THE BOY WHO COULD FLY (1986)

I first saw this movie on TV some years ago and immediately new this was one for my collection. However, it took literally years to find the DVD. Apparently the movie was released in DVD format only in 2012 but it was worth waiting for.

After the death of her father, fourteen year old Milly (Lucy Deakins) must not only cope with the pain of the family's loss but also with life as a teenager in a new neighborhood and school. But then she meets Eric (Jay Underwood in his first film roll), the strange mute boy next door who believes he can fly. What follows is one of the most amazingly magical coming of age love story you're ever likely to see. For comic relief, there are the antics of her little brother, Louis (marvelously played by young Fred Savage from The Wonder Years fame).

This film is highly recommended for any fans of this genre (Coming Of Age with a touch of fantasy). The director, Nick Castle, was also responsible for The Last Starfighter which I discussed I little while back on this blog. I fully enjoyed watching it again and gave it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8iplb7jgPc

 Jay Underwood and Lucy Deakins

SEE SPOT RUN (2001)

This must still be one of the funniest comedies out there. No matter how many times you've seen it before, some scenes (like the one where our hero gets to be locked outside of his apartment building) will surely make you laugh again and again.

David Arquette is hilarious as Gordon Smith, reluctant babysitter for seven year old James (Angus T. Jones) while the latter's mom is away on a business trip. Together the two of them experience one mishap after the other, including being pursued by the Mob for harboring a police dog codenamed Agent Eleven but whom they call "Spot".

This movie is truly good, healthy family fun which just goes to show you do not necessarily need four letter swear words in every sentence to make it funny. And young Angus is excellent in his roll. No wonder he went on and became a household name through his role as Jake in the TV hit sitcom Two And A Half Men. This DVD is definitely worth watching if you haven't seen it yet. Even if you have, it is worth a watch again. I rated it 3 out of 5 stars for my collection.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZTkoS6LxPk

  Beginning of what must be one of the funniest scenes ever filmed for the big screen 

FLY AWAY HOME (1996)

The aerial photography of this film is absolutely spectacular. Watching it on the Big Screen feels as if you are actually soaring with the birds. No wonder it won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 1997.

Based on the work of Operation Migration with migratory birds, the actual story is fictional but so sweet. Teenager Amy Alden (exceptionally well played by Anna Paquin) rescues a bunch of wild goose eggs from a pending development near her dad's (Jeff Daniels) farmstead in rural Canada. But when the little chicks hatch, they imprint on her as their mother. Now comes the challenge of not only teaching them how to fend for themselves but also to fly. And that in itself presents the major dilemma she is confronted with: how to show them the route other wild geese take when they migrate to the warmer South for the coming winter months!

The acting throughout (including that of the geese) is outstanding This movie is highly recommended for the whole family. But a word of warning: keep the box of tissues close by... I rated it four out of five stars. 

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui9th4nhvoY

 Aerial photography shot

THE HUNGER GAMES (2012)

This is yet another film version of a popular youth novel series. This time it is the trilogy by Suzanne Collins, first published in 2008. And although to date it sold far more than a million copies it was not quite as popular as the Harry Potter or Twilight series of books. I, for one, was not particularly impressed by it.

To start off with, the whole story line is a bit grim for my taste. In the imaginary land of Panem, society is basically ruled by fair. Once a year each district must provide one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to take part in an annual event called the Hunger Games. So far, so good, you might think. But wait, there is a twist: the "games" are a fight to the death from which only one survivor can emerge as victor! Enter Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) on behalf of one of the districts and let the 'games' begin...

If it wasn't for the excellent acting of its young cast (which includes Liam Hemsworth from Thor fame) I would have rated this movie a one or, worse even, a DUD! Therefor that is the only reason why, in the end, I gave it two out of five stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfmrPu43DF8

 Cast

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

The story picks up where the previous one ended. Our hero's, Katniss (still portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (also still played by Josh Hutcherson) must go on a victory tour through all the districts. But since the previous games, which they won, there is growing dissent throughout the land. And president Snow (Donald Sutherland) wants to use them to quell any possible uprising before it becomes a real threat. So he decrees a special version of the yearly Hunger Games. Only for this 75th anniversary of the Games the participants (or 'tributes' as they are called) will not be chosen in the usual way (see discussion of The Hunger Games above). In stead, each District must appoint two of their previous victors. Obviously that causes a lot of anger and resentment amongst such participants.

But I'm afraid that, except again for the excellent performance of the cast, this sequel is no better than the first one in this series. Again I can give it no more than two out of five stars. Maybe the third delivery (if there is one) will be better. Who knows?  

Trailer link:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAzGXqJSDJ8

 The Catching Fire cast