What's on Screen? Hurricane Bianca

I haven't really been doing as many book or movie reviews because I haven't had the time (or ability) to watch a movie or read a book lately. I've been very busy and my eyes haven't liked to look at my computer or tv screen. So needless to say for a while yet movie theatres are going to be out too.

But I did finally get to watch a movie I've been wanting to watch since a good friend mentioned it to me. Hurricane Bianca.

To be perfectly honest I wasn't sure what to expect when the movie started. But I will say that after having seen the whole thing, I'm looking forward to watching the sequel when I have a chance. Currently I'm not sure when that will be. But I do know that looking forward to more of a similar kind, means I enjoyed it.

Not suitable for younger children due to language. Teens could watch it I think, though as with many films with various content, parental discretion is advised. I found it enjoyable. But I'm an adult, and I have my own set of standards for films.

On Screen : Cinderella and Four Knights

It seems like yesterday I was writing about the Korean Drama Goblin, and how exciting I found it. To be honest, reality television has nothing to offer me, so I'm looking for alternate options. KDrama seems to be one of my chosen interests. My most recent one being Cinderella and Four Knights.

To be honest the title seems a bit misleading at first, but as the 16 episodes wrap up it all makes more sense. There are multiple storylines layered up to create a semi realistic plot line, with a number of facets to keep the watcher interested. The love triangles are a bit hard to see as realistic, but when you hold it up against the problems in reality television, this is a piece of cake to follow.

The music is wonderful also. The show is 16 episodes, with about an hour spent on each episode. So you can binge it and enjoy the music without coming to hate it for repetition sake. I also enjoy the facial expressions the actors have, and the different outfits worn throughout the series.

I'm not going to spoil it. I just wanted to let you know I enjoyed it. If you watch it let me know what you think.

What's on Screen : The Skeleton Key

This past weekend I had the pleasure of having a weekend of relaxation and film devouring with one of my best friends. We watched a variety of different films, but not all of them are appropriate to share. But the movie we watched that I do think would be interesting to share with you all is today's topic of choice.

The Skeleton Key is actually hard for me to classify. I'm not entirely sure if it's a horror film or a drama. It's listed as both, as well as a thriller. It's an interesting fictionalized look at Hoodoo. Plus it has a lot of jump scare moments.

I recommend this film for older viewers, I doubt younger children would find it appealing or understand the ending.

This isn't really a good explanation or review of the film. It's more a small note of recommendation if you're looking for something unique and different to watch and make you think. Here's hoping your weekend is wonderful.

What's on Screen? : The Lego Batman Movie

It's been awhile since we went to the movies, partly because there wasn't anything being shown that we wanted to see. But we were driving past the reduced movie marquee the other day and saw that The Lego Batman Movie was being shown. We've been hesitant to go see it, because movies have gotten rather expensive of late, and the budget doesn't really permit them frequently. But at our theatre the tickets ended up costing about $3 per person. So it was definitely reasonable.

I was a bit uncertain about what to expect when it came to this movie, as I've never watched any of the other Lego movies. But I have to admit that while it definitely doesn't compare to any of the DC live films, or even the animated pieces... as an individual experience...it was pretty good. They don't try to be a DC movie, though they play with the classic ideas that people are used to seeing in the comics.

Batman does Batman. He doesn't need anyone else.

But the film as a whole explores the ideas of community, belonging, and what it means to be part of something bigger. It also seemed to reflect on the ideas different people have about their personal part in anyone else's lives.

And Joker cries! Or at least... almost cries. My favorite part.

My favorite thing about the music though was the soundtrack. The soundtrack was creative as well as great for moving along some of the plot points. It also made some of the ridiculous things funnier. They used clips of classic songs, and made unique musical pieces that played with the concepts being explored in the movie.

I love the song that they play during the end credits and I'm definitely putting the soundtrack on my to acquire list ^_^

What's on Screen? : Moana

I haven't been up to date when it comes to seeing a large number of films of late. But I do have a very soft spot when it comes to animation. No one has done animation as reliably as the Disney studio. It was very interesting when I heard they were going to do a movie based in Polynesia I was excited. Now I know there was a lot of arguments and controversy about the character designs. But I really have to say it was worth the wait.

Now Moana is  a great story. You have a strong female character, general conflict with a small number of characters as the focus. Maui is a charming self centered character, who through Moana's intervention relearns to be a  more positive character. You also have a variety of new looks that have been lacking in most movies.

There are no direct villains in this film, which seems a bit odd. Meaning there is no direct bad guy. There are some characters that are used to move along conflict, and offer action. There's the coconut pirates, and a giant crab.

I give it a huge high amount of stars. And eventually I'll add it to my own film collection, I think.  I hope it's not a spoiler for most of you, but below you'll see my favorite scene in the movie.

What's On Screen? : Batman : The Movie

Sometimes it's fun to watch old movies, even if we know they're going to be bad. That's how the 1960's Batman TV show is. You know it's not going to meet the modern expectations that we currently have, but it's so hard to look away.

My Dad recently came home with this movie on dvd as a surprise for me. I was slightly shocked because I had no idea it was available on DVD. My Mom didn't even know there had actually been a Batman movie made in the 60's. I was amused, and I let them watch it first and they just kept making amusing comments about how the movie was ridiculous. I enjoyed hearing their amusement.

Batman: The Movie was released in 1966. It's pretty rough when it comes to today's standards, in fact, the people who were watching it with me seemed to think the film was stupid. But I tried to remind them that when the movie came out people had different expectations about films.

The movie is funny, and it has highlights that remind you of days long gone by now. The simple humor and the lack of overused special effects is nice.

I do think many people appreciate it for what it really is. A time capsule of what's clearly dated comedy.

You should always have an open mind when watching older films. There's a ton of great things to enjoy. The costumes, the puns, silly decor. But it's not for everyone. I recommend just putting it on as background noise, or for kids. Children may find the old humor hilarious. But I enjoyed it. SHows something about me doesn't it?

What's On Screen?: TMNT

Alright, let's be honest here, we all have a tendency to watch a cartoon now and then. Well this past week I've watched more tv and movies in one go than I have in a very long time. I've been helping kid sit, which means cartoons are a household staple. They help keep the peace. I was actually shocked though, to find out this particular cartoon film came out without much fanfare, in fact I don't think I ever heard about it coming out.

This particular Ninja Turtle film was released in 2007. Which is why it feels even more bizarre to me that I hadn't heard anything about it. Unlike the pure cartoon versions, or the live action type films, this particular movie was computer animation. AT first it seemed like a strange option, but given the date when it was released, the digital animation is done well and is convincing.

The storyline itself seemed a bit farfetched, but when your main characters are gigantic turtles, what else can you expect? It included and 'immortal' general, monsters, random foot warriors, Casey Jones, and April. I was honestly surprised that they included Casey, But I guess over time he's more or less become a fifth turtle.

The character designs were fairly creative stylistically. But they did keep key elements that many fans would associate with various characters. April wore yellow, Casey was still crazy. But  all in all it was a pleasant change from some of the other things I've been watching.

I don't recommend it as something to go out of your way to watch, unless you're really into the turtles. But if you're watching netflix with kids, don't hesitate to put it on as an option they might not have watched yet. Well that's all for today! Have fun and stay magical!

What's on Screen? : Tales of Halloween

I had a blast a few weekends back watching movies and working on character creation for a tabletop rpg. I am amused to say that it seems like we're not the only ones to have watched Tales of Halloween that weekend. It seems a lot of my friends think alike.  Which is both a positive surprise, and something I couldn't have planned. We've been watching mostly anime there, so it was a nice change to watch something new.

When me and my friends get together we have a tendency to pick out horror movies, or horror comedies to watch. That is if there's not some cartoon we've yet to see on the chart as being of interest. We only recently found out a newer member of our circle has a problem with zombies. Which might explain their aversion to horror films.

All in all, Tales of Halloween, is a cute film. It has some amusing scenarios, unbelievable mostly, but still interesting enough to keep the audience's attention. I must admit that I do think the number of stories made it drag a bit, as well as proved distracting. It was fun to try and see the places where the stories would overlap. Yet 11 stories in one movie, proves to have short stories, and limits the amount of depth the parts received.

If you're interested in a movie that has similarities to Tales from the Crypt, and other horror shows this will meet your expectations. There's a little bit of language. But it's not so gory that you couldn't watch it with older children (figure 11 and up). The costuming is fun, and even the computer animation was amusing. Watch closely and you'll see how the stories are woven together, lots of fun when you spot these things.

Have fun and don't scare yourself. Let someone else do that for you.

What's on Screen? Baby's Day Out

When it comes to the early 90's there's a ton of movies that are considered to be classic. But no matter who you ask, what these films are vary. But in our house as I grew up, there were some movies that were on constantly. Mr. Boogedy, Bushwacked, Home Alone, and the movie that we're watching today. Baby's Day Out.

My father loves this movie. Almost a little too much to be honest. We've probably had almost 50 copies of it through the years. I might be exaggerating slightly, but I want you to understand how important or beloved the film is. It still is. I found the copy I'm watching for someone else. My brothers children requested it for the holidays. But it wasn't to be found in time for that. But since I don't give up easily, I found it! I picked it up at a game store in Buffalo when I was hanging out with a good friend.

Movie Poster from Web

So why is this movie so much fun to watch? It's not hugely mainstream, so it's not like everyone has seen it. It doesn't have the greatest special effects, You can tell the gorilla isn't real. There's no hard core fighting. Instead there's a baby outwitting 3 grown adults while following the storyline of his favorite book.

While this might sound absurd, I have to admit it's actually enjoyable. The movie itself has a lot of the classic comedy physical humour that you would associate with other humorous film, such as Home Alone or most of the Three Stooges material. It is a great example of how exaggeration can be used to create amusing situations in unexpected manners.

If the weather has you feeling a little down and you need a laugh, I highly recommend this movie. I don't know how hard it might be to find, but if you can find it, I hope you see why it makes me laugh. Not just small giggle laughs, mouth grin laughs. And I hope it turns the corners of your mouth up too.

What's on Screen? : White Christmas

Every family has a tradition. Sometimes they fade away through the years, in favor of new things. But there's always a few that linger on for some people, for different reasons am sure. White Christmas is a family tradition that I really don't want to see die. It's a little complicated I suppose, or maybe some people might think my reasons for holding on so tightly to this movie are sad or convoluted. But I'm going to try and explain why this movie is important to me.

We're all trying to find a place to feel happy. Christmas is a time where it can be hard for people. There's loss that's happened during the year that can feel magnified around the holidays. There are some people who feel alone at the holidays, even when they're surrounded by others. People long for times in their past where they remember feeling happy.

White Christmas is a movie that my family used to watch at Christmas time with my grandparents. It's special because of that. But the reason why is because of a feeling of connection there was for the film for my grandfather. During the war he was part of the actual 151st Division. I don't really know much about it because I'm not old enough to remember much more than that, because I was reinformed the year I told my parents that's what I wanted for Christmas, a copy of the film.

So I'm sitting here after having watched it again, feeling nostalgic and teary eyed because I miss them. But the movie isn't sad, in fact it's quite positive. It's inspiring that sometimes with a little perseverance things can become more positive. Besides that it also plays with the idea of love being no ones business except the parties involved.

I don't know if I'm going to write another post before Christmas. But I want to get this out there. I know it can be a scary time of year. Emotionally and physically it can be taxing. So if anyone is having a rough time, I just want to share some important information again. In case anyone reading this is feeling depressed, distraught, or at the end of their rope. I'm sharing part of a post I made a while ago. Please have a safe holiday season, and don't give up.

(I know I've totally lost focus from discussing the film, but with the holiday looming I want to remind people that there is help.)

If you really are feeling as though there is nothing left for you, talk to somebody. Feelings change, and so do situations and the things that are happening around us. There are friends, and family who can help you. Or if you're uncomfortable approaching them you can talk to a counselor. If you still are unsure you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-888-273-8255. You can call and talk to them about anything. In fact they're available 24/7 if you need to talk about anything.

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

More information can be found at the library, counselor centers or online if you want to learn more about this. Don't be afraid to reach out for help if you ever feel that death is your only option. If you don't ask for it, how can anyone be sure you need it? Also, please remember to be there for your friends. Don't blow them off if they mention wanting to hurt themselves, it's not a laughing matter.

Check these links for more information. Teenage Suicide Information  and Wiki Information on Suicide

What's on screen? The Pagemaster

Movie night can be a lot of fun, but sometimes it's nice to go back to things you may not have seen for years. That's what we did this past saturday. We were out and about and one of my best friends saw The Pagemaster in a bin of movies and picked it up. It was surprising to see it out and available, since it's been a long time since I've seen or even thought about it. (Though not to long ago I did see an audio book on cassette for it....)

Image from fanart.tv

The Pagemaster is one of those movies with layered details. There's things I noticed in our most recent viewing I hadn't noticed before. And the music! As the movie started I got serious chills. It's stupid I guess to say that, but it was wonderful.

Why?

Because as a movie that I watched as a kid, to see it again as an adult and review the content, I had a chance to think about it again. The lessons taught by the film, and the way that they're shown is rather direct. It's not trying to trick you. It's very straightforward.

I'm just babbling I guess, but I want you to think about showing this movie to your children if you have any. Let them toy with the idea of what books mean to them. Let them think about how amazing a story can be if they envision it, not just watch it on tv.

Then take them to the library. Let them explore the many volumes of literature that they CAN touch, read, and enjoy free of charge. Magic can be found in the pages, if you take the time to see them.

What's on Screen? Ghostbusters

This past weekend I finally had the chance to watch the new Ghostbusters movie. I have a few things to say about it on a whole. But before I get into that, I want to tackle other peoples opinions about the film.

The majority of reviews and comments that I saw in reference to this film were negative. A lot of people did not give it a warm reception, instead they wanted to compare it to the original 2 films from the 80's. Doing that leads to a few problems in my opinion. The 80's are a rather nostalgic time right now, because it's what people grew up with or watched with their kids. (Yeah... I know that sounds weird but hear me out). This means when they saw the name Ghostbusters, they were likely expecting the same sort of film. Filmography and what people expect in movies is much different now.

What was high tech and scary back in the originals is corny now. It doesn't get the same reaction from the audience. Technology has also improved, meaning there was a great window to try some new effects. To be honest, while yes I'd have been interested to see the film as a continuation of the original films, the reality is it wasn't a feasible idea.  So I'm not going to tell anyone that didn't like the movie that they should have, or ought to. But I am willing to listen to their complaints and give my own account of what I thought.

So first things first. The more or less all female cast. I found this refreshing, mainly because I do feel there is a rather sad amount of positive female role models in the media. I don't care if they're not conventional or 'kardashian' gorgeous. I found them appealing on a number of levels. They were almost real. They seemed like people you might actually run into.

The male villain, surprising as it was, gave the story a validity. I could believe that a person could try to cause mayhem, due to selfish aims. I could see them using similar technology based on the same research. I could also feel sorry for him. Not because he was bad or good, but just because he seemed to have gone off the deep end.

The sets were rather nice, I had no complaints on that. The story didn't lag or slow down. There wasn't too much nonsense, though the ghost fighting scene near the end did remind me a little bit of the Power Rangers. So yeah, it was a funny as well as entertaining.

There was one thing about the movie that bothered me a lot. The soundtrack lacked something. Most of the music was decent. Yet the longer song sequences grated my nerves because they didn't feel like they fit into the film. It was almost like they were trying to force the music to fit. I wish they would have gotten one of the original soundtrack writers (though it looks like after some research that might not have been feasible... I didn't realize so many people from then aren't around anymore). In honesty it was the only part of the movie I think could have been improved. Which means most of the movie was awesome. So I have to say I do recommend it.

What's on Screen? Winter's Tale

I know everyone else is watching Star Wars, but there's other movies that are available to watch. I'm not ready to see the new movie yet, even though it sounds like it's good. So how about something lighter, yet still imaginative?

Winter's Tale
2014/color/118 minutes
Fantasy

A fantasy film with a basic plot of good versus evil. It starts off in early industrial America, and we see people fall in love, as well as go through tragedy. At first to be honest I thought it was going to be a movie about fairies, or fairy type creatures. But I was surprised to have this thought dashed seeing a familiar face (Will Smith I think) playing the part of Lucifer.

There's a surprising twist as the movie gets closer to it's end. And I'm trying not to give away anything that would be a spoiler because this really was a great movie to watch. Though, I may recommend watching it in Summer because it has a very cold feel to it.

This is a family friendly film, though it may not hold the attention of younger children. It's very mellow though, and I would recommend it as one to curl up with someone on the couch to watch. It's nice to watch something that isn't gory or terrifying for a change.

What's on the screen? : Grimm's Snow White

Yeah there's more movies about Snow White out there than most people want to care to count. There's cartoons, and live action, computer animations, all kinds of stuff. But the story is one that people are always going to be fascinated with. Good versus evil, a happy ending...or at times a not so happy one. But in most of them, we always see Snow White get the Prince.

So what made this version something that I was interested in? We see a struggle for freedom, some dragon like beasts, and some variations from the everyday story that make it appealing. The acting is decent, given that it isn't a film with an A list roster, at least as far as I know. The computer graphics aren't bad, they're certainly better than the cheesy mechanical beasts you'd see in a film from the 70's like The Magic Sword. And you come to like the characters.

Unfortunately, Snow White, as usual doesn't get given much depth. But hey, what can you expect from a character who has always been considered a damsel in distress. She's pretty much a  flat character. Even the prince could have done for a bit more character development. The supporting characters, also known as the elves, were far more interesting and seemed more put together. But then again I do tend to cheer for the underdog.

It's not a bad film. It is not the best film. But it isn't a bad one either. It's one that would be fun to watch with a group of people, because you don't need to pay a ton of attention to keep track of the action. Though, you may miss some of the more interesting effects or continuity mistakes if you don't pay attention. Like when the Huntsman takes Snow's ring, when they pan back to her she's still wearing it. Little things like that give you something to notice, but they're not distracting.

Recommendation? Yes, if you have time to kill. Just don't expect a blockbuster.

What's on The Screen? : Joker

You know a lot of the time we like to stay in our comfort zone when it comes to films. Usually because there are hesitations. When it comes to foreign films a lot of people don't like reading subtitles. Then the next complaint I've heard is that the audio doesn't sync. In this instance I chose to watch the film with the subtitles. And it was worth all the reading.

Joker is basically a comedy film based on the idea of a forgotten village. We get to see them trying to get help for their home, and we also get to see them use aliens as a means to an ends. But what I liked most about the film was the music. The music was wonderful and makes you want to dance. I might not know what they're singing about, but it's great to listen to.

The reviews I read after watching the film were fairly negative. Which surprised me since I thought it was a rather creative storyline. It was fresh for me, and was fun. I do recommend the movie if you have the time and patience to red the subtitles. The costumes for some of the aliens were amazing. So if you're interested in some unique costumes, take some time and look them up. You won't be disappointed.

Oh! And side note, just because you're the wild card doesn't mean you can't amount to anything. Sometimes that's what makes you able to win the game.

What's on the screen? : Shrek The Musical

Sometimes something sounds so peculiar you can't help but want to see what they did. There's so man movies and books out there that companies try to turn into musicals because of their popularity. Not all of the results are memorable. In fact many of them don't make it past the starting gate. In this case we're looking at one that many would think to be improbable.

This is an AMAZING musical. I wasn't expecting it to turn out the way that it did. And if you don't want a spoiler...well.. don't watch the movie Shrek first. They did an amazing job conveying the most memorable scenes and statements from the animated film into the musical. The costuming and set design is both creative and intriguing without being over the top. And come on, who doesn't like an ogre now and then?

In regards to the video clip; I think that it is the best song in the WHOLE musical. But that's because I like the message that it conveys. So definitely give it a  chance if you get the time. It's a kid friendly musical, even though some of the content is a bit questionable. But if you have seen the cartoon already you should be expecting that. Besides, it's got so many enjoyable layers you won't be able to stop with watching it just once.

What's On The Screen? : Unicorn City

Okay, so I know a lot of you may not be into gaming. It's not everyone's cup of tea. But there are some of us that really do enjoy gaming in various forms. We've watched a variety of movies about gaming. But this one was new to me and I was looking for something light to watch, just to give me something to be distracted by.

Yeah... so I didn't actually know what I was getting into when I hit play on this movie. Not a bad thing in this case. It's a fun movie with some theme points and comedy scenes similar to ones seen in other gamer themed movies. (If you haven't seen The Gamers, you should because it's amazing! But this has nothing to do with the current post it's a side note.) But unlike most of them, this movie looks at the idea of trying to bring the game into the real world, rather than trying to disappear into the fantasy world. Which is presented in an interesting manner.

The costumes are nice, and believable. The acting, while sometimes a bit cheesy or over the  top, isn't really all that offensive. Some of the situations are ones that various types of gamers can understand. There's romance, rivalry, and now and then stupidity. Oh! And a taser, can't forget that! On the whole though, while not necessarily a movie that will appeal to everyone, it is lighthearted and a nice change from the big name romantic comedies or the films with overly computer generated situations. Give it a shot if you get a chance, maybe it's not for you, but...maybe it is.

*Is babbling a bit, sorry. It's been a long week already*

Maleficent is going LIVE

That's right, Disney is bringing Maleficent (you know the evil/bad fairy from Sleeping Beauty) to life in her very own SELF  TITLED film! I don't know when it's going to be released for sure yet, but what they show in the  teaser trailer sure makes it look like it will be an appealing watch. Oh, and see the little blue fairy creatures on the video? they look an awful lot like those water sprites from OZ The Great and Powerful...

Late Night TV or...

What's On The Tube When You Can't Sleep.

So to be honest, I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately. Which means I've been trying a few different solutions. I've tries counting sheep. Tried sleeping aids. Now am trying TV.

Sunday night I watched The Black Dahlia.  I flipped it on because the title sounded interesting. I've always been interested in crime, and I have my own morbid interest in seeing how people look at the unsolved ones. This movie surprised me on multiple levels. The costumes were done well, and the characters presented were believable.

But what surprised me more than anything else was the lesbian undertones in the film. Not only that it was there, but in the way that the film showed this as being accepted. It was an interesting thing to see considering how some people react to the idea now. But as with many films that are made these days about crime, it was full of fiction. There are a number of websites devoted to debunking the fictions around the crime, and many believe that the crime will never be solved. Which is unfortunately likely the sad truth.

Monday night I watched a movie from 1941 called Dive Bomber. It was a good movie, even if it was old. To be honest I didn't realize it was as old as it turns out to be. The colors in it are wonderful, and the story does provoke curiosity. Is it a fact or fiction film?

According to what I can find it's fiction. There's a number of different statements about the film that indicate this. Dive Bomber was not the usual type of film that I would watch. But it does fit in with the things that I have been writing about on the blog recently. It does reflect some points of  naval history, as well as look at some interesting concerns about flight. I think a lot of us take the secure safety of flights now for granted.

The planes in the film were really interesting, some of them were very colorful. According to what I've read there are a number of people that enjoy the film because of the planes that are shown in it. They were interesting to see. Planes are always interesting, a little more so than cars. I mean, after all, they fly.

Beyond that I've been watching a show on Animal Planet about River Monsters. I am not one that enjoys fishing, but it's fascinating to see the types of creatures that live underwater. Some of them really are monsters. But they're real. I guess in some ways that's the scariest part.

But on the most part, I'm watching a little bit of TV now and then... I wonder if it's going to do anything more than rot my brain.

Before Sunrise

Take a few minutes and watch this adorable film short. The art is wonderful.