At Theaters: ***^ A Dog’s Journey

***^ A Dog’s Journey   In the case it is actually dogs with the same spirit.  The dog, Bailey (Josh Gad) belongs to Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Hannah (Marg Helgenberger) is tasked to care for Ethan’s granddaughter when circumstances cause them to be separated.  In fact there are several versions of the dog, who keep being born in different dog bodies.  Some of them actually live with the granddaughter, CJ (Kathryn Prescott) and some have this as their goal but do not meet up for whatever reason.  One version the dog is trained in detecting cancer.  This is useful in another version as CJ’s friend Trent (Henry Lau) has undetected cancer.  The early intervention saves his life, and they become partners.  Finally CJ makes her way back to her grandparents (mother had lied, saying they took her money and kicked them out).  The reunion is doubly confirmed as CJ’s dog knows the same trick the original dog use to do.  Very touching.  Lots of jumping from one dog to another kept together by the same voice. 

Movie Review: ***^Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

This movie represents a fascinating look at the Agatha Christie classic.  The cast of character is also very interesting.  Kenneth Branagh plays our detective hero, Hercule Poirot.  Bouc, his traveling companion is played by Tom Bateman.  And then the other passengers on the train, who all become the subject of an investigation as Poirot is called upon to solve a murder where a passenger is stabbed a dozen times and killed.  Other actors include: Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer and Daisy Ridley.  Kenneth Branagh also directed.  Each of these characters comes together with the other is a most peculiar way, which is what makes for the twist at the end of the movie.  I can't say I enjoyed this version better than the original from the 1970s.  However it does see true to the story, and the mystery.

Movie Review: ****^ Beauty and the Beast (2017)

This is a classic made even more so by this version.  Emma Watson as Belle does well, and Dan Stevens as the beast, with his booming bass voice is stupendous.  I don't like that they cut the songs of Gaston (Luke Evans) for the most part.  Josh Gad played LeFou, and Kevin Kline plays Belle's father Maurice.  Of the animated characters Ewan McGregor plays Lumiere, Ian McKellan portrays Cogsworth and Emma Thompson, Mrs. Potts.  the part of the film that had me in tears was as Mrs. Potts sang the classic song "Beauty and the Beast."  As the couple danced and Emma Thompson sang, it is one of those Disney moments to cherish.  It seems there is at least one such moment in all the Disney musicals.  Also of note is Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe.  At the beginning of the movie, she intones a beautiful song.  She is turned into the wardrobe.  there are four original songs in the movie.  Consequently the additional songs from the musical were left out.  Alan Menken returned to write the additional music.
This is a must see.  It seems they left out some of the Gaston stuff I would have liked to have seen.  I think they didn't want his character to be lovable at all.  In fact when he fell at the end of the movie, a child said "Ha ha" and people laughed.  And yes, Emma Watson was beautiful as Belle.  She had the touch of pizazz that this character needs.