The Zookeeper's Wife is a sobering true story of WWII drama and heart

Movie Title:  The Zookeeper's Wife

Grade: A-

Rating: PG-13, although I would give this movie an R rating due to its grim nature and two glimpses of a topless woman.  
126 minutes long

In a Nutshell:  This sobering film is based on the true story that unfolded in Poland during World War II.  It’s an adaptation of Diane Ackerman’s bestseller The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story and does a very good job illustrating different kinds of cages: for animals, Jews in the Ghetto and on trains headed to concentration camps, small-minded Nazis imprisoned by Hitler’s terror, and more.   

Uplifting theme: 

• Heroism, sacrifice, friendship
• Humanity
• We will never know all of the stories of the many brave men and women who risked so much to save others during “the war to end all wars.”

Things I liked:

• Jessica Chastain did an excellent job as Antonina Zabinska.  Her emotional performance made me cry several times.  I loved seeing her with the animals and she seemed to genuinely care for them. Oscar-worthy?  Should be.
• How they managed the animals in the zoo is truly impressive.  How did they get the animals to do all those things they did?  You get to see people cuddle with skunks, lion cubs, elephants, a symbolic bunny (aww), and more.  I loved the little camel that ran freely around the zoo.  All of the animals were real; there was no CGI used!
• The film does a very good job demonstrating the cruelty of Hitler and his Nazis.  They destroyed soooo much that was good in this world.
• Belgium Daniel Bruhl is slickly evil, but even still not quite as menacing as he could be. He has too likable of a face.  Jessica Chastain said that he taught her how to swear in German during their breaks.
• Before the credits roll, the screen displays text where you can read about what happened after the last scene, including the good news (SPOILER ALERT) that the Zabinska’s zoo has survived as the Warsaw Zoo.  Although the film is about Warsaw, it was filmed entirely in Prague!
• Critics complain that the movie isn’t realistic enough, as in….they want it to be more gruesome and bloody?  I thought it had so much gore and violence that it should have been rated R.  Besides, we REALLY don’t have to see people’s heads get blown off in every disgusting detail to know what’s happening and be affected by it.  Sometimes we see the gore and brutality in this film, but sometimes we just hear gun shots and the horror is implied.  Both were equally effective, making the audience I sat with groan, jump, and gasp every time.
• It was clever and symbolic that a piano was used to give both comfort and warning to the Jews hiding in the zoo.
• SPOILER ALERT: I thought the scene where the children innocently trusted Jan to lift them up into the train was powerful and heartbreaking.
• It made me think of the many refugees that are in the world today.  If you would like to find out how you can help, check out JustServe.

Things I didn’t like:

• Critics don’t seem to like this movie very much, but I’ve noticed that most of those who don’t are men.  Just sayin... Everyone in the audience I sat with seemed to be really touched, based on the crying and sniffling I heard around me in the dark theater.

• It’s not on par with the epic Schindler's List, but I appreciated the perspective from a woman’s lived experience in this story.

• There was no humor to break up the tension.  It was 100% drama. 80% tension.  One of the best WWII/Holocaust movies I've ever seen and one that was able to mix humor with incredible drama was Life Is Beautiful  It still haunts me.

Interesting lines:

• “Maybe that’s why I love animals so much.  You look in their eyes and you know exactly what’s in their hearts.  They’re not like people.” – Antonina
• “A human zoo.” – Antonina
• “Whatever we do, we have to hide it in plain sight.” – Jan Zabinski (Johan Heldenbergh)
• “You are a wonder.  You are Eve in the garden.” – Jan
• “People always want to run when they don’t know what’s coming.” - Antonina

Tips for parents: 

• Both animals and people are slaughtered in this movie.  In other words, this is NOT a family-friendly movie.  It is powerful and only appropriate for older teens.
• You see dead, bloody animal carcasses.
• You see a bloodied, stunned girl after she has been raped and you see another man attempt to rape a woman.  There is also a passionate scene in bed, although clothes are on.
• You see some animals mating while Nazis cheer on.
• There is a lot of violence and suffering.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

The Martian is fresh, suspenseful and surprisingly funny

Movie:    The Martian

Rating:    PG-13, 2 hours 14 minutes

Grade:   A

In a Nutshell:    Why are audiences and critics raving about The Martian ?  Because it’s fresh, suspenseful, inspiring, scientifically credible, and surprisingly funny. In fact, the Academy Awards placed it in a category of comedy.  I loved this movie.

Director Ridley Scott takes us on a journey to the vast reaches of outer space and into the smallest corners of the human heart.

Based on the 2011 novel by Andy Weir, the movie includes stunning vistas, filmed on one of the largest sound stages in the world in Hungary.  Some of the scenes of Mars were also filmed in Wadi Rum in Jordan. See it in 3D if you can.

The talented cast includes Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Kristen Wiig, Aksel Hennie, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Uplifting Theme:

·         The film really focuses on optimism and hope, while astronaut/botanist Mark Watney is stranded on Mars.  Sure, Mark has his dark moments, but he quickly decides in the beginning “I’m not going to die” and that determination is what propels him to withstand the most difficult of situations on a hostile planet.

·         Human ingenuity is truly inspiring.  I know this is fiction, but still…

·         “You just begin.  You solve one problem and then another.” – Mark

Things I liked:

·         NASA actually collaborated with the makers of The Martian , lending an authoritative air to the film, making it almost feel like a documentary.   If you want to learn more about the ARES space project and Ridley Scott’s prologue series, go to www.areslive.com

·      Fun Disco music is one of the running gags throughout the movie.  At one point, Mark is so sick of listening to Disco music that he says “No, I’m not going to turn the beat around.  I won’t do it.”  The movie soundtrack will probably be pretty popular.  What music would YOU take if you were going to leave Earth on a long mission?

·         I loved the comment about the Council of Elrond directed at Sean Bean's character from The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring [HD] .

·         Jeff Daniels brings back his arrogant, bossy character from The Newsroom: Season 1 to play the Director of NASA.

·         I like it when directors give the audience a reason to keep watching during the credits at the end of a movie.

·         After many months of movies about superheroes who try to save the world, this refreshing flick is about the world trying to save one man.

·         The movie entertains your brain, as well as your heart, which beats fast during the last 20 minutes as you try to remember to breathe.
  -       Each time a new character is introduced in the movie, the audience sees a label on the screen, indicating the person’s name and position, almost as if these are real people. 

Things I didn’t like:

·         I know Saturday Night Live comedienne Kristin Wiig has done several serious films, but it’s just still hard to take her seriously in a dramatic role.

·         If you got dizzy watching Gravity , there will be a few moments in this movie where you’ll have to close your eyes.

·         Two F-bombs and some other profanity surprised me.  I thought PG-13 movies were only allowed to have 1 F-bomb, but somehow this movie gets away with two, plus a few other “F” moments that are mouthed silently.  In fact, Mark is told by NASA to clean up his language since everyone on Earth can read what he’s saying on his transmissions.  As a result, his language gets worse and makes the audience laugh.

Funny lines:  

·         “Luckily, I’m a botanist.  Mars will come to fear my Botany powers.” – Mark

·         “I am the greatest botanist on this planet.” – Mark

·         “I guess I colonized Mars.  In your face Neil Armstrong.” – Mark

·         “So, yeah.  I blew myself up.” – Mark

·         “I’m going to have to science the “bleep” out of this.” – Mark

·         “I’m going to dip this potato in Vicodin and there’s nobody who can stop me.” – Mark

·         “I get to fly along like Iron Man.” - Mark

Things you learn in this movie about surviving on Mars:

·         Duct tape can fix everything.

·         You can use your own doodee to fertilize a garden.
-     Fire = bad.  Plutonium = good.

·         Science!

Tips for Parents:

·         Parents will like how educational the movie is.  Mark, the “space pirate” shows us how to problem-solve with impressive resourcefulness.

·         Some bloody moments.

·         Audiences see the entire back side of Matt Damon after he gets out of a shower.  He’s the only human on an entire planet, so why use a towel?

Can't get enough of Mars?  Check these out:

   


If you love seeing Matt Damon in an astronaut suit, be sure to check out this mind-boggling movie:

Interstellar is out of this world

Movie Title:   Interstellar

PG-13, 2 hours 49 minutes

Grade:  A

In a Nutshell:   This movie will blow your mind.  Either that or put you to sleep.  Viewers seem to be split in their opinion on this one.  The movie is definitely long, but you’ll feel like you got your money’s worth.

Writer-director Chris Nolan has trained us to expect epic movies under his watch and this one is no exception.  Like his enigmatic Inception , you’ll have to watch it a couple of times to completely understand it. This nearly 3 hour drama is so long that you almost feel like you’ve traveled in space and come back again by the time it’s over.  Its time-space continuum preaches of love, hope, and the will to go on despite all obstacles, including gravity.

I sat with an audience that filled every seat in the IMAX screening, where Nolan’s 70mm movie magic really shines and where the seats practically rumbled while we hurled through space.  The movie simultaneously explores your heart strings and intergalactic space travel.

Uplifting theme: 

• Matthew McConaughey narrates the beginning of the movie, saying “We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars.  Now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt.”  The movie explores a dystopian world   and where mankind may go in the future, both physically and emotionally.
• Some will read spirituality into the story and see God’s hand in the journey, while others will applaud mankind’s strength to take care of ourselves.

Things I liked:

• Hans Zimmer’s new score is fantastic.
• I agree with Matthew McConaughey who said in a recent interview, “This is Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious work.”
• I love Anne Hathaway.  She always brightens any screen.  So does Matt Damon.
• You’ll learn a science lesson or two while being entertained.  Theoretical physicist Kip Thorne was consulted during the making of the film.
• A nod to 2001: A Space Odyssey was included by director/producer Nolan who wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan.
• The visual effects are stunning.  I liked seeing the tiniest reflection in someone's eyes through another's eye, and then the contrasting, grand aerial scenes over earth.
• It’s definitely thought-provoking and a great conversation-starter.
• I thought Amelia’s speech about love was profound and beautiful.
• The frozen cloud was cool.  Literally.  Ha ha
• I love symbolism in clever names, such as the project “Lazarus.”
• Mackenzie Foy is an adorable Murphy.  Jessica Chastain was a beautiful adult Murph.  Nice casting.

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s a bit slow-moving at times.  A friend of mine actually fell asleep.  Don’t expect a fast-paced action movie like Star Trek.
• Some of the script seems nonsensical.  Some of it was simply hard to hear.
• The black, sticky, towering thing that sucked up everything reminded me of the odd ending in the movie Lucy.

Interesting lines:

• “Love is the one thing that transcends time and space.” – Amelia Brand
• “We’ve always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible.  And we count these moments.  These moments when we dare to aim higher, to break barriers, to reach for the stars, to make the unknown known.  We count these moments as our proudest achievements.  But we lost all that.  Or perhaps we’ve just forgotten that we are still pioneers.  And we’ve barely begun.  And that our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, because our destiny lies above us.”  - Cooper
• “Do not go gently into that good night; old age should burn and rave at close of day.  Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” – Professor Brand
• “It’s not possible.”  - computer/TARS

“No.  It’s necessary.”  - Cooper

• “We’re not meant to save the world; we’re meant to leave it.”  - Professor Brand
• “Mankind was born on earth, but it wasn’t meant to die here.” – Cooper
• “You said science was admitting what you don’t know.”  - Young Murphy to her dad
• “They forget who we are – explorers, pioneers, not caretakers.”  - Cooper

Funny lines:

• “You look sic.”  - young Tom

“I cannot be sick.  I am a robot.”  - computer/TARS

• “We’re going to be spending a lot of time together.” – Amelia

“Then, we should learn to talk.”  - Cooper

“And when not to.”  - Amelia

• “We’ve calculated 2 years to Saturn.”  - Professor Brand

“That’s a lot of Dramamine.” – Doyle    (I actually got a little dizzy during some of the spinning scenes and had to look away.)

Tips for parents:

• 1 F-bomb and some other tough language.
• Young children may get bored.
• Kids who want to prove to their parents that all that time playing video games and using a joystick will come in handy now have ammunition for their case.

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