Movie Review - Tom and Jerry (2021 Film)

I was a huge fan of the classic MGM Hanna-Barbara Tom & Jerry cartoons and I even enjoyed the lesser follow ups. I would watch them over and over on afternoons after school. It doesn't get better than those. But I didn't have high hopes for a movie after seeing how poorly other cartoons I loved translated to the big screen (Smurfs, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, and The Flintstones to name just a few).

Tom and Jerry is a 2021 live-action and animated action, romance, comedy based on the classic MGM cartoons of the same name. It is rated PG and is appropriate for all ages.

The Good

Story and Content. This movie had so much more story and content than I was expecting. A lot of stuff happened with a lot of characters having fairly long stories with lots of moving pieces. This was like a real movie and not just a money grab.

Action. There was the right amount of classic Tom & Jerry chase scenes and physical violence, not too much, but enough that it felt like Tom & Jerry I also appreciated that most of it was new and original with only a few reenactments from the cartoons.

Art Direction. This film was really beautiful to look at. The animation was traditional and hand drawn but had a very modern feel while retaining all the greatness of classic animation. The sets and scenery was great to look at.

The Bad

Ken Jeong. Why does anyone hire this guy? He is so obnoxious. He was over the top in a bad way in this film and added nothing.

 

What I Would Like To Have Seen

...

Overall

Tom and Jerry is a 2021 live-action and animated action, romance, comedy based on the classic MGM Hanna-Barbara Tom & Jerry cartoons. This movie had so much more story and content than I was expecting. A lot of stuff happened with a lot of characters having fairly long stories with lots of moving pieces. This was like a real movie and not just a money grab. There was the right amount of classic Tom & Jerry chase scenes and physical violence, not too much, but enough that it felt like Tom & Jerry I also appreciated that most of it was new and original with only a few reenactments from the cartoons. This film was really beautiful to look at. The animation was traditional and hand drawn but had a very modern feel while retaining all the greatness of classic animation. The sets and scenery was great to look at. The only negative was Ken Jeong. Why does anyone hire this guy? He is so obnoxious. He was over the top in a bad way in this film and added nothing. Otherwise this film was thoroughly entertaining. I highly recommend this film and give it 4 out of 5 Boxes of Popcorn.

    

Book Review - Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash by Yahtzee Croshaw

I love comic books and superheroes, but I'm not a fan of books and shows that try to explore the concept. They almost never get it right.

Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash by Yahtzee Croshaw is a humorous science fiction space opera. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Dry Humor. This book is a pretty standard space opera, but what makes it stand out is its dry humor and witty take on both science fiction troupes and human nature.

Characters. The characters are the basic sci fi troupes reinvented into read characters with real histories and real thoughts, cares, and desires. Plus they all have great chemistry and play off each other really well.

Use of Technology. One of the many things I love about science fiction is the new ways authors think of using existing and theoretical technology. This book threw in a novel use of a fairly well used technology and really surprised me at the end. It seems so logical and obvious I'm amazed it hasn't been done much more before.

The Bad

Bad Guys and Authorities. The bad guys and the authorities are the main antagonists in this book, and they were pretty flat and generic. It would have been interesting for the author to have put as much though into them as he did the main characters and their situation.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

...

Overall

Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash by Yahtzee Croshaw is a humorous science fiction space opera and a sequel to Will Save Galaxy For Food. This book is a pretty standard space opera, but what makes it stand out is its dry humor and witty take on both science fiction troupes and human nature. The characters are the basic sci fi troupes reinvented into read characters with real histories and real thoughts, cares, and desires. Plus they all have great chemistry and play off each other really well. One of the many things I love about science fiction is the new ways authors think of using existing and theoretical technology. This book threw in a novel use of a fairly well used technology and really surprised me at the end. It seems so logical and obvious I'm amazed it hasn't been done much more before. The bad guys and the authorities are the main antagonists in this book, and they were pretty flat and generic. It would have been interesting for the author to have put as much though into them as he did the main characters and their situation. Overall, this is a very entertaining tale. I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

  

Movie Review - Blithe Spirit (2020 film)

I'm a big fan of low budget films that rely more on script and acting than on special effects or spectacle. Most of the movies released in the last year have been this type, and I've actually enjoyed them a lot and hope they keep coming.

Blithe Spirit is a 2020 live-action, British, supernatural, romantic comedy based on the 1941 play of the same name. It is rated PG-13 for innuendo and is appropriate for tweens and up.

The Good

Actors. This movie is really well cast. All of the principal actors and actresses fit their roles perfectly and do a great job selling their characters.

Story and Pace. The story isn't overly complicated and is more about the interactions between characters than plot. It moves at a great pace that keeps the audiences attention but gives them time to enjoy the zaniness that is going on.

Twists. From the trailer, the story looks pretty straightforward and is up until the end when there are several great twists that took me completely by surprise but didn't feel like cheats. I was quite happy with them.

The Bad

New Wife and Secondary Characters. The new wife and secondary characters are not very likeable at the beginning and are actually kind of annoying until halfway thru the film. I understand we are supposed to root for the first wife at the beginning, but they could have made the new wife a little less obnoxious, because she becomes quite likable by the end.

 

What I Would Like To Have Seen

I wish there had been just a little more content. This movie seemed a little too simple until the second half.

Overall

Blithe Spirit is a 2020 live-action, British, supernatural, romantic comedy based on the 1941 play of the same name. This movie is really well cast. All of the principal actors and actresses fit their roles perfectly and do a great job selling their characters. The story isn't overly complicated and is more about the interactions between characters than plot. It moves at a great pace that keeps the audiences attention but gives them time to enjoy the zaniness that is going on. From the trailer, the story looks pretty straightforward and is up until the end when there are several great twists that took me completely by surprise but didn't feel like cheats. I was quite happy with them. The new wife and secondary characters are not very likeable at the beginning and are actually kind of annoying until halfway thru the film. I understand we are supposed to root for the first wife at the beginning, but they could have made the new wife a little less obnoxious, because she becomes quite likable by the end. Overall, this film is very enjoyable. I give it 4 out of 5 Boxes of Popcorn.

    

Book Review - Super Powereds: Year 1 by Drew Hayes

I love comic books and superheroes, but I'm not a fan of books and shows that try to explore the concept. They almost never get it right.

Super Powereds: Year 1 by Drew Hayes is a science fiction teen angst school drama. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Characters. The characters were all really well conceived and developed. I found myself interested in each other their stories and caring about what happened to them. The author wisely didn't relay on the standard superpowers but instead put a little more thought into it. While each is somewhat interesting on their own, in pairs and groups they have great chemistry with each other.

Execution. A superhero training school is by no means an original concept, but the approach to focus more on the relationships and the school aspect than the super aspect made a more interesting story.

The Bad

Cliches. While this was mostly well conceived and well thought out, the author did rely on a few tired cliches that didn't ruin the book, but the author could have done something a little more interesting. And the epilogue relied on an obvious cliffhanger that has been used way too many times.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish the author had foreshadowed the ending. It seemed to come out of nowhere and felt contrived.

Overall

Super Powereds: Year 1 by Drew Hayes is a science fiction teen angst school drama. The characters were all really well conceived and developed. I found myself interested in each other their stories and caring about what happened to them. The author wisely didn't relay on the standard superpowers but instead put a little more thought into it. While each is somewhat interesting on their own, in pairs and groups they have great chemistry with each other. A superhero training school is by no means an original concept, but the approach to focus more on the relationships and the school aspect than the super aspect made a more interesting story. While this was mostly well conceived and well thought out, the author did rely on a few tired cliches that didn't ruin the book, but the author could have done something a little more interesting. And the epilogue relied on an obvious cliffhanger that has been used way too many times. I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

  

Blu-ray / DVD Review - Batman: Soul of the Dragon

I am a fan of Bronze Age comic books. So when I heard DC was planning and animated movie set in that era in the Bruce Timm style, I said to myself, "Self, you should watch that movie." And I did

Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a 2021 animated martial arts film. It is rated R for violence and is appropriate for tweens and up.

The Good

Vibe. This movie has a great vibe from the visuals to the music to the action to the pacing that really evokes 70s martial art films and 70s TV.

Characters. This film has a great variety of characters form 1970s DC comics that either haven't appears before on the screen or have had very small appearances. The cast of characters had great chemistry together and worked together well.

Art Direction. The look and feel of the characters, backgrounds, vehicles, and action was very nostalgic while still feeling current and not retro. The look was unique while hearkening to a familiar era.

The Bad

Corner Cutting. My biggest complaint is the filmmakers didn't explore this world as thoroughly as they could. The plot was pretty simple and straightforward which is perfect for lots of side trips to explore the world. And while there were a few along the way, they weren't as fully explored as I would have liked, and there weren't enough of them.

 

What I Would Like To Have Seen

I wish the filmmakers had gotten a little more excited about this project and had put a little more energy and heart into it.

Overall

Batman: Soul of the Dragon is a 2021 animated martial arts film. This movie has a great vibe from the visuals to the music to the action to the pacing that really evokes 70s martial art films and 70s TV. This film has a great variety of characters form 1970s DC comics that either haven't appears before on the screen or have had very small appearances. The cast of characters had great chemistry together and worked together well. My biggest complaint is the filmmakers didn't explore this world as thoroughly as they could. The plot was pretty simple and straightforward which is perfect for lots of side trips to explore the world. And while there were a few along the way, they weren't as fully explored as I would have liked, and there weren't enough of them. I wish the filmmakers had gotten a little more excited about this project and had put a little more energy and heart into it. Overall it's a very enjoyable film. I give it 4 out of 5 Boxes of Popcorn.

 

Graphic Novel Review - Tango Volume 1, An Ocean of Stone by Phillipe Xavier and Matz

I've always been impressed with European comics and graphic novels. They tend to be more grounded in the real world than American comics, they tend to have a high level of draftsmanship, and they tend to be sold in large volumes that contain an entire story.

Tango Volume 1, An Ocean of Stone by Phillipe Xavier and Matz is a tough guy drama graphic novel from Europe Comics. It is available as an eBook.

The Good

Characters. There isn't a lot of plot, but for this particular story there doesn't need to be, because the characters and their interactions are all so interesting. Each has a lot of character, each is unique and not just another troupe, and all have great chemistry with each other.

Art. The artwork is beautiful. Everything is so skillfully rendered, and yet this still looks and feels like a comic book and not illustrations or paintings. There is so much emotion communicated in the art, and the movement is so fluid and lifelike.

Multiple Stories Come Together. This story is actually the convergence of several stories that cross at one point. While they are independent, they come together in a very natural and enjoyable way.

Twist. I am really good at seeing twists early on in stories. It's rare I'm surprised by anything at the end. This book surprised me at the very end, and I was really glad for it.

The Bad

...

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I was very satisfied.

Overall

Tango Volume 1, An Ocean of Stone by Phillipe Xavier and Matz is a tough guy drama graphic novel from Europe Comics. There isn't a lot of plot, but for this particular story there doesn't need to be, because the characters and their interactions are all so interesting. Each has a lot of character, each is unique and not just another troupe, and all have great chemistry with each other. The artwork is beautiful. Everything is so skillfully rendered, and yet this still looks and feels like a comic book and not illustrations or paintings. There is so much emotion communicated in the art, and the movement is so fluid and lifelike. This story is actually the convergence of several stories that cross at one point. While they are independent, they come together in a very natural and enjoyable way. I am really good at seeing twists early on in stories. It's rare I'm surprised by anything at the end. This book surprised me at the very end, and I was really glad for it. I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

  

 

Book Review - Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall

Geography is a fascinating study that is largely overlooked. And in today's bitterly-political world, it's rare to find a real scholar who looks at the facts and does his best to ignore his politics.

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall is a nonfiction book looking at the current world situation, why it is like it is, what is most likely to happen, and why so many seemingly "good" ideas are actually impractical fantasies. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Scholarship. People misuse words like "science" and "scholarship" to justify and give credence to their existing opinions, but very few people actually apply scientific principles or strict scholarship when analyzing a situation. The author of this book does, and it is fascinating and explains so much. It also helps the reader to understand why so many policies in the past failed when they sounded like such good ideas.

Writing. While this is a very scholarly book, it is written in terms that normal, average people can understand and, even better, enjoy. This book never becomes slow nor boring.

The Bad

...

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I was very satisfied.

Overall

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall is a nonfiction book looking at the current world situation, why it is like it is, what is most likely to happen, and why so many seemingly "good" ideas are actually impractical fantasies. People misuse words like "science" and "scholarship" to justify and give credence to their existing opinions, but very few people actually apply scientific principles or strict scholarship when analyzing a situation. The author of this book does, and it is fascinating and explains so much. It also helps the reader to understand why so many policies in the past failed when they sounded like such good ideas. While this is a very scholarly book, it is written in terms that normal, average people can understand and, even better, enjoy. This book never becomes slow nor boring. I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

  

 

Book Review - The Last Monument by Michael C. Grumley

I am so sick of stories that use World War II or Nazis in their plot that I've pretty much stopped reading or watching them. I'm not sure what possessed me to pick this book up, but I'm sure glad I did.

The Last Monument by Michael C. Grumley is a science fiction treasure hunt. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Characters. The characters were really likable and each had a good personality while the group had great chemistry.

Story. While this is a pretty standard "quest for the McGuffin"-type story, the path it took and the interactions with the characters were different and really compelling.

Scifi Twist. While this wasn't the first time I had seen this particular scifi twist, it was handled really well with a great build up and a satisfying payoff.

The Bad

Cliches. With the amount of thought and care put into the rest of the story, I think the author is capable of coming up with a villain other than the Nazis and a past other than World War II.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I was very satisfied.

Overall

The Last Monument by Michael C. Grumley is a science fiction treasure hunt. While this is a pretty standard "quest for the McGuffin"-type story, the path it took and the interactions with the characters were different and really compelling. The characters were really likable and each had a good personality while the group had great chemistry. The pacing was just right. While this wasn't the first time I had seen this particular scifi twist, it was handled really well with a great build up and a satisfying payoff. With the amount of thought and care put into the rest of the story, I think the author is capable of coming up with a villain other than the Nazis and a past other than World War II. I am so sick of stories that use World War II or Nazis in their plot that I've pretty much stopped reading or watching them. I'm not sure what possessed me to pick this book up, but I'm sure glad I did. I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.