Movie Review: ****Smallfoot (2018)

The Bigfeet live in a community above the clouds, where people cannot survive.  The all are comfortable in their lives, except those who suspect something is not quite right.  Migo (Channing Tatum) is not one of them.  He is the son of the bell ringer.  On his first trial, he misses the gong, and travels well outside of the community, where he sees a plane crashing, and the pilot who jettisons in his parachute.  He observes the pilot, and sees his small feet before the wind carries him through the clouds. 
However Migo's story is not welcome; in fact it is scary, and he is banished when he refuses to recant.  While banished he meets the King's daughter, Meechee (Zendaya).  Migo is convinced to go through the clouds, which he does, and finds people, and brings one of them back, Percy (James Corden) a reporter..  The king (Meechee's father) (Common) takes Migo under his wing, and shows him pictures of history where the humans tried to kill the Yeti, forcing them to hide.  Their community is an elaborate scheme to keep their community balance.  This is done through deceit.  The Yeti (which are much bigger than people) decide to return the on they brought back.  However this results in the humans chasing after the Yeti as they try to capture them.  They have different languages, and it is hard to understand each other.  Only with Percy's help are they able to escape. 
This movie is about relationships, and whether we can get past differences and find common ground.  Both sides have to give.
This movie feels like a ray of sunshine amongst all the "R" rated fare available.  Great family movie.

Movie Review: ****^Into the Woods 2014

This is a movie I would very much enjoy owning to watch again from time to time.  It of course is the Stephen Sondheim musical.  (Also James Lapine who did the screenplay.) The set is dark, as the woods are dark.  Meryl Streep portrays the witch.  She is hard to recognize before she regains her youth.  This is really a good cast.  Johnny Depp has a cameo as the wolf.  The Baker is played by James Corden, his wife by Emily Blunt.  Cinderella is played by Anna Kendrick.  Jack and Red Riding Hood are Daniel Huttlestone and Lilla Crawford.  I enjoyed the music, and the acting and the story more than I thought I would.  Kids did the first act in middle school, and the second act is where things get more depressing and the Giant's wife starts killing people.  However this was even entertaining and well presented. 
I have a favorite song, 'Children Will Listen."  My only regret is the Baker was providing dialogue over the song, and the song was soft and hard to hear.  SO here are the lyrics in their entirety:

Careful the things you say,
Children will listen.
Careful the things you do,
Children will see.
And learn.

Guide them along the way,
Children will glisten.
Children will look to you
For which way to turn,
To learn what to be.

Careful before you say,
"Listen to me."
Children will listen.

Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take-
Wishes come true,
Not free.

Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you...

Careful the tale you tell.
That is the spell.
Children will listen...

Chris Pine portrays one prince, who turns out to be charming but not sincere, and Cinderella leaves him.   The other prince (Billy Magnussen) ends up with Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy.)  He turns out to be both charming and sincere.
I must admit I stayed for all the credits as wanted to listen to the orchestration.  I noted not all of the actors sang their songs; but most did.
Very well done Disney.