Edward Scissorhands, a film review.

 This 1990 Gothic romantic comedy stars Johnny Depp, and Winona Ryder. It was directed & co-produced by Tim Burton. It tells the story of a humanoid that has scissors for hands, that is adopted by a suburban family. This film is a bit of a stretch for feaseability, and it makes one consider the shrubbery to be an artform, which it may very well be. It won several awards on a $20 million budget, and was a commercial success at the box office. Tim Burton considers it one of his favorite projects. Overall, I very much enjoyed this movie. I give it a 5 out of 5.

 

 

Fresh Prince of Bel-air, a tv series review.

 This sitcom comedy originally aired between September 1990 & May 1996. It stars Will Smith as himself in a fictional story where he goes to live with his Aunt & Uncle (who is a judge) that live in a glitzy neighborhood in California. Jazzy Jeff was his co-producer for some of the music of this theme. This series was slotted after school before supper so I would often watch it. Overall I very much enjoyed this content. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Doc Martin, a tv series review.

 This medical comedy drama stars Martin Clunes as Doctor Martin Ellingham. It is set in a small seaside town in the Uk. He develops a relationship with his secretary and with his dry, rational wit it is quite humorous to watch. The show details as he takes patients of the townsfolk and he goes on his way with his personal life all the while. The series was created by Dominic Minghella. Ten series aired between 2004 & 2022. The episodes I did watch I very much enjoyed. Overall, I give this tv series a 5 out of 5.

Kungfu Panda, a film review.

 This animated martial arts comedy franchise was developed by DreamWorks. It features the voice of Jack Black as, the sometimes clumsy but warrior with a special destiny, Po. His teacher Sifu is well versed in Oriental Wisdom tradition. Po and his Dad ran a noodle shop which is where he started his journey. I have only seen the First movie & since then it has been developed into multiple sequels. Overall I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Schindler's List, a film review.

 This 1993 historical drama is based on true accounts of a remarkable story of bravery in the face of a brutal regime. It stars Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley. In my frank and honest opinion, the Great Wars were a cataclysmic misunderstanding at a time when industrial might had grown at a very rapid pace, and egos & paradigms didn't have time to do their college homework. This is a very touching movie, and one of Steven Spielberg's notables in his portfolio. Overall, I was moved emotionally by this movie. Even today an integral philosophy that embraces all is still something the brightest minds in the world are working on. I give it a 5 out of 5.

A Few Good Men, a film review.

 This 1992 military crime drama stars Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, & Demi Moore. It paints a picture of a complicated web of legal issues that involve the controversial holding area Guantanamo Bay. Tom is his edgy, feisty persona that he is known for in hits like Top Gun. Some of this type of film is propaganda and much of Hollywood's content is also. One thing I think it points out is the complex nature of the relationship between government and military. Despite this Tom is well known to be an artist with a great career even though he has shortcomings. Overall I give it a 5 out of 5.

Independence Day, a film review.

 This 1996 sci-fi action film was written & directed by Roland Emmerich. It stars Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell & more. It is yet another movie that has content about contact with life beyond Earth. Of course this is interesting to note that the might of military is dwarfed by higher powers. It went on to be developed into a sequel. Overall, I enjoyed this movie & give it a 5 out of 5.

Gremlins. a film review.

 This 1984 horror comedy was directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus. It stars Zach Galligan. It features Gizmo, a small fuzzy white & beige creature that, after awhile is found out if it gets water on it, it turns into a Large Green Monster. The visual effects were all studio crafted, and it is a very well done movie in its entireity. It makes me wonder if I prefer cottage cheese in my pirogies, or cheddar. Overall, I very much enjoyed this movie. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Brave, an animated film review.

 This 2012 animated film is a Disney production. It tells the story of Merida, a princess from the Highlands of the Uk. In true Disney fashion it is steeped in rich visual imagery of folk-lore, including the much fawned over Stone Effigies used in ancient rituals. It is interesting to note that the Vikings were trading with the North from a very early time period. The characters are infectious, and the banter is light. And a wee bit of flare in the air, in this movie that I think a lot of North Americans can appreciate. Overall, I very much appreciated this film, and give it a 5 out of 5.

Braveheart, a film review.

 This 1995 historical drama was written and directed by Mel Gibson. It tells the story of the tenacious William Wallace & his dealings with the Monarchy of England. I realize the American portrayal of this Scottish Legend is somewhat of a stretch, since his legacy is sentimental. Separatism is sometimes about wanting an original identity, apart from hegemonic powers. Despite this, the Red Rose still shyly takes the breathe away. This movie was well worth watching, and a pleasure to watch. Overall, I give it a 5 out of 5.

Pingu, a tv series review.

 This animated tv series  was created by Swiss artists Otmar Gutmann & Erika Bruegemann. It features the character of an emperor penguin living on the South Pole. It is mainly intended for a younger audience. The sound effects & visual stylings are unique and somewhat abstract. I very much am drawn to penguins as symbols for open source & nonprofit organizations. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Gargoyles, a tv series review.

 This animated tv series was produced by Disney & originally aired between 1994 and 1997. It features a host of the mythological creatures that were often found on heritage buildings in old world countries. There is a kind of ethos to them as being creatures of nobility & versed in the dark arts. Since they turn to stone during the day and at night they come alive their legends are well-known in the Americas. The 3 seasons were produced in the US, Canada & Japan. Overall I very much enjoyed the episodes I did watch. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Dance Me, Outside a film review.

 This 1994 Canadian drama was directed by Bruce McDonald. It is based on the book by W. P. Kinsella. It stars Adam Beach as Frank Fencepost & Ryan Black as Silas Crow. There is a comical dimension to the story being told as well as a realistic portrayal of life on the reservation. I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out of 5. 

The Wind in the Willows, a multimedia review.

 This book was first published in 1908 and has since been adapted to many mediums including stage, television, web and radio. It was written by Kenneth Grahame. It tells the story of Badger, Mole and Toad and their inklings in and out of the Red Lion's Inn. Toad has fascination with automobiles. The television adaptation of the book was quite good and I enjoyed watching the few episodes I did see. It has been produced into many subplots over the years. Overall, I give it a 5 out of 5.

The Beachcombers, a tv series review.

 This Canadian comedy drama was set on the West Coast.  It originally aired from 1972 to 1990. It tells the story of a logging town, with various characters competing for the highly profitable lumber in the vast forests of British Columbia. One of the aspects of the show that was emphasized was the multicultural aspects of the characters. This was a CBC network production. Overall there were more than 300+ episodes produced. I very much enjoyed the episodes I did watch, and associate this nostalgic program with my childhood. I give it a 5 out of 5.

The Littlest Hobo, a tv series review.

 This Canadian tv series is based on an American film of the same name directed by Charles Rondeau. It was originally broadcast from 1963 to 1965. It tells the story of a German Shepherd dog that roams from town to town doing good along the way. The opening theme song Maybe Tomorrow by Terry Bush is quite catchy. This is quality family entertainment with a hint of nostalgia. Overall the episodes I did watch I very much enjoyed. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Captain America: the Winter Soldier, a film review.

 This 2014 action superhero film stars the infamous Chris Evans as Captain America. The plot goes that Russia has trained a super soldier with a mega-bionic left arm. Captain America is tasked with neutralizing him. There is much content created around this character including more films, comics and toys. Overall I very much enjoyed this film. It is unabashed self-aggrandizement but that is to be expected with this type of film. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Django Unchained, a film review.

 This 2012 Western tall-tale drama was written & directed by Quentin Tarantino. IT stars Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington & Samuel L. Jackson among many more. It is a highly stylized portrayal of the Old South. It deals with the subject of slavery, and is a gripping portrayal of both the passion for change & the antagonist "apathy" or compliance to the status quo. Tarantino has a long list of great movies as part of his directing portfolio including Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and Pulp Fiction to name a few. Overall, I very much enjoyed this movie. Maybe best for a mature audience. I give it a 5 out of 5.

The Wizard of Oz, a film review.

 This 1939 musical fantasy film is based on the book by Frank Baum. It tells the story of Dorothy who goes on a grand adventure on the yellow-brick road taken by a tornado. They are a variety of characters that exhibit whimsy & creativity including the Lion, the Tinman, & the Scarecrow. One is drawn to contemplate what is meant by the Wizard being found out to be a liar. Pablo Picasso once infamously said "Art is a lie that tells the truth". I take it to mean that the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts. Nonetheless, it is a wonderfully put together script even though there were some injuries with the costumes. It caused a great deal of controversy being a technicolor film as well. Overall, I very much enjoyed this film. And recommend it to anyone for quality family entertainment. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Star wars: Return of the Jedi, a film review.

 This sci-fi fantasy film that was released in 1983. It is part of a larger Star Wars franchise that belonged to Lucasarts but was sold to Disney. It was directed by Richard Marquand. The franchise has since gone on to be produced as many films, and several series, games, books, memorabilia and toys. It tells the story of Luke Skywalker and his training with an ancient order called the Jedi. In it they learn to wield a mysterious entity called the Force. The later development of 3d creative processes using digital technology allowed them to re-edit the older film to enhance the inconsistencies. Overall, I very much enjoyed this film, and it is one I have seen at least 10 times. The characters are varied and the plot is thick with intrigue and charm. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Scrabble GO, a mobile video game review.

 This online mobile game was developed by Scopely and features plenty of levels & interplayability. It has the classic style of board with added bonuses for collecting points & prizes. One gets a "bingo" when one plays all 7 tiles at once. And you can play multiplayer. The tabletop version of this game is legendary and it transfers over to digital quite well. I've gotten 1 bingo and it was the word decliner.  I very much enjoy this game & give it a 5 out of 5.