Book Review - Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones

I grew up watching Sesame Street and The Muppet Show and loving them. They are classics. I knew they were the brainchildren of Jim Henson, and I knew what Jim Henson looked like, but otherwise I couldn't tell you a thing about him, which is strange considering how beloved his creations are and how many biographies there are for everyone else.

Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jonesis a biography of Jim Henson (hence the title), the creator of the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and so much more. It's available in all formats: eBooks, Audiobooks, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Information. This book does an excellent job covering both Jim Henson's personal life and his career. When I finished the book, I didn't have anymore questions or wonder about any part of his life, it was so thoroughly covered.

Writing. This book is so well written. It is very long, but it never feels long or drags. It fells like one old friend telling you about another old friend. The style fits Jim Henson perfectly.

Look into Mind and Thoughts. This book gets into the head of Jim Henson, explaining his passions, his way of thinking and approaching projects, his motivations, and his uncompleted projects he started or outlined. It's rare you get such an intimate look into a creator and his process.

The Bad

Ummm.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

Video?

Overall

Jim Henson: The Biography is a fascinating look at the life and work of an American icon telling a story you won't hear anywhere else. The story covers both Jim Henson's personal life and work. It is completely engrossing and perfectly told. I give it 5 out of 5 eReaders.

     

Movie Review: Muppets Most Wanted

I've loved the Muppets for as long as I can remember. Saturday afternoons were often spent watching reruns of The Muppet Show. And while I was too young to recognize almost all of the guest stars, I was still enchanted and entranced by the whole experience. The show was made for adults, but it was quickly embraced and beloved by children as well.

Muppets Most Wanted is a 2014 live-action comedy adventure rated PG and is appropriate for all ages. It is the second in the relaunch of the franchise, although as one of the characters noted in the movie, this is actually the seventh sequel to the original film.

The Good

The Story and Plot. The movie was clever and very true to the spirit of past Muppet movies. It had a good solid story that moved at a good pace and never left me bored or looking at my watch.

The Jokes. The jokes were your typical puns, gags, and physical comedy one comes to expect from the Muppets, and yet they're still as funny today as they were in the 70s when Muppets first debuted. They've kept the tone of the humor the same, but the jokes definitely referenced the current world. And while I saw the Usher joke coming, I was still rolling on the ground laughing when it came.

The Casting. Guest stars are a staple of any Muppets production, and this one did not disappoint. It was filled with current stars and celebrities from music, movies, and more. The main characters were funny and played everything just right with the proper mix of silly and serious.

As I stated before, The Muppet Show was meant for adults, but it had so much charm that all ages fell in love with it. This movie is no different. There is plenty to entertain small children, teenagers, and adults alike. This is truly an all-ages film, which is a rarity in today's world.

The Bad

The only complaint I have is there was nothing really surprising or unique about this movie. It felt just like past Muppet movies; it brought nothing new to the table. It makes one wonder why this movie was made and would it really be worth ones time to see the next one if it's going to be more of the same. While I'm glad they didn't mess with the formula and ruin the franchise, that doesn't mean you can't expand on the magic.

And Tina Fay's accent was way too fake and kind of distracting.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I remember being quite awed by the special effects in Muppet's Christmas Carol. That movie was very true to everything we've come to love about Muppets, but it introduced new elements that were very appropriate and fitting and added to the story instead of being just a gimmick. I was hoping to have a similar experience with this movie. I'm not saying they needed to have ultra modern special effects, but it would have been nice to bring something new to the table that expanded on the magic whether it was with the writing, the humor, the guest stars, or some completely new element.

Overall

Overall this was a very funny movie with jokes, gags, and enough action and excitement to keep me entertained from start to finish. It felt like the classic movies Jim Henson himself made, which after disasters like Muppets in Space or that strange Christmas special I never thought I'd see again. I give it 4.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.