Mary Poppins Returns: a hit and miss return for a beloved character

When the Walt Disney Company announced the sequel to the classic film Mary Poppins (1964), I thought there is no way a new film could compare. Even though there are multiple Mary Poppins books, why bother with a sequel film? Emily Blunt was casted as Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack, the lamplighter who was an apprentice to Bert. Mary Poppins Returns (2018) opened on December 19, 2018 to positive reviews. I didn’t have the desire to watch it until recently when I saw it available on Netflix. So, I decided to give it a chance. Unfortunately, the film tried to be it’s own film while trying to pay homage to the original film.

The film opens in London during the Great Depression. Michael Banks (played by Ben Whishaw) lives in his childhood home on Cherry Tree Lane with his three children, Annabel, John and Georgie. The previous year, his wife died, leading his sister, Jane (played by Emily Mortimer) to move in. Michael had taken a loan from his employer, the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, and is three months behind on the payments. William “Weatherall” Wilkins (played by Colin Firth) is the new corrupt chairman of the bank and Michael’s boss, sent lawyers to warm him that his house will be repossessed if the loan is not repaid in full by the end of the week. Michael and Jane frantically searched the house for the share certificates that their father left them that should be able to cover the loan. During the search, Michael finds the kite that was flown at the end of the original movie. In his frustration, he throws it out the window. Later the children visit a local park and George finds the kite and flies it when a strong wind rips it from the sky. Mary Poppins descends from the sky with the kite in her hand. She takes the children home, becomes their new nanny and their adventures begin.

What I first liked about the film are the nods to the original film. Some were obvious like the kite that brings Mary Poppins back but also the Easter Eggs featured in the background. For example, the blocks that spell out Poppins can be seen in the attic. Also, if you listen closely, you can hear the melodies from “Let’s Go Fly A Kite,” “Spoonful of Sugar”, and other songs from the original film in the background. There are a couple of cameos made by original cast members. Blink and you might miss it. Second, Emily Blunt did a wonderful job as Mary Poppins. I think she captured Mary Poppins’ personality as the firm but magical nanny. She didn’t try to duplicate Julie Andrews but made the role her own. Third, Lin-Manuel Miranda as the lamplighter Jack. Most people are familiar with Miranda as the songwriter of the hit musical Hamilton (2015) and well as the music and lyrics from Moana (2016). Miranda takes his cues from Dick Van Dyke’s Bert from the original film; however, like Ms. Blunt, takes his role and makes it his own. The big song and dance number in the film, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic," is impressive and highlights Miranda’s talents.

The main disappointment about this film is that the songs aren’t as memorable as one would expect from a Disney film. And it is difficult not to compare the songs to the original movie. Despite my best efforts, I found myself doing comparisons. For instance, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” (which is a song I loved the most in the movie) to “Step in Time” which is an amazing feat of dancing and my favorite song from the original film. The former pales in comparison. One particular song, “A Cover Is Not The Book,” was creepy and, as one article describes it, “ode to literature and non-judgementalism with a slyly naughty list of did-they-say-that double entendres” (Cava, 2018). For example, in the song, they refer to the story of Lady Hyacinth Macaw, the last part of the lyrics say “So no one tried to rob her/'Cause she barely wore a stitch/For when you're in your birthday suit/There ain't much there to show you're rich!” By the end of this song, I felt creeped out. I’m sure the children in the audience would not have picked up on it but as a parent watching this, I was thinking, “Wait? Come again?” Did they really say that? What does even mean?

In conclusion, Mary Poppins Returns is a disjointed, nod to the original while trying hard to be its own film. While I enjoyed the performances from Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the songs were not as enjoyable. Even with the nods and Easter Eggs to the original films, some were bluntly obvious and even eyerolling, “Okay we get it!” If the original 1964 Mary Poppins film is a beloved favorite of yours, I recommend you skip Mary Poppins Returns. However, if you can separate the two films, without comparisons, you may find yourself enjoying Mary Poppins Returns.

References

Cava, Dan. (December 24, 2018).’Mary Poppins Returns’ is not a jolly holiday with Mary.  https://clture.org/mary-poppins-returns/. Retrieved July 30, 2020.

Hagar and the God who sees

Hagar was an Egyptian slave to Abraham and Sarah. A slave with little power to resist when Sarah gave her to her husband in order to have a child through her. Despite being a slave, her pride overtook her, and she paid dearly for that mistake. As soon as Hagar discovered her pregnancy, she began to lord it over Sarah, who in turn, mistreated her so badly that Hagar ran into the vast desert to escape. Her story is told in Genesis 16 and Genesis 21:8-21. What is her story? What were her strengths and weaknesses? What are the lessons we can take from her experience?

Her story begins as a slave, given to Abraham and Sarah when they left Egypt. It was a common practice in which slaves were often captives from war, given to pay debts, purchases and in some cases, voluntary. Sarah must have had some affection for Hagar in order to chose her as her surrogate. What was her reaction to Sarah’s plan? Was she disgusted? Abraham was an old man and she was a young girl. Was she afraid? She may have thought about the consequences if she too couldn’t conceive. I don’t know if her reaction would have been happiness or joy. She may have wanted to say no and resist but having very little power, she would ultimately have to going along with Sarah’s plan. The pregnant Hagar began to despise Sarah, although the Bible doesn’t tell us why, but I think we could speculate her reasons. Perhaps her lose of control. She was having a child that she didn’t chose to have and technically wouldn’t be hers to raise. He or she would be raised as Abraham’s and Sarah’s child, not Abraham’s and Hagar’s. Although, ultimately, she raises her son, Ishmael as Sarah would send them away once Isaac arrived (Genesis 21:10). She is last seen in Scripture, securing a wife for her son (Genesis 21:21).

Hagar’s main strength is she obeyed God’s voice as soon as she heard it (Genesis 16:13) as she recognized that God is the one who sees her and now, she sees Him. One of Hagar’s main weaknesses is that she ran when things got tough. She ran when Sarah began to mistreat her.  Running away into a barren and unpopulated desert shows her desperation to escape. Anything or anywhere was better than being mistreated by Sarah and, by his indifference, Abraham (Genesis 16:6). Escape is usually our most tempting solution to life’s problems. To run and hide with the hopes that with time, they will disappear. Escape is only a temporary fix, ultimately, we all must turn around and face the music. Although Hagar’s problem was caused by someone else, she couldn’t run from it. Another weakness, her pregnancy, and later her son, brought our strong feelings of pride and arrogance that she was mistreated by Sarah and later banished with her son from the camp (Genesis 16:4 and Genesis 21:8-10).

There are two lessons we can take from Hagar’s story. First, God is faithful to his plan and promises, even when humans complicate the process. Abraham and Sarah were promised a child (Genesis 15:4) and when it didn’t happen on Sarah’s timeline, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Even though Ishmael wasn’t the promised son, He did promise Hagar that her son would be the father of a great nation (Genesis 21:18). Second, God shows himself as one who knows us and wants us to know Him. After she became pregnant and ran from Sarah, God sent an angel who told her God’s plan for her child, a son to be named Ishmael (Genesis 16:11-12). God called out to Hagar again after she and Ishmael had been banished from the camp. He repeated his promises that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation and opened her eyes to a well in the desert so that they may survive (Genesis 21:17-19).

In conclusion, Hagar was a woman who had very little say or power in what happened to her. As a slave, she couldn’t refuse her mistress’s demands and when things got tough, she ran from her troubles. She was also a woman who heard God’s voice and responded immediately. She had great faith in Him when everyone around her had failed. From her story, we learn that God is faithful to his plan and promises. God also sees and knows us and wants us to see and know Him. The same God who saw Hagar in the desert and recused her, not once but twice, is still the God who sees you today.

For further study,

I recommend Hagar: Rediscovering the God who Sees Me

by Shadia Hrichi

which is available in paperback and eBook

Star Wars The Last Jedi: a great action film which takes the galaxy in a new direction

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi opened on December 15^th to rave critic reviews and mixed fan reactions. The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey, Finn and the Resistance as they fight against the First Order. In the two years since The Force Awakens, there were many fan theories floating around the internet and fans were eagerly awaiting The Last Jedi to see which theories were right and see how the story continues. I finally was able to see it a few days after it opened and heard the criticisms of fans. I will discuss what I liked, what I didn’t and the critics, fans and even Mark Hamill’s remarks about the film.

There is so much that I liked about the film; however, I will discuss a few storylines I enjoyed the most. First, I liked the interactions between Rey and Luke. The closing scene of The Force Awakens, we see Rey handing Luke his original lightsaber as the camera pans out over the island. In The Last Jedi, the first scene we see with Rey and Luke is the continuation of that scene. While I will not give away what his reaction is, I will say it was highly appropriate. Luke had been living in exile after Kylo Ren destroys Luke’s new Jedi academy and temple and turns to the dark side. Luke realizing his failure as a teacher, decides to leave everything behind and Rey has a tough road to convince him to help the Resistance and teach her the ways of the Force. Second, I enjoyed the character of Kylo Ren in this film. He was far less emo and more dark and conflicted as he struggles with the aftermath of the Force Awakens and his master, Snoke’s, disappointed in him. Adam Driver delivered a superb performance as Kylo Ren, especially toward the end as he decides which direction he wants to go. Does he embrace the dark side? Or does he turn to the light side? Third, I enjoyed Finn and Rose’s (played by Kelly Marie Tran) story as they find a way to help the Resistance escape the First Order. As Finn still struggles with his defection from the First Order and Rose is dealing with her hatred of the First Order, together they learn what they are fighting for and who they can trust in their fight against the First Order.

There was only a couple things that I disliked about the film. First, there were a few unnecessarily scenes. One in particular was on the island as Luke goes about his life, ignoring Rey’s presence. I won’t reveal what the scene was; however, when I saw it both my daughter and I looked at each other and whispered “ewwww!” I understand that the scene’s purpose was to show how Luke survived on the island but I felt it was unnecessarily and his survival on the island could have been shown a litter better. And some of the humorous scenes may have had the joke go on a little too long. There is one scene in which Poe (played by Oscar Isaac) plays a joke on General Hux (played by Domhnall Gleeson). While the joke was funny at first, it dragged on a little too long. Second, there is still a great mystery about who Snoke is. The movie did not reveal anything about where he came from, who he is or how he knows the Force. In this film, we see he is an imposing figure and would strike fear in anyone who stands in his presence. However, we don’t know why he is such an imposing character. Third, the porgs, one of the creatures who live on Luke’s island, are cute but add nothing more to the story than to show the cycle of life on the island. They were in the movie for too long especially once the story leaves the island.

The reviews and opinions run the gambit from favorable to absolutely hated. First, the critics gave this film rave reviews. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes is that the film “honors the rich legacy while adding some surprising twists and delivering all the emotion-rich action fans could hope for.” I would agree. It paid homage to the original trilogy in particular The Empire Strikes Back and some could agree The Return of the Jedi. Second, fans continue to be adamant in their disagreement with the critics. Many of the fans are blaming Disney for putting profits over story. Some said that the story strayed too much from the original trilogy while others would argue it was a copy of Empire like the Force Awakens was a copy of A New Hope. I disagree with them on both counts. I think some of the fans are just so invested in the Star Wars saga that they don’t know what they want. They don’t want copies of the original trilogy but they don’t like the new material. Fans used Mark Hamill’s remarks about the film where he said he “fundamentally disagreed with every choice for Luke” as proof that Disney screwed up. I disagree with Mr. Hamill and these fans. I loved Luke’s progression in this movie. I think it fit. Without going into detail for those who have not yet seen it, as an avid reader and writer, I can see why the writer took him in that direction. Yes, Luke was very much the optimist in the original trilogy; however 30 years have passed and that’s a long time and a person can change especially when one of his students turns on him. It can be and was the hit to his ego that sent him into exile.  

In conclusion, I enjoyed The Last Jedi. I left the theater with a sense of awe and excitement. I know that many fans did not feel this way, my husband included. He had to see it again to understand more of the story. My cousin in law has seen it three times and he even admits that one viewing isn’t enough. The original trilogy is still beloved to me as an important part of my childhood; however, it is time to move on from the Skywalker storyline of Star Wars into the greater universe and galaxy that’s out there. Of the new Disney/Star Wars films, Rogue One (2016) is still my favorite so far. The Last Jedi adds more depth and drama to the Star Wars universe. It adds the struggles of life, that everything isn’t so black and white, good vs evil. I highly recommend The Last Jedi. Watch it without any expectations and see it for what it is: a great action film with heart and life lessons

Star Wars and Star Trek: there is a difference

Actually, Penny*, there is a difference and as a fan of the Star Wars franchise and a casual watcher of the Star Trek franchise, I say there’s a world of difference. I grew up watching Star Trek. My father is a big fan of the original Star Trek (1966-1969) while my brother is a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994). Even my best friend loves Star Trek especially The Next Generation and Voyager (1995-2001). While I’m drawn more to Star Wars as is my husband. While I am not writing to argue which franchise is better because both have their merits, I am writing to distinguish the differences between the two.

First, Star Wars is a dramatic epic rooted in legends like Beowulf and King Arthur, mythologies, world religions and ancient and medieval history to tell a story of a galactic society in conflict. The importance is not on believability of the science but on the characters and the moral choices they make while Star Trek has “ham-fisted dialogue and Gong Show-caliber acting. But the fictional science has always been brilliant” (Herzthe, 1998). Star Trek is rooted in a greater existential dilemma in which an idealistic, utopian prospect of the future human society is explored and debated. Star Wars focuses on the ethics of good vs evil and against totalitarian government systems. Star Trek features the morals of exploration and interference, how to properly confront and ethically resolve situations. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, is said to have been inspired by morality tales like Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.

Second, Star Wars, essentially, focuses on the individual’s power to do good. It is the struggle with feelings of powerlessness and how an individual responds to that feeling. There is a strong connection to faith, mythology, or the Force within the individual and trusting yourself and others. It is about individuals breaking free from governmental oppression (Bedinger, 2015). The Original Trilogy avoided explicit political messages while being anti-authoritarian, the prequel trilogy is clearly a commentary on imperialism and warmongering. Star Trek focuses on a commentary on social structure, defining a society’s obligation to humanity, the world and the galaxy. Star Trek operates within a stable government, The United Federation of Planets, and spreading enlightened values throughout the galaxy (Bedinger, 2015). Each of the Star Trek television series focused on a central worry. For example, in the original show, the central worry was Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner) losing his command and the fight against anything undermined his command. In the Next Generation, Captain Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) was focused on choosing the wise path and being a responsible leader (Anders, 2016).

Third, the debate between the fan bases can be polarizing that it’s hard to image someone being a fan of both. Some fans believe that you cannot be a fan of one, if you are a fan of the other. This sentiment is also reflected in the statements made by the actors in each franchise. William Shatner argues that Star Trek is superior to Star Wars because “Star Trek had relationships and conflict among the relationships and stories that involved humanity and philosophical questions” (Emami, 2015). Tim Russ, who played Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager claims that Star Trek is better than the two because it is set in "our" galaxy and therefore people can relate better to it, whereas Star Wars takes place in another galaxy (Forbeck, 2011). He acknowledged that he could be biased (yeah, you think! LOL). Jeremy Bulloch, who played Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy. He is a fan of Star Trek: The Original Series. He argued that while both franchises are popular, Star Wars comes out as the superior, for its soundtracks and special effects (Forbeck, 2011).

Why does Star Wars seem greater in popularity than Star Trek? And yes, it does. Star Wars has a franchise revenue of $42 billion (as of 2015) while Star Trek has a franchise revenue of $10 billion (as of 2016). While both have large fan bases with fiercely loyal fans, Star Wars seems to speak to the American identity as the rebels, the revolutionaries fighting against an evil empire while Star Trek speaks more to the American political superpower we’ve become with unparalleled military and economic might (although there is some debate if this is even still true). Star Wars plays into the national fantasy as the righteous underdogs and Star Trek portrays our national reality and the moral question as to how to use that power. In a UK program for the Star Wars 20^th anniversary, Patrick Stewart said “A belief in one’s own powers; especially one’s own powers to do good because the underlying morality of Star Wars is a very, very positive one.”

In conclusion, while the two franchises are similar in that they depict societies of multiple planets and species, they promote different messages. A philosophical message verses a political message. The story and its characters verses the reality of the science. The individual and his or her role in the galaxy while verses society as a whole. I prefer Star Wars because the characters are relatable and the action adventure is entertaining. I often find the dialogue in Star Trek to be difficult to follow at times. Is one better than the other? It’s simply a matter of choice and nothing else. Both have had a great impact on pop culture that cannot be ignored.

References

• Anders, Charlie Jane. The Essential Difference between Star Wars and Star Trek https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-essential-difference-between-star-wars-and-star-tre-1754297235. January 21, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
• Bedinger, Melissa. What are the main differences between Star Trek and Star Wars? www.quora.com/What-are-the-main-differences-between-Star-Trek-and-Star-Wars. December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
• Emami, Gazelle. William Shatner On Star Trek Vs. Star Wars: ‘Star Wars Is Derivative of Star Trek’ www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/15/william-shatner-star-trek-star-wars_n_964530.html. September 15, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
• Forbeck, Matt (2011). Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Could the Empire kick the Federation's ass? And other galaxy-shaking enigmas. F&W Media.
• Herzthe, J.C. Star Wars' World with a Sense of Humor. The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/29/technology/game-theory-star-wars-world-with-a-sense-of-humor.html. October 29, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2017.

*The Big Bang Theory “The Weekend Vortex” Season 5 Episode 19 originally aired March 8, 2012. 

Coco: a review of the newest Disney Pixar film

This past weekend, my husband and I took our daughter to see the new movie, Coco. Knowing only the basics about the film and not reading any reviews about it, I went into the film with high expectations, it is Disney Pixar after all. What I didn’t expect was to be blown away. Normally, for a review, I discuss what I liked, what I didn’t like and what the critics had to say. But for this film, I liked everything. There was nothing I didn’t like and I don’t care what the critics had to say. So I will discuss the different aspects of the film that I loved.

First, the story itself. Based on the Mexican festival of Dia de la Muertos, it is a story about family, remembering those who has passed, and forgiveness. The movie begins with 12 year old Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) telling the story of his Mama Imelda Rivera (played by Alanna Ubach), the family matriarch. She was the wife of musician who left her and their daughter to pursue his career and never returned. Angry, she banned all forms of music in the family. Miguel desires desperately to be a musician, he steals the guitar from the tomb of the village’s superstar, Ernesto de la Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Bratt). When he does so, he has placed a curse on the family and he is transported to the Land of the Dead. He must now find a way to lift the curse so he can return home. He is helped along the way by Hector (voiced by Gael Garcia Bernal) who is desperate to get to the Land of the Living before the end of Dia de la Muertos. The story has everything: laughs, tender moments and very sad moments. I cried at the end. So be warned, there will be tears!

Second, the music. The movie is filled with wonderful music. It features the wide range of Mexican music. From mariachi to salsa and bolero. From flamenco to pop and Mexican son (folk music and dance). The music was heartfelt and entertaining. After the film, I immediately went out and bought the soundtrack. The main song is “Remember Me” which helps carry the theme of the film. However, my favorite songs were “Un Poco Loco” (written by Germaine Franco and Adrian Molina and performed by Anthony Gonzalez and Gael Garcia Bernal) and La Llorona (a traditional folk song performed by Alanna Ubach). “Un Poco Loco” is a fun and upbeat song about how the singer’s love drives him a little crazy. “La Llorona” is a soulful and beautiful song about a weeping woman and love. The instrumental pieces are beautiful too. I love music in film especially when it is used probably to enhance the mood and the events of the particular scenes. The music in Coco did that and more. It carried so much emotional that you were crying just by the strumming of the guitar.

Third, the imagery of the film is absolutely breathtaking. The colors of the Land of the Dead are stunning. Marigold flowers, known as cempasúchil, are central to the festival and they are everywhere in this film. Marigolds are among my favorite flowers and the animators captured the flower’s brilliant orange color and the delicacy of its petals. Brilliant colors bring the Land of the Dead to life and are very vibrant and reminiscent of the colors have seen in Mexican art. The details in the animations bring you into a world and you sit in wonder at it all. The amazing talent and hard work it took to bring this story to life shows in every detail. I also loved the image of the Mexican family portrayed in this film. With my experiences with Mexican families, I laughed at the antics of Abuelita, Miguel’s grandmother as she enforces the no music rule in the family. There’s a scene where she offers Miguel foods and he politely denies, the look she gives him reminds me of many Mexican grandmothers I’ve known and love.

In conclusion, Coco is the best Disney Pixar film so far. It is definitely among my favorite films. It has everything. A great story, great music and great imagery which comes together and transports you into another world and leave you with a great lesson about love, family and forgiveness. I highly, highly recommend seeing Coco in theaters. You will not regret it!