Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is too scary for children

Movie Title:   Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Grade:   B-

Rating:  PG-13, 127 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This is a Tim Burton movie, so you know it’s going to have some weird and creepy images, even if it’s considered a child’s movie.  The film was adapted from Ransom Rigg’s best-selling novel, which was part of a popular trilogy.  So, does that mean we’re going to see two more of these films?  Um…have you heard of money?

Uplifting theme: 

• “It’s time to learn what you can do.” – Miss Peregrine
• “We don’t need you to make us feel safe, because you made us feel brave, and that’s even better.” – Emma
• Aging, family, life, love, sacrifice for others

Things I liked:

• Good special effects.   The film cost $110 million to make.  Worldwide, it earned $65 million during its opening weekend.
• Great production value.
• If you like time loop movies that go back and forth in time, you’ll like this, although it doesn’t make much sense in the end, so don’t overthink it.
• Jake explains that his grandfather talked about a lake in Puerto Rico that glows in the dark.  I’ve been there!  It’s awesome!  It’s called Bahia Fosforescente.
• Great casting.  Eva Green is perfect for a Tim Burton film because she’s already so quirky and mysterious.  Her low voice sounded like she had smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day though…or in the case of this movie, pipes.
• It was hilarious to hear those two young Welsh boys rap with their thick accents.
• One of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s books is featured.  Go Ralph!  By doing a search on FamilySearch.org, I learned I’m related to that iconic American writer.
• I’m many years away from being a grandmother, but I would hope that I could have the loving, loyal relationship with my grandchildren that Abe has with Jake.
• The adult actors you’ll recognize are Eva Green, Allison Janney (I love her), Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Judi Dench, and Samuel L. Jackson.
• Asa Butterfield does a great job convincing us he’s an awkward teen, loyal grandson, and heroic boyfriend.  Unfortunately, he spends the majority of the movie just asking questions.
• Some of the peculiar children were downright adorable like Raffiella Chapman (Claire), Pixie Davies (Bronwyn), and Hayden Keeler-Stone (Horace).  Ella Purnell (Emma) really looked like she belonged in the 1940’s.
• As a twin myself, I was curious about the twin peculiars (played by Joseph and Thomas Odwell.)  Why were they covered up?  What was their peculiarity?  I laughed out loud when the audience finally learns those answers towards the end of the movie.
• It kind of feels like an X-Men mutant school for children.

Things I didn’t like:

• Samuel L. Jackson is completely transformed into a new character by simply giving him creepy eyes.  By the way, he has openly declared that he will move out of the United States if Donald Trump wins the presidency.  He has the only funny lines in the movie, but in some scenes it feels like he’s straining to act.
• It always bugs me in movies when the children have a huge secret and don’t tell their parents.  Personally, I always want to be a part of my children’s lives and help them with their challenges.  I’m sure there are a lot of things they don’t tell me, but at least I’m trying! Chris O’Dowd plays a father who is out of touch with his son.
• We don’t learn any backstory about the “peculiars.”  They are all very one-dimensional characters in this narrative.  I would have liked to learn more about them.  Maybe in the next two instalments of this trilogy we’ll learn more?  (I haven’t read the books.)
• The plot has some holes that will start to really bug you.

Interesting lines:

• “My dad said everything had already been discovered.” – Jake

Not everything, Jake.” – Miss Peregrine

Funny lines:

• “You’ve missed me again, Jake.  I take it accuracy is not your peculiarity!” – Barron (Samuel Jackson)
• Super shirt!” – Horace (Kayden Keeler-Stone)
• “Some of his dreams are prophetic.  Mostly they’re about clothes.” – Emma (Ella Purnell)
• “Oooh, you must put me in contact with your tailor.” – Barron
• Eventually, you’re going to run out of breath and it’ll all be over…death for your beloved Jake and Miss Peregrine, and everlasting life for me…ew… and a mint for you!” – Barron

Tips for parents:   

• Like all Tim Burton movies, this fantasy film has a lot of scary images and concepts, so I definitely wouldn’t recommend this for young children.  If it's still in theaters during Halloween, tweens will get a kick out of it as part of their spooky weekend.
• There are some scary monsters called ‘Hollows” that eat humans’ eyeballs.  There are a lot of scary images of dead adults and children with their eyeballs plucked out, as well as scenes of monsters eating them.
• There are quite a few skeletons, sometimes sitting around, other times fighting.
• Creepy doll puppets have a battle and one gets stabbed to death.
• SPOILER ALERT: Kids will love the end when the children outwit the adults. 

Alice Through the Looking Glass shares insights about time and family

Movie Title:      Alice Through the Looking Glass

Grade:   B-

Rating:  PG, 1 hour 48 minutes

In a Nutshell:  A lot of movie critics hated this movie, but I actually enjoyed the colorful ride.  It veers from the source material by Lewis Carroll, but offers some deep insights on time, family, and friendship.

Tim Burton's first Alice in Wonderland movie made a ton of movie, despite the fact that a lot of audiences and critics didn't like it very much.  As Alice says, "Curiouser and curiouser."

Uplifting theme: 

• “Every day is a gift: every hour, every minute, every second.” – Alice (Mia Wasikowska)
• “You cannot change the past, young lady, but I dare say you can learn from it.” – Time (Sacha Baron Cohen)
• Friendship
• “Every second counts.”   (I thought the little creatures that played “seconds” were interesting and creative.)
• “Time waits for no man or, indeed, woman.” – Alice
• Alice shares something her father used to say: “The only thing worth doing is what we do for others.” – Alice
• “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it’s possible.” - Alice

Things I liked:

• Helena Bonham Carter nails the Red Queen.  She’s fantastic.  I love her laugh in this movie.  The last time we saw her as a love interest with Sacha Baron Cohen was in Les Miserables, a wonderful movie that makes me cry every time.
• Sacha Baron Cohen usually plays disgusting characters in R rated movies, but he shines in this movie as “Time”.  The film is filled with both visual and verbal puns about time.  The back of his head has intricate clock mechanics, which looks pretty cool.
• We get to hear the voice of beloved Alan Rickman as Blue Caterpillar one last time.  I thought he was a wonderful actor and miss him.
• The special effects are really great, although 99% of the movie looks like it's filmed on a green screen with very little real things for the actors to react with.
• Keep watching during the rolling credits at the end to see some more silly moments.
• Alice is the captain of a ship named “Wonder” in the beginning of the movie.  In a discussion about the legal deed to the ship, someone says “Don’t give up the Wonder.”   Indeed.
• When you see this movie in the theater, you’ll get to see Pink’s music video before the movie plays for her new song: “Just Like Fire”, which marks the end of a three-year hiatus for the singer.
• See it in 3D if you can.
• I love Anne Hathaway and how she moves her hands and body as the White Queen.  Watch how she walks.  Priceless.

Things I didn’t like:

• The movie makes more sense if you have seen the last one that came out in 2010.
• The music on the trailer sounds like a 1960’s acid trip.  This movie did feel a bit trippy.  
• I adore Johnny Depp, but his character as Mad Hatter can be a bit frightening for children at times in this film.  The make-up is so overdone that it distracts you from his performance.  Someone offers an interesting insight that the Hatter is mad because “he denies himself laughter.”
• SPOILER:  The plot is pretty silly.  Alice is willing to destroy the time-space continuum in the entire universe because her friend is sad.
• Alice says that the Mad Hatter is her truest friend.  Really?  She doesn't have any good friends in the "real" world?
• Sometimes the actors look like they just "phone it in" emotionally.

Funny lines:

•  “I’ve always wondered when ‘soon’ is.” – The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp)
• “Stupid me-shaped corridor.” – Time
• “Will this day never end?” – Time
• “Do you promise to be concise?” – Time (who then proceeds to ramble on and on)
• “Don’t abandon me when I’m sulking.” – The Red Queen
• “We’ll split up together.” – Tweedle Dee (Matt Lucas)  He and his twin brother look amazing.

Interesting lines:

• “Must you always be so head-strong?” – Helen Kingsleigh (Lindsay Duncan)

“No.  It’s just more fun that way.” – Alice

• “You’re running out of time.  I am inevitable.” - Time
• “Everyone parts with everything eventually, my dear.” – Time
• “It’s impossible!” – Mr. Phelps

“You know my views on that word, Mr. Phelps.” – Alice

• “Time is a cruel master.” – Helen Kingsleight

“Time is a thief and a villain.” – Alice

• “I wanted to believe I could do just six impossible things before breakfast.” - Alice
• “All will become clear in the fullness of time.” – The Blue Caterpillar

Tips for parents:   

• Young children will be entertained by the outlandish characters, but might get confused by the story that loops back and forth in time.
• No profanity.  Nice.
• Children will see that lying can have terrible consequences, even what seems like a small lie.
• There is a scary dragon that burns up an entire town.

Big Eyes gets my big applause

Big Eyes

PG-13, 1 hour 46 minutes

Grade:  A-

In a Nutshell:   Big Eyes is an EYE OPENING biopic about the pop art of Margaret Keane, as well as a social commentary of the male dominance of the 50’s and 60’s. 

Christopher Waltz plays the charismatic Walter Keane so well that you can’t tell if he’s simply a deluded and hopeful salesman or a manipulative monster. Amy Adams uses her innocent charm to portray the talented, subdued artist Margaret Keane.

I don’t normally like director Tim Burton’s dark style, but this film is more conventional, while still including his somewhat magical, warped flair, similar in taste to his earlier film Big Fish .

Uplifting Theme:

·         Honesty, integrity, talent, self-assurance, self-expression

Things I liked:

·         I’ve always liked Amy Adams.  She is fantastic in this.  I love the picture at the end of the movie with her and the real Margaret Keane, who is still alive!

·         It was fun seeing North Beach in San Francisco in the 60’s.

·         As a non-fiction author of 21 books, I completed related to the artists’ struggle to get work “out there” and have people appreciate it.

·         Krysten Ritter was perfectly cast as Margaret’s big-eyed best friend, DeeAnn

·         Margaret’s evolving hairdo’s reminded me of my own mother’s during that time period.

·         I thought Lana Del Rey’s theme song was perfect for the tone of the film.  “With your big eyes and your big lies.”

Things I didn’t like:

·         Margaret is portrayed as being forced into the fraud, but she definitely agreed to allow it to happen.  Yes, Margaret was conflicted, but the sting of dishonesty seemed to be somewhat mellowed with money.   Funny how that works.

·         It’s interesting how Walter was criticized for not having the real talent, but his marketing abilities were extraordinary, especially for the time.  He brought art to the masses at an affordable price and was a genius at merchandising.

Funny lines:

·         “I make things up for a living.  I’m a reporter.”  - Dick Nolan (played by Danny Huston)

·          “Expresso?  What’s that?  Is that like Reefer?”  - Margaret

·         “Walter Keane was not a subtle man.  Subtle doesn’t sell.” – Dick Nolan

·         “Quiet.  I’ll have you whacked. If you tell anyone, I’ll have you taken out.  I know people.  Remember Ben Ducci’s cousin, the liquor wholesaler?” – Walter

·         “Life imitating art…a crying Keane.” - Walter

Interesting lines:

·         “So, what’s that with the crazy, big eyes?” - Walter

“Well, I believe that you can see things in the eyes.  Eyes are the window to the soul.  Eyes are how I express my emotions.” –  Margaret

·         “When you look at me like that, I could fall hard.” – Walter

·         “Jane, don’t bother Mr. Keane.  You know creativity comes from within.” – Margaret

·         ‘You’re right!  It’s paradise!  Only God could create these colors!” – Margaret on her honeymoon in Hawaii

·         “I think people buy art because it touches them.” – Margaret

“Yeah, you are living in Fairy land.  People don’t get to discover anything.  They buy art because it’s in the right place at the right time.” – Walter

·         “It’s like a mirage….From a distance, you look like a painter, but up close there’s just not much there.” – Margaret

·         “The more you lie, the smaller you seem.” - Margaret

Tips for Parents:

·         Some profanity, including 1 F-Bomb.

·         There isn’t a lot of action, so some children will get bored.

Margaret and Walter lie to their daughter to protect the ruse.

 To learn more about their fascinating story, check these out: