“Dumbo” (Family/Fantasy: 1 hour, 52 minutes)

Starring: Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton

Director: Tim Burton

Rated: PG (Brief mild language, violence and thematic elements)

 

Movie Review: A 1919 Joplin, Mo., serves as the setting for Tim Burton’s brilliant new rendering of Disney’s classic tale. 

There, a baby elephant is born with over-sized ears. The circus names him Jumbo, but an early mishap, lands him the name Dumbo. While the humans around see him as just a goofy-appearing elephant, Dumbo quickly uses his ears to fly. 

Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) and the elephant’s trainer, Holt Farrier (Farrell), a World War I veteran, see Dumbo as a way to save the circus. Dumbo’s presence gets the attention of V.A. Vandevere (Keaton), who has other plans for Dumbo.

Burton puts his unique vision on this classic. He makes “Dumbo” a visual treat, like his other movies. He also gathers the talents of Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton, who worked with the “Batman” movies of 1989 and 1992. He also directs the talented Colin Farrell. They and several others make this family movie an adventure.

“Dumbo” is no major player as a movie. It is easy-going family film that manages to show heart. Simultaneously, it gives audiences of all ages decent entertainment.

Grade: B- (Dumbo takes flight.)

 

“Hotel Mumbai” (Drama/History/Thriller: 2 hours, 3 minutes)

Starring: Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher and Jason Isaacs

Director: Anthony Maras

Rated: R (Strong violence, gory imagery, and profanity)

 

Movie Review: The movie is a semi-biographical account of the 2008 siege of the majestic Taj Hotel by a group of terrorists in Mumbai, India. 

It is an intense movie, delivering heroic actions while confronting extreme violence. Ultimately, “Hotel Mumbai” turns into a tragic survival story, but it honorably exhibits how brave souls remained alive during one of the deadliest of India’s terrorist attacks. 

The movie takes real events and uses some fictional and some real characters. It takes renowned chef Hemant Oberoi, played nicely by Kher, a waiter Arjun (Patel), an American family (Hammer and Boniadi), their newborn and the babysitter, Vasili, a Russian former military officer, and several others must survive a horrific situation. 

After several shorts movies, “Hotel Mumbai” marks Director Anthony Maras first full-length feature. He creates a memorable movie that is riveting. Each scene delivers unknown dangers. Maras and his team make each danger a chance to see the hardships the people trapped in the hotel experience. 

If one needed another reason to confront terrorism, this is it. Extremists are brutal with their attacks, which included multiple places on the same day the hotel was attacked. The photoplay shows the malevolence of the terrorists, and it is not for the faint of heart. Maras and his team show all, not maneuvering away from the tough scenes, even when they are too extreme.

Grade: B+ (Check-in soon.)

 

“Unplanned” (Drama: 1 hour, 49 minutes)

Starring: Ashley Bratcher, Brooks Ryan and Robia Scott

Directors: Chuck Konzelman, Cary Solomon

Rated: R (Disturbing/bloody images and thematic elements)

 

Movie Review: Despite its very serious subject matter, “Unplanned” manages to engage its viewers, although it may be preaching to the choir. 

The movie is about the protection of babies from abortion, so mainly pro-lifers will see it most. Others who lean to the left on this issue may view the movie otherwise.

The movie is about one woman’s experiences with and working in an abortion clinic. That woman is Abby Johnson (played effectively Bratcher). She is one of Planned Parenthood’s youngest directors in the United States. 

Despite her family’s disapproval of her job, Johnson was involved with nearly 22,000 abortions and counseled numerous women about reproductive options. Johnson’s life and view on abortions changes after she assists in an abortion of a fetus.

Johnson, who had two abortions, insists she was naïve as to what really happened during the procedures. After her assistance with aborting a fetus, she resigns and becomes a pro-life activist. The movie is an adaptation on that experience as detailed in her book “Unplanned,” which this movie is based.

Johnson once received Planned Parenthood’s Employee of the Year Award. She was that good at her profession. Conversely, the abortion procedure — audiences get to see a recreation of it in all its gruesomeness — changes her mind on the humanness of abortions.

Too bad the movie portrays roles in a soap-opera manner. This would have made a better documentary. Johnson’s testimony is compelling, and the scenes are effective and eerily affecting. This course of thought is where the directors and writers should have remained.

Instead, “Unplanned” makes Planned Parenthood appear like a giant conspiracy theory. The organization could be, but realism is helpful when dealing with a topic this serious. The screenplay also portrays Johnson’s boss, Cheryl (Robia Scott), as if she is a villain from a telenovela. Such theatrics are unneeded to show the importance of this side of the abortion issue.

Grade: B- (Plan on seeing it, if you are not too squeamish.)

 

Adann-Kennn Alexxandar lives and works in Valdosta.