Monty Python and the Holy Grail

For this month, I thought of looking at films made by one of the great British filmmakers, Terry Gilliam. Let’s start this month with one of my favorite comedies and a classic that is loved by many, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” released in 1975, which is still extremely funny a little over 50 years later.

For the amateurs, the film’s story is right there in the title. The famous comedy troupe made a film all about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on a journey to find the Holy Grail. That is pretty much a minimal way to say these hilarious people are going to go on all types of misadventures, as they eventually go through some story on a holy quest.

Graham Chapman plays the protagonist as King Arthur, but he is joined by the entire cast including John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. The entire cast plays the different knights, along with many of the other characters seen throughout the film. Aaron Neuwirth said in his review, “I’m honestly not even sure what else I am supposed to say about the plot and characters this point, so I’ll stop.”

What makes this film work is the amazing hilarity that is helped by very smart comedians. Anyone who has never seen this film will probably recognize different references their friends have quoted over the years and be excited by the context. This is one of the most quotable films, but what makes it hold up so well is the amount of fun found behind every piece of comedy in this film.

Every Monty Python member was involved in “Holy Grail’s” production, with Jones and Gilliam as the directors. Neuwirth said, “This mix of creative control and limited funds also aided in making this film a difficult production, but an incredibly successful one. Yes, it has a cheap look to it, but that is very much how the team mines even more comedy out of the film.” Who needs horses, when you can use coconuts to make the sound of their galloping and then make so many jokes around that exact part?

Neuwirth credited, “There is also something to be said for this film’ staying power. A film does not just become one of the greatest comedies ever made for having a collection of jokes that play well. So much inspiration and intelligence surrounds those who grew up with a film like this and it helps that this film is so fixated on delivering on each new sequence, without dwelling too much on various bits.”

It is hard to describe what else makes this film a masterpiece, so to put it bluntly, it really just is. Yes, it’s a comedy and that is not enough to attract everyone, when it comes to telling someone what is funny, but “Holy Grail” is a film that really delivers everything. The fun, silliness, quotable moments, casting, and everything else have combined for a famous comedy and anyone not already impressed, this is the time to watch it.

Neuwirth admitted, “This film will never stop being hilarious to me and I can only hope new viewers realize why it is so special.” Basically, this is a comedy you have to watch right away.

Currently, this is streaming on YouTube, Roku, Pluto TV, The CW, Peacock, and Prime to name a few. If you haven’t seen this film, stop reading this review and go watch it. You have to see it to know what a great comedy this is. After watching it, you will understand, as you will be laughing throughout. Then, you will get all the references that people have made and will start quoting it yourself. See it if you haven’t because you will love it, I promise. I cannot give it a high enough recommendation. I saw a little bit of the film in college. One time for a Philosophy Logic class, and another in an Ancient Comedy class. Then, I saw the entire film because everyone was talking about it that I had to see it to believe how great of comedy this is.

Next week I will look at the next “Monty Python” film in the next review of “Terry Gilliam Month.”

The Intern

There’s something so relaxing about a Nancy Meyers movie. Everything looks so good. Both elegant and comfortable. Glenn Kenny said in his review, “It’s not just the real estate porn, which had its most blatant manifestation in the Hamptons beach house featured in Meyers’ ageism-juggling 2003 rom-com “Something’s Gotta Give.” It’s also the furnishings, like the rotating tie rack in the bedroom of the brownstone owned by Robert De Niro’s retired businessman in her latest, “The Intern.” It’s how all the surfaces gleam: “The Intern” was shot at locations mostly within walking distance of where I actually live, and while it is a very blessed part of Brooklyn, its windows are not normally quite as uniformly shiny as those of the buildings seen here.”

Kenny continued, “And often this soothing quality serves as a distraction from how inane and uncomfortable a movie such as “Something’s Gotta Give” can be. But here’s the thing: “The Intern,” while having its share of silly moments, is the most genuinely enjoyable and likable movie that Meyers—a longtime writer and producer before taking up directing—has put her name to since, oh, I don’t know, 1984’s “Irreconcilable Differences.””

De Niro has the main role here, like in “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” and even “The King of Comedy.” His character’s name is Ben Whittaker, and he’s a retired, wealthy widower in Brooklyn who’s bored with the amount of free time in his current, comfortable way of living. He applies for a position in a “Senior Intern Program” and an e-commerce concern called “About The Fit,” and ends up reporting to its founder, Jules, a classic, for Meyers, 21^st Century entrepreneur character. Not too far underneath her bright exterior (she IS played by Anne Hathaway) is a highly motivated and possibly restricted go-getter.

Kenny credited, “De Niro’s character here is one that he pretty much never played during what many consider his acting heyday: a decent, straightforward, non-neurotic regular guy who’s gotten somewhere good in life. And in this movie, he plays it rather well. There’s something slightly Woody Allenesque about his opening scene, in which he constructs a job-application video. His role calls for him to do a certain amount of mugging as he interacts with younger colleagues and learns about the Weird Things These Kids Today Do With Their Relationships And The Internet and such. Thankfully, the movie doesn’t dwell on senior-citizen bemusement with the Digital Age all too much; one of the points of De Niro’s character is that he’s alert and competent and wants to be of service. He has a hard time being of service to Jules, whose relentless focus makes her immediately distrustful of anyone who has an insight as to how she conceives and runs her business. And the movie is rather good at the details of that business, and the way that Jules’ vision for it defines its practical particulars.”

Kenny continued, “But Ben manages to get into Jules’ good graces partly via patriarchal stealth, as when he confronts Jules’ driver after seeing him take a few nips out of a paper bag right before the soon-to-be-ex-employee is supposed to take her to a meeting in Manhattan. Ben’s internship happens to coincide with a challenging period in the growth of Jules’ company; Jules’ aide-de-camp Cameron (a very understated Andrew Rannells) brings her the unusual news that the company’s investors, while delighted with its success, would like to bring an outside CEO to the company. Jules dutifully interviews prospects even as she’s dizzied by the idea that she could be effectively ousted from her own creation. In the meantime, her home life—she has a too-milquetoasty-to-be-a-bro-dad husband (Anders Holm) and a predictably delightful and adorable young daughter (JoJo Kushner)—is taking the standard can-a-career-woman-have-it-all hits. And at least one hit that’s not so standard, or maybe I should say, not so easy to stand.”

Through everything Ben keeps a careful, sympathetic watch – early in their relationship, Jules admits her discomfort with him as rising because he’s too “observant” – and when he comes to give her help, he does so in a subtly brave way that actually parallels any “here is dad to save you” expectations. As it happens, Ben sincerely cares for Jules – looks up to her, you can say – and when he does bring his experience as a businessman to help Jules in her own business, it’s in the spirit of sharing knowledge besides correction. At the worst, Ben gives Jules the guarantee that the thing to do is be tough and go after what you want.

Kenny said, “The adages of “The Intern” are delivered in a comedy package that, for the most part, is sane, sweet, and smart, and a lot of the time, actually funny. A budding romance between Ben and the company’s in-house masseuse (Rene Russo) is fodder for two groan-inducing visual gags. But a silly set piece in which Ben enlists some of the younger goofballs of About The Fit on a housebreaking mission, replete with latter-day “Ocean’s Eleven” references, is actually a tolerable bit of rompage. And everyone in the cast, including Hathaway, who, for the record, I have never not liked, is extremely appealing. “What have you done with my husband?” my wife asked me the other night when I came home and told her I’d had a genuinely good time watching a Nancy Meyers movie. What could I say?” You’re never too old to keep an open mind.

This is another comedy that everyone should see. Even though you could call this a comedy, there are some genuine moments in here that feel really good. Like when De Niro speaks to Hathaway about his life experiences to help her out, it really says a lot. If you haven’t seen this, I would recommend it because you will enjoy this one a lot. I know I did when I saw this as a rental with my sister from the library.

Alright, that ends “Robert De Niro Month.” I’m sorry for the late posting, as I fell asleep then I had family over tonight. Stay tuned next month to see what other excitement I have planned.

Silver Linings Playbook

Pat is curiously confident and upbeat for someone who just got out from a mental hospital and under a restraining order from his wife. That’s because he’s determined to fix the damage he’s done to his life and surprise everyone by moving forward and upward. His motto is, “Excelsior!” Do you know what stage of bipolar disorder he’s in?

The number one task is restoring his marriage with his wife. After they divorced, he beat up her new boyfriend, but water under the bridge. Pat (Bradley Cooper) swears his parents, Pat Sr. and Dolores, (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver), that everything will be fine. They’re not so sure. One of the pros of “Silver Linings Playbook,” the 2012 comedy by David O. Russell, is how Dolores is a stable and caring woman and has had so much experience in dealing with compulsive behavior, because her husband is a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. Having been banned from the Eagles stadium for fighting, Pat Sr. now watches restlessly on his TV, convinced that the Eagles will win only if his countless fantasies are fulfilled.

Pat Jr. in desperation falls for Tiffany, played by Jennifer Lawrence, a young widow in the neighborhood. Roger Ebert noted in his review, “Lawrence appears here much transformed from the woman we saw in “Winter's Bone” and “The Hunger Games.” Still only 22, she looks softer, sweeter and somehow prettier than before, yet she plays Tiffany as all edges and elbows, who can understand Pat because she’s crazy herself.” People call her promiscuous, and she agrees. She’s ticked off about Pat because he continues to think about his ex-wife, played by Brea Bee – and also because a lot of her value to him is that’s she’s still in contact with the other woman.

In supporting roles, we meet Danny (Chris Tucker), Pat’s patient friend from the hospital, and Dr. Cliff Patel (Bollywood actor, Anupam Kher), his therapist. Danny’s worried that Pat is not taking his medication. Ebert said, “Dr. Patel plays an increasingly common type in American movies, the Indian immigrant who seems to embody certain stereotypes and then is revealed to be completely assimilated.”

Tiffany thinks she and Pat should make out. Pat disagrees. He doesn’t want to be unfaithful to his ex-wife. Tiffany’s eyes narrow. We see that Pat doesn’t have a chance. Ebert said,

This all builds up into a classic screwball comedy situation in which two bets are inspired — one involving an Eagles-Cowboys game and the other involving a ballroom dancing contest that Tiffany has forced Pat to join her in with a form of emotional blackmail.

How these bets play out I will, of course, not hint. I will note that Pat, in keeping with family tradition, gets in trouble at the game for fighting. Don’t you sometimes wish movies watched other movies? Imagine Pat running into the Patton Oswalt character from “Big Fan.” How cool would that be?

I love actors. I’ve been on an almost lifelong journey with Robert De Niro, and feel intimately familiar with him as an actor (not as a person). Here his work unobtrusively charmed my socks off. He’s harmlessly obsessed with the Eagles, gratefully in love with his wife and cluelessly supportive of his son, who he doesn’t realize is an apple who has fallen very close to the tree.

One of the creative and type of brave accomplishments of Russell’s screenplay (inspired by a novel by Matthew Quick) is the way it requires both father and son to face and deal with their medical issues and against all odds finds a way to do that through both an Eagles game and a dance contest. Ebert noted, “We’re fully aware of the plot conventions at work here, the wheels and gears churning within the machinery, but with these actors, this velocity and the oblique economy of the dialogue, we realize we don’t often see it done this well.” “Silver Linings Playbook” is so good, it could be an amazing old classic.

I had heard about this movie, but I didn’t really hear people talk about this. Then, when I was trying to find something to watch when I was exercising, and, I believe, I saw this on Netflix. I’m with everyone when I say that this is a good movie to watch. I can’t say how accurate this movie is with bipolar disorder, so only those who have it can tell. However, Cooper, De Niro, and Lawrence all play their roles very well. I think De Niro has a child who has bipolar, but I don’t know for sure. Julia Stiles is in here playing Lawrence’s older sister. I find it great that Cooper and De Niro are working together, as De Niro was Cooper’s inspiration to be an actor. Check this out if you haven’t because this is one to see.

Next week, I will be looking at another good movie to check out in the finale of “Robert De Niro Month.” Sorry for the late posting. I fell asleep because I was so tired from work.

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle

The original “Rocky & Bullwinkle” cartoon show was smarter than it needed to be, and a lot of adults took a peek here and there. Roger Ebert said in his review, “It helped point the way to today’s crossover animated shows like “The Simpsons.” Now comes the movie version of the TV show (which was canceled in 1964), and it has the same mixture of dumb puns, corny sight gags and sly, even sophisticated in-jokes.” It’s a lot of fun.

The 2000 movie mixes the animated moose and squirrel with live action – and even pulls three of the characters (Natasha, Boris, and Fearless Leader) out of the TV and into the real work (where they’re played by Rene Russo, Jason Alexander, and Robert De Niro respectively, and explain “we’re attached to the project”).

The faceless Narrator importantly explains: “Expensive animation characters are converted to even more expensive movie stars!” Obviously, the Narrator always seemed to look outside the events and know that “Rocky & Bullwinkle” was only a cartoon. At one point in this version, he, voiced by Keith Scott, complains he now narrates the events of his own life. Also, the movie is self-aware. Ebert mentioned, “when someone (I think maybe Fearless Leader) breathlessly announces, “There has never been a way to destroy a cartoon character until now!” he’s asked, “What about `Roger Rabbit’?”” The story is about a plan by Fearless Leader to win world domination by hypnotizing everyone with RBTV (really bad TV). Only Rucky and Bullwinkle have so many years of experience at ruining the evil plans of Fearless Leader, Natasha, and Boris, and as they walk their way to a final fight, we also get a complete road movie (happily acknowledged as a cliché by the Narrator).

Ebert said, “The movie has a lot of funny moments, which I could destroy by quoting, but will not. (Oh, all right: At one point Rocky cries, “We have to get out of here!” and Bullwinkle bellows: “Quick! Cut to a commercial!”) As much fun as the wit is the film’s overall sense of well-being; this is a happy movie and not the desperate sort of scratching for laughs we got in a cartoon retread like “The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas.”” This is they type of movie where De Niro parodies his famous “Are you talking to me?” line with such cheerful fun that instead of complaining, we think – well, everyone else has ripped it off. Why shouldn’t he get his own turn? The movie is chock-full of cameos, including Janeane Garofalo as a studio executive, Randy Quaid as the FBI chief, Whoopi Goldberg as a judge, John Goodman as a cop, Billy Crystal as a mattress salesman, James Rebhorn as the president, and Jonathan Winters in three roles. Ebert noted, “Russo makes a persuasive Natasha, all red lipstick, seductive accent and power high heels, and De Niro’s patent leather hair and little round glasses will remind movie buffs of Donald Pleasance.”

However, the real discovery of the movie is its (human) protagonist, a 23-year-old newcomer named Piper Perabo, who plays an FBI agent. She has good comedic timing and is so attractive, she kind makes you pause the movie. Ebert compared, “Like Renee Zellweger in “Jerry Maguire,” she comes more or less out of nowhere (well, a couple of obscure straight-to-videos) and becomes a star right there before our eyes.”

Comedy is such a delicate type of art. Ebert noted, ““The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle” isn’t necessarily any more brilliant or witty or inventive than all the other recent retreads of classic cartoons and old sitcoms. But it feels like more fun. From time to time I’m reminded of George C. Scott’s Rule No. 3 for judging movie acting: “Is there a joy of performance? Can you tell that the actors are having fun?”” This time, you can. The right word for this movie is fun.

I remember seeing commercials for this movie and recall seeing this a lot on the movie channels when we first got cable. When I saw Nostalgia Critic’s review of this movie, I was expecting him to thrash it, like everyone else has, but he admitted to liking it. I didn’t see the entire movie until earlier this week. I started watching it, but then got sidetracked, and finished watching it yesterday. As a children’s film, I think this is fine. I would say check it out if you have a soft spot for good or bad puns, fourth wall jokes, and the type of awkward, yet still likeable charm. They got June Foray to reprise the role of Rocky, but Keith Scott voices Bullwinkle and the Narrator. Other cameos include Paget Brewster, comedian David Alan Grier, Don Novello, Jon Polito, Carl Reiner, Max Grodenchik, and Norman Lloyd. You don’t have to, but I still think you can give this one a try, if you would like to.

Next week, I will be looking at a good, but very emotional film, in “Robert De Niro Month.”

Awakenings

For this entire month, I will be reviewing films starring Robert De Niro that I have yet to cover. Let’s take a look at the 1990 classic, “Awakenings.”

We do not know what we see when we look at Leonard. Roger Ebert said in his review, “We think we see a human vegetable, a peculiar man who has been frozen in the same position for 30 years, who neither moves nor speaks.” What goes on in his head? Is he thinking? Of course not, a neurologist says in Penny Marshall’s “Awakenings.” Why not? “Because the implications of that would be unthinkable.” Ebert said, “Ah, but the expert is wrong, and inside the immobile shell of his body, Leonard is still there. Still waiting.”

Leonard is one of the patients in the “garden,” a ward of a Bronx psychiatric hospital that is named by the staff because the patients are there just to be fed and bathed. Looks like nothing can be done for them. They were victims of the great “sleeping sickness” epidemic of the 1920s, and after a time of sudden recovery they relapsed to their current situation. It is 1969. They have many different symptoms, but essentially, they all have the same problem: They cannot make their bodies do what their minds want. Ebert noted, “Sometimes that blockage is manifested through bizarre physical behavior, sometimes through apparent paralysis.”

One day a new doctor comes to work in the hospital. He has no experience working with patients. Actually, his last project involved earthworms. Like those who have gone before him, he has no hope for these patients, who are there and yet not there. Ebert said, “He talks without hope to one of the women, who looks blankly back at him, her head and body frozen.” However, he then turns away, and when he turns back, she has changed her position – apparently trying to catch her eyeglasses as they fell. He tries an experiment. He holds her glasses in front of her, and then drops them. Her hand reacts quickly and catches them.

However, the woman cannot move through her own will. He tries another experiment, throwing a ball at one of the patients. She catches it. “She is borrowing the will of the ball,” the doctor thinks. His colleagues will not listen to this theory, which sounds strangely metaphysical, but he thinks he’s getting somewhere. What if these patients are not actually “frozen” at all, but victims of a stage of Parkinson’s Disease so advanced that their motor impulses are cancelling each other – what if they cannot move because all of their muscles are trying to move at the same time, and they are unable to choose one impulse over the other? Then the falling glasses or the tossed ball might be breaking the restraint.

Ebert pointed out, “This is the great discovery in the opening scenes of “Awakenings,” preparing the way for sequences of enormous joy and heartbreak, as the patients are “awakened” to a personal freedom they had lost all hope of ever again experiencing — only to find that their liberation comes with its own cruel set of conditions.” The film, directed with greatness and emotion by Penny Marshall, is based on a famous 1972 book by Oliver Sacks, the British-born New York neurologist whose The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is a classic in the medical field. These were his patients, and the doctor in the film, named Malcolm Sayer and played by Robin Williams, is based on him. Williams had the opportunity to meet Sacks.

Ebert noted, “What he discovered in the summer of 1969 was that L-DOPA, a new drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, might in massive doses break the deadlock that had frozen his patients into a space-time lock for endless years.” The film follows maybe 15 of those patients, mainly Leonard, who is played by Robert De Niro in a brilliant performance. Because this movie is not a tearjerker but a smart look at a bizarre human condition, it depends on De Niro to make Leonard not a character of sympathy, but a person who helps us think about our own fragile look on the world around us.

Ebert compared, “The patients depicted in this film have suffered a fate more horrible than the one in Poe’s famous story about premature burial. If we were locked in a coffin while still alive, at least we would soon suffocate. But to be locked inside a body that cannot move or speak — to look out mutely as even our loved ones talk about us as if we were an uncomprehending piece of furniture!” It is this fate that is seen, that summer of 1969, when the doctor gives the experimental new drug to his patients, and in a miraculous rebirth they are free and begin to move and talk once again, some of them after 30 years of self-captivity.

The movie follows Leonard through the stages of his rebirth. He was (as we saw in the beginning) a bright, likeable kid, until the disease took over. He has been like that for three decades. Now, in the late 1940s, he is filled with joy and gratitude to be able to move around freely and express himself. He cooperates with the doctors studying his case. Also, he finds himself liking a daughter (Penelope Ann Miller) of another patient. Ebert mentioned, “Love and lust stir within him for the first time.”

Dr. Sayer is at the focus of almost every scene, and his personality becomes one of the highlights of the movie. He is also restraint: by shyness and inexperience, and even the way he holds his arms, close to his sides, shows a man cautious of contact. He was happier working with the earthworms. Ebert commented, “This is one of Robin Williams’ best performances, pure and uncluttered, without the ebullient distractions he sometimes adds — the schtick where none is called for.” He is a lovable man here, who experiences the amazing professional joy of seeing chronic, hopeless patients once again sing and dance and meet their loved ones.

However, it is not as simple as that, not after the first weeks. Ebert said, “The disease is not an open-and-shut case. And as the movie unfolds, we are invited to meditate on the strangeness and wonder of the human personality. Who are we, anyway? How much of the self we treasure so much is simply a matter of good luck, of being spared in a minefield of neurological chance? If one has no hope, which is better: To remain hopeless, or to be given hope and then lose it again? Oliver Sacks’ original book, which has been reissued, is as much a work of philosophy as of medicine. After seeing “Awakenings,” I read it, to know more about what happened in that Bronx hospital.” What both the movie and the book show is the huge courage of the patients and the deep experience of their doctors, as in a small way they reexperienced what it means to be born, to open your eyes and discover to your surprise that “you” are alive.

If you haven’t seen this movie, why are you reading this review? This is one of the best movies ever made. I’m not saying that because I’m a Robin Williams fan, but I seriously believe this movie was one of the groundbreakers of its time. Check it out if you haven’t because you will love it.

Apologies for the late post. Some personal stuff came up and I got delayed a lot. Stay tuned next week when I look at a film that I saw parts of growing up when we first got cable in “Robert De Niro Month.”

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

If you loved the first “Mamma Mia!” movie, well, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” released in 2018, offers even more – and even less.

Christy Lemire said in her review,

“The sequel (which is also a prequel) features a bigger cast, a longer running time, extra subplots and additional romantic entanglements. But it’s emptier than its predecessor and has even lower stakes. It’s less entertaining, and for all its frantic energy, it manages to go absolutely nowhere.

Once again inspired by the music of ABBA and set on a picturesque Greek island, the second “Mamma Mia!” is the lightest piece of Swedish pastry with the sweetest chunk of baklava on the side. And while that may sound delicious, it’s likely to give you a toothache (as well as a headache).

At one point, during a particularly clunky musical number, I wrote in my notes: “I am so uncomfortable right now.” But while the goofy imperfection of this song-and-dance extravaganza is partially the point—and theoretically, a source of its charm—it also grows repetitive and wearying pretty quickly.”

Not one moment reaches the catching euphoria of Meryl Street twisting around in a barn in overalls singing the title song in the original film, or the emotional depth of her singing The Winner Takes It All to Pierce Brosnan. Along that area, if you’re looking forward to see Streep display her playful, musical side again, you’re going to be disappointed. Despite her noticeable presence in the movie’s marketing, she’s barely in the sequel.

That’s because Streep’s free-spirited Donna is gone, we learn at the beginning, but her presence is felt everywhere in sad ways. Her daughter, Sophie, reprised by Amanda Seyfried, is reopening the inn her mom ran – now named the Hotel Bella Donna – on the same peaceful (and fictional) Greek island of Kalokairi where the first film took place. Writer-director Ol Parker (whose other work includes writing the “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” movies) goes back and forth in time between Sophie nervously finishing up her big party she’s planning and the story of how her mother originally ended up on this solitary island in the Aegean Sea – and became pregnant with Sophie in the late 1970s without being entirely sure who the father was.

Lemire said, “Lily James plays young Donna as a firecracker flower child—a friendly mess of wild, blonde curls and high, platform boots. (James’ sunny presence is one of the film’s consistent bright spots.)” We meet the younger version of her best friends and jumpsuit-wearing backup singers, Tanya (Jessica Keenan Wynn, doing a spot-on impression of Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Alexa Davies, filling in for Julie Walters). We see her flirt and fall for the three guys she has feelings for during the summer after college graduation.

First, there’s the nervous Harry, played by Hugh Skinner, who tries to charm her with his hesitant French in Paris. Then is the dashing Swede Bill, played by Josh Dylan, who charms her on the boat that carries her out to the island. Finally, there’s the aspiring architect Sam, played by Jeremy Irvine, who’s already vacationing on Kalokairi when she arrives. They will end up being played by Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard and Brosnan, respectively, and they will be forced into singing ABBA songs that clearly make them miserable.

Lemire pointed out, “Ah yes, the ABBA songs. They provided the confectionery connective tissue for the smash-hit stage musical and the original movie. This time, the ‘70s Swedish supergroup’s tunes that are the most rapturous are also replays from the first go-round: a flotilla of fishermen singing and prancing to “Dancing Queen,” or the splashy finale uniting the whole cast for “Super Trouper.”” A lot of the soundtrack has lesser-known songs, and the uninspired way those songs are staged and choreographed rarely allows them to shine.

Lemire noted, “Once again, though, these actors are such pros that they can’t help but make the most of their meager material. Baranski and Walters in particular have crackling chemistry again. The brief moments in which the supremely overqualified Firth, Skarsgard and Brosnan pal around with each other as Sophie’s three dads made me long to see them together in something else. Anything else. A documentary in which they have lunch on the porch under sunny Greek skies, even.”

Then Cher appears. That would seem impossible for this popular singer ever to be controlled. However, as Sophie’s frequently absent grandmother, Cher seems strangely ruled in. Again, it’s the strangeness of the choreography: She just somewhat stands there, singing Fernando, before firmly walking down some steps to greet the person who she’s singing. (As the hotel’s caretaker, Andy Garcia conveniently plays a character named Fernando, which is a funny part.)

Lemire ends her review by suggesting, “But if you’re down for watching A-list stars belt out insanely catchy, 40-year-old pop tunes in a shimmering setting, and you’re willing to throw yourself headlong into the idea of love’s transformative power, and you just need a mindless summer escape of your own, you might just thoroughly enjoy watching “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” Don’t think, and pass the ouzo.”

I was surprised to hear that they made a sequel to “Mamma Mia!” That too, a decade later. What was so great about the first movie that they decided to make a sequel? The first one wasn’t all that great to begin with. The sequel doesn’t even try. I saw this on Netflix, I believe, while exercising and I didn’t like it at all. This is probably worse than the first movie. Guys, do yourself a favor and don’t see this film on Peacock, where it is currently streaming. If you saw the first one and didn’t like it, then avoid the sequel, especially if you’re an ABBA fan. Brosnan can’t sing at all and he embarrasses himself in this film by singing poorly.

Alright, we have come to the end of “Pierce Brosnan Month.” I’m sorry that most of the reviews were negative, but that’s how things are sometimes. Stay tuned next month for more excitement coming right at you.

Mamma Mia!

Roger Ebert started his review out by saying, “I saw the stage version of “Mamma Mia!” in London, where for all I know, it is now entering the second century of its run, and I was underwhelmed.” The 2008 film version has the enjoyment of casting Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Frith, and Julie Walters, but their skills are taken very think. Also, if you like this, there are so many song covers of ABBA. Ebert admitted, “I don’t, not much, with a few exceptions.”

Ebert admitted, “But here’s the fact of the matter. This movie wasn’t made for me. It was made for the people who will love it, of which there may be a multitude. The stage musical has sold 30 million tickets, and I feel like the grouch at the party. So let me make that clear and proceed with my minority opinion.”

The film takes place on a Greek island, where the characters are made to hang on roofs, dangle from ladders, enter and exit by trapdoors, and prance around the numerous local people. Ebert noted, “The choreography at times resembles calisthenics, particularly in a scene where the young male population, all wearing scuba flippers, dance on the pier to “Dancing Queen” (one of the ABBA songs I do like).”

I don’t think contrived would be the right word to describe the story. Meryl Streep plays Donna, who runs a tourist hotel on the island, where she has raised her daughter, played by Amanda Seyfried, up to the age of 20. Sophie has never known her biological father and is engaged to Sky, played by Dominic Cooper. However, now she finds an old diary and invites the three possible men to her upcoming wedding. She’s sure that she’ll know the right one when she sees him. They are Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), and Harry (Colin Firth), and if you know the first thing about camera angles, shot choice, and screen time, you will be able to pick the right person – if not for conceiving reason, then for the one most likely to succeed in one way or another.

Obviously, Donna doesn’t know anything about her daughter’s invitations, but even so, it must be said she takes a long time to figure out why these three men were invited. Doesn’t she think it would be obvious? She has serious conversations with all three, two appear to have been one-night stands. For them to sail over to Greece for her after 20 years really makes you think how charmful she is.

Ebert admitted, “The plot is a clothesline on which to hang the songs; the movie doesn’t much sparkle when nobody is singing or dancing, but that’s rarely. The stars all seem to be singing their own songs, aided by an off-screen chorus of, oh, several dozen, plus full orchestration.” Streep doesn’t look like the right choice to play Donna, but I have noticed that she can take on any role. She can even pull off singing Money, Money, Money.” She has such a happy face and looks to be enjoying herself.

Ebert noted, “Her two best friends have flown in for the occasion: Tanya (Christine Baranski), an often-married plastic surgery subject, and Rosie (Julie Walters), plainer and pluckier. With three hunks their age like Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard on hand, do they divvy up?” Not really. However, a lot of big romantic decisions do take place in a few short days.

The island is beautiful. I wouldn’t be surprised if people went to Greece after seeing this film. Ebert noted, “The energy is unflagging. The local color feels a little overlooked in the background; nobody seems to speak much Greek.” Then there are the ABBA songs. There are people who know them and may think they know them too well or maybe they can’t get enough of them. Ebert admitted, “Streep’s sunshine carries a lot of charm, although I will never be able to understand her final decision in the movie — not coming from such a sensible woman.” Love seems to have its way, which we always see.

I remember seeing commercials for this film of people singing the title song before cutting to clips of the cast singing the title song in the film. However, I had no idea that they were covering an ABBA song because I had never heard of them before. That is until a couple of years ago when I used to work at a Children’s Museum and I heard a few ABBA songs playing on their Spotify playlist on a repeated loop. Because of that, I decided to look up where the film was streaming, and I found it on Prime. When I saw this on Amazon Prime, I ended up not liking this so much. I didn’t really like how the characters acted, but I will say that I did like the look of the film and it did make me go to the library to get the ABBA soundtrack downloaded to my iPhone. I don’t recommend this film because it will make you want to go to Greece and apologize to the people there for having this film shot on their island and apologize to all the ABBA fans, even to any of the band members, if they are alive today, that this film covered their songs.

Next week, I will be ending “Pierce Brosnan Month” with the sequel to this film, which came as a surprise.

Quest for Camelot

“Quest for Camelot,” released in 1998, is still another studio trying to seize the helm of family animation away from Disney. It was from Warner Bros, which made it large with the colorful and funny “Space Jam,” but now looks to regress into copying Disney. The animation isn’t lively, the characters aren’t very interesting, and the songs are tedious.

“Space Jam” and “Anastasia” from Fox were the only non-Disney films to steal some of the gold from Walt’s children. Since allegedly, “Quest for Camelot” cost $100 million and yet lacks the charm of something like “Beauty and the Beast,” maybe it’s time for Warner Bros. to find a different method – maybe animation targeted towards the teenage and adult age range, which does so well in Japan.

“Quest for Camelot,” like countless animated films, is a blueprint with which rapidly new characters are made. We need a young protagonist, and get that in Kayley (Meredith Gordon from “Heroes,” Jessalyn Gilsig), the brave teenage daughter of Lionel (Gabriel Byrne), one of Arthur’s knights. As you guessed, Lionel is killed in the beginning when defending Arthur, voiced by Pierce Brosnan, because the protagonists of animated films must always have only one parents (later, Kayley’s mother (Jane Seymour) is conveniently kidnapped).

We also need a villain (Ruber, the evil and jealous knight (Gary Oldman)), a villain’s evil sidekick (the griffin (Balki from “Perfect Strangers,” Bronson Pinchot)), and a villain’s sidekick who turns good (Bladebeak the chicken (Jaleel White)). We need a young man to help the heroine on her journey (Garrett, the blind forest resident (Cary Elwes)), a hero’s noble friend (silver falcon (Frank Welker)), and the hero’s comic relief (Devon and Cornwall, the two-headed dragon (the late Don Rickles and Eric Idle)). Then have Ruber steal the magic sword Excalibur, and have Kayley and Garrett try to retrieve it, throw in some songs and a lot of animated action, and you have your movie.

Roger Ebert admitted in his review, “I’m not putting the formula down. Done well, it can work, and some version of these ingredients now seems to be required in all feature-length animated films. But “Quest for Camelot” does a fuzzy job of clearly introducing and establishing its characters, and makes them types, not individuals. Their personalities aren’t helped by the awkward handling of dialogue; in some of the long shots, we can’t tell who’s supposed to be speaking, and the animated lip synch is unconvincing. Another problem is the way the songs begin and end abruptly; we miss the wind-up before a song and the segue back into spoken dialogue. The movie just doesn’t seem sure of itself.”

Will kids like it? Ebert answered, “I dunno. I saw it in a theater filled with kids, and didn’t hear or sense the kind of enthusiasm that good animation can inspire. The two-headed dragon gets some laughs with an Elvis imitation. But there’s a running joke in which one head is always trying to smooch the other one, and the kids didn’t seem sure why they were supposed to laugh. There’s also the problem that Ruben is simply a one-dimensional bad guy, with no intriguing personality quirks or weaknesses; he pales beside Rasputin in “Anastasia” or Scar in “The Lion King.” Of the supporting animals, the falcon has no particular personality, and Bladebeak is a character in search of a purpose. Even the vast, monstrous dragon that ends up with Excaliber (as a toothpick) is a disappointment. When the heroes find him in a cave, he doesn’t exude much menace or personality; he’s just a big prop.”

The most interesting character is Garrett, who we find out was rejected from Camelot because he was blind, and now lives in the forest with the falcon. “I stand alone,” he sings, but his friendship with Kayley is the only believable one in the movie. We also find it strange that the plants in his forest are more interesting than most of the animals. There are eyeball plants that snap at people, helicopter plants that give free rides (more could have been made of those), and plants that chomp at ankles and elbows.

Ebert is right when he said, “Really good animation can be exhilarating; I remember the “Under the Sea” sequence from “The Little Mermaid,” and “Be My Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast.” In “Quest for Camelot” there are no sequences that take off and soar, and no rules to give shape to the action scenes (if Excaliber is really all-powerful, how is its power exercised, and why can its bearer be defeated?).” The movie’s fundamental formula is so familiar that there’s no use mentioning a recap unless you have convincing characters and good songs. Ebert asked, “Enormous resources went into the making of this film, but why wasn’t there more stretching and creativity at the screenplay level? Why work so hard on the animation and run the plot on autopilot?”

Don’t see this movie. It was one of the most underwhelming animated movies of the time. The characters are copies (Kayley’s animation is a copy of Belle, Devon and Cornwall are a copy of “Aladdin’s” Genie), the story is not connected with the Arthur legend, they make references to “Taxi Driver” and “Dirty Harry” (as if they think those are the movies kids watch), and there are so many things that are not explained. I know that the forest is enchanted, but that’s just vague, and Ruber gets the potion from some witches, but when did those exist in Camelot? However, other stuff, like Buckbeak change sides, putting Excalibur in the stone heals everyone, but doesn’t heal Garrett’s blindness, are never explained. Don’t you think we deserve that? To add insult to injury, this was John Gielgud’s last film of his career. How come Gary Oldman played obvious villains at the time? This and “Lost in Space” came out the exact same year and Oldman played the obvious villains with the same motives in both films, which makes you wonder. I would just suggest people to go to “Medieval Times” instead of watching this garbage. Avoid this movie because you will be very disappointed by it.

Next week, I will be looking at another musical that I’m not a fan of in “Pierce Brosnan Month.”

Mrs. Doubtfire

For this entire month, I will be reviewing movies with Pierce Brosnan that I have not reviewed. To start off this month, I will be looking at the 1993 comedy that is one of my all-time favorites, “Mrs. Doubtfire.”

Why can’t a woman be more like a man dressed like a woman?

Rita Kempley said in her review, “"Mrs. Doubtfire," a kind of "Charley's Aunt" with voguish family values, skirts the issue with hairy-legged hilarity and hug-a-bug-ability.” Produced by Robin Williams and his at that time wife, Marsha Graces Williams, the movie is mainly a showcase of Williams’ comic genius, but it also has one or two stuff to say about raising children – the stuff you see in cereal commercials.

Williams, at the height of his mad form, goes through his various familiar impressions – Gandhi to Tweety Bird to Barbra Streisand – before focusing on his nanny protagonist. Kempley compared, “He's downright irresistible as the redoubtable old housekeeper, who appears to be the love child of Mary Poppins and Hulk Hogan's "Mr. Nanny."”

Based on the book Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine, the film is about Daniel Hillard (Williams), a childlike voice actor who loves his three kids so much (Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, and Mara Wilson). These qualities that commend him to them – a sweet craziness and a carefree type of fun – prevent him from being a good husband to Miranda, played by Sally Field, a hardworking mom who divorces him and wins custody of the kids.

Not wanting to be separated from his children for even a day, Daniel disguises himself as the old-fashioned Mrs. Doubtfire and his hired on as Miranda’s housekeeper. Kempley said, “Of course, nobody in her right mind would be fooled, but that is, of course, Victor/Victoria's Secret -- the essence of both the movie's heart and its howls.”

Daniel, taken into his wife’s confidence as Mrs. Doubtfire, learns what she really thought of him: “I just didn’t like who I was with him.” Meanwhile, Daniel, as an old British lady, attracts the attention of a bus driver, played by Sydney Walker, who is not the least uninterested when seeing Mrs. Doubtfire’s hairy knee: “I like that Mediterranean look. It’s natural, healthy.”

Kempley noted, “Inevitably, our hero has the all-too-familiar problems with high heels and purse snatchers, but these prerequisites of cross-dressing are quickly dispensed with. Daniel, you see, has had lessons from professionals -- not to mention the blessing of genuine gay people.” This disguise came with the help of his makeup artist brother (Harvey Fierstein) and his boyfriend (Scott Capurro).

Kempley said, “As "Uncle Frank and Aunt Jack," they are very much a part of this movie family, an inclusive organism that extends finally to Miranda's new boyfriend (Pierce Brosnan), who like Mom herself is little more than a dandy foil for the hero.” Others include the late Robert Prosky as the old station manager who helps Daniel toward a happy ending and the late Anne Haney as the court liaison who investigates Daniel’s living conditions.

Kempley noted, “The most thankless role belongs to Field, who is career mom as scapegoat for the downfall of civilization. But Field perseveres, recalling Cinderella's buddies, the cartoon bluebirds.” When Williams gets to improvise the heartstrings tugging speech at the end where, as Mrs. Doubtfire, he tells the one about there being all kinds of families and that’s ok – Field gets to the heart of the matter. “Mrs. Doubtfire brought out the best in (the children) and in you,” she says. “And you,” he replies.

Kempley noted, “In "Tootsie," Dustin Hoffman found that he was actually nicer in a dress too -- which in no way explains why women remain basically unchanged when clad in pantsuits. But that is not the point. Maybe there is no point, except to laugh while absorbing the goopy propaganda. And you will laugh till your ribs ache -- not because director Chris Columbus of the "Home Alone" movies has a gift for farce, which he does, but because Williams is to funny what the Energizer Bunny is to batteries.” He just kept going nonstop.

I remember seeing commercials for this movie when it was advertised that it was airing one night. All of us sat and watched the entire movie that night. We own the VHS and I remember laughing nonstop at this movie because it was that funny. I can’t remember if this was the very first Robin Williams movie I saw or if it was one of the first. I think “Aladdin” was the first Williams movie I saw, but I can’t remember. Still, this movie is one that everyone should see. It is currently streaming on Netflix and Disney+, so you should see it. This is one that shouldn’t be missed by anyone. When Williams calls Field as the various applicants for the housekeeper, that was downright hilarious. Both Williams and Field probably understood the subject matter of the movie, both who had gone through divorces prior to this film, which I can also understand, as I am going through that currently, which is almost finalized. Thankfully, I don’t have children, or that would have been exactly as the film portrayed it. I read somewhere that Matthew Lawrence saw how depressed Williams was in his trailer between takes, and he was able to see how depressed comedians get, especially with the most gifted one we ever had in Williams. The serious moments were really needed and they helped the movie out, especially when they made you feel the same emotions. Originally, they were going to end the film with Daniel and Miranda getting back together, but they changed that because it would have given children of divorced parents false hope that they’re parents would eventually get back together, which doesn’t always happen. See this movie, as it is one of the best comedies ever made with some realistic stuff in here that people will be able to relate to it.

Next week, I will be looking at one of the worst animated movies in “Pierce Brosnan Month.”

Blade: Trinity

Roger Ebert started his review by saying, “I liked the first two Blade movies, although my description of “Blade II” as “a really rather brilliant vomitorium of viscera” might have sounded like faint praise. The second film was directed by Guillermo Del Toro, a gifted horror director with a sure feel for the quease-inducing, and was even better, I thought, than the first. Now comes “Blade: Trinity,” which is a mess. It lacks the sharp narrative line and crisp comic-book clarity of the earlier films, and descends too easily into shapeless fight scenes that are chopped into so many cuts that they lack all form or rhythm.”

The setup is a continuation of the previous films. Vampires are making a war to contaminate humanity, and the most powerful fighter against them is the half-human, half-vampire Blade, reprised by Wesley Snipes. He has been raised from childhood by Whistler, reprised by Kris Kristofferson, who recognized his unique ability to balance between the two, and is a dangerous warrior, but, despite some colleagues, seriously outnumbered.

Ebert said, “As “Trinity” opens, the Vampire Nation and its leader Danica (played by Parker Posey — yes, Parker Posey) convince the FBI that Blade is responsible for, if I heard correctly, 1,182 murders.” “They’re waging a gosh darned publicity campaign,” Whistler protests in that Kris Kristoferson seen everything voice.

Agent surround Blade’s headquarters, which is your simple action movie area combining the setting of a warehouse with lots of catwalks and high places to fall from and stuff that blows up good. Whistler goes down fighting (however a shotgun seems dated, given the sci-fi weapons somewhere else in the movie), and Blade is enlisted by the Night Stalkers, who reach him through Whistler’s daughter, Abigail, voiced by Jessica Biel. Ebert said, “It would have been too much. I suppose, to hope for Whistler’s mother.”

The Night Stalkers have information that the Vampire Nation is finding the original Dracula, because to spread the virus “they need better DNA; they need Dracula’s blood.” Dracula’s superior DNA means he can work by day, unlike his descendants, who must work by night. Ebert said “The notion that DNA degrades or is somehow diluted over the centuries flies in the face of what we know about the double helix, but who needs science when you know what’s right? “They found Dracula in Iraq about six months ago,” we learn, and if that’s not a straight line I’m not Jon Stewart.”

Dracula is some type of guy. Ebert said, “Played by Dominic Purcell, he isn’t your usual vampire in evening dress with overdeveloped canines, but a creature whose DNA seems to have been infected with the virus of Hollywood monster effects. His mouth and lower face unfold into a series of ever more horrifying fangs and suchlike, until he looks like a mug shot of the original “Alien.”” He doesn’t suck blood, he vacuums it.

Ebert said, “Parker Posey is an actress I have always had affection for, and now it is mixed with increased admiration, for the way she soldiers through an impossible role, sneering like the good sport she is. Jessica Biel becomes the first heroine of a vampire movie to listen to her iPod during slayings. That’s an excuse to get the soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi and RZA into the movie, I guess, although I hope she downloaded it from the iTunes Store and isn’t a pirate on top of being a vampire.”

Vampires in this movie look about as easy to kill as the creatures in “Dawn of the Dead.” Ebert noted, “They have a way of suddenly fizzing up into electric sparks and then collapsing in a pile of ash. One of the weapons used against them by the Night Stalkers is a light-saber device that is, and I’m sure I have this right, “half as hot as the sun.” Switch on one of those babies and you’d zap not only the vampires but British Columbia and large parts of Alberta and Washington state.”

Ebert continued, “Jessica Biel is the resident babe, wearing fetishistic costumes to match Blade’s and teaming up with Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds), no relation to Hannibal Lecter, a former vampire who has come over to the good side.” The vampire killers and their fellow Night Stalkers go in an increasingly cloudy series of fights with the vampires, making you ask this simple question: Why, since the whole world is theirs to take, do the vampires have to appear and fight the Night Stalkers in the first place? Why not just figure out that since the Stalkers are in Vancouver, the vampires should concentrate somewhere there, like Montreal?

“Blade: Trinity,” released in 2004, was a huge disappointment. There have been so many horror stories that were told about Wesley Snipes’ behavior on set. Allegedly, he was very difficult to work with, wouldn’t speak to his co-stars a lot, and used a racist word against Reynolds. Patton Oswalt said Snipes tried to strangle David S. Goyer, which Snipes as denied. However, Goyer made public about his difficulties with the production, telling The Hollywood Reporter that he doesn’t believe anyone involved with this film is happy with it. Oswalt also said that Snipes smoked weed in his trailer, refused to break character, and the filmmakers intentionally gave Reynolds “the worst jokes and puns” so they could “cut to Snipes’ face not doing anything because that’s all we could get from him.” Reports say Snipes was unhappy with the choice of director, refused to leave his trailer and communicated with the cast and crew using post-it notes. This put him in the negative light and damaged his career. Not long after this film, he faced legal issues and was in jail, and his leading-man status quickly disappeared. You might have heard Snipes allegedly refusing to keep his eyes open.

Other than that, they tried to make this film into a comedy, which is not what Blade is supposed to be. This, of course, was before Ryan Reynolds was liked today in cinema, because back then, his comedy didn’t really attract people. Nothing about it was funny in any way, but just came off as painful. I would recommend everyone to pass this up, especially if they liked the first two films. You don’t want to be disappointed by the end of the trilogy. Even WWE Wrestler Paul Levesque aka Triple H couldn't save this movie. However, you could see that Snipes and Reynolds have reconciled, seeing how Snipes made a cameo as Blade in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Thank you for joining in on this year’s “Black History Movie Month.” I hope everyone enjoyed. See you next month with more excitement. 

Blade II

Roger Ebert started his review by saying, ““Blade II” is a really rather brilliant vomitorium of viscera, a comic book with dreams of becoming a textbook for mad surgeons. There are shots here of the insides of vampires that make your average autopsy look like a slow afternoon at Supercuts. The movie has been directed by Guillermo del Toro, whose work is dominated by two obsessions: War between implacable ancient enemies, and sickening things that bite you and aren’t even designed to let go.”

The 2002 sequel is an improvement on the first film, which was pretty good. Once again Wesley Snipes plays the Marvel Comics protagonist who is half-man, half-vampire. He was raised from childhood by Whistler, reprised by Kris Kristofferson, a vampire hunter who kept Blade’s vampirism under control, and trained him to fight the vampires. A long time has passed, Whistler has been kidnapped by vampires and floats unconscious in a storage tank while his blood is harvested, and Blade runs the streets in his solitary war.

Ebert mentioned, “One night acrobatic creatures with glowing red eyes invade Blade’s space and engage in a violent battle that turns out to be entirely gratuitous, because after they remove their masks to reveal themselves as vampires–a ferocious warrior and a foxy babe–they only want to deliver a message: “You have been our worst enemy. But now there is something else on the streets worse than you!” This reminded me of the night in O’Rourke’s when McHugh asked this guy why he carried a gun and the guy said he lived in a dangerous neighborhood and McHugh said it would be safer if he moved.”

The Vampire Nation is under attack by a new colony of vampires named Reapers, who drink the blood of both humans and vampires, and are greedy. Blade, who is both human and vampire, is in the middle of the road. If the Reapers are not destroyed, both species will die. Ebert noted, “If the Reapers are not destroyed, both races will die. This news is conveyed by a vampire leader whose brain can be dimly seen through a light blue translucent plastic shell, more evidence of the design influence of the original iMac.”

Blade and Whistler (now rescued from the tank and revived with a “retro-virus injection”) join the vampires in this fight, which is not without danger, because of course if the Reapers are destroyed, the vampires will turn on them. Ebert pointed out, “There is a story line, however quickly sketched, to support the passages of pure action, including computer-aided fight scenes of astonishing pacing and agility. Snipes once again plays Blade not as a confident superhero, but as a once-confused kid who has been raised to be good at his work and uncertain about his identity.” He is in love with a vampire Nyssa, played by Leonor Varela, but we feel a relationship between a vampire and Blade, called a Daywalker, is sooner or later going to end in arguments over their work schedules.

The Reapers are perfectly made for this movie. They all have what looks like a scar down the center of their chins. Ebert mentioned, “The first time we see one, it belongs to a donor who has turned up at a blood bank in Prague. This is not the kind of blood bank you want to get your next transfusion from. It has a bug zapper hanging from the wall, and an old drunk who says you can even bring in cups of blood from outside and they’ll buy them.”

We find out that it is a cleft chin, not a scar. These Reapers are disgusting. Ebert said, “They have mouths that unfold into tripartite jaws. Remember the claws on the steam shovels in those prize games at the carnival, where you manipulated the wheels and tried to pick up valuable prizes? Now put them on a vampire and make them big and bloody, with fangs and mucus and viscous black saliva. And then imagine a tongue coiled inside with an eating and sucking mechanism on the end of it that looks like the organ evolution forgot–the sort of thing diseased livers have nightmares about.” Later they cut open a Reaper’s chest cavity and Blade and Whistler look inside.

Blade: The heart is surrounded in bone!

Whistler: Good luck getting a stake through it!

Ebert noted, “Del Toro’s early film “Cronos” (1993) was about an ancient golden beetle that sank its claws into the flesh of its victims and injected an immortality serum. His “Mimic” (1997) was about a designer insect, half-mantis, half-termite, that escapes into the subway system and mutates into a very big bug. Characters would stick their hands into dark places and I would slide down in my seat. His “Devil’s Backbone” (2001), set in an orphanage at the time of the Spanish Civil War, is a ghost story, not a horror picture, but does have a body floating in a tank.”

Still when he was in his 30s, Del Toro didn’t depend on computers to get him through a movie and impress those with fancy fight scenes. He brings his scary phobias with him. Ebert ended his review by saying, “You can sense the difference between a movie that’s a technical exercise (“Resident Evil”) and one steamed in the dread cauldrons of the filmmaker’s imagination.”

In my opinion, I feel like “Blade II” is better than the first one. If you like the first one better, I understand. However, I am one of those people who prefers the sequel. When I saw it, I really got into it because the action was more intense, the story was gripping, the actors played their parts perfectly, and all around, Del Toro did an amazing job with this sequel. Check it out if you haven’t seen it yet. I saw this in parts on YouTube way back when you could only see movies split up into 10-minute videos. I have been meaning to go back and rewatch the trilogy, but I haven’t gotten around to it. See this sequel to know what I mean about this one being better than the first, in my opinion.

Next week, we will be sadly ending “Black History Movie Month” with the weakest of the “Blade Trilogy.”

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President

For this year’s “President’s Day Movie Review,” I will be looking at the 2020 documentary, “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President.”

This is an energetic celebration of a good man, who became one of USA’s most effective former presidents.

Whether or not history will look nicely at his presidency, the Georgia peanut farmer who came up to the country’s highest elected office was undeniably a lovable man. Back in the 1970s, his relationships with some of the biggest names in music helped expand his charm.

In the documentary, Grammy award-winning producer turned director Mary Wharton looks at the middle of music and politics. The film takes us behind the scenes with some of rock & roll’s most famous singers and (at that time) 95-year-old President Carter in a series of intimate interviews.

Among the musical stars shown in the documentary, we hear from Jimmy Buffet, Garth Brooks, Rosanne Cash, Larry Gatlin, Willie Nelson, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon, Trisha Yearwood, Bono, and even Bob Dylan. Jonathan W. Hickman said in his review, “But most touching, I think, are the interviews with the late Gregg Allman (who died in 2017).”

“The Allman Brothers helped put me in the White House by raising money when I didn’t have any money!” Carters says in the film.

It was the 39^th president’s relationship with Gregg Allman that helps demonstrate the character of Jimmy Carter. Hickman noted, “Following Allman’s famous mid-1970s drug bust, and his subsequent testimony against his personal road manager, it would have been easy, even understandable, for Carter, a good Christian, to abandon the troubled southern rocker. But true to form, and by relying on his lifelong Christian sense of forgiveness, Carter’s big heart and loyalty to his friend endured.”

Risking political backlash, Carter maintained relations with Allman, even continuing to have the struggling musician and his then-wife, Cher, to the White House. Hickman said, “If Carter only valued the benefit of celebrity connections, he would have stopped taking Allman’s calls. The humility and grace on display are palpable.”

The interviews with Carter, whose son, Chip, describes as only being able to “play the stereo,” are rich and insightful. Regardless of where you stand politically, it’s hard not to appreciate Carter’s calming approach to life.

Aside from a flashback through political history, “Jimmy Carter; Rock & Roll President” works as a musical time capsule. Including rarely seen performances by some of the industry’s famous people, it’s an enjoyable and rocking movie. Hickman said, “And Wharton, daughter of famous blues guitarist Bill Wharton aka “The Sauce Boss,” smartly populates her film with a seamless tapestry of overlapping tunes.”

At one part, the documentary has a soulful rendition of God Bless America by Aretha Franklin at the presidential inauguration. It’s impossible not to fell something by the performance, which was followed by a surprise appearance on stage by Western actor John Wayne, the antagonism’s loyal voice. Later, it’s mentioned that Wayne helped with the iconic Panama Canal Treaty.

Despite Wharton presenting a solidly positive view of the former one-term president, whose legacy was forever damaged by the Iran hostage crisis, this documentary is not afraid of his political failures. However, as history looks back on him, bad thoughts don’t come easily. Also, his contagious smile and kind manner are highly shown here.

A must for music fans, and an interesting, unique look of interest to politicos, “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” puts a tough time in our nation’s history in a musical contest. It also pleads with us not to turn our back on a friend even if that relationship is not good.

As I was looking for what to watch for today, I came across this documentary, which currently can be purchased on Apple TV. I think this is a good documentary to learn about our longest-lived former president, who we sadly lost at the end of last year. With all the life blessings, he lived to be a centenarian and his presidency was good, even though there were mistakes that were made. In the end, he was as human as the next man, but this shows us how he was against segregation, his friendship with other ethnicities, and just how his background really shaped him into being the great man he was. Check this out and see for yourself.

Thank you for joining in on today’s review. Stay tuned this Friday for the continuation on the “Black Trilogy” for “Black History Movie Month.”