Movie Review: **** Zootopia 2 (2025)

 This is a fun animated movie about the animal police forc, and the too rookie police officers, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman.). There is also the Beaver who helps them, Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster) and the snake they are trying to save, Gary De'Snake (Ke Huy Quan.). And then of course there are the bad guys, the lynx family, Pawbert Lynxley (Andy Samberg) who is sort of a bumbler, but then maybe not.  The rest of the family is much more gruesome.  

This makes for a nice story.  The rest of the police think they are crazy when they tart to defend a snake, but the movie reveals there really is a conspiracy going on.  

Music Review: The Essential James Taylor

The Essential James Taylor (2013) Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings.  The Essential James Taylor has a good compilation of James Taylor Songs.  It starts with Sweet Baby James from Taylor's second album of the same name.  It then includes songs of his albums up until 2002.  It is likely the best compilation album of James Taylor's work, but there were three previous greatest hits albums.  

I cannot get enough of "Fire and Rain" and "You've Got a Friend."  But there are many more impressive songs.  "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," "How Sweet It Is to be Loved by You," "Shower the People" and "Your Smiling Face" are all very nice.  It seems just about everything James Taylor does turns out nice.  He even gives a different feel in "Steamroller" which also works.  

And that is the first C.D.  The second C.D. does not have as many hits but it carries itself.  "Her Town Too" is very nice.  As are the next couple songs, "Everyday" and "Only One."  "You are my only one" keeps going through my head.  I also like "You Can Close Your Eyes."  "I still love you, Close Your eyes, I don't know no love songs, I can't sing the Blues anymore.  But I can sing this song, and you can sing this song."  

Harrison Ford Movie Review: **** Morning Glory (2010)

 Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) is a seasoned journalist who has considerable experience, and feels he is abov doing a morning show; so when they opportunity comes to him he balks, but agrees not because of interest but because of his contract.  Becky (Rachel McAdams) has been hired as the Morning show producer, and wants to prove herself.  Jerry Barnes (Jeff Goldblum) is her boss.  Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) is the female anchor who has been there for sometime.  She and Pomeroy quickly develop a feud because most stories are beneath Pomeroy who she has to cover.  The movie for the most part is about the developing relationship between Beck and Pomeroy.  The show is scheduled to be cancelled, but because of many antics, and Pomeroy gong out and getting the scoop on a real story, the ratings come up and they get another year.  Becky gets a job offer from a network, and at first she things her current relationships are worth preserving.  But in the end she goes to interview.  Pomeroy does a cooking class.  This is his way of telling her that he would like her to stay, because cooking stories he always considered beneath him.  

I enjoyed this movie.  Harrison ford is actually very good in it.  Rachel McAdams also is very good.  The relationship they develop carries the movie.  

Music Review: Cher and Sunny and Cher: Greatest Hits

Cher and Sonny and Cher appears to have been released in 1998 as a compendium of their music after the death of Sonny Bono.  It includes many of there hit songs, and misses a few.  "I got You Babe" is their anthem and a concert version concluded the C.D.  I would have preferred a studio version because the concert antics got in the way of the song.  The two big hits of Cher were included, "Half-Breed" in which Cher talks about her Cherokee ancestry and "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" which has a very catching beat.  "Crystal Clear/Muddy Waters has a very nice message, one upon which I have reflected in my life.  It is the torrent that clears the muddy waters and sometimes in life it is the fire that heals.  "United We Stand" is also very nice with a relatable theme.  

A couple things missing.  I use to love seeing Cher sing VAMP on the Sonny and Cher show.  Also the son "The Beat Goes On" is missing.  

Movie Review: Flicka

 This is an interesting movie about a young woman and a wild horse.  The young woman loves the horse, but her father is unrelenting, that the horse is dangerous and only good for rodeo bronco.  Father finally sells the horse, but the young woman still doesn't give up.  

Based on the book by Mary O'Hara. Alison Lohman portrays the daughter and Tim McGraw her father.   

Music Review: Buddy Holly from the Original Master Tapes

This is a collection of Buddy Holly songs released in 1985.  Of course they were all recorded earlier as Buddy Holly died in 1959.  This anthology of course includes "That'll Be the Day," an early Holly hit that reached #1 on the charts.  Another successful song was "Peggy Sue" which reached #3 which is also included.  Also included are "Oh Boy," "Everyday" and Rock Around with Ollie Vee."  Buddy Holly accomplished a lot in such a young li ve.  He died the day "the music died" in a plane crash at 22.  One can only imagine how much more music he could have made.  Even so he influenced many subsequent artists including Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and the Beatles. 

Movie Review: **** Cars 2 (2011)

 The sequel leaves Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and McQueen (Owen Wilson) in place but adds a spy movie; Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer).  They are up against a cabal of lemons who want to destroy race car driving.  Sir Miles Axlerod (Eddie Izzard) heads the bad guys as a double.  He has made a fake fuel which is suppose to be bad because he is shooting lasers at it.  He hopes to take advantage of the oil field he has discovered.  

Entertaining but not as good as the original.   

At the Movies: I Can Only Imagine 2 (2026)

 This movie focuses on a couple of families, and a couple of songs.  It is about the musical group Mercy Me.  The families are first Tim and Hilary Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia and Arielle Kibbel), Tim is the opening act for the band Mercy Me, and he has cancer.  He wants to write a song that makes a difference.  The second family is Bart and Shannon Millard (John Michael Finley and Sophie Skelton).  Bart is lead singer for Mercy Me.  His son Sam (Sammy Dell) has diabetes.  He comes on the trip with his dad, and starts performing with Tim.  Sam doesn't take care of his sugar numbers and has a relapse, and does Tim with his cancer.  Bart starts taking seriously Tim's desire to write a song and asking Bart to finish it.  

The two songs are very similar and both based on the hymn "It Is Well with my Soul."  The first song is "Make it Well."  The second song is the new song written by Tim and Bart, which they sing for the first time at a concert.  Sam sings, and Tim is in the audience having gotten out of the hospital.  "Even If" proclaims you will be my God even if things do not go right.  

I enjoyed this show of faith.  The music is great as is the message.  Tim does not succumb to his cancer and he and his wife now have four kids.  Sam and Bart continued their careers and sometimes sing together.  

John Wayne Movie Review: El Dorado

 Cole Thornton (John Wayne) is a gun slinger.  He is recruited by Bart Jason (Ed Asner) to help him run off the McDonald ranching family.  John Wayne decides to refuse as he would be going against the sheriff, and old friend, J.P. Harrah (Robert Mitchum.)  However even so he ends up killing the son of the ranchers, (as a reaction to being shot at) and the sister, Joey McDonald (Michele Carey) puts a bullet in him.  The bullet is against his spine and needs a better doctor for removal. 

John Wayne leaves, and hooks up with Minnesota (James Caan) who is good with a knife and not so good with a gun.  The hear that Jason has hired a different gun slinger, Nelse McLeod (Christopher George) and that Harrah has gone to drink over girl issues.  Minnesota and Thornton decide to go back and help.  They helpp rehabilitate Harrah, and take on the Jason men.  Thornton is bothered by the bullet which causes paralysis attacks.  Harrah is shot in the leg.  They are joined by the deputy, Bull (Arthur Hunnicutt.). Jason has kidnapped a McDonald and forcing the father to sign over his water rights.  And our heroes are set for the final confrontation.

Very fun movie.  Similar to Rio Bravo where the deputy is the drunk and Wayne is the sheriff,  In this the sheriff is the drunk and Wayne the deputy.  Maudie (Charlene Holt) provides the female love interest and does a good job.

Omaha Symphony: Stravinsky's Firebird

The guest conductor for this concert was Christopher Allen and the guest violinist was Francisco Fullana. The orchestra first play the overture for Die Fledermaus.  Fullana only played for the first half of the concert, until intermission.  He played with the orchestra Samuel Barber Concerto for violin and orchestra, Op 14.  The violin was bouncing all over the place so it was very fun.  Just before intermission Fullana and the first chair violinist performed a duet which was also very good.  

After intermission the orchestra layed a short piece,  Starburst.  They then played Stravinsky's Firebird.  I really enjoyed firebird.  I guess Stravinky is Russian.  This music told the story of a dark wizard who was holding many people captive as statues.  It was only with the help of the Firebird that they were set free.  A counter charm forced the dark knight to do whatever the hero wanted until he relented to set the people free.  He never relented but eventually he died as did his minions and the people were free.  

This concert was very enjoyable.  The only boring piece, almost put me to sleep, was Starburst which only lasted a couple minutes.  

At the Movies: EPiC Elvis Presley in Concert

 This is a documentary of Elvis Presley with never before seen footage.  It focuses on the Las Vegas concerts but also gives insight to Elvis' youth and his music career based on recorded tapes that were found.  Elvis sings a wide range of music, including several covers of others.  The music is fantastic, the covers and the originals.  Songs include: "In the Ghetto," Can't Help Falling in Love," "That's All Right," Hound Dog," "Polk Salad Annie," "Always on my Mind," "Burning Love," "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "How Great Thou Art," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "You've Lost that Loving Feeling," "Walk a Mile in my Shoes" and "Suspicious Minds."  I really enjoyed the "Polk Salad Annie" as Elvis danced as only he can.  The conversion was also very good into the thoughts of Elvis with regards to his love of music, all kinds.  He refused to answer a question about politics saying he is an entertainer.  He also talked of how he did not enjoy his acting career feeling directors did not let him really act, but just play a caricature.  I loved this documentary.  Directed by Baz Luhrmann.  

DC Movie Review: ****^ The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

 Batman (Christian Bale) has been retired for eight years, and has become a recluse mourning the death of Rachel Dawes.  The city has been doing well, having locked up 2000 criminals based on the Dent laws.  But there is evil brewing beneath the surface.  Batman's old nemesis, the League of Shadows is returning.  Not Ta's Al Ghul, but those who think like him are filtrating the city and government.  Bane (Tom Hardy) in particular is the essence of evil.  He breaks people's necks, or rips out their trachea with his bare hands.  

Commissioner Gordon's (Gary Oldman's) wife has left him, but he continues to protect the reputation of Harvey Dent, and lets Batman take the blame for his crimes.  John Daggett (Ben Mendelsohn) wants to take over Wayne Enterprises and kick Bruce Wayne out.  Cat Woman/ Selina (Anne Hathaway) steals Wayne's finger prints, and sell them to Bane.  They attack a stock market bank, and using the fingerprints are able to wipe Wayne out of money, and Daggett gets his wish, but Bane ends up killing him.  Bane has bigger goals.  

Gordon is kidnapped by Bane's men, but escapes with the help of new police man, John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).  However Gordon is hospitalized from the trauma.  Alfred (Michael Caine) leaves, hoping he can keep Batman from becoming involved again as Batman.  Batman is older and Bane will certainly kill him.  Batman does confront Bane, and Bane beats him in a fight, injuring Batman's back.  Bane keeps him alive but puts him in an Asian prison.  Meantime he takes over Gotham, using explosives so as to isolate it on Gotham island, trapping the police under ground, liberating all the prisoners who are set up as mob rule.  He comes upon nuclear material from Wayne Enterprises, and having kidnapped a scientist to make it into a bomb.  They hold kangaroo courts presided by Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy) in which the put wealthy people to death.

Batman is in the Asian prison for five months, giving his body time to heal.  He is finally able to climb out of the prison.  He finds that a child of Ta's Al Ghoul was also in the prison and escaped.  The child was helped by a protector.  Batman assumes the child is Bane.

Batman returns to Gotham, and takes on Bane with a different result.  He is able to knock his breathing mask which causes great pain.  However just as he is on the point of victory, an ally, Miranda stabs him in the back, literally.  She worked for Wayne Enterprises but turns out to the Talia Al Ghul (Marion Cotillard), daughter of Ta's Al Ghul.  Bane is the protector.  Talia attempt to detonate the bomb but fails as the signal is blacked by Gordon at the bomb.  Thali takes off to go to the bomb.  Catwoman kills Bane with the bat cycle.  The chase Talia, and finally catch her, but the bomb is going to detonate.  Batman takes the bomb in a bat plane out into the ocean where it explodes, ending the threat and Batman.  Batman had said the remote for the plane was not working, but they later discover it was working.

This movie as very good.  I liked it better as the evil characters played their parts well and were truly evil.  Blake is set up to be Robin as he finds the bat cave. 

Movie Review: ****^ Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

 This is a fun expose of the two bandits, Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford).  It includes the son, "Raindrops keep falling on my head."  I is a really good view at the relationships.  The outlaws are forced to leave because of the intense pressure placed on them by the railroad company detectives seeking their death.  They move to Bolivia with Etta Place (Katherine Ross).  They go back into the business with some success robbing banks.   Bur they hear the detective from America has come to track them down, so they stop all criminal activity.  However working as guards they have to kill more then at being criminals.  Etta returns to America, and Butch and Sundance face and army.  That is where the show ends because of all the controversy of whether they returned to America or not and are buried in Bolivia.  

I really enjoy this history and this movie is fun.  

Movie Review: ***^ The Dark Knight (2008)

 In the Dark Knight Batman (Christian Bale) gets darker; as does his nemesis Joker (Heath Ledger).  The Joker is without scruples.  He kills even those who for him or with him.  As such he takes over the crime syndicate in Gotham.  He does behave in conventional ways, and this throws Batman off.  Also the district attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is being aggressive going after organized crime.  The assistant is Bruce Wayne's interest, Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal).  Joker is very good at getting what he wants.  He takes on the task of killing Batman.  He fails to do this but he does turn turn Dent.  He kidnaps he and his fiancé, Batman's friend Rachel.  He forces Batman to save one of them, and Rachel is killed.  Dent is left as Two-face.  Two-face ends up dead and Batman takes the blame so the people can have a hero in Dent, and the laws against organized crime go into effect.  At the end of this movie Batman becomes the Dark Knight and goes into hiding.

The Joker is really devious and evil, and always seems to be a step ahead.  Hedger plays him very dark.  Michael Cane continues as Alfred the butler and support Wayne and Batman.  Gary Oldman continues as commissioner Gordon.  It is Batman and the commissioner who decide the perception has to be that Batman is evil and Dent is a hero.  Joker had messed with Gordon and his family, kidnapping them.

Musical Movie Review: **** Calamity Jane (1953)

 Calamity Jane (Doris Day) is a western woman who dresses in men's clothing.  She is the guard of the stage, and exaggerates how many Native Americans she has killed.  She rescues Lieutenant Gilmartin (Philip Carey) when he is captured by Indians.  She has a crush on him.  Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel) has a thing for Calamity Jane, but would like her to wear woman clothes.  Calamity goes to Chicago to recruit and actress, but gets the wrong woman.  She comes back with the maid, Katie Brown (Allyn Ann McLerie) rather than the actress; but Brown she does the best she can.  Calamity and Brown move in together, and Calamity get jealous when Brown and Gilmartin kiss.  She is so upset she tells Brown she must leave.  But Gilmartin really likes Brown.  Hickok finally proposes to Calamity, and everything ends happy.  

The voices of Howard Keel (baritone) and Doris Day are excellent and their singing really carries the musical.  I especially like the song "The Black Hills of Dakota."  They both sing with lots of energy.  "I Can Do Without You" is also very fun.  

John Wayne Movie Review: ****The Searchers (1956)

 This is a very good movie, and the racism of the lead character spills out all over the movie.  I think this was the point.  Uncle Ethan Evans (John Wayne) has returned home three years after the Civil War ended.  He is caught up in rescuing his nieces who are taken by Comanche.  Their brother, Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter) goes with him but he is not a blood brother, but adopted and has Cherokee blood, which Uncle Ethan doesn't let him forget it.  Pawley has a girlfriend, Laurie (Vera Miles).  Early on they find the older sister murdered.  However the search for Deborah (Natalie Wood and Lana Wood), the younger sister goes on for many years.  Pawley is worried Uncle Evan will kill her as she has been amongst the Indians too long and will be an Indian.  The learn Cicatriz, or Scar (Henry Brandon) has her, but make little progress in finding him.  The first time they come upon Debbie Uncle Ethan does want to kill her, and Pawley intervenes.  However the second time there is a major operation and Cicatriz is killed.  However when Uncle Evan gets to the niece, now about 15 he says lets go home, and it is both he and the niece going home as Uncle Ethan lets go of some of his hate.  

The party would come home from time to time.  On one of these occasions they enter the wedding of Laurie and Charlie McCorrey (Ken Curtis, later Festus).  Laurie had grown tired of waiting and McCorrey had worn her down.  McCorrey and Pawley fight, and there is no wedding.  It is after this fight we hear that Cicatriz is in the area.  Another interesting character is Moss Harper (Hank Worden).  People thinks he is crazy, but it is he who was able to discover the whereabouts of Cicatriz.  Sisters Natalie Wood and Lana Wood portray Debbie, Lana the young Debbie and Natalie the older Debbie.  

I enjoyed this movie.  You have to remember Uncle Ethan's racism is his character form seeing death in the Civil War and fighting against the Native Americans.  

Western Movie Review: *** Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

 This is a Sergio Leone spaghetti western.  It stars Charles Bronson as Harmonica, a mysterious character who is extracting revenge as he goes.  Is ultimate goal is Frank (Henry Fonda), who is a very evil character but who is tied with the rail road, Morton (Gabriele Ferzetti) and thereby gets away with it.  He and his men murder a family; but Cleveland (Jason Robards) is blamed.  Frank and the railroad want the property of the man they murdered.  They did not know he had recently married.  His widow is Jill McBain (Claudia Cardinale).  Cleveland and Harmonica form an alliance of sorts to keep McBain from being cheated of her estate.  Even Frank and Harmonica form an alliance for a time, as Harmonica wants to be sure he is the person to kill Frank, who lynched his father when he was a boy.  

The movie is very slow at times with periods of violence.  Leone really drags out gun fights.  It is a 2 1/2 hour movie and could have been compressed greatly.