Movie Review: ****Cruella 2021

 Cruella is the story of Cruella Deville.  How did she become so evil with a hate of Dalmatians?  This movie answers this question.  Emma Stone does a superb job as the woman with black and white hair.  However Emma Thompson, who portrays the evil baroness and Cruella's biological mother.  In this movie we enter the world of fashion design.  Who is the greater fashion genius, the daughter or the mother?  Playing supporting rolls are Joel Fry and Paul Hauser as Jasper and Horace, who support Cruella through thick and thin.  There is lots of intrigue in this movie and we learn what happens when you design a dress of moths.  

In Theaters: ****Men in Black International (2019)

****Men in Black International (2019)  this is a fun movie.  Agent M (Tessa Thompson) has been looking for MIB her entire life, since the memory of her parents was erased after an event.  When she finds them she is in for more than she bargains.  She convinces the head of recruitment, Agent O (Emma Thompson) to give her a chance.  Although in training, she latches onto Agent H (Chris Hemsworth).  Agent H is notable because he saved the universe a few years before with Agent High T (Liam Neeson), who is the director of the British office.  There is a weapon of unlimited potential.  Agent H,  Agent O and Pawny (Kumail Nanjiani), who has sworn allegiance to Agent O after his own queen had been killed, are sworn to guard the weapon.  Of course there are some evil aliens out to get the weapon for the Hoard, who want to conquer the universe.  I had a good time with this movie.  Lots of tricky devices, and lots of fun. 

***^Missing Link (2019)

***^Missing Link Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) must prove that he is not a failure by making a discovery and proving it to the world.  He decides to pursue a Big Foot.  And he actually finds a Big Foot (Zach Galifianakis) who he discovers want to find others of his kind.  This results in an across the world journey to meet the abominable snowmen.  Joining them on the journey is Adelina (Zoe Saldana).  Unfortunately after making the long journey, and hiking up the mountain, the attitude of the Snowmen is not pleasant.  Their Elder (Emma Thompson) makes it clear they do not want anything to do with a newcomer.  This is a good movie exploring the theme of friendship and success.  I enjoyed myself. 

Movie Review: Nanny McPhee Returns

While Nanny McPhee returns is a good movie, it is not near as good as the first.  Again Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) performs magic which effects a family, and by doing so goes from being a hag to a beautiful woman.  In this case father is away at war.  Nanny McPhee comes into a split family, with two cousins having arrived from London.  They do not get along.  However Nanny McPhee repairs the rift.  Uncle has need of acquiring the farm to pay off gambling debts, and so makes a case that the father is dead and the farm needs to be sold.  Two of the cousins, who were enemies, must go to London to the war department to prove he is still alive.  One of the cousins is the forgotten son of the general.  And so it goes, they just must stall the signing to give the boys time to get back.

Movie Review: Nanny McPhee

This is an excellent movie.  Emma Thompson played a huge part in this project.  She wrote the screen play based on the book by Christiana Brown.  Thompson also star as Nanny McPhee.  Her character changes the most, from an ugly nanny to a handsome woman.  As she teaches the children lessons, her warts and other blemishes disappear.  She comes to a family in need.  Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) has lost his wife, and has seven uncontrollable children.  They chase away all available nannies.  Mts. McPhee is the last hope.  Only through magic is she able to teach her lessons.  "As long as you need me, even though you don't want me I will stay.  When you no longer need me, even if you want me, I will have to go."
Mr. Brown is desperate to find a wife, at the insistence of his former wife's Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury).  She has given him a deadline, and as a result he makes a very poor choice.  When the wedding falls through, they are due to be kicked out of the house if an alternative bride is not found.  Simon (Thomas Sangster) suggests the scullery maid, who was taken in by the aunt and refined.  Evangeline (Kelly Macdonald) and Mr. Brown do love each other.  

Movie Review: **** Saving Mr. Banks

This story is very intriguing.  It tells of the relationship between the author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) and Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) as well as with the Disney team.  The question throughout is whether or not she will sign the royalties to her book.  She agrees to give it a try, based on if she likes what they are doing.
Travers then goes through a series of flashbacks, and she reexamines her own story and relation with her father (personified in Mr. Banks) thinking they are making him too mean.  However she loves "Let's Go Fly a Kite" which is Mr. Banks' redemption.  Travers' father is Travers Goff played by Collin Farrell.  It shows him succumbing to TB and the pressure it puts on his family.  Disney staff includes the butler, Ralph played by Paul Giamatti.
This movie brings out the emotion of dealing with the past.  Not everything is perfect in life, but we can come to terms and accept things as they are.

Movie Review: ****^Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

This is a great continuation of the Harry Potter story.  This year Dumbledore is back at Hogwarts, and they have the task to figure out how to kill Voldemort.  Part of this plan is totally unexpected.  Dumbledore, is intent on discovering how they can defeat Dumbledore.  To do this he must review the memories of Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) (prior potions teacher who has agreed to come back to teach) with regards to a conversation with Tom Riddle (Voldemort).  This conversation had to do with Horcruxes, and how you could put your soul into a physical object, and thereby assure your own immortality.  This could be done by murdering someone.  They discover that Voldemort did this several times, and thus there are many Horcruxes around, which must be destroyed.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince:

Draco Malfoy also received a special mission from Voldemort, and Snape is brought into this agreement with a spell he cannot brake, to assist Draco.  Dumbledore and Harry meet regularly to review memories of Voldemort in the pensieve.  Harry Potter does very well in school thanks to a book owned by "The Half Blood Prince" which he has found.  This gives keys to making potions and casting curses.  

Dumbledore and Harry visit a cave, where they feel they will find a Horcrux.  This experience leaves Dumbledore in a weakened state, he had to drink a poison to get to the Horcrux, but they do discover what they think is the Horcrux.  As they get back to Hogwarts, Draco has let death eaters into the school.  He faces Dumbledore, but is not able to kill him, but Snape does kill him.

The last scene is Harry chasing Snape.  He uses a curse from the book, and Snape says, don't use my own curses on me.

I enjoy all the Harry Potter movies.  This movie is no exception.  There is plenty of action.  The movies keep getting a bit darker as we go along, and the murder of Dumbledore was not expected.

Movie Review: ****^Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This movie is made perfect by the appearance of Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) who is the "teacher" of the dark arts.  Actually she is a plant of the ministry who is to keep an eye on Hogwarts, and make sure that news of Voldemort's return is considered to be nothing more than a lie.  Because they are not able to really learn at school, they set up a special class, Dumbledore's Army, and hold class in the room of requirements.  This organization mirrors the Order of the Phoenix, an organization among the adult wizard world which is set up to protect against Voldemort.  In the meantime Hagrid has been among the giants, and shares a half brother who he has brought back with him, and who is living in the wood.  This half brother is a full blood giant, and more wild.  When Umbridge breaks up the gang, and discovers their name, Dumbledore is forced out of the school, but instead of going quietly, he flies off with the help of his phoenix.  However the school is left unprotected, in Umbridge's care.  Voldemort uses an ability to invade Harry's mind, and lets him know that Sirius in danger (this is not true, but a vision put in Harry's brain by Voldemort.)  Umbridge intervenes before they are able to go to the rescue.  She is intent on breaking the group and incriminating Dumbledore.  For this reason Hermione is able to lead her on a wild goose chase, where the giant and the centaurs are able to take care of Umbridge.
The group takes off to the rescue, and find themselves in the ministry, where prophecies are kept.  Voldemort is intent on having the Harry Potter prophesy.  Harry is able to recover this, but as it is a trap, death eaters are waiting for them.  The Order of the Phoenix comes to the rescue, but in the struggle Sirius dies.  Also in the struggle Dumbledore battles Voldemort in the Ministry, and his existence can no longer be denied. 
This movie keeps up the tension of the series.  It is very well done.  It continues the fight of good against evil. 

Movie Review: ****^ Brave (2012)

Brave is a very popular Disney Pixar movie released in 2012.  I am seeing it through Netflix DVD.   This movie is set in the Scottish Highlands.  I love their accents.  The theme of this movie is mother daughter relationships, and overcoming pride. This movie has a very interesting plot.  Merida (Kelly Macdonald) and her mother (Emma Thompson) are at odds over her having to marry a young man from a different clan so as to strengthen relationships between clans.  Merida would like to fall in love, and choose her own husband.  In her conflict with her queen mother, she runs away.  While away she comes upon a witch, who gives her a potion to change her mother and thus her fate.  The potion turns her mother into a bear.  Her father (Billy Connolly) hates bears, having lost his leg to a bear attack.  Merida has to get mother out of the house, and switch her back.  Meanwhile her triplet younger brothers also get turned into bear cubs.  Merida finds out the key to restoring her mother is to mend her pride in terms of her relationship with her mother.  There are a couple stand out quotes, having to be responsible for our own futures:

Merida: [voice over] Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one's destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led.

Merida: [voice over] Some say fate is beyond our command, but I know better. Our destiny is within us. You just have to be brave enough to see it.

This is a feel good show.  It has a positive motivational theme.  Tony and I enjoyed it together.

Movie Review: Sense and Sensibility ****^(1995) ***(2008)

This of course is based on a Jane Austen book.  Last night I had an enjoyable time watching the Columbia pictures Sense and Sensibility (1995) via instant Netflix.  This last week I also watched the newer Masterpiece Theater version (2009) from home delivery Netflix.  Miranda pointed out that the original version has five actors from the Harry Potter movies--Snape, Professor Trelawney, Madame Pomfrey, Dolores Umbridge and Cornelius Fudge.  On the other hand the new version only has Mr. Weasley.  On that score alone, I recommend the 1995 version.  The characters are fun, and the acting is superb.  The new version, although entertaining, just lacks the same character.  It tries to add sensuality, especially in the first scene, but it really doesn't fit.

So for the 1995 version, which had me in stitches.  Remember, this movie was made at the start of many of these careers.  Turns out Dolores Umbridge is married to Dr. House, who has the attitude you would expect Dr. House to have.  His sarcasm and wit is just as biting as in his future work.  I found it pleasing that Dolores was getting her pay back, after all she put Harry through.  It was fun to view this way.  In addition, Professor Trelawney loves Hugh Grant, And Snape loves Kate Winslett.  What could be funner than that?  The highlight of this movie is when Elinor (Emma Thompson) discovers that Edward (Hugh Grant) is not married.  She breaks into tears in front of  him.  It is a moving scene, and the humor of her collapse adds to it greatly.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.   This moving kept me entertained from start to finish.   Mrs. Jennings and Sir John do an excellent job of teasing and needling the girls, and they make the movie fun while not taking itself too seriously.

So I heartily recommend the 1995 version, and don't recommend quite so much the 2009 version.