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.