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. 

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.

Temple Grandin

This review is actually from Jen. Just had to share this movie as it is one of the best that I've seen in awhile.

This movie is a biographical film of Temple Grandin, whom Wikipedia describes as "a woman with autism who revolutionized practices for the humane handling of livestock on cattle ranches and slaughterhouses." Claire Danes plays Temple Grandin and Julia Ormond (played Sabrina in the modern version) plays Temple's mother. They gave amazing performances. The film creatively portrays how an autistic mind views the world while at the same time showing the conflicts, emotions, and reactions that come with interacting with an autistic individual.

Apart from learning more about the history of autism (ex. how people believed a mother's lack of touch was a cause of autism), I also learned a lot more about cattle -- from the view of an autistic individual.

This film gave me a new view of autism. It also reminded me how specific experiences, comments, and individuals move us to discover our strengths through our trials. An excellent movie. Also completely clean. Don't remember even one swear word.

The film was released in 2010 through HBO. Found the copy I watched at the library.

Wicker Park

I got this in Netflix having heard nothing about it (risky, I know...sometimes I just add things to my Queue with the intent to read up on them later).

Dan kept asking me, "Are you sure this is a chick flick?" because the music seriously sounded like someone was about to get murdered. Any second. All movie long practically. It gave it a really weird vibe.

Unfortunately, this movie moved SUPER SLOW. It was a little painful to get through, and there were unnecessary plot diversions (like what was up with that Daniel guy whose wife got killed in a hit and run? It added nothing to the movie except for contributing to the Is-someone-about-to-get-murdered?-feeling).

They could've made this a lot better by adding a little humor, moving it along faster, and taking out the weird music. Basically, it isn't worth watching.

PG-13 Content: language & sexuality (it says "sh*" ALL THE TIME, the f-word once, and there are like three bed scenes. So yeah, you'd better skip this movie.)

Seven Pounds

I really liked this movie. Sure, it was plenty sad. But it was a really interesting idea, and it was intriguing trying to figure out what was going on at the beginning (we knew nothing about this movie).

The suicide scene is disturbing (I closed my eyes), and there is an inappropriate bed scene that can easily be fast forwarded.

But, Will Smith did an amazing acting job in this. 4.5 Stars.

Rescue Dawn

Okay, I have mixed feelings about this movie. It was fascinating plot-wise, what with the getting captured by Laotian soldiers, meeting other American pilots that no one knew were imprisoned, and finally the intense escape. Christian Bale was, of course, amazing. But this movie left me wanting for something more meaningful. I guess maybe they were trying to stick really close to the true story, but the ending was just missing that inspirational feeling that I like to get from intense-but-triumphant true stories. When Dieter Dengler was finally back on his Navy ship after the whole ordeal, he was asked to give a message to the men: What helped him get through the torture? What kept him going? And in the movie he said, "Fill what's empty, empty what's full, I want a steak now..." or something like that. It just seemed a trifle facetious to what should have been a lot more meaningful moment.

Not a film for kids--there is some machine gun shooting which is a bit intense. The torture scenes weren't quite as bad as I thought they would be--they showed him getting dragged behind a donkey, shoved under water, and hung upside down with a cow pie or something tied to his face, but they weren't like whipping him or cutting off toes, luckily. The torture went by pretty quickly.

Oh, and why didn't it tell us what happened to Eugene and Phisit and Procet? No mention of them at all. That was weird.

Other notes--Bale is PAINFULLY thin in this. Wow. Good depiction of starvation, buddy. Also, the scenery is AMAZING. Makes me want to go to Laos. Oh wait, they still are a bunch of commies over there. Never mind. :)

Oh actually I found out it was filmed in Thailand. Let's go there, k Dan?

Valkyrie

I thought this movie was really well made. I'm not a Tom Cruise hater, nor am I a Tom Cruise lover, but I thought he did very well in this movie. The historical content is apparently very accurate, and I was fascinated with the whole plot--really I knew very little about assassination attempts on Hitler.

It isn't action-packed, but it keeps you riveted in your seat even though you know what's going to ultimately happen. It made me wonder what I would have done if I had been a German during that awful time.

I would say it is one of the few movies that is worth paying $5 to see. (Matinee, of course. Nothing really is worth the $9 evening price they charge you these days.)

Oh, and this is a spoiler right here, but I am SO glad they didn't kill the wife and kids too...that would've made it just way too sad.

House of Flying Daggers

I enjoyed this movie despite my aversion to violence and gore. This did not actually have a lot of blood in it until the last scene. I liked the message though. While the movie had the cool kung fu moves and everything, it did not glorify violence. In the end, violence is shown to be pointless and the cause of all the sadness. The movie is about a rebel group that is revolting against the government, but the movie is very neutral so that you do not know which side you're on in the end. It had a lot of twists and turns, so don't be surprised when the movie just keeps going and your view of the characters completely changes.

Love Story

Last February around Valentine's Day, I saw this movie for $5 at WalMart. I figured that since it had such a famous soundtrack it probably was a good movie. So, I bought it. Bad move. Or maybe I should say bad movie.

There are like zero funny parts, the heroine's personality seriously bugged me, neither of the lovers are good looking, and what is with the lame corny line: "love means never having to say you're sorry"?!

This movie is rated PG, but there is partial nudity and a bed scene, which was surprising to me for a movie almost forty years old. Anyway, I give this a thumbs down. If any of you want this movie, I have a copy I never want to see again.

Freedom Writers

This is a movie that helps you think about things you don't often think about. At least, I don't often think about them. It has a very good story line, and while it may be a bit overly dramatic at times, it is definitely a movie that will make you want to do a bit better to change the world in any small way you can.

Plus, with Dr. McDreamy in it (Patrick Dempsey), that's a bonus right there.

Amazing Grace

I would recommend this movie to everyone. Not only did it teach me a LOT about Black history in England, it had good values, an interesting plot, and pretty good actors. It did seem a mite long at the time, but that may have been just because I was tired. Not necessarily the type of movie to watch at a party, but uplifting and inspiring.

Cinderella Man

Hotness points: 8 for our leading man, 5 for our leading lady (sorry, I have never thought Zellweger was that great-looking).
Acting points: 9 for our leading man, 9 for our leading lady
Comedy: 1
Plot: 8
Cleanliness: 10 clean points for sex and nudity, 6 clean points for language
Thematic Elements points: 9.5
Inspirational:9
Overall: 9

This movie, while being quite serious and set in the time of the great depression, shows how a good man struggles to succeed, overcoming physical and emotional obstacles.

"Here is a movie where a good man prevails in a world where every day is an invitation to despair." -Roger Ebert