Movie Reviews


Willow with Cherlindrea's Wand Madmartigan Rool and Franjean, the Brownies	*Willow* Fantasy Theatrical Release 126 minutes May 20, 1988 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lucasfilm, Imagine Entertainment Directed by Ron Howard. Story by George Lucas. Screenplay by Bob Dolman. Starring: Warwick Davis as Willow, Val Kilmer as Madmartigan, Joanne Whalley as Sorsha, Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda, Patricia Hayes as Fin Raziel, Billy Barty as High Aldwin, David Steinberg as Meegosh, Phil Fondacaro as Vohnkar, Mark Northover as Burglekutt, Kevin Pollak as Rool, Rick Overton as Franjean, Maria Holvoe as Cherlindrea, Julie Peters as Kiaya, Dawn Downing as Mims, Michael Cotterill as Druid, Ruth Greenfield as Elora Dannan, and Kate Greenfield as Elora Dannan. Elora Dannan is born. According to prophesy, she will defeat the evil Queen Bavmorda. Bavmorda just misses killing her. Instead, Elora is whisked away and eventually set adrift in a river only to be found by a family of Nelwyns, or little people. Because she is a Daikini, or one of the tall people, the village elders order her to be returned to the Daikini. Willow, a would-be magician, sets of with a few friends to find a Daikini. They find Madmartigan hanging in a cage. It's apparent that Madmartigan is not very reputable. But he promises to take care of the baby, so they free him and then head home. It isn't long before Elora is in the clutches of a giant bird, having been stolen by Brownies, a kind of faery less than a foot tall. Determined to save the baby, Willow he follows the bird. So begins a fellowship of misfits and the adventure of a lifetime. Madmartigan, the Brownies - Rool and Franjean, and Willow must keep Elora safe while running from Bavmorda's army and trying to find the great sorceress Fin Raziel. This movie borrows from several classic themes, a baby floating down a river. People being tied up by Lilliputians. In this case, Willow is tied up by Brownies. A good witch fighting a bad witch. Rolling down the snowy mountain inside an ever-increasing snowball. Little guy against the system - somewhat literally since Davis is 3'6". Having been filmed in 1988, there aren't many modern computer graphics. I thought that might be a problem, but it isn't. All the special effects work fine, even the two-headed monster, Fin Raziel's transformation, and the Brownies. It is a little hard to believe that the Brownies don't get squished, given the stunts they pull. Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton do a wonderful job portraying Rool and Franjean, or Mumbo and Jumbo, as Madmartigan calls them. They add a consistent thread of comic relief throughout the movie without ever becoming ridiculous. Jean Marsh also outdoes herself as the evil and insane Bavmorda. Although, I don't know why she has to spend so much time calling up thunder, lightning, and rain before killing Elora Dannan. But it makes for a spectacular scene and a great way to pit Fin Razel, an older but still power sorceress, against the younger and stronger Bavmorda. And, of course, Willow is also there, determined to save the baby. He may be short, but he holds his own. George Lucas wrote this movie in part for Warwick Davis. Davis played Wicket in Return of the Jedi when he was twelve. In Willow, he is 17 even though Willow is a father with two children. Although Willow was not the blockbuster hit, George Lucas and Ron Howard had hoped for, it is a classic. A truly engaging movie that still feels fresh and up to date. Reviewed by Romana Drew October 3, 2022.

	*Batteries Not Included* Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comedy Theatrical Release 106 minutes December 18, 1987 Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment Directed by Matthew Robbins. Story by Mick Garris. Screenplay by Brad Bird, Matthew Robbins, Brent Maddock, and S.S. Wilson. Starring Hume Cronyn as Frank Riley, Jessica Tandy as Faye Riley, Frank McRae as Harry Noble, Elizabeth Pena as Marisa Esteval, Dennis Boutsikaris as Mason Baylor, and Michael Carmine as Carlos Faye and Frank Riley own a diner on the ground floor of an old brick apartment building. The building is about to be demolished to make room for a complex of tall office buildings. Marisa, unwed and pregnant, Harry, a has-been boxer with brain damage, Mason, a struggling artist, and the Riley's are the only residents left. Carlos uses envelopes full of cash to encourage them to leave. No one takes the cash, so Carlos and his obnoxious buddies do their best to demolish everything these people hold dear. Then the little aliens arrive, and things get interesting. The first twenty minutes of this film are a bit difficult to take. All of the characters face enough problems without being ruthlessly evicted. None of them have any place to go. Both Harry and Faye have cognitive issues. Harry can fix anything, but he lacks the ability to communicate except through advertising phrases. Faye just doesn't live in this world. The aliens are great. Various versions of flying saucers, they zoom around, fix things, have babies, and in general, make life interesting for everyone. The babies look like they might be related to AT DT Walkers from Star Wars. However, the building must still come down. The developer will not give up. Jessica Tandy gives a spectacular performance as Faye Riley. She is full of life and energy, able to wait tables like a pro. She, more than anyone else, understands the aliens. But in other ways, she suffers from dementia, unable to understand simple things or comprehend her son's death so many years ago. It would be so easy to get this character wrong. But Tandy gets it right every time. Faye is believable and loveable. As soon as the aliens show up, the first part of the movie is pretty much forgotten or at least forgiven for being plodding and cruel. The happy ever after ending pays homage to Close Encounters of the Third Kind Even at thirty-four years old, the movie doesn't feel dated. It is still fun to watch. Reviewed by Roman Drew on March 18 2021.

	*Alice in Wonderland* PG, 108 min, Adventure, Family, Fantasy Walt Disney Pictures 2010 Directed by Tim Burton. Screenplay by Linda Woolverton. From Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Starring Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter, Mia Wasikowska as Alice Kingsleigh, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, Crispin Glover as Stayne - Knave of Hearts, Matt Lucas as Tweedledee / Tweedledum, Michael Sheen as the voice of the White Rabbit, Stephen Fry as the voice of the Cheshire Cat, Alan Rickman the voice of the as Blue Caterpillar, Barbara Windsor as the voice of the Dormouse, Paul Whitehouse as the voice of the March Hare, Timothy Spall the voice of the as Bayard, Marton Csokas as Charles Kingsleigh, and Tim Pigott-Smith as Lord Ascot. Alice, now twenty years old, still dreams of Wonderland. She has long since outgrown any belief that Wonderland is real, assuming it to be a fantasy of her dreams. But a White Rabbit in a waistcoat just ran through the bushes. The story starts at Alice's engagement party. Hamish, Lord Ascot's son, is scheduled to propose in front of several hundred friends and family members. Alice is fortunate to have such a wealthy and respected suitor. Still, the White Rabbit is running around, and no one sees it except her. She simply can't concentrate on the party or the proposal. Instead, she follows the rabbit until he disappears down a hole. She looks down the hole and predictably falls in. All the normal Alice in Wonderland things happen. There is a tea party. Alice grows ten feet tall then shrinks to the size of a mouse. All the expected characters inhabit the film; the Door Mouse, Chesire Cat, Mad Hatter, Red Queen, White Queen, and so forth. They all play their parts, but not quite the way Lewis Carroll originally wrote them. Alice is now an adult. She must find the Vorpal Sword and kill the Jabberwocky. The acting and special effects are superb. Many of the characters look like real people turned into cartoon characters, especially the Red Queen and Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The world looks real, and all the characters make sense. Some bits are quite charming, like the Door Mouse carrying around the Bandersnatch's eye. Why he should do that isn't explained. But, eventually, Alice needs to give that eye back to the Bandersnatch. This being fantasy, he simply pops it back in as if nothing ever happened. Throughout most of the film, Alice refuses to fight anything for any reason, but in the end she turns into a mighty warrior for her battle with the Jaberwocky. It seems a bit out of character. I wanted her to tame or find some way not to kill the Jaberwocky, like she did with the Bandresnatch. But no - off with his head just like the poem. Alice in Wonderland was also shown in 3D. That was probably quite an experience, but I have no way to watch a 3D film. This is an action-packed fantasy full of excitement and impossible things. It all works wonderfully well. Reviewed by Roman Drew on February 18, 2021.

	*Short Circuit* Science Fiction, Comedy Length 98 minutes 1986 Tri-Star Pictures Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, G.W. Bailey, Brian McNamar, and Tim Blaney as Number 5 (voice) Directed by Chris Weitz. Directed by John Badham. Written by S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock Newton Crosby and Ben Jabituya build robots for NOVA Laboratory. After a successful demonstration of the robot's ability to destroy military targets, the spectators go inside for refreshments and avoid the rain. Lightning hits robot Number 5. Instead of being taken to the lab for repair, he accidentally escapes. Finding himself with Stephanie Speck, animal lover extraordinaire, he repairs his circuits and assimilates data. It isn't long before Number 5 declares himself alive and refuses to return to NOVA to be dissembled. And so, the action begins. If you want a sensitive portrayal of anything, deep introspection, an intellectually challenging story, or even just multidimensional characters, this isn't the movie for you. But, if you want an hour and thirty-eight minutes of fun, Short Circuit is an excellent choice. Even at thirty-five years old, the special effects hold up. The robots are mechanically complex and work realistically. They even have personalities. The pacing is excellent. And the comedy is perfect. Don't look too close. There are many parts of this movie that don't track well. How can a broken robot repair itself? It didn't learn that by watching TV all night. In one scene the van has weels off the edge of the cliff. In the following scenes the wheels are in a shallow ditch. Number 5 exits the van on a ramp that disappears in the next scene. And, in the end, Number 5 rises up from a compartment underneath the van. There isn't enough room between the floor of the van and the road to store 5 no matter how much he folds up. The military officers and Frank, Stephanie's ex, are almost cartoon characters. But they don't need to be any more than that. While Stephanie and Newton have a degree of emotional range, it isn't very wide or deep. However, it is just right for the story. Number 5's antics and their running around are laced with a constant stream of one-liners by both Number 5 and Newton's hapless cohort, Ben. Fisher Stevens' portrayal of Ben is one of the highlights of the film. Although, if the film were made today, that role would go to an Indian man, not a white man in dark makeup. Culturally appropriate behavior has changed in the past thirty-four years. There is no way to know what things we do now will be considered culturally insensitive in 2056. It is impossible to apply our current values thirty-five years retroactively. It is ridiculous to chastise people for not following 2021 standards in 1986. So, enjoy the performance. Reviewed by Roman Drew on January 28, 2021.

	*Stargate* Theatrical release October 28, 1994 Length 116 minutes Written by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich Directed by Roland Emmerich Starring Kurt Russell as Colonel Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil, James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, Jaye Davidson as Ra, Viveca Lindfors as Catherine Langford, Alexis Cruz as Skaara, Mili Avital as Sha'uri, Leon Rippy as General W.O. West, John Diehl as Lieutenant Kawalsky, and Carlos Lauchu as Ra. Back in 1928, Catherine Langford's father unearths a huge circular object covered protected by stones covered in hieroglyphs. In 1994 Dr. Daniel Jackson, an Egyptologist, is asked to help translate the symbols, some of which don't resemble any known language. Jackson determines that the unidentified symbols are an address or pathway to another star system. The address is dialed into the Stargate and a stable wormhole forms. A probe is sent through, showing that there is breathable air and another stargate. Jackson, Colonel O'Neil, and the rest, step through the Stargate to Abydos, a desert planet. They are inside a pyramid. Soon, they meet the locals. Ra arrives, landing his ship on top of a pyramid and causing havoc. Quite a few things are not well explained in this movie. What happened to the Stargate between 1924 and 1994? How did they know how to power the Stargate? Why did they think the energy field would lead to anything except destruction? The Abydos Stargate is located inside a roomy and defensible pyramid. Why set up camp outside in the hot sun? How are so many people living on and working in an area with almost no vegetation or water sources? Although Kurk Russell, as Jack O'Neil, gets top billing, this is Daniel Jackson's story. James Spader does a believable job of portraying Jackson as an intuitive genius, who is sometimes socially clueless. Once Ra arrives, glowing eyes and all, the action starts. There are battles and fight scenes and a nail-biting conclusion. There even a bit of a love story. This is a great stand-alone film, but it is also the beginning of the Stargate television series. The television series features many of the characters from the movie, some played by the same actors. Most of the personalities are similar. Jack O'Neil is the exception. Kurt Russell's portrayal of Jack O'Neil is vastly different from Richard Dean Anderson's portrayal of Jack O'Neill. Even the name is spelled differently. Reviewed by Roman a Drew July 4, 2020

	*Golden Compass* Fantasy 2007 New Line Cinema Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Ben Walker, and Sam Elliott. Directed by Chris Weitz. Screenplay by Chris Weitz from Northern Lights by Philip Pullman. Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pantalaimon, live in a parallel universe controlled by the quasi-religious Magisterium. Lyra, an orphan, resides at Jordan College with her uncle, Lord Asriel. When Asriel goes to the north on a quest for dust, the magical power that connects all the parallel universes, he leaves Lyra behind. Mrs. Coulter offers to take Lyra north. Before she goes, the head of the college gives her an alethiometer, which gives truthful answers to questions for those who have the power to understand. However, Mrs. Coulter doesn't go north. When her daemon tries to steal the alethiometer, Lyra runs away. And there the adventure begins. Lyra enters a world of armored bears, roving sea folk, flying witches, and lots of bad guys. The best part of this move is the daemons. Each character has a different 'spirit' animal that is always around. They are linked. People, feel pain when their daemon is hurt and vice versa. The animation is fantastic. A few of the beasts could work a little better, for the most part, the daemons are incredibly believable and likable. The story is a middle-grade fantasy but is enjoyable for all ages. Dakota Blue Richards does a convincing portrayal of Lyra. And Sam Elliott steals every scene as the aeronaut Lee Scoresby. In some ways, this is a mash-up of ideas from Narnia, Neverending Story, and too many flying witch stories to name. Lee's flying machine reminds me of the Cathawk from The Flying Sorcerers by David Gerrold and Larry Niven. The opening narration seems overly long and probably unnecessary, but once the movie gets going, it is thoroughly entertaining. I watched this back in 2007 or 2008 and had forgotten about it, but it didn't take long to remember that I enjoyed it then. I'm glad that I watched it again. Reviewed by Roman Drew on September 10, 2019.

	*Thirdspace* TV Movie 94 minutes Originally aired July 19, 1998 Written by J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by Jesus Salvador Trevino Starring Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs, Jeff Conaway, Stephen Furst, Patricia Tallman, Clyde Kusatsu, Shari Belafonte, and William Sanderson, A huge and ancient artifact (for lack of a better word) is found in hyperspace and towed to the Babylon 5 space station. This, of course, can't be a good thing. It isn't long before the vultures' circle. Duce, a lurker from Downbelow, leads a group of losers who demand access to the artifact. One even tries to walk out an airlock to get to the thing. Then, Dr. Elizabeth Trent from Interplanetary Expeditions shows up to take over. John Sheridan, the station commander, is not about to give up the find of a lifetime, and IPX is not about to give up their claim to anything they want. A deal is cut. Trent gets access to the artifact in exchange for supplies to help the station, which is cut off from Earth. Lyta, a telepath, goes bonkers. She writes all over the walls of her quarters and walks around in a stupor. Even though she can't possibly know how, Dr. Trent powers up the artifact. This is one of those "How can you be so stupid?" moments. Then the trouble starts. The artifact spews out ships gunning for the station, and free-for-all fighting erupts in the halls. Sheridan, in a spacesuit, flies to the artifact through the middle of the space battle. This movie has a great cast, evil monsters, and exciting battles, both fist fights and shoot-em-up in space. It's not necessary to be a fan of Babylon 5 to undersand and enjoy this excellent movie. Don't miss it. Reviewed by Romana Drew August 22, 2019

	*Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* Fantasy Original release date November 10, 2016 Starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, and Colin Farrell. Written by J. K. Rowling. Directed by David Yates British wizard, Newt Scamander arrives in New York in 1926 with a suitcase full of magical creatures. Of course, a few escape and cause havoc. That might have gone unnoticed except for the Obscurus terrorizing the city. Newt unknowingly switches suitcases with the non-magical baker, Jacob Kowalski, gets arrested by Tina Goldstein, and is taken before MACUSA, the Magical Congress of the United States of America. They escape, and with the help of Jacob and Tina's sister Queenie, they capture the escaped creatures. An Obscurus, a parasite that infects the brains of magical children who suppress their magical abilities, is terrorizing the city. The dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald mucks everything up by trying to destroy Newt's suitcase, with all the creatures inside, and searching for the Obscurus. This is an adult story set in the Harry Potter universe. The special effects are superb and the plot both complex and reasonably intelligent. The action moves right along without a dull moment. Dan Fogler makes wannabe baker Jacob Kowalski the most interesting and well-developed character in the movie. Alison Sudol as the somewhat ditzy, but usually correct Queenie, also delivers a sensitive and charming performance. The two of them together are a joy to watch. The magical suitcase is a cross between a Tardis and Rufio's little black box (from Heinlein's Glory Road), but with no graceful way of getting in. This is a great fun movie. Anyone who enjoys Harry Potter or fantasy in general will thoroughly enjoy Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Reviewed by Roman Drew March 5, 2019.

	*Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children* Fantasy Original release date September 30, 2016 Starring Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Chris O'Dowd, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench, and Samuel L. Jackson. Written by Jane Goldman. Directed by Tim Burton Based on a novel of the same name by Ransom Riggs. Teenager, Jake Portman watches a monster kill his grandfather and is haunted by the memory. All his life, his grandfather told him stories of monsters and the strange school he attended as a child. Psychiatrist, Dr. Golan, suggests a trip to the School for Peculiar Children, where the grandfather grew up, might help Jake move forward with his life. His father agrees because he can study birds on the island for a book he is writing. On the island, Jake stumbles through a time portal to Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children, September 3, 1943, only hours before a German bomb obliterates the school. However, just before the bomb hits her, Mrs. Peregrine reverses time for exactly one day, and the bomb never falls. She does that every day. Jake gets to know the peculiar children. One can temporally raise the dead, one is invisible, one has bees inside him, and one, Emma Bloom, is very pretty and floats unless tied down. Up until now, the movie follows the book for the most part. Then in a pure Tim Burton way, Emma takes Jake to a submerged ocean liner and fills it with air. Following that, the movie gets back to the main story. Abe is peculiar, not because he has any weird traits, but because, like his grandfather, he can see the monsters. Then the school is attacked by monsters wanting to eat the eyes of peculiar children. The kids flee to 2016, and a bomb destroys the school. They have to get back to 1943, or time will catch up, and they will die. Insead of the returning to 1943 (as they did in the book), they stay in 2016, resurrect the ocean liner, and sail to Blackpool, where bad guys and monsters await. The first half of the story is very like the book, strange and fascinating. It lacks the kind of sensitivity that would make it delightful, but it works. However, the second half feels like a different movie. In many ways, it has a feeling similar to the Nightmare Before Christmas. The special effects are astounding, and the pacing is fast and fun. It goes in for cheap (or rather expensive) effects at the cost of more emotionally engaging character development. If you like Tim Burton's other movies, you will probably like this one, especially the last half. The book has a quality of realism as if it could happen. The movie is pure fantasy with little to tether it to reality. Not bad at all, but not great either. Reviewed by Roman Drew February 14, 2019.

	*Tomb Raider* Adventure Fantasy Original release date March 16 2018 Starring Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Derek Jacobi. Directed by Roar Uthaug Screen play by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons. Based a story by Evan Daugherty and Geneva Robertson-Dworet Since her father's disappearance seven years ago, Lara Croft has made a living as a bike courier, refusing to live in the Croft mansion. When she learns that the estate is about to be sold off, she agrees to claim her inheritance. While signing the papers, she is given a puzzle box containing a clue to her father's whereabouts. Following a trail of clues, she ends up on an island off the coast of Japan where the tomb of the Japanese empress Himiko is said to be. Of course, in true Tomb Raider (and Indiana Jones) fashion, a rival archeologist is bent on using Himiko's power to rule the world. Lara must find the tomb, stop the evil grave robbers, and maybe even save her father. The backstory and set up in the first part of the film is a bit long, but once the action starts, things pick up, and the film lives up to its action-packed hype. In bike chases, raging rivers, boat crashes, and collapsing caves, Lara must run, swim, swing, leap, fight, and outwit the bad guys. Nobody is that strong, that lucky, or that indestructible, but hey, it's Tomb Raider, so it's all good. Lara should be a strong, independent, and self sufficient woman, but she isn't. She escapes the river and collasping airplane on her own and shoots her share of baddies. But too many times, she is saved at the last minute by a man. Even in the end, after surviving fights, explosions, collapsing floors, and imploding caves, she has to be dug out by a man. When a man attacks, she is picked up and tossed about. Just before he kills her, Lara manages a choke hold or something that does him in, but she never lands a serious punch and never controls the action. The movie ends with a set up for a sequel. Hopefully, in the next Tomb Raider, Lara will be the full-fledged superwoman we all love from the previous movies and computer games. This movie didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it is worth watching. Reviewed by Roman Drew January 7, 2019.

	*Love Potion No. 9* Fantasy Romantic Comedy 1992 Threatical Movie Starring Tate Donovan, Sandra Bullock, Anne Bancroft, Dale Midkiff, and Mary Mara. Written and directed by Dale Launer Starting with original Clovers' version of the iconic Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song, Love Potion No. 9, this movie puts a little magic into the mundane lives of research scientists, Diane and Paul. Madame Ruth tells Paul that he will never know love, so she gives him a sample of Love Potion No. 8. It makes any woman who hears his voice fall in love with him and any man hate him for four hours. He shares the potion a coworker, Diane. He secretly loves Diane but is too shy to tell her. They experiment and discover that the potion does work exactly as Madame Ruth said, as long as it is diluted. Marisa, a hooker, finds the potion and uses it on Paul. He gives her everything he owns, and then it wears off. Diane uses the potion and gets a marriage proposal from an English prince. Then Gary, who only wants to bed Diane, discovers the potion and uses it on her. Paul tries to intercede believing that Diane truly loves him. But she is under the spell, and Gary plans to keep it that way. Only Love Potion No. 9 can save the day. From The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly to Mack the Knife, the song selections are perfect. Even though they are cliches, they make you smile. There is plenty of predictable running around, miscommunication, and botched plans, not belly laugh funny but quite enjoyable. Anne Bancroft steals every scene as Madame Ruth, even when she just sits still. Paul's houseful of amorous cats is fun. And Marisa empties the church, leading hundreds of men on a merry chase after she takes a swig of undiluted No. 8. The portrayal of laboratory chimps is unrealistic. They aren't mistreated, but the scene must have been conceived by someone who has no experience with primates. However, it is funny. This is good solid light entertainment. It does the iconic old song proud. Reviewed by Roman Drew December 20, 2018.

	*Twister* 1996 Threatical movie Written by Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin. Directed by Jan de Bont. Starring Helen, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, and Jami Gert. In 1996 storm chaser Jo, played by Helen Hunt, meets up with her ex, Bill, played by Bill Paxton, to sign divorce papers. But a tornado is on the rise and Jo has DOROTHY, a tornado recording device dreamed up by Bill before he went off to work as a weatherman. Jo, Bill, and Bill's fiance Melissa, played by Jami Gertz, hop into his truck and off they go chasing twisters. They have to beat rival Jonas, played by Cary Elwes before he deploys his version of DOROTHY. So, the chase is on. Tornado after tornado defeat our would be researchers almost killing them several times. Miles of farmland gets eaten up, cows fly, and the remains of shattered buildings whiz through the air impaling things and crashing to earth, often right in front of speeding vehicles. Twister is full of exciting special effects and great editing. The tornados feel real. Cars driving down the road never get boring. No scene lingers over long or gets cut too short. The plot and characters are pretty predictable. If you are looking for sensitive, emotional development, this isn't the film to watch. But if you want a fun, exciting romp through death-defying weather, check out Twister. Reviewed by Romana Drew November 15, 2018.

>	*Nim's Island* 2008 Theatical Movie Kid's Adventure Directed by Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin. Starring Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, and Gerard Butler Based on Nim's Island by Wendy Orr Twelve-year-old Nim Ruso, played by Abigail Breslin, lives on a tropical island with her marine biologist father, Jack, played by Gerard Butler, and a menagerie of animals. When her father is lost at sea and tourists invade the island, she emails Alex Rover, also played by Gerard Butler, for help. But Alex Rover is a fictional character created by agoraphobic writer Alexandra Rover, played by Jodie Foster. Nim's Island is reminiscent of Swiss Family Robinson with a bit of Doctor Doolittle and Home Alone thrown in. But for the most part, it works. The credits are reminiscent of a puppet show with cutout waves and boats on sticks. Although having a whale swallow a boat is a bit silly. There are some rough areas. No one who loves animals would slingshot lizards at people. Alexandra Rover overcomes her agoraphobia too easily, and she gets from San Francisco to the island in an unbelievably short period of time. Sea Lions stink. Sleeping with one would be really smelly. Nim is a self-sufficient girl who loves her father and her life. She climbs rocks and trees, eats strange plants and mealworms, rides zip lines, and meets every challenge with spunk. Gerard does a great job as both the hapless father and the imaginary, tongue in cheek, Alex Rover. Nim's Island is a fun movie to watch with the kids, or by yourself when you want some lighthearted adventure. Reviewed by Roman Drew November 8, 2018.

	*Flight of the Navigator* 1986 Theatrical Movie Kids Science Fiction Adventure Directed by Randal Kleiser. Staring Joey Cramer, Cliff De Young, Veronica Cartwright, Howard Hesseman, and Paul Reubens as the voice of Max. In 1978, twelve-year-old David Freeman, played by Joey Cramer, falls into a ravine. When he climbs out, eight years have passed, but he is still twelve-years-old. His little brother is now a teenager, and although his parents are overjoyed to see him, he doesn't quite fit in. Dr. Louis Faraday, played by Howard Hesseman, discovers that David's brainwaves can program computers to show pictures of spaceships and other highly technical information. At the same time, At the same time, NASA captures a crashed spaceship. The spaceship's pilot needs the navigational information in David's mind to get home. David needs to get back to 1978. Although there is a spaceship, advanced technology, time dilation, time travel, and other things typically found in space adventures, The Flight of the Navigator never leaves Earth. David must thread his way though officials who want to study him and a family he no longer understands. Once aboard the ship, he must contend with Max, the eccentric robotic pilot. Even though Max is only a light on the end of an arm, he has a great personality and rates as one of the stars of the movie. This light-hearted move doesn't take itself too seriously. It is fast paced and full of fun, a great movie for kids. Reviewed by Romana Drew October 28, 2018

	*Bednobs and Broomsticks* 1971, 1976, 1996 Theatrical Movie Kids Fantasy Adventure Based on books by Mary Norton Directed by Robert Stevenson. Starring Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Ian Weighill, Cindy O'Callaghan, Roy Snart Songs: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman During the blitz, Miss Eglantine Price reluctantly agrees to care for three kids from London, Charlie, Carrie, and Paul even though she is learning witchcraft through a correspondence school. When the school closes before sending her the last and most important spell, she and the children go in search of the school's director and the last spell, via a magic bed. The 1971 theater version ran 117 minutes. That was shortened to 96 minutes for the 1979 release, and remade into a 139 minute version for the 1996 rerelease. I am pretty sure I first saw the 1979, 96 minute version. This time I watched the 117 minute original release. It makes a difference. The added scenes, are long, repetitive, and do nothing to further the plot. For example, in the 96 minute version, the Portobello Road scene lasts a little over three minutes. The singing and searching for the spell move along at a good clip. In the 117 minute version, Portobello road has ten minutes of dancing. At first, it is interesting but quickly gets repetitive as does some of the underwater dancing. Although, there is brief scene with a dancer who could teach Michael Jackson a thing or two about moon walking. The live action/animation is a little primitive by today's standards, but it fits the movie. The animated soccer game was fun. But the battle at the end drags on for too long before anything happens. This is a fine movie to watch with younger children, but I highly recommend the shorter version. Reviewed by Romana Drew October 26, 2018.

>	*12:01* 1993 TV movie Sci-Fi Comedy Thriller Adapted from "12:01 PM," a short story by Richard Lupoff. Directed by Jack Sholder. Starring Jonathan Silverman, Helen Slater, Jeremy Piven, Martin Landau Barry Thomas, played by Jonathan Silverman, pines after coworker Lisa Fredericks, played by Helen Slater. He works in personnel shifting papers around. She is one of the top scientists working on a new but faulty particle accelerator. Barry finally gets up the courage to talk to Lisa at lunch. After work, he follows her out of the building, determined to talk to her again, but before he can get close, she is shot to death. He gets drunk and falls into bed around midnight. At one minute after midnight, he reaches for the light next to his bed and gets zapped. He wakes up the next day, but it is yesterday morning, again. Particle accelerators use electromagnets to send sub atomic particles, like electrons and protons whizzing along a tube so they can collide with other subatomic particles and get measured or photographed. If you can get past the ridiculous premise that a faulty particle accelerator can send the entire universe into twenty-four hour time loop, the rest of the movie works great. With each loop, Barry gets closer to discovering who activated the faulty accelerator and better at wooing Lisa. The requisite plot twists and dead ends are clever and well executed. This is a fast paced, witty movie, with a somewhat predictable but charming ending.

	*Dune* 1984 - Theatrical Version science fiction - action adventure Based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel Dune Directed by David Lynch. With Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, Francesca Annis as Lady Jessica, Jose Ferrer as Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck, and Alicia Roanne Witt as Alia Atreides. Dune begins with Princess Irulan, played by Virginia Madsen, explaining the relationships between the ruling houses and the importance of spice. These scenes are beautifully photographed, and Ms. Madsen gives a riveting performance. After that, it loses focus, turning into a jumbled mess. The acting is great and special effects are lavish and spectacular, although a few scenes are not quite up to present day standards. On a big screen, the worms would be truly frightening. Although, this movie is faithful to the book, it is way to short to do the story justice. The large cast and complex story just won't fit into 2 hours 17 minutes. Dune jumps from event to event without taking the time to flesh out characters or explain what they are doing or why. I first watched Dune in a theater in 1984. I had recently read the novel, so my mind filled in the missing material. As I remember, I enjoyed the move. But that was years ago and the details of the story have faded. If my memory is correct, the 2000 TV mini series had a much better grasp of the characters and properly fleshed out the story. I can't really recommend this movie unless you have just finished the novel. If you have never read the novel, give this one a pass. Reviewed by Romana Drew September 18, 2018

	*Stardust* 2007 PG 13 romantic comedy - fantasy adventure Based on the 1999 Neil Gaiman novel Stardust Directed by Matthew Vaughn with Claire Danes as Yvaine, the Fallen Star, Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorn, the clueless hero, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Lamia, the evil witch. Tristen lives in Wall, named for the wall that divides England from the magical kingdom of Stormhold. When he sees a star fall into Stormhold, he promises to find it for the pretty, but flaky Victoria. In Stormhold, he finds the fallen star is a beautiful woman named Yvaine. Unbeknownst to either of them, the necklace she wears has the gem the dying king tossed into the sky for his sons to find. Tristen wants to take Yvaine home as a gift for Victoria, as illogical as that might be. The king's sons want the gem so they can be king. And the evil witch, Lamia, wants to eat Yvaine's heart to gain everlasting life and beautify. So the adventure begins. The king had six sons. As Stormhold tradition demands, only the remaining son may wear the gemstone and inherit the throne. So one by one, the sons kill each other. The ghosts of the dead sons follow the living ones around the movie making for some good tongue in cheek humor. This is a lighthearted movie that doesn't take itself seriously. There are good performances by Peter O'Toole as the dying king and Robert De Niro as the cross-dressing Captain Shakespeare. Even though the violence and risque humor are quite mild, it does deserve a PG13 rating. This is a gentle fun movie, definitely worth a watch. Reviewed by Romana Drew September 10, 2018