Movie #2126 ........................."Turning Red" (Disney+)

Movie #2126 "Turning Red" (Disney+) I loved this film --- good characterization, humor, animation, voices ----- one of the best animated films I've seen in a long time.  However, it  seemed more for the young teens, just starting to grow into puberty;  otherwise, it might touch on some subjects that  really young kids might wonder about ---  but there's enough entertainment for them, too, I think, and it doesn't hurt to be drawn into conversations that they want to have about puberty, etc.  The film could be a tad slower at times and clearer in its message --- "to thine own self be true," but it does a good job of  motivating  us into being our own individuals and letting  our inner self out as much as we can.  How creative to use the red panda symbol to get across a message in a Disney film, but I thought it worked most of the time.  It was entertaining and instructional and motivating --- what else do you want from an animated film? I'd give it 4 out of 5 .

"TURNING RED"      2022      PG    1 HOUR AND 40 MINS

A 13-year-old girl named Meilin turns into a giant red panda  and whenever she gets too excited.  Mei Lee is a confident, dorky 13-yer-old torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming, is never far from her daughter - an unfortunate reality for the teenager.  And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren't enough, whenever she gets too exited (which is practically ALWAYS), she "poofs" into a giant red panda.Disney/Pixar

Director:  Domee Shi

Writers:  Domee Shi, Julia Cho, Sarah Streicher

Stars:  Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh

Movie #2125 ........................."Everything Everywhere All At Once" (movie theatre)

 Movie #2125 "Everything Everywhere All At Once" (movie theatre) ---- no, not for me.

I thought it would be kind of funny if my blog on this film about how we are bombarded by everything in our lives right now was terribly minimalist.  But then I decided that it wouldn't be fair to the creativity in this film --- the time invested in making all the images --- the artistry of what is done in this film, even if it was just too much for me to understand, to digest, to like.  I am just one of so many others that will "experience" this film, and we need to hear from a diversity of watchers to see what they got out of it.  If nothing else, it sure is a springboard for discussion.  I'll start by saying just because I thought it was way too violent for me to watch, and way too techie/sci fi/multi universal to understand , I still came out of it with great respect for what was being done with this film --- I do love how  film can so easily and creatively message, and I got the message loud and clear through the overuse of sensory imagery to try to show us what our society is like now, and that many of us stop the fight and just go along with the herd, missing all the best things that make up a life.  According to the film we have several paths we can take --- we can let it get us down --- we can be filled with anxiety ---- be full of ennui over it all --- or we can fight..... or treat people with kindness.  I just wish there was more kindness and less fighting because I am so done with films that are just fight after fight after fight --- but that's the way the news is presented to us --- one fire after another after another --- that's the way our entertainment is presented to us  ---one show after another after another --- we rarely have time to sit down and digest what we have seen or done and off we go to the next thing.....I can say I got the message loud and clear because after a while watching this film, I didn't care much any more.  Yes, the creators run the risk of that, so I can't say I LOVE this film,  but like I said above, I can respect its creativity and messaging!  It will stand out for a long time in the history of film --- and if nothing else, when all the "stuff" stops frenetically moving on the screen  in the last couple of minutes, the film accomplishes this:  we  focus on what was being said and we think about what we can do about it --- we take a much needed time out of the film and talk more about all the why's of what we were just shown.   I give it a 3.   PS ---if you saw this film, please comment below what you thought ---- I think that was one of the major reasons the film was put together, no?

"EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE "  2022                 R    2 hours 19 mins

An aging Chinese immigrant is swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could have led.

Directors:  Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Writers:  Dan Kwan , Daniel Schreinert

Stars:  Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan

Movie #2124 ........................."The Starling" (Netflix)

 Movie #2124 "The Starling" (netflix)  - Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd ?  I'm there because they are two of my favorite  funny people, but this is a very serious film about grief --- they have lost their daughter to SIDS , and  their grief is taking them in different directions.  He is a teacher, and he tries to take his own life so he is put into a mental hospital, and she is trying to deal with her job in a supermarket and keeping up the house and driving a couple hours each way to visit with her husband.  Into her life flies a starling with an attitude, which brings her to her own road of  trying to move on after this horrible tragedy seems to be separating her from her husband.  She meets a vet (expsychologist) who helps her find a way back to her husband, and he to her.  It's a beautiful story, with equally beautiful people playing the roles and a beautiful symbolic use of the starling as well.  It is slow, and it is a debbie downer kind of film, but with these two actors there's lots to watch here as they struggle to deal with their grief.  I give it a 4.

"THE STARLING"     PG-13               2021            1 hour and 42 minutes       netflix

After Lilly suffers a loss, a combative Starling takes nest beside her quiet home.  The feisty bird taunts and attacks the grief-stricken Lilly.  On her journey to 3expel the Starling, she rediscovers her will to live and capacity  for love.

Director:  Theodore Melfi

Writer:  Matt Harris

Stars:  Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Down, Kevin Kline

Movie #2123 ........................."Never Too Late" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #2123 "Never Too Late" (Amazon Prime)  This probably is a generational thing, but I like capers with old people trying to escape senior homes......well, here is one --- it is terribly British, and a bit exaggerated in characterization, but the company of guys are very funny in many of the moments in the film ---- the only complaint was the improbability of  these guys being all in one home (or close to each other) -- but the premise is that they did some special op when they were soldiers (kind of like our navy seals) and they really haven't seen each other that much  since.... so they kind of pick up from where they left off --- they just give it to each other, some of it funny, some of it mean (bring up old wounds)   -- but the head guy (James Cromwell from "Babe") has a mission he wants to work on --- and (once again I'm not sure if this is believable ) he convinces them to join along --- since one is in a wheelchair, they have to get some young kid to follow along with the "caper" --- I liked it --- I liked the guys and the caper turned out to be worthwhile ---- and the film reaches some poignancy for me, and  that made up for all the unbelievable things that happened along the way.  I give it a 4 with the realization  that it might not be for everyone, but if you also like capers with old people trying to escape their senior homes, and you aren't living that dream with your relatives or yourselves, you might check into it.

"NEVER TOO LATE"    Amazon Prime    2020     1 hour and 38 mins

A group of seniors plan to break out of their retirement home.

Director:  Mark Lamprell

Writers:  Luke Preston, Grant Carter

Stars:  James Cromwell, Dennis Waterman (from "New Tricks") and Jacki Weaver ("Silver Linings Playbook)

Movie# 2122 ........................." THE Unforgivable" (netflix)

 Movie #2122 " The Unforgivable" (Netflix) This is a Sandra Bullock film free to stream on netflix, and I thought it was worth watching so I am here to recommend it.  I knew it was basically going to be about how a woman who committed a terrible crime, gets out of prison after several years and must now find her way in society.  But that was all I knew going in , and I'm here to tell you that the movie demands attention throughout.  She plays a very different character than normally, and she is very quiet and to herself.  We know little background, and gradually we  are told things about her life --- and the unfolding is done little by little and that makes the story intriguing to watch.  I don't want to say much more, but just that I give it 4.5  out of 5 ---I felt it was worth the watch (but way NOT  silly, and  very much unlike the pirates I previously blogged on -- !  hah!)

" THE UNFORGIVEABLE"      NETFLIX     2021      R    1 hour and 52 mins

A woman is released from prison after serving a sentence for a violent crime and re-enters a society that refuses to forgive her past.

Director:  Nora Fingscheidt

Writers:  Peter Craig, Hillary Seitz, Courtenay Miles

Stars:  Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, Vincent D'Onofrio

Movie #2121 ........................."Our Flag Means Death" (HBO) Season 1

Movie #2121 ""Our Flag Means Death" (HBO) Season 1 ---- Overall, I found this show quite amusing, but it does have a lot of silliness.  But look at the topic!  and the cast --- with Waititi playing Blackbeard who wants to learn "class" from Stede Bonnet who is a "classy" pirate who doesn't want to kill anyone. Hiss crew spends their days knitting or making flags or whatever..... the secondary group of pirates are very funny and work well together.  And just when you think there are no women on the ship, you are wrong, because one is in disguise.  It has 10 episodes, but they are short (about 30 mins each) and full of lots of laughs, but a lot of silliness, too.  With all the heaviness of the other shows we have been watching, it's nice to sit back and just giggle with this one --- I give it a 4 out of 5.

"OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH"      2022           

the year is 1717.  Wealthy landowner Stede Bonnet has a midlife crisis and decides to blow up his cushy life to become a pirate.  It does not go well.  Based on a true story.

Creator:  David Jenkins

Stars:  Rhys Darby, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Taika Waititi