward with a plan to restore the superheroes to their former status.  However not all is right with the plot. 

	Craig T. Nelson	...	Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible (voice)
	Holly Hunter	...	Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
	Sarah Vowell	...	Violet Parr (voice)
	Huck Milner	...	Dashiell Parr (Dash) (voice) (as Huckleberry Milner)
	Catherine Keener	...	Evelyn Deavor (voice)
	Eli Fucile	...	Jack-Jack Parr (voice)
	Bob Odenkirk	...	Winston Deavor (voice)
	Samuel L. Jackson	...	Lucius Best / Frozone (voice)

In Theaters: ***^Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019)

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase  (2019)  The thing that makes or breaks a movie such as this is the characters.  Fortunately Nancy Drew (Sophia Lillis) is very likeable, as are her best friends (Zoe Renee and Mackenzie Graham), and her new who use to be an enemy, Hannah (Andrea Anders).  And who would have thunk the villain would turn out to be who he turns out to be.  Great twist.  Fun!  And no, pranking someone, even in the name of revenge is never cool.  I am glad Nancy realizes this before the end of the movie. 

At Theaters: ***Wonder Park (2019)

Wonder Park (2019)  I was in the theater with all the fathers and their small children.  I may have outdone myself.  The story was fun though—a girl’s imagination coms to life, and when she starts to brood because her mother is sick, then darkness enters the Wonder Park world.  Again the evil minions are a bit much—as these movies seem to do.  However when the light shines they repent pretty fast.  This movie provides a creative look at fantasy and your stuffed toys. 

In Theaters ****^ Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

In Theaters ****^ Mary Poppins Returns 

Emily Blunt wows as Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda thrills as Jack, the Lamp Lighter and former apprentice of Bert from the original film.  And the Banks family is made up of Michael, (Ben Whishaw) and his sister Jane (Emily Mortimer) who are in the original but now 25 years older.  Michael is a widower.  He has three children, Anabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh) and Georgie (Joel Dawson).  Meryl Streep also portrays a cameo, cousin of Mary Poppins, Topsy, who is a fix-it person.  Michael has borrowed money against the bank, and the bank president (Colin Firth) is intent on taking the home, even if he has to hide stock records to do so.  ALs taking cameo rolls are Dick Van Dyck (bank president’s boss) and Angela Lansbury, balloon seller.   With this cast and Mary Poppins story we are in for a ride.  It seems P.L. Travers published eight Mary Poppins books in all with many stories.  Sheri really loved the music, but it still isn’t in my head like some of the original songs.  I need to return to see this again.

In Theaters: ***^Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

Lego Movie 2: The Sequel  When siblings have spats the consequences can create a ripple effect.  That is what happens here, and everything is not awesome all of the time.  They take off from the “Everything is awesome” song with this added lyrics:

Everything's not awesome
But that doesn't mean that it's hopeless and bleak
Everything's not awesome
But in my heart, I believe (I believe)

[Bridge]
We can make things better if we stick together (If we stick together)
Side by side, you and I, we will build it together (Yeah, we'll be together)
Build it together (Together forever)
All together now

Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks voice the main characters. 

In Theaters: ***^How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

How to Train Your Dragon:   This movie concludes the three part series.  In this movie the goal is to find a place where the dragons can live in peace without humans chasing them and trying to enslave them.  In the process Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) becomes more king like, and his girlfriend, Astrid (America Ferrera)  at the same time becomes more queen like. 

In Theaters: Run the Race (2019)

Run the Race This is a Christian themed movie produced by Tim Tebow.  It is a track and field and football movie as well.  The turning point in the movie is when the main character injures his knee in a backyard scuffle.  He was hoping to play in front of football scouts and earn a scholarship so as to get our of his small town.  Instead his brother takes up the flame in track and field.  His brother has had seizures after a football accident.  He can’t play football, but he can run.  However things take another twist just before the state track meet.  Tanner Stine and Evan Hofer play the brothers.

In Theaters: *****Captain Marvel (2019)

Captain Marvel (2019) We left the theater and Tony announced this was his favorite movie ever.  I wouldn’t go that high, but it does put a new twist on the Avenger series.  Her is an Avenger before the Avengers.  Captain Marvel (Brie Larsen) is a human, who was taken to space and her memory distorted.  However she returns, chasing who she thinks are the bad people, some shapeshifter aliens.  However she discovers that what she believed is not so.  This makes for an interesting twist.  In they end, she serves those she hunted.  Captain Marvel has special powers from absorbing the blast of a light speed engine which was made with a special stone.  The alien race that kidnaps her tries to tell her these powers have been granted by them.  But as will happen the truth wins out.
Nick Fury assists her (Samuel Jackson) and from this the idea of Avengers is born. 

Marvel Universe

In Theaters: *****Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

I don't think I have enjoyed a movie as much as Alita in a very long time.  The character Alita, with her computer enhanced eyes fascinates me.   As does the idea of having a human brain and core on a cyborg body. In this movie, many of the characters have their own brains while being implanted on a different body with fighting characteristics and strengths.  Alita (Rosa Salazar) is discovered in a trash heap, at least her head and heart.  She is put onto a body by Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz).  Ido suspects Alita's origins are thought of an ancient technology no longer available.  Her heart is very powerful, and she is trained in the fighting techniques of the Martian warriors.  Slowly, especially during conflict, Alita remembers her past and her mission.  She and those who fought with her failed to conquer Sky City and now 300 years later another quest begins.


Famous lines, I am not impressed.”  “I do not stand by in the face of evil.”  Can a cyborg person fall in love with a human, and be loved by that human in return.  Can someone change their attitude such that they help those who are in need, rather than go after her goal which she now finds unfulfilling?  And can an old man redeem himself by being a hunter warrior and catch bad people.  The bit about Alita being over 300 years old and a Martian Warrior just enhances the plot. 

Book Review: Worldquake, Dragon's Green; The Chosen One

Worldquake Book One:

Drgon’s Green by Scarlett Thomas, Simon and Schuster for Young Readers, New York, 2017.

 

Worldquake Book Two:

The Chosen Ones by Scarlett Thomas, Simon and Schuster for Young Readers, New York, 2018.

These books present a world where there are magical amulets in books for the last one to read the book--however the reading is more experiencing the book, and figuring out how to survive and escape the book.  Also this requires the receiver of the amulet to destroy the book, making him a book burner.  In the first Dragon's Green is the book, and Effie Truelove ventures inside the book.  The book gives her a calling card with which she is able to visit her relatives in the "Other World."  In the second book there are more evil intentions as all "The Chosen One" books are gathered up and destroyed.  However the plan does not work out.  Effie Truelove has a good group of friends, with different backgrounds.  Effie is a superhero, Wolf a hero, Maximillian sort of a nerd with his own skills for discovery, but also adventure to the under world, raven is a witch and Lexy a healer.  It makes for some very good teamwork.

Christmas Movies: ****A Christmas Note (2015); ***The Christmas Spirit (2015) ****Debra Macomber's Mrs. Miracle (2009); **^Christmas In the Air (2009)

****A Christmas Note (2015)

Gretchen (Jamie Lynn-Sigler) moves to a new neighborhood while her injured husband recuperates abroad from war-related injuries.  She is called upon to inform her somewhat reclusive neighbor that the neighbor’s mother has passed away.  The neighbor, Melissa (Leah Gibson) and her mother had been estranged for many years.  She did not even know she her mother lived in the same community.  In retrieving her mother’s possession she receives a note from her mother indicating there was a sibling who was given up for adoption.  This begins a search, with the unknown sibling coming from a most unusual place.  Add to this the drama of getting the wounded military husband and you have a typical Hallmark Movie.  This movie leaves you feeling good.

 

***The Spirit of Christmas  (2015)  This is a Christmas ghost story.  Daniel (Thomas Beaudion)  was murdered 95 years ago and returns to haunt his home every Christmas for twelve days.  However Lilly (Kati Salowsky) has shown up to get the home appraised and sold.  Hard to do with a spirit hanging around.  All would be easily accomplished except Lilly and Daniel start to fall for each other.  (Lifetime)  Lilly determines to solve the murder mystery and thus break the curse. 

 

****Debra Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle  (2009)   This romance features a special nanny, Mrs. Merkle (or Miracle) (Doris Roberts) who is willing to use whatever means to get two young people together.  Seth Webster (James Van Der Beek) is a widowed father, and still bitter over his wife’s passing to the point of not wanting to have memories about the house, or to talk to his twin sons about her.   Reba Maxwell (Erin Karpluk) is a travel agent who has been nursing a hurt from her sister for many years.  She ran off with her fiancé and even though that her sister’s and fiancé relation only lasted a couple weeks, she is still hurt.  Sister has moved on, married and has a daughter that Reba has never met.  Turns out they are both so hooked up that they can’t move on a form new attachments.  (Hallmark)


**^Christmas in the Air:  This is a single man (Eric Close), who is owner with his brother of a toy making company.  However he finds it hard to balance his work and the lives of his children.  This is even more intense when he is roped into hosting a potential buyer.  He recruits a professional organizer (Catherine Bell) to help.  Of course they slowly develop a relationship.  My issue being a social worker has to do with the ethics of falling for a client.  Perhaps organizers have different standards.  Hallmark Movie.

In Theaters: **** Stan and Ollie (2018)

****Stan & Ollie (2018) This movie features the classic comedy duo, Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (John C. Reilly) at the end of their careers.  They have agreed to do a European tour, mostly through Great Britain, Ireland and Scotland.  This is a great character biopic.  It adds their wives, Ida Laurel and Lucille Hardy, (Nina Arianda and Shirley Henderson) when they catch up with the tour.  These two women tolerate each other.  The driving force, who hopes to make money off the tour is Hal Roach (Danny Huston).  When Laurel and Hardy go after each other for past perceived wrongs the movie gets very interesting.  Of course after this there is a heart attack on the part of Ollie, and a reconciliation with genuine caring and affection. 

Movie Review: ****39 Steps (1935)

****39 Steps (1935) 39 Steps is a master spy thriller from Alfred Hitchcock.  In this film Hannay (Robert Donat) runs into a woman who is running from spies.  Before he knows it she is murdered, and then the spies are after him.  He flees to where he supposes her contact was; only to find a den of spies.  In his fleeing he meets Pamela (Madeleine Carol) who at first doesn’t believe him.  This film has many close escapes, and even his own murder—but he is saved by a Bible in his pocket.  There is vital industrial information that is being smuggled out of the country.  It is figuring out how that is the key to our hero finally ridding himself of the spies. 

This DVD came from Netflix.  It also had two documentaries about this movie.  One hosted by Marianne Keane goes into scene by scene detail of how the angle of the camera and the profile Hitchcock used helped to tell his story.  Very fascinating.

This is a separate review with three stars

This movie is a 1935 British Alfred Hitchcock film.  Hitchcock had been making movies for over ten years when this came out.  This is a spy suspence story.
Hannay is drawn into the story, by our spy, Anabella Smith, who has uncovered a plot by foreign spies to get secret information out of the country.  The foreign spy ring is a group called 39 steps.
The movie begins with a demonstration by a man who can remember everything.  At this a shot rings out, and the spy end in the arms of Hannay, and he takes her home.  She tells him of what is going on, and mentions 39 steps.  She shows up at his house during the night, with a knife in her back, and she shortly dies.  He is then accused of the murder, and goes around trying to find her contact, in Scotland, to prove his innocence.
It is amazing how inept people are at catching him, or catching him and letting him get away.  How many times can he get away?  While on a train, he uses another woman, Pamela, in his escape attempt by kissing her as his pursuers go pass.  However she turns him in.  He does manage to get away, and jumps off the train.
Going to land is a bad idea, because instead of finding the contact, he finds the leader of 39 steps, who shoots him.
However he escapes harm as the bullet is stopped by a bible.  He reports to the police, who want to arrest him and he escapes again.  Somehow he and Pamela end up picked up by some members of 39 steps pretending to be police.  They realize they are bad when they don't take them to the police station.  They escape when they are herding animals off the road.  However they are handcuffed to each other.  They then head back to London to prove their innocence, but the man who remembers everything saves the day, when asked to tell what 39 steps is, he is shot and stopped, but the bad people are captured.
Too many implausible twists for me.  However this is suppose to be a good movie.

Movie Review: ***^Secretariat (2010)

Secretariat  This is a horse racing movie about a classic horse, and was the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.  This movie focuses on horse ownership.  Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) won the horse based on a coin flip.  Lucien Lauren (John Malkovich) trained the horse.  Eddie Sweat (Nelsan Ellis) maintained the stables.  Most often  Jack Tweedy (Dylan Walsh) was the jockey.  The focus of this movie is very nice, and they really play on the rivalry with Sham, a horse from a rival stable.  I get excited even when I know the outcome.

Movie Review: ****Trouble with the Curve (2012)

****Trouble With the Curve  Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams portray a father and daughter combo which is very fascinating.  Mickey (Adams) has grown  up around baseball, as her father, Gus, is a scout.  However at a young age Gus sent her away, and Mickey has struggled with the rejection.  This year Mickey goes on a scouting trip with him because of his failing health.  On the road the run into a player previously scouted by Gus, Johnny (Justin Timberlake) with whom Gus rekindles his friendship and Mickey starts a relationship.  They are scouting a player who is a great high school player.  However, a good batting average with lots of homeruns is not always what it seems.  Mickey meanwhile scouts out a prospective pitcher on their trips.  John Goodman portrays Gus’ boss.

Movie Review: Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

***^Murder on the Orient Express (1974)  This is Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) at their best.  There is murder upon the train, this after the victim had asked Poirot to be his body guard, which he refused.  In this movie everyone is a suspect; and only after piecing everything together does the true nature of the movie come out.  I previously reviewed the version that came out this past year.  In this version, in addition to Finney there are Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins and Michael York among others.  A great cast, a tricky plot and overall a good movie.