Alfred Hitchcock Silent Movie: **^ The Manxman (1929)

 This is an early Alfred Hitchcock.  In this movie there are two best friends, and one woman.  One is a lawyer and very loyal.  Pete (Carl Brisson) is in love with Kate (Anny Ondra).  Phillip (Malcolm Keen) is a lawyer and his trusted friend.  When Pete proposes marriage, Kate's father says absolutely not.  Pete determines to go over seas to get rich, and asks Phillip to keep and eye on Kate for him.  Kate and Phillip love each other, but are loyal.  when they hear Pete is presumed dead, they let go however.  However Pete is not dead and returns, and marries Kete.  However Kate is pregnant with Phillip's baby.  She has a baby girl, which Pete assumes is his.  They continue life until everything reaches a head for Kate.  She is married to Pete but loves Phillip, who is the father of her baby.  She attempts suicide by drowning.  She would like to be with Phillip but his lawyer, judgeship aspirations do not allow this.  But when Kate comes before him for trial, everything falls apart; or comers together based on your viewpoint.  

Early Alfred Hitchcock Movie: *** The Farmer's Wife (1928)

This is a very early Alfred Hitchcock, before he caught onto the suspense genre.  It is a romantic comedy of sorts with the Farmer, widowed, seeking a new wife after his daughter marries, leaving him at home alone.  Howevrer our farmer has terrible luck.  He is helped in his endeavors by his house maid and his handyman, who in the end are as funny as the farmer in his pursuits.  It takes him a while to com to his senses, but the maid and he have been in love for some time.  He is just shy around her.  

As noted Alfred Hitchcock direts.  This is a silent film, except for a serenade song.  

Movie Review: **** Jumper (2008) with Hayden Christensen

 David Rice (Hayden Christensen) has a miserable life.  The brunt of teasing at school, a mother who left him when he was five, and an abusive father.  while being teased at school, he falls through the ice and floats away.  But he doesn't drown, but teleports himself into the library.  He begins oracticing, and realizes he doesn't need to stay home.  He can teleport away, so he does.  He also develops a habit of teleporting into bank vaults, and thereby living a pretty good lifestyle.  However he doesn't show himself to anyone so they think he has died.  Several years later he is quite established.  However there is a secret group intent on killing the jumpers, no one should have such power.  Roland (Samuel L. Jackson) heads this group of Paladins.  He has a big knife he uses, but he slows the jumpers with electricity.  

He returns to his hometown, and looks up Millie (Rachel Bilson) and decides to bring her with on his next trip to Italy.  However in Italy he is attacked, but he also meets another jumper, Griffin (Jamie Bell).  David accidentally follows Griffin to his lair.  In the end they team up and the capture the Paladins without their device that helps them trap jumpers and also move about.  However Roland captures Millie.  david wants to save Millie, Griffin wants to blow u the Paladins.  A fight ensues, and david come away on top.  He rescues Millie and does not blow up the Paladins, prooving he is different from other Jumpers.

This movie jumps around a lot (pun intended).  They travel to sevreral different countries, Egypt and Italy among them.  There is some fine fighting and special effects with electricity.  

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara Movie Review: **** Rio Grande (1950)

 This is the first of five collaborations of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.  Lt. Col Kirby York (Wayne) is osted on the Rio Grande, and dealing with Apache Indians.  Mrs. Kathleen Yorke (O'Hara) his estranged wife comes to camp after her son, Trooper Jefferson Yorke (Claude Jarman Jr.)  He had arrived in camp a few days earlier as a new recruit.  The relationship between Yorke and his wife evolves during the movie and it is fun to watch, as too the growth of their son.  Other characters are Trooper Tyree (Ben Johnson) who in addition to being a trooper is wanted on manslaughter charges.  Trooper Boone (Harry Carey Jr.) starts in a fight with Trooper York but they fast become best friends.  The movie is also graced with the serenading of the regimental singers (Sons of the Pioneers.)  

Great story telling.  In Black and White.  John Ford directed.

Tom Cruise Movie Review: **** Minority Report (2002)

 This is a science fiction that is a bit hard to understand.  It is a futuristic movie, taking place in 2054.  In Washington, D.C. pre cogs (peope with cognitive functions where they dream of future murders, and are used by the police to prevent future crimes.  Many people have been arrested as a result, and placed in a comma.  The murder rate has dropped to zero.  However one of our police, Chief John Anderton (Tom Cruise) shows up on a future crime report, killing someone he doesn't know.  He runs, and eventually gets to the bottom of a murder which was miss handled in the past.  A woman was murdered twice, once prevented by the precogs, but the second did happen, Ann Lively (Jessica Harper) was drowned.  One of the Precogs was her daughter (Samantha Morton).  Anderton steals this precog.  She is considered the strongest. 

Someone has been manipulating the system, and that person is very powerful.  A coworker (Colin Ferrell), rival of sorts, also started questioning and goes to the director (Max Von Sydow), and is murdered.  Anderton's (Kathryn Morris) wife is also involved, and is the person who discovers the true murderer.  

Directed by Steven Spielberg.  Even though this is hard material, with futuristic computers and such, I think is comes off well.  

Movie Review: **** Coach Carter (2005)

 Coach Carter (Samuel Jackson) takes a position as basketball coach even though he knows it is a tough neighborhood and the team has n9t had much success.  He sets some conditions for the players, 2.3 GPA and attend classes and sit in the front and wear a tie on game day.  They actually find a great deal of success on the court, but when the progress reports come to the coach, he realizes most of the team is not fulfilling the conditions of the contract.  He locks the gym and suspends games.  The forfeit a few games as a result; and the community has a conniption.  They go to the school board who overrules the coach and says games will restart.   Coach Carter chooses to resign.  The issue is important to him as too many kids do not go on to colege in Richmond, California where this story takes place.  However the players stivck with him.  They bring their grades up and get back to basketball.  This movie provides some exciting play.  They lose to the best team in the state in the playoffs by a last-second basket.

Samuel Jackson is very good.  Channing Tatum and Rick Gonzalez play basket ball players.  Robert Ri'chard plays Coach carter's son and als basketball player.  

Music Review: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits

Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, Columbia Records, 1967.

Bob Dylan is most known for his writing the iconic song, "Blowin' in the Wind."  That is the feature song of this C.C.  However there are only ten songs on the C.D.  The other on that s pretty popular as an anti-war movement song is "The Times, They Are a-Changin'."  Who knew that Bob Dylan wrote the song, "It Aint Me Babe" which Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded.  Another song in the same category is "Mr. Tambourine Man."  Dylan recorded this several times but the Byrd's version reached Number one.  The other song that is quite popular is "Like a Rolling Stone."

Dylan sings with a raspy kind of voice.  Some of the songs have a blue grass feel.  However the song that makes this C.D. enjoyable is "Blowin' in the Wind."  I sand this song with the Jr. High choir many moons ago.  

Movie Review: ***^ Music from Another Room (1998)

 As a boy, Danny (Jude Law) helps hs father deliver a baby.  At that time he declares he is going to marry the baby some day.  Jump forward 25 years and Danny is a down on his luck man who begins working making deliveries, and he runs into the same family.  The baby, Anna (Gretchen Mol) is now engaged.  Danny expresses his love, but it falls flat.  Anna has a sister, Nina (Jennifer Tilly) who is blind and over protected.  Danny begins to help her expand her life.  They go to a dance and she meets Jesus (Vincent Laresca) who gets her to dance.  From thee they form a relationship, and eventually marry.  As she grows, the family becomes more open and free, and Danny finds his place with them.  

Musical Review: The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise

 The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise was very enjoyable.  It presented the Neil Diamond story by framing it in a therapy session, with the therapist using the Neil Diamond songs as a place to focus her therapy; In a real sense Diamond put his life into his songs.  The ensemble went from them being backup singers to there being characters in his life.  The musical is presented with two Neil Diamonds, his current self watching his his then self and the rise of his career.

Diamond has had three wives, which means he has gone through two breakups.  Most of them ended amicably, but his second wife took his houses in the divorce.  His first wife was his high school sweetheart, Marcia.  She had a baby before Diamond started his career.  His second wife could be credited as the person who discovered him, Jaye.  She was with Diamond for 25 years, but eventually his being on the road took its toll.  His third wife, Katie, encouraged him to seek therapy, and to gor through with the musical.  His wives share in singing some of his songs, including, "Hello Again," "Song Sung Blue," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "Love on the Rocks" and "Play Me." "Play Me" is a very romantic duet.  The first act ends with Diamond being faced with writing a song to gt out of a repressive contract.  The song was "Sweet Caroline" which he sang with the audience.  

Diamond was a performer until his Parkinson's disease making so he couldn't continue.  In the musical all the songs were written by Neil Diamond, some with collaboration but mostly by himself.  When he started his career he said he had already written 50 songs.  His first song to become a hit, for the Monkees was "I'm a Believer."  He eventually started performing his own songs.  His manager, Jaye, who later became his wife, encouraged this.  

The climax of the musical the two Diamonds performed as a duet, "I Am I Said."  The doctor used this as an empty chair exercise, witting in one chair as the king, and another as the frog.  "Have you ever heard the story about a frog who dreamed of being a king, and then became one."  Sort of the Neil Diamond story rolled up into one line.  

This musical is really good, and I loved the music.  The thing that makes it special is the dancing.  There was some crazy dance moves going on.  For our night the part of Neil Diamond then was played by Joe Caskey.  

I also liked that there is a noe from Neil Diamond in the program explaining how the musical came to be.  It was a nice touch.

John Wayne Movie Review: ****The Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

 Sergeant Stryker (John Wayne) is a tormented person.  He has an alcohol problem, and is tough on his men.  But he hopes he has taught them enough that it might save their lives.  Of course nothing ever works 100 percent.  After a hard fight up Mount Suribachi, Stryker is killed by a sniper's bullet, just before the raising of the flag by the Marines on the mount.  Stryker's death was not expected.  I though Wayne always lived.  After his death the discover he has a son he is not able to see, a reason for some of his torment.  Ira Hayes played himself in this movie as one of the men who raises the flag, and as a member of the unit Stryker trained and commanded.  

Tough fighting but an enjoyable movie.  Wayne was nominated for an Oscar for this movie.  

Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits

 In this CD we have 20 Carly Simon songs, 19 of her greatest hits and a 20th song recorded with her daughter, Sally Taylor, as a bonus.  The song for me that makes this CD worth listening to is "You're So Vain."  This song is surrounded by mystery as no one knows to whom she is referring.  It seems to be actually a compendium of men, including Warren Beatty.  "I haven't got Time for the Pain" is a song whose lrics go through my head.  This and the song "Anticipation."  I also like "That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be" from her first album and "The Right Thing to Do" from her third album.  She sings "Mockingbird" with James Taylor.  She was married to James Taylor for ten years.  Simon has a distinctive and enjoyable voice.  She also plays piano.  She represents music from the 70s when I grew up.

At the Movies: ****^ Mercy (2026)

 This movie takes on AI.  It is placed in 2029 Los Angeles.  Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) is confined to a chair when the movie begins, and he is charged with murdering his wife (Annabelle Wallace).  Raven is a police officer with L.A.  He was instrumental in gaining the first conviction through a system called Mercy.  He is given 90 minutes to prove his innocence or be executed.  Apparently the contraption he is connected to can do that immediately.  Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson) is the face of the AI system which has accused Raven of murder, with 98 percent certainty he is guilty of murder.  Everything points to him being the only person in the house, and they have access to cell phone and camera information.  He also has his police partner (Kali Reis).  Together they begin to unravel a plot.  That plot gets more and more complicated, and results in the kidnapping of his daughter (Kylie Rogers).  The plot involves the brother (Chris Sullivan) of that first person executed by Mercy.

This movie is very entertaining.  It is different than any movie I have ever seen in that Raven is in a chair, but able to interact with people far away in the field.  This includes asking many questions of different people.  Even the judge begins to glitch as the guilty percentage slowly goes down.

At the Movies: **** Solo Mio (2026)

 This is an enjoyable romantic comedy based in Italy, complete with some language issues.  There is a big surprise in this movie, to the characters and the audience.  The story is Matt (Kevin James) takes his fiancée Heather (Julie Ann Emery) to Italy for the wedding; but she leaves him at the altar.  He finds another woman, Gia (Nicole Grimaudo) and they eventually become friends, and then more.  Things seem to hit off, but he does not tell her that he is on the rebound, and when he does she takes it hard.  Lots of funny stuff about relationships, and the two couples he meets in the honeymoon tour package, while he is single, really add to the movie, Meghan and Neal (Alyson Hannigan and Kim Coates) and Donna and Julian (Julee Cerda and Jonathan Roumie).  The really add some humor, one a couple divorcing each other twice and remarrying thrice.  The other present as therapists, and this gives me a laugh being a therapist and the language they use.  This made for a fun feel good movie.  Andrea Bocelli and family with an appearance.

Book Review: The Christmas Coat: Memories of my Sioux Childhood

 The Christmas Coat: Memories of my Sioux Childhood by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illustrated by Ellen Beier, Holiday House, New York, 2011.

This book is a children's book but it is very good with an engaging Christmas story and nice wintry illustrations.  The book is about Virginia, who needs a new coat, but because she is the minister's daughter she gets the last pick of the Theast boxes, boxes sent by church members in the East for the Native American children.  So when a nice coat shows up in the boxes, it doesn't get to Virginia.  

A nice look at the Sioux culture and the Christmas pageant with the wise men wearing war bonnets.  

John Wayne Movie Review: **** The Alamo (1960)

 This is an epic movie of the Battle of Alamo directed and produced by John Wayne.  John Wayne also plays Davy Crockett.  Richard Widmark portrays Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey plays Colonel William Barret Travis.  Smitty, the young man sent away to get reenforcements is played by Frankie Avalon.  Two of John Wayne's kids are in the movie.  Patrick portrays a member of Colonel Houston's staff and his daughter portrays a small girl who survives the final attack.  His son Michael Wayne is credited as a co-producer.  Another daughter also played a townsfolk as did his wife, Pilar.  In the move there is a budding love interest thrown in between Crockett and Flaca (Linda Cristal).  Crockett sends her away to be safe.  There were women in the church who were spared.  All the defenders were killed, about 200.  There were 400-600 casualties of San Ana's troops.  

This movie is not totally accurate in its portrayal of the Alamo.  However it has some good points.  It shows a very large Mexican Army.  It shows lots of marching and pageantry.  And it has some intense battle scenes.

The public loved the movie, the fourth highest grossing movie for the year.  Critics were not so kind.  It did eventually make a profit, but not initially as it has lots of cost over runs.  This is the only film Wayne directed and it is considered more a sketch about Wayne and his political feelings and o0inions than about the Alamo.  

DC Animated Movie: League of Super Pets

 Krypto/ Superdog (Dwayne Johnson) joins forces with a bunch of pound animals who have gotten super powers, while those with super powers have lost them thanks to a villain guinea pic, Lulu (Kate McKinnon).  In this way she has captured all the supers, and plans to free Lex Luthor (Marc Maron).  Krypto had let his guard down for a moment as Superman was involved with Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde) and he feels left out.  However Krypto and his friends seem to defeat Lulu several times, but then she keeps coming back stronger and stronger.  The movie doesn't know when to end.  Finally Krypto has to travel around the sun and bring the sun's powers to bear on Lulu.  He would have died had not the pound dog, Ace (Kevin Hart) saved him.  Other notable voice roles, Keanu Reeves as Batman and John Krasinski as Superman.  It seems all the super heroes have a bet emulating them, Wonder woman, Batman, Flash etc.

This plat is a bit more far fetched than even a super hero movie, but it seems to make its point, that all creatures are worthy of friendship and love.   

Music Review: History: America's Greatest Hits

 History: America's Greatest Hits, Produced by George Martin, Warner Brothers Records, 1975.

When this album was released America had previously released five albums with a couple number one singles.  This album took advantage of that early success and reached number three on the album billboard chart.  It was number 41 of the top albums from Top Pop Catalog Albums published in 2007.  It included all eleven of America's charting singles up to that time and the song "Sand Man" which to that point had not been released as a single.  The songs that had reached number one were "Horse with no Name" and "Sister Golden Hair."  They are very nice.  "Horse with no Name" was part of their first album.  It was originally called "Desert Song." My personal favorite of America is "Lonely People."  It gave me hope when I was so shy I had a terrivle time meating girl.  This song told me not to give up.  They also recorded "Muskrat Love" before the Captain and Tennille.  I really like "Tinman" as well.  "I Need You" is also very memorable.  

At this time America was the original trio who were American children of service members serving in England and the band formed in England.  They are, Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley.  

Music Review: Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.

 This is a two C.D. collection with 35 songs from McCartney's 2002 tour of the U.S.  Someof the songs were written by Paul McCartney himself, some with John Lenin, some with Linda McCartney and one by George Harrison (Something).  There is music from the Beatles as well as Paul McCartney and Wings.  There is quite an array of music.  For my taste just hearing "Black Bird" makes the album worth it.  I love to hear the music to this song and sometimes sing along.  Then you add "Yesterday" and "Let It Be" and you are already overfed.  There is much more, from harder rock, "Sgt Pepper's/The End," to soft and easy, "Hey Jude."  There is "Live and Let Die" from the James Bond movie.  There is just lots to like with this music.

Musical Movie Review: ***^ Music and Lyrics (2007)

 Drew Barrymore, Hugh Grant and Haley Bennet take on the musical genre.  Drew Barrymore plays Sophie Fisher, the house made who has a knack for poetry and lyrics.  She works for Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) who is a has-been musician doing the state fair circuit.  But even that is falling apart.  However he has a life line, Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) who is currently hot, wants him to write a song titled, "Way Back Into Love."  And of course it turns into a love story with Fisher and Fletcher falling for each other.  Some disagreement over artistic interpretation gets in the way, but resolves itself in the end.

I liked the music, and the partnership, and the feel good love story in the end.

Warning: Cora wears scanty clothing and uses sexual innuendo in her songs.

Movie Review: ****The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)

 This is a very good retelling of the Loch Ness monster story.  A boy finds an egg, and takes it home.  The boy is introverted and clumsy, and scared of the water even though he lives by the loch.  His father is away to fight in the war.  The egg hatches into a cute little seal looking creature.  He keeps it secret, but it is impossible to keep it secret forever.  The man who has moved into the house to do the upkeep, Lewis Mowbray, finds our, as does his sister Kristie.  But his mom doesn't.  He lets the beast go, as he grows very fast.  He visits the beast and they go on a swim.  However the military is defending theloch under Captain Hamilton, during WWII.  Some practice rounds get too close to the beast and causes him to have som PTSD.  Now the military are looking for him, and others, some for the notoriety and some for possible money.  His mother finally realizes he is not lying about the monster when it visits, and now they are trying to escape past the submarine nets.  

• Alex Etel as Angus MacMorrow
  • Brian Cox as Older Angus MacMorrow
  • Louis Owen Collins as young Angus MacMorrow
• Emily Watson as Anne MacMorrow
• Ben Chaplin as Lewis Mowbray
• David Morrissey as Captain Thomas Hamilton
• Priyanka Xi as Kirstie MacMorrow

Movie Review: ****^ The Notebook (2004)

 This is a story that tells you the true love wins out in the end, despite all the odds against it.  A summer fling appears to not go anywhere, but both partners, Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) profess their love.  Noah confesses his dream of restoring an old house, and living with Allie in the house.  It is Allie's mother (Joan Allen) that gets in the way.  The family ends their vacation early, and Allie is prohibited from seeing Noah.  Allie tells a friend to confess her love to Noah.  But when Noah writes every day for a year, the mother takes the letters and does not deliver them to Allie.  He joins the military for WWII, and she goes to college.  

Seven years later Allie is engaged, but comes upon a news story about Noah and the house he has restored.  She has to see, and thus rekindles the flame, even though they have not seen each other for seven years.  Allie's mother brings her the letters she kept from her, and indicates she had to make the same decision at one point, and went with the man who could provide best rather than the man she loved and wonders if her decision was best.  Allie now has a similar choice.

This story is overlaid by a an readinga notebook to his partner ho has deentia.  She does not remember things but likes the story.  By the end of the movie we realize that this is Noah (James Garner) and Allie (Gena Rowlands) reading Allie's journal about their love story.  When they come to the end Allie finds her memories for a time, but then becomes confused again.  After having a heart attack, Noah survives, to sneak into bed with his wife where they die together.

Musical version at theater

Movie Review: My Giant

 Billy Crystal plays a hollywood scout, Sammy, whose last client has just fired him.  He is down on his luck.  He finds himself in Romania on business and crashes his car.  He is rescued by a giant, Gheorghe Mureșan playing Max.  Max leads a lonely life, having been brought up by a monastery as his parents gave up on him because he was so big.  Max is convinced to go with Sammy to America to look for an ex girlfriend, Liliana (Joanna Pacula).  Sam hopes to sell hi to Hollywood.  Sam finally finds her, but she does not want anything to do with Max.  It had been over twenty years since they last saw each other.  Sam recruits his estranged wife (Kathleen Quinlan) to take the place of Lilliana, and it works.  His wife as Lilliana says she has found another so Max gets soe closure.  Sam does get Max a role as a giant with Steven Seagal.  Pretty fun, and everyone is better for it in the end.  Sam gets back with his wife, and Max reconciles with his parents.  The downer is Max has an inoperable heart condition.  

Music Review: My Take on the Omaha Symphony Orchestra Concert 1/17/2026

Debussy and Prokofiev, January 16-17 Holland Performing Arts Center, Joseph Young, conductor and Robert Young saxophone.  The conductor was a guest conductor and the saxophonist as well.  They are brothers. 

The concert was performed at the Holland Center.  It wasn't completely full,  but very close.  I have never attended an adult orchestra concert other than when they play and I am singing.  Such was the case in Kingman. This was a new experience.  I had good company, my granddaughter, who got free tickets for playing in a youth orchestra.  I did attend her own concert before Christmas.  

They played three pieces.  1. Claude Debussey, "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun."  This was a shorter ten minute piece.  It was very dream like, fairy like as it was composed to represent a poem about a faun's dream of two nymphs.  Camberly like this number best.  The program says it was revolutionary when it came out with advancing music style.

2. Guillaume Connesson, "A Kind of Trane--Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra."  It has three movements, I. There is None Other, II. Ballade and III. Coltrane on the Dance Floor.  It is written as a orchestral tribute to John Coltrane.  It s very interesting as the saxophone is often going all over the place in contrast to the base and percussion which keep their steady beats.  This the the piece I preferred.

3. Sergei Prokofiev, "Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, op. 100, with four movements: I. Andante, II. Allegro moderato, III. Adagio, IV Allegro giocoso.  The program said this was a 45 minute piece, but it seemed to go much quicker.  It is written by a Russian composer during WWII.  When it was first played they had to wait for a cannonade which marked the crossing of the Vistula River in Poland, marking a turning point in the war.  Many consider Prokofiev's fifth symphony to be his best.  

Saxophonist during the bows

Music Review: Neil Diamond--The Ultimate Collection

 I don't think you can ever get enough Neil Diamond Music.  This 2 C.D. set has 40 songs, 19 on the first CD and 21 on the second.  That is a good start in getting enough Neil Diamond.  He includes songs he wrote that were sung by other artists like, "I'm a Believer" and "Red Red Wine." He sings a couple duets, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" with Barbra Streisand and "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" with Dolly Parton.  80 percent of the songs were written by Neil Diamond.  My favorite Neil Diamond Song has always been "Song Sung Blue."  It is simple and sweet and has a catchy tune.  There are many others to like: "Sweet Caroline," "I Am I Said," "Hello Again," "Longfellow Serenade," "Play Me," 'Soolaiman," "September Morn," "Kentucky Woman," "America," "Hearlight," and many more.  This is a whole lot of familiar songs that bring back nice memories.  Lots to love.  

Animated Movie Review: **** How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

 This is very likely the beat of the three animated movies about coexistence between dragons and people.  Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) befriends a dragon.  This is unheard of in Viking society.  But he learns from the dragon, and consequently is able to pass his dragon school training as top of the class.  Most importantly he learns that dragons are not the vicious enaces all though them to be.  His father uses his dragon to find the dragon lair, and bites off more than he can chew, but hiccup, his dragon, and his friends come to the rescue.  Astrid (America Ferrera) is ghe girl that likes Hiccup and restores his cofidence when he is down.

Music Review: A Children's Celebration of Music

 A Children's Celebration of Music, various artists, AllMusic, 1992

This is a delightful collection of children's songs by the original artisits, some as long as 50 years ago.  Some are classic American Folk songs such as "This Old Man" by Pete Seeger and "Skip to my Lou" by John McCutcheon.  Peter Paul and Mary sing "Puff the Magic Dragon" and Loggins and Mesina sing "House on Pooh Corner."  There is also "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland.  A beautiful song is "Garden Song" sung by Maria Muldaur.  There is even "The Ugly Duckling" by Danny Kay and Gordon Jenkins.  Other artists include Paul Simon, Anne Murray, James Taylor, Burl Ives and the Doobie Brothers.  There are fifteen songs in total and all are enjoyable.  

Epic Historical Movie Review: **** Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

 This epic covers the Elizabethan period in England where they were waring with the Spanish.  Queen Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) is single with no children nor prospects.  However she is attracted to Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen), who has started a settlement in Virginia.  However Raleigh falls for her handmaiden, Bess Throckmorton (Abbie Cornish).  She becomes ;regnant so they marry.  Raleigh desires to return to America, but the Queen forbids him as she needs help with the Spanish who are coming to make war.  Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland (Samantha Morton) betrayed the queen in trying to have her assassinated by Thomas Babington (Eddie Redmayne).  The queen with the evidence orders her ezecution, giving Spain an excuse to come to war.  Spain had. been using Mary just for this purpose.  However things do not go well for Spain and the Spanish Armada, due to the weather, and due to firing the boats and the fire reaching the Spanish fleet.  

Enjoyable and interesting history, which I must admit I am not very up on European history, but good to see how it all fits in.  

Epic Historical Drama Movie Review: **** Cleopatra (1963)

 This is an excellent drama about Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) and two lovers.  First there was Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) who restored her to her throne which her brother was wrestling from her.  She went to Rome with him, and was there when Caesar was murdered by members of the senate who thought him too powerful.  Ane then Mark Antony (Richard Burton) who extracted revenge upon the murderers, but found himself out of favor in Rome with Octavion Caesar Augustus (Roddy McDowall) having power in Rome.  Antony rules over the extern Roman Empire which included Egypt.

He travels to Egypt, starting a love affair with Cleopatra, but wanting to gain the use of the armies of Egypt.  Antony returns to Rome, and is forced to marry the sister of Octavian.  Antony now has a predicament, who sill he choose.  When he chooses Cleopatra it is the motivation for Octavion to even attack Antony.  Antony takes the fight to the sea, but is a master of fighting on land.  Fighting at sea most of his forces are not engaged, and he suffers a humiliating defeat.  This spirals until he and Cleopatra are both dead.

I found this movie intereting and enjoyable.  Warning--it is very long, five hours.  It was on two DVD disks.

Music Review: James Taylor: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

 This was James aylor's third album and his most successful.  It rose to number two on the pop 100 chart thanks in part to the strength of the song, "You've Got a Friend," which when released as a single is the only James Taylor song to reach num er one.  This song was written by Carole King.  Her album released the same year including the same song reached number one and kept the Taylor album from. claiming this spot.  King wrote the song as a response to James Taylor's song, "Fire and Rain" from his previous album in which he sings, "I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend."  Both these songs are two of my favorite of all time.  

The other song which mas ade a siungle from this album was "Long Ago and Far Away."  This song has a sad theme, dreams not turning out theme, which is a general feel of this album.  "Where do your golden rainbows end?  Why is this song I sing so sad?  Dreaming the dreams I dream, my friend. Loving the love I love to love to love to love.  Joni Mitchell provides backup vocals and Carole King plays piano.

The "Highway Song" was also made a single.  It is a traveling song, the life of a singer.  "You Can Close Your Eyes" is just James Taylor, his guitar and his song, with minimal back up.  It is the b-side of "Highway Song."  It is a lullaby where he is singing to his lover.  Taylor considered it a secular hymn.

James Taylor has a distinctive voice, and his own style of writing songs.  I enjoy the easy listening.

At the Movies: ***** Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025)

 This movie is a return to a proven formula.  This is the third installment, each with similar plots and themes, capitalism vs spirituality.  The Na'vi people represent the spiritual while the off worlders represent the industrial complex which is willing to do anything for a buck.  However some protest which leads to one scientist rescuing Jake when he is to be shot.  Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neyteri (Zoe Saldaña) are protecting his family, which becomes harder and harder.  Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is still determine to get Sully for perceived wrongs.  And there is another enemy, a Na'vi group called the Ash lead by Varang (Oona Chaplin).  They are sort of an atheistic group that does not believe in the spiritual powers.  Other members of the Sully family include: Lo'ak (Britain Dalton) and his brother who passed away, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) who has special attachment to the god mother, Eywa, Spider (Jake Champion) who is an adoptive son, actually a human and the son of Quaritch, and Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), the youngest.

With so many people after them it is just a matter of time before it catches up with them.  It eventually does and Sully gives himself up for the safety of the others.  There are two keys, Lo'ak standing up for the outcast whale, and convincing the other whales it is time to become violent with the harvesting of whales by the humans.  The huans hope to kill them all and get the special substance in them.  There is also Kiri and her connection to Eywa.  Only with the help of Eywa can they overcome the humans and the Ash.  

This movie is excellent.  Plenty of drama and plenty of action.

Music Review: The Mamas & the Papas: Greatest Hits

The Mamas & the Papas: Greatest Hits, MCA Records, 1998.

This  C.D. includes the favorite Mamas and the Papas songs.  This includes: "Monday, Monday," California Dreamin,'" "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Dancing in the Street," "Dedicated to the One I Love," "Words of Love," 'Creeque Alley," "I Saw Her Again Last Night," and

 "Dream a Little Dream of Me."  Creeque Alley is an autobigraphical look at how there musical group got together.  "Everybody's getting fat except Mama Cass."

As a group the Mamas and the Papas were short lived, 1965 to 1965 with a brief reunion in 1971.  They were John and Michelle Phillips, husband and wife (John wrote most of their songs), Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty.   

Mamas and the Papas has a unique sound which is very pleasing to listen to.  

Music Review: Time Pieces: The Best of Eric Clapton

 Time Pieces: The Best of Eric Clapton, RSO Records, 1982.

This album reached 101 in the U.S.  Overall it has sold over 13.5 albums worldwide. This album has my favorite Eric Clapton song, "Wonderful Tonight" which was released in 1977 for the album Slowhand.  I can't stop singing this song in. my head, "It's late in the evening, she wonders what clothes to wear.  She puts on her makeup and brushes her long blonde hair.  And then she asks me, Do I look alright?  And I tell her, you look wonderful tonight."  Those lines and the voice and guitar are heaven.  

She covers a reggae number by Bob Marley, "I shot the Sherif," but adds more rock and roll to it.  He does the Bob Dylan number, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."  Of course he does Layla, but has a harder rock feel than usual.  He helped write this when he was with Derek and the Dominoes."  He does another Clapton number, "Let it Grow."

This album is very enjoyable, especially "Wonderful Tonight."

Music Review: Celine Dion: Lets Talk About Love

 Celine Dion: Lets Talk About Love, Sony Music, 1997.

This is Celine Dion at her best.  It includes her signature song, "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic."  This at the time was the highest grossing singe from a female artist.  It is really beautiful.  Her wistful and emotional singing in this song makes it one of the greatest.  

She collaborates with the Bee Gees and they sing backup for their song, "Immortality."  This is another classic moment.  She also sings a Carole King song, "The Reason."  She sings a duet with Barbra Streisand, "Tell Him."  This is another special moment.  They sing well together.  Dion nicely covers the song, "When I Need You."  She sings a duet with Luciano Pavarotti, "I Hate You Then I Love You.  The duet version is very nice.  "You make me laugh then you make me cry."

Marvel Animated Movie Review: *** Ultimate Avengers: The Movie (2006)

 This animated movie review is similar to "The Avengers" (2012).  However some the the characters fighting the aliens are different.  Bruce Banner (Michael Massee) is in charge of an experiment to replicate the serum that mad Captain America.  They find the Captain (Justin Gross) frozen in the Arctic and bring him back to life.  Nick Fury (Andre Ware) is trying to assemble the Avengers.  Among others he asks Iron Man (Marc Worden), Janet Pym/The Wasp (Grey DeLisle), Black Widow (Olivia D'abo) Giant-Man/ Hank Pym (Nolan North), and Thor (David Boat).  Dr Betty Ross (Nan McNamara) helps Bruce Banner.  They were once partners but Banner is too unstable.  

The aliens are very formidable, but the team finally comes together.  And Banner takes the super serum, releasing The Hulk, trying to improve his control.  It doesn't work but he helps destroy the aliens.  He then begins attacking the avengers, until they are able to administer his medicine he had been neglecting.  

Not as exciting as "The Aengers" but entertaining.  

Peter, Paul and Mary: In Concert

 Peter, Paul and Mary: In Concert, Warner Brothers Records, 1964.

Peter, Paul and Mary are a popular folk trio who in addition to writing some of their own music also covered Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Hedy Miles and others.  Peter Yarrow sings tenor and plays guitar, Paul Stookey is baritone and also plays guitar.  Mary Travers sings alto.  Together they make a very nice sound. and they were very popular in the 60s as part of the folk movement.

This album is of concert performances, but not one continuous concert.  They took recordings of several different concerts and put them together.  They start with a Bob Dylan son, The Times They Are a Changin'.  Later they sing another Bb Dylan, one of my favorite songs, Blowin' in the Wind, a classic. 

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Yes, and how many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
Yes, and how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, and how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

They have some fun with Car Car and Puff the Magic Dragon.  

They end the two album set with anther 60s song, If I Had a Hammer.  

This album includes several comedy sketches, most bt Paul.  I didn't really get them and would have rather had more music.  

Harry Potter/ Fantastic Beasts Movies Summaries

*****  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone  (2001) Introduces Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) who become fast friends.

**** Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (2002) Harry Potter discovers he can talk to snakes, which is not necessarily good. 

****^ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban  (2004) In this movie Harry discovers he has a God-father, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) who did not betray his parents,  That was another friend, Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall).  He also forms and ally with a werewolf, Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) another friend of his father's.  

****^ Hatty Potter and the Goblet of Fire  (2005) In this movie Potter wins the goblet, but really loses.  The co-winner, Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) is murdered by Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes.). Barty Crouch (David Tenant) has snuck into school taking the place of Alastor Moody (Brendan Gleeson) using poly juice potion.

****^ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) Harry Potter takes over the teaching of defense against the dar arts, as the Minister's woman with the job, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) refuses to teach but enjoys more torturing children.  Sirius Black is killed in this episode by Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter.) 

****^ Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009) Harry Potter discovers a journal belonging to Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and without becomes very good at Potions.  He learns of Horcruxes from Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and has to retrieve a memory of Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) who taught Voldemost of horcruxes man years ago.  Voldemort uses Draco (Tom Felton) to kill Dumbledore, but Snape does it in the end.

****^ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1 (2010). So begins the journey to destroy Voldemost once and for all.  Harry visits Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) in his search for horcruxes.  Dobby (Toby Jones) ends up dead.

****^ Happy Potter and the Half Blood Prince: Part 2 (2011) This movie leads to a big battle at Hogwarts between the dark forces of Voldemort and the rest of the school.  Both sides do not escape unscathed.  But Harry and Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) and Hermione and Ron are together as friends in the end.

***** Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) who is a student of magical creatures loses a few of them in New York.  Porpentina (Katherine Watterson) starts off his govermental agent but they form an attraction, as does her sister, Queenie (Alison Sudl) with regular guy Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler.) Grinelwald (Johnny Depp) was behind mayhem in New York for which Scamander was blamed.  Grindelwald was caught.

***** Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) Scamander is caught into the fray after Grindelwald escapes and starts amassing his army.  Magical laws do not allow Queenie and Kowalski to be together, so Queenie joins Grindelwald.

 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) Much intrigue and magical manipulation to get to Grindelwald as he is seeking the highest international magical office.  Dumbledore (Jude Law) is greatly involved. Mads Mikkelsen portrays Grindelwald.  

Music Review: Josh Groban: Awake

 Josh Groban Awake was released in 2006.  It was Groban's third album and is a follow-up to his album Closer.  It is the third highest selling classical album of the 2000s.  Songs are in English, Italian and Spanish.

The song I most enjoy is "Un giorno per noi."  This is a "Time for Us" from Romeo and Juliet.  It is very beautiful.  The song "You are Loved" was made into a single.  The songs "Lullaby" and "Weeping" have a South African flavor and are recorded with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  

I enjoy Groban's voice.  It is very evident that he works at shaping his words and tones.  Some songs he was singing very high.  It makes for an enjoyable album.  With Josh Groban you don't have to understand the words to enjoy the music.  This album also makes good use of orchestral music.

Music Review: Olivia Newton John: Back with a Heart

 Back with a Heart was released in 1998 by MCA Nashville.  It marked John's first album in four years as well as a return to Country after 20 years.  This album is mostly about love.  The title song, Back with a Heart, was released as a single and the flip side was I Honestly Love You.   This was released in both country style and contemporary style.  Precious Love was released as a single.  The song Love is a Gift won a Daytime Emmy after being played on the soap, "As the World Turns."  Olivia Newton John as a nice soprano voice that is fun to listen to.

Music Review: Eric Clapton: Unplugged

Eric Clapton is first a guitar player, and his guitar playing shines in the album.  He kicks right off with an instrumental, and through all the numbers the guitar playing is excellent.  He has two standby numbers which never disappoint, Tears in Heaven and Layla, an acoustic version.   This is a live album which was recorded in front of an MTV studio audience for the show, "Unplugged."  The album was very well received with three Grammys and the best selling live album of all time.

Movie Review: ****My Big Fat Greek wedding 3 (2023)

 The family is back minus the father who has passed away, but we are headed to Greece for a reunion of the father's family.  Fortoula (Nia Vardalos) wants to take her father's journal to his old friends.  Her brother, Nick (Louis Mandylor) wants to find a special tree for father's ashes.  Ian (John Corbett) travels with his wife.  The cousin who set up the reunion is hoping someone will stay as their town is drying up. literally; the spring has stopped flowing and everyone has gone away.  However during the course of their stay, the figure our why the sring had stopped, and reverse it.  The fathers friends had all moved away, but Ian was able to track them down with the help of a priest.  Other family brought them.  The tree was very obscure, but the locate it in the end.  And their daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris) becomes engaged.  There is another wedding which takes place among relatives on the island.

A happy ending all around.  

Robin Williams Movie Review: ***^ Father's Day (1997)

 Collette Andrews (Nastassja Kinski) asks her old boyfriend, Jack (Villy Crystal) to search for her runaway son, Scott (Charlie Hofheimer) telling him he is the father.  When he says no, she asks another ex-boyfriend, Dale (Robin Williams) with the same message, "your are the father," and Dale agrees, and turns out Jack also begins searching.  There going after him embarrasses the actual father (Bruce Greenwood)

and he also starts hunting.  His hunt however goes awry with car issues, and a tipping of the portapotty.  He does get home however.  Jack and Dale join forces.  The finally catch up with him in Sacramento at a concert.  He and his older girlfriend are following a band.  The girlfriend ditches him for a band member, and the two fathers take him to a hotel, he was passed out from drugs or alcohol.  

They are ready to take him back, but he is determined to chase the girl.  He next catches up with her in Reno, with the two fathers close behind.  He has also stolen $5000 from a drug dealer and buys a necklace for the girl.  The drug dealers are after him, and the two fathers coe through with head butts so they can get away.  They have to convince the girl to quit leading him on and be honest with him.  Then they are set to go home.  They get Scott back to his mom, who admits she lied to her two exes.  However Scott confides to them both separately that they are his father.  Robin borrows Jack's car to go to the airport, but instead picks up a girl with the fancy car, and they decide to drive rather than take a plane.  

There is enough comedy in this film to be fun.  It opens with a suicide attempt on the part of Dale which was a bit alarming.  There is also drug usage and the concert seen is also a bit disturbing.  

Billy Crystal Movie Review: ****Forget Paris (1995)

 Entertaining love story about Mickey (Billy Crystal) and Ellen (Debra Winger) as told by their friends as they wait for them to show up for the engagement party of Andy (Joe Mantenga) and Liz (Cynthia Stevenson).  They had an intense opening relationship; but interrupted by his having to go back to work as an NBA official.  But then they come together, and the officiating schedule keeps getting in the way.  Many NBA players do cameos which is fun.  Kareem Abdul Jabar, Charles Barkley, Isaiah Thomas, David Robinson, Bill Laimbeer, and Reggie Miller.  She works as an airline liaison in Paris.  She quit her job to move in with him, but for sometime neither are happy, they separate.  The relationship seems to effect the coming engagement plans of the other couple as the story is told, until they work pass that.  Now why are Mickey and Ellen late to the party?  Are they together or not?

Marvel Movie Review: Fantastic Four: ****Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

 This movie is very fun, with the Silver Surfer (Laurence Fishburne) appearing from outer space and wreaking havoc on earth citizens, and making large holes in the earth.  Turns out this is for another entity which is coming, the devourer of worlds/ Galuctus.  Earth is earmarked for destruction.  The surfer causes havoc amongst the Fantastic Four,  Mr. Fantastic/Steve Richards, Sue Storm/ Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/ Human Torch and the Thing/ Ben Grimm (Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis) as they keep changing abilities with each other.  And then Dr. Doom/ Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) comes back into the picture as team lead.  It does not go well, as Dr. Doom uses the efforts of Fantastic Four to steal the surf board, from which point he goes nuts with killing people.  They realize the Surfer with his surf board is the only way to save the earth, so basically they have to defeat Dr. Doom.  

Music Review: James Taylor: Sweet Baby James

James Taylor: Sweet Baby James, Country Road Music, Inc., Warner Brothers, 1970. 

James Taylor is a singer and song writer.  This effort was his second album.  It reached number three on the billboard charts, and the song Fire and Rain also reached number three.  It was nominated for album of the year in the grammies.  Fire and Rain is a song that goes over and over again in my mind, especially the chorus, "I've seen fire and I've seen rain,  I've seen sunny days that I though would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, But I always thought I'd see you again."  It is one of my favorite songs.  It is very much biographical for James Taylor, describing he friend who passed away by suicide, and then his struggles with addiction.  I love that he could open up this way in a song.

DC Movie Review: ****Batman and Robin (1997)

 Batman becomes a team in the movie, which is much better than the predecessor, Batman Forever.  Batman (George Clooney) is joined by Robin (Chris O'Donnell) and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone.). However on the other side we by Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman.) In this film we also have Alfred (Michael Gough) who is sick and dying.

Mr. Freeze is trying to get large diamonds and using a freeze gone to get his way.  He needs diamonds to perfect a cure for his wife who he has frozen until he finds a cure.  Dr. Isley wants to save the planet by exploited plant science but Bruce Wayne rejects her idea saying people are more important.  She becomes a poisonous plant through a failed experiment and a boss who tried to kill her.  Her sidekick is Bane (Jeep Swenson) who is genetically enhanced muscle.  

Poison Ivy kills Mr. Freezes wife and blames it on Batman.  In so doing she convinces Mr. Freeze to get revenge by freezing the world; he starts with Gotham.  Meantime Poison Ivy is set to stop Batman and Robin.  She lures Robin in with a smell she produces, and attempts her poison kiss, but they were on to her and have a lip guard.  Even so her plant self with vines is more than a match for Batman and Robin.  It is Batgirl who saves the day.  Poison Ivy's lures and smells don't get to her.  

Very intense moment as the three battle Mr. Freeze and his ice gun.  When they convince him that his wife is not dead, but Poison Ivy tried to kill her, Mr. Freeze gives them a treatment for Alfred. 

This movie was better than I thought it was going to be.  There was a corny line from Mr. Freeze towards the first, but the character grew on him.  

DC Movie Review: *** Batman Forever (1995)

 I like most of everything in this movie, excdept for the character of Riddler (John Carry).  He is so over the top it ruins the rest of the film.  Two Face (Tommy Lee Jones) is much better.  Batman (Val Kilmer) does a very good job, and Robin (Chris O'Donnell) also does a very good job.  Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) also does well as Batman/ Bruce Wayne's love interest.  The Riddler discovers that Bruce Wayne and Batman are one and the same, resulting in much anguish as he and Two Face and their gang attack the house and are able to take Robin and Meridian prisoner.  Which one will Batman save, his new partner or his new love. If not for John Carry I would have enjoyed this movie more.

At the Movies: Movie Review: ***^Anaconda (2025)

 A sort of a remake of the Anaconda movie of 1997 with Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez with cameo roles.  Four childhood friends decide to rekindle their passions of youth, and make an Anaconda movie.  Ronald (Paul Rudd) recruits his friends to travel to the Amazon to make a movie, telling them he has the right to Anaconda, their favorite movie as youth.  He recruits his best friend, Doug (Jack Black) and old crush, Claire (Thandiwe Newton) and Kenny (Steve Zahn) to run the camera and technical stuff.  They are on their way to Brazil where they meet snake handler, Santiago (Selton Mello) who is obsessed with his snake.  However Ana Almeida (Daniela Melchior) high jacks their boat, with them on it and recording their movie on the way.  

There is a really creepy scene with the snake.  Santiago holds it in Ronald's face, an he reacts, and kills the snake.  Santiago leaves the boat to find a new snake; the new snake gets him instead however.  Now the snake has a taste for people and is after them.  Worse yet, Ana is a smuggler of gold.  Of course the snake gets her.  And in truth Ronald does not own the rights to Anaconda, as those who do, show up making their own movie.  But that doesn't last long as the anaconda destroys their set and is after them as well.  It doesn't discriminate.  Amidst the chaos our four are trying to get away, but Doug gets devoured by the snake, and somehow spit up hole.  He appears dead.  They rap him in a pig so as to create a diversion and they can get away.  They put a squirrel in his mouth.  However he is not dead and the snake is boring down on him.  He runs, eventually the snake gets the pig and not him.

This movie has some funny parts.  The characters run away a lot and seem to run in a funny manner.  The four rekindle their relationship and form a stronger bond.  And Doug gets to make the wedding video for Claire and Ronald.  

DC Movie Review: ****Batman Returns (1992)

 Michael Keaton returns as Batmas, and this time has a different nemesis, Penguin (Danny DeVito, but also has a second nemesis/ally Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer.). But the evil behind everything is the money man, Max Shreck (Christopher Walken.)  In a way Shreck creates Catwoman as he kills her, throws her out of a building, but she keeps coming back.  She puts off her meek secretary person and becomes the Catwoman.  Michael Gough plays the butler, Alfred. Penguin is mad at the world, and has been living in the sewers since his parents threw him there when he was a baby.  His hands were deformed.  He finally decides to come out of the sewer, and with some manipulation is on the verge of becoming mayor.  After he controlled Batman's Batmobile, and tried to frame him for murder and being a general bad guy, Batman turns the switch as he recorded the Penguin and plays back his audio when he is making a speech seeking the mayorship.  Penguin had said some mean things to Batman about the citizens of Gotham.  Penguin had planned to have his penguins blow up Gotham, but again Batman hijacks his frequency of control and congrols them himself.  The come down on the Penguin's lair and destroy it.  

The relationship between Batman and Catwoman is interesting, as it is a love hate relationship.  As people they like eachothr,  but as Batman and Catwoman they always fight.  They are allies towards the end, after she had allied with Penguin, but found him too ruthless.  

Movie is directed by Tim Burton.  It is a fun ride, with interesting backgrounds for Catwoman and Penguin.  Batman stops Penguin and Catwoman gets her revenge on Shreck, and he doesn't have nine lives.

Music Review: Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton

Ckapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton was released by Reprise Records in 1999.  It is a compilation album.  I really like Clapton's guitar playing.  It seems to be his forte, and he often adds a guitar section in his songs.  This C.D. includes some of my favorites, Layla, Change the Wotld and Tears in Heaven.  My version does not have my favorite Clapton song, Wonderful Tonight.  However that is included in the British version.  

Music Review: Carperters Singles 1969-1981

 This composite CD was released in 2000, after Karen arpenter had passed away.  It was released by Universal Music Company.  It peaked at number 45 in the Unitd States for record albums and was recognized as a Gold Album.  

The Carpenter sound is timeless as this shows.  Karen Carpenter's voice is a treasure, and this album helps to preserve that treasure.  I particularly like, We've Only Just Begun, Rainy Days and Mondays, Top of the World, Ticket to Ride (a cover of a Beatles song), Hurting Each Other, Yesterday Once More, Sing, I Won't Last a Day Without You and For All We Know.  I hear those songs go through my head with just hearing the title.  

But the songs are not just the vocals.  The instrumentation is also very good.  

Christmas/ Civil War Movie/ Review: ****I Heard the Bells (2022)

 This movie tells the story of Henry W Longfellow and his writing the poem "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" which became the Christmas song.  Longfellow (Stephen Atherholt) had become morose over the death of his wife.  Her dress had caught fire and she died of her injuries.  Longfellow attempted to put it out and burn himself in the process, scarring his face.  He wore a beard after this.

Longfellow had determined not to write poetry again, even though he had great success with poems such as Hiawatha, Paul Revere's Ride and Evangeline.  Add to this his son left home and joined the military.  This was during the Civil War.  He son was severely wounded, and forced to come home as a result.  He told Longfellow how he was in a church, and the bell, even though lieing on the floor, had inspired him.  This set Longfellow to writing his poem.

This historical drama is very good.  I would recommend it.  I understand it is fairly accurate, although there are different stories about how his wife's dress caught fire.