Watching It Now on Netflix

Stranger Things  Season 1 is a 2016 original tv show produced and aired on Netflix.  The second season is due to come out in 2017. Plot :  It's the 1980's in a small Indiana town. A close group of four young boys, normally immersed in their Dungeons and Dragons obsession, get pulled into a mysterious conspiracy when a young girl shows up displaying some strange supernatural abilities. My Take:  To be perfectly honest, I was bored out of my mind for the first four episodes. There's one (of many) storylines that dominate the first few episodes that thankfully moves to the background later in the show. That's when the real drama starts.  I loved the 80's nostalgia that permeates the show, and that's clearly one of the biggest attractions.  David Harbour and Winona Ryder turn in some fantastic perfomances and all the child actors are fantastic!

Moana is a 2016 animated, musical children's film and was nominated for two Oscars. Plot :  Moana is a tropical princess with a desire to explore and travel off the little island she's lived on all her life. The problem? Her father, the King, forbids this.  However, when a terrible curse afflicts her home, she makes a fateful decision to journey across the ocean to find the one who can save her people. My Take:  Another Disney animated gem. This movie is an instant children's classic beloved by just about every little kid that I know. I was enthralled with the music and the young female lead in the film.  It stands up against every Disney animated movie that's been done since The Little Mermaid. It also breaks tradition in a few ways, but I will leave it up to you to figure out exactly what!! Get your little girl (or boy) a Moana Doll !!!

Rogue One is a 2016 prequel to the legendary Star Wars: A New Hope Plot: We finally learn the incredible story of how a band of rebel outcasts join forces to attempt to steal the Death Star schematics and save the galaxy from the clutches of the evil Darth Vader and the Empire itself. My Take: I'm a huge Star Wars fan, so this movie faced an uphill battle with me liking it from the start. However, an engaging cast, riveting music, and outstanding storytelling made me believe that this was a fantastic addition to the Star Wars universe. It's not just a great Star Wars universe movie; it's a great movie in and of itself. Even if you don't care much for Star Wars, it's worth a watch. You won't regret it!!

Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 animated children's movie that was nominated for two Oscars. Plot :  Kubo is a young boy who has the ability to control certain objects by simply playing his very special musical instrument. This is a story of a young man who searches for his father's most important lost possession in order to defeat a mystical evil entity. My Take: Such a beautiful and well-made film! As a fan of Miyazaki-made films, I was so pleased to hear that the producers consider this a homage to that legendary film-maker. The music is fantastic, and the animation style is so distinct that this film stands out from so many others in the crowded animated market. Not just for kids!