Graphic Novel: Piper

Piper by Jay Asher and Jessica Freeburg, illustrated by Jeff Stokely, Razorbill and imprint of Penguin Random House, 2017.

This is a very interesting retelling of the story of the Pied Piper.  The illustrations are fantastic, and in color throughout.  In this retelling a young woman, hard of hearing, plays a part in earning the trust and love of the Piper.   And for a time, this affection is returned; until the young woman is able to see the heart of the Piper.  Someone who would kill rats, and lead children away, and use his flute to control others, was not someone with whom she could spend her life.

Book Review: Midnight for Charlie Bone

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo, Orchard Books, New York, 2002.
I have come upon a new universe of "endowed" children who are attending the Bloor's Academy.  When Charlie's Great Aunt discover that Charlie is endowed, they send him off to the academy.  Charlie can hear pictures, the voices of the people talking when the picture was taken.  He discovers his talent when he is given a picture by mistake, of someone talking about a baby girl.  This leads him on a quest, to find the niece of a book store owner who was sold away for something several years ago.  The man has since died, but left a case which holds the key; however there is no key to open the case. 
Bloor's Academy is not the fun place it should be.  It is a school for gifted children, either art, drama or music.  And then those who have special endowments.  The endowed are descendants of the Red King.  Some have evil intentions and others good.  It is among the students of the academy where the niece is found, in a half hypnotized state.  How can they open the box and restore her. 
This new universe is going to be fun.  I understand there are seven books in the series.  If they all are as entertaining as this first, this is going to be fun. 

Music Review: Aerosmith: Download Festival at Donington Park (2014)

Aerosmith at ****  I watched this concert of Aerosmith, and must admit there are still only two songs I like of theirs.  However these two songs are so extraordinary it makes the time spend watching the whole concert worth it.  These songs are “Dream On” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”  I can listen to them over and over.  Steven Tyler is quite the performer and singer.  No one can copy his style.  He is very unique.  However during the concert there was a time he used the "f" word too freely.  The band also features Joe Perry lead guitar and vocals, Tom Hamilton bass guitar, Joey Kramer drums, and Brad Whitford guitar.  Steven Tyler takes a turn at percussion and piano. 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne,   This is a new work from J.K. Rowling.  It is presented as a script for a play.  I would really like to see it performed.  Reading this scene to scene is very exciting.  It is one of those books you are compelled to keep going.  It is written in two parts with two acts in each part for a total of four acts.  Harry and Ginny’s youngest son, Albus Severus and Draco’s only son, Scorpius become fast friends at Hogwarts.  They are both in Slytherin House.  There is a rumor that Scorpius is the son of Voldemort.  He consequently has difficulty making friends.  But this story gets really interesting when the two boys decide to steal a time turner and go back in time to prevent the death of Cedric Diggory “the Spare.”  The are encouraged in this by Delphi, the nurse of Cedric's father who misses Cedric in his old age.  They find it is difficult to change the past, but more easy to screw things up.  They come back from two attempts to find the world entirely different.  In one universe Harry Potter died and Voldemort won.  This is a dark world.  In turning this seen right, they discover their accomplice is not who she says she is.  Turns out Delphi is in fact the daughter of Voldemort, whose goal is to change the past to make the present different.  Albus and Scorpius get sucked back in time with Delphi, to the time with Voldemort killed Harry's parents.  And she could have succeeded.  This book is about parenting, and being true to you friends.  It is family and friends that can help change the tide in the end.  In one of the alternate universes Harry Potter was a very bad father, driving his son away.  This story is terrific.  My only regret is that it had to come to an end.  I love these characters that Rowling created.

Movie Review: ***A Memory iIn My Heart (1999)

A Memory in My Heart (1999)  This is Jane Seymour in a made for T.V. movie.  Seymour portrays a woman with amnesia.  She has since remarried and decided to forget the past; until she runs into someone who knew her from the past, and even has a photo of she and her children.  She is able to travel to her hometown and reunite with her children.  However the story from her ex-husband is that she ran away and abandoned the children eight years earlier.  The children have been told that she died.  Could this be the real story?  Her current husband does not believe she would ever abandon her children.  However without her own memories what is she to do.  It just happens that scenes keep triggering flash back to her memories; and she isn’t the only witness to what took place.  Reportedly this movie is based on true events.

Movie Review: ***^Australia (2008)

Australia (2008)  This movie is delightsome in its totality. This is a movie which includes some history about WWII which is easily forgotten.  The story centers around Drover (Hugh Jackman) and Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman)  Ashley has inherited a large property after her husband has been murdered.  She employs Drover in an attempt to keep her property from a land tack over scheme.  The story is set in northern Australia, and they must drive the cattle to Darwin so as to be shipped to the military for use during WWII.  They are caught in Darwin during the Japanese bombing.  They have befriended an aboriginal boy, Nullah (Brandon Walters) who was left on an island for orphans during the attack.  Drover and friends go to rescue the orphans.  Drover and Ashley have become involved, and Ashley has adopted Nullah.  They are able to complete the rescue, but they must still deal with Mr. Fletcher (David Wenham), who is the ambitious murderer who is moving up by forcing others to sell.  Nullah’s grandfather is portrayed by David Gulpilil.

Movie Review: ***^Titanic (1997)

Titanic:  This is a classic movie, and the relationship between Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio and Rose (Kate Winslet) really makes this movie work.  And Rose's fiancé Cal (Billy Zane) is  such a jerk.  I am glad she ditches him.  But Jack is a lower class passenger, and does not have much chance of getting in a boat.  And the prized diamond the scavengers are looking for is all the time in Rose's pocket. Another classic scene is in the water, when Rose lets Jack go, and swims to a whistle to facilitate her rescue.  She portrayed one of the few that was fished from the water.  Kathy Bates is great as Molly Brown.  Word of warning, there is a nude scene as DiCaprio portrays an artist who draws Kate Winslet's character.    

Picture Book: Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill, Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 2017.
The movie of the same name, has an adventure in New York City in which Newt Scamander talks about the book he is working on.  This is the book.  The highlight here is the section on Dragons.  There is a picture and brief data about each of the types of dragons, ten in all.  There is a four-page fond out featuring the  Ukrainian Iron Belly.  Every page delights, from the introduction which tries to explain what is a beast.  Admittedly not all creatures in the books are beasts, but the Centaur chose not to be classified with intelligent beings.  This includes many creatures seen in the Harry Potter series, including the Troll, Merpeople and the Gnomes.  Ghosts are not included.  There are also animals featured in the Newt Scamander movie such as the Bowtruckle and Niffler.  I love the creativity and really enjoy the illustrations.  This book features 81 different creatures, not counting the dragons separately.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Movie Review: Karate Kid II

Karate Kid part II is centered in Okinawa, where Miyagi (Pat Morita) has returned to send off his dying father.  Daniel joins him.  Miyagi finds the environment much different from when he left.  His old rival (in love and karate) has become wealthy, while the villagers have suffered and become poor.  The old rival insists on a fight to the death.  Daniel (Ralph Machio) gains his own enemy and rival in love, Chozen. 
Circumstances are such that Miyagi and his rival resolve their differences, but Chozen is determined to the end, and forces a one on one match with Daniel.  Chozen is posed for victory, when using small drums Miyagi and then the crowd make a rhythm for Daniel, and using the rhythm Daniel is able to block Chozen's attack and counter instead.  He snatches victory from defeat. 

Movie Review: ***^Karate Kid (1984)

Karate Kid (1984)  This movie fascinated me as a young man.  Miyagi (Pat Morita) was so clever in the way he taught karate, “paint the fence” and “wax on wax off.”  And he has a very willing and desperate student in Daniel (Ralph Machio).  All of this training is pointing to a major karate tournament where Daniel is to face down a whole school of students who have been tormenting him for some time.  This team is not very ethical, and are willing to cause permanent injury to get their way.  The final move of the tourney, with Daniel taking the role of the one legged crane after his leg is injured is classic.  This movie still scores for me. 

Movie Review: ****^Dog Days (2018) In Theaters

Dog Days (2018)  I love, love, love this movie!  I laughed and I cried and I was thoroughly entertained.  This movie features everything from babies, to dogs, to nerds (Jon Bass), to beautiful women (Eva Longoria, Vanessa Hudgens, Nina Dobrev), and very handsome guys (Ryan Hansen, Tone Bell).  It has the bungling uncle (Adam Pally) who agrees to take the dog, and the husband (Thomas Lennon) who doesn’t have a clue and the mother who gives birth to twins.  It has the young guy (Finn Wolfhard) who befriends a retired man (Ron Cephas Jones) who has lost his wife, and later his dog.  It has a rock band, and a fund raiser for a veterinary clinic.  It has a news show wit funny antics.  It has a story of adoption (people) which is very heart warming, and a story of a dog adoption which is also very touching.  It also has a dog psychiatrist which is funny in it way “That will be $300.”  This movie leaves you feeling good and I highly recommend it.

Movie Review: ****Peter Pan (2003)

This is a cute movie.  If takes the original Peter Pan, and puts a little twist on it.  The theme is the importance of believing, whether in  fairies, or yourself.  There is a point where even the confidence of Peter Pan is shaken.  At that point belief is what saved him.  I love the Peter Pan story, and recommend this story.  The scene between Tiger Lilly and John Darling are priceless.

	Jason Isaacs	...	Mr. Darling / Captain Hook
	Jeremy Sumpter	...	Peter Pan
	Rachel Hurd-Wood	...	Wendy Darling
	Lynn Redgrave	...	Aunt Millicent
	Richard Briers	...	Smee
	Olivia Williams	...	Mrs. Darling
	Geoffrey Palmer	...	Sir Edward Quiller Couch
	Harry Newell	...	John Darling
	Freddie Popplewell	...	Michael Darling
	Ludivine Sagnier	...	Tink

Graphic Novel: The Blue Witch of Oz

Little Adventures In Oz: Volume 2 by Eric Shanower, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

This is one of five graphic novels written and illustrated by Eric Shanower.  They were first published separately before 2010.  The five are:

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz  Dorothy gets to thinking about good witches and bad witches.  There are four evil witches, for each direction, but only three good.  So where is the Good Witch of the East.  The starts a new adventure Dorothy and Scarecrow.  Saw Horse gives them a ride as far as he can go, s they have reached a mountain.  They are able to make it to an enchanted island, having walked on alligator logs.  They discover there the glass cat, Bungle.  There they discover a recurring nightmare—The Blue Witch and her brother-in-law who also practices magic have each cursed each other and the same moment, which has caused a loop in time.  They are fighting over the Princess’ son, who was stolen and raised by the brother-in-law.  The double curse keeps happening every day, but how to get them out of the recurring events.  It is Bungle, who steps in the way and reflects the curses, that causes them to come to reality.  And now they must deal with the parentage of the boy.  A journey to Ozma is in order. 

Graphic Novel: The Secret Island of Oz

Little Adventures In Oz: Volume 2 by Eric Shanower, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

This is one of five graphic novels written and illustrated by Eric Shanower.  They were first published separately before 2010.  The five are:

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Secret Land of Oz starts with a sad gardener.  He is said as he has every type of fish in his pond except one, the elusive the Crimson-Tailed Guipperug.  Of course the fish is badly needed, but requires a trip to forbidden mountain, which makes awful noises.  The Cowardly Lion (who is really a brave lion despite having fear when he does brave things) as King of the Quadling Country has been there many times.  Scarecrow also joins Dorothy on the trip, and an uninvited guest, Eureka the Cat who would like to dine on fish.  Lion talks to the fish and discovers the Crimson-Tailed Guipperug very solitary and not easily found.  They go inside of a fish to continue their journey, and use a magical finding amulet given Dorothy by the Wizard.  However they all pop out of the fish’s mouth in a whirlpool and end up on the other side of the whirlpool in an unexplored country.  The country is inside the mysterious mountain.  Dorothy and Eureka and a new friend, Knot Boy (he is made of wood) are separated from Lion and Scarecrow.  In an attempt to find them they go in room locked by the King—breaking the law.  The Princess catches them.  The Princess and Knot Boy were once friends, but now the Princess feels too good for Knot Boy. 

In the meantime Scarecrow and Lion are in a cave with a giant snake and giant frog who would like to eat them.  Dorothy comes upon them in the middle of a confrontation.  They use the Wizard’s shrinking potion on the snake, and Knot Boy rescues the Princess from the Frog.  Now how to get out of the mysterious mountain.  They are welcomed by the King as heroes, and he gives them a boat with which to ride up the whirlpool which surrounds the country.  At the arrive safe.  Eureka finds a Crimson-Tailed Guipperug; and when they ask it to come to the Emerald City and be admired by all, its response is classic, “No, thank you.  I’d rather stay here.  The Emerald City may be wonderful, but I don’t want to live in captivity and be stared at by strangers.  I’m a wild fish and this is my home.”  This book has two themes.  The first is to know who you are and live up to that.  The second is not to forget your friends.

Graphic Novel: The Forgotten Forest of Oz

Little Adventures In Oz: Volume 2 by Eric Shanower, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

This is one of five graphic novels written and illustrated by Eric Shanower.  They were first published separately before 2010.  The five are:

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz deals with a wood nymph, who is banned from the forest for having kissed a man.  The Law of the forest is very strict.  She is taken in by the King of the Trolls, and becomes the Queen of the Trolls when they marry.  Over time our Nymph, now made mortal when she was banished, becomes bitter with the wood nymphs.  She seeks revenge, and with her encouragement, the Troll King goes to war with the Nymphs.  The recruit the dragons to help as the nymphs have great magic.  They hope to attack at night, and conquer the Nymphs before the can mount a defense.  Our queen is still not happy, and determines to drink of the Waters of Oblivion from the Emerald City.  She sends a large flying bat.  However Toto and Dorothy notice the bat and hitch a ride.  They are flown over the desert to the land of the trolls.  The scare crow and the wooden horse notice their plight, and take off after them.  Fortunately nether of them breath, nor is made of flesh, so they are able to travel through the desert.  They arrive to save Dorothy and Toto who are now prisoners of the Queen.  However they make good their escape.  They have heard the plans to invade the forest, and they are off, pursued by the queen aboard her bat.  The Queen realizes she has been tricked by the Troll King, first into kissing a man (who turns out to have been the Troll King in disguise) and then used to spark an invasion.  She finally realizes her love is for the forest.  Now how does she stop an invasion she started?  Dorothy and the wooden horse play into the solution, as they hurry to warn the forest queen.  Our wood nymph sews confusion and doubt amongst the dragons.  When they see the lights of the wood nymphs coming towards them, they are convinced the Troll King is leading them into a trap.  Only the Nymph Queen can restore the nymph, who realizes her love is the forest. 

Book Review; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:Illustrated

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, By J.K. Rowling (original copyright 1999), illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 2017.
I love the original Harry Potter story, and this is only enhanced by the beautiful illustrations.  Among other illustrations there is Severus Snape, a pack of Hippogriffs, and so much more.  We see the owls in their rookery, different students faxing the Bogart, and Harry's aunt blowing up like a balloon.  In this book we are introduced to Grindylows and werewolves.  There is also a good representation of Professor Trelawney.  we are also introduced to the Wizard's Bus and this appears in the cover illustration.
This story is again set at Hogwarts School of Magic.  This year Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban.  It is generally believed he is on his way to kill Harry Potter, consequently Dementors are allowed to be just outside the school, where they can examine all people coming into the school.  Problem with this is that harry Potter has a bad reaction to Dementors.  This reaction plagues Potter throughout this book.  Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher takes Harry under his wing to teach him a spell to chases the Dementors away.
This book has a terrific ending, when a much different result that that expected.  I recommend the book, and especially the illustrated version. 

Book Review: The River Between Us by Richard Peck

The River Between Us, Richard Peck, Puffin Books, New York, 2003.

This book is a historical fiction from the early parts of the Civil War.  The environment for the book is Grand Tower, Illinois, which is on the Mississippi River.  This is a small town, with their own values.  Into town comes two women, one elegantly dressed, and the other  of African descent/  It is assumed they are master and slave; but the have disembarked on free territory.  The are taken in as boarders of Tilly's mother takes them in.  This results in improved life style, as the purchase candles and many other needed things.  Mama's son, Noah is eager to join the war, fighting for the north.  He ends up with Ulysses Grant at Cairo, Illinois (pronounces Kayro.)  the first major battle in the West,  is portrayed in the pages.  This took place at Belmont Missouri with Grant sending men south from Cairo by boat.  They then engaged the enemy in a battle which ended in a draw, the the Confederates maintained the ground.  This has a tremendous effect on our characters.  Tilly marries the doctor who treated her Brother.  Her brother marries (sort of) the young woman who came to town, and came to Cairo to treat him.  The Black woman is her sister.  They are New Orleans Free Blacks, and the rule is you don't marry whites. although you become the mistress and they support you.  The father was a well-to-do man from New Orleans.  There was also tremendous social pressure against them.  With the coming of the war, life in New Orleans was bound to change, and for this reason they traveled North.
So this book not only entertains, it also teaches some of race relations of which I wasn't aware.  Of course this some problem invades "Showboat" the musical.
I highly recommend this book.  I found it very entertaining.  It mentions Carbondale, which is where I lived a couple years growing up.

Graphic Novel: The Ice King of Oz

Little Adventures in Oz Vol. 1, The Enchanted Apples of Oz, Eric Shanower writer and illustrator, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

Shanower completed five graphic novel stories in his Oz Series.  This is the second.  The five are: 

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Ice King:  By albatross, Ozma of Oz receives a request from the Ice King that a delegation from his realm to Oz.  How can such a request be denies.  Somehow the Ice King has a magical way for the delegation to arrive in Emerald City.  I especially like the image in the throne room when the inhabitants of Oz greet the delegation from the Ice King.  There are so many familiar characters that I consider my friends.  Lion, Tiger, Toto, The Wizard, Jack, Scarecrow, Tinman Dorothy and Ozma and so many more.  This delegation arrives with a proposal of marriage, between the Ice King and Dorothy.  The proposal is declined, but they are set to show the delegation the country the next morning, but they are gone, as is Ozma.  Now to rescue Ozma, and how to do so because the Ice King has a realm where outside magic is not effective.  Scarecrow, Tin Man and Dorothy are selected.  They are joined by a fourth member, a candle man—who use to be a candle maker until cursed by The Wicked Witch of the West.  Glinda makes a flying vehicle of emeralds to carry them over the great desert.  The candle man is very useful, because he has a flame to warm the others in an ice kingdom.  However when he does, he gets smaller, he is melting away.  Anyway, there is no hope of success against the Ice King, unless you could melt his heart; which our candle maker is able to do.  Upon return to Ozma is able to stabilize to stop future shrinkage, but he will be forever small.

Graphic Novel: The Enchanted Apples of Oz

Little Adventures in Oz Vol. 1, The Enchanted Apples of Oz, Eric Shanower writer and illustrator, IDW Publishing, 2010, San Diego, CA

Shanower completed five graphic novel stories in his Oz Series.  This is the first.  The others are: 

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

I really like these books, because in the illustrations and the dialogue, the creator captures the spirit of L. Frank Baum.  However, he does not capture the wit, which I guess is harder to replicate.  However it is the best, non-Baum story I have ready.  This book deals with a struggling magician, Bortag, who wants to use magic to get love.  His love happens to be the Wicked Witch of the South, and he steals the magic apples, which supply Oz with its magic, to waken her.  She does waken, but does not return Bortag’s affections.  However she has an unquenchable desire for more apples.  This will completely leave Oz without magic.  The witch grows in power as others fade.  She gets the magic built that Dorothy wears.  Bortag returns to fix things, but still leaves with the built, until he repents.  The belt does not bring happiness, but he already has this in his friend Drox, a flying dolphin.  The moral is given in the last picture, “True happiness is never far away.”

Movie Review: ****Mision Impossible: Fallout (2018)

Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018)  This movie has you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.  It grabs you and doesn't let go.  Sheri says some of the scenes seemed “impossible” to her, but that is what makes this film so unpredictable and exciting.  There is every kind of chase imaginable, car, motorcycle, on foot, helicopter etc.  There is also romantic situations effecting the decisions people make.  And there is counter espionage and misidentification.  This is a great movie with a cast that really shines.

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, Henry Cavill as August Walker, Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, Michelle Monaghan as Julia Meade Hunt and Alec Baldwin as the director. 

Movie Review: ***^Ant Man and the Wasp (2018)

The Ant and the Wasp (2018)  Except for the graphics representing the sub atomic world, (looks like a Doctor Who promotion) this movie is very good.  There is lots of play with tiny vehicles, which look like match box toys but blow up very large.  Ant Man is portrayed by Paul Rudd.  His non-ant character is under house arrest for using his powers without authorization.  During much of the movie and ant takes over his life, sleeping, playing the drum, taking baths etc.  The wasp is portrayed by Evangeline Lilly.  She and her father (Michael Douglas) are trying to rescue their mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) who has been in the subatomic world for many years.  There is cute play on staying out of jail while actually using superpowers to complete the rescue.  In addition there are two groups of people trying to get the equipment from them.  A group of thugs and a couple people, Dr. Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), hoping the equipment will help restore Ghost from a half-life due to contact with sub-atomic particles.  This movie makes for a very exciting ride. 

Marvel Universe

Movie Review: ***Deep Impact (1998)

Deep Impact: Here is a comet hitting the world dooms-day scenario.  There were two similar movies made at the same time.  The other movie they are more successful with diverting the comet heading for Earth than this.  However, a group of astronauts sacrifice themselves in the end to divert the larger comet.  The smaller one hits and the East coast is devastated with a tidal wave.  Tea Leoni stars as Jenny Lerner the reporter on this case.  She is granted a position to be safe in a cave; but declines for a co-worker with a child.  Robert Duvall portrays an astronaut, Spurgeon Tanner, who is the old man and the only with experience landing a craft as he travelled to the moon.  Now he must land on an comet.  Elijah Wood portrays on of the co discoverers of the comet.  He is also granted a place in the shelter, but declines for a girl.  He is able to rescue the girl, and her baby sister on a motor bike.  They reach higher ground.  Lastly Morgan Freeman portrays the President who is dealing with a hopeless situation.Deep Impact: Here is a comet hitting the world dooms-day scenario.  There were two similar movies made at the same time.  The other movie they are more successful with diverting the comet heading for Earth than this.  However, a group of astronauts sacrifice themselves in the end to divert the larger comet.  The smaller one hits and the East coast is devastated with a tidal wave.  Tea Leoni stars as Jenny Lerner the reporter on this case.  She is granted a position to be safe in a cave; but declines for a co-worker with a child.  Robert Duvall portrays an astronaut, Spurgeon Tanner, who is the old man and the only with experience landing a craft as he travelled to the moon.  Now he must land on an comet.  Elijah Wood portrays on of the co discoverers of the comet.  He is also granted a place in the shelter, but declines for a girl.  He is able to rescue the girl, and her baby sister on a motor bike.  They reach higher ground.  Lastly Morgan Freeman portrays the President who is dealing with a hopeless situation.
Entertaining movie but not terrific.

Movie Review: *****Seabiscuit (2003)

Seabiscuit 2003  This movie was totally delightful.  Seabiscuit is the horse.;   It features Jeff Bridges as Charles Howard, the owner of the horse, Chris Cooper as Tom Smith the trainer, and Tobey Maguire as Red Pollard, the jockey.  All the main characters have had their downs, and they all have something to prove.  This movie is about overcoming.  Seabiscuit was used to train other horses.  To instill confidence in the other horses he was held back, and became use to losing.  The trainer sets out to find his real heart.  To  me Smith is too old.  Charles Howard’s son died in a car accident, and his wife left him.  Red Pollard has been kicked around his whole life.  The world of a jockey is a dog eat dog world.  He has lost his vision in one eye from abuse.  This movie has a great positive message.

Movie Review: ****The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Here is a movie where the good guy wins, and the evil man, scheming to rape the land and its people is left in the ocean.  There is plenty of action, and the use of animals in this film is incredible.  The fight between Tarzan and the lead gorilla is very violent.  To be honest, Tarzan didn't have a chance.
This movie stars Alexander Skarsgård as Tarzan, Margot Robbie as Jane, Samuel Jackson and Tarzan's side kick, Christoph Waltz as the bad guy.  This movie is very enjoyable.  The character played by Waltz, Leon Rom has a wicked necklace which he uses to choke people.

TV Review: Doctor Who: The Sun Makers

This is a four-part series which first aired on BBC in 1977.  Tony watched parts of this with me.  He thought it was just too cheesy.  The guns looked like wooden guns for child's play, and then they had laser rays coming out of them.  Also they kept using different words for His Eminence which was almost comical.  The story is based on Pluto.  The Company has  built artificial suns.  However they control them and tax for heat.  You are taxed for being alive.  You are taxed for dying because it takes heat to cremate you.  As a result the workers have to work over time, and have very little free time to sleep.  Finally a worker breaks, and is attempting to commit suicide, on the roof where he can feel the heat and is now subject to a fine.  The Doctor (Tome Baker) arrives at this point and they rescue him from suicide.  The Doctor is joined by Leela (Louise Jameson).  K-9 is also a featured character helping The Doctor.  The Doctor puts a bug in the people's ears which leads to general revolt.  There is a sizable underground community, and they join with the workers.  As trouble brews, Him Eminence gets smaller and smaller.  Several times both The Doctor and Leela are close  to death, or reprograming.
I can't say this is my favorite Doctor Who series.  However it gives us an interesting take on Pluto.  In this film, the inhabitants are form earth, via Mars; both planets have been overused and no longer support life.