Love the movies? How about blu-ray movies? Maybe movie merchandise? Learn more about your favorite movies past, present, and future, whether at the movie theatre, on blu-ray or on DVD. Find some unusual gift ideas for movie fans, including yourself. Join the fun and discover a new movie or two!
My family was fortunate enough to own a few of the Harry Potter sets but of course we missed many of them like this discontinued and now rare and hard-to-find Hogwarts Express motorized train set from 2004. It is a 544 piece set, recommended for individuals aged 10 and up that works with other Lego train sets and it includes four mini-figures - Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Professor Lupin and a Dementor.
The first 30 seconds of this video shows the real train that was used in the film to recreate J.K. Rowling's and Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express. It will come as no surprise that they chose one of the most spectacular railroad journeys in the world for the Harry Potter movies.
Unfortunately, now that Lego's Harry Potter Motorized Hogwarts Express is discontinued, you will find that the price has gone up. However, if it is a set you are wanting to add to your Harry Potter collection, you can find it on eBay by clicking here. If you would like to have a train set but you do not need it to be the 2004 version, you can see all of the Lego Harry Potter train sets on eBay by clicking here.
Last night we watched the new Tom Hanks movie, Greyhound. Greyhound is non-stop World War II movie based on the C.S. Forester 1955 war novel called The Good Shepherd. (Find the book here on Amazon.)
The story is based on true events during the Battle of the Atlantic, which for those who might not know, refers to everything that happened in the Atlantic during World War II. Truth be told, I did not know that until my husband told me last night.
The movie takes place almost entirely onboard the American ship the USS Keeling, whose call name was Greyhound. In 1942, she was one of the ships that escorted a convoy of 37 allied ships carrying soldiers and supplies across the Atlantic through an area know as the Black Pit to the battlefields of World War II.
For five days the apparently inexperienced U.S. Navy Commander Ernest Krause, played in this movie by Tom Hanks, led the effort to fight off Nazi U-boats and help the convoy arrive safely at its destination. I think that Hanks does a fine job of portraying Krause as a personally modest but professionally decisive man.
OFFICIAL MOVIE TRAILER
WHAT IS IT RATED?
In the United States, Greyhound is rated PG-13 for war-related action/violence and brief strong language. It was definitely intense with a few tough moments but overall it was far from the toughest war movie that I have seen in terms of violence or language.
IS IT RECOMMENDED?
Greyhound is a very focused movie intent on showing one trip across the Atlantic and it did so with little in the way of character development. Some might be disappointed to not know more about the main characters and yes, I think that would have made the story richer, but historically, this movie is a fascinating look at what allied heroes did on the ocean during World War II. Yes, I recommend it for those who are interested in history and want a look at what it might have been like to be part of the convoys that helped bring goods necessary to Europe to end the war.
Writing for Roger Ebert's website, Brian Tallerico gave the movie a scant two of four possible stars. With reference to the sole focus of the movie of one trip across the Atlantic Ocean, he called it one of the "most purposeful war films ever made." He goes on to say that it is a "simple story of well-told heroism that’s almost refreshing." However, he also calls it more "shallow than lean." I think those are fair comments and good ideas to have in mind when you sit down to watch the movie. However, Tallerico closes with, "Hanks reminds us that heroes don’t wear capes and almost never call themselves heroes. Even with the minimalism of Greyhound, it is a comforting reminder in a time when it feels like we could all use a bit more heroism." A good reminder though I think that this year, 2020, with the world battle against coronavirus, we are surrounded by heroes.
Viewers on Rotten Tomatoes give the movie a better score, of 79 percent, with comments like "the role brings out another in the Tom Hanks gallery of seemingly unremarkable men rising to meet extraordinary challenges" and "a really interesting watch, even if it's stripped of the traditional creature comforts of the genre."
WHERE TO WATCH GREYHOUND?
Originally scheduled for release at the movie theaters on May 8, Greyhound fell victim to the coronavirus and eventually the theatrical release was cancelled. Instead it was released for streaming on Apple TV on July 10. As I write this, that is the only place you can watch this movie. It is unfortunate that such a big, loud film cannot be seen on the big screen.
If you do watch Greyhound, be sure to come back and let us know what you think!
Happy viewing! I look forward to the distant day when it is safe for us to return to the movie theater.
I love Peggy Lee's sound, a mixture of American jazz and popular music though I do not own any of her records. I can, however, imagine that they would sound amazing on my turntable and I am adding this new release to my birthday wish list.
The record represents a celebration of sorts in what would have been Peggy Lee's 100th birthday year and is available on CD and vinyl or for MP3 or streaming. The album contains the songs Fever, It's a Good Day, He's A Tramp, Big Spender, I'm A Woman and the unreleased Try A Little Tenderness. It is being released by Capitol on June 19, 2020 but you can order your copy now on Amazon by clicking right here.
Also available for fans of the songstress is a new book called Peggy Lee: A Century of Song by Tish Oney. The description of the book says that the book talks about Lee's musical talent, her more than fifty albums, her radio and TV performances, her contributions to the film industry and her live performances. To do so, it draws on interviews with family, friends and others in the music industry. The book is being released on July 20, 2020. Once again, you can pre-order it from Amazon by clicking right here.
With an advance purchase of either item, you will be protected by Amazon's pre-order price guarantee.
Finally, since you are reading this and I assume interested in Peggy Lee, here's the Panel Discussion and Birthday Toast that the Grammy Museum put together in celebration of 100 Years of Peggy Lee. The documentary is hosted by Scott Goldman who is the artistic director of the Grammy Musuem and features Holly Foster Wells who is Peggy Lee's granddaughter, Dr. Tish Oney who authored Peggy Lee: A Century of Song, and by Eric Burton of the Black Pumas, Billie Eilish and k.d. lang.
Do you enjoy Peggy Lee's music? Do you know much about her?
Moana was the movie of choice, my choice that is, on our recent Friday Movie Night. My husband traveled with me to Polynesia willingly I must say. Armchair travel. Who would have thought there would be a day when this was the only way to travel?
Anyway, Moana was a movie that I wanted to see when it came out because it felt Hawaiian and I love everything about Hawaii. However, being empty nesters with no little people around, we tend now to miss animated movies when they arrive at the movie theatre and then, well, there are just so many great movies and programs to watch that Moana slipped out of sight for awhile. I am happy to say that I have finally seen it and that I was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. It was a great escape from the virus and pandemic that is gripping the world as I write this post on March 23, 2020.
STORYLINE
A fictional mythological story done with computer-generated animation, Moana tells the tale of a teenage princess who stands up to protect her people when a fiery demon threatens them. She loves the ocean and sets out upon it learning navigational skills as she goes. Helping here is the demi-god Maui who was the original creator of the Pacific Islands. Together they sail onward, fighting difficulties as they look for the particular island she will conclude her mission.
Moana is a princess, the daughter of a Chieftain. However, she does not think of herself as a princess. She certainly does not fit the stereotype and definitely does not need rescuing. She is a strong, curvy girl with a mission. The Guardian aptly puts it when they say that "Moana is the story of a female leader-in-waiting who is independent and progressive, who cares about the environment and who looks beyond the borders of her homeland to face the challenges of the future." I say don't get in Moana's way!
TRAILER
Here's a peek into the movie via the official movie trailer:
LOVE INTEREST
This princess movie does not feature a love interest. The New York Times says, the Disney princess tradition continues to be charming (in this movie) but also widens "its cultural frame of reference and allows heroines to travel down paths other than the one leading straight to matrimony." There are important men in Moana's story but they are family and friend and one of the strongest characters is most fittingly, the ocean.
HEI HEI
Another, ah, interesting character is the ridiculous chicken sidekick named Hei Hei. He stuck out to me in the beginning as totally over the top but, in the end, he was definitely part of the fun. (Find your plush Hei Hei on Amazon by clicking right here.)
REVIEWS
As Roger Ebert says, this Disney movie has "dazzling visuals, catchy tunes, enjoyable performances, clever running gags and overall sense of fun." I agree. If you did not already want to go to Polynesia or Hawaii, this movie will make you want to go. It was beautifully done and a lot of fun. As always, I particularly loved the humorous moments.
The Verge says, "After 80 years of experiments, Disney has made the perfect Disney movie." That will give you a pretty good idea of the reception that this movie had. Moana follows the Disney formula but it is brilliantly executed.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Moana is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by all of the reviewers on this page and by me.
Have you seen Moana? What did you think? Will you be adding it to your movie list? You can buy your copy of Moana on Amazon by clicking right here.
It was with great interest that I sat down to watch the feature length 2018 British film Nothing Like a Dame or Tea with the Dames as it is called in the United States. Not a movie but rather a simply presented, often times funny, documentary-style visit with four legendary stage and film actresses: Dames Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright.
Interwoven with scenes from their careers current and past, it finds the four talking casually and sometimes candidly about their lives. We had an interesting visit and I gained insight into the lives they have lived, the work they have done and even into aging, something that is coming to get all of us. Because of this film, more details about the experiences of these four very talented individuals has been recorded for posterity.
The Guardian gives the film five stars and leads with the title, "Judi Dench and Maggie Smith trade brutal banter." Yes, there were serious parts about the relationship of these two women who must, at times I expect, have been rivals. However, I think that there was more humor than bad banter. I loved some of the stories that Dame Dench related. They ranged from being stung in the bum by a bee to being offered the role of Cleopatra when she was 53. I won't elaborate to avoid spoiling her stories for you. Finally, of course, there was discussion of lost loves and lives.
Variety sums it up nicely when they say, "the conversation romps jovially across subjects ranging from stage fright to late-blooming screen stardom, and from early-career body-image concerns to the wearily accumulating indignities of old age, their combined good humor and catty irony rarely flags." Take a peek into at the film for yourself in this official movie trailer:
The Telegraph says, "…(the Dames) are funny and witty and sharp. They are in their eighties, very lively women, and this film is a celebration of friendship." I agree and Nothing Like a Dame is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me. If you are a fan of these amazing ladies, you should check out Nothing Like a Dame. You can find your copy on Amazon by clicking right here.
