Aquaman (2018)

Aquaman is a fun adventure romp set in the DC universe. In it Arthur, the titular Aquaman, and Princess Mera must go on an epic quest to find the magic trident and stop Arthur’s brother from destroying the world. Was there plot holes in this movie? Yes. Did it matter? Not really. I went in to see Jason Momoa run around in an epic quest without his shirt. I got that. I was, and am, happy.

Jurassic Park (1993)

The beginning of a franchise and an era, the first Jurassic Park has it all. Dino mayhem, people running and whether or not cloning these ancient monsters was really that great of an idea. One of my favorite scenes is when Alan and Ellie first see the dinosaurs, before the mayhem starts. It is a classic tale that could only come from the mind of Michael Cricton. It shows what mayhem can ensue when men play with forces they don’t understand. Such a classic giant monster movie.

Them! (1954)

Them! Is one of my  all time favorite giant monster movies. I always think about it when we get an ant infestation in the house. Fortunately, the ants we get are normal size! The characters  are great and the storyline is fun! A fun fact, they originally filmed this movie in color but decided that the ants were too pretty and so decided to make it black and white. Leonard Nimoy also has a cameo as Soldier in Crowd. It was also referenced in Antman and the Wasp, and why wouldn’t Antman be watching a movie about giant ants?

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

The Beast from 20,000 fathoms is one of the first of the atomic age movies. It introduced the world to the special effects of Ray Harryhausen and influenced the director of Godzilla to make his dinosaur movie. It tells the story of an ancient dino awoken by nuclear testing that then goes back to its historic breeding grounds, New York City. Of course it causes a bunch of havoc as it rampages through the city. Only the brave scientist can stop the monster. It is a great monster flick!

The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters is certainly weaker than the first movie. Many true fans of the book objected to the Lightning Thief because although it kept many of the principles of the first book in the series, they also changed a lot. In Sea of Monsters, movie makers attempted to return to the source material while still keeping some of the plot points brought up in the previous movie. The result was a weird combination that seemed disconnected from both the book series and the first movie. However, the movie can be enjoyed despite this if you take it for what it’s worth. A fun mythical look at modern day life. Percy Jackson is still one of my favorite contemporary heroes.

The Lightning Thief (2010)

The Lightning Thief (2010)

What would you do if you learned you were the son of a Greek god? If you’re Perseus Jackson, you would go on an epic quest to save the world from Hades, god of the Underworld. Percy is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. This means that he can do a lot of cool things with water that a lot of people can’t do, like basically drown someone on the top of building. Water also heals him and gives him super strength. And he has a pen that can turn into a sword. I want a pen that can turn into a sword…

Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Growing up this was my favorite Star Wars movie. I cannot really say why. Whether it was the cool battle scenes with everything cumulating in the final battle between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. Whether it was because Darth Vader was finally redeemed by his son in the end. Whether that we find out that Leia and Luke are twins and that Leia gets together with Han in the end. Whether it was the Ewoks. Whatever the reason, I have always loved this movie and it is a fitting end to a wonderful saga. None of the subsequent movies can ever compare to this first wonderful trilogy.

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Empire Strikes Back is actually my least favorite Star Wars movie in the original trilogy. Everyone whines so much in this movie. Luke whines because being a Jedi is hard work. Leia and Han whine because they don’t want to admit to being in love. Whine, whine. That being said I would watch this movie ten times over some of the newer movies that have come out in the franchise. For instance I would rather watch this one compared to any of the prequel movies!!

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Can anything ever compare to the original Star Wars? Now called A New Hope it started an international phenomenon. And it was a new hope, a new hope for Science Fiction fans the world over. I grew up on this movie. My parents had taped it off the antenna before or shortly after I was born. One of my best childhood memories is when the first round of special editions came out shortly before the advent of the Phantom Menace. My parents took my brother and me to see Star Wars on the big screen. It was so beautiful and even growing up with improved special effects I was amazed at the practical effects on the big screen. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, they are a part of my childhood and adulthood. It’s funny, as a kid Return of the Jedi was my favorite Star Wars movie, and as I’ve grown older it has become the original epic. I still love Return but there’s something about a New Hope that is eternally enduring. And nothing will ever compare to it, no matter how many sequels and prequels they make.

Clash of the Titans (1981)

The last of Ray HarryHausen’s visual effects masterpieces, Clash of the Titans is a fun, fun movie. Some of the acting in the movie is subpar. Harry Hamlin was basically cast because he’s pretty. The man couldn’t act at all. And Laurence Oliver, who’s supposed to be one of the greatest actors of all time, gives a poor accounting for himself in this movie. But Burgess Meredith and Maggie Smith more than make up for these other performances. And I love the movie, every bad moment of it. Also I have the genius of HarryHausen at the reigns, even though special effects had evolved since Jason and the Argonauts. One thing that I only noticed later is how the Kracken is simply a recasting of an earlier creation of HarryHausen, the alien from Venus in 20 Million Miles to Earth. Take this movie for what it’s worth and enjoy. It is, in my humble opinion, far superior to the remake in 2010. Hamlin might have given a wooden performance, but at least he wasn’t whining!

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

In a documentary about monster movies, there was a clip of Tom Hanks from a tribute that he did for Ray Harryhausen, the genius behind the special effects of Jason and the Argonauts. In this clip, Hanks told the audience that his favorite movie was Jason and the Argonauts. It has become a cinematic legend even being mentioned in Rick Riordan's Sea of Monsters. It remains one of my favorite movies, due mainly to the effects of Harryhausen especially considering that he did it all with claymation. For the time, his special effects were brilliant.

Jason and the Argonauts tells the age old story of Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece. It features Medea as his love interest and the beautiful Honor Blackman as the immortal Hera who looks after Jason on his quest. In interesting plot device is the idea that Hera and Zeus are playing a game of chess (of sorts) with the characters in the movie. Their fate lies in who plays the game. Of course in this version it ends happily with Jason and Medea sailing into the sunset with the Golden Fleece and those that remain of the Argonauts.  

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973)

As I’ve grown older, the Golden Voyage of Sinbad has become my favorite Sinbad movie. It has the most coherent plot and good acting for the most part. My favorite character is actually not Sinbad but the son of a local merchant. His father pays Sinbad handsomely to take his son on the voyage to hopefully cure him of his slothfulness and wastefulness. I think this boy goes through one of the most dramatic character growths in the movie, all with comedy and humor. Truly a wonderful story.

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger is perhaps the weakest of the trilogy. Made in 1977, it stars Patrick Wayne who is really cute, but not the best actor in the world. The only reason I feel he got any roles was because of his daddy, John Wayne. But still, we don’t need great acting chops when playing in an epic sea adventure with special effects by the legendary Ray HarryHausen. Growing up this version of Sinbad was my favorite; I think because it was constantly on TV. I now consider the Golden Voyage of Sinbad to be my favorite, but still love Eye of the Tiger. As my mom says, it’s a great popcorn movie!

The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad is a great epic fantasy movie with special effects by Ray HarryHausen. In this particular movie in the franchise, Sinbad must save his lady love, Princess Parisa from an evil magician who wants to use her, and ultimately Sinbad, to return to his cursed island and retrieve his magic lamp. The story is very good if a little silly, but what do you expect of  a movie of this age?

Seven Samurai 1954

The Seven Samurai is the original Japanese Magnificent Seven. Since I have seen several versions of the Magnificent Seven I was able to follow the story line fairly well even though it was in Japanese with English subtitles. It tells the same story as its subsequent remakes. Poor villagers are raided frequently by bandits. Poor villagers go into town to find people to help protect their village from the bandits. They find a loner warrior who gathers together seven of the best and greatest to help protect the village. It was interesting to see the different culture view of some of the main events in the story as opposed to the American version in the Old West. I won’t say more because I don’t want to spoil it for you should you choose to watch it. It was good. I may like my Americanized version a tad bit better but I am not sorry I watched it.

Jaws (1975)

Jaws. Giant Sharks. Death. Destruction. What more can you want from a disaster film? Such a great example of the monster movie, and terrifying because it could be true. In fact it did happen in 1916. The world is a scary place especially when there's sharks in the water.

The Beast (1996)

This great TV miniseries takes the classic story of Peter Benchley and brings it to the small screen. It tells the story of Graves Point, Washington a small fishing village that has fallen on hard times. Some are trying to solve the problem by trapping fish, others by improving the tourist trade to the town. All bets are off when a giant squid moves into the neighboring waters. It is up to a group of townsfolk to try to defeat the Beast in its own habitat. Such a great monster movie and yet another reason to stay out of the water!

My Fair Lady (1964)

For a couple of years now I have been having a blog both here and on Wordpress. I have decided that this is silly. I have decided to keep my Wordpress account as my fantasy blog and this one I will take in a different direction.  A friend of mine has a book entitled 501 Movies You Should Watch Before You Die. I also feel the need to watch the movies I own and find out if they do indeed “spark joy.” I will be varying between movies on the list and a post I am calling every movie I have ever owned. You can probably guess which ones are which simply by the quality of the movie!

First blog post: My Fair Lady (1964)

A classic musical where the young Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl, decides to get English lessons from one Professor Henry Higgins. Higgins belittles her and tries his best to turn her into a high class lady. How they both change and improve over the course of this movie is the basis of the story. Even though Higgins is still a jerk at the end of the movie he admits that he needs Eliza, which is in itself a miracle. It is a great musical with such memorable musical numbers as “Why Can’t the English” and “Wouldn’t it Be Loverly.” One of the best musicals of all time.

The Snow Queen (2002)

One of my favorite versions of this story because it’s one of the more accurate adaptations that I have seen. The magic, evil mirror is here, this time made by the Snow Queen to make everything icy and cold (reminds me a little of the White Witch in Narnia). When Kai is pierced by the pieces of the mirror, the snow queen steals him away in order to extract the pieces to put back into her mirror. Gerda then goes on a journey through the different seasons to rescue him and bring him home. A great movie from Hallmark.

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

I’ve heard Shades of Milk and Honey described if “Jane Austen wrote fantasy stories.” I can see where this idea comes from, for this book is a regency novel that reminds me some of the best of Austen’s work. In it accomplished young ladies know how to apply glamours to make the world seem slightly better than the actual surroundings. Music can have magical light dancing through the air, a room can look like a forest. The ever practical plain Jane is the true glamourist in the family, but it is Melody who attracts the men due to her pretty face. When unscrupulous men try to manipulate Melody in order to get her dowry, it is up to Jane to stop them and perhaps find a love of her own.

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

Do you love Sherlock Holmes? Then you’ll love this classic Disney take on the great detective. Basil of Baker Street (named after Basil Rathbone who many consider the greatest actor to play Holmes) is the mouse that lives in Holmes’ house. He and his companion, Dr. Dawson must solve the mysteries of Mousedom and save the queen from the evil Professor Rattigan. A fun example of a great classic!!

Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale

Rapunzel’s Revenge is a graphic novel version of the classic tale. It places Rapuzel in a Old West setting where she is imprisoned in a massive tree instead of a tower. She breaks out all on her own and uses her cunning and mastery of her way too long hair to get revenge on Mother Gothel and free her real mother from the mines where she works for Gothel. On the way she meets a boy named Jack. He had some problems with some giants and beanstalks back east… 

The second book, Calamity Jack, is Jack’s story. In it Rapunzel and Jack return back east to confront the giants and save the day. Both are fun examples about how you can take a fairy tale and rewrite it in your own way.

The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

The Forbidden Kingdom is one of the few Kung Fu movies I actually enjoy, although I do admit that I haven’t really seen a lot of them. This is the story of Jason Tripitakas, a modern Boston teenager, who is sent back to Ancient China by a magical staff in order to free the Monkey King. He meets legendary Kung Fu masters Jackie Chan and Jet Li along the way which teach him real Kung Fu. It is a fun contemporary view of an ancient myth, Jason’s last name hinting at the original monk in the Journey to the West.

Devil May Care by Elizabeth Peters

Barbara Mertz wrote under two pseudonyms. The first one Barbara Michaels were more of her gothic romances and Elizabeth Peters were more of her romantic suspense. I really am surprised that Devil May Care is a Elizabeth Peters and not a Barbara Michaels. In this chilling tale, Ellie is staying in her Aunt Kate’s house. When supernatural events start happening in the house it is up to Ellie to figure out what satanic rites might have taken place in the house. It is one of her more disturbing books, but still very well written.

The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid is one of the few movies I think is better than the book. Hans Christian Anderson is the king of bittersweet endings. The Little Mermaid in the book doesn’t get the prince in the end, instead she essentially commits suicide and becomes an angel. In the Disney movie on the other hand, Ariel does get Prince Eric at the end of the movie. It is a wonderful story about how true love can conquer anything including the distance between the land and the sea. It also shows the depth of a father’s love as King Triton first tries to protect his daughter from the scary human world and then shows his great love by allowing her to be with her human prince. It is truly one of Disney’s greats!

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce*

Wild Magic is part of the Tortall World. The series, The Immortals, is the second series to come from that world. It tells the story of Daine, a thirteen year old girl who finds out that she has a very powerful and rare “wild magic” that allows her to talk to animals and even shapeshift at times. She enters into the tutelage of Numair who helps her to train and hone these powers, which she desperately needs to save her world. A fun story.

Captain Sindbad (1963)

Captain Sindbad is a fun romp based on the classic story. The special effects are kind of poor, but it is still fun. In this version of the classic tale, Sindbad is in love with the lovely Princess Jana, but to win her hand he has to fight the evil El Kerim. There’s just one bad part, El Kerim seems to be immortal. It is soon revealed that by black magic El Kerim has removed his heart and put it in a “safe location” many miles away. Sindbad and his crew must go on an epic quest to find and destroy El Kerim’s heart.