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: ***^Lady in the Water

A janitor, apartment complex manager, discovers someone has been in the pool after hours.  It turns out that this is a mystical creature of the water, a nymph, who is trying to return to her own world, while avoiding being attacked by some strange wolf like creatures.  The janitor realizes that there are certain characters needed in this story, to facilitate the safe return of the nymph.  He explores the apartment complex, discovering different of these characters among his neighbors, a guardian, guild and healer.  He makes some mistakes in his identifications, but he does put together a team.  However the team needs to be correct to work.  This movie has some intense monsters, wolfmen that are made of plants.  Bryce Dallas Howard is the Lady in the Water, Paul Giamatti the janitor.  This movie was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.  This story is enjoyable, but some of the story does not make sense.  You have to suspend logic.

Movie Review: ****Cinderella Man (2005)

Cinderella Man stars Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger and was directed by Ron Howard.  This is a boxing movie, with something the Rockie Movies does not have, and that is it is based on a true story of depression era boxer Jim Braddock.  He is a journeyman boxer, who gets down on his luck and success after braking his hand.  He is discharged from boxing, and has to fend for his family by working on the docks of New Jersey.  His family suffers due to the lack of work, and finally his wife takes them to her parent's.  Braddock goes on welfare to get them back.  Braddock gets an opportunity to fight, because someone is injured.  He makes the most of it, and wins four fights in a row, and then a shot for the title.  The movie makes a point that the champion has killed two people with his punches, knocking their brains loose.  Braddock makes the most of his chances, and wins the title in a decision.

I liked the portrayal of Zellweger as the concerned and loving wife.  She does something with her mouth that is attractive.  Crowe does a great job, and the fight scenes are fun.  Braddock's manager, played by Paul Giamatti received a nomination for best supporting actor.