Jungle Book

PG
Starring: Neel Sethi and the voices of: Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito and Christopher Walken
Running Time: 1 Hour and 45 Minutes

Adapted from the Rudyard Kipling classic, "The Jungle Book", this  Disney movie was spectacular and visually stunning. The storyline is very similar to the original 1967 Disney classic but with Mowgli portrayed by a real human boy (Neel Seethi) and all of the animals were computer generated images that were absolutely incredible and extremely life-like!
The scenery virtually transports you to the jungle and you genuinely feel like you are right there along with Mowgli.
Mowgli was separated from his father as an infant during a fire and Shere Khan (Idris Elba) the very evil and conniving tiger killed his father and made it his life's mission to find and capture the
man-cub Mowgli.
He tries desperately to hunt the young child but Mowgli was taken in by the wolf-pack, the sweet mother Raksha (Lupita Nyong'o) who loves him like one of her own Cubs and the alpha-male Akela (Giancarlo Esposito).
Mowgli also encounters the kind and noble Bagheera (Ben Kigsley) who befriends and protects him. Mowgli being an inquisitive young boy always finds himself in dangerous situations! He is lured deep into the forest where he is surprised by Kaa (Scarlett Johannson) the sultry and mesmerizing gigantic Indian Python snake whose underlying motive is nothing less than to enjoy devouring every inch of Mowgli!
He is fortunate to stumble upon the always comedic and lovable bear Baloo (Bill Murray) who seeks him out to retrieve honey for him and they form an enduring bond. That brings us to the monkey encounter! Mowgli is approached by monkeys, many, many monkeys! They take him against his will to the temple and bring him before their King, King Louie (Christopher Walken) the enormously  monstrous orangutan who has summoned Mowgli for his human ability to start fire also known in the jungle as "red flower". Fortunately for Mowgli, Bagheera and Baloo have teamed up to help rescue him from the very persistent King Louie!
BYU film school graduate Brigham Taylor helped produce this version of "The Jungle Book".
 I found this movie to be as touching as it was beautiful! I thoroughly enjoyed this portrayal of the classic story.
Parents be advised: this movie is rated PG. I honestly think it could have been rated PG-13 because it was very dark in spots and extremely serious as well. These encounters of young Mowgli were life and death situations! The tiger Shere Khan, the Python Kaa and King Louie were very scary and intimidating characters. I think children ages 10 and over will be fine with this movie. Below that age the children might be frightened.
I am giving "The Jungle Book" four bags of popcorn.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

PG-13
Starring: Nia Vardolas, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan, Andrea Martin, Gia Carides, Joey Fatone, Elena Lampouris, Alex Wolff, Louis Mandylor,  Bess Meisler, Rita Wilson and John Stamos
Running Time:1 Hour and 34 Minutes

This movie takes you right back to 2002 in Chicago with the always entertaining Portokalos family.
This time around, Toula (Nia Vardalos) is the wife of Ian (John Corbett) and the mother to her seventeen year old daughter and only child Paris (Elena Kampouris).
Toula is embarking on a new phase of her life as her daughter Paris is about to graduate from high school and head off to college. Toula feels threatened by her new found empty nest status, as she was always a hands-on mother, loving and protecting her darling daughter Paris to the best of her ability. She is still working at the family restaurant, Dancing Zorba's.
Her husband Ian is the principle of the high school where Paris attends and also enjoys his close association with his daughter as well. The two of them are coming to terms with Paris leaving and trying to re-establish the romance in their relationship.
Her family is all back and reprising their original roles. Her father Gus (Michael Constantine) is still the heralded patriarch of the family complete with an ever present bottle of Windex to save the day. Her mother Maria (Lainie Kazan) is also back with her own ideas and an independent attitude.
The Portokalos' extended family is always involved in every aspect of each others lives. If there is an event taking place, the entire gang shows up. Gus is still busy trying his best to convince everyone that they are all decendant's of Greek heritage one way or another. While working on his family ancestry he discovers that the priest had not signed his name on he and his wife Maria's wedding license and all chaos ensues!
I really enjoyed this sequel and found it to be funny and uplifting while also somewhat sentimental.
It was a lot of fun to see all of the original characters, I am really happy that they brought it back before they had lost anyone. It was also fun to see how some of them had aged and some still looked exactly the same. If you got a kick out of the original movie, I think you will enjoy this one as well. Parents be advised: There really was nothing objectionable in this movie. One scene where Toula and Ian were trying to reenact their courting days in their car kissing and her parents and daughter found them and they were very embarrassed. I don't remember any profanity whatsoever. This movie is rated PG-13, but I feel it would be appropriate for children ages ten and over just because I think young children would get bored.
I am giving "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" three bags of popcorn.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

PG-13
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot
Running Time: 2 Hours and 31 Minutes

An interesting side note, at the critics screening earlier this week, the Director, Zack Snyder gave us a video warning not to release any spoilers via facebook or twitter before the movie is released to the general public. In all of the years that I have been screening movies, I have never experienced a warning from a director, very unusual.
This movie begins and ends the very same. In-between it is very dark and sinister. I was really excited to see Ben Affleck as "The Batman", he did a good job but I feel like he was a little stronger starring as Bruce Wayne. He is a very torn soul with a lot of anger and rage.
Henry Cavill stars once again as Superman and it takes right off from there following its predecessor, the earlier movie "Man Of Steel". Superman is trying desperately to redeem himself after all of the carnage he caused in the city of Metropolis.
 Batman is worried and concerned that Superman has become too powerful and will do whatever he wants to with no accountability to anyone or anything.
Since being restricted, I do not want to give away any spoilers. Amy Adams reprised her role as Lois Lane, Jesse Eisenberg stars as Lex Luther, he was a psychotic and chaotic character! A very unpredictable human with a cruel and unusual agenda!
 The new kid on the block was the up and coming "Wonder Woman" (Gal Gadot), she did a great job but didn't come into the movie until almost the very end.
I just felt like there was so much action and violence that is was very confusing and I came away feeling very conflicted. It was very dark and dismal with a lot of clang and bang, it was not the super-hero showdown that I was anticipating. I was sadly disappointed.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. This is a hard PG-13! So much darkness, violence, anger, rage, and hostility. There is also a very chilling monster/hulkish character called
"Doomsday" that is very intimidating. There was quite a bit of profanity in this movie too, no F-bombs but plenty of other words. I think children ages 13 and over will be okay with this movie, but the younger ones should stay home.
I am giving "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", two and a half bags of popcorn.

Eddie the Eagle

 Pg-13
Starring: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Jo Hartley, Tom Costello and Jack Costello
Running Time: 1 Hour and 45 Minutes

This movie is based on a true story that took place in 1988. It is about a young man in England, Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) who has dreams and aspirations of becoming an Olympic athlete. He is completely determined and won't stop at anything to achieve his dream. He is surrounded by doubters and naysayers, but he still presses forward. He really didn't care which venue to compete in, he just really wanted to be in the Olympic games. He tried to qualify for downhill ski racing and did not qualify. He found a loophole in the English Olympic rules and decided to try to become a ski jumper, England had not had a ski jumper since the 1920's. Bear in mind, most elite Olympic ski jumper's begin to train around the age of 5 or 6 and Eddie was in his early twenties. His father was not at all happy about his son pursuing the Olympics! He wanted Eddie to help him work in the family plastering business. Eddie just wouldn't give up and headed off to Germany to try and qualify. While there he met a snow plow driver and a borderline alcoholic, Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman) who just happened to be a former ski jumper. The two became great friends and Bronson helped to coach Eddie. They developed a very sweet and tender relationship, I really enjoyed the dynamics of their partnership.
I found this movie to be very refreshing and inspirational! It was motivating and touching at the same time. Helps you to believe in dreams again and it was really nice to see this kind of a movie back in the theaters after so many dystopian and depressing movies. Helps you to believe in the Olympic spirit of the the games and glory of the competition. The audience really enjoyed this movie as well, it just made you want to stand up and cheer!
Parents be advised: I was a little surprised that it was getting a PG-13 rating, but Hugh Jackman caught me off guard when he quickly dropped "mother-f" and I really felt like it was completely out of place! He also told and described to Eddie how to make love to his dream celebrity (Bo Derek) in advising him on how to jump. That also was a little uncomfortable as well. Other than those two incidents, I absolutely loved the movie! I think children ages 10 and over will be okay with this movie.
I am giving "Eddie the Eagle" four bags of popcorn.

Zoolander No. 2

PG-13
Starring: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wiig
Running Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

Can you believe that the original "Zoolander" debuted in 2001, shortly after 911.
Fast-forward to 2016 and voila, "Zoolander No. 2". Most of the original cast is back and reprising their same roles.
Ben Stiller stars as Derek Zoolander, a former runway model who wanted to do something more worthwhile and substantial with his life so he decided to build "The Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good". Out of nowhere, it suddenly collapsed because it was built on a bad foundation. Zoolander's wife was killed and he was left alone to raise his son Derek Zoolander Jr. (Cyrus Arnold). He soon lost custody of his son and he was left devastated.
 He teams up with Hansel (Owen Wilson) when they are both summoned to Rome to meet with Interpol's fashion division leader Valentina (Penelope Cruz), to strike back at the always wicked  Mugatu (Will Ferrell) and his cohort in crime Alexanya Atoz (Kristen Wiig). They have Zoolander's son and are threatening to fatten him up! Mugatu enjoys calling Derek Jr. fat!
There is so much going on in this movie that it just falls flat. There are so many cameos by so many celebrities that play themselves that it is just gets confusing. Justin Bieber is found in the very first scene and he gets gunned down and shot repeatedly. Sting has a role as well. There were so many that it would be impossible to name them all. I found this movie to be very disappointing.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. This is a really hard PG-13 and borders on R. There was a lot of sexual innuendo and sexual references too. Valentina refers to her breasts several times, orgies were common and instant gratification was the name of the game. Zoolander drops the F-bomb once but many other curse words were used frequently.
I am giving "Zoolander No 2" two bags of popcorn..

Hail, Caesar!

PG-13
Starring: George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Ralph Fiennes, Channing Tatum, Alden Ehrenreich, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansen, and Jonah Hill
Running Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

This movie is a production of the Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel. Their first movie in three years since, "Inside Llewyn Davis" in 2013. "Hail, Caesar", takes place during Hollywood's golden age in the 1950's.
It stars Josh Brolin who did a great job as Eddie Mannix, a Hollywood studio executive who is trying desperately to hold everything that goes on at the Capital Pictures Studios together while trying to take care of some of his own personal issues as well.
 There is a lot of chaos on the sets of several motion pictures in production that Eddie is trying to oversee ranging from an epic Biblical picture to a corny comedy picture and a grand swimming pool movie.
George Clooney stars as the big studio headliner, Baird Whitlock who is somewhat of a numbskull brain and has mysteriously disappeared. Later they find out he has been kidnapped by a group of upset screenwriters who just happen to be Communist's who refer to themselves as "The Future".
This movie is many movies within a movie, but it really works! It is a very clever and just a lot of fun. They pay great attention to 1950's detail along with the drama and the comedy!
 I really enjoyed Channing Tatum's "No Dames" tap dance scene. He and his counterparts portray a group of sailors in a bar contemplating life on their ship with no females anywhere to be found for a very long time.
I also enjoyed the spectacular swimming pool scene starring Scarlett Johanssson as DeeAnna Moran (very reminiscent of the magnificent Esther Williams swimming pool movies).
 The real scene stealer for me though, was the young Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich), a singing cowboy who has been promoted to star as a romantic leading man.This scene was hilarious and I can honestly say that I have not heard the audience laugh that hard for a very long time!
This is really just a fun uplifting popcorn movie.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. This movie is pretty light on profanity with the exception of God's name being used and a couple of mild others. There is also a reference to getting "knocked up".
I am giving "Hail, Caesar" three bags of popcorn.

The Finest Hours

PG-13
Starring: Chris Pine, Holliday Grainger, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Kyle Gallner, and Eric Bana
Running Time: 1 Hour and 49 Minutes

This movie is based on a true story that took place in 1952. It is about a death defying sea rescue that takes place after a very violent blizzard off the New England coastline.
Chris Pine stars as Bernie Webber, a coast guard member who is somewhat introverted and shy. He meets a young lady named Miriam (Holliday Grainger) whom he has only talked to on the telephone because she is  a switchboard operator who struck up a conversation with him and they begin a relationship. She is the dominant one and pursues him. She wants to continue their relationship further but he isn't quite sure about it.
A horrible blizzard slams the Eastern seaboard and Webber's superior, Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) commissions him to go out on a rescue mission to save men who are stranded at sea on the oil tanker SS Pendleton that has been ripped in half by 70-foot high waves. When The Pendleton loses its captain, Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) takes over the helm and tries desperately to save the vessel and its crew of over 30 mariners. They all fight valiantly to stay alive and not give up hope.
 Coxswain Webber and his crew of three, Andy Fitzgerald (Kyle Gallner), Richard Livese (Ben Foster) and Ervin Maske (John Magaro) set out in a tiny boat to try and rescue the crew of The Pendleton.
Webber was determined and would not give up hope even through the most unbelievably difficult circumstances. He truly was a hero!
This is a harrowing and edge of your seat boat ride that you won't soon forget.
This was an interesting and a much different role than I am used to seeing Chris Pine star in.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. There are disturbing scenes of massive waves and ship destruction, people in peril and scary situations. I think children ages 12 and over will be okay with this movie.
I am giving "The Finest Hours" three bags of popcorn.