Picture Book Review: The Dream Tree

The Dream Tree by Stephen Cosgrove, illustrated by Robin James, A Serendipity Book, Price/Stern/Sloan, Los Angeles, 1982.

Serendipity books seem to all be written and illustrated by the same people.  There are about 40 such books.  Most end with a moral lesson.  this one does not.  However it does tell of a caterpillar who becomes a butterfly.  It also explains that sometimes you can't explain how something is, you just have to do it.  Patty Caterpillar wishes a butterfly would tell her what it is like to be a butterfly; but all the butterflies just fly off, "Someday you'll know."  He promises himself to come back and tell the caterpillars what it is like, but somethings are easier promised than done.
I like the artwork.  Robin James uses nice colors. 

Picture Book/Halloween Poem: Pumpkin Eye

Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming, Henry Hold and Company, New York, 2001.

The pictures in this book are like Halloween.  They are sometimes over large, giving a partial view, sometimes they are blurry and misty, but always they are eerie.  The poem is mostly three syllable statements, like Piece of pie, pumpkin.

Picture Book: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett, Scholastic, New York, 1978.

I don’t know if this is the inspiration for the movie with the same name.  Very likely it is.  In the town of Chewandswallow the weather delivers food, rather than rain or snow.  However, over time the storms become more and more violent.  This book does not give any reason why this might be happening.  It does point out that the clean-up crew is overwhelmed, and everyone decides to leave for their own safety.  Having food fall on you can be dangerous.

Book Review: Five Kingdoms (3) Crystal Keepers

Five Kingdoms: Crystal Keepers by Brandon Mull, Alladin, New York, 2015.
This is the most fascinating book up to this point.  The crystal keepers have modern technology, which makes computers possible, and email, and communicating with the earth.  In other words it is possible to check on things back home.  One of the pretexts of this series, as that people on earth forget about there own kids when they are kidnapped into the five kingdoms.  Xeropolis was almost destroyed by a computer that was trying to take over everything.  The rogue computer was totally shut off, and thus contained.  This book has a major surprise, which I will not reveal, but Cole finds a new friend from home, as he continues his quest to rescue all his school mates who were kidnapped.  Another immediate rescue is to find one of the princesses, and restore her powers.  However, her powers have been usurped by another computer system, which now wants to take over control of the kingdom.  This is a fascinating read.  I continue to enjoy this series.  I can't read them fast enough.

Picture Book Review: We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt retold by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, Margaret K. McElderry Books, New York, 1989

This story reminds me of a childhood game “No Bears Are Out Tonight.”  Who is stupid enough to go around tempting a bear, and what do you do when you actually find one.  This family finds out in a hurry; You run.  Somehow, I think if this book had been realistic, the bear would have caught up with someone.  Don’t bears run faster than people?

Picture Book Review: Big Jeremy

Big Jeremy by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Donald Carrick, Holiday House, New York, 1989.

This story is even more fun for our family as one of sons is named Jeremy.  He was the largest chi9ld in the family. In this book, Jeremy is a giant, who is prone to clumsiness.  This is a Paul Bunyan story, except our giant is an apple farmer rather and a lumberjack.  Big Jere,y had things pretty nice, working for the Terison family and enjoying the sunsets at night.  Everything was great until the orchard burned.  Things get worse from there, he blows all the children and grandchildren away blowing out the fire, then he breaks the bridge, and then he dumps them all in the river.  He decides to get away.  This only makes things worse for the Terisons.  The illustrations of Big Jeremy are very comical, and add a great deal to the book.

Movie Review: ****Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

  In this movie the whole unierse descends into chaos.  The emperor AKA Darth Sidious, (Ian McDiarmid) thrives on chaos.  He uses his influence over Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) to bring about his transformation into a powerful Sith Lord.  Anakin does unspeakable things, including the murder of children and women, the Sand People in the last movie, and the younglings in training at the Jedi temple in this movie.  He also dispenses with Count Dooku.  Sidious gives Anakin bad dreams about the demise of his wife, Padme (Natalie Portman) in childbirth.  Anakin is determined not to let her die, and is willing to delve into the dark side to save her.  He is also part of the demise of Mace Windu (Samuel Jackson) who had Sidious, until Anakin intervened.  In the end, the clones turn on the Jedi, as Sidious had planned.  Yoda (Frank Oz) and Sidious meet in a great battle.  At the same time, Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor) faces Anakin in an epoch battle.  Anakin’s action do just the opposite of what he intended; he injures her instead of saving her.  The Jedi go into hiding, and the universe falls into the control of the Galactic Empire. 

I still don’t like the character of Anakin Skywalker, who is dead as Darth Vader emerges.  However I love Yoda, and Mace Windu.  And the line where Kenobi informs Anakin that he has the high ground, that further battle is pointless. 

Movie Review: ****Let Thee Be Light (2017)

It is unusual for me to see a movie, but in this case I do, catching the last showing.  This is a movie that leaves you thinking.  I must admit, the beginning of this movie left me feeling very uncomfortable.  Should we pursue Christ, or “Party on.”  I guess if you don’t believe, then “party on” is acceptable.  However, there is so much more.  
In this movie Dr. Sol Harkens (Kevin Sorbo), who is a leading author of atheist books, finds faith after a near death experience, in which he sees his deceased son.  His wife, Katy (Sam Sorbo) has been praying for him.  There children are portrayed by their real life children, but these two carry the film.  If you are an atheist, what do you do with this type of experience?  The scientific wisdom, is that the neurons in the brain are all firing at once, creating hallucinations.  However, this explanation does not work for Sol.  He and his wife take their new found faith, and create a miracle.  Cameos by Sean Hannity and Dionne Warwick. Kevin Sorbo also directed, and Sam Sorbo helped with writing.  This movie is in limited release this week, but with a good showing will get wider release.  Worth seeing and is an alternative to the the "R" stuff showing.

Counting, Picture Book: One Hungry Monster

One Hungry Monster: A Counting Book in Rhyme by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, Scholistic, New York, 1989.

This is a cute little counting book with 10 out-oc-control little monsters who are greedy, selfish, messy and ungrateful.  It takes a whole book for the boy to come onto their behavior and kick them all out.  The monsters really are rather cute.  I especially like the illustrations when the young boy has finally had enough.  You could call this an angry page.  There are many different ways to draw angry.

Picture Book: The Pumpkin Man from Piney Creek

The Pumpkin man from Piney Creek by Darleen Bailey Beard, illustrated by Laura Kelly, Simon and Schuster for Young Readers, New York, 1995.

This book could be from our local area, where we raise a good percentage of the pumpkins in the United States.  This is a nice story with very nice illustrations.  After selling 100 pumpkins, will there be one left over for Hatie to make a Jack O' lantern.  The pumpkins will bring some needed cash. 
This story has a cute ending, and the illustrations bring the Halloween, pumpkin feel.  I especially like the birds and the pumpkins in the pictures. 

Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones

This movie starts with an impressive explosion, and it doesn't let go.  There are the cloners, and Jenga Fett (Temuera Morrison) as the bounty hunter and gene supply for the clones.  Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor) continues in his roll of training Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).  the most complex roll is that of Anakin, and I don't know if anyone could pull this off 100 percent, but Anakin has to go from a little boy, to Darth Vader in three easy steps.  Sometimes he comes off as a whining spoiled brat.  Padme (Natalie Portman) puts up with his antics, and in fact falls in love with him.  The wed secretly to end this episode.  Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) is here again.  He is leading the separatist, under the direction of Lord Sidious/Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).  He is such a manipulator, and in fact the Clone Army, which saves the empire, is just that, a big manipulation.  However the Clones are able to save our heroes from certain death at the hands of the drone army.  There is a cameo part of the owner of a cantina.  He is such a fascinating characters.  "Cloners!" is a line so well given.  I don't know if this character was computer generated or not but it was voiced by Ronald Falk.  After Dooku defeats Anakin and Obi Wan, we get to see Yoda in action with his light saber.  It is fun to see him bouncing around.  Story is again provided by George Lucas.

Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

In my opinion, the prequel trilogy is not near as good as the three originally made.  That being said, The Phantom Menace has lots going for it.  In this series, we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters,  The holdouts are Darth Sidious/Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker; later Darth Vader (Jake Lloyd) as a boy; and then Yoda (Frank Oz) in a smaller roll.  Two Jedi, Obi Wan and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neesom) head to a planet to help with negotiations, and land in the middle of a droid army invasion.  Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) is able to escape with the Jedi.  They end up stranded on Tatooine, the Luke Skywalker planet.  Her they meet Anakin and his mother Shmi (Pernilla August).  they are both slaves.  However Anakin has a skill which leads to his freedom, and the Jedi being able to repair their ship.  This is a racing sport, unlike any we have seen, as big chariots, pulled by two engines each, race around the sand dunes.  This race is very dangerous.  To this cast of characters, we add Darth Maul (Ray Park), a Sith Lord.  He challenges the Jedi on a couple of occasions, and Tatooine, and then back on Naboo.  There are two people that live on Naboo.  Queen Amidala only represents half.  In the ocean lives another sentient culture, and it is only with their aide, that the people of Naboo can defeat the droids.  Both peoples must overcome pride to except help from the other.  Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) befriends the Jedi, but is not on good terms with his own people due to his clumsiness.  All tis leads to a classic battle involving Anakin, the Jedi against Darth Maul, and the people of Naboo against the droid army. 
This is a very creative film.  Especially with the sand  racers.  Star Wars keeps introducing us to new worlds and situations, and is always a good ride. 

Children's Book Review: Disney's the Haunted House Party

This little book features Donald Duck.  Donald is my favorite Mouseketeer character.  He is invited to a costume party at a haunted house, but Daisy is going with a different duck.  So Huey, Dewey and Louie agree to create some peril so Donald can show himself a hero.  First they come as bats, and Daisy's date runs and hides.  Donald saves the day.  Of course he knows it is his nephews.  then a ghost appears, and Donald again saves the day, and again it is his nephews, but this time Donald didn't know it was them.  He thought they were going to do just one prank.  Fun book if you like the Mouseketeer characters.
  

Harrison Ford Movies

When it comes to Harrison Ford I like him, and so I give his movies lots of stars.  But so do lots of people because he has been in most of the highest grossing movies.  This list is not complete but will be growing.


***** Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) The first Star Wars produced

****^ Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) In which Han Solo is frozen

***** Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) Everyone's favorite with action of many different levels

****  Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)  A very good beginning to the third trilogy, not so good for Han Solo

****^ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.  Ford makes a cameo as a force ghost to talk to his son.

The Call of the Wild (2020)

***^ The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) An animated show 

****^  Ender's Game (2013) Plays a grouchy Colonel

**** The Age of Adaline (2015) Portrays the past love, and father of the current love of a woman who doesn't age

**** Cowboys and Aliens  (2011)  Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig take on the aliens

***^ 42 (2013) The story of Jackie Robinson

***^ Paranoia  (2013)  Industrial espionage

Firewall (2006)

Hollywood Homicide (2003)

K-19 The Widow Maker (2002)

What Lies Beneath (2000)

Six Days Seven Nights (1998)

Air Force One (1997)

**** Sabrina  (1995) A very good remake

****  The Fugitive  (1993)  Great fun with Tommy Lee Jones

Patriot Games (1992)

Regarding Henry (1991)

*****Indian Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) The movie that made archeology cool

****^ Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

*****Indian Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

***  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull   (2008)  I liked this movie less than the other Indian Jones movies.  Perhaps because Shia LaBeouf plays his son.

***^ The Frisco Kid  (1979)  With Gene Wilder

American Graffitti (1973)

Movie Review: ***^42 (2013)

This film is the story of Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) as the first Black player to play major league baseball.  42 is the number Robinson wore throughout his career.  The owner of the Dodgers, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) was looking for a Black player to join the Dodger's organization.  A sports writer suggested Jackie Robinson.  Rickey, according to the film, did this because he was tired of the racism of major league baseball.  Of course there were economic issues as well.  Bringing the black community to the ball park would be good for revenues.  His first year Robinson played with the Toronto Royals, the Dodger's triple A ball club.  This film tells of his success that year, and then the subsequent year with the Dodgers as a rookie.  Robinson had to face serious racial discrimination, at first form his own teammates, who signed a petition not to play if Robinson played, and then from coaches and players on other teams.  This racist vitriol was most poignant from the Philadelphia manager.  Robinson for his part had to learn to keep his place, until he won people over.  Then we could better influence others, and others would sometimes defend him, and he could defend himself.  Robinson proved himself with his bat, base stealing, base running and play in the field.  The Dodgers made it to the World Series his rookie year.
The next year, more teams had black players.  After the ice had been broken, a team was foolish not to draw from this talent pool for his team.  Check out my review of a book about Jackie Robinson with this link.  And here is a blog looking at the veracity of this storytelling of this movie.

Harrison Ford does a good job.  I could hardly recognize him in this character of a baseball owner.

Movie Review: Oliver Twist (2005)

This movie was directed by Roman Polanski.  This is not the musical, but an Oliver Twist (Barney Clark) with a very different ending than from the musical.  This movie is also more strait forward, without speculation as to Oliver's parentage, but he is taken in all the same by Mr. Brownow (Edward Hardwicke, when Oliver is falsely accused of pick pocketing).  However, Fagin (Ben Kingsley), and Bill Sykes (Jamie Foreman) are determined to have Oliver back, based on what he might say; and Sykes uses him to rob his benefactor's home.  However the robbery goes awry.    Nancy (Leanne Rowe) the girlfriend of Bill Sykes has a heart, and feels they should leave the boy alone.  She decides to take things into her own hand.  However this only leads to her own murder.  She and Sykes had a strange relationship based on abuse.  The group take to the country, with the police following them trying to get Sykes.  Again Oliver is chosen as the hostage of Sykes, but still things do not go in Sykes' favor.  In this version Fagin does not get away.

Movie Review: ****50 First Dates (2004)

In truth the number 50 is short, because every day is new to Lucy (Drew Barrymore) following a car accident that destroyed her short term memory.  Her long term memory is in tact, but she cannot remember more than a day at a time.  When she sleeps her memory is reset.  Her father (Blake Clark) and brother (Sean Astin) try to rig things so every day will be the day that she can last remember.  They have a stack of papers from that day.  It is always the father's birthday because that is the day, and they always watch "Sixth Sense."  Enter Henry (Adam Sandler) a worker at the aquarium, who meets this young woman and likes her.  Next time he runs into her she doesn't remember him.  He is puzzled, until her condition is explained to him.  However he is determined to have breakfast with her.  Using manipulation and lies, he finally does.  However she is onto him, and nothing comes of it.  He is determined, and starts to have some success over time.  Then she has a bad day.  A day in which she realizes time has past.  Father and brother come to her rescue, and Henry develops a plan to have a relationship with her.  The question is whether or not the plan will work.  He introduces her to the accident, and her history, the very first thing she wakes up in the morning. 
This is an enjoyable movie.  Barrymore is always good.  Sean Astin is in this movie, but this is not my favorite role for him.