DC Movie Review: ****Batman and Robin (1997)

 Batman becomes a team in the movie, which is much better than the predecessor, Batman Forever.  Batman (George Clooney) is joined by Robin (Chris O'Donnell) and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone.). However on the other side we by Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman.) In this film we also have Alfred (Michael Gough) who is sick and dying.

Mr. Freeze is trying to get large diamonds and using a freeze gone to get his way.  He needs diamonds to perfect a cure for his wife who he has frozen until he finds a cure.  Dr. Isley wants to save the planet by exploited plant science but Bruce Wayne rejects her idea saying people are more important.  She becomes a poisonous plant through a failed experiment and a boss who tried to kill her.  Her sidekick is Bane (Jeep Swenson) who is genetically enhanced muscle.  

Poison Ivy kills Mr. Freezes wife and blames it on Batman.  In so doing she convinces Mr. Freeze to get revenge by freezing the world; he starts with Gotham.  Meantime Poison Ivy is set to stop Batman and Robin.  She lures Robin in with a smell she produces, and attempts her poison kiss, but they were on to her and have a lip guard.  Even so her plant self with vines is more than a match for Batman and Robin.  It is Batgirl who saves the day.  Poison Ivy's lures and smells don't get to her.  

Very intense moment as the three battle Mr. Freeze and his ice gun.  When they convince him that his wife is not dead, but Poison Ivy tried to kill her, Mr. Freeze gives them a treatment for Alfred. 

This movie was better than I thought it was going to be.  There was a corny line from Mr. Freeze towards the first, but the character grew on him.  

In Theaters: ****King of Kings (2025)

King of Kings: A Story Told by Charles Dickens.

This is an animated portrayal of the life of Jesus.   It is very appropriate for Easter season.  It is told through the eyes of Charles Dickens, who had written this story for his children.  In this telling it is used as a way for Charles and Walter to come together after Walter behaved poorly at a public telling by DIckens of The Christmas Carol.  Walter is obsessed with King Arthur, so Dickens tells him of the King of Kings.  And shows that Kings do not always need swords.  

This movie does a good job of portraying the life of Jesus.  However inserting Walter and Charles Dickens and the cat into the scenes is sometimes a little obnoxious.

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  Pierce Brosnan

  Pontius Pilate

  (voice)
• 

  Oscar Isaac

  Jesus Christ

  (voice)
• 

  Kenneth Branagh

  Charles Dickens

  (voice)
• 

  Uma Thurman

  Catherine Dickens

  (voice)
• 

  Mark Hamill

  King Herod

  (voice)
• 

  Forest Whitaker

  Peter

  (voice)
• 

  Ben Kingsley

  High Priest Caiaphas

  (voice)
• 

  Dee Bradley Baker

  Willa the Cat

  (voice)
• 

  Roman Griffin Davis

  Walter Dickens

  (voice)

Movie Review: Les Miserables (1998)

This is a fascinating version of Les Miserables starring Liam Neeson as Jean Valjean.  This version is not a musical.  Geoffrey Rush portrays Javert, and makes an interesting contrast; strength against finesse.  However Valjean proves he is a changed man, when he exposes himself to save a man he didn't know.  Cosette is also well done as played by Claire Danes.  It is interesting the way Valjean confesses his past to her.  Fantine is portrayed by Uma Thurman, and the scenes where she is hallucinating of her daughter, and passing away are very nice.  Peter Vaughn portrays the bishop who sets Valjean on a righteous path.  This story is very poignant, and this version does it justice.

Movie Review: **The Accidental Husband (2008)

This is a romantic comedy.  Sometimes I think the producers of these shows miss the mark, and consequently I can't give this show high marks.  First the main character commits a crime by hacking some one's data, with the help of a juvenile family member because only juveniles know anything about computers, and makes himself the husband of a radio commentator who he blames for ruining his own chances at love.  And at one time he forces himself on her, despite her repeated requests to stop.  Of course this is one of the scenes if you push hard enough eventually they will like it.  How many rapes are justified with that attitude.  So even though this movie is cute and all, I cannot recommend it.  I was hoping the fiance would win in the end, but I was disappointed.
fireman and hacker (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)
The radio host (Uma Thurman)
the fiance (Colin Firth)

Movie Review: *** The Avengers (1998)

This is not the Marvel's Avengers, but an earlier movie based on a British spy television series with Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes as Emma Peel and John Steed.  Emma Peel is accused of sabotage of her weather machine, putting all of Britain in dander, and Steed her spy companion.  They are controlled by Mother and Father.  Sir August de Wynter, played by Sean Connery, is our mad scientist, responsible for framing Peel, and seeking to control the weather of the world, and thereby blackmail all of the countries of the world, if they want rain or sunshine.  Of course with a name like August de Wynter, he must be insane, but he makes a worthy opponent all the same.
There are several things about this show that are confusing, like why did the three spies have to split up to go through a maze.  Staying together would have been a better idea.  The show is sometimes really confusing and hard to follow.