Movies We've Watched - Julie and the Phantoms

 

Lately, I've been watching a lot of content aimed to pre-teens and teenagers.  I find it enjoyable except when it gets a little angsty.  My other issue is that I end up pretending I'm the same age as the characters and crush along with the main character.  And then I remember I'm old enough to be all of their parent.  So, that's depressing.  All honesty, I think I'm older than their parents which is even worse.  Anyway, it's more important to concentrate on the music and the feels.  Plus, the band died from tained hot dogs so it's kind of funny.  I definitely recommend if you're into the High School Musical or Descendants movies (same guy directed and The Descendants and Julie and the Phantoms share a few cast members).

Movies We've Watched - Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!

 

Last weekend, for Sunday Family Movie, we watched Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! on HBO Max.  It was so much fun.  It was a must-watch for fans of Mo Willems - Pigeon, Gerald and Piggy, and other books.  HBO Max also has some other Mo content which we haven't watched yet, but we can't wait.

Captain and I went to The Kennedy Center to see the play Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus last January, and he's been begging to go back ever since.  We did go again at the Lunar New Year, but then the pandemic hit so we haven't been back since.  When it's safe to go, we'll go again.  I promised.

Movies We've Watched - Night at the Museum Secrets of the Tomb and Battle at the Smithsonian

 

Last Saturday, the kids and I went to a drive-in movie down the street to watch Night at the Museum.  They actually liked it.  We had snacks and relaxed in the car.  The next morning was Sunday Family Movie which we haven't done in awhile, but we watched the sequel.  It's so hard to tell if the kids enjoy something sometimes.  However, this time, Little Miss told her friends all about it.  Captain spent 15 minutes talking about the movies to his grandparents during our weekly Zoom call.  I'm glad it was a hit.

The drive-in movies have been fun.  I'm not sure if I included them all.  Little Miss and I saw Mrs. Doubtfire and The Sandlot.  This is the first Fall-ish movie and it started an hour earlier as the sun sets earlier now.  It was easier to bring Captain because we were home by 10-ish instead of after 11PM.  The sugar definitely helped him stay awake, too.  I definitely want to keep my eye out if they continue doing them.  It is a lot of fun.  We obviously enjoyed doing the indoor movie series, but the drive in is a nice substitute.  They are also doing Thursday night outdoor movies, but the school night and the chillier weather makes that series challenging (also, those ae $40 and the drive-in movies are no cost).  

Books We're Reading - Shadows in Death

 

I read a non-book club book!  I cracked into Shadows in Death on release date a couple of weeks ago.  The on-page death count was low.  I prefer a good race against time, serial killer, but this one did most of his killing before the book starts.  The book, as all do, starts with a murder.  Then, murder cop, Eve Dallas, gets to work to find the killer.  In this case, it was fairly easy because Roarke, husband and civiliant consultant, sees a familiar face.  So, in this case, it was more of gathering enough evidence and catching the killer to put him away.  In the meantime, Cobbe, big bad, was after torturing and killing everything dear to Roarke.  

To catch the big bad, all of Eve and Roarke's chosen family comes together - Mr. and Mrs. Mira, the entire precinct, Nadine, Summerset.  In the subplot, there was also mention of Nadine's boyfriend and Mavis and Leonardo and Trina.  

All in all, it was a great book.  I don't always like the personal books.  I tend to just like the straight-forward serial killer books, but it's nice to see Eve and Roake grow as characters and grow closer together and to see a couple work to maintain a relationship because usually with romance books, it all ends with the happily ever after.  Eve and Roarke are obviously happily ever after, but it's not as easy as a fade to black which I appreciate - also, even though it's like 50+ books with us, it's only been a couple of years for them.  

Movies We've Watched - Stranger Things

 

I started Stranger Things season 3 last year when it premiered and then stalled about halfway through.  Then, Little Miss's friends were getting into it.  I saw there was a trailer for season 4.  So, I was motivated to finish Season 3.  I definitely think that this was the weakest season for me, but Little Miss liked it a lot.  She very much likes to binge watch shows whereas I take my time.  It'll be interesting how we watch together when Season 4 premieres.  

I, of course, liked the nods to the 80's in clothes, entertainment, and guest stars.  They do quite a bit without showing us the monster until the end.  For me, it's really the relationships between everybody.  I admit to straying a bit from the show, but I'll hang around for another season if only to give me something to discuss with Little Miss.

Movies We've Watched - Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead

 

Last week, I watched Hot Fuzz on Starz, and I really liked it.  I don't remember why I decided to watch it.  I think I got caught in an IMDB spiral and realized I never saw it.  So, I decided to remedy that.  I thought it was really funny which helped because it was also very violent, and I'm a baby.  I posted on Facebook that I was finally watching for the first time, and the boy's cousin suggested Shaun of the Dead.  So, the next night, I watched that!

Shaun of the Dead is a zombie movie which isn't my favorite genre.  Again, I'm a baby.  I loved the little nods to zombies before you see the first one in the movie.  That made me laugh.  I believe I watched this on Cinemax which was a challenge because it doesn't have an app so I had to figure out how to watch online.  I did so it all worked out.  I liked Hot Fuzz a little more, but I think it's because it's got a slightly firmer foot in reality.  This isn't always necessary in my entertainment (obviously), but it sometimes helps when I'm comparing two different movies.  

I haven't seen the third in the unofficial trilogy, but I haven't found it online either.  Maybe some day.  

Movies We've Watched - Magic Camp

 

As already established, my entertainment taste skews young.  I recently found out that Little Miss's friends and I share favorite tv shows.  So, that's great.  Anyway, continuing on that trend, I watched Magic Camp on Disney+.  I think the adult storyline is the weakest which is fine because it mostly focuses on a young adult.  Theo loses his dad with whom he shared a love of magic.  It was their thing.  So, his mom shows that he was accepted into Magic Camp.  He assumes it was the last act his dad did for him.  

The kids are funny but not too adorable or precocious.  It was a typical feel-good movie.  It was funny and feel good, the perfect quarantine movie if you don't want to think too hard. 

Movies We've Watched - Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe

 

Phineas and Ferb is one of the reasons why I didn't hesitate to get Disney+.  Maybe I don't watch it as often as I could be, but Little Miss watches the Marvel and Star Wars movies almost every week.  Plus, the cost for Disney+ for three years cost the same as one ticket to Hamilton so we've definitely covered the costs using my Hamilton refund.

If you are a Phineas and Ferb fan, this is really great.  There are many callbacks and signature humor, fantastic guest stars, and heart at the center of it all.  I've been slowly rewatching the show, and it's just so clever and fun.  (Also, the TikTok videos on Phineas and Ferb by fans and by the creators are worth following.)

Movies We've Watched - Skin Wars (season 3)

 

I've never watched Skin Wars before, but I stumbled upon it on Netflix and breezed through the season.  First, I'm not usually a reality competition show fan except maybe The Great British Bake Off.  However, if they are good-natured enough, I don't mind them.  I was hoping this was more like Glow Up, but it's a little more overly-dramatic and over-edited.  Still, I watched it so I could root against the contestants that bothered me.  

I don't doubt all of these people are talented, and it's amazing what people can do on a human canvas.  Maybe this type of show isn't always for me, but I do appreciate the talent most of these people have.  I care a little less about the competition part actually.  So, it was a fine show, but I wasn't engaged enough to watch previous seasons.  The fact that it was originally on GSN and shown on Netflix explains the odd breaks for commercials.  I watch so many streaming shows, I'm not used to that.  

Books I've Read AND Movies We've Watched - The Hate U Give

 

This month, for my work book club, we read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and then watched the movie.  It's about Starr.  Starr lives in a black community and goes to a private school that is predominantly white.  She feels the push/pull of the two different communities and has two different personalities she shows.  In the beginning of the book, she witnesses her childhood friend murdered during a traffic stop.  This changes her to her core, and she finds it more and more difficult to continue to show two different sides of herself.

First, I read the book before watching the movie.  I found it so stressful.  I didn't know much about the book other than I bought it forever ago and never got around to reading it.  It is so infuriating to read the struggle and fear of an entire community combined with watching the news every day.   Knowing this book was written years ago and seeing absolutely no progress today is also difficult to take.  I really liked the nuances of the book, the little moments between Starr and her friends, between Starr and her boyfriend, between Starr and her uncle and dad.  

Second, the movie starts off completely different.  It hit the broad strokes of the book, but I missed the little things.  I felt like the movie's ending was definitely different, and I don't know if I liked that when I compare the two.  Viewing it on its own, I liked it.  I just think I liked the book more.  Of course.  

Movies We've Watched - Selena + Chef

 

Selena + Chef is a new show on HBO Max where Selena Gomez is taught to cook by a professional chef to varying degrees of success.  The food looked amazing.  I'm in love with Selena's kitchen and pink accessories.  I know many love the knives, but I just love the pink.  And that stove/oven!  

I'm jumping the gun because the latest 3 episodes just dropped yesterday on HBO, and I haven't seen them yet, but I really like seeing people with similar cooking ability to myself cook.  It gives me hope.  I don't do a lot of cooking, but I am more willing to try new things than the rest of the house which is a weird scenario for our household.  

Anyway, if you have HBO, this is a fun, little show full of food porn.  

Movies We've Watched - Glow Up

 

This is season 2 of Glow Up on Netflix.  I didn't like it as much as season 1.  I think the winner was fair.  The winner was talented.  I would have been fine with either one.  I was just really happy when the winner of season 1 was announced, and I didn't have that same joy.  

To be fair, I don't watch a lot of reality competition shows.  I hate it when the contestants are portrayed as over-confident or cocky.  I don't mind pride, but I hate it when they get snarky or mean-spirited.  I'm struggling with the body painting show now because of this, but it may even out once those people are cut.  

Anyway, I still find them all wildly talented.  I find it so fascinating to watch people do full make up.  I do very little.  I value my time too much - and don't have the steady hand.  They really are artists.  

Movies We've Watched - JoJo Rabbit

 

I'm a bit of a baby with war-time movies, but Mel Brooks recommended this one.  It finally made it to HBO Max.  The kid who plays JoJo is fantastic.  I think the light and cinematography on this film help balance the evil and darkness.  I ended up liking it a lot.  I love JoJo's mind and seeing him evolve through the film.

JoJo is a child during WWII in Germany.  The movie opens with him pretty much a good little Nazi-in-Training.  His father is away though it's never confirmed if he is actually away or if the movie is telling a tale to avoid telling him that his father abandoned him or died.  She protects him from a lot so it's up to interpretation (or it was spelled out, and I wasn't paying attention).  JoJo is left alone a lot, but he loves his mother.  I'm not a huge fan of Scarlett Johanssen so I don't know if it's her or the character's quirkiness, but she bugged me.  

Overall, I'm glad I watched the movie though.  JoJo was so sweet.  He really made themovie a success for me.

Books I've Read - the Want You series

 

I read both I Want You Back and Want You to Want Me by Lorelei James.  I thought I was safe reading Books 1 and 2, but I didn't realize there was a Need You series.  They're all about the same family.  I think you're fine reading these by themselves, but it'll be interesting to read the first series next.  

These are not my favorite type of book in that they are in first person point of view that jumps between the two main characters.  I don't prefer first person.  That said, I didn't feel like it was manipulative or used as a way to keep a secret.  If anything, I think it helps that we saw both points of view because all of the characters had some internal struggle based a little on perception.  It would be a shame to to miss that, but I think it could have been done as third person, too.  Still, I still enjoyed the books which is saying a lot because when I say I don't like first person, I really do not.

Anyway, the first book is a reunion story.  The couple share a daughter.  The hero is a former professional hockey player putting the next steps in his life in order.  He is a former player off the field as well who was unfaithful to his girlfriend and is an alcoholic.  She has a few walls - not all the hero's fault.  

The second book is the hero's brother from the first book, and the heroine is a hockey player who is a coach and referee.  I loved Gabi.  I loved how generous and tough she is.  I feel she was unique and something you don't read a lot.  Nolan was typical in some ways but unique in some others.  He had family pressures, but he has a supportive family which isn't always true when you read about the rich, entitled playboy type of hero.  Usually, they have some daddy issues or a wall or deep into the family business.  This was a little more.  

They were good books to keep me reading before steeling myself for another book club book with heavy themes.