Search

Search only in certain items:

    ZOOLA Animals

    ZOOLA Animals

    Education

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    "It’s the app that National Geographic should have designed for kids.” ▶...

Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story (1995)
1995 | Animation, Comedy, Family
A masterpiece
Film #9 on the 100 Movies Bucket List: Toy Story

When Toy Story was first released in 1995, it was groundbreaking. The first ever fully computer animated film and the first released by Disney Pixar, this was also one of the first films I saw at the cinema as an 8 year old child. Admittedly at that age I was concentrating more on the colourful animated toys rather than appreciating the sheer wizardry on offer, but from repeated watches over the decades, I’ve come to fully recognise the sheer genius of this film.

Toy Story centres around the idea that toys are alive, a concept that most children would love to be true. It follows Woody, a cowboy voiced by Tom Hanks, who’s cushy existence as the top dog of Andy’s toys is disrupted by a new space ranger doll, Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen. As Buzz soon becomes Andy’s favourite toy, Woody’s jealousy drives him to desperate measures that wind up with the pair of them becoming ‘lost toys’ and captives of evil neighbour Sid. And together with Buzz and Woody are a whole host of colourful and wacky toy characters, including Mr Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Etch-a Sketch and a bucketful of toy soldiers to name but a few of the childhood throwbacks on offer here.

Watching this back 25 years later, it’s hard to believe this film was released in the mid-90s. Whilst you can tell that more recent Disney Pixar releases have improved massively on the animation since Toy Story, the standard of the animation in this is hugely impressive. There are some studios that can’t master this level of detailed animation even now as we move into 2021. The feature and intricacies on show here is impressive, especially with the toy characters - you need to look no further than the scales on Rex (voiced memorably by Wallace Michael Shawn) as a shining example of this.

It isn’t just the animation that that makes Toy Story so brilliant though, it’s the entire package. It’s a heartwarming and often hilarious buddy story of sorts, with some strangely adult messages hidden in the childlike story (Buzz’s disillusionment at being a toy rather than a real space ranger is particularly poignant). As a child this made me believe my toys were alive, and as an adult I’m still hesitant about donating or throwing away old cuddly toys. It’s also full of what we’ve all come to know and love about Disney Pixar: a film suitable for kids but full of grown up innuendos and adult jokes that makes it appropriate for all ages. Alongside this it has a fantastic voice cast in household names Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, and of course brought us the first of many characters voiced by the unforgettable John Ratzenberger. And what further rounds this off is the catchy and touching original songs by Randy Newman. I doubt there are many people who haven’t heard “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”, a song that evokes such a warm and fuzzy feeling inside and is fully deserving of the ‘Best Original Song’ Oscar nomination.

Toy Story is undoubtedly a masterpiece in animation. Whilst it may not have aged incredibly well when comparing it with more recent releases, this is the film that first introduced us to the world of Disney Pixar and paved the way for all of those that have followed.
  
    Finger Picking Guitar

    Finger Picking Guitar

    Music and Education

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Learn To Play Finger Picking Guitar with this great app that includes 417 easy to follow video...

The Power of the Dog (2021)
The Power of the Dog (2021)
2021 | Drama, Romance, Western
Deep and Layered
If the movie you are watching has a long shot of wheat blowing in the wind, then you are watching a character drama. If that same film also includes a 5 minute scene of someone braiding rope, then you have THE POWER OF THE DOG.

Written and Directed by Jane Campion (THE PIANO) and based on the best-selling novel by Thomas Savage, THE POWER OF THE DOG tells the tale of 2 brothers, talkative and charismatic Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and quiet and contemplative George (Jesse Plemons) who are tending their cattle ranch in Montana in the mid-1920’s. As horses give way to horseless carriages, George falls for a widow (Kirsten Dunst) who has an effeminate son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and this relationship makes Phil face his own feelings - and a changing world.

In the hands of Campion, this film is a quiet, introspective look at how a hard-drinking, hard-living Cowboy deals with a changing world - and his own pent up emotions - and it works well. She weaves a fascinating story that takes its time unfurling it’s pages and the time that the audience takes in steeping themselves in the story and the characters is time well spent, indeed.

This is because the great Benedict Cumberbatch (TV’s SHERLOCK) is on-screen for 95% of the film as Phil and he commands the screen every moment that his presence is known. It is a bravura - though eerily quiet and introspective - performance by Cumberbatch. Campion and Cumberbatch create a memorable character that fills the screen not because he is wide or high or showy, but because he is deep and layered and the film spends most of its 2 hour and 6 minute running time peeling back the layers and digging deep into this character. It is an Oscar-worthy performance and is a shoo-in Oscar nominee and would not be surprising if Cumberbatch finally wins his Oscar for this role.

Plemons and Dunst (who played a couple in the first season of the TV series FARGO) are the catalyst that set the film - and the discoveries - in motion, but, though they are good, they have very little to do besides react to Cumberbatch’s characters’ moves.

Surprisingly, the character that does stand-out and the actor who does go toe-to-toe with Cumberbatch’s Phil is Peter, the son of Rose and played by Kodi Smit-McPhee (NIghtcrawler in X-MEN:APOCALYPSE) who is (at first) befriended by Phil as a joke and becomes closer and closer to him as the film progresses. It is through Peter that we dig through the layers of Phil - and it is a fascinating journey.

This is a gorgeous film to look at - Cinematographer Ari Wegner (THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE) is a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination as well - and this is good, because Phil (and the audience) spend long stretches looking out in the wilderness, contemplating the world - and change.

Not the fastest moving film you will ever encounter, but if you are in the mood for this sort of thing and can get caught up with discovering the layers of Phil, then you will be rewarded with a layered and deep experience.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
  
It (2017)
It (2017)
2017 | Drama, Horror
9
7.9 (355 Ratings)
Movie Rating
IT was unique from the book and previous miniseries while still maintaining the story line. (2 more)
The kids were funny, and the personalities were similar to those in the book.
Bill Skarsgård played on the fluidity of Pennywise without forcing too much comparison to Tim Curry
Most of the movie was spent wondering how they were going to finish within the time frame. (1 more)
Henry Bowers and crew were much less prominent than in the book, this might be corrected during flashbacks in the second movie.
Contains spoilers, click to show
As a die hard Stephen King fan this book entered my consciousness at 14, before the mini-series which is unusual for my age group. I've devoured all 1400 pages of the novel at least 5 times in the last 20 years, and always felt the mini-series was "good for it's time".

This movie has delivered on the promise for more in a way that was amazing and over the top. Bill Skarsgård clearly did his homework on both Pennywise from the novel and Tim Curry's terrifying rendition. I loved his ability to show the infinite being's vulnerability and desire to be included, while at the same time showing it's ferocity and anger.


The special effects delivered what the promotional material promised, and sucked me right into the world of Derry without a second thought. I loved the references to the shed burning down, the refrigerator where Bowers suffocated the dog, and the phenomenal rendition of the Neibolt street house.


If the next movie is anything like the first it's worth seeing opening night. I look forward to seeing the Loser's Club as adults.
  
Salvage the Bones
Salvage the Bones
Jesmyn Ward | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the story of Esch and her brothers, Skeeta, Randal, and Junior. The story takes place over 12 days before, during and after Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Esch and her family live in "the Pit", their dog China, who is the most important thing to Skeeta, has just had puppies. They are trying to get the puppies healthy and find a safe place for them before the storm hits. Esch has just found out that she is pregnant by the only boy she has been with, Randal is determined to get a basketball scholarship so he can get out of "the Pit". All of this is going on while a Hurricane is on the way. This is an emotional story that takes you on a roller coaster ride. With so many mishaps along the way, will they be able to survive once the storm hits?

I listened to this book over a course of 3 weeks back and forth to work. The story captured my attention immediately, but without listening to in continuously, I lost my place sometimes. This is the first book I have read by Jesmyn Ward, and this book was brought to my attention through her new book [bc:Sing, Unburied, Sing|32920226|Sing, Unburied, Sing|Jesmyn Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499340866s/32920226.jpg|53537916] which came out earlier this year. I'm not sure if I would have given this book a higher rating if I would have read it directly instead of listening to it. But I did enjoy it and look forward to reading Sing, Unburied, Sing.
  
Beauty Begins is written by mother-daughter team Chris Shook and Megan Shook Alpha. They have written a book that illustrates what true beauty is and how we as Christians should look at ourselves.

They teach us how to be satisfied with the looks that have been given to us by God and how to look toward our inner beauty rather than focusing on the outer image.

We do live in a society that puts a huge emphasis on the outer image. We see it on the television, in magazines, in advertising. Everywhere you turn you hear about weight loss programs, how to look younger, to be more fit.

I truly enjoyed this book. This is a must-read for every woman no matter what her age. Young or old it needs to be read. My copy is now high lighted and dog-eared. It will be my go-to reference for women (other than the Bible) to teach them about their true inner beauty.
I highly recommend this book, it's well researched, well written and thought motivating for all women who read this. You will come away with a new perspective on how to truly love yourself.

This is a book that can be read alone, or with a group or even as a study for women's groups or a Bible study.

 I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
  
 Devil's Gold (Black Rose Mystery #1)
Devil's Gold (Black Rose Mystery #1)
Amanda McKinney | 2018 | Crime, Reference
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
great little short!
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

 This is only short, just over an hour reading time for me, some 120 pages, but it packs quite a punch!

Dixie is the middle sister of three, running their father's investigation agency. She's good at it, even if she is the least put together of her sisters. Liam is in town visiting relatives, and when their paths cross, it's a proper "eyes across a crowded room" moment. When Dixie puts herself in danger, Liam knows he can't let her go, and he will do anything to see her safe.

Like I said, quite a punch!! Very pleasantly surprised, I have to say!

I have to admit, I did not see the whodunnit coming at me, so that was well played!

There is just enough hints and clues to make you think, well just who DID kill these four women.? Just enough heat and passion to make you fan a little. Just enough of just about everyone to make you want to know MORE about these people!

Because that's my overwhelming feeling I'm left with, I want MORE! Whether it's Liam and Dix, or Dixie's sisters, or co-workers (cos Ace is quite a character!) or even just more from this writer, I don't know, but that is what I want. MORE!

Filed firmly on the hangover shelf, because that's what I used it as and it certainly did the trick.

So, Ms McKinney, *holding up open hands with puppy dog eyes* more please!

4 solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Dog Days (Wolf Winter #1)
Dog Days (Wolf Winter #1)
TA Moore | 2016 | Horror, LGBTQ+, Paranormal
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
struggled with this one!
Danny isn't a full wolf, but classed as a dog, a half breed. Jack is heir to the pack. When they come together in Durham amid the onset of a bitter winter, they have to face the creatures of nightmares, both human and Wolf.

I struggled with which shelves to file this one. It kinda straddles a couple of categories. It's not any sort of romance, at all. The creatures made by the Prophet really are the stuff of nightmares, so I've filed it as horror, werewolves, and male/male, because Jack and Danny to get it on.

I also struggled reading it. Usually, being drip fed hints and clues as to what is happening both above and below The Wall, keeps me on my toes and keeps my fully engaged. But there were not enough of them! I kept having to double back, seeing if I missed something along the way.

The story itself is good, but because of the lack of drip feeding, I have huge gaps in my knowledge of these people and their world.

It does get a bit graphic, when dealing with the Prophet's creations, and these are mostly why I've filed it as horror.

Jack and Danny has history, but that isn't fully explained, and I wanted to know more about what happened.

I loved Ms Moore's Bone To Pick, a unrelated book to this, but this one, not so much. I have Stone The Crows to read next, which is Jack's brother, Gregor's story. Upon writing this review, I'm nearly done with that one. Finding it a much better read!

3 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**