Ruby Bridges on Disney+

Last night we watched Ruby Bridges as a family. It was a made-for-tv movie in 1998, rated PG, and only 96 mins long. All of my kids liked it. The movie is, of course, about Ruby Bridges and her experience being one of the first black children to integrate into a white school. Because Ruby is only six years old in the movie, my kids were interested in the events and problems she faced. 

While the movie is family-friendly, there are racial slurs and some yelling between adults as well as adults threatening Ruby which can be frightening for children. These situations raised questions for my kids which resulted in some great discussions during and after the movie.

Researching the film afterwards, I was surprised that it is fairly accurate for a biopic. Even some details that I thought were for dramatic effect were in fact true. I also was surprised how religious the movie was and how it showed the struggle between the family and not only the school but also with friends and the NAACP.  I appreciated Ruby's parents' perspective in the movie which I had never before considered. A major focus of the film is how children deal with stress. The way the movie explores it through Ruby, religion, and her psychiatrist is fascinating. 

My only complaint about the movie is how it ends. Usually a biopic shows pictures or footage of the actual individuals as they were and where they are now, which I would have loved for my kids to see and compare. But the movie ends with a few spoken sentences about a foundation that Ruby has set up. A lackluster ending in my opinion. Other than that, I really liked the movie, the dynamic relationships, and the questions it raised for my family to discuss. 

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

So, this movie was fun. I feel like they become more and more unbelievable though. Also, Tom Cruise is getting old. Is this supposed to be the last one? Who has seen it?

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SECRET LIFE OF MALTER WITTY

               




So. Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Daydreamer extraordinaire. Takes you on a trippy trip that Elise and I found to be worth the watch. Didn't rock Rotten Tomatoes or anything, so we were a little skep going in, but this was an enjoyable story with pleasant ending. No sexuality, which is always nice (and uncommon for a Ben Stiller flick). A few swears I think, but nothing so blatant it sticks in my mind (though my mind is admittedly pretty slippery...). And a few pretty darn funny scenes. Get ready for a porpoise-less, longboarding trip into a volcano of snow leopard-like day dreams. Or were they all reality? Or is this really Inception 2, with Mitty stuck in a 4th level dream?

You'll just have to watch to find out! I give it 4 out 5 stars--something I'll look forward to watching again someday. I recommend all to watch it, but I do advise that you don't have too high expectations going in tho, bc there isn't some deep message or wonderful romance or hilarious wit here--just an enjoyable Friday night stay-at-home-and-eat-popcorn-on-the-couch-with-spouse movie).

Also, Mitty is an awesome name. Chelle and Jason, its your turn to name one of your children after a Ben Stiller movie, though I guess we will let you pick which one. You choose: Focker, Mitty or Zoolander.

Guardians of the Galaxy

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I thought there were some seriously funny moments, and the action was pretty good. It was cheesy at times, but the overall tone of the movie indicated that it wasn't meant to be taken too seriously, so the cheesy moments went over well. The raccoon has a foul mouth, but I guess that was how he was supposed to be in the comics. There was one sexual innuendo where Gamora refuses to dance with Starlord and states something like "I will not succomb to your pelvic sorcery" or something, but nothing that is explicitly sexual. Chris Pratt is one of my favorite actors now. Also, it seemed a little long, but I didn't mind.

Muppets Christmas Carol

Best Muppet movie ever in my opinion. M. Caine at his best. Great music. Elise was very skeptical when I told her how good it was, but even she agreed it was pretty good.

Viewable on netflix right now.




We should keep this going if people see any of the big movies this holiday season.

The Impossible

 

Lest you think I hadn't watch a biopic lately, here's one more review. LOVED the cinematography. Come to find out it was originally filmed for a Spanish (as in Spain) audience because the family that the movie is about is Spanish. However, the director cast the family as British with Naomi Watts as the mom and Ewan McGregor as the dad. Ewan McGregor was remarkably believable as the dad. There was only one scene that I thought he lost character, but overall wonderful acting. The kids were incredible actors too, especially the oldest. Wow. Can't think of what else Naomi Watts is in so can't really compare, but she did fine too. The film was originally filmed in English despite being for a Spanish audience so no subtitles.

Suspenseful, dramatic (in a good way), moving, and a little bit gory. See imdb's parental guide for specifics.
There are a couple spots where frontal nudity is shown. It is not shown for sensuality and it's true to life in a tragedy but not needed for the overall story per se. There is a reason for it, but not compelling enough to view it in my opinion. It comes right after "you see the back of a woman's leg is ripped open and the tattered, bloody wound is shown."


This movie made me aware of possible tragedies that some families face and grateful that my family has not had to experience such incredible disaster. Also took me a little back in time as I remember this tsunami in the news and the relief efforts taken in its aftermath. The movie focuses on how the goodness and sacrifice of others literally saves lives.

Oblivion

Plot pretty predictable, but you knew it was going to be with so many visual effects and dramatic music. There were a couple surprises that kept us going. However, what was most intriguing was the idea/question that the movie revolves around: do memories make up the soul? Language and violence. Also one scene to bypass: after Tom Cruise comes home and has dinner with Vicka, they proceed to the pool for some hanky panky. (Thanks, Mom, for the warning! :)) And is it just us or does Tom Cruise seem the same in any role he plays and always named Jack? Just sayin.

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

Coming from a biased source, I really enjoyed the newest edition of the Star Trek universe. The movie had a bunch of tie-ins with the last Star Trek from J.J Abrams as well as with the TOS (The Original Series). The tie-ins mostly were sayings from the older movies or connections through names to the other character as well. Knowing these connections made the movie more enjoyable for me. I had to explain some of these to Michelle so that she would understand some of the small things. Though Michelle missed some of the references she still had a good time. I think knowing them makes the movie a 9/10 rather than an 8/10. I'm looking forward to seeing this one again. There are a few reviews that floated around talking about plot problems. I didn't read any reviews so I don't know what plot holes they saw with it, but there was one part in the movie that seemed like the writers cheated, to make the story work...well maybe two places, but that's not important, the show was fun and a great flick. Skip the 3D though; there is only really one scene where you need the 3D to make you jump in your seats. 

P.S. Did I do okay writing this review?

Gifted Hands

 

You're probably starting to catch on that I like to watch biographical movies. This one is about Ben Carson who is a pediatric neurosurgeon at John Hopkins. He developed some incredible surgical procedures. I wasn't sure if I would like this movie, not knowing if it would focus just on racism. Don't get me wrong -- there are great movies focused on that, but I wasn't in the mood for such a movie. I was pleasantly surprised. The movie was more about God, family, and work ethic than it was about racism. In fact, there were only two instances of racism and they added depth to Ben Carson's personality. Very, VERY clean movie. Super good and inspirational. 

The Conspirator

Quincy and I watched this movie from Netflix a year and a half ago. We just never posted the review that we started until now.

If you like political, historical, and/or law-related movies, you'll like this one. Don't know why it got such low reviews from Rottentomatoes; I really liked it. The only part that we felt was unnecessary was a scene of extensive stabbing. The event actually happened, but the graphic portrayal, we felt, was over the top.

Learned a lot about a part of history that I didn't know. The movie focuses on the trial of those suspected of conspiring to kill President Lincoln. Well-acted, but I may be biased as I really like James McAvoy as an actor.

The Fountain (of disaster)

You guys. Dan and I watched this because it was one of the free Amazon Prime movies.

We thought it would be pretty good since it had Hugh Jackman in it. The only thing good about it was reading the all the funny user reviews on amazon (but unfortunately we read them after we watched it!). Don't get me wrong; plenty of reviewers gave it 5 stars. Buuuut, I'm pretty sure they were high on somethin'. And they felt the need to comment on all the 1-star-reviews with "This movie is just way too deep for your puny little brain." Here are some of the 1-star reviews, for your enjoyment:

"Whenever I receive the, "What is the worst movie you have ever seen?" question, I always provide the title of this movie thanks to its confusing story and depressing content. I'd rather paint my house than watch this movie and I hate painting my house." -Topher

"I never review anything, but this monstrosity of a film is certainly worth the labor....This is in the top 5 worst movie experiences of my life." - Johnny McNicebreath

"There is absolutely no point to this film. I feel like I just got hoodwinked into listening to a guy say "I have the answer to life!" only he rambles on about every day stuff like a video on YouTube or the new internet meme. ... Watch it if you have time to kill and you have somehow become immobile with a remote and this movie all ready to go....I wanted to drill my head out after watching this." -jookyone

"Let's see... a guy in a bubble in space with a tree in it eats part of the tree and breaks out of the bubble - wait, that happened at the end. The guy has a dying wife (who is infinitely stoic about dying) who writes a book (called "The Fountain") that the guy starts reading. She wants him to finish the book for her, as she has written all but the last chapter (this is supposed to be really meaningful, because, she's dying, you know.) In it, a conquistador is sent by the queen of Spain to find a hidden Mayan pyramid that has the tree of immortality in it, using three holes in a broken knife for a map. She wants him to do this to save her from the Spanish Inquisition, which nobody expects. Once there, he fights his way through a few warriors and some kind of religious looking person, eats some of that tree, but instead of it saving him, it kills him and turns him into a bunch of flowers within a minute or so. What else... The guy is some type of medical researcher who violates all the rules about drug studies and, in a flash of insight caused by looking at patterns in falling snow (I think), miraculously comes up with a serum that reverses aging. He wanted to use it on his dying wife, but she had already died. [Heavy sigh.] He did save a dying monkey, though, so that's good. Then, back in space, he breaks out of the bubble, then goes back in. I think that's about it. He never finishes the book - they kind of forgot about it, I guess....
"If you are the kind of person that thinks it is Philosophically Deep to see a bald guy in the lotus position tumbling through space or floating four feet off the ground in front a vaguely Mayan religious person, then you might have a chance of enjoying this movie. Otherwise, be prepared to feel like you just wasted 92 minutes of your life. Just awful." -John Carpenter

SkyFail...

Bond, James Bond.  So this one was medium.  The best part is the opening action scene.  Also, when confronted by the villain regarding his lack of sexual experience with other men, 007 relates that he's tried it.

Ugh,  why did we need to have that in there?  I understand Hollywood being gay-friendly, but that don't mean we need to have every character gay.  It's just kinda gay.  Also they make 007 out to be this older, less healthy, less accurate (marksmanship) person.  Lame.  I like my heroes awesome and slightly cocky.  Give my back my old Bond, James Bond. 5/10 stars.

Avengers, anyone?

Does anyone want to review the Avengers so Dan and Lise will finally go see it? :)

I thought it was pretty awesome. Good dialogue and jokes, great action scenes, the plot was a little lacking, but I guess that is to be expected in an action movie like this. Overall, it is definitely a must see. What does everyone else think?