Movie Review: ****Cruella 2021

 Cruella is the story of Cruella Deville.  How did she become so evil with a hate of Dalmatians?  This movie answers this question.  Emma Stone does a superb job as the woman with black and white hair.  However Emma Thompson, who portrays the evil baroness and Cruella's biological mother.  In this movie we enter the world of fashion design.  Who is the greater fashion genius, the daughter or the mother?  Playing supporting rolls are Joel Fry and Paul Hauser as Jasper and Horace, who support Cruella through thick and thin.  There is lots of intrigue in this movie and we learn what happens when you design a dress of moths.  

TV Review: ****^Star Wars: The Bad Batch

 I thoroughly enjoyed Star War: The Bad Batch, as I generally enjoy anything Star Wars.  This is a new animated series.  The original premise we have about the Bad Batch, is they are just that, clones who were mismade some how.  However it has been an advantage to them as they are generally more aggressive and they fight outside the general mode of the other clones, which makes them a more formidable fighter.  However, as this series progresses we find that perhaps their differences were not accidental.  Each has special skills.  Hunter is the leader and has intuitive insight, Cross Hair is a superior marksman, Wrecker has great strength and also a reinforced skeletal system, Tech is a Tech genius, Echo was a regular droid but captured by the drones and hooked up to a computer and so can now access any computer. And then we add a fifth member to the Bad Batch, a young girl.  She too has her own special abilities and by the end of the series we begin to figure out what those are.  

Conflict is created when one member of the Bad Batch is very intense on following orders, and as such leaves the group and joins the empire.  However we are never sure how much the empire actually appreciates him, or are they just using him.  All of the episodes from the first season are now available through Disney+.  

A few years later all of the Bad Batch Seasons are available.  There are three seasons in total.  Omega, the young girl mentioned is vital the the Empire as they want to utilize her in making more clines.  She is a force sensitive clone.  She is captured and held prisoner.  The emperor wants to use her blood to be able to make force sensitive clones.  The rest of the Bad Batch is determined to rescue her.  This puts them all in harms way; but they are a team.

From season to season this series only gets better.  As in all dangerous situations; they are in great peril and not all survive.

The Primary cast:

Omega, Michelle Ang

The Bad Batch; Cross Hair, Wrecker, Hunter, Tech and Echo, Dee Bradley Baker. Baker also voices most of the other clones.

There are three seasons with 47 episodes.  This is great Star Wars fun.

Movie Review: ****Jungle Cruise

This is a very entertaining movie based on the jungle cruise ride at Disneyland. It stars Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson. Lily Houghton (Blunt) is determined to find a magical petal which will cure all illness. Frank (Johnson) is the captain of the boat she hires to take her up the Amazon to find the petal. Lily is accompanied by her brother (Jack whitehall) and pursued by Prince Joaquim (Jesse Plemons) who wants the petal for the benefit of the Nazis. It makes for some fantastic adventures and peril. The scenery is very well done. And their is an ancient legend with natives guarding the way. I enjoyed myself and especially like the was Blunt and Johnson interact. The humor and puns were very good.

Movie Review: ****^Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker

This review is very late. Only a couple years after the movie do i realize I had neglected to right a review for this movie. I actually watched this in theaters, several time, when it first came out. Over the months, there have been those who have expressed opinion about this episode, the final of the original ning episodes. Many want to trach the final three altogether, while others are the opposite and love them. I would put myself in the group that loves them. I must admit, "The Last Jedi" was a disappointment to me. This movie had to fix so many things--such as Luke Skywalker throwing a light saber over his shoulder. That was just too out of character for me. Anyway, this movie attempts to repair the damage with a different director. It also brings us to Exegol. This is a fitting environment for the last battle. Palpatine has returned, and Rey is his off spring. But Rey is not a Palpatine. The interaction between she and Kylo Ren is very well done. The story comes full circle. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat to the end. Is was fantastic to see a cameo of Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker who had both passed away in previous episodes.