Well guys, sorry that I didn’t get to reviewing this movie sooner. It’s just that I had been on vacation for this past week, and I wanted to go ahead and spend time doing that, you know? However, to make up for that, today we review another film, which this one happens to be based on a true story. Not only that, but this particular event centers around one of the most iconic kid’s shows hosts, Fred Rogers, and a journalist named Lloyd Vogel, whom Rogers befriends at some point in his career. Ladies & gentlemen, I give you all my review for A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Plot: In the year 1998, shortly after a horrifying experience occurs at his sister’s wedding, a journalist at Esquire named Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is asked by his boss Ellen (Christine Lahti) to interview a kid’s show host by the name of Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks), the question remains, will this just be another interview for Vogel, or will this experience lead to a friendship that could help change Lloyd’s life for the better?

Wow, what a really good movie this was! At first glance, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood might appear to act like a live-action kid’s movie. However, as the film progresses, one will discover that there are some deep subjects to unpack, from the whole deal with bitterness, learning to forgive those who have wronged you, loving your neighbor as yourself, and other things like that. This movie does so well with showing the difficulty of learning to forgive others, but also helps us, the audience, learn why it needs to be done in end. Also, the fact that Fred Rogers was a Christian as well, now that makes this movie even more great, especially since both Christians, and hopefully even non-Christians, could take away a great plenty from A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, including the messages in this film, and probably even trying to put themselves in the shoes of the mostly the main characters (though perhaps the same can probably be said about some of the supporting characters as well). Also, just a side note, how cool is it that Tristar, the movie company that made this film, has partnered with the Christian radio station K-Love? Well anyway, I digress! Not only are the themes of this movie superb, but the same can be said about the characters, both the main characters, and the side characters too. Hardly anything about them is sugarcoated in this film, if at all. These characters are so deep and real that one can get behind them every step of the way. Also, Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys work well off of each other as Fred Rogers and Lloyd Vogel throughout the course of the movie. The rest of the cast is also phenomenal from Chris Cooper to Maryanne Plunkett, Tammy Blanchard, and all the other actors and actresses who were in this movie. Additionally, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood does well with the cinematography, and having certain scenes act like real life, or even a toy set. Believe me when I say that you’ll know what I mean about that whole deal with the last part. Finally, the music in this film is well done too. Another side note, who probably wouldn’t enjoy that song that plays at different points in this film?

Well everyone, that concludes my review for A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Even if the movie mostly focuses on at least one aspect of Fred Rogers life, it is so well done that it shouldn’t matter all that much about whether or not other parts of Fred Rogers’ life were talked about. That especially since there were some deep subject matters uncovered for what we got in this film. Oh, and another thing, isn’t it great how Tom Hanks will have the legacy of playing iconic people like Fred Rogers, as well as Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks back in 2013? Granted, Tom Hanks is really great in basically any role that he’s in. Still, it’s definitely great that Hanks would perform well with playing the role of real life characters like those two. Well, definitely make sure to see A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, if you haven’t. There is plenty to recommend when it comes to this movie. It has fun music, interesting cinematography, really good characters played by celebrities who show how well they can act, and other great elements like those. No doubt that this movie is a must-see.

Final Grade: A+

Well guys, we’re about to hit a break in movie reviewing for now, as I will be reviewing Ford Vs. Ferrari tonight, and hopefully even a newer film starring Tom Hanks either tomorrow night, or sometime this weekend, sometime like that. So here we go again!

Plot: In the early 1960s, two an 𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚘 racer named Caroll Shelby (Matt Damon), and a mechanic and racer named Ken Miles (Christian Bale) take part in helping the Ford Motoe Company become the best of the best. Can they pull it off?

Okay, I have to admit that before I saw this film, I was not all that familiar with how car companies like Ford and Ferrari had a deep history with each other in terms of competition. Go figure, right? After seeing this movie, not only is it amazing to learn an aspect about the history of cars, but what was going on in the process as well. There are also some great takeaways from this specific movie as well. But more on that later! For now, Matt Damon and Christian Bale seemed to make a great time while acting in this film. As a matter of fact, you can most definitely that those two, along with everyone else, was having a really great time during the making of Ford Vs. Ferrari. In addition to all of this, people will probably like learning about cars more. So much so that the audience might want to forget that sequels like Cars 2 ever existed to begin with. Of course there is also the music. Let me tell you all, the music in this movie does a splendid job of staying true to the times that this movie took place in. As for the characters, each of them really seem to stand out in their own way. That includes those characters who may come off as villains, but may actually be more just insane psychopaths. Now, to talk about the lessons in Ford Vs. Ferrari. To begin, there’s the whole competition deal. Rather than different companies trying to be better than the other, why not work together, you know? I guess it just comes to show that there were plenty of selfish, and greedy people even during a time such as The 1960s, eh? Also, there’s the whole lesson about either making the right, or the wrong decisions. In this case, let’s just say that this movie will more than likely teach people to try and be more careful when it comes to making decisions that could lead to the best results, or some rather negative consequences. Truth be told, after seeing this movie, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone thought about certain instances like from the Book of Daniel for instance. One other thing that I shall mention is that Ford Vs. Ferrari didn’t seem to sugarcoat the difficulties, and hardships that took place during this time period.

And so concludes my review for Ford Vs. Ferrari. If you want to see a movie that’s based on a true story, and seems to be more serious, and accurate, then all the more reason to check it out! No doubt this is a must-see, especially if either you love cars with a passion, or just want to know the history of driving more.

Final Grade: A+

Ladies and gentlemen, here we go again with yet another movie review. Just a side note, some of you may have noticed that I accidentally have posted links at the beginning of my recent reviews unintentionally. Those were meant to be movie posters for the films that I review. So until I learn how to ACTUALLY PUT A MOVIE POSTER UP at the beginning of my reviews, perhaps we can just go with something like this for now? Anyway, tonight, we review the latest Charlie’s Angels reboot that was just released this past Friday. It of course is simply titled Charlie’s Angels.

Plot: When an engineer named Elena (Naomi Scott) discovers a flaw in an energy device known as Callisto, which she helped create, she teams up with the Angels organization that is run by Bosley (Elizabeth Banks) after her company tries to hunt her down. Can Elena, and her new friends race against time before it’s too late?

Hmmmm! So which is better, this new Charlie’s Angels film, of the couple Charlie’s Angels movies that came out in 2000 and 2003 respectively, or even the old Charlie’s Angels TV show? Well, overall, the show may likely be better. However, as far as the movies go, the older films that starred Cameron Diaz, Lucy Lieu, and Drew Barrymore are most likely better. Not to say that this is a bad film by any means. However, while there are a lot of good elements for this film, 2019’s can also feel a little bit like a downgrade from films of this franchise that we’ve had in the past. For one, the film seems to feel more like an Into The Blue kind of a movie (though that film, which came out in the 2000s, was very good), or even a teenage flick combined with Mission Impossible, or action movies like that. Okay, that may have worked with films like the 𝙵𝚊𝚜𝚝 & The Furious movies. However, here, maybe because of how popular Charlie’s Angels has been in the past, or something else, it just doesn’t seem to work quite as well. Also, minus the characters that were played Naomi Scott, Patrick Stewart, and Elizabeth Banks, these characters don’t seem to have a lot of qualities that make them stand out, and/or be memorable. There are also some scenes, most notably in the beginning, that could likely start off a little weird and strange at times. Finally, the story could probably feel a little scattered at times.

But thankfully, there are some redeeming qualities here. One of course is the fact that some of the angels seem to have different backstories than in the past. Okay, one has to admit that, given how that went down, which I won’t give away as to how, those were some really nice changes. As for the acting, that was mostly, if not fully, good. And of course, how could one forget the action sequences? Let me tell you, whatever moments of action that are in this movie, they will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Oh, and another area where this Charlie’s Angels stands out is that there are times when the fourth wall is broken, so to speak. So much so that you won’t be asking questions like, “Why do we get this same old thing over and over again?,” or something along those lines. And there’s the acting. Holy cow! Especially when you think of Kristen Stewart playing earlier characters like the female in the Twilight series, there is no doubt that she’s an improvement here. There is also some maturity and growth that goes on with some of our main characters.

And that’s my review for the new Charlie’s Angels film. Again, while not the best action movie out there, there’s still quite a bit to enjoy here. From seeing some of the celebrities improve their acting skills, to excellent action moments, and things like that, this is one that will more than likely keep you on the edge of your seats at different points. Definitely make a point to see 2019’s Charlie’s Angels, if you haven’t. There’s much enjoyment to be attained while watching this film.

Final Grade: B+

Movie Review # 329: Playing With Fire (2019)
Everyone, sorry this movie is several days late. It’s just been crazy busy with me getting this blog up and running, posting other movie reviews just a few days ago, and things like that. So because of that, I may be reviewing a movie just about every night this week, including later tonight. Well, tonight, we review a live-action family that was just released a couple weeks ago. The one and only Playing With Fire.

Plot: Three kids get rescued from a fire at their house by four firemen (played by Tyler Mane, John Cena, Keegan Michael-Key, and John Leguizamo respectively). Now, can the firemen help get the kids reunited with their parents once and for all?

This may not quite be the best family movie around. In fact, one could perhaps name a few family movies that might be a little more enjoyable than this one such as 1997’s Mouse Hunt, or 2005’s The Pacifier for instance. Still, that’s not to say that there are still things to like about this movie. But more on that later! For now, let’s go through the negatives. First off, there are moments in Playing With Fire that might feel a little hokey at times. In addition to all of this, while there are some good, and emotional moments, they don’t seem to tug at your heartstrings as much as other movies. Oh, and some of the characters might come off as a little stereotypical. That is likely to the point where one might find himself/herself believing that maybe some of those characters could have maybe been placed in an animated film as comic relief, or something like that, you know? One other thing that I should mention is, off all kids shows to be incorporated in this movie, why does that show end up being My Little Pony? Why not incorporate maybe a somewhat lesser known kid’s show like The Lion Guard, or evening Tangled: The Series, or something TV show like that, you know? I don’t know, it just might have seemed like things could have sliced the movie joke little more, if that had been the case, you know? One other thing that I would like to mention! What was with certain situations getting inserted just for the sake of it? I get that some things are life, but are some certain scenes that are in this movie actually necessary? Just saying!

So, with all of that out of the way, what are the positives for Playing With Fire? Well, to begin, while there are certain cliches that are in Playing With Fire, there are other ones that are broken, and help the film go a different route. That is to the point where people may get more enjoyment from this movie than they probably might have otherwise. Oh, and there is so much slapstick in this movie from beginning to end. Which reminds me, some of you out there have seen comedies like 1997’s Mouse Hunt and 2006’s RV, have you not? If you’re one of those people who have, then let me just say that if you like films with so much heart, slapstick, and comedy like those two in particular, you’re more than likely like Playing With Fire. Sure, it may lack the amount of funny moments or movies like those, or other comedies. Still, what comedy there is in this movie, they make this movie worth seeing all the more. What’s more is that if it weren’t for comedians such as John Leguizamo and Keegan-Michael Key being in this film, it’s hard to say how funny this film would have been in the end. Speaking of stars, that’s another thing to mention. A good majority of the acting, from John Cena, Judy Creer, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Dennis Haysbert, and others, is really good too. Can you believe that John Leguizamo, John Cena, and Keegan-Michael Key all voices animated characters at some point. I mean first, we had Leguizamo voicing characters like Sid The Sloth in the Ice Age films, then Cena voicing Ferdinand in 2017’s Ferdinand. As for Key, in this year alone, he was not only in this film, but also voiced Ducky in Toy Story 4, as well as one of the hyenas in 2019’s The Lion King. I’d say we have a really good record going here. Finally, there are some good messages to take away from this film, as well as learning about life overall from Playing With Fire.

And that’s my review for Playing With Fire. It is a fun movie with some good heart, and plenty of comedic moments that make this movie very fun to watch. Sure, Playing With Fire may not go on to be a classic comedy by any means. Still, there are elements of this film that make this worth one’s time. If not in theaters, then definitely at least see it on video. No doubt that you’ll get a kick out of it.

Final Grade: B

Movie Review # 328: Last Christmas (2019)

Ladies & gentlemen, just a quick update, I have officially launched my blog website. For now, it is a free website, just so I get the feel of official blogging, and things like that. As for whether or not, I will be making certain monthly payments later down the road, let’s just say that I’ll play that by ear come hopefully a few months from now. Either way, the show is on, and we review a Christmas-themed movie by the name of Last Christmas.

Plot: An immigrant from Yugoslavia named Kate (Emilia Clarke), who’s become unsuccessful in her singing career, begins working at a Christmas store. One day, when she meets Tom (Henry Golding), can Tom help Kate have a better outlook on life?

Okay, this may not exactly be the best Christmas movie to date. However, there are a few things to take away when watching Last Christmas, which stars people like Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, and a few other people along the way. First off, the whole lesson about not taking anything in life for granted is a very positive message. Also, there is very good chemistry between our lead characters Kate and Tom. Also, when you compare this film to say a movie like 2016’s Me Before You (which also starred Emilia Clarke), this movie is not quite nearly as depressing and sad as that one. Oh, don’t get me wrong! Last Christmas can be a very sad movie, especially towards the end. Still, Last Christmas can more than likely be a little more positive at points. Also, how could one not like understanding the depictions or how hard life can be for people, whether the person is homeless or not? One other positive thing to point out is that Kate/Emilia Clarke’s rendition of “Last Christmas” is very fun to watch and listen to when you see this movie.

Nevertheless, Last Christmas seems to suffer from quite a few shortcomings. First off, there are some points in time that don’t seem to make a whole lot of sense as Last Christmas progresses. Also, the tone of this movie can sometimes feel a little confusing. So much so that one might find himself/herself thinking that these certain moments could have worked in a Christmas movie like 2003’s Elf, or some film like that. Oh, and there were some scenes that may not have been given as much buildup as probably could have been. One other thing that I might like to ask! Will people be able to consider this a Christmas classic in time? You got me! One may likely want to rewatch Christmas movies like Home Alone, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, of ones like those more. Still, there may be at least some amount of rewatching here too. Just not as much! Honestly, Last Christmas could have possibly been released at some other time of the year, and it might not have been as big of a deal. However, it came out near the time of Thanksgiving and Christmas. So okay!

Well ladies & gentlemen, that concludes my review for Last Christmas. Again, even if this is not exactly the best Christmas-themed movie to come around, there are still some aspects of this movie to recommend. If nothing else, maybe wait until this hits video to rent it. I mean sure, it might be an okay date movie. So, feel free to see it in theaters, or on video, or both!

Final Grade: C+

Movie Review # 328: The Adventures Of Milo & Otis (1986 in Japan; 1989 In The US)

Ladies & gentlemen, I’m very excited to be typing my very first post here on this blog. Today, we review an older film revolving around animals that live apparently in Japan in this movie. It was a story that most likely many of us, who grew up around the late 1980s, or early 1990s, saw, and more often than not, really loved. With that said, I proudly present to you all on this post, my review of The Adventures Of Milo & Otis.

Plot: A cat named Milo, and a dog named Otis (both animals, along with the other animals in the film, are given voice overs by the narrator of this movie, whose name is Dudley Moore) grow up being the best of friends. But one day, circumstances occur where Milo gets lost, and Otis must go save him before it’s too late. Can Milo & Otis reunite before the winter time comes around?

Now, my family and I really enjoying this film when we were younger. So much so that we would watch The Adventures Of Milo & Otis throughout the years. With that said, partly because this film just reached it’s 30th anniversary at least here in the US (33rd anniversary in Japan apparently), along with getting an additional VHS copy of it for free, I figured, why not rewatch this film again, you know? So with all of that said, does this movie hold up just as much today, as it did thirty years ago? Well, let me put it to you all this way! I had debated certain aspects of it, like with that catchy tune “Gonna Take A Walk Outside Today,” and other areas too. I thought, if people still love music from the 60s like from The Beatles, or even songs from the 70s and 80s, how could people not still enjoy a song like that one from this movie even to this day? The song is catchy, and very upbeat overall. Now, what about the rest of The Adventures Of Milo & Otis? Well, even for being made by a company like Columbia Pictures, this story, while only having a running time of around an hour, and twenty minutes, the movie is very simple, yet also fun, and heartwarming. Consisting, that when it was first released in Japan three years before, the movie was much supposedly more dark and violent, that’s saying plenty. There is an incredible amount of depth with these characters, especially the main characters Milo & Otis. You get to be really invested in their friendship from the beginning all the way to the very end of this film. It’s also interesting how well Dudley Moore does with narrating the story, as well as the dialogue with each, and every single one of these characters. Not only that, but Moore does a splendid job of making the sounds of different animals. When he needs to make a supposed sound of a dog, he’ll make that sound. Same can be said about the sounds of how a seagull talks, frogs, and so on. Honestly, I don’t know why Dudley Moore is not talked about as much as someone like Matt Damon, or Robin Williams, or someone like that. Did Moore not become as popular as celebrities like those? You got me! One way or another, this guy should be brought up more in conversations. Now, about the musical score, I’m not sure if the score was different, or the same when this movie was released in both nations during their respective years. My guess is that since many scenes were evidently cut out for the US release, there was more music in the Japanese version that was cut out too. Either way, the music seems to have the sounding of some type of Irish, British, or some other type of European music. It is so beautiful to listen too. In fact, remember how I mentioned back in my review for the Disney film Treasure Planet, back in 2017, how the musical score on that film is something that one could easily listen to in a sit-down restaurant with a quieter setting? If you do remember me discussing about that deal, then let me tell you, the same can, more than likely, be said about the music in The Adventures Of Milo & Otis as well. Not to mention that there’s this one particular piece of music in this film that one could think about at night when he/she is wanting to go to sleep, and wants to think about a really quiet sounding type of ballad. As for the cinematography, oh man, it is stunning even today. Sure, if this movie hadn’t come out until today, the landscapes would probably be in 3D. But you know what, would we really have needed the landscapes to be in that format? Hopefully not. So it’s definitely a good thing that this movie came out three decades ago instead. As for the story itself, there is a tremendous amount of greatness and depth to this simple, yet heartwarming story. That is to the point where one could decide to watch many times, and probably never get tired of it, no matter how old he/she is. Finally, The Adventures Of Milo & Otis has a really memorable story, and, of course extremely memorable characters overall.

And that concludes my review for The Adventures Of Milo & Otis. Is is an amazing film with colorful characters, a wonderful setting, and other things too. There is so much to recommend when it comes to the film The Adventures Of Milo & Otis. If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you do ASAP. It is definitely a classic film that will probably be timeless for years to come. And yes, one will likely want to watch it more than once.

Movie Review # 328: The Adventures Of Milo & Otis (1986 in Japan; 1989 In The US)

Ladies & gentlemen, I’m very excited to be typing my very first post here on this blog. Today, we review an older film revolving around animals that live apparently in Japan in this movie. It was a story that most likely many of us, who grew up around the late 1980s, or early 1990s, saw, and more often than not, really loved. With that said, I proudly present to you all on this post, my review of The Adventures Of Milo & Otis.

Plot: A cat named Milo, and a dog named Otis (both animals, along with the other animals in the film, are given voice overs by the narrator of this movie, whose name is Dudley Moore) grow up being the best of friends. But one day, circumstances occur where Milo gets lost, and Otis must go save him before it’s too late. Can Milo & Otis reunite before the winter time comes around?

Now, my family and I really enjoying this film when we were younger. So much so that we would watch The Adventures Of Milo & Otis throughout the years. With that said, partly because this film just reached it’s 30th anniversary at least here in the US (33rd anniversary in Japan apparently), along with getting an additional VHS copy of it for free, I figured, why not rewatch this film again, you know? So with all of that said, does this movie hold up just as much today, as it did thirty years ago? Well, let me put it to you all this way! I had debated certain aspects of it, like with that catchy tune “Gonna Take A Walk Outside Today,” and other areas too. I thought, if people still love music from the 60s like from The Beatles, or even songs from the 70s and 80s, how could people not still enjoy a song like that one from this movie even to this day? The song is catchy, and very upbeat overall. Now, what about the rest of The Adventures Of Milo & Otis? Well, even for being made by a company like Columbia Pictures, this story, while only having a running time of around an hour, and twenty minutes, the movie is very simple, yet also fun, and heartwarming. Consisting, that when it was first released in Japan three years before, the movie was much supposedly more dark and violent, that’s saying plenty. There is an incredible amount of depth with these characters, especially the main characters Milo & Otis. You get to be really invested in their friendship from the beginning all the way to the very end of this film. It’s also interesting how well Dudley Moore does with narrating the story, as well as the dialogue with each, and every single one of these characters. Not only that, but Moore does a splendid job of making the sounds of different animals. When he needs to make a supposed sound of a dog, he’ll make that sound. Same can be said about the sounds of how a seagull talks, frogs, and so on. Honestly, I don’t know why Dudley Moore is not talked about as much as someone like Matt Damon, or Robin Williams, or someone like that. Did Moore not become as popular as celebrities like those? You got me! One way or another, this guy should be brought up more in conversations. Now, about the musical score, I’m not sure if the score was different, or the same when this movie was released in both nations during their respective years. My guess is that since many scenes were evidently cut out for the US release, there was more music in the Japanese version that was cut out too. Either way, the music seems to have the sounding of some type of Irish, British, or some other type of European music. It is so beautiful to listen too. In fact, remember how I mentioned back in my review for the Disney film Treasure Planet, back in 2017, how the musical score on that film is something that one could easily listen to in a sit-down restaurant with a quieter setting? If you do remember me discussing about that deal, then let me tell you, the same can, more than likely, be said about the music in The Adventures Of Milo & Otis as well. Not to mention that there’s this one particular piece of music in this film that one could think about at night when he/she is wanting to go to sleep, and wants to think about a really quiet sounding type of ballad. As for the cinematography, oh man, it is stunning even today. Sure, if this movie hadn’t come out until today, the landscapes would probably be in 3D. But you know what, would we really have needed the landscapes to be in that format? Hopefully not. So it’s definitely a good thing that this movie came out three decades ago instead. As for the story itself, there is a tremendous amount of greatness and depth to this simple, yet heartwarming story. That is to the point where one could decide to watch many times, and probably never get tired of it, no matter how old he/she is. Finally, The Adventures Of Milo & Otis has a really memorable story, and, of course extremely memorable characters overall.

And that concludes my review for The Adventures Of Milo & Otis. Is is an amazing film with colorful characters, a wonderful setting, and other things too. There is so much to recommend when it comes to the film The Adventures Of Milo & Otis. If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you do ASAP. It is definitely a classic film that will probably be timeless for years to come. And yes, one will likely want to watch it more than once.

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.