Movie Review: ****^Matilda (1996)

A delightful movie.  This film features Mara Wilson as Matilda, a super intelligent girl, who discovers she has special powers to move things with her mind.  However her parents do not care about her.  A husband and wife team Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman play Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood.  Mr. Wormwood plays a used car salesman who is also stealing car parts and gets in trouble with the law.  They send Matilda to a terrible school, Crunchem Hall Elementary School, where Mrs. Trunchbull (Pam Ferris) rules with an iron fist, putting down children and verbally and emotionally and sometimes physically abusing the children.  This is contrasted by her niece, who is Matilda's teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz).  This story is about getting revenge (on a mean principal) and finding love (with Miss Honey.)  I love Mara Wilson as she brings great excitement to the screen.  The relationship between she and Miss Honey is special.  Danny DeVito directs this Roald Dahl story. 

Christmas Movie Review: ***^ Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

This movie has basically the same characters and relationship.  Richard Attenborough stars as Kris Kringle and Mara Wilson as Susan Walker.  Elizabeth Perkins plays Susan's mother and Dylan McDermott her boyfriend.  There are a couple of plot twists which keep this show interesting.  We are introduced to Kris Kringle who intervenes when a hired Santa Claus is inebriated.  Instead of a psychiatrist, the villain is a competitor store owner who is hoping to buy the store where Santa works.  A couple employees are trying to discredit the Santa Claus who is bringing the store back from the brink. The other interesting twist is "In God We Trust" gives the little bit the judge needs to not commit Kris.  The other is the three requests from Susan to Saint Nick and how they come to pass.  Again a classic.