139 Movie madness

Movie Madness

Stories about a reluctant bull, a flamboyant risk-taking entertainer, a train trip to Paris that turns violent, as well as characters and events extremely compelling have come to life this winter as new movies take over the big screen.

We usually don’t go that often to the movies, but in the last couple of months, we have seen seven movies with family and friends.

I could not pick my favorite from the list as each has its own unique features, but some were a little more enjoyable than others.

It is always a delight to take the grandkids to the movies and gives us an excuse to see the cartoons as adults. “Ferdinand” and “Paddington 2” were both equally entertaining with lessons for all of us to learn and remember.

“Ferdinand” is based on the story in Munro Leaf’s classic children’s book, published in 1936. The animated movie is delightful as the audience learns that this bull doesn’t want to fight and has to make serious decisions about his behavior. Who would believe that a bull has a sensitive side? The book may be decades old, but it addresses issues still prevalent.

“Paddington 2” is, of course, the continuation of “Paddington” with more exciting adventures with his adoptive London family, the Browns. The escapades he encounters as he looks for a perfect 100th birthday gift for his Aunt Lucy are legendary, and of course, the whole family has to get into the picture. The animation and real-life character blend well for enticing glimpses into the British life when a proper bear enters the picture. I definitely can see the third sequel in this series, but I won’t give it away just yet.

While I took our six-year-old grandson to “Ferdinand,” my husband and son took our ten-year-old granddaughter to “Jumanji.” While I can’t say anything about it, they all raved and raved that the movie was definitely worth it. It is also a second version of the movie and has a very different storyline. It is based on the 1981 children’s book of the same name by Chris Vann Allsburg. and is a sequel to the “Jumanji” movie that came out in 1995. This takes place as teenagers take part in a video game.

Moving away from animation and teenage characters, we took in the story of “The Greatest Showman.” As a circus lover, I relished every minute of the story of PT Barnum and how he built his amazing show. While it does not stick While it does not stick to all the true facts, it gives a believable account of how it came to be using singing and dancing in this original musical. It is especially meaningful as the circus closed this past year as the times changed and audiences dwindled. It is not without hardships and risk-taking as you can well imagine. 

“The Post” was realistic and brought back the memories of that time in our history. The Vietnam War was always controversial and resistance was center stage. To view the decision making of the matriarch of The Washington Post was agonizing as she had to put her paper on the line of survival or defeat. 

One of the striking comments brought the realization to light--The Washington Post was only considered a local newspaper until this event when they received international acclaim. Today’s issues can be contrasted in the film that has top-notch actors bringing the story alive with dramatic and very serious undertones. How could it miss with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks and a compelling story!

“Phantom Thread” is quite a different plot line than the others. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis, who is one of my favorites, gives a stellar performance as the main character, but it is hard to recognize the actor of past years. Set in London in the 1950s, the film shows the intricacies of dressmaking and designing as well as relationships. 

It is a beautiful movie as the camera angles enhance the designs as well as the striking architecture. The story develops methodically and sometimes slowly as the plot is sometimes predictable and sometimes not.

“15:17 to Paris” details a true account of three Americans, Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler, and Alek Skarlatos, who thwart a massacre on a French train in 2015. The actors are the real participants in the story that took place during a European tour. We all read about the event in the newspapers several years ago. 

It is based on the book, The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Soldiers. Seeing the young men during the years they were growing up and observing the development of the friendship solidifies the true meaning of working and sticking together.

There are several more movies we want to see in the next few weeks, and I especially want to see “Peter Rabbit.” As a fan of Beatrix Potter, I am eager to see her work come to life on the big screen. I know my grandchildren will too.

Hopefully, you will want to see some if not all of these movies! It is one way to liven up the dull days of winter.

Frances