Aquaman (2018)


Saw in the theater 12/21/18 (2D)




I enjoyed this movie. It was not a Spider-man:Into The Spider-verse, but it went well with my bottle of breathable water and navigable popcorn.



I just want to FLOAT an opinion, sometimes a good popcorn movie is just a good popcorn movie.

Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

PG      l hour 57 min.


Seen in a theater (2D) 12/14/2018

The film technique does take a little acclimation. I can appreciate the "living" comic book look that the creators were going for, I just wish my visual learning curve was as fast. Oh well, maybe I will see this movie again...in 3D. The casting agent for the voices should get an Oscar. Many lead voice actors seem to be chosen based on their popularity score, but these individuals were chosen with imagination and intelligence.


There is a tribute to Stan Lee at the beginning of the closing credits and a stinger (a short extra scene) at the conclusion of these credits.

Fav Netflix Binges - 2018:


Not in any order (and I have probably forgotten some films/series) these are shows that I most enjoyed on Netflix in 2018: The Christmas Chronicles (just for that jail concert scene alone!) ,  Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (in spite of that copyright infringement), Disenchantment (plot makes no sense but is sooo funny), Happy! (should be NC-17, but is what that Melissa McCarthy/puppet movie yearned to be...a defiantly and politically incorrect hysterical fun view), Nailed It (all seasons), The Great British Baking Show (all seasons and specials), MST 3000 (both seasons), Lost In Space (2018 version), The Haunting of Hill House and Castlevania (both seasons).

Ralph Breaks The Internet
(2018)

Watched at a theater on 11/27/2018

While I liked it (admittedly I did check the time during the movie's 3rd act), I did not like it as much as the first one. The dialogue was more simplistic, more child-like. There was one scene with lots of familiar female characters that could probably hold a child's attention had tons of innuendo that probably would only resinate with an adult about the relation of women in determining their "roles". There was so much corporate name placement in this film, that I laughed not sure if that was the desired reaction. While the audience demographic might have been young, I wish the story had been more mature and fully formed. One quick non-speaking cameo of a recently deceased (in our reality) individual gave me pause and sadness,




 I saw the relationship with Vanellope looking up to Shank as a mother/hero (like oh maybe, WONDERWOMAN?) figure.

Posted to the Screen Junkies -- Honest Trailer Commentary of "ELF"

published 11/27/2018



Posted 11/27/2018:

Some of my favorite/modern classic Christmas/holiday movies (ok TV, but many made it to the big screen via Fathom series) are from the modern era (our 21st century) of Doctor Who. In order of importance (to me):  The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (S7--12/25/2011), A Christmas Carol (S6--12/25/2010), Last Christmas (S9--12/25/2014), The Christmas Invasion (S2--09/29/2006), The Next Doctor (2008-the one with David Morrissey), The Snowmen (S7E6--12/25/12).

Bill Maher on the death of Stan Lee

(November 11-22, 2018)

Posted to Double Toasted video published 11/22/18:

I have in the past found Bill Maher's bluntness and humor entertaining, even informative. I just wish he voiced his opinions when Stan Lee was alive and able to respond. Kind of ignorant and arrogant to chose this time and place to unload his own prejudices. Wonder what Bill Maher's opinion is on Greek Mythology, Aesop's Fables, and Hans Christian Andersen? Since Bill Maher is so fond of books without images, let me give him a suggestion: The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. Might be informative, should he be willing to increase his understanding of literature, history and imagination.

Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald

PG-13       2 hours 14 minutes

This movie could have been better, but (as a long time fan of HP) I was entertained. I have a feeling that this movie's major problem was series-its. I base my assumption on news that there will be 3 more of these in our future. So Warner probably took 3 square pegs (aka sensible scripts not an ancient tv show) and pounded them into 5 round holes (aka we need to build an addition at Wizarding World). And as for the Star Wars prequels being better than we thought, 2 words: Jar-Jar. Let's not forget Anakin's problem with sand (and personal boundaries).


I enjoyed Fantastic Beasts:The Crimes of Grindelwald. While not my favorite movie, I was not bored or checking the run time. I think the problems started, not with the Director, but with the format. The Fantastic Beasts series is scheduled to be (total) 5 films. I think what we just saw was the "sophomore slump" or using another analogy, an early move in a long chess match. While I would rate this movie as Fresh (Rotten Tomatoes), I could not in good conscience recommend this film to someone unfamiliar with the books and movies of this world so maybe my fandom is affecting my rating.

I enjoyed this movie, admittedly not as much as the Harry Potter movies or even the 1st Fantastic Beasts. I think the problem probably began with studio instructions to expand Fantastic Beasts to 5 parts (aka movies and/or cash-grabs). The truly scary (and muggle) thought that occurs to me is that if next 3 are even a moderate success, will the studio order more screenplays further diluting this world? Ironically that would be the opposite of the definition of (slightly magical) concept of alchemy (making ordinary metal into gold).


While I was entertained (no time checks) I can see this movie's flaws, too many people, too many subplots, too much action/exposition and not enough magic. I wonder if the decision to make this series run 5 films was the studio's idea? Possibly it also was the studio's idea to throw in all that exposition. Sadly (or perhaps through greed) they do not want to "force" people to allot the time to read the Harry Potter novels and to watch all the Harry Potter movies.  Those books (and movies) not only had magic as a theme, but made me long for a real-life Hogwarts (and I did not even want to go to sleep-away summer camp). May the magic return in part 3 (and 4 and 5).


This panel said it, without the assistance of books absorbed into our brains, it is hard to follow the logic concerning some of the plot and characters. With 5 films (and potentially having no magical abilities) we are left in the middle of a journey without GPS only our trust in J. K. Rowling. I will continue on the journey, but many may not.



No extra scenes in closing credits, just some animation.

No zinger, short scene at the end of closing credits.