Redbox Review - A Royal Night Out

A Royal Night Out (Redbox Rental) - 3 stars

A period piece from 1945 and the madcap adventures by the Princesses Royal in London on VE Day.  It was a nice bonus to see the footage and scenery of London.  I didn't think it would be a light comedy, a little on the ribald side.  It seemed to drag a little in places and take a little too much time to resolve.  The casting of Sarah Gadon and Bel Powley as the Princesses was spot on, the leading man - not so much.  He seemed a bit off-putting.  I thought I would like it more - definitely the trailers were better than the movie.

Netflix Stars - The Theory of Everything

3 stars - Interesting story, incredible performance by Eddie Redmayne.  Despite Jane's devotion and support of him through his illness, their relationship falters, as does the movie.

Netflix Stars - Valentino The Last Emperor

4 1/2 stars
"An evening gown which shows a woman's ankles is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen."  I love his evening gowns and this documentary showcases his designs, particularly in the first half.  Gorgeous eye candy.  But the second half is a wrap up of his career, and a bit sad to watch as money takes over from designing from the heart couture.

Netflix Stars - Ladies in Lavender

5 stars!  Oddly we tend to watch more movies in the summer, inside the air-conditioning than in the cooler months. A sweet and touching drama set in Cornwall in 1939.  Maggie Smith and Judi Dench were in fine form and played off each other's strengths with remarkable skill.  A delight to watch!

Netflix Stars - Brooklyn -- The book must be/has to be better than the movie!

2 stars - Not a good sign when you stop the movie three times to take cell phone calls and text a friend.  Very slowly paced, I kept waiting for me to get hooked into it because of all the "You are going to love this movie" from my friends.  The best part of the movie was the ending.  No, not because it was over, but for the lines. Definitely a sign to read the book first.  On the positive, I did not know the Catholic Church sponsored the Irish to come to America, particularly Brooklyn.  And the costuming was well done.  I will try reading the book to see if it fleshes out Saoirse Ronan's character beyond a far off stare and deepening the rest of the glossed-over characters.

Evidently someone else thought the same and pinned this on Pinterest --

Netflix Stars - Big Eyes

3.5 stars, though I gave it 4 on my Netflix just so I might be able to be directed to other art based on true events DVDs.  An interesting behind-the-scenes disclosure of the iconic Big Eye art from the early 60's I remember seeing as the background of my childhood.  Honestly, I felt they were creepy then and now.  And so is Christophe Waltz, whom I'm afraid is getting typecast into these type of roles.  Absolutely no chemistry between him and Amy Adams.  Though I did think Amy Adams nailed her role.  It was an easy indoor entertainment to beat the heat outside.  If it is in your queue or in your stack of at home DVDs, pop it in and enjoy seeing the big picture.

17 hours, three movies...Are we there yet?

Almost 17 hours nonstop from Dallas to Sydney and back leaves a lot of time to get caught up on movies.  Thank goodness Qantas has a great selection and some aren't even available on Netflix or Rebox yet.  Also good to know if you are flying Qantas, they do change up the movies offered outbound and inbound.  Featuring two of Australia's most easy-on-the-eyes gentlemen, here's three I watched --

Eddie the Eagle

I actually watched this over my husband's shoulder.  A feel good movie about Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards' life leading up to representing Great Britain in the 1988 Olympics.  Hugh Jackman is also in this movie, and looking fine.

The Dressmaker

Kind of a dark comedy about revenge with Kate Winslet perfectly on point with her clothes and makeup.   It was set in early 1950's Australia.   Liam Hemsworth was most definitely engaging, also.  If you love to sew, this is the movie for you to watch.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Ugh, I kept hoping this would get better.  Based on Kim Barker's experiences in Afghanistan. Tina Fey needs to stick to comedy.  This had a few somewhat forced moments, but it wasn't that great.  I kept watching hoping it would get better.  And I did have time to waste on it.  Off queue and off the plane, pass.

Netflix Stars - Searching for Sugar Man

5 stars - A surreal story that is life-affirming, evidence of a parallel life.  A humble, blue collar activist unbeknownst to himself  is a mega star on the other side of the world in South Africa, whose songs became an anthem to the anti-apartheid movement.  Proof that good guys do actually win occasionally.

Netflix Stars - Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's

4 stars!  I love documentaries and this one is well-done.  It starts off a bit slow, but I found it fascinating.  Particularly the store's history, David Hoey's concepts of visual presentation/window dressing (and the artists' creations and their showrooms), Fashion Director Linda Fargo and personal shopper Betty Halbreich.  There are lots of interviews with designers and celebrities, sometimes a little over the top, but I think you will enjoy the behind-the-scenes peek of this storied store.

Netflix Stars - Wild

Two stars, only because I was able to clear out a DVD from my stack at home while my Dish receiver was toasted during the Houston storms on Monday, and I don't have to bother reading the book since I wasn't that thrilled with the movie storyline.  I would have liked to have seen more scenery and I thought Reese could have been more in character - i.e., pulling her hair back in a pony tail!  I thought the flashback scenes with her mother were touching, but the other flashbacks, not so much and seemed to slow the movie.

Netflix Stars - Hot Pursuit

1/2 star - Only because of my effort to keep watching to see if it would get better and it did not.  Sofia is probably better in small doses and should stick with television and Modern Family.  And Reese?!  What was she thinking when she agreed to make this poorly-written excuse for a comedy.  Quite possibly the worst movie I've seen this year.  Save your time and your money.

Netflix Stars - The September Issue

4 stars - A sometimes draggy look at the behind the scenes production of putting together Vogue's infamous September issue.   Besides insight into how Anna Wintour runs the shop, what I found more interesting was the backstory of Grace Coddington, the Creative Director.  You'll see a lot of parallels to "The Devil Wears Prada"

Netflix Stars - Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

3.25 stars - a nice wrap-up to the trilogy and tribute to Robin Williams...though he seemed off his game.  There were some slow and tiresome parts (to the point we were wondering how it was going to wrap up), but it left the door open a crack if they wanted to continue on with Rebel Wilson in the future.

Netflix Stars - Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton

5 Stars!  I love behind-the-scenes documentaries, and these people were able to get unheard-of access to the production of his collection from New York to Paris to Tokyo, when he was still with Louis Vuitton.  It was fun and interesting to watch Marc Jacobs in action. I especially liked that amongst his collection of t-shirts he favored to wear while working, he had a Gilley's t-shirt. ; )  And bonus the Netflix rental DVD has the bonus features you can watch afterwards.

Netflix Stars - Philomena

5 stars!  A compelling, based upon true story (The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith) of an Irish woman wanting to reunite with her son whom she had to give up for adoption in the mid-century.  Dame Judi Dench plays the title role endearingly.  Be sure to watch the closing credits!

Netflix Stars - Midnight in Paris

5 stars!  Another "run out to Target and get my own copy!"  We watched this New Year's Eve.  LOVED IT!  Owen Wilson was great, it was fun to see these artists and writers come to life.   Just a magical movie.

Netflix Stars - The Great Gatsby

4 stars - Finally got around to seeing this, actually my own copy, a Christmas present.  Great special effects, lighting and costuming.  Save for the Jay-Z hip-hop trying to bring this to the millennials, not a bad remake.  And hooray for the bonus disc!

Netflix Stars - Labor Day

4 stars - I was surprised.  Predictable?  Yes and no. But the question we kept asking was, "Why was Kate Winslet in this?"  Perhaps suited more for an up and coming actress earning her chops.  She was good, but a bit beneath her abilities.  A bit choppy, and emotional in places, but overall it's a pretty good chick flick.

Netflix Stars - Magic in the Moonlight

5 stars!  How cute and good is this movie??  As we were watching it, my daughter ordered a copy on Amazon!  I don't even particularly care for Woody Allen movies and didn't realize it was until the opening credits.  But I adore Colin Firth and the chemistry between him and Emma Stone was terrific.   And the ending, perfect!  We actually Redbox'd this movie, but I went ahead and gave this 5 stars on Netflix.  Here's hoping there are some special features on the non-rental/purchased copy.  I loved the wardrobe, and how it and the lighting truly invoked the late 1920's.  A very magical and entertaining rom-com.

Netflix Stars - Admission

3.50 stars - We thought this was a cute and quirky movie.  Is it a true rom-com?  Not really.  But it has its moments.  A bit choppy in places, but we liked the fact the ending is unexpected.