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Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
It is an inevitability in life that eventually you will watch all the films in the Harry Potter world, whether you want to or not. Mostly, I want to, but do find them a little difficult to hold in my mind as separate entities. I remember that I saw each one and generally enjoyed the magic and inventiveness of them, but pushed to identify which set piece happens in which film would probably stump me.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first of the extended world of J. K. Rowling’s wizarding wonderland, is no exception. Couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened, having seen it once over a year ago. But I can tell you I thought it was slightly better than I thought it would be. And the same goes for the sequel, which I thought had a nice balance of the dark and light elements, and some really entertaining sequences.
Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander particularly impresses me in this context, being such a mild mannered hero, with a twinkle in his eye and hidden depths: an interesting character to observe. As do Johnny Depp, as the titular Grindelwald, and Jude Law as a younger Dumbledore – two ageing actors it is becoming increasingly hard to cast these days, but who are very well placed here. There is also some nice support from Ezra Miller and Katherine Waterston, both of who I wish would do more high profile stuff and Zoë Kravitz, who keeps popping up on my radar.
Of course, the effects are pretty good: this franchise has a few quid. And David Yates knows his way around this stuff competently enough by now, it being his 6th film in the Potter universe. He is also already signed on for a further 3 of these, making it a very lively franchise, with one film a year scheduled for the foreseeable future. I have no argument with them. They don’t change the world, but as distracting entertainment they are perfectly fine. I know I’d be chuffed as a parent of a youngish child that at least something semi intelligent and magical was out there.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first of the extended world of J. K. Rowling’s wizarding wonderland, is no exception. Couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened, having seen it once over a year ago. But I can tell you I thought it was slightly better than I thought it would be. And the same goes for the sequel, which I thought had a nice balance of the dark and light elements, and some really entertaining sequences.
Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander particularly impresses me in this context, being such a mild mannered hero, with a twinkle in his eye and hidden depths: an interesting character to observe. As do Johnny Depp, as the titular Grindelwald, and Jude Law as a younger Dumbledore – two ageing actors it is becoming increasingly hard to cast these days, but who are very well placed here. There is also some nice support from Ezra Miller and Katherine Waterston, both of who I wish would do more high profile stuff and Zoë Kravitz, who keeps popping up on my radar.
Of course, the effects are pretty good: this franchise has a few quid. And David Yates knows his way around this stuff competently enough by now, it being his 6th film in the Potter universe. He is also already signed on for a further 3 of these, making it a very lively franchise, with one film a year scheduled for the foreseeable future. I have no argument with them. They don’t change the world, but as distracting entertainment they are perfectly fine. I know I’d be chuffed as a parent of a youngish child that at least something semi intelligent and magical was out there.
Reading Comprehension Solar System Free for 5th Grade
Education and Productivity
App
This non-fiction reading comprehension app has seventeen stories about the solar system. You can...
8th Grade Math Testing Prep
Education and Games
App
How do you know if your child is prepared for the state mandated math test? Get ready for...
Language of Letting Go: Codependency Meditations
Book and Health & Fitness
App
Find inspiration anywhere, at any time, with Hazelden Publishing’s Language of Letting Go app...
Barbie Magazine - South Africa Interactive
Lifestyle and Magazines & Newspapers
App
The next best thing to owning the doll, is reading Barbie magazine Barbie has been around for more...
No Wonder You Wonder!: Great Inventions and Scientific Mysteries: 2016
Claude R. Phipps and Friedel Wicke
Book
This book explores and explains scientific mysteries and principles, leavened with tongue-in-cheek...
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Dirty Dancing (1987) in Movies
Jul 4, 2020
A Movie Packed With Memorable Moments
During a summer vacation in the Catskills, a young woman is introduced to the sensual world of dirty dancing and her life is forever changed. Seriously, I should apply for a job writing loglines.
Acting: 10
No the acting wasn’t the best around, but it gets the job done. Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze are electric on screen together. This movie clearly has no shot without their chemistry. I have to give an honorable mention to Jerry Orbach playing the role of Dr. Jake Houseman. He’s an overprotective father that just wants to see his kids have a good time on vacation. He has a couple of pretty heavy scenes that leave an impact on the movie.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10.
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
So my mom is a single parent which meant I went with her pretty much everywhere, including the movies. I remember her taking me to see this movie. I didn’t understand that first dance when Baby walked into the workers clubhouse, but I knew it was something my young eyes shouldn’t have been looking at. I appreciate the way director Emile Ardolino captures that raw sensuality. I also loved how the disparity between the rich vacationers and the lower class workers was displayed. It sets up the movie well and remains a constant theme throughout.
Conflict: 9
Entertainment Value: 7
Like a Fast and Furious movie, there is something undeniable about Dirty Dancing. You find yourself entranced when you should be saying, “This is extremely corny.” Sure there are some campier moments that are just ripped from a Hallmark movie, but overall the movie has a definite flare that keeps you entertained from beginning to end.
Memorability: 9
Pace: 9
Plot: 9
Resolution: 10
Overall: 89
Back to that dance scene I mentioned earlier. It happens pretty quickly into the movie, about fifteen minutes in. In two minutes that scene accomplishes more for eroticism than the entire Fifty Shades franchise. Just like the movie, it bleeds passion. Dirty Dancing is a testament that you don’t need hundreds of millions of dollars to make a decent film.
Acting: 10
No the acting wasn’t the best around, but it gets the job done. Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze are electric on screen together. This movie clearly has no shot without their chemistry. I have to give an honorable mention to Jerry Orbach playing the role of Dr. Jake Houseman. He’s an overprotective father that just wants to see his kids have a good time on vacation. He has a couple of pretty heavy scenes that leave an impact on the movie.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10.
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
So my mom is a single parent which meant I went with her pretty much everywhere, including the movies. I remember her taking me to see this movie. I didn’t understand that first dance when Baby walked into the workers clubhouse, but I knew it was something my young eyes shouldn’t have been looking at. I appreciate the way director Emile Ardolino captures that raw sensuality. I also loved how the disparity between the rich vacationers and the lower class workers was displayed. It sets up the movie well and remains a constant theme throughout.
Conflict: 9
Entertainment Value: 7
Like a Fast and Furious movie, there is something undeniable about Dirty Dancing. You find yourself entranced when you should be saying, “This is extremely corny.” Sure there are some campier moments that are just ripped from a Hallmark movie, but overall the movie has a definite flare that keeps you entertained from beginning to end.
Memorability: 9
Pace: 9
Plot: 9
Resolution: 10
Overall: 89
Back to that dance scene I mentioned earlier. It happens pretty quickly into the movie, about fifteen minutes in. In two minutes that scene accomplishes more for eroticism than the entire Fifty Shades franchise. Just like the movie, it bleeds passion. Dirty Dancing is a testament that you don’t need hundreds of millions of dollars to make a decent film.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated Balloons for Tiger in Books
May 13, 2021
I am sure most, if not everyone as lost a pet or two in their lifetime. Whether you were a child yourself or you are a parent of one. I am sure it has been hard to tell your child or children about pet loss. Well, this book is called "Balloons for Tiger" is a book about pet loss.
It can show you how to deal with pet loss with your child or children. It is a good one for children to understand a pet's death, but that their pet's love is continual with them; It may help open your child or children to talk about their loss of their favorite pet.
You never know, maybe your child will want to send balloons to their lovely pet in haven. They will show it back in another way. You may find another way to show your child grief for their precious pet. It is suitable for adults as well.
This book reminded me of my loving cat that has passed away. I loved Pumpkin dearly, and I still miss him today, And it has been two or three years since the cat passed. I keep him and his brother. We couldn't own one and let the other one go. His name is Pumpkin, and I still love him, and his brother Patches is still around somewhere in the neighborhood.
I miss my little boy. He was just so cuddly and my reading buddy. This book reminded me to keep those memories alive, and I will send my love for him. I hope to see him on the rainbow bridge when coming home to be with him.
Children will love this book. Parents will like it as well. It got some good tips in the back of the book to help guide or guide children with talking about pet loss or ideas to deal with the loss of a pet. The book is good even if you lose a pet that is not a cat. You can change the pet to a fish if you so wish. Or even a dog. The pet can signify adjusted to whatever pet you want it to be for your family. Pets are family members too.
It can show you how to deal with pet loss with your child or children. It is a good one for children to understand a pet's death, but that their pet's love is continual with them; It may help open your child or children to talk about their loss of their favorite pet.
You never know, maybe your child will want to send balloons to their lovely pet in haven. They will show it back in another way. You may find another way to show your child grief for their precious pet. It is suitable for adults as well.
This book reminded me of my loving cat that has passed away. I loved Pumpkin dearly, and I still miss him today, And it has been two or three years since the cat passed. I keep him and his brother. We couldn't own one and let the other one go. His name is Pumpkin, and I still love him, and his brother Patches is still around somewhere in the neighborhood.
I miss my little boy. He was just so cuddly and my reading buddy. This book reminded me to keep those memories alive, and I will send my love for him. I hope to see him on the rainbow bridge when coming home to be with him.
Children will love this book. Parents will like it as well. It got some good tips in the back of the book to help guide or guide children with talking about pet loss or ideas to deal with the loss of a pet. The book is good even if you lose a pet that is not a cat. You can change the pet to a fish if you so wish. Or even a dog. The pet can signify adjusted to whatever pet you want it to be for your family. Pets are family members too.
The Happy Birth Book: Your Trusted A-Z of Pregnancy, Birth and the Early Weeks
Book
'If you're having a baby this is a MUST READ. Get the birth you want whatever path you choose'...
Lenard (726 KP) rated Blinded by the Light (2019) in Movies
Sep 2, 2019
It's a Sin
1987 Luton, UK: New wave rules the radio, Margaret Thatcher controls the country which is leading to closed factories and people losing their jobs, and Pakistanis are moving into neighbors which the "white" majority resents (when people are losing their jobs, it is easier to blame the "others" moving in instead of the government whose policies have led to these losses). But I digress. Ravi is trapped between two cultures, his Pakistani family and the culture he grows up in in Luton. One day at his school, he meets a Sikh student who gives him two cassettes by Bruce Springsteen and he meets a writing teacher who encourages him to write what he knows. Like the culture clash in his soul, his heart is consumed by these Springsteen songs and expressing his feelings through writing. As is wont in these films, his parents and town learn to accept him and his obvious talent.
Two things struck me about the film. The first is the costume for the father. With the exception of the wedding party which I will discuss in my second, the father is dressed in a dress shirt, tie, and slacks, sometimes a sportcoat. This is the traditional outfit of a 1st generation immigrant. Even though he works in a factory manufacturing cars, he still goes to work or out in public dressed like a successful businessman/financial advisor. There is a belief that in order to achieve success, you must dress as though you have already attained that success. The second is the connection to Bend It Like Beckham, Chadha's previous film, which had a lot more success in the US. There is the best friend's parent who accepts the protagonist quicker than their own. But I am talking about the wedding party scene. In both films, the family is having a wedding party and the protagonist has to leave because there is something urgent that they need to do (play in a soccer game, buy tickets to a Springsteen concert). Family members assist the protagonist to get away without the parents noticing and in each case conflict ensues that brings a feeling of abandonment from the immediate family.
Two things struck me about the film. The first is the costume for the father. With the exception of the wedding party which I will discuss in my second, the father is dressed in a dress shirt, tie, and slacks, sometimes a sportcoat. This is the traditional outfit of a 1st generation immigrant. Even though he works in a factory manufacturing cars, he still goes to work or out in public dressed like a successful businessman/financial advisor. There is a belief that in order to achieve success, you must dress as though you have already attained that success. The second is the connection to Bend It Like Beckham, Chadha's previous film, which had a lot more success in the US. There is the best friend's parent who accepts the protagonist quicker than their own. But I am talking about the wedding party scene. In both films, the family is having a wedding party and the protagonist has to leave because there is something urgent that they need to do (play in a soccer game, buy tickets to a Springsteen concert). Family members assist the protagonist to get away without the parents noticing and in each case conflict ensues that brings a feeling of abandonment from the immediate family.