Thoughts on:       The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 Disney animation)


after watching a YouTube video by Lindsay Ellis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIIWy3TZ1eI&t=807s

I had forgotten the goofy gargoyles, the graphic blood of Qusimodo's torture scene and the intense evil of Frollo. While I respect what Disney tried to do the themes of serious justice and a gregarious gargoyle almost seems bipolar. The McDonald's toy tie-in is just plain weird. Thanks for the views of the real Paris. Also for showing the unfortunate need for the presence of soldiers with major weapons who completely missed the guy (@11:30 in referenced video) hiding a bag within the foliage.

Suburbicon (2017)

Directed by: George Clooney

Written by:   Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, George Clooney and Grant Heslov

I did NOT watch this movie, only viewed the trailers.


Odd, I wonder why George Clooney and The Coens didn't concentrate on the black family's experience in the white neighborhood. Seems like that experience would result in a more interesting movie. Was this a Coen reimagining of Fellini's Satyricon (1969)?

Lore (2017 -       )

6 episodes on Amazon Prime

I have watched some of the Lore episodes on Amazon.  They are well-directed and acted, but super unnerving. The fact that these events really happened makes it way too dark to binge the episodes.

Mindhunter (2017 -   )

Season 1 - 11 episodes


This was a great series to binge watch (although I did have to take a mental health break now and then). I hope that season 2 is in production to be released soon.  This is a smart well-written series making even the known, exciting and involving. This series, taking place in 1977,  details the birth of the new view of multiple murderers, their motives and their game plan so that they could be apprehended or even stopped.  The team is Jonathan Groff (as FBI instructor Holden Ford), Holt McCallany (as Veteran FBI agent Bill Tench) and Anna Torv (as the former academic now liaison to the FBI Wendy Carr.



POSSIBLE SPOILER: 

The last episode had great acting by Jonathan Groff (as character Holden Ford). This scene taking place in a hospital corridor the viewer could see how all the evil that the character of Holden Ford had to absorb, but could not expel was literally clogging and choking him.

This Is Not What I Expected (2017)

A Chinese film seen on Netflix 10/22/2017


This is an entertaining rom-com mixed with a Bollywood movie mixed with tantalizingly well-imaged cuisine. The beats of this film are formulaic, right down to the rich boy loses talented girl, talented girl loses rich boy in sensitive montage and score.  However this film is charming, the comedic timing spot on due to the two leads Takeshi Kaneshiro (as Lu Jin) , Dongyu Zhou (as Gu Sheng nan), the food presented and a very charismatic dog (a bull terrier called "Boss" who has no listing on IMDb). The dialogue (going by the subtitles and the actors' expressions) is quirky, the situations outrageous, but they made made me laugh.  The ending is equally as staged, but again the two leads and Boss (the bull terrier) allow the viewer stay invested. Remain for the concluding credits, there is an extra scenes followed by beautifully shot international sunsets.

Miss Hokusai (2015)

watched on Netflix l0/21/2017



Beautiful anime both for lovers of traditional anime and the artists known as Katsushika Hokusai and his daughter Katsushika Oi. The artwork that Hokusai is most known for is called The Great Wave. It is almost a puzzle hunt, looking for the art among the beautiful images of this film.  Hokusai focused artwork on landscapes and images of Japanese people from all levels of society.  However, this is primarily an anime about family, living your life and dedication.  While there is a sadness, the movie does end on a positive feeling.  No doubt assisted by the soundtrack. The details of Hokusai's life are not in documentary/fact format, but the viewer will get a true feel for his art and life by just watching and absorbing.

My Life As A Zucchini (2016) --- Ma vie de Courgette (original title
PG-13
l hour 6 minutes

Watched on Netflix 10/20/2017








This film was one of the nominees for 2017 Oscar for animated films (Zootopia won). While this a sweet story with a very happy conclusion, it is not for younger children. However with adult supervision, this film could teach young children important life lessons. The first few moments of this movie are quite dark. The reasons that the children are in foster care is also realistic and not sugar-coated.  The stop-motion animation is bright, involving and with more details than can be absorbed.  The soundtrack is very French and goes well with the animation style. The movie moves slowly, but is not boring. The French spoken is basic, but the English subtitles are helpful. It even renewed some of my high school French vocabulary skills.  This movie portrays life with a happy ending without eliminating the different routes many of us take.  Stay for the closing credits, about half way in is an imaginative bonus scene which was funny and still poignant.

Happy Death Day (2017)

PG-13




This was a fun popcorn movie. Although it was easy to figure out the mystery; the cast, dialogue, editing, cinematography and even the soundtrack made this movie work. I laughed out loud many times. As for reality check, yeah the hospital was weirdly understaffed and local hospitals do not usually house accused serial killers...but this is a movie with a Groundhog Day/Scream vibe so I was ok with its "reality". The characters have an arc, they change and grow more self-aware. The individual returning from death, does so differently than the comparable character in Groundhog Day. There is much less gore than one would expect, but for me that was not a negative. There is even a nod to the movie, Groundhog Day in the last scene of the movie. This movie is scary on a lower scale than many current movies, but the laughs it provided made it worthwhile.

The Snowman (2017)

R rated

Director:         Tomas Alfredson
Screenwriters: Peter Straughan, Hossein Amini, Søren Sveistrup

Novel by:         Jo Nesø

DISCLAIMER:  I have only seen the trailer NOT the movie.  Reviews have been almost all bad.



Superior cast, popular book, intriguing trailer and still no good? This is a series of 10+ books on the lead character that Michael Fassbender portrayed. Actually The Snowman is book#7 in the series. With all that material, a beginning screenwriting/editing class could have put together an adequate 2 hour movie. What went wrong with the transition of this popular book into incomplete (director has said that he did not film the entire script) an unpopular movie would probably make a better film.


Forget about North Korea, Norway (home of Jo Nesbø author of successful thriller series which includes, The Snowman) must be furious with us. Regarding the odd dubbing of Val Kilmer's voice, he is denying cancer diagnosis, but who knows. Whether he needed the payday or not he and a lot of other talented actors were all tossed into a metaphorical icy lake...currently (10/24/17) movie is at 8% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Babysitter (2017)

a Netflix original movie.

I would actually rate this 4 1/2 stars, but not allowed by system. This is a horror comedy. You have to wait about 29 minutes for the horror, however once in motion it never stops. Gore,violence and weird yet funny dialogue.  The leads Judah Lewis (as Cole who at 12 still has a babysitter) and Samara Weaving (as Bee who babysits) work well with each other. The adults (and most of the teens) are basically idiots, but that does not hurt the film. This is like Home Alone on steroids plus a lot of blood. The director, McG does a good job adding action to this story which mostly takes place in and around one house. The soundtrack emphasis the action without taking the viewer out of the movie. I was surprised at the decent low-energy resolution at the conclusion. It satisfied without too much exposition.  Stay for the beginning of the closing credits for a quick retro scene mandatory for the old fashioned films in the horror genre.

Media Scandals regarding abuse complaints hidden


Money. Money kept certain immoral individuals employed at media corporations. Money triggered a silly/ineffective soap ad. Money propelled a fast food giant into supplying a sauce that is easily acquired at any market, but will cause more individuals to purchase their fast food products. Making all these events into equations, factoring them down, the conclusion is unfortunately obvious.

(1) Weinstein Company
(2) Dove soap ad
(3) McDonalds (Rick & Morty line about Mulan/Szechuan Sauce

What is more scary is the complicit silence of those who were aware of the sexual abuse claims, at Weinstein Company, Defy Media and multiple actors, directors, writers who all kept silent out of fear for their own jobs and reputations.

Ironically, in two work related instances of harassment I was believed by a supervisor. Both situations were immediately resolved. However in several incidents occurring in social settings, I have been less lucky. My only recourse was to avoid being alone with the individuals responsible for the harassment. We all have different boundaries, so admittedly it can get complicated. Respect for others, both in the physical and emotional space allowed is something we all need to (re) learn.

How about this? In an ongoing consensual personal relationship in a non-work environment do whatever you do as long as no one is harmed emotionally or physically. Of course Louis CK should not be grouped with rapists (at least with the data that is currently available in public media), but his behavior is still not professional, not ethical, nor empathetic.

Abusing individuals, is tragically a habit, even a lifestyle. As a result, these public figures being accused, seeming by and in batches. It is decades of abuse being publicized now due to victims feeling that there is a safe climate. Sure this could eventually lead into some false accusations, but right now this all seems frighteningly true.

HR seems to constantly show up as the weak link for the reporting, investigating and rendering final decisions regarding sexual harassment.  Maybe HR should not exists within a company, but exist independently outside a company.

Interesting theory, that this movie (I Love You Daddy) was Louis C.K.'s way of a warped "pre" apology. Even watching scenes, makes me feel queasy. I know the whole Woody Allen, Kevin Spacey, Roman Polanski (with a cast of seemingly hundreds of now-infamous celebrities) art vs.the artist thing is exploding throughout the internet. The subject of this movie makes it currently unreleasable, no matter what Louis C.K. has done. Any guesses on how soon people will able to "acquire" this movie?

She Makes Comics

(Documentary - 2016)

Watched on Netflix 10/17/2017

This documentary is well-directed (by Marisa Stotter), scored and edited. It gives a  both a comprehensive history  and the current status of the women who edit, draw and write comics. While primarily women were interviewed, there is no male bashing here. The film makes it clear that were certain (male) individuals in this industry that did see the value of these women as talented artists while originally that was not always the case. She Makes Comics is a fast moving documentary which is bright, vibrant, fun and informative. Most of all, it is optimistic for the future of women in comics, both as characters and creators. There is a cute short scene at the end of the credits, so stay around.

Long Shot

a Netflix original film

(watched 10/08/2017)

This story is amazing. The man who was so close to being falsely imprisoned for life or executed is a concept beyond nightmare.  I am so happy that he has been exonerated and has been paid damages.  That being said as a film submitted for an award, Long Shot was lacking in pacing and ironically in editing. This movie felt bloated, overly stuffed with extremely long close up scenes of only facial expressions, odd pacing (too short or more often too long) between scenes. Perhaps this documentary would be better served and viewed as being part of a larger film to illustrate the cracks and incompetence that runs through many courts in this country.

ID-0
Season 1
12 episodes

(2017 watched on Netflix)

I binged this anime in 2 evenings. I may re-watch all 12 episodes in one day. I cannot explain the title without spoiling plot points, however this title is significant on several levels. ID-0 is a great anime for those who like the sometimes silliness of anime combined with the comparative seriousness of science fiction and ethics of humanity. While classified by Netflix as one of their "Original" shows. This is a Japanese production.  I viewed the English voice actor version. I found all the voice actors well-cast.  The music was a bit bombastic and blustery, but is part of anime's charm. The animation was beautifully done, with stylish representations of planets, explosions and space travel.

The plot involves the valuable yet hard to mine new mineral. This substance is called "orichalt" which facilitates space travel and is also used in a technique called "mind transfer" which enables living beings to temporarily lodge their consciousness and personality into  huge Mecha-type creatures.

I am used to very "terrestrial" anime with exteriors in very familiar settings such as schools, sports areas, cities and forests.  This anime takes place primarily in space and in space ships. By the end of episode one, I was thoroughly enjoying the animation.

This anime flows like a movie. While the occasionally wacky character, loud music and bigger,than your average Mecha, vocal deliveries. This is a compelling story, worth a view.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017) R rated
2 hours 43 minutes

Saw this in Real3D format at a local cinema on October 6, 2017

I loved this movie. I am glad that I had avoided most of the teasers, trailers, and ads on this movie. The only thing you need before seeing Blade Runner 2049 is a viewing of the original film from 1982 (probably the "final cut" version).

The movie begins with a screen shot of six sentences which will bring even a non-viewer of the original Blade Runner (1982) up to speed. While not a prerequisite, knowledge of that original movie will enhance the viewer's enjoyment. I did not see those 3 shorts (taking place in 2022, 2036 and 2048 order) that Denis Villeneuve authorized, until after seeing Blade Runner 2049. For me that worked out.

The cinematography was beyond dreams. The plot was not overly complicated, but still enough to hold the viewer's attention. While a long movie (2 hours 43 minutes), the visuals, acting, world building are all enough to make that time seem short, not rushed or overly packed with details. The acting by all whether primary or secondary characters made these people far more real than one could hope in a science fiction movie. There is one well-known actor, who is in only 2 short scenes at the beginning of this film. His performance was amazing with sensitivity and emotion. Reprising his role (Deckard) from the original movie, Harrison Ford's best scene was at the film's conclusion with only his face and the movement of one hand silently but instantly expressing Deckard's feelings. Ryan Gosling (as "K") was equally as good in this movie.

Blade Runner 2049 is available in regular format, Real3D and IMAX. I saw the movie in Real3D. Perhaps my theater had worn out equipment, but the 3D was not worth the extra dollars. I do intend to see this movie again, but probably in regular format.

The Great British Baking Show (TV series 2010 - current [8 seasons] )

on Netflix (only first 3 seasons)

Binged three seasons in a period of one week.



This BBC show has lovely people, lovely food and the hosts make lovely puns.  This program, in the reality category is really much more, it is virtual bandaid for the soul.

The closeups of the food are impeccable, but not overdone (which would be the technical equivalent of drool). The soundtrack while a little overly TV-dramatic is fine. The hosts both culinary ones (Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry) and show biz ones (Mel Giedrocy and Sue Perkins), all add essential elements to enhance the enjoyment of this series. This is not the typical reality show as the forced drama, antagonism and egotism of the hosts and even the contestants, is not present. It is enjoyable to watch people actually improve and succeed entirely because of skill and effort. The competition, excitement, ethics and judging is beyond Olympic level expectation.

Neither culinary expertise or desire to become one is necessary for enjoying this series. However the basics of what to do, or what not to do are easily absorbed by any viewer. While I only have 3 seasons (due to availability to my subscribed streaming service) to judge, this series is proofed, well-baked and quite flavorful.