Star Wars: The Last Jedi thrills fans and entertains everyone else

   Movie Title:   Star Wars: The Last Jedi (With Bonus Content)

Grade:  A

Rating:  PG-13, 152 minutes (That’s a whopping 2 ½ hours!)

In a Nutshell:  YES!  This is the EPIC movie we were hoping for!  I admit it...I almost cried when that famous musical score and crawling script began.   

Fans have been waiting with great anticipation for The Last Jedi (Star Wars) I love it when movie-goers dress up in costumes to watch the film in theaters.  It makes it so fun for everyone.  I knew I was in for a great time when the entire audience I watched the movie with erupted in cheers as soon as all of the trailers ended and the words “Lucas Film Ltd” appeared on the screen.  So fun.  Yes, if you’re not a nerdy fan like me, you’ll still be entertained.

As the umpteenth movie in the franchise, you’d think they would start running out of cool ideas, but this movie packs a powerful emotional punch and features new characters and creatures that will leave you wanting even more.

Rian Johnson really adds his unique voice and perspective to the franchise.  There are plenty of thrills, laughs, and twists to add to this canon.  Yeah, I used the word canon….this film franchise is practically scripture.  Ha ha  The movie itself even refers to the Jedi “religion.”  Godspeed Rebels!

Uplifting theme: 

• Hope.   
• “Strength is mastery. Weakness is folly.” – Yoda (Frank Oz)
• Heroes and leaders
• Good vs. evil
• Power, control
• “The force is energy between all things that creates balance.” – Luke
• Hubris vs. humility
• Peace and purpose

Things I liked:

• Great action sequences.  Really great.  Satisfying lightsaber fight scenes.
• Lots of humor.  Yay.  I appreciate it when movies don't take themselves so seriously and can poke fun at themselves to play with the audience.
• Mark Hamilton as Luke Skywalker said he was kind of surprised by the direction and unique vision of the director for his character, but he does a fantastic job, probably his best performance ever.  Just when you’re wondering how Luke Skywalker could have possibly survived on that rugged island, he shows you!  Ha ha
• Adam Driver gives a compelling performance, as always.  There is an impressively deep level of his performance.
• Tons of cool surprises!
• Porgs.  Totally adorable.
• Several respectful nods to past movies and their content.
• The scene with the red salt ground was striking.  All of the locations are really stunning and imaginative.
• I thought it was so sweet and touching at the very end of the movie when the credits were rolling and the screen said “In loving memory of our princess, Carrie Fisher.”   I remember seeing her perform on stage when she was a young teenager.  She sang a song with her talented mother Debbie Reynolds.  My mother was a nightclub singer many years ago.  Too bad I have a terrible singing voice.  It would have been so much fun to sing with her on stage!
• Daisy Ridley was great, of course.
• I've always liked Domhnall Gleeson. The banter between him and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) towards the beginning of the movie was hilarious.
• The wonderful cast includes Andy Serkis, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o, and Laura Dern. 

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s sad to know that Carrie Fisher will not get to enjoy all of the movie release parties and fanfare for this new movie. 
• In the beginning of the movie, it looked like Kylo Ren had stickers on his face or something.  Futuristic bandaids?  I liked it much better when they  showed how his face was (sort of) repaired.

• Movie critics seem to have mixed feelings about the side story with Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran).  I thought it was fine.
• Two of my sons said that the more they thought about the movie, the more they decided they didn't like it.  Hmmm...
• SPOILER: I thought it was interesting that they decided to "save" Princess Leia by having her use special powers of the Force to have her fly Mary Poppins style back into the ship after dying out in space.  Given that Carrie Fisher has died in real life, I wondered why they didn't just end her character as well.  I know, I know...she had to have more scenes for the story.  Still....
• I have a lot of unanswered questions.

                                 

Funny lines:

• “Read them, you have? Page turners they were not.” – Yoda, talking about the ancient Jedi manuscripts.    (I thought that line was awesome.)
• “Every word of what you just said was wrong.” – Luke Skywalker

Interesting lines:

• “I know one truth – it’s time for the Jedi to end.” - Luke
• “The greatest teacher is failure.” - Yoda

Tips for parents: 

• Children who haven’t seen prior Star Wars films may be confused, but they’ll still be entertained.
• All of the Rebel leaders are women, including many shots of young, 20-something females flying planes and bombers.  Girls will feel empowered that they can do anything.
• A LOT of destruction, shooting, and high (yet bloodless) body count.
• Shirtless Adam Driver in a scene.
• Some profanity.
• Snoke is pretty scary looking.  Of course he's played by the amazing Andy Serkis who also brought us Gollum the Lord Of The Rings 1/4 scale figure.

Fun, new Star Wars Merchandise:

Funko POP! Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Porg - Collectible Figure (styles may vary)

Star Wars Star Wars: The Last Jedi Deluxe Figure Play Set

The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars Episode VIII The Last Jedi 2018 Wall Calendar

LE3D 3D Optical Illusion Desk Lamp/3D Optical Illusion Night Light, 7 Color LED 3D Lamp, Star Wars 3D LED For Kids and Adults, Death Star Light Up     
           

                                            @trinaboice 

Sneak Peek into new Star Wars movie

‘ROGUE ONE’ TO SHOW DEATH STAR RAID

The new Star Wars film—Rogue One—will take place between Episodes III and IV and focus on the raid to steal Death Star plans, according to details released over the weekend. A teaser for the Star Wars prequelRogue One leaked online Sunday from the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California. 

The teaser was shown to the audience who gasped at seeing the original Death Star looming over a planet with Obi Wan Kenobi saying from A New Hope : “For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times… before the Empire.”

Strange Magic is a bit strange

Movie:  Strange Magic

PG , 1 hour 39 minutes

Grade:  B-

In a Nutshell:   This fanciful animation features music from the past six decades in a whimsical search for true love inspired by Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream   The ILM animation itself is truly amazing, and reminds me of the impressive look of Avatar. 

The story was created by George Lucas, a master at creating interesting worlds, but the script doesn’t have much depth.    The family flick has all of the ingredients that should make it great, yet strangely, it isn’t.  Strained magic? While flawed, I still enjoyed it.  Little girls who love fairies and singing will too.

Uplifting Theme:

·         “Everybody deserves to be loved.” – narrator

·         “There are no shortcuts to love.  Just sayin.” - Griselda

·         “Never judge something or someone by how he or she looks.” - King

Things I liked:

·         After discovering Elijah Kelley for the first time on Hairspray , I thought we would see him everywhere because he was so fantastic.  Well, we don’t get to see him in this movie, but he voices the adorable character Sunny.

·          I love everyone’s hairdo’s, freckles and ears.

·         Stay seated in the theater half-way into the rolling credits at the end of the movie for a funny add-on about Roland.

·         I love small details in animation, like the whispering mushrooms.

Things I didn’t like:

·         The character development is pretty weak.

·         The pacing seems to be designed for an audience with ADD.

·         The music is fun, but sometimes feels out of place.  It takes you from a sweet, romantic melody in one moment to a 70’s acid trip the next.  I won’t be surprised if the movie soundtrack outsells the actual movie.  Fans of the Electric Light Orchestra should especially enjoy the eclectic mix of love songs.

·         I adore Kristin Chenoweth, but her character’s design didn’t match her voice at all.

·         Alan Cumming voiced the Bog King whose accent vacillated between Scottish and classic rocker.

·         I thought the psychedelic kaleidoscope ending was odd.  I suppose even strange…magic.

Funny lines:

·         “Too bad you can’t see me.  My hair is doing that thing we both love.” – Roland (Sam Palladio)

·         “He loves the crown and his hair, not necessarily in that order.” – Marianne (Evan Rachel Wood)

·         “Watch for grotesqueries at every corner.” – Roland

·         “Don’t you have a comb?” – Griselda  (Maya Rudolph)

·         “Both princesses..es..sss.” – Roland

·         “I wanted a wedding.  Now I’m getting a funeral.” – Griselda

Tips for Parents:

·         The Bog King is menacing , mean, and sometimes scary.

·         There are some creepy insects that will probably make your little girls squeal.

Here's the trailer:

Planes: Fire and Rescue doesn't reach movie altitude

Movie Title:  Planes: Fire & Rescue

PG, 1 hour 24 minutes

Grade:  C+

In a Nutshell:  You know when you make a Xerox copy of another actual Xerox copy and the quality gets worse each time?  That’s kind of this movie. The first Planes movie was a spinoff of the successful Cars franchise, but landed with a thud.  So what’s a movie studio to do?  Make a sequel!  No doubt the merchandising for little boys will be big.

For a movie about airplanes, it just doesn’t quite reach the altitude we all wish it did.

If your kids loved the first Planes, then go for it; you’re in for more of the same.  If you and your kids were bored out of your minds the first time around, skip this one.  You can read my movie review from the first Planes movie here.  Go watch Frozen again.

Uplifting theme: 

• Heroism
• Friendship
• Responsibility

Things I liked:

• Every animated film is better with the awesome voice talents of Patrick Warburton. Seriously.  Put him in everything.
•  The scenery was beautiful as “we” flew over deserts, mountains, and meadows.
• It’s better than the first Planes , but that still doesn’t make it an actual good movie.
• It’s definitely geared towards the tots.   
• It’s always fun to hear the lovable voice of John Ratzenberger.

Things I didn’t like:

• There were quite a few sexual innuendos intended to entertain parents, such as “How’d you like to rub tires?” and “We wore off the treads on our honeymoon” and “Yeah, they’re real.”    Not classy.
• I love Modern Family’s Julie Bowen and was happy to hear her voice the character of Dipper.  Unfortunately, I didn’t like Dipper at all.  She’s an airplane who constantly throws herself at Dusty for some cheap laughs.  Great role model for little girls, eh?
• I’m kinda tired of the obligatory fart jokes in lil tyke flicks.
• I got a little dizzy with some of the aerial dips and tricks.
• The most emotional scene was one with two old RV’s who expressed their love for each other.  Sweet, right?  Well, yeah, except their loving words were spoken in between inappropriate sexual innuendos and winks towards the parents. 

Did you notice?

• The planes and cars watched a “George Lexus” movie.   (George Lucas)
• Later they watched “CHoPs”..."139 episodes of lawbreaking love".... like the old CHiPs: The Complete First & Second Seasons .

Funny lines:

• “It’s a mysterious mystery.” – little bulldozer
• “This is so exciting, I’m going to overheat.” – random car in a group scene

Tips for parents:   I thought some of the fire scenes were scary and could frighten little ones.  Otherwise, the movie is mostly harmless fun.