The Sound of Music Will Always Warm Our Hearts

Over forty years ago, a beloved musical musical made its debut on the movie screen. "The Sound of Music" earned Best Picture, Best Director and numerous other awards for its beautifully choreagraphed, written, acted, sung, and filmed story based on the Von Trapp family of Austria. If you started humming "Do Re Mi" among a group of people, everyone will join in. It's just one of those universal movies which stay which stay with you forever and entertains generation after generation. It's a love story between a governess and her charges as well as a love story between a man and a woman set in the beautiful country of Austria. We cannot forget that throughout the movie we learn about the rise of Hitler's power and Austria's and Captain Von Trapp's resistence to this evil force. We care about the Von Trapps, and that's what makes this movie so endearing and moving. Julie Andrews is Maria, and I cannot imagine anyone else in this role. She has perfect combination of innocence, chutzpah, ingenuity and strength to win over her seven charges, as well as the stoic and rigid Captain Von Trapp played by Christopher Plummer. There are several wonderful scenes where Maria confronts the Captain as she advocates for the children's needs only to be turned down, but we see that his resolve is slowly diminishing. We are treated to so many wonderful songs, such as, "My Favorite Things," "Climb Every Mountain," "Edelweiss," and "The Sound of Music." In the end, we root for the Von Trapps to escape Austria as they flee from the Nazi soldiers. We feel terrible that they must abandon their home and homeland, but we leave the movie sensing that they're going to be all right. If Julie Andrews is there to sing a song in order to cheer you up, then all is right with the world.

If Ever a Wiz There Was

I cannot wait for my children to be old enough to enjoy viewing the ultimate classic "The Wizard of Oz." What a wonderful memory from childhood. I watched it every year on television. I believe it was broadcast around Thanksgiving each year. Now you can own a DVD of this treasure and watch it whenever you want. I just want to wait until the children are at age when they won't have nightmares about the Wicked Witch and the flying monkeys. I remember having bad dreams as a child. While I loved the movie, I would turn my head away when I knew the Witch would appear, or cover my ears so I wouldn't hear her cackling. She was truly evil in my eyes. But Dorothy was someone to admire. She had the beautiful hair and the adorable dog, Toto. And best of all, she had these gorgeous, shiny red shoes to wear. With the click of her heels, she was transported back to her real life among her family and friends. Dorothy may have been a long way from home, and seeking a way to return, she learned a valuable lesson about appreciating one's lot in life.
The appeal of "The Wizard of Oz" lies in its colorful characters, like Dorothy,Tin Man, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion (my personal favorite), the Wizard of Oz, Glenda the Good Witch, the Munchkins, Auntie Em and others. Dorothy had the adventure of a lifetime as she followed the yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz who would help her return to Kansas. Along the way she met people who would help her achieve this objective. Who can forget the beautiful songs that accompany them along their journey like "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "We're Off to See the Wizard," and more. It's simply a classic and appropriate for most ages (except young children who frighten easily). You never outgrow movies with magical characters in a magical land. View it today, with or without children!

"Ghost" is a Beautiful Love Story

I love romantic love stories, so when I heard "Ghost" was a tale of love between a man and a woman I was all for it. It didn't occur to me that the "Ghost" referred to one of the main characters who ends up murdered early on in the movie. What a bummer. I love happy endings, which you could argue there was in this movie. But to me, a happy ending shows the couple riding off into the sunset. However, I decided to give "Ghost" a chance, and was pleasantly surprised. The premise of the story is one of greed and deception, which results in the untimely demise of Sam (Patrick Swayze), one half of the beautiful, loving couple. He was betrayed by his close friend and colleague, Carl, who Sam believed was a loyal and honest friend. Sam has the code to the accounts at the bank which Carl needs in order to launder money. A "mugging" occurs to retrieve Sam's wallet which has the code, but ends tragically. Sam is now a ghost and discovers that Carl is desperate to get the code and believes Molly (Demi Moore), Sam's girlfriend, has it in her apartment. Sam has to protect her but cannot find a way to communicate with her now that he's a ghost.
In steps Whoopi Goldberg as Oda Mae Brown, a "spiritualist." She is able to hear Sam, and he convinces her to help him protect Molly. Goldberg is absolutely perfect as the disbelieving and unwilling sidekick/partner to Swayze. There are some great scenes between Swayze and Goldberg as he persistently seeks her help. In the end, Molly believes that Sam is present even though she cannot see or hear him. There is a beautifully touching scene when the two say good bye. And of course,the good guys win and the bad guys lose. Despite the fact that Sam and Molly are separated forever, you walk away with a feeling that everything will be all right. It's worth checking out, especially to catch Goldberg at her best.

Time to Revisit Cult Classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Many years ago during my college years I was introduced to the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Show." I was told nothing about the story, so my imagination ran wild with images of a monster movie, which terrify me. Boy was I in for a surprise. It seemed all my peers had seen this movie multiple times, could quote lines from it, and knew all the scenes involving "audience participation." I didn't know this was an interactive movie. What a sheltered life I led in my quiet, rural community. So twenty years ago I was introduced to this bizarre, somewhat disturbing but highly entertaining musical. You can only appreciate it in a large movie theater with dozens of young people who know the cues and can pass this knowledge on to the next generation. I wonder who and why it started in the first place. Now, on to the story..... A young couple named Brad and Janet seek shelter in Dr. Frankenfurter's castle in the middle of the night after their car breaks down. They discover a mad scientist who has created the perfect man and some mysterious servants. It's an evening filled with songs, like the ever popular "Time Warp." We're not sure if the men are really men and the women are really women and what their roles are, but it doesn't matter. The audience makes the musical worth the experience because the story and characters are literally out of this world. I highly recommend revisiting this classic and relive the fun of your college years. I don't think any movie produced since "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" can come close to this farce. So I say, "Dammit Janet!" let's do the "Time Warp" again!

The Third and Final Indiana Jones Surpasses Them All

I've reviewed the first two Indiana Jones movies, and after watching the third of the series, the "Last Crusade" is the best of the lot. Like "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the story is full of mystery and adventure set against the backdrop of the evil Nazi empire. It's a race against the bad guys who seek the power of the Holy Grail, the cup which Christ was said to have used at the Last Supper, for their dastardly purposes. In this movie, we meet Jones' father, Dr. Henry Jones and gain some insight into young Indy's childhood. We also learn how he developed the fear of snakes and his expertise with the bull whip. The banter between Ford's and Connery's characters are fun to watch. You really believe they're father and son. Their relationship is strained to being with, but their reunion becomes more complicated as Jones tries to rescue his father from the clutches of the Nazis in Berlin. No easy task for sure. As we saw in "Raiders," those with evil intent, are not destined to possess the treasures of God. In the climactic scene, Jones must retrieve the correct Holy Grail in order to save his father's life. He chooses well, of course, but it is not the destiny of the Nazi Empire to acquire it as the grounds around the holy site is destroyed. The Nazis don't realize or refuse to acknowledge that no one is allowed to remove the cup from its final resting place. Throughout the movie we see Jones traipse through Europe to find his father with his Egyptian sidekick Sallah, as well as museum curator Marcus Brody. Unraveling the mystery behind the Holy Grail and the path to its resting place make this movie exciting and put you on the edge of your seat. Casting Sean Connery as Jones' father was brilliant. He has the perfect temperament to be the curmudgeony, yet charming Dr. Henry Jones. I highly recommend "The Last Crusade" as worth spending your hard earned money on a ticket and popcorn.