Every Movie I Watch 2019 - Tumblr Posts - Page 2

6 years ago
POOHS HEFFALUMP HALLOWEEN MOVIE (Dir: Saul Andrew Blinkoff & Elliot M. Bour, 2005).

POOH’S HEFFALUMP HALLOWEEN MOVIE (Dir: Saul Andrew Blinkoff & Elliot M. Bour, 2005).

A sequel of sorts to Pooh's Heffalump Movie (Frank Nissen, 2005), the feature which introduced the character of Lumpy the Heffalump to the Pooh universe. As with the previous movie, this one was also animated by DisneyToon Studios, the television production arm of Walt Disney Pictures. Unlike Pooh's Heffalump Movie, which enjoyed a theatrical release, Heffalump Halloween was a made for video effort. The movie is comprised of roughly two thirds new material, the remainder being recycled from the television special Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh (Rob LaDuca, 1996).

Once again, Pooh is relegated to co-star status in a film which largely revolves around Roo teaching his best friend Lumpy about the Hundred Acre Wood's 'trick or treat' traditions on the young heffalump's first Halloween. During the course of which Roo attempts to 'unscare' Lumpy by telling him of the Halloween which was almost a Hallo-wasn't due to Piglet's fears of the spooky season. Taken from the earlier special, this noticeably different footage presents us with the awkward narrative conceit of Roo narrating a story in which neither he or Kanga appear, as both were inexplicably absent from the episode.

Narrative issues aside, the film is passable entertainment for the very young; the toothless, yet sweet, confection contains no real frights for even the smallest of viewers. Children will undoubtedly find Lumpy adorable and may even enjoy the handful of forgettable songs. The expected messages about braveness and friendship are hammered home without a hint of subtlety.

There are certainly worse kid's movies out there than Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie, but there are much better Pooh movies. The youngest and most undemanding Pooh fans will probably be enchanted by this spooky special. Older children and grownups would be much better served by watching Walt Disney's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (John Lounsbery & Wolfgang Reitherman, 1977), or by reading the original A. A. Milne stories upon which it based.

Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005)
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Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie (Dir: Saul Andrew Blinkoff & Elliot M. Bour, 2005). A sequel of sorts to Pooh's Heffalump Movie (Fra

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6 years ago
KING KONG (Dir: Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933).

KING KONG (Dir: Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933).

RKO Radio Pictures’ modern day Beauty and the Beast is the daddy of all monster movies; chronicling the tale of the Eighth Wonder of the World, King Kong.

Maverick filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) and actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) travel to the exotic Skull Island to shoot Denham's latest movie, there encountering the 20 foot tall ape King Kong. Kong falls for Darrow and is used by Denham as bait for the primate's capture. They return to New York with the intention of parading the mammoth beast before a paying public. The plan fails when Kong goes ape, resulting in a climax both thrilling and surprisingly touching and featuring one of the greatest last lines of any movie.

With a cast relatively unknown to modern audiences the real star of the picture is, of course, the gorilla. We are roughly halfway through the movie before we meet Kong. He is mesmerising. Provoking terror and eliciting sympathy from the audience, Kong is completely believable as a living, breathing creature. The animated ape has more personality than most leading men!

Willis O’Brien’s stop motion special effects are astonishing. King Kong is full of breathtaking special effects set pieces which must have seemed miraculous in 1933. Of course the effects do not look as slick as modern day computer graphics but they do have a tactile quality missing from CGI. They are certainly more impressive than the man in the monkey suit of some later Kong movies.

Kong would inspire countless imitations and spawn sequels, remakes and reboots including the forthcoming Godzilla vs Kong (Adam Wingard, 2020). While, admittedly, many of the Kong spin-offs have had their merits, the original has never really been equalled.

A truly astounding piece of filmmaking, King Kong is a work of art that is rightly regarded a masterpiece.

Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME for a longer, more in-depth review of King Kong! Link below.

King Kong (1933)
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King Kong (Dir: Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933). RKO Radio Pictures’ modern day Beauty and the Beast is the daddy o

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6 years ago
BUGSY MALONE (Alan Parker, 1976).

BUGSY MALONE (Alan Parker, 1976).

Alan Parker’s feature film directorial debut is really something special. A musical homage to 1930’s gangster movies with a cast made up entirely of children really shouldn’t work, but it does.

Gang warfare rages in Prohibition-era New York as hoods Fat Sam and Dandy Dan battle for supremacy in the city. Armed with newfangled splurge guns (whipped cream firing machine guns), it looks like Danny Dan’s mob is winning. Speakeasy owner Sam engages good guy Bugsy Malone to help in his fight against Dan, while Bugsy has his sights set on aspiring showgirl Blousey Brown.

Recalling both the classic Warner gangster flicks and early backstage musicals, Bugsy Malone is itself a film which largely avoids categorisation. It is a love letter to the Hollywood of the 1930s. The beautifully detailed sets of dimly lit back alleys and colourful speakeasies faithfully recalling the era of Cagney and Robinson. Paul Williams superb jazz inspired score provides perfect accompaniment to the visuals, while the witty, quick fire dialogue would befit a period screwball comedy. The soft focus camera work and plethora of brown on display gives the feel of an old sepia tone photograph and adds to the era atmosphere.

An assured and charismatic performance from Scott Baio as Bugsy is surprisingly his first screen appearance. As was true of much of the cast. Florrie Dugger is touchingly melancholic as Bugsy’s gal Blousey in her only movie, while John Cassisi embodies gleeful roguishness as Fat Sam, one of only a handful of acting roles for the youngster. Only Jodie Foster, in the supporting role of showgirl cum moll Tallulah, was a veteran performer and gives the first rate professional performance you would expect. But to the credit of the cast and director Parker, none of the kids put a foot wrong and are never upstaged by the more experienced star.

There really is nothing else like Bugsy Malone in cinema history. As artful as it is entertaining and equally enjoyable for children and grownups; a unique, unadulterated pleasure from beginning to end!

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Bugsy Malone (1976)
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Bugsy Malone (Alan Parker, 1976).  Alan Parker’s feature film directorial debut is really something special. A musical homage to 19

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6 years ago
THE SON OF KONG (Dir: Ernest B Schoedsack, 1933).

THE SON OF KONG (Dir: Ernest B Schoedsack, 1933).

How would the makers of Son of Kong manage to top the groundbreaking, blockbuster original King Kong (Merian C Cooper & Ernest Schoedsack, 1933)? Short answer: they wouldn’t. But neither did they try. Ernest Schoedsack returns as producer/director but Merian C Cooper, his collaborator on the first movie, bowed out when RKO slashed the budget. Scriptwriter Ruth Rose also returns, as do cast members Robert Armstrong as Denham and Victor Wong as Charlie the Cook.

A month after the disastrous events of the first movie, beleaguered showman and moviemaker Carl Denham escapes his creditors by chartering a ship to Kong's Skull Island, in search of mythical hidden treasure. Joined by an animal trainer cum singer (Helen Mack) and shady ships' captain (Frank Reicher) and faithful cook Charlie, the gang are cast overboard by a mutinous crew and arrive on the island via rowboat. After a hostile encounter with the native islanders they encounter the ape sinking into quicksand. Denham and the singer rescue pint-sized Kong who then befriends the pair as they battle a cave bear and brave a massive earthquake in their search for riches.

Although this movie lacks the grandiose special effects set pieces of the original King Kong, Kong Jr is still an impressive beast. Smaller than his pa at 12 foot, as opposed to Kong’s 20ish foot, Kong Jr is also more anthropomorphised than his father. The stop motion ape is, once again, beautifully animated by special effects genius Willis O’Brien. Yet with more human like expressions he is less menacing than his dad, but likewise less sympathetic.

Son of Kong adopts a much lighter, more comic tone than its predecessor and a result the movie is, sadly, less impressive, less poignant and less engaging than the original King Kong. But it is by no means the disaster it was initially perceived to be. Its special effects are still superlative; the performances are strong and at barely 70 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome. Lower your expectations (slightly) and you will find The Son of Kong a highly entertaining time waster.

Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME for a longer, more in-depth review of Son of Kong! Link below.

The Son of Kong (1933)
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The Son of Kong (Dir: Ernest B Schoedsack, 1933).  How would the makers of  Son of Kong  manage to top the groundbreaking, blockbu

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6 years ago
MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (Dir: Ernest B Schoedsack, 1949).

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (Dir: Ernest B Schoedsack, 1949).

16 years after scoring a massive hit with fantasy epic King Kong (Merian C Cooper & Ernest B Schoedsack, 1933), RKO Radio Pictures resurrected the mega-ape genre with Mighty Joe Young. Returning are Kong producers and directors Ernest B Schoedsack and Merian C Cooper and star Robert Armstrong. However, this is not a sequel to King Kong and its follow-up Son of Kong (Ernest B Schoedsack, 1933).

Joe is a massive gorilla (not as big as Kong, but still pretty hefty) raised by young Jill Young (Terry Moore) in his African home since a baby. Persuaded by showman Max O’Hara (Robert Armstrong) and his buddy Gregg (Ben Johnson) to accompany them to the US, Max employs Jill and Joe as star attraction at his California nightclub. As is often the case with exhibiting giant gorillas (or, indeed, dinosaurs), things do not go to plan. Otherwise gentle Joe is taunted by drunks to the point where he wrecks the joint. With Joe subsequently imprisoned, Jill, Gregg and Max plot a daring rescue attempt to free the gorilla and return him to Africa.

Shot in black and white with dramatic use of colour filters, Mighty Joe Young is a visual treat. King Kong’s Willis O’Brien and assistant Ray Harryhausen handle the outstanding special effects which elaborate upon the techniques perfected in Kong. Joe is brought to life by beautiful stop motion animation and the interaction between him and his human counterparts is astonishing! A scene where Joe wrestles live action/animated lions is particularly impressive as is the dramatic climax in which Joe rescues children from a burning orphanage.

While it did not have the same impact as the original King Kong, Mighty Joe Young is an impressive movie in its own right with much to recommend it. It is undoubtedly more sentimental than Kong but it is still a thoroughly entertaining feature; well paced, with plenty of humour amidst the thrills and some of the most spectacular visual effects committed to celluloid. Fans of King Kong not familiar with Mighty Joe Young would do well to check out this fantasy classic!

Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME to read a longer, more in-depth review of Mighty Joe Young! Link below.

Mighty Joe Young (1949)
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Mighty Joe Young  (Dir: Ernest B Schoedsack, 1949). 16 years after scoring a massive hit with fantasy epic  King Kong  (Merian C C

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6 years ago
MIDWAY (Dir: Roland Emmerich, 2019).

MIDWAY (Dir: Roland Emmerich, 2019).

The events of this true life WWII campaign were previously filmed as the similarly titled Midway aka Battle of Midway (Jack Smight, 1976). Not having seen the earlier account, I will not make comparisons between the two movies.

Midway begins with the events surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor and chronicle the subsequent naval battle of the Pacific. Best known for directing big budget sci-fi blockbusters Stargate (1994) and Independence Day (1996), Roland Emmerich may seem an unlikely choice to helm a serious wartime drama. Midway, however, was pet project for Emmerich, one that he has fought to bring to the screen for many years.

Thankfully he tells the story straight. Certainly the special effects spectacle one expects from Emmerich is here to, as are the breathtaking action sequences. Yet these scenes are broken by the necessary detailing of the campaign. This pacing allows the action to breath and helps the movie be more than just an exercise in visual effects.

A fairly star-studded line-up was assembled for the movie, including Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid and Mandy Moore. As is often the case with these kind of movies, the actors are somewhat overshadowed by the spectacle. Although in fairness, the quality cast give solid performances throughout.

Midway is a decent movie, although one that, perhaps, brings nothing new to the war movie genre. A sense of the familiar is not necessarily a bad thing in a period movie but it’s underperformance at the box office suggests that old fashioned WWII features are a difficult sell to modern moviegoers, even with the presence of a Jonas Brother! That said, I did enjoy it. It is a worthy story, told in an impressively mounted and entertaining manner. If you want to watch it, it is worth catching it on the big screen where its spectacle can be fully appreciated.

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6 years ago
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE (Dir: Tim Miller, 2019).

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE (Dir: Tim Miller, 2019).

Terminator: Dark Fate does its best to refresh a tired franchise after the last 3 series' entries were met with disappointment. As such we are advised to forget those, as this 6th movie reboots the series continuing where Terminator 2: Judgment Day (James Cameron, 1991) left off.

Taking place 25 years after the events of Terminator 2, Dark Fate sees the return of original movie's hero Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton). Teaming up with time travelling augmented human Grace (Mackenzie Davis), the pair are tasked with protecting Dani (Natalia Reyes) a young woman who is the target of REV-9 (Gabriel Luna), a Terminator sent from the future to kill her. The threesome eventually team up with Conner's old foe the T-800 model Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), now 'living' in a secluded woodland retreat. Reality kinda takes a back seat as the four battle the seemingly indestructible Rev-9, intent on succeeding in its mission.

Based on a story by series creator James Cameron, fans of The Terminator franchise are on pretty safe ground with this latest movie, which sees the series finally back on track. Spectacular special effects and high octane action sequences are present and correct. The pace barely waivers and an early car chase is so impressive that the remainder of the movie has a hard time topping it.

Performances are strong throughout; serious minded female centred action movies are still a rarity and the three-hander between its leads lends this a welcome and distinctly different flavour to most action flicks.

Despite its good points Dark Fate has been greeted with a lukewarm box office. Possibly the decision to market it a sequel to Terminator 2 has alienated younger audiences or, more likely, sequel/re-make/re-boot fatigue has set in. If this is the last we see of Terminator then at least the series has gone out on a high. I suspect this movie might find more appreciation in the home market and could well mean the series will "be back" at some point in the future.

Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME to read a longer, more in-depth review of Terminator: Dark Fate! Link below.

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
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Terminator: Dark Fate (Dir: Tim Miller, 2019). Terminator: Dar k Fate does its best to refresh a tired franchise after the last 3

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5 years ago
TURKEY HOLLOW (Dir: Kirk R Thatcher, 2015).

TURKEY HOLLOW (Dir: Kirk R Thatcher, 2015).

Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow, to give the movie its full on-screen title, is based upon a Henson project unrealised during the Muppet master’s lifetime.

Originally co-written by Henson and Jerry Juhl, Turkey Hollow is a feature length TV movie combining puppets and humans, produced by The Jim Henson Company for the Lifetime Network.

Following their parents divorce, teenagers Tim (Graham Verchere) and Annie (Genevieve Buechner) are forced to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their Aunt Cly (Mary Steenburgen) in the rustic town of Turkey Hollow. Learning of a local 10 foot mythical monster The Howling Hoodoo, Tim sets out to find the beast. Instead he encounter the friendly forest monsters Squonk, Zorp, Burble and Thring as well as uncovering the illegal activities of a neighbouring turkey farmer, who poses a threat to his Aunt's farm.

Turkey Hollow is not the Muppet-fest you may have hoped for. The puppets are used fairly sporadically and serve the otherwise human led story. However, when they do appear, the puppets, as you would expect, are excellent. The undoubted highlight of the low key movie, the foursome are as appealing as any other monsters to emerge from the Henson stable. The humans almost take a backseat whenever the puppets appear, although performances are solid throughout, especially the always dependable Mary Steenburgen.

The plot of Turkey Hollow is simple and not particularly original; the movie equivalent of a light snack rather than a Thanksgiving feast. A romantic subplot between Aunt Cly and local Sheriff Grover (Reese Alexander) feels both under developed and slightly out of place and the one dimensional bad guys will only seem like a genuine threat to the youngest audience members. Otherwise the movie is a mostly endearing tale which, while not approaching the genius high standards of his best work, does nothing to tarnish the legacy of Mr Henson.

Turkey Hollow may not quite rank as a holiday classic, but it is a sweetly old fashioned treat and one you should find merits re-visiting during the festive season.

Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME for a longer, more in-depth review of Turkey Hollow! Link below.

Turkey Hollow (2015)
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Turkey Hollow (Dir: Kirk R Thatcher, 2015). Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow , to give the movie its full on-screen title, is based upon a

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5 years ago
BEYOND TOMORROW Aka BEYOND CHRISTMAS (Dir: A Edward Sutherland, 1940).

BEYOND TOMORROW aka BEYOND CHRISTMAS (Dir: A Edward Sutherland, 1940).

My quest for obscure vintage Christmas movies has arrived at Beyond Tomorrow, a curious little movie with a somewhat convoluted plot.

A trio of wealthy businessmen (Harry Carey, C Aubrey Smith and Charles Winninger) play matchmaker to a teacher (Jean Parker) and a misplaced cowboy (Richard Carlson). When the three are tragically killed in a plane crash they return as ghosts to watch over the couple whom they have left a significant inheritance.

Beyond Tomorrow is one of a handful of Hollywood movies of the era to deal with themes of spirituality and guardian angels; notable examples include Here Comes Mr Jordan (Alexander Hall, 1941) and It's a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946). Unfortunately this movie is nowhere near the caliber of those classics.

Although relatively short, at roughly 80 minutes, I found it a chore to watch. It's early scenes, centered around the holiday season are easily its best. However the film soon descends into hollow sentimentality and mawkishness, with Adele Comandini's screenplay lacking the dramatic strength to overcome the corny and frankly odd premise. The 'B' movie is also lacking star talent, although Richard Carlson later would make an impression in Universal's late period monster flick Creature from the Black Lagoon (Jack Arnold, 1954). A bigger name would certainly have lent the movie a little more cache but, to be honest, I think it would do little to help either the pedestrian script or A Edward Sutherland's workmanlike direction.

I also feel this movie was slightly miss sold, as only its first third is festive. In a shameless yuletide cash grab the movie has latterly been marketed as Beyond Christmas. Cynical though this may be, the title is actually more accurate as much of the feature does, indeed, take place after Christmas!

I am a sucker for a decent Christmas film and Golden Age Hollywood is my favourite era of filmmaking, but this turkey of a movie did nothing for me. By all means worth a watch for the curious. Just don't expect it to fill you with Christmas joy.

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5 years ago
A FLINTSTONES CHRISTMAS CAROL (Dir: Joanna Romersa, 1994).

A FLINTSTONES CHRISTMAS CAROL (Dir: Joanna Romersa, 1994).

Geological puns abound, as Fred Flintstone stars as Ebonezer Scrooge against Barney Rubble’s Bob Cragic in this modern Stone Age retelling of Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic.

The Flintstones is, of course the enormously successful animated TV sitcom from Hanna-Barbera which aired for 6 seasons between 1960 and 1966. That this movie was made 30 years after the heyday of the show demonstrates the continued enduring popularity of the franchise.

Rather than a straight adaptation of Dickens’ familiar tale of festive redemption, A Flintstones Christmas Carol takes a tip from Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol (Abe Leviton, 1962) and presents the story as a play within a story. So, running parallel to the events of the Bedrock Community Players performance of A Christmas Carol, we have the story of Fred, so engrossed in his role of Scrooge that he neglects his family duties until the lines between he and Ebonezer begin to blur.

Casting The Flintstones in the roles of Dickens’ characters is a nice idea. Not a particularly original idea, but I can see the appeal. The backstage story which runs alongside it is less engaging and the two strands work against each other to make for a somewhat choppy narrative. It isn’t a bad movie; made for US TV, the standard of animation is a shade better than normal Saturday morning fare and there is undeniable nostalgic value for those of a certain age.

Yet what is appealing in a 25 minute TV show is not quite as fun when stretched to nearly three times that length. While I enjoy The Flintstones on TV, I found A Flintstone Christmas Carol a little bit of a chore to watch come the halfway mark. Still, while it is a little disappointing in the story department, its colourful animation is above average and it does provides some mild chuckles. However, I think a straight version of the tale would have been better and can’t help but feel this somewhat of an opportunity missed. Longtime fans will probably get a kick out of the movie, but it’s not quite the ‘gay old time’ it might have been.

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A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994)
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A Flintstones Christmas Carol (Dir: Joanna Romersa, 1994). Geological puns abound, as Fred Flintstone stars as Ebonezer Scrooge aga

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5 years ago
KLAUS (Dir: Sergio Pablos, 2019)

KLAUS (Dir: Sergio Pablos, 2019)

Just when you think you have seen all the Santa origin stories you care to, along comes Klaus. Netflix’s first original animated feature film, Klaus made its debut on the streaming service in November 2019; an early gift for the festive season. Produced by Sergio Pablos Animation Studios, it is the directorial debut of studio head Pablos, the co-creator of Universal's highly lucrative Despicable Me franchise.

Incompetent postman Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) is sent by his Postmaster General father to establish a post office in the remote northern isle of Smeerensburg. On arrival he finds a divided community, engaged in a bitter feud, who barely speak to each other, let alone send mail. Determined to succeed he seeks out each town member to extol the virtues of the postal service, including Klaus (J K Simmons), a mysterious, solitary figure with a workshop full of toys. The pair team up to distribute the toys to the unhappy Smeerensburg children, creating some new Christmas traditions along the way.

Klaus is as warm and heartfelt as you would expect a Christmas movie to be. Sure, it is sentimental, but never slushy and with genuine pathos in Klaus' backstory. Its distinctive visual style and expressionistic use of colour help make it one of the most visually pleasing animated features in recent years; the 2D animation combines the slickness that audiences would expect of a modern animated feature with a cartoony style reminiscent of the Mid Century Modern stylings of the UPA animation studios.

While Klaus does cover some similar ground to the Rankin/Bass TV favourite Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (Arthur Rankin Jr & Jules Bass, 1970), in all other respects it is easily the most imaginative take on St Nick's early years for sometime.

In a year where cinema release schedules have been dominated by animated sequels, first time director Sergio Pablos has crafted a movie which feels fresh and original, yet reassuringly tradition. It is arguably the most satisfying Christmas movie of the decade and seems destined to become a holiday classic.

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5 years ago
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (Dir: J.J. Abrams, 2019).

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (Dir: J.J. Abrams, 2019).

I am writing this review assuming that anyone reading it will already know a little about the Star Wars universe. This latest movie The Rise of Skywalker is the final instalment of the nine movie strong (not including spin-offs) saga.

In this, Episode IX, the Resistance are, once again, up against the First Order. Rey, meanwhile has some serious soul searching to do and some pretty important decisions to make.

A bit more of a romp than the preceding two instalments, co-writer/director J.J. Abrams has fashioned a rollercoaster adventure that barely stops for breath. Its more poignant and emotional moments, of which there are many, are offset by the humour that was sadly missing in the prequels and by a general good natured atmosphere.

Special effects are, as you would expect, spectacular. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep you on the edge of your seat, while longtime fans will appreciate the nods to previous movies including some welcome cameos of characters past.

Key to the movies enjoyment is the game playing of its likeable cast, most notably Oscar Isaacs’ Poe Dameron; his cheeky-chappie-Han-Solo-ish persona comes to the fore more here than in previous movies and for me, Isaacs is the real standout of the newer gang members. Perhaps as a consequence, Finn seems a little underwritten. While John Boyega has impressed in previous entries, here, through no fault of his own, is left with seemingly little to do. As Rey, Daisy Ridley spends much of the movie in a sort of heroic turmoil, but this she does excellently! While, over the course of three movies Adam Driver has pretty much perfected his mean and moody bit as bad’un Kylo Ren.

So we conclude the Star Wars nineology (or whatever) with a movie which, while perhaps not among the best of the series is still a mostly satisfying end to the franchise. Those fans who come to Star Wars first and foremost to be entertained should not be disappointed.

Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME for a longer, more in-depth review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker! Link below.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Dir: J.J. Abrams, 2019). I am writing this review assuming that anyone reading it will already k

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5 years ago
THE PARENT TRAP (Dir: David Swift, 1961).

THE PARENT TRAP (Dir: David Swift, 1961).

Hayley Mills' second movie for Walt Disney is also arguably her best for the studio. Indeed, nearly 60 years after release it remains one of the studio’s most popular and well regarded live action features.

Based upon Erich Kästner’s German language novel 'Das Doppelte Lottchen' (Lisa and Lottie) The Parent Trap tells the story of identical twin sisters Susan and Sharon (both played by Mills) who are separated at birth by their divorced parents. Thirteen years later they meet at summer camp and decided to switch places on their folks, knowing that they would have to meet up again in order to switch them back and hopefully reconcile their romance. So Susan heads to Boston to meet mom (Maureen O'Hara), while Sharon jets off to stay with dad (Brian Keith) at his sprawling California ranch. With unfortunate timing dad is just about to wed gold digging platinum blonde Vicky (Joanna Barnes), with whom he is besotted, forcing the twins to plot ever more elaborate schemes to 'submarine' Vicky and save their parents marriage.

While its plot is far fetched to say the least, the movie is executed with such skill and warmth that disbelief happily takes a vacation.

Maureen O’Hara was never lovelier than she is here and Brian Keith was never more lovably oafish. Of course the real star is Mills in her duel role as the twins. Her deft performance displays genuine charisma and expert comedy timing in what is only her third screen appearance.

Save for the odd bit of obvious back project, the pre-digital effects are excellent; the movie would be far less effective if they were not. The trick photography that allows two Hayleys to appear on screen together is astonishing and completely believable.

Perhaps The Parent Trap’s greatest achievement is that it works as a sophisticated romcom for adult audiences just as well as it does a slapstick comedy for kids. If you have never seen The Parent Trap or haven’t seen in a while, I highly recommend giving it a watch. It is a comedy gem whose warmth and charm is hard to resist!

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The Parent Trap (1961)
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The Parent Trap (Dir: David Swift, 1961).  Hayley Mills' second movie for Walt Disney is also arguably her best for the studio. In

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5 years ago
SCROOGE Aka A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Dir: Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951).

SCROOGE aka A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Dir: Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951).

Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol is the second most famous Christmas story ever told. It must also rank as the most filmed piece of literature of all time, with countless movie and TV adaptations surfacing yearly. For many, me included, this 1951 adaptation is the best version.

Scrooge (it retained its published title A Christmas Carol in the US) is, of course, the tale of the embittered miser who loathes his fellow man and mistreats his overworked, underpaid employee Bob Cratchit. The old curmudgeon is offered the chance of redemption on Christmas Eve when he is visited by four spirits who take him on a journey through his past, present and future to show him the error of his ways.

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Scrooge aka A Christmas Carol (1951)
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Scrooge aka A Christmas Carol (Dir: Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951). Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol is the second most

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