Dumbo

As a kid I liked Disney’s “Dumbo”. It was funny, sad and sentimental. It was also darker than many of the Disney cartoons. The latest live action remake of their cartoons is a little different partially because it is directed by Tim Burton. His view of the world has always been a little off center and this film is no different. The computer graphics of the elephants and other animals are wonderful and Dumbo is adorable. I felt the same pangs when everyone made fun of him and his separation from his mother is very emotional. The sequence with the pink elephants in the animated version is redone quite originally. The ending is changed a bit to make it more modern and the crows are no longer in the movie. A good remake with a little bit of a twist.

Shazam!

Shazam! is the latest film made from the DC Comics universe. Unlike a lot of the DC film adaptations, this one is not dark, nor does it have endless battle sequences. The premise is that a kid gains super powers when he utters “Shazam!” and he becomes an adult. Zachary Levi, who plays the kid as an adult, is perfect at portraying the wonder of a kid in an adult body. It kind of reminded me of Tom Hanks in “Big”. In fact there is an homage to that movie. There is a lot of humor and mix ups, showing the awkwardness of high school and the embracing of super powers. A fun, light super hero movie.

Us

Jordan Peele is definitely not a one hit wonder! After “Get Out!” two years ago, he gives us “Us” starring Lupita Nyong’o and all I can say is wow! There is a strange feeling from the beginning when a little girl wonders off at a beachside amusement park into a house of mirrors. Twenty five years later she is with her family going to their vacation home. Intruders come in, but they are not normal criminals. “Us” is a post modern zombie movie, with a twist. Like the best suspense/horror movies it keeps you guessing. You don’t know what will happen next nor what the creatures’ motives are. Any filmmaker who can keep me guessing deserves my praise, like M. Mike Shalaman in “The Sixth Sense”. Peele has done it twice.

On the Basis of Sex

We already had the documentary “RBG” last year, which told Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s story. Now we have “On the Basis of Sex”, which tells the story leading up to her first sexual discrimination suit success. Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer play the Ginsburg’s, with Ruth the intense, driven one and Marty equally driven, but possessing warmth and humor. The story is hard to believe because it deals with sexual discrimination, which was basically legal up until the 1970’s. Jones and Hammer play the couple realistically, showing how they loved and supported each other. A good film, but not a great film. If you really want to learn about Ginsburg see “RBG”.

They Shall Not Grow Old

“They Shall Not Grow Old” is a documentary that uses film from World War I to tell the soldiers’ stories. Instead of showing the movies in black and white and at the normal speed from movies of the time, it is colorized and sped up so that it looks like a modern film. The narration is mostly recordings of interviews of the soldiers. The film is a fascinating time capsule, showing scenes of combat and carnage the way we have grown used to viewing them in modern wars. Seeing the dead bodies, blood, explosions and vermin in color is disturbing and interesting. It is an interesting slice of history, but not for everyone. Lots of blood.

Beautiful Boy

I watched “Beautiful Boy” on Amazon Prime. It was only in theaters a short time. The film tells the story of a father and son and their journey through drug addiction and how it affects their family. Steve Carell plays the father and this is the best acting job he has done. He is loving, supportive, torn, frustrated, and fed up. Carell is real. The son is played by Timothee Chalamet and he too is real. The viewer feels the same way that the father does. You feel like you have been through a ringer. It’s too bad that this film was overlooked by the Oscars. Worth seeing.

Aquaman

I know I am a little late the party, but I finally saw “Aquaman”. Jason Mamoa was wonderful as the title character. Like “Wonder Woman” he added a bit of humor to the role, which was a welcome change of pace for a film from the DC universe. The special effects were good, especially the floating when characters were carrying on conversations. The underwater scenes are breathtaking. Like other DC movies the battle scenes were over done. Aquaman took some incredible punches and falls, worthy of Superman. The cast was impressive, with Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, and Patrick Wilson to name a few. This is a film you should see on the big screen.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

I wasn’t too keen on seeing the new animated version of Spider-Man, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” figuring it would just be a retelling of the same old story. Well, it was not. This time a young latino kid gets bitten and takes over for Peter Parker. The criminal, Mr. Big, is trying to bring people back from a different dimension and in doing so brings different versions of Spider-Man. Some of it is clever and they manage to incorporate some of the villains from other Spider-Man movies. It was good, especially if you like animation and Spider-Man.

Mary Queen of Scots

I have to admit that I like English history. I am especially interested in Elizabethan England, Elizabeth I that is. The story of her rivalry with her cousin, Mary is compelling. In the past Katherine Hepburn and Vanessa Redgrave are just two of the actresses who have played Mary. Now, Saoirse Ronan has taken on the role in the latest version, “Mary Queen of Scots”. It tells the story of Mary from the time she goes back to Scotland until her death. There is intrigue, power struggles, rivalries, bad marriages, and jealousy. Beautifully mounted, the costumes, make up, and sets are realistic and beautiful. Ronan, once again shows her versatility as an actress by totally submerging herself in the role of Mary. Margot Robbie plays Elizabeth as stubborn, proud, scared and vulnerable. If you like historical dramas, do not miss this one. If you don’t, stay away.

Second Act

I wasn’t looking forward to see Jennifer Lopez’s new film, “Second Act”, but I was pleasantly surprised. Lopez plays a woman who keeps getting passed over for promotions and ends up getting hired by a company because of a false resume. Leah Ramani plays her best friend and steals every scene she is in. This is a romantic comedy that isn’t just for women. An enjoyable couple of hours.