TV review: Star Wars: The Book of Bobba Fett

 I think this series might be a bit below the quality of some of the other Star Wars fare, but it does entertain and advance the Star Wars story.  My complaint center around the use of so much flash back to catch us up on the history of Bobba Fett (Temuera Morrison).  This is mostly through reminiscences while Bobba Fett is in the bacta tank.  This is a bit slow.  The Mandalorian Pedro Pascual) scenes are my favorite as well as the Grogu scenes.  Grogu has to deide if he will continue his Jedi training with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammill) or go back with the Mandalorian.  In the end they set up the next Mandalorian series with Grogu and the Mandalorian traveling toether.  

In the end, Bobba Fett faces off against the Pykes and is terrible undermanned.  He is also betrayed by many of the other crime bosses on Tatooine.  However Fett's side kick, Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) infiltrates the Pyke leadership and kills them.  Fett's rancor destroys a Scorpenek droid, but goes on a rampage.  However Grogu is able to calm the rancor.  

Movie Review: ****^Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

The fun continues with the Temple of Doom.  This movie precedes the Lost Ark as it is before WWII. Dr. Jones is again seeking his fortune and glory with Short Round (Ke Huy Quan), A Chinese boy who drives and covers Dr. Jones' back side, and Willie (Kate Capshaw) an American singer who is performing in Shang Hai when she becomes part of the Dr. Jones entourage.  Fortune brings them to India, after they escape a crashing airplane on a raft boat.  There a shaman has been waiting for them, and they are sent on a quest to recover a stone from Pankot Palace.  When they arrive they are welcomed by the young Maharajah (Raj Singh).  Jones Willie and Short Round follow some tunnels under the temple and come upon some worshippers of Kali in the act of performing a human sacrifice.  The priest, Mola Ram (Amrish Puri) pulls out the victims heart with his hand and holds it until it burns up as he is fed to the lava.  They also discover they have captured children and enslaved them to look for more stones.  Our three heroes are captured by the cult,  Short Round is enslaved as well, Jones is given a serum which makes hime a zombie slave to the cult, and Willie is the next sacrificial victim.  

This movie has two intense chase scenes.  One with Short Round driving and the other on mining cars.  It also as an intense scene on a bridge with alligators below.  This is a fun movie, just not quite as fu as the original.

Movie Review: ***Pinocchio (2022)

 This is the 2002 version of Pinocchio which is a remake of the Disney 1940 version.  This movie is partly animated and partly live acting.  Tom Hanks portrays Gepetto.  This film is on Disney + and is in the pattern of making live versions of many Disney animated classics.  However in this case as noted it is mostly animated again with just a little live action.  The cat and wolf are animated, Of course Pinocchio is animated, and at one point does a kicking move like the boy in Incredibles. to motor a boat out of the clutches of a sea monster.  Pinocchio learns that it is best to tell the truth.  As the Blue Faerie this film gives us Cynthia Erivo who has a very beautiful voice.  Pinocchio is voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.  I am left wondering why this movie was made.  It doesn't really add anything to the story which has already been told.  Tom Hanks does an adequate job, but he has done much better in other films.

Movie Review: ****Shrek (2001)

 Shrek(Mike Myers) and Donkey(Eddie Murphy) made a good team as they travel to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from the dragon for Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow).  However things are not exactly as they seem.  And Shrek and Princess Fiona have more in common than you would guess.  

The relationship between Donkey and Shrek make this movie work, even animated.  There are cameos by any number of fairy tale characters--the blind mice, three pigs, gingerbread man, Pinocchio, the wicked witch, the big bad wolf, Puss and Boots, and so many others.  

Movie Review: *****Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

 What a fun ride the Doctor Jones has been; and it all started with The Lost Ark.  The first Dr. Jones episode is in South America where Doctor Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) rescues a rare artifact, only to have it stolen by Belloq (Paul Freeman).  Then we get to the real story of the movie--the search for the lost ark and covenant, in which is kept the ten commandments.  This reportedly has great power and the Nazis want anything with power; so they too are searching.  Indy first visits a former girlfriend, Marion (Karen Allen) in Nepal, whose father was an archeologist and had collected a piece to help find the ark.  They both escape a murder attempts and head to Egypt, where they meet the third member of their crew, Sellah (John Rhys-Davies).  Belloq is working with the Nazis, but they are digging in the wrong lace.  One of the cute things of this show is the persistence of Indiana Jones.

This movie is terrific fun. It puts Harrison Ford in his second successful trilogy and indicates he is truly a star performer.  

Movie Review: ***^Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

 Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) returns for a different ploy in which the police and several politicians are complicit in covering up dangerous industrial conditions which are killing the women making matches.  We have most of the same characters from #1.  Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) is still a boy of interest to Enola.  A  nice part of this movie is a larger role taken by Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) and he and Enola are investigating separate cases which end up being different ends of the same case.  Sherlock is investigating money laundering while Enola investigates the disappearance of a young woman's sister.  The superintendent of police, Grail (David Thewlis) has turned bad and is involved in a conspiracy to defraud the government and prevent improved industrial conditions.  These cases include additional murders, and Enola is framed for one of them and goes to prison.  At this point her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) and her friend Edith (Susan Wokoma) blow up the prison wall and brake her out of jail.  Enola, Sherlock and Lord Tewkesbury eventually join hands are on on the chase.  

Christmas Movie Review: ****The Polar Express (2004)

 This movie features Tom Hanks taking on multiple roles, including Santa Clause, the conductor, the hobo, Scrooge, and the hero boy.  This movie is about a group of children who are on a train headed for the North Pole.  There, one of the children will be selected to receive the first present from Santa.  Three of the children, hero boy, hero girl (Nona Gaye) and lonely boy or Billy (Peter Scolari) seem to always be getting in trouble, or being away from the other children having their own adventure.  And so Billy gets his Christmas wish of friends, Hero girl comes out being a leader, and hero boy believes.  He believes long after his friends stop believing.

This movie is a fun animated show.  It is getting my Christmas season off on the right foot.  It is available on HBO.  It is based on the book by Chris Ban Allsburg

Movie Review: ****Enola Holmes

 Enola Holmes is a Netflix movie from 2020.  I had watched it before but am watching it again in preparation to watch Enola Holmes 2.  Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) is the younger sister of Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin).  Enola has been raised in an eccentric manner by her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) after her father dies and her older brothers head to London.  When her mother disappears it creates a situation where Enola needs a ward--she is only sixteen.  Mycroft takes the turn and insists she be sent to finishing school.  Instead Enola sneaks away and heads to London to find her mother.  However she instead gets involved in a case of a disappearance of Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge.). Turns out Lord Tewkesbury is under threat of being murdered after his father was previously murdered.  Sherlock suggests she dangle her feet in the water so as to draw out the sharks.  This she does to almost getting herself and Lord Tewkesbury murdered.  All over being able to influence the vote in the House of Lords.

This movie is loads of fun.  The thing that makes it go is the character Enola Holmes as portrayed by Brown.  The movie is based on the book series by Nancy Springer.

TV Review: ****Tales of the Jedi

 There are six animated stories available on Disney Plus, Tales of the Jedi.  Each story gives some further hint or story about different Jedi.  Episode 1 Life and Death: We start with Ahsoka as a baby, and discover how she first manifested her Jedi power.  Episode 2 Justice: Next we see Dooku and Qui Gon Jinn with Qui Gon as the Padawan.  They are sent to resolve a hostage situation; and find more than the bargained for.  It is Qui Gon's fast thinking that prevents them from a situation that would evolve to to something much worse.  Episode 3 Choices: Mace Windu and Dooku are dispatched to investigate the death of a Jedi.  Again we learn there is more going on than first meets the eye.  And again there is a situation where Dooku is justified in doubting the senate.  Windu becomes a grand master as a result of the death of the Jedi.  Episode 4 The Sith Lord: This episode takes place after the deaths of Qui Gon and Darth Maul.  Dooku is lead to the dark side and becomes Darth Sidious' next apprentice.  Yaddle, of the same race as Yoda, discovers the treachery and she and Dooku have a light saber battle.  Dooku lowers the door on her, but she is able to repel the door.  However the effort leaves her weakened and defenseless.  Dooku gives her peace.  Episode 5 Practice Makes Perfect: Anakin is overseeing the training of Ahsoka.  He uses Clone Troopers after seeing the practice droids do not give a worth challenge.  This results in Ahsoka practicing over and over.  This would save her life when Order 66 is issued.  Did Anakin have some premonition? Episode 6 Resolve deals with Ahsoka's decisions after Order 66.  In this episode she confronts an inquisitor.  It becomes apparent to Ahsoka she cannot be what she is not as it puts others in danger.  

I recommend this series for any one interesting in Star Wars.  It gives further detail as to the motivations of Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano.   It provides reactions for deaths of Qui Gon Jinn and Queen Amidala.  

Marvel Movie Review: *****Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

 Went to the movie yesterday with Tony and we had a very good time.  Tony before the movie was wondering how T'Challa died (Chadwick Boseman).  I told him we didn't know yet and would have to see.  This was covered at the first of the movie, and I still don't really know other than a disease his sister could not cure.  

Then the movie gets going.  T'Challa's mother (Angela Bassett) is serving as queen.  Shuri (Letitia Wright) failed to redevelop the blossom necessary to create a new Black Panther.  This was destroyed by Kilmonger (Michael B. Jordon) when he took over the country.  However many people want to steal the vibranium which gives the people of Wakonda so much power.  An attempt to steal this is discovered and thwarted.  

In the mean time the U.S. has developed a vibranium detector.  This is used to discover another source, and another people benefitted by vibranium.  This leads to conflict between the two people.  Namor (Tenoch Huerta) the leader of this people is determined that the people of Wakanda help him to conquer the surface people or he will attack Wakanda.  He insists they find the scientist who developed the detector.  Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Shuri attempt to find her.  CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) turn them on to Ririe Williams (Dominique Thorne), a student.  She made the machine on a challenge from her professor but did not even know it was being used.  She also has made an iron man type suit and becomes Ironheart.  The people of Namor overtake the group and kidnap Shuri and the scientist.  The queen strips Okoye of her title, and turns to T'Challa's girl, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) who served as a Wakondan spy, to rescue them.  She. does, but Namor retaliates by attacking the city of Wakonda and killing the queen.  Shuri is again grieving, but she also wants revenge and using a gift form Namor, she is able to replicate the substance that makes one the black Panther.  She takes this and becomes the Black Panther, but sees Kilmonger in her dream.  Then comes a great battle between the two people, as they have a plan as to how to weaken Namor, who gains strength from water and can fly.  

Lots of action and great fighting scenes.  Namor is spared but he relents and his people return home.  The Wakandans rescue Everett from his exwife CIA agent Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who is behind a lot of mayhem in the Marvel Universe.  In the extra scene we meet T'Challa's son. 

John Wayne Movie Review: ***^Rooster Cogburn

Rooster Cogburn is a sequel to True Grit and based on the same character developed by Charles Portis in the novel True Grit.   This movie stars John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn as an unlikely pair Rooster Cogburn a U.S. Marshall and Eula, a religious zealot whose father is murdered by outlaws.  She recruits Cogburn to go after her father's killers while he is trying to recover nitroglycerin from some bank robbers; who are the same people.  Cogburn hopes to drop off the lady, and her young friend, Wolf, throughout the struggle, but never gets the chance.  Turns out they prove helpful.  Wolf scatters the outlaws horses and Eula is handy with a gun.  

Movie Review: ***^Greyhound 2020

 This is a Tom Hanks movie made for and available through Apple TV.  Iy has about three minutes of introduction and then jumps right into the convoy and the destroyer on which Captain Krause (Tom Hanks) is commanding.  It shows them tracking their first submarine, and the difficulty in facing the unknown.  They score their first kill; but the day has just begun as they are facing a wolf pack agains their convoy which is trying to get supplies from America to England.  In 1942 the U Boat was winning the war in the Atlantic.  The allies brought destroyers, destroyer escorts, and air support against them.  They used radar and sonar.  This show makes for a very intense 48 hours of vigilance and fighting with no let up.  They dodge torpedoes, and attack submarines on the surface and with depth charges.  At one point they ark a submarine with their fire for a plane which drops depth charges on it.  The movie explores the emotional stress and fatigue from such conditions.  

I found this movie as my father served on a destroyer escort in WWII, USS Garfield Thomas.  However he never faced a wolf pack.  He did escort a couple of convoys--to Brazil where they delivered an air craft carrier to Recife Brazil; and to Bizerte, North Africa.  May dad served below deck, in the radar room.  He at one time spotted an enemy plane, but the Captain chose not to engage.  That was his only contact with the enemy.

Musical Movie Review: ****Cyrano

 I watched this from Netflix DVD and was ready for some romantic fun.  I didn't suspect that it would be. musical.  Very good in fact with many love song based on Cyrano's poetry, although Roxanne is just as romantic.  The point of this movie is you should confess your love, which is better than hiding based on what you perceive may be the result of your love.  I guess is the other point is don't make your rulers mad as they may send you to war where you are likely to die.  The love triangle: Cyrano (Peter Dinklage) Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) who both love Roxanne (Haley Bennett).  Cyrano worries that his being a small person would make Roxanne not love him; so instead he writes love notes for Christian.  When they are away at war he continues to write love letters, everyday.  It is only when it is too late, that he confesses his love.  This is a true romantic story.  I enjoyed it, the the music is haunting.  

Madly

Have your ever wanted something 

So badly you cannot breathe?

Have you ever loved someone Madly?

Whatever Comes

… I need someone to die for
Write poems and cry for
And I won't be ashamed
I'm nobody's pet
No one's wife, no one's woman
And I won't play that game

… I'd give anything
For someone to say
That they can't live without me
And they'll be there forever
I'd give anything
For someone to say to me
That no matter how bad it gets
They won't turn away from me

Tom Hanks Movies

I can't say I agree with Tom Hanks and some of his opinions, but I do admire him as an actor.  He has been in some of the best movies ever, and much of the success is based on his acting and ability to portray a character.  He himself has said he has gotten better over time, but his early work is very good as well.  I think he is one of two actors who have won the best actor Oscar two years in a row for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. 

Here 2024

 Asteroid City. 2023

***Pinocchio (2022) This is a Disney+ remake of the animated classic from Disney.

A Man Called Otto 2022

****Elvis 2022

Finch 2021

****^News of the World. 2020. Relationship between Captain Kidd (Tom Hanks) and Johanna (Helena Zengel) makes this movie work.

***^ Greyhound 2020. Tom Hanks captains a destroyer through a wolf pack of submarines

***** Toy Story 4 2019

*****A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 2019. Excellent portrayal of Mr. Rogers

***^ The Circle. 2017 Also stars Emma Watson and Karen Gillan

The Post 2017

****^ Inferno 2016. Third in Da Vinci  Code series.  They keep getting better.

**** Sully 2016.  This movie tells the story of Captain Chelsey Sullenberg who landed a plain in the Hudson

****^ Bridge of Spies 2015. Very good spy movie

Ithaca 2015

Toy story that Time Forgot 2014

**** Saving Mr. Banks 2013. Hanks portrays Walt Disney and depicts the producing of Mary Poppins.

Toy Story of Terror 2013

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 2011 post 9-11 movie also stars Sandra Bullock

Larry Crowne 2011

**** Toy Story 3 2010 The story continues with the toys being discarded to a day care.

****Angels and Demons. 2009 Sequel to Da Vinci Code

The Great Buck Howard 2008

***The Da Vinci Code. 2006 Introduces symbologist Robert Langdon

**** The Polar Express 2004 Hanks voices multiple parts

The Terminal 2004 Stuck in a Airport terminal

Catch Me if You Can 2002

Castaway 2000

****^Toy Story 2 1999

****You've Got Mail 1998 A Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks romance.  An unlikely pair

****Saving Private Ryan 1998 This is rated R and very intense as it portrays WWII violence

That Thing You Do 1996

****^Toy Story 1995. Hanks voices Woody in the beloved Toy Story series.

Apollo 13 1995

Forrest Gump 1994

Sleepless in Seattle 1993

****Philadelphia 1993

**** A League of their Own 1992. A movie about the women's playing baseball during WWII. 

Joe Versus the Volcano 1990

****^Turner and Hooch 1989 Hooch is a rowdy, slobbering dog

The Burbs 1989

****^ Big 1988. A thirteen year old in a man's body

Dragnet 1987

**^The Money Pit 1986 With Shelly Duvall

Everytime We Say Goodbye 1986

Nothing in Common. 1986

The Man with One Red Shoe. 1985

**** Splash 1984. Hanks first big role.  He falls in love with a mermaid (Bo Derek). As includes John Candy in the cast as his older brother.

Mazes and Monsters 1982

Movie Review: ****^News of the World

 I very much enjoyed this movie.  The thing that makes this movie work is the relationship between Captain Kidd (Tom Hanks) and the young Kiowa woman (kidnapped five years ago by Kiowa), Johanna (Helena Zengel) (Zengel is a young German actress and this appears to be her first American film.). Hanks comes upon the young woman and decides to take her to her relatives.  Hanks works as a story teller, taking stories from the newspaper and reading them to people.  His wife passed while he served in the Civil War as a Captain.  The journey is more perilous than it should have been because some ner-do-wells would like to purchase the young woman and Kidd refuses.  They are determined to then use force to get their way. 

Kidd is struggling with his own inadequacies, and the loss of his wife.  The young woman is also dealing with loss.  Loss of her parents, and then loss of her Kiowa culture after living with them for five years.  Watching the relationship develop as they struggle with language and cultural issues makes this movie very enjoyable.  Both Hanks and Zengel make enjoyable and believable characters.

TV Review: Disney+ Hawkeye

 Hawkeye is available on Disney+.  It is a post End Game show, and Hawkeye/ Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is drawn into the action when a sort of self-proclaimed super hero, archer wantobe, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) comes across the Ronin suit, which Clint Barton used to work evil when his family had been blipped away.  This leads to their becoming the targets of a New York gang, as Ronin killed their leader and the leader's niece, Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) is now intent on revenge.  Turns out Bishop's mother is working for King Pin (Vincent D'Onofrio).  She has framed her fiánce for murder.  Also muddling the picture is Black Widow's sister, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh).  She is a highly trained assassin after Clint Barton as she has been told he killed Black Widow.

This is six episodes of super fun.  In the final episode we have the gang of thugs, King Pin, Belova, Lopez, all converging on Rockefeller Plaza and the ice skate ring in New York.  I highly recommend this show if you haven't already watched.