Watching It Now on Netflix

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!

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is a 2010 Fantasy Action movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ben Kingsley. Plot:  Gyllenhaal plays Dastan, an adopted Prince who is known more for his impetuous, fight-first nature than for being a thoughtful, intelligent son of the King.  His father's army is tricked into invading a holy city whose secret, crown jewel is an item of unimaginable power.  The one who possesses this item has the ability to control time, and soon a power struggle ensues as Dastan is caught in the center of a plot designed to bring down his father's kingdom and perhaps destroy the world. My Take: I resisted seeing this in the theaters once the poor box office numbers started to emerge.  As a fan of Gyllenhaal's, I relented to finally watching it one night at home on Netflix.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun the movie was, with a good plot and lots of action.  Gyllenhaal was his typical charming self, and the movie had eno...

Serenity is a 2005 sci-fi movie based on the Firefly television series that ran in 2002.  It is a Joss Whedon project and stars Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and Adam Baldwin. Plot:  A bit of time has passed since the events in the Firefly episodes, and the crew of the Serenity have their toughest mission yet.  Harboring fugitives from the over-reaching government called the Alliance, the Serenity crew discover a dangerous secret that could bring it down.  Pursued by the government and a group of flesh-eating savages, the Serenity crew have to rely on each other to survive. My Take: Just as funny and smart as its predecessor, Serenity is a delight in every way.  More action, bigger storyline, and even more character development, fans of the tv show were not disappointed. It's rare when a tv show gets a feature-length movie released in theaters, and even more rare when it's based on a series that lasted less than one full season.  You don't have to ...

Surrogates is a 2009 futuristic Sci-Fi thriller starring Bruce Willis. Plot:  Set in the not-so-distant future, humans have turned over the day-to-day living of their lives to robotic doubles called Surrogates while they hibernate at home controlling the Surrogates through a neural link.  When a series of surrogate murders threatens this way of living, a police detective (Willis) is forced to venture out in the world as himself to investigate. My Take: I can watch anything as long as Bruce Willis is in it.  This movie, however, is actually a pretty decent sci-fi thriller.  Plenty of action and a good story go a long way.  I found the premise to be very interesting, and the issues explored kept me thinking about this movie for quite a while after I watched it.  What is living? Is it living out a variety of fantasies using a robotic double who is more attractive than you? Or is it simply being with the ones you love, in a body that may be unattract...