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Movie Advent Calendar #16 – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

When I was putting this list together, I did consider putting Jumanji in there, I really enjoyed that film and thought Robin Williams did an excellent job. I think it is a great film. I also quite liked the spin-off Zathura as well.

However for this list I am putting in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It was a film we as a family saw at the cinema and really enjoyed. So much so that we bought it when it came out on DVD later that year.

It is a fun and entertaining adventure film that serves as a sequel to the 1995 classic Jumanji. The movie follows a group of high school students who are transported into the video game world of Jumanji and must navigate their way through its dangerous jungle environment in order to escape. The plot is also well-paced and keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.

One of the strengths of the film is its cast, which includes Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. The actors all do a great job of bringing their respective characters to life and have great chemistry together on screen. Johnson and Hart in particular are a dynamic duo and provide many of the film’s funniest moments.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

The special effects and action scenes are well done and add to the excitement of the movie. When you watch the 1995 Jumanji film the special effects are great, but though the physical effects work well, the puppetry and animatronics, the digital effects from ILM, though state of the art at the time, have not aged well. 

Overall, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a worthy successor to the original film and is a fun and exciting adventure.

We also enjoyed the sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level which follows the same characters.

Get Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle at Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #15 – Deja Vu

“What if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they’d never believe you?”

Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who is investigating a horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans.

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

Deja Vu is a 2006 science fiction thriller film that stars Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who is investigating a horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans. 

I didn’t see Deja Vu when it came out at the cinema. I eventually bought the film on iTunes in 2010 on a bit of whim without really knowing much about the film. 

Watching I was curious, and then I was totally engaged with the storyline. If you know nothing about the film, then stop reading now, go and get it and watch it, and then come back.

Spoiler alert

Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin, an ATF agent who is investigating a horrific terrorist attack in New Orleans.

As Doug Carlin, an ATF agent delves deeper into the case, he discovers that a new technology allows him to look back in time at what happened. Can they solve the case? Could they actually stop the attack?

One of the standout elements of the film is Denzel Washington’s performance. He is excellent in the role, bringing a sense of intensity and gravitas to the character of Doug Carlin. I think that is one of the reasons I like this film. I remember seeing Denzel Washington in Devil in a Blue Dress back in the 1990s and really enjoying that film. It was Washington’s performance in that film, that added to the reasons for buying Deja Vu. The supporting cast is also strong, with Val Kilmer and Paula Patton delivering solid performances.

The film is also well-made from a technical standpoint. The special effects are impressive, particularly the way that the time-traveling aspect of the story is depicted. They could have gone with a simple approach, but though I found some aspects of the process frustrating, it was different and clever. The film also does a good job of exploring the potential consequences of using such a technology.

The script, by Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio, is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience guessing.

I think this is a film I probably would have enjoyed even more watching it at the cinema, it is a very cinematic film.

Overall, Deja Vu is an entertaining and well-made science fiction thriller that is worth watching for Washington’s performance alone.

Get Deja Vu at Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #14 – Hidden Figures

“Every time we get a chance to get ahead they move the finish line. Every time.”

Hidden Figures

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies

I got Hidden Figures as part of the Mega Movie Week deal on iTunes (was also on Amazon) in January 2019.

I bought quite a few films that week making the most of the offer. As a result the film was added to the “we must watch this” list. In the end we didn’t actually sit down to watch it until March. I remember there being a little bit of scepticism in the family about watching the film, however we sat down and put it on.

Soon though we were totally captivated by the story and the performances. We thought this was a fantastic film, really powerful. We were so glad to have watched it.

Hidden Figures is an incredible & inspiring untold true story about three women at NASA who were instrumental in one of history’s greatest operations, that of  the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. A 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe as a team of African-American female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race.

The film tells the story of Johnson and her colleagues at NASA, who faced discrimination and prejudice as African American women working in a predominantly white and male field. Despite these challenges, they persevered and made significant contributions to the space program, ultimately helping to send astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

HF-216 – Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) makes one of many key contributions to the effort to send John Glenn into orbit. Photo Credit: Hopper Stone.

The film is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, and tells the true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three African-American women who made significant contributions to the early space program at NASA.

The production really captures the look and feel of the 1960s American space programme and America at that time.

Hidden Figures is a powerful and inspiring story that highlights the achievements of these incredible women. One of the standout aspects of Hidden Figures is the powerful performances from the lead actresses. Henson, Spencer, and Monáe are all fantastic in their roles, and their chemistry on screen is electric. The film is also beautifully shot, with stunning period-accurate production design and costumes. The supporting cast is also impressive, with Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, and Jim Parsons all delivering solid performances.

Another highlight of the film is its message of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. The characters in the film face many challenges due to their race and gender, but they never give up and continue to fight for their dreams. This is an inspiring message that will resonate with audiences of all ages.

Overall, Hidden Figures is a powerful and inspiring film that tells an important story of three trailblazing women who made significant contributions to the early space program at NASA. The film was released to widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the performances of the lead actors and the important historical story it tells. The film is beautifully shot and well-written. 

If you like biographical dramas or have an interest in the space race in the 1960s, then this is a film for you.

Get Hidden Figures at Amazon.

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The significance of the cow…

So four seasons into Young Sheldon and I have only realised the significance of the cow in the opening credits. Young Sheldon I set in Texas and Texas is well known for its cattle.

Got it!




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Movie Advent Calendar #13 – Catch Me If You Can

“I’ll tell you what I am sure of. You’re going to get caught. One way or another. It’s a mathematical fact. It– It’s like Vegas, the House always wins.”

Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

I have really enjoyed virtually everything Tom Hanks has done, I have seen most of his films and there are a fair few in this movie advent calendar and there was a few in the cinematic advent calendar I did in 2012. There are a few films of his I haven’t see, so not too obsessive! For example, I’ve not seen him in Castaway. It’s probably not too surprising to find though I did quite enjoy Catch Me If You Can.

I didn’t see Catch Me If You Can at the cinema, it was something I eventually saw, well actually I can’t remember. I don’t have it on DVD, so maybe this was a film I saw on the television and then watched again another time on a streaming service.

Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 biographical crime drama film directed by Stephen Spielberg that tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a young con artist who successfully poses as a doctor, lawyer, and pilot in the 1960s. The film also stars Tom Hanks as Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent tasked with tracking down Abagnale.

One of the standout elements of the film is its strong performances. DiCaprio and Hanks are both excellent in their roles, with DiCaprio in particular delivering a charismatic and engaging performance as the charming and cunning Abagnale.

The supporting cast is also strong, with Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen giving standout performances.

The film is also beautifully shot, with a vibrant and colorful visual style that perfectly captures the glitz and glamour of the 1960s. I think the film really captures the look and feel of the 1960s. The script, by Jeff Nathanson, is also clever and well-written, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience engaged.

I enjoyed the BBC’s Hustle series about con artists, and this film which is on a similar topic did catch my eye (as well as the fact it starred Tom Hanks).

Overall, Catch Me If You Can is a highly entertaining and well-made film that is worth watching for the performances alone. It may not be the deepest or most thought-provoking film, but it is definitely a fun ride.

Get Catch Me If You Can at Amazon.

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Movie Advent Calendar #12 – Love Actually

” There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?”

Love Actually

In 2012 I did a cinematic advent calendar of twenty four films. These were films that I really liked and have enjoyed at the cinema. This year on a similar theme I will be posting a movie advent calendar of twenty four movies.

Love Actually is a 2003 romantic comedy film that follows the interconnected lives of a group of people in London during the weeks leading up to Christmas. The film has an impressive cast that includes Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, and many others.

I don’t recall watching this film at the cinema, my eldest son was just over a year old at the time, so we weren’t really going to the cinema at that time. So I suspect I got it as a present in 2004. At the time I did enjoy it. Though it never got into our list of regular Christmas films, as there are sections of the film which are not age appropriate.

One of the strengths of the film is its large and interesting cast of characters. Each character has their own unique story and relationships, and the film does a good job of exploring these in a way that is both funny and poignant. 

The film also has a great sense of fun and joy, thanks in part to its festive setting and upbeat soundtrack. I really like the opening and closing sections at the airport, which features real people meeting and not actors. Another strength of the film is its clever writing, which is both funny and emotionally resonant. The dialogue is sharp and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to care about what happens to them. Of course if you are not a fan of Richard Curtis’ writing, then this probably isn’t the film for you.

While Love Actually is a popular and beloved film, it has faced its fair share of criticism for its portrayal of love, relationships, and its lack of diversity and its treatment of female characters. One common criticism of Love Actually is that it portrays a very idealised and unrealistic view of love and relationships. Many of the film’s characters are shown to have perfect, happy endings, which some viewers may find unrealistic and overly simplistic. 

The film has also been criticised for its lack of diversity, as all of the main characters are white and many of the supporting characters are also white.

The film also portrays its female characters in a stereotypical and objectifying way. Many of the female characters are shown to be in need of a man to complete them, and their primary purpose in the film is to serve as romantic interests for the male characters. This portrayal of women has been criticised as being outdated and offensive.

Overall, Love Actually is a charming and entertaining film that is great for getting into the holiday spirit. It may not be the deepest or most original film, and you can see its flaws, but it is sure to put a smile on your face and warm your heart.

Get Love Actually at Amazon.