Watching It Now on Netflix

The War: A Film By Ken Burns Plot: This is not your average World War II documentary.   Of the myriad of takes, The War is the one that brings it home for the average American.  Told through the eyes of the residents of four American towns while they lived through World War II, this documentary shows the devastation that was wrought upon the homes of America during this horrific war. It highlights how, in many areas of the country, the majority of young men would sign up for a specific branch of service depending on where they lived. Therefore, when a particular battle happened, such as Iwo Jima, certain towns were hit by far more casualties than another town in a state somewhere else in the country. My Take: In my opinion, the absolute best documentary that's been done on World War II. It's also one of the best, if not THE best, work of Ken Burns. Thankfully this documentary was done at a time where there were still plenty of WWII survivors (both military and civili...

Stranger Things: Season 2 is a Netflix Original Show. Plot: What happened to Elle? How are the rest of the kids? Who are these new characters? Hardly anything can be speculated on in this blog post without ruining some aspect of Season 1. Therefore, if you haven't watched Season 1, go do that first! My Take :  I can not stress this enough!!! If you've not seen Season 1, go watch it NOW!  Season 2 is far stronger overall than its predecessor. Better writing, plot development, and character interaction are only a few of things that make Season 2 so good.  I watched the final 7 episodes in one go and it was so well worth it!!! One of the most binge-able shows in all of Netflix, and one of the best seasons of any tv show I've ever seen. Highly recommended!!! Check out Stranger Things Monopoly !!! 

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!

Empire Of The Air is a Ken Burns historical documentary made in 1991. Plot: The history of radio is shown from the discovery of the inventions that made radio so innovative to the development of television.  The major inventions, the men who invented them, and the importance of radio in American culture are profiled in this documentary. My Take: I had never heard of Howard Armstrong, and that's a shame.  There are other men profiled who had roles in the development of radio as an entertainment and communication medium.  However, I had no idea that the the history of radio was such a soap opera.  It's a compelling tale, and it's a part of American history that is highly representative of both the brilliance and greed of those that make history.