BONUS REVIEW: The Great Mouse Detective

     This Disney classic, "The Great Mouse Detective", is one of my favorite cartoon movies of all time. The film was released on Wednesday, July 2nd, 1986 (three weeks after Ferris Bueller). Features the talents of the late Barrie Ingham, Val Bettin, horror legend Vincent Price, Alan Young (Mister Ed), and Melissa Manchester.
     In this cartoon adventure, taking place in London in the summer of 1897, a little mouse girl's father was mysteriously taken away by a peg-legged bat. So, the little girl, Olivia Flaversham, enlists the aid of Basil of Baker Street, a mouse version of our world famous Sherlock Holmes. After telling Basil what happened, immediately he knew who was behind this, his arch enemy Professor Ratigan (a la Professor Moriarty). Ratigan was using Olivia's father, who was a toy-maker, to make a robot replica of the mouse queen (a la Queen Victoria) to help him rule all of England.  Now, Basil and his new partner, Major David Q. Dawson (a la Dr. Watson) have to rescue Olivia's father and stop Ratigan and his charade. Lots of adventure, thrills, laughs, and a combination of happy and sad moments. And of course, like all Disney movies, a happy ending.
     I always admire this movie, because of it's animation. I love the expressions of the characters, their motivation, and their actions. Sometimes I like to act along with the characters of the movie, (especially Basil). I also like the music score by the great Henri Mancini (The Pink Panther movies and Breakfast at Tiffany's). Mostly, I like how expansive the movie is, how it makes you feel excited for what's going on, cheering for the heroes, and jeering for the villains. And I really enjoy the infamous Big Ben chase.  I give this movie a thumbs up.

PARENTS GUIDE: To my opinion, I think this movie should be rated PG for these reasons: there is some violence, lots of uses of guns, but no gore. And there is a scene where Ratigan's cat eats one of his henchmen, off-screen and in silhouette.  There are some uses of smoking, and characters drink liquor (mostly beer). The biggest concern of this movie I have is the "Let Me Be Good to You" scene, because it involves a female stripper mouse, and part of the song includes the phrase: "I'll take off all my blues." As if she's saying "I'll take off all my CLOTHES." I think that's the only sex scene in a Disney movie. And there are also some scenes that might be frightening to younger viewers.

DID YOU KNOW?:  The famous Big Ben chase scene is the first major use of computer animation in a feature-length animated feature. Michael Plain, Peter Cook, and John Cleese (Monty Python's Flying Circus) were the original choices for the voice of Basil. Production only took one year to complete thanks to the use of computers.
   
                                    DEDICATED TO MY COUSIN MEG

Raiders of the Lost Ark

     This is what I call a real adventure movie. The original Indiana Jones, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is an example of a classic hero movie. This movie was made by two Hollywood legends in filmmaking; Steven Spielberg (Jaws and E.T.) and George Lucas (Star Wars and THX 1138).
     The year is 1936. Renowned world archeologist, Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. aka Indy, was venturing in the South American jungles for the golden idol. After successfully obtaining the golden idol, he bumps into his arch enemy, Rene Belloq, who sends off natives to attack him. Fortunately, Indy manages to escape on a plane back to the USA. Then, Indy was promoted for a special assignment by the US Government to find the legendary Ark of Covenant. Rumor has it that the Ark carries incredible powerful energy. That's why the Nazis are after the Ark, so they can obtain the Ark's power. Now it's up to Indy, with help from his old partner and girlfriend, Marion Ravenwood, and his friend Sallah, to get to the Ark before it's too late. Also, Indy has to watch out for his Belloq and his henchmen who are after the Ark too.
     Obviously, this is a movie worth watching! I love the famous scene when Indy runs away from the giant boulder. The actors were brilliant, especially Harrison Ford (Han Solo in Star Wars) as our hero Indiana Jones. The special effects are very mind blowing. And I love the Raider's March, Indy's theme, composed by music legend, John Williams (Star Wars and Harry Potter). Finally, I want to say that this movie is a major masterpiece. Definitely a thumbs up movie.

      

PARENTS GUIDE: There is a lot of violence in this movie. Lots of uses of guns, and there's some gory scenes, not a lot. And there is one scene where a car is shown driving off a very high cliff, and the bodies of the men in it are shown to be flailing along side with the car as it falls. And there's something scary for younger viewers to see near the end, I won't say what, because I don't want to spoil the movie. There's some profanity in the movie. There is one scene when Indy shouts out "JESUS". There is a few scenes when Indy drinks, and only one scene when Marion smokes a cigarette. Indy and Marion are shown about to have sex. They are in bed, and then the scene ends as they start kissing. In the morning, Marion is topless under the covers.

DID YOU KNOW?: During filming in Tunisia, nearly everyone in the cast and crew got sick, except director Steven Spielberg. It is thought that he avoided illness by eating only the food he'd brought with him: cans and cans of Spaghetti-O's. Indiana Jones' kangaroo-hide bull whip was sold in December, 1999 at Christie's auction house in London for $43,000. His jacket and hat are on display at the Smithsonian. The original name of the lead character in the script was Indiana Smith. His name was changed to Jones on the first day of production. The opening scene in the lost South American temple is partly based on a classic Disney Ducks adventure written by the legendary artist Carl Barks, many of whose comic books have inspired George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Exploring a lost temple, Donald Duck, his nephews, and Scrooge McDuck must evade a succession of booby traps, like flying darts, a decapitating blade, a huge boulder, a tunnel flooded with a torrent of gushing water, etc., in the story "The Prize of Pizarro" ("Uncle $crooge" no. 26, June-August 1959), which hit the newsstands when Lucas and Spielberg, both avowed fans of that comic book, were respectively 15 and 12 years old. Another Barks story, "The Seven Cities of Cibola" ("Uncle $crooge" no. 7, September 1954), has a native American lost city and a valuable idol that triggers a giant round rock to smash everything in its way.