Movie Review: ****Jungle Cruise

This is a very entertaining movie based on the jungle cruise ride at Disneyland. It stars Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson. Lily Houghton (Blunt) is determined to find a magical petal which will cure all illness. Frank (Johnson) is the captain of the boat she hires to take her up the Amazon to find the petal. Lily is accompanied by her brother (Jack Whitehall) and pursued by Prince Joaquim (Jesse Plemons) who wants the petal for the benefit of the Nazis. It makes for some fantastic adventures and peril. The scenery is very well done. And their is an ancient legend with natives guarding the way. I enjoyed myself and especially like the way Blunt and Johnson interact. The humor and puns were very good.

Movie Review: ****^Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker

This review is very late. Only a couple years after the movie do i realize I had neglected to right a review for this movie. I actually watched this in theaters, several time, when it first came out. Over the months, there have been those who have expressed opinion about this episode, the final of the original ning episodes. Many want to trach the final three altogether, while others are the opposite and love them. I would put myself in the group that loves them. I must admit, "The Last Jedi" was a disappointment to me. This movie had to fix so many things--such as Luke Skywalker throwing a light saber over his shoulder. That was just too out of character for me. Anyway, this movie attempts to repair the damage with a different director. It also brings us to Exegol. This is a fitting environment for the last battle. Palpatine has returned, and Rey is his off spring. But Rey is not a Palpatine. The interaction between she and Kylo Ren is very well done. The story comes full circle. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat to the end. Is was fantastic to see a cameo of Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker who had both passed away in previous episodes.

Music Review: Vivencia: Mi Cuarto

 

This is an album I purchased many years ago when I was in Argentina for my mission.  This group has the feel of Seals and Croft or Simon and Garfunkel, but a couple times get carried away with sound effects.  In my youth the son "Pequeno Pasajero" had a great influence on me becoming a social worker and wanting to do something for children.  It tells the story of a boy who rides the train selling candy in hopes of getting something with which to buy bread.  I actually saw these children when I was in Argentina.  Another song on a similar vein is is "Los Juguetes y los Ninos."  In this song the toys wonder why the children suffer with longing and they are stuck in the show window.  "Mi Cuatro" is the title song iin which the author seeks refuge in his room.

The duo has rhythmic guitar and acoustic guitar and adds harmonic at times.  

TV Review: Dwight in Shining Armor

 Dwight in Shining Armor is an offering from BYUTV.  It is now in its fifth season and I have enjoyed them all.  There is only one episode remaining.  The premise is that the Champions Spell has been caste by the courts magician because Greta, the princess, was in deep trouble.  The Champions spell puts everyone to sleep,  until a champion is found.  In this case that took 1000 years,  and the champion is a high school student.  In this story, two extreme cultures collide.  Creatures awake as the spell is fulfilled, and so we find trolls, and dragons and many other creatures and characters in our modern world.  It was been a great ride.  Sloane Morgan Siegel is the champion, Dwight,  Caitlin Carmichael portrays the princess Greta,  Joel McCrary is Baldric the court magician and Danielle Bisutti, Hexela, a witch who helps Baldric.  

Movie Review: ****Stagecoach (1939)

 This is the movie which made John Wayne a star.  It was directed by Glen Ford.  Andy Devine stars as the stage coach driver.  The stage coach is traveling through Apache country and Geronimo is on the war-path.  There is additional tension as two "undesirables" have been forced out of town and onto the stage, one an alcoholic doctor who hasn't been able to support himself, and other a woman thought to be of loose character.   Lastly Ringo Kid, who has escaped from prison, joins the passengers but is arrested by the sheriff who is riding shot gun.  He is intent on traveling to Lordsburg where he hopes to confront the murderers of his parents.  My major complaint was how easily the Apache were cut down.  I know Geronimo rarely lost many warriors with his style of fighting.  

Movie Review: ****Captain America: The Winter Soldier

 Winter Soldier is the second Captain America movie.  The Winter Soldier is Bucky, Captain Roger's childhood friend.  However he was captured by Hydra and turned into a super soldier with a prosthetic super arm.  Turns out Hydra had infested SHIELD with some very devious plans based on an algorithm predicting the future of people and eliminating those who are undesirable.  Fury is wounded in an assassination attempt because he is onto the infiltration.  Lots of great action which leads to the confrontation between Winter Soldier and Captain America.  We are introduced to Falcon who helps Captain America.  Black Widow also plays a big part.  Alexander Pierce is the Hydra leader but also Fury's boss.

Chris Evans is Captain America

Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury

Scarlett Johansson is Black Widow

Robert Redford is Alexander Pierce

Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier

Anthony Mackie as Falcon

Movie Review: ***Tom and Jerry

 This movie took me by surprise and I was just laughing on several occasions.  This movie combines animation and live action.  The antics were just so ridiculous at times you just had to laugh.  Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz) plays an assistant hotel manager who is in charge of getting rid of Jerry, a nuisance mouse who is ruining the wedding plans for a couple rich social lights.  Tom is recruited to this task.  However the rivalry between Tom and Jerry is about to ruin everything.  Antics with mice and elephants and Tom cats and bull dog and birds.  This is a crazy show.