Mom's Minute

Introduction to Encanto Disney Movie Review

If you are a fan of cartoons, animated movies or musicals, you may want to check out the Encanto Disney movie. Even though you may or may not recognize the voice actors in the movie Encanto, you may enjoy the story, songs, the animated graphics or something else about this film.

I watched the Encanto movie a few days ago and would like to share my opinion of it with you. Should you pass on the movie Encanto or should you check it out?  Here is my movie review of the Encanto Disney film to help you decide.

Synopsis of the Encanto Disney Movie

The storyline of the Encanto Disney movie centers around the adventures of the main character Mirabel Madrigal, voice acted by Stephanie Beatriz. Unlike other members of her family, Mirabel was not given a magical gift or special powers. One day when the family was celebrating yet another member receiving a magical gift, trouble seems to be brewing as the house which was in itself a miracle for them, showed cracks and signs of destruction. The question was if the magic that was bestowed on this family was beginning to dissipate along with the house, and if so, what could Mirabel do to save it.

Graphics in the Encanto Disney Movie

If you watch the Encanto movie, you may enjoy the colorful graphics and animations throughout the film. In my opinion, the depictions of the characters and their surroundings were adequate for the movie. It’s interesting to note that I found an error in the graphics in one of the scenes toward the middle of the Encanto movie. It appears as if a piece of pink yarn from the main character’s dress was shown hanging on a limb; however, in the frames following, you see where the pink bow is intact on the right front of her dress. Other than this gaffe, the graphics shown were suitable for the movie.

Songs in the Encanto Disney Movie

Personally, I liked that the Disney movie Encanto seemed to delay scenes where the characters would burst out in song after or during their dialogue. In other words, this movie does not have an abundance of songs as in some other similar type movies I've watched – which was a plus for me. I believe this allowed the audience to appreciate when there were songs more by not having an overload of music in the film.

Interesting Fact about a Song in  the Encanto Disney Movie

Did you know that the song from the Encanto Disney movie, We Don’t Talk about Bruno is currently the number 1 (one) song in the U.S.? By the way –  and just to clarify -- Bruno mentiomed in this song is a character in the Encanto Disney movie and does not in any way pertain to the real-life singer Bruno Mars.

Lessons and Morals in the Encanto Disney Movie

If you watch the Encanto movie, you may try to determine if there is a lesson behind the film. Of course the specific lesson or lessons may differ from person to person, however; the main lesson seemed to be that it is not necessarily a good thing to have specific gifts.  

Spoiler Alert:  During the beginning of the movie, everyone was happy they had certain gifts. This changed towards the end of the film when the magic of the house seemed to fade away along with the family's individual gifts. Unfortunately, the writers showed the fading away of the gifts as being positive, and indicated the characters were better off without them.

I think the message of whether to be proud of your gifts regardless of what they are was not clear, since they all seemed at first to be sad, then happy again when they regained their gifts back. You will have to come to your own conclusion relative to the importance of having gifts or powers as depicted in the Disney movie, Encanto.

Another enigma was if maybe the character Mirabel in reality had a special gift after all similar to other members of the family. The writers could have made it clearer to the audience that sometimes gifts are not as tangible as one may think. The truth is that Mirabel did have a gift, even if it may have been only to find a way to help save the magical powers or gifts of her family.

Fluff in the Encanto Disney Movie

The length of the Encanto Disney movie in my opinion is just right, meaning the film was not too long or too short.  The run time of  l hour and 49 minutes was enough to give the story of Encanto a beginning, middle and end, to include flashbacks.  

The above being said, I think the Encanto movie story segment dealing with the discovery of glass pieces of a puzzle had no bearing on the actions in the film and could have been omitted.  You will know what I’m talking about if you watch the Encanto Disney movie.

Assessment of the Encanto Disney Movie

I watched the credits after the movie ended and found out there were quite a few writers involved in crafting the Disney movie, Encanto. They all did a good job in my opinion with the exception of the scenario involving broken pieces of a glass puzzle which could have been left off -- which I mentioned above.

Overall, I did not mind watching the Disney movie Encanto. The graphics were bright, crisp and colorful, the story was easy to follow, the song choices were expertly selected, and the film ended on a positive note.  Because of these reasons, and maybe a few more, you may enjoy watching the Disney movie, Encanto as well.

Rating of the Encanto Disney Movie

Based on a rating of 1 star to 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest, I rate the Encanto Disney movie 4 stars.

Introduction to The Matrix Resurrections Movie Review

I watched The Matrix Resurrections movie on HBO Max as soon as it launched. Like many of you, I was anticipating The Matrix Resurrections movie being released on December 22, 2021.  By the way, Matrix Resurrections is also currently playing in movie theaters.

Is it worth your time to watch The Matrix Resurrections movie either on HBO Max, in movie theaters or both. Keep in mind that The Matrix Resurrections movie is 2 hours and 30 minutes long. Or should you pass on Keanu Reeves latest Matrix movie? Check out my movie review of The Matrix Resurrections film to find out.

Plot of The Matrix Resurrections Movie

Plain and simple – Actor Keanu Reeves recreates his iconic role of Neo, The One from The Matrix movie franchise. In this latest Matrix movie release, Neo (Keanu Reeves), plays a video game designer who is retracted back into the world of the Matrix. While there, he meets and has altercations/fights with various characters. His character’s ultimate goal is to meet his romantic interest in the Matrix who he has also met in real life previously. The big question surrounding The Matrix Resurrections movie is will they finally reunite or continue on with their separate lives.  

Characters in The Matrix Ressurections Movie

To expound upon my mention above of the various characters in The Matrix Resurrections movie – hold onto your hats. There are so many different characters in The Matrix Resurrections movie, you may lose count or track should you watch The Matrix Resurrections film. 

The main character in The Matrix Resurrections movie, of course, is Neo, The One played by the highly popular actor, Keanu Reeves. Add a slew of characters, some from the other Matrix movies as well as new ones –  and you have the cast of The Matrix Resurrections movie.  However, in my opinion, the movie-draw among all of these characters is the actor Keanu Reeves, who I think did an excellent job of portraying Neo, The One.

If you expect to see actor Laurence Fishburne return as Morpheus in The Matrix Ressurections movie since he was in the previous Matrix films, you may be disappointed. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is playing the part of Morpheus instead of Laurence Fishburne.   

When I researched why Laurence Fishburne was not in The Matrix Ressurections film, I found out he was never approached to appear in the movie.  Many say the reason is that his character remains in another part of the Matrix universe, so it would not be fit to have him in this universe of The Matrix Resurrections movie. There may be other reasons as well.

However, after watching The Matrix Resurrections movie, I have my own ideas as to why he was not approached to be in the film. Interestingly enough, Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus does appear during the flashbacks in The Matrix Resurrections movie. Maybe Laurence Fishburne will get royalties or at least some sort of recognition from these flashbacks.

Actor Carrie-Anne Moss Screen Time in The Matrix Ressurections Movie

Spoiler Alert:  If you have not watched The Matrix Resurrections movie or plan to do so in the near future, I suggest you skip the next few paragraphs since there are big spoilers here.

After watching interviews, videos, etc. with Carrie-Anne Moss including Keanu Reeves, I was expecting her to be like a co-star of the film with many appearances – similar to how Halle Berry was in another Keanu Reeves movie, John Wick 3. Instead, even though Carrie-Anne Moss' character (Trinity) was the reason Keanu Reeves’ character returned to the Matrix to search for her – she was more of an extra in this movie, instead of the co-star.

Spoiler Alerts.  The writers tried to give Carrie-Anne Moss a stand-out moment in the movie when she strongly told her “real-life” husband to call her by her true name (Trinity instead of Tiffany). This outburst fell through, did not seem genuine, and appeared to be a last minute effort for her to share the spot-light with Keanu Reeves’ character. Truth be told, during The Resurrections movie, Carrie-Anne Moss' character was largely ignored and was rarely in any of the scenes. The exception is during the end of the movie, The Matrix Resurrections.

The actor Jessica Henwick who is unknown to me made many appearances and had more screen time in The Matrix Resurrections movie than Carrie-Anne Moss – which I think was an injustice to her character in the film.

On the bright side, if you expect to see the actor Keanu Reeves in just about every scene in The Matrix Resurrections movie, you will not be disappointed. I will go further and say that without Keanu Reeves, The Matrix Resurrections movie could not have been successfully made.

Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) and Stop-Motion Action in The Matrix Resurrections Movie

Yes, there are  plenty of CGI images in The Matrix Resurrections movie. I noticed  that some of the creatures looked amateurish. On the other hand, the stop-motion action in this movie was outstanding.  Spoiler Alert: However, back to the CGI, I think some of the images could have been improved, including the appearance of the new Morpheus as a computer looking image instead of a human. You will know what I’m talking about if you watch The Matrix Resurrections movie.

Favorite and Least Favorite Actor in The Matrix Resurrections Movie

By far, my favorite actor in The Matrix Resurrections movie is also known to be one of the most down-to-earth, humble and kind actors in this field. He is of course Keanu Reeves. Even though he is the clear star of The Matrix Ressurections movie, he seemed to be fine with carrying the film for the rest of the cast.  

My least favorite character in this movie is Morpheus, played by Yahya Adbul-Mateen II. In my opinion, the original actor who played this character (Laurence Fishburne) should not have been replaced. I think the writing/casting movie staff could have brought back the original Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections movie just as they found ways to bring back some of the other characters from the previous Matrix films.

Assessment of The Matrix Resurrections Movie

I enjoyed watching The Matrix Resurrectons movie mainly because it starred Keanu Reeves.  I was not a fan of the many fights which seemed to occur just for the sake of having action in the movie. Additionally, I think the storyline fell flat, the movie was overly long with too many characters – many who were non-essential. Additionally, there were no highlights or memorable moments in the film for me. The exception is the stop-action motions I mentioned above. 

That being said, I give Keanu Reeves, the actor a solid 5 stars for acting in and making the creation of The Matrix Resurrections movie possible.

I  wholeheartedly recommend you watch The Matrix Resurrections movie – even if you only watch it to see the actor Keanu Reeves in action, are a Matrix fan, or for some other reasons.  

Rating of The Matrix Resurrections Movie

Based on a rating of 1 star to 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest, I rate The Matrix Resurrections movie 3 stars.

Introduction to A Perfect Enemy Amazon Prime Video Movie Review

For a change of pace from Netflix movies, etc. I decided to check to see what films Amazon Prime Video had to offer. Right away, the movie, A Perfect Enemy, caught my eye. I think this happened mainly because I’ve watched other movies with the words “Perfect” in the title, and most have turned out to have an attention grabbing plot or at least a story that kept my attention.  An example is a movie I recently reviewed, called Perfect Strangers starring Bruce Willis and Halle Berry.

However, I digress. You may be wondering if the A Perfect Enemy movie lived up to this favorable impression. Even more importantly, you may want to know if this movie is worth watching. Check out my movie review of A Perfect Enemy to find out.

Synopsis of A Perfect Enemy Movie

A Perfect Enemy movie can be described as a suspenseful drama rather than an action/adventure film. This is the case because there are no big explosions, car races, chases, etc. In fact, the setting of this movie is at mundane, ordinary places such as in a home, at the airport, on an airplane, at school etc.  

The scenes in A Perfect Enemy movie center around a well-known architect who is recognized for giving seminars and lectures on constructing quite impressive buildings and facilities. He is introduced to a young lady as she joins him when he is being chauffeured to catch a plane flight. His new passenger caused them both to miss their flights which provided an opportune backdrop for them to share their stories.

The gists of the movie, A Perfect Enemy are their shared stories as well as why the young lady is persistently around him it seems, when he is obviously not interested in continuing their encounter.

Twists and Turns in A Perfect Enemy Movie

So as not to give the movie away –  there are quite a few twists and turns in the plot of the A Perfect Enemy film. You will see this young lady seemingly pestering the main character of the movie Jeremiasz Angust played by Tomasz Kot. The perpetrator is played by actor Athena Strates as Texel Textor. Just be aware that there is much more substance to their stories, which I will not reveal here.

Acting Skills Displayed in A Perfect Enemy  Movie

The acting skills displayed in  A Perfect Enemy Amazon Prime Video movie were not over the top. I believe the caliber of acting was sufficient to make the storyline believable. By the way, this movie is based upon a french novel by Amelie Nothomb titled The Enemy's Cosmetique.

The movie is relatable on a few levels such as missing your plane flight and filling up your wait time for the flight with reading and eating. The unrelateable part is probably having a chance meeting and conversations with a stranger with the nature and personality of the Texel Texor character in the movie, A Perfect Enemy.

Movie Length of A Perfect Enemy Movie

The length of the movie A Perfect Enemy was sufficient for this drama, meaning it was not too short or too long. I got the impression that some fluff scenes were added which did not serve a purpose. For example the film had scenes showing an airplane scale model on display in the airport where people and images changed in the glass display throughout the movie.

Also there is a scene with the characters immersed in some liquid-type gray matter, which could mean something is being sculpted, or maybe these are scenes shown just to take up time. You will know what I’m talking about if you watch the movie A Perfect Enemy.

Assessment of A Perfect Enemy Movie

With the above negatives aside, overall, I found the movie to be interesting as well as suspenseful. It may well be worth your time to check out the movie A Perfect Enemy, especially If you like suspenseful, mystery-type dramas.

Rating of A Perfect Enemy

Based on a rating of 1 star to 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest, I rate the A Perfect Enemy Amazon Prime video movie 4 stars.

Introduction to Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable - A Netflix Movie Review

Prior to watching Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix movie, I saw a youtube video where she was interviewed by Kelly Clarkson about this film.  As a side note – can you imagine a once American Idol contestant interviewing the likes of movie star legend, Sandra Bullock? But I digress. 

During the interview, I noticed that Sandra Bullock was vague about what The Unforgivable movie was about. After watching Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable film, I see why it was of the utmost importance for her to steer away from talking specifically about the movie. Instead, she talked about the importance of family, etc. and seemed to change the subject.

The above being said, should you watch Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix movie, or should you pass on this one. Check out my review of Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix movie to find out.

Plot of Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix Movie

Sandra Bullock plays the part of an older sister who has just been released from prison. The movie shows flashbacks at the beginning and during the film on why she was imprisoned. Upon her release from prison, Sandra Bullock’s character is under the watch of her parole officer as she goes about seeking and securing jobs. Her little sister is no longer with her. In fact, she was adopted when Sandra Bullock’s character went to prison. Subplots deal with Sandra Bullock’s character trying to locate her younger sister and the victim’s relatives seeking revenge.

Standout Actor in Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix Movie

Two words – Viola Davis. Yes, the award winning actor Viola Davis is in Sandra Bullock’s Netflix movie, The Unforgivable – even though she has a much smaller part than Sandra Bullock.The altercation scene showed that Viola Davis knows how to draw out emotion from every word of her lines.

Sandra Bullock did an ok job of playing the sad, brooding character in this movie. However, if you want to witness the display of some good acting skills, check out Viola Davis’ performance during the altercation/argumentative scene in the movie The Unforgivable. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Overall Tone of Sandra Bullock's The Unforgivable Netflix Movie

Unlike the previous Sandra Bullock Netflix movie I watched and reviewed, The Bird Box, this movie is heavy on the drama with sprinkles of action thrown in. I would describe the overall tone of this movie as sad and somewhat depressing with a hint of suspense. I will not reveal the suspense, since I do not want to spoil the movie.

Sandra Bullock’s Looks/Appearance in The Unforgivable Netflix Movie

Like me, you will probably be surprised that Sandra Bullock does not look like herself in some of the scenes in the movie, The Unforgivable. It looks like the make-up artist, instead of making her look older, seemed to change her face to someone who barely resembled Sandra Bullock.

Unfortunately, I found her look to be a little distracting for me throughout the movie with the exception of her appearances in flashbacks when she appeared younger and much more like herself. I guess this is to be expected, since she is an actor playing a role in a movie.

Loose Ends in Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix Movie

After watching Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix movie, you may have questions such as: Why did the parole officer change his perspective of Sandra Bullock’s character?  What happens between Sandra Bullock’s character and her romantic interest?  Did other altercations at one of her jobs continue, since the woman who attacked her said ‘’Watch your back.”, etc.  There may be even more questions, but I will stop there.

Assessment of Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix Movie

If you are a fan of lifetime-type movies, you may enjoy watching Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix movie. However, if you are expecting to see a movie worthy of showcasing Sandra Bullock’s acting portfolios, you may be disappointed.

Even with the few fights in the movie, I felt like I was watching a lifetime movie instead of a bona fide movie that was worthy of being shown on the big screen in a movie theater. By the way, Sandra Bullock's The Unforgivable movie was shown for a short time in theaters before moving to Netflix.

You may choose to watch Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix movie, simply because you may be a fan of Sandra Bullock or for some other reasons.  The plus side is the movie is not overly long and the film will seem to end before you really begin watching it.  

Bottom line – With reservations, I recommend that you watch Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable movie. Be aware that in my opinion, Sandra Bullock's movie, The Unforgivable is not of a high caliber like some of her other films.

Rating of Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix Movie

Based on a rating of 1 star to 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest, I rate Sandra Bullock’s The Unforgivable Netflix movie 3 stars.

Introduction to the Don’t Look Up Netflix Movie Review

The Don’t Look Up Netflix movie has many big-name actors in it, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Chris Evans and many others. With such a star-studded cast, you may expect the Don't Look Up film to be a good movie with a well-crafted plot and an epic storyline.  

After watching the Don’t Look Up Netflix movie, I have reached my conclusion about the film. Was it a good movie, a bad movie, a so-so movie or some other type movie? Check out my review of the Don’t Look Up movie  to find out.

The Plot of the Don’t Look Up Netflix Movie

The Don't Look Up Netflix movie plot centers around the premise that a large celestial object is moving towards earth and will destroy it within about 6 months. The storyline is about people trying to convince the government administration of what is happening, in hopes that a solution can be found in time to prevent this catastrophe from happening.  

The Don't Look Up movie is written as a satire, so from the very start, you get the impression that what is happening in the movie is not to be taken seriously.  In fact, along the way, the writers/directors sort of poked fun at how the potential upcoming destruction of the earth is downplayed not only by least important news, but the earth catastrophe is being looked at from a profit or money-making perspective.

Actors’ Skills Displayed in the Don't Look Up Netflix Movie

I think the actors knew upfront that this movie storyline is only a satire, so no Oscar-winning acting portrayals were necessary.  No one stood out in this movie as displaying superior acting skills. 

The lack of good leading actors could be because the storyline did not warrant this, or the actors did not see any point of using their training in this satire type film. Regardless, it was an enigma to me how to interpret this movie based on the fact that even the actors (Leonardo DiCaprio as Dr. Randall  and Jennifer Lawrence as Kate Diblasky) showed questionable actions in the film.

Pros of the Don’t Look Up Netflix Movie

1. Starred A-List actors

2. Simple title "Don't Look Up" matched the major events in the movie

Cons of The Don't Look Netflix Movie

1.This movie is not humorous or funny in any way

2.Too much time was spent on mundane happenings that did not move the story along

3. Disjointed and fluff-type events shown when the focus should have been on the impending destruction of the earth

4. Unnecessary actors/singers/characters in the movie that included Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi and others

5. Movie was overly long and had too many other scenarios that were not relevant to the plot

6. Movie was not cohesive with a beginning, middle and end – only a sequence of events threaded together

7. Strange ending with no explanation or hint of why the characters appeared as they did

1. 
2. 
   
   

3. Assessment of the Don’t Look Up Netflix Movie

   
   

   You may have watched the movie Armageddon which starred Bruce Willis and others in their quest to save the earth from destruction. The movie Don’t look up did not compare in any way to this movie.  Maybe because the Armageddon setting was mostly in space where the Don't Look Up movie setting was mostly on the ground.

4. I bring up the above to say -- If you would like to watch a space movie centering around the demise of the earth and a way to save it, I recommend you watch the Armageddon movie starring Bruce Willis.  If you do, you will know from the beginning that the movie Armageddon is probably to be taken seriously and is not just a hodgepodge of pop culture type happenings clouding the storyline.

   Unfortunately, I do not recommend you watch the Netflix film, Don't Look Up, unless you want to watch someone in the movie who may be one of your favorite actors. As for the storyline, I found it to be boring and really not worth my time. Simply put and to put it bluntly -- the Don't Look Netflix film was not a good movie. If you watch the film Don’t Look Up on Netflix, you may come to the same conclusion.

5. Rating of the Don't Look Up Netflix Movie

Based on a rating of 1 star to 5 stars with 5 stars being the highest, I rate the Don’t Look Up Netflix movie 2 stars.