Toy Story 4

G
Starring the voices of: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Madeleine McGraw and Carl Weathers and a lot more!
Running Time: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes

With this Pixar blockbuster franchise, anything could happen. I really did not have my expectations too high because “Toy Story 3” was hard enough to watch with Andy growing up and going off to college. My younger son grew up along with Andy, loving these movies and they are very sentimental to us.
It’s hard for me to believe that the “Toy Story” franchise has been a part of our world since 1995.
“Toy Story” was released in 1995 with “Toy Story 2” in 1999, “Toy Story 3” in 2010 and now nine years later we have “Toy Story 4”, this precious little gem of a movie that will no doubt steal your heart! Where does the time go?
I was immediately reeled into this story hook, line and sinker right from the beginning.
Little Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw) who inherited the toys from Andy, is going off to Kindergarten orientation.
Woody (Tom Hanks) panics and stows away in her backpack so she will have moral support if she needs it, but she makes her own new toy out of a spork with googly eyes and pipe cleaners whom she names “Forky”  (Tony Hale). Forky is now her favorite toy. Bonnie’s family takes a road trip before school begins. She takes Forky with her and Woody goes along too. Forky flees when he gets the chance and Woody follows him. When they walk by an antique shop, Woody sees Bo Peep’s lamp on display so they go inside. What they find inside the store was not quite what they were expecting!
They find a talking doll named “Gabby-Gabby” (Christina Hendricks) who I must say was a dead-ringer for a talking doll I use to own named Chatty Cathy by Mattel back in the day. There were also four really creepy marionette dummies that were very frightening. Woody and Forky were trying to get out but couldn’t.
There is a lot going on with all of the old toys, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) , Bo Peep (Annie Potts) and the new ones too. Plus Bonnie’s family’s trip in their RV is hilarious. Add in Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) and Combat Carl (Carl Weathers) and it just all comes together.
I thought this was such a sweet and touching movie on so many levels. Great for children and adults as well, however I think the adults in the audience enjoyed it even more!
Obviously Disney’s Pixar animation is second to none and the graphics and CGI were stunning and incomparable!
Be sure and stay for the end of the credits for a few more laughs.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated G. I am actually kind of surprised by that because there were some intimidating parts in the antique store with Gabby-Gabby and even more so with the creepy dummy guys! All the children seemed to be fine but there were some very touching and realistic moments that caused a lot of emotion for some of the kids.
I am giving “Toy Story 4” four bags of popcorn!
   

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

PG 13
Starring: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, Ziyi Zhang and Bradley Whitford
Running Time: 2 Hours and 11 Minutes

So I went into this Godzilla movie with the mindset of the 2014 movie simply titled “Godzilla” which I really enjoyed.
This newly released movie, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”, was a massive disappointment to me.
Godzilla movies are part of our history. They have been around since 1954.
Since I really did enjoy the last one, I was hoping this version would be equally as good but it fell short.
From the moment this movie started it was really weak. The story was confusing and the actress that played the lead female role, Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) was a joke! She was almost a madman with her motivation. She and her estranged husband Mark Russell (Kyle Chandler) were separated
 (I could never tell if they were divorced?) and they have a teenaged daughter. They had lost a son and she was distraught about that. She and her daughter Madison (Millie Bobby Brown) were at the labs of Monarch, a cryptozoological agency that keeps an eye on the monsters of the world. when all chaos breaks out and they are taken hostage by Jonah Alan (Charles Dance) and his army. He takes them because of Dr. Russell’s amazing communication skills with all of the monsters who have been dormant since the 2014 Godzilla!
The monsters start to come into play and it is all just very vague. There are Mothra, Rodan and the new and pretty cool looking Ghidorah, a three headed fire-breathing dragon character.
They battle it out along with Godzilla but with the constant blue-colored screen it’s hard to really see what’s going on and I saw it in IMAX!
I hardly ever complain about a movie, but this one really is bad! I honestly feel like I wasted an eternal two hours of my life watching this Godzilla. (I have to be honest).
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. I would not recommend this movie for children under the age of 13. There are the four monsters that I mentioned battling it out and some profanity including the F-bomb.
I am giving “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” two bags of popcorn.

Aladdin

PG
Starring: Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, Marian Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad and Billy Magnussen
Running Time: 2 Hours and 8 Minutes

WOW... what a spectacular extravaganza!!! “Aladdin” is a pure joy and a total feast for the senses! This is a genuine fairytale!
I can’t say enough good about this beautiful movie, incredible in every way.
They follow the story but intensified it just enough to keep you completely engrossed and wanting even more. I have seen the original 1992 animated Disney version with Robin Williams many times and I have also seen the live Broadway-style production which played at The Hyperion Theater at Disney’s California Adventures from 2003-2016 every single year,
 and I will confidently say... that this new live-action movie is astounding!!!
It is well worth the price of a ticket if you need a lift or an escape from your everyday life or just for a  wonderful time out.
All of the actors did a really great job! Will Smith as the genie was outstanding and hilarious!
He didn’t follow in Robin Williams footsteps, he used his own words and humor and even incorporated some his original musical talent into the role as well. I don’t think he could have been any better!
Mena Massoud plays Aladdin, the lifelong orphan pickpocket who lives on the streets and falls hopelessly in love with the beautiful Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) daughter of The Sultan of Agrahbah (Navid Negahban) after he runs into her face-to-face. He just has one evil obstacle...
Jafar (Marian Kenzari) who is boundly determined to take over as Sultan and marry Princess Jasmine too! He did a great and very convincing job!
This movie has it all: excitement, drama, action, love, fantastic original music and some songs with a new fun upbeat twist, amazing colorful costumes and some Indian Bollywood type dancing too. Just a lot of great visual effects and great fun too. The magic carpet ride was amazing! It is pure fantasy.
I really, really enjoyed this movie! I was totally impressed with all of it!
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG. I think it is fine for all ages. Be aware that there are some intense scenes when Aladdin and his pet monkey Abu enter the Cave of Wonders to search for the magic lamp. Also a couple of other intense scenes whe Jafar tries to take over Agrabah and overthrow The Sultan! Overall I think most children will thoroughly enjoy “Aladdin”.
I am giving “ Aladdin” four bags of popcorn.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

PG
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Max Finchman, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighy, Ken Watanabe,  Chris Geere and Suki Waterhouse
Running Time: 1Hour and 44 Minutes


This is a movie based on the ever so popular “Pokémon” video games. This movie is entertaining enough that it will appeal to the seasoned and devoted mega-fans and also to the newer less informed movie goers.
This movie is set in London in a kind of alternate world where humans and the popular characters from the game exist together.
Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) a young twenty-something that has unfortunately lost his mother and has a strained relationship with his father. He works as an insurance appraiser and lives a pretty mundane life. He always loved Pokémon characters as a youngster and had hoped someday to train them once we was an adult. Suddenly he finds that his father has disappeared and it is feared that he was murdered! Tim must travel to a place called Ryme City, which is Mecca for all things Pokémon. It was created by an interesting man named Howard Clifford (Bill Nighy) for the humans and Pokemon’s to interact with each other.
Tim wants to investigate and inquire about his fathers disappearance, he meets up with his fathers boss, Lieutenant Hide Yoshida (Ken Watanabe) and receives some of his fathers belongings.When he looks through the belongings, a strange purple smoke is emitted and a bunch of Gremlin type characters suddenly appear and start frantically chasing him! Tim is very frightened but fortunately his fathers personal little Pokémon character, Detective Pikachu mysteriously appears and saves the day!
 Pikachu (Ikue Otani) is a sweet and adorable soft-voiced little yellow character who helps him get away from the pesky gremlins. Detective Pikachu is a welcome little friend in a very strange and unusual world that he is suddenly thrust into!
The two of them are able to understand each other and become pals. They set out on a mission to find out what happened to Tim’s father. Tim also rallies the help of a young reporter named Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton) who helps him discover the ever-so-evil and sinister Mewtwo (Kotaro Watanabe). Mewtwo has devised a wicked plan that includes the dreaded purple smoke to wreak major havoc in the city!
I enjoyed this movie and found it to be sweet and touching. The computer generated Pokémon’s were very realistic and imaginative, they did a great job of mingling them together with the humans.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG. I would recommend this movie for children five and over.
I think most children will be fine with it. The little Gremlins are a bit intimidating and the evil Mewtwo can be a little fearsome.
There is some mild action violence and some silly crude humor but overall it is fairly mellow.
I am giving “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” three bags of popcorn.

Avengers: Endgame

PG-13
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin, Gyneth Paltrow, Brie Larson, Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman and all of the rest. (Too many to list).
Running Time: 3 Hours and 1 Minute

WOW... where do I begin? Well with three hours of captivating entertainment, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed!!
As you probably know, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been in existence for over 11 years with the original “Iron Man” debuting in 2008 (can you believe it)?
“Avengers: Endgame” is the 22nd film in the series.
After the final scenes of the previous movie “Avengers: Infinity War”, where a majority of the main characters seem to virtually disentegrate into thin air before your very eyes, you really have no idea what to expect or just how this movie is going to begin.
 My oh my the genius of The Directors, Anthony and Joseph Russo (who are brothers) is not to be underestimated!! “Endgame” is just astounding, a truly emotional rollercoaster with its ups and downs and unexpected twists and turns. From sincere heartfelt emotion to a lot of clever humor and just plain fun moments, this movie has it all. For those of you who are true Marvel Cinematic Universe afficianados, just be prepared to be mesmerized and transported to the journey and memories of a lifetime!!!
I feel like with the popularity and notoriety of these movies being what they are, that there is almost a sort of reverence about them. Therefore I just want to give my followers the chance to see it and experience it for themselves! I hope you will go into it with no expectations and just enjoy the ride you are about to encounter!
When it is all done and said, it really does feel very final. Almost a little too realistic!
I personally, thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It answered many questions and explained what to look forward to in the future.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13 as are most of the MCU movies. I think if your children are familiar with these movies and they are comfortable with them, then they will be with this one as well. I usually recommend these movies for children 13 and above. I know this is going to be such an enormous blockbuster that everyone is going to want to see it. It has just about the same amount of mild profanity, super-hero situations and super-villain violence as do its predecessors.
I am giving “Avengers: Endgame” four bags of popcorn hands down!!!

SHAZAM

PG-13
Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong, Djimon Hounsou, Jack Dylan Grazer, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans,  Faith Herman, Grace Fulton, Ava Preston, Jovan Armand and Evan Marsh
Running Time: 2 Hours and 12 Minutes

“What a happy surprise” were my sentiments after I screened “Shazam” Tuesday night. I found Zachary Levi who plays the adult Shazam to be a pure delight! This movie was just plain fun! It was sheer entertainment, a real true to form popcorn movie. We live in such a crowded “Super-Hero” overload Universe these days that is was really refreshing to have something so new and original to feast our eyes and senses on!
When teenager Billy Batson (Arthur Angel) (who also did a great job as Billy) finds himself without a family and running away from foster home after foster home. He becomes more and more obsessed with finding his biological mother, Marilyn Batson (Caroline Palmer) after straying away from her at a carnival at a very young age never to see her again, fast forward and suddenly he is a teenager.
He is thrust into a very unusual situation while riding on the subway, and finds himself alone at a high rate of speed suddenly arriving at a cave-like place where The Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) has been waiting and anticipating his arrival. He is overwhelmed with the information that the wizard has just told him!!! The wizard tells him he has been waiting for someone “pure in heart” to assume the sacred role of “Shazam” The Wizard!  Shazam stands for: S-The wisdom of Solomon, H-The strength of Hercules, A-The stamina of Atlas, Z- The power of Zeus, A- The courage of Achilles and finally M- The speed of Mercury.
Suddenly he is back on the subway speeding away from the wizard in complete disbelief of what had just occurred.
Billy is not content with his life and doesn’t feel like he belongs anywhere. As a last ditch effort he is put into a type of group home with several other kinds of misfit kids and sent off to another new school along with these new kids he is living with. He immediately is singled out by a couple of tough kids and has to defend himself.
As time goes by Billy finds out he is somewhat different from the other kids, he actually finds out that he has some pretty cool super powers that he is not quite sure how to control. He realizes that by saying the word “Shazam” he can transform himself, super-power bright red suit and all into a hero that he never dreamed he could be!!! He has no knowledge of superheroes and  he suddenly finds himself thrust into the middle of. His newfound brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) is a superhero genius who would love nothing more than encountering a true superhero! When Billy turns to Freddy for help, Freddy ends up being his best buddy.
Eventually, Billy is forced to confront the evil and diabolical villain, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). He is one very, very angry villain determined to destroy everything in sight! When he singles out Billy/Shazam... all catastrophe breaks loose!
This movie has it all... action, comedy, villain, bullies, some scary smoky monster guys, clever humor and just fun imaginative drama. The CGI effects were very cool too.
I found myself enjoying this superhero movie more than I have some of the very serious and ultra popular Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. It is filled with dramatic scenes but nothing I feel would be too disturbing for children. I would recommend this movie for children ages 10 and above. Some mild profanity, bullying and some scary monster guys are intimidating. Also an intense scene at a winter carnival where Shazam and The Villain fight it out.
I am giving “Shazam” Three and a half bags of popcorn.

DUMBO

PG
Starring: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins
Running Time: 1 Hour and 52 Minutes

“If you have a heart, Dumbo will steal it”, that was my very first impression after screening this movie. This is the live action remake of the original 1941 Disney classic movie.
Having been a fan and owning the original Disney animated Dumbo on VHS, I wasn’t quite sure how Director Tim Burton was going to take this live action rendition?
He actually followed the original story very closely however, he sensationalized the dramatic scenes causing them to be even more dramatic!
For those of you who are familiar with “ Dumbo”, you will know that the story pulls real hard at your heartstrings. This version also did just that! I told my self I was going to be just fine unless...
they played the song “Baby Mine”, from the original movie which of course they did and I was toast! That song always gets me!
This story takes place in 1919 during World War I, when Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) returns home from the war to be with his children, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) shortly after his wife has passed away and missing an arm. He returns back to the life he had left behind, the Circus or to be more exact, The Medici Brothers Traveling Circus under the direction of Mr. Max Medici (Danny DeVito). This time around though, it will be much more challenging!
The female elephant, Mrs. Jumbo had just given birth to a beautiful little blue-eyed baby elephant they named Dumbo because he was born with extraordinarily large ears.
The circus people did not know quite what to do with this unique little fella. The two children, Milly and Joe had become very fond of little Dumbo and discovered he had a very unusual talent... he could fly because of his huge ears!!! In the beginning he was very awkward but as time went by he became more adept at it and with coaxing he was finally able to master it. When an owner of another much bigger circus, V. A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) found out about little Dumbo’s unique talent he decided to contact Max Medici and bribe him to take part ownership in the Medici Brothers Circus. Max agreed and things start to take a tailspin! The very first thing he does is separates Dumbo from his mother and chains her up in a train car, Dumbo and his mother are not allowed to see each other which causes them both to have broken hearts! He forces Dumbo to literally, new heights pushing him way beyond his comfort zone.
This movie truly will steal your heart. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the theater. It is a sweet and precious story that will move both you and your children. Also, the movie ends on a very positive note as well.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG and it is very dramatic. There are scenes that are difficult to watch that might be too intense for children. Plus there are some scary scenes when things go haywire and the circus starts to fall apart and burn. There are two sections of the circus, one is “Dreamland” which is a pretty fancy theme park and the other one is ”Nightmare Island” which has very heavy Tim Burton overtones. I would not suggest this movie for kids who are sensitive to animals being treated poorly!
I am giving “Dumbo” three bags and a half bags of popcorn.