Movie Review Madness - Rogue One

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the BIG end of year movie and it lived up to hype and expectations.  I’ll be honest. I am not a Star Wars fanatic and cannot discuss every piece of minutiae about the movies. I don’t even know the proper order to watch everything. However, sources tell me this is an early iteration to prep you for early episodes. Does that help?

We first meet a family who’s been hiding out, off the radar until the storm troopers crash their pad. They want the key scientist to come work on the Death Star. We know this is trouble, but at least the little girl escapes. Flash forward to Felicity Jones, Jyn Erso, who’s a grown up rebel. She’s used by Diego Luna (Cassian) to make contact with Forest Whitaker (Saw Gerrara) who raised her. Altogether the goal is to thwart Ben Mendelsohn (Orson) and the General from making the Death Star (i.e. the planet killer).  My synopsis is weak because it’s all rather convoluted as to who is who and why the why.

BUT, the film is quite amazing. The worlds created are fantastic. The effects are stunning. The John Williams score soars. And Felicity is stellar. We love a good heroine and she sets a great example. Basic plot summation – rebels are awesome. Leaders are evil and bad.  There’s humor, drama, worry, sorrow – every human emotion possible amidst a lot of techno gibberish.  And yes, we get a hologram effect of early Princess Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) – rather poignant as she discusses HOPE.

The Star Wars series is like no other – it truly explores the human spirit and the glory of filmmaking. It’s not too late to see Rogue One on the big screen. I highly recommend you go…now. C’mon, it’s winter, it’s cold, you aren’t doing anything…go support your local theater. Trust me.

Movie Review Madness - Inferno

Tom Hanks is back as Robert Langdon in Inferno.  Tom is good, Inferno is so-so, but I’ll still give it a C  rating due to the running around Italy part.  Such an awesome backdrop.  I can forgive huge plot holes, the Dan Brown book, and even more plot holes.  Italy and Florence in particular are just freaking awesome.  I paid $5 for this movie, so you I can  forgive me.  You, my readers, can wait for streaming. You don’t have to fork out money. But this movie is harmless and entertaining in a ‘I’m sorta half asleep kinda way”.  Nothing wrong with that. No need to think folks – the art, symbolism mumbo jumbo is just that – all crazy talk.

I go to the movies to be entertained and this sufficed for the afternoon I wanted to enjoy. I like Tom Hanks and he was fine enough – he’s sincere and can project concern over a virus that could kill the world. Only he must solve the crazy puzzle to save us all. What better hands to be in than Tom Hanks? Seriously.   I’m not going to discuss the plot or the reason to run around Italy. Just go with it.

Felicity Jones is pretty, a good actress, and had me convinced until a plot twist. Apparently, the box office disagrees.  Where the Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s first big book to movie succeeded, Inferno has totally tanked.  Hey, life moves on. 

Movie Review Madness: The Theory of Everything

Science and love are a strange combination for a movie, but in the story of Dr. Stephen Hawking those are the themes.  In the Theory of Everything, Eddie Redmayne gives a tour de force performance (Oscar worthy) as the brilliant man struck in his prime by ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Holding her own is Felicity Jones, as Jane the precocious student flirting with Hawking, seeing his kindness, and stepping up to admit love and seeking marriage. He is fragile, his brain unlocking new physics theories as his body deteriorates. She is fragile steel, the good woman behind a flawed man. 

Together they strive in the academic world. She gives up a lot, but stays stoic – helping him from canes to wheelchair to motorized chair to a computer voiced machine. He can continue his work, the brain unraveling theories about time – forward, backward, black holes, big bang theory, and the element of God. The director does a good job of showing Hawking’s work and discoveries without getting bogged down into too much deep material. We grasp the import without sitting through a lecture. We also see the love and struggles by Jane as she seeks help for Stephen and in raising their three kids.  

The caretaker issue is a tricky one navigated by many. Jealousy can arise, lost hopes and dreams of normalcy cause frustration, and it certainly tests a marriage. Watch the film to see what I mean. I don’t want to give away more.  

Needless to say, Stephen Hawking condemned to a two year death sentence in 1963 is still alive at age 70+ . His spirit and brilliance have inspired many, and advanced science. The Theory of Everything brings his and Jane’s story to a wider audience.  Love and science – a unique combination and worthy tale.