The Whole World Is Watching

 I've been wanting to watch "The Trial of the Chicago 7" for a while, but finally watched it tonight on Netflix.

• 10 minutes into the movie, I realized I was probably looking at this with a really different than eye if I had watched it before January 6, 2021.
• This judge is a mess!  Frank Langella's performance reminds me of when he played Nixon in "Frost/Nixon".  Ooh, now I want to watch that again.
• Mark Rylance!  Yay!
• I had tears in my eyes when Bobby Seale was restrained and gagged.  I was also pissed.
• Great cast, and none of them disappointed me. 
• I also love the writing, which is not a surprise, given that I'm a fan of Aaron Sorkin and he's the reason I wanted to watch this in the first place.
• "This is the Academy Awards of protests and as far as I'm concerned it's an honor just to be nominated."
• "If you don't win elections, it doesn't matter what's second. And it is astonishing to me that someone still has to explain that to you."
• "In this country, we do it every four years."

So they were charged with crossing state lines with the intent to incite a riot, or conspire to do so.  This is why I would have seen this with a different eye before 1/6/2021;  a different eye, but sadly, not a surprised one.

Great movie.  So now this is on my list of "courtroom drama must-see movies".  Others on that list:  "The Accused", and "A Few Good Men".  

We're Jazzing

 I watched "Soul" via Disney+ on Christmas Day.

• Loved, loved, LOVED the opening logo with the middle school band class rendition of the Disney theme.
• Jon Baptiste's music was as awesome as I expected.  Love that jazz piano that I've become familiar with during his musical stylings on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
• I was kind of irritated by Joe's attitude, and after talking to a teacher about the movie, I think I understand why: I didn't like the fact that he saw his day job as a last resort.
• "Quiet Coyote"?
• I loved that they showed that anyone's souls, not just those of artists, can transcend to The Zone because of something they love to do. (Aw, the poor Knicks!)
• I also didn't like that Dorothea looked down on him being a middle school teacher before she actually heard him play.
• So funny how Joe (as Mr. Mittens) sits on the subway seat.
• I felt like I was left hanging at the end, but I suppose that was intentional.

I watched the movie again as I wrote this, and I liked it more the second time. 

Honor To Us All

When the live action version of Disney's "Mulan" first became available on Disney+, I opted out of purchasing the download, and decided to patiently wait for it to be released to everyone with the subscription.  I watched it during the first week of December.  

• Loved the logo and the accompanying music!
• I knew from the trailers that this film would be very different from the animated one, which I really enjoy.  I'm happy to report that the differences did not take away my enjoyment of this film.
• I did miss Little Brother, though, even though Mulan has a sister in this one.  I guess that's better than a dog that just runs around and messes up stuff.
• Cri-Kee in human form!
• I like that they incorporated some of the music from the animated film into the score, but I did miss hearing Donny Osmond and Lea Salonga singing.  The pop versions played at the end do nothing for me.
• I was wondering how they were going to handle all of the guys in the army sleeping in the same room as her, and thought her solution was perfect!  I would have needed to take a shower every day, though, especially with all of that crazy physical training.  I'm glad they addressed that, too.
• I liked the character of Xiannang, although she puzzled me at first.  
• I had a crush on Honghui, especially when they all took off their shirts.  :)
• I really liked the battle scene when she returns, and I'm glad they still included the avalanche, which, I guess, must have been part of the actual legend.

I think that I enjoyed this film because they didn't try to do the animated one, but with live action / CGI, as they've done with the other remakes.  It was different enough...but I still miss the songs.  :)

Dance With Me

 My sister-in-law was very excited when "The Prom" became available on Netflix.  She had been kind of stalking them once they started filming across the street from their house.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it until I saw the trailer and the cast, and subsequently watched it during opening weekend.

• Oh, Meryl.  I'm a fan.  Not a scary-stabby fan, though.
• Loved Nicole Kidman's solo performance, although I don't know how anyone could take one look at her and not make her more than a chorus girl.
• I really liked the premise and story of this show.  It speaks to what people are going through when trying to be accepted for being who they are, especially when they live in less diverse communities.
• I thought the songs were fun, and am looking forward to receiving the CD that I ordered.  Yes, I still order CDs.  Don't judge me.
• "We're cultural disrupters."
• I think "promposals" are ridiculous, in real life and on screen.  
• Saw my brother's garage!  Somebody on imdb said that the houses were clearly in California, and not Indiana.  OK, then, smartypants.

I'm looking forward to when this show starts touring, and I hope to see it on stage someday.

Which Way Did He Go?

Bear with me y'all.  I have tons of stuff I haven't written about because I've had a special type of writer's block: the type where I don't know if I should write my thoughts on new movies because then I get all sad that I didn't get to see them in the theater, so I just pretend they didn't happen.  Ah, but it's a new year, and we're still going to be staying home for a while longer, so I'll catch up on some of the ones I can remember that I saw this year from the comfort of my home and not-so-big screen.

First up:  "The Invisible Man"

• I liked the modern method of how he would become invisible.
• I also thought it was interesting how he gaslighted her so that nobody would believe her.
• I've been a fan of Elisabeth Moss since she starred in "Mad Men", and I do like the way she portrayed Cecilia.
• I don't know how anyone lives in that type of house with the minimalist furniture and all of the space.  It seemed so cold and not homey at all.  It reminded me of "Sleeping With The Enemy", and I could tell right away that she wanted to escape, even if they hadn't shown all of the physical signs.
• Whoa.  That dinner scene in the restaurant.  I think I stopped breathing for a few seconds.
• I think I want to read the HG Wells book of the original story.
• I forgot when I sat down to watch this movie that I was supposed to watch it in the daytime, because otherwise I get more scared.  Next time I see it, I'll watch it that way.
• Yes, I think I'll see this one again! 

Or...not see it?  :)