Movie Review: ***^Ferdinand (2017)

How do you take a classic children's book and make it new.  You add a little girl who loves Ferdinand.  This story is about not always being what others expect, or you can't read a book by the cover.  John Cena voices Ferdinand, the barnyard rebel who realizes that things do not turn out well for the bull.  Ferdinand is part of the family, after he escapes the bull ranch when he is young.
However when the bull fighters come looking for the perfect bull, Ferdinand is bound to be overlooked, except for a bee.  An ill-timed bee sting has Ferdinand selected for a big day at the bullfight.  Despite a wild escape attempt, Ferdinand ends up in the bull ring; where he doesn't fight, finally winning over the full fighter.  Ferdinand is much more interested in flowers than fighting.

Movie Review: ***^Leap (2016)

This movie was a great motivational platform about pursuing you dream.  However there were a couple of things about the movie which made it play smaller.  A couple incidents of farty humor.  Even kids deserve better.  And then the other of the competing ballerina at the end going all antisocial and murderous.  It was just a bit not believable.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Illustrated version)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, New York 2016.  (Originally published 1996.)
Combining the artwork with this fantastic book really brings the story to life.  Again we are given four or five portraits of important characters (Hagrid, Mrs. Weasley etc,)    also with important scenes such os Hogwarts in winter and Diagon Alley.  The pictures of Aragog and his spider  offspring is just creepy.  In this book the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts has been opened, which releases a basilisk, a snake like creature.  The basilisk has been wreaking havoc on the school, but caused no deaths.  I you look at it directly you die, but so far everyone has seen it through reflection rather than directly.  When the basilisk takes Jeannie Weasley captive, Ron and Harry follow, with Professor Lockhart, not so brave as he would have us believe, but he does know a good memory spell.
This story ends with the Phoenix bird coming to help Harry.  He brings the sword of Gryffindor.  On of the more fascinating illustrations is of the Phoenix.

Book Review: The Story of Ferdinand

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, drawings by Robert Lawson, Scholastic, New York, original Viking Press, 1936.
This book is the inspiration for the movie out last year.  Ferdinand is a bull unlike the other bulls.  he prefers to sit quietly enjoying the smell of the flowers rather than butting heads with other bulls.  However, when the bullfight managers come to select a bull for the bull fights, a bumble bee intervenes and Ferdinand goes crazy and is selected.  However, in the ring he is more interested in the flowers in the hats of all the ladies, and sits and smells; and refuses to fight.  Neither the Banderilleros, the Picadores nor he Matador are able to show off.  I especially like the drawing of the trantruming Matador.