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Nanny McPhee Returns, a review by Dragonfire

I had the chance to see Nanny McPhee Returns last week.  The movie is entertaining, though not as good as the first one.

Isabel Green is trying to keep the family farm running while her husband is off fighting in a war.  She also works in a store in the local village with Mrs. Docherty, an older woman who doesn't seem to be all there.  Isabel's children help around the farm, though they do try her patience at times.  Norman, Megsie and Vincent aren't happy when their cousins, Cyril and Celia, come from London.  The two are very stuck up and look down on everything about the farm.  The children are fighting like mad when Nanny McPhee turns up.  She manages to get the children to stop fighting within minutes.  She then starts teaching them other lessons.  While that is going on, Isabel has to deal with her brother in law who is trying to convince her to sell the farm.

This movie takes place many years after the first movie.  The year isn't said, though it seems to be sometime during WWII from some of what is going on.  For most of the movie, it seems like the only connection to the first movie is Nanny McPhee, but another connection comes up late in the movie.  This one can stand alone, though certain things about Nanny McPhee will make more sense if the previous movie is seen first. 

The plot for the movie is fairly simple and a lot like the plot of the first movie.  Because of that, most of what happens is predictable and there aren't many surprises which may disappoint some people.  I still think the movie is entertaining despite that.  The same basic pattern that was used in the first movie is used again.  That does work for the plot and what is going on.  There are some magical elements to the movie again, provided by things that Nanny McPhee does.  There isn't any explanation for how she can do what she does, or why her appearance changes like it does, so that does keep some mystery to the character.  Even though there is still magic stuff going on, the movie does seem a tad less magical overall than the first movie.  There is some humor to what is going on, though more of it is gross.  There are a lot of jokes and remarks about various animal poop, which I could have done without. 

The cast does really well with their parts.  Emma Thompson is wonderful as Nanny McPhee.  The makeup is amazing and she isn't recognizable at first.  There aren't many actresses who would be willing to look that way in a movie.  The children actors do well with their parts too.  The children are really bratty at first, but they calm down as the movie progresses and become more likable. 

The movie is fun and entertaining overall, though it isn't going to appeal to everyone.  People who enjoyed the first movie may find something to like about this one.  I really enjoyed it and will probably pick it up once it is available on DVD.

I did get a review posted on Epinions.

Nanny McPhee Returns

(From Nanny McPhee Returns on September 20th, 2010)

Iron Man, a review by DJ Doena

Robert Downey Jr.    ...    Tony Stark
Terrence Howard   ...    Rhodey
Jeff Bridges   ...    Obadiah Stane
Gwyneth Paltrow   ...    Pepper Potts
Leslie Bibb   ...    Christine Everhart
Shaun Toub   ...    Yinsen

Synopsis: Tony Stark is the CEO of Stark Industries. They manufacture and sell the most advanced weapons technology in the world. One day Stark is kidnapped and is forced to build a new weapons system for a group of terrorists. But Stark builds something else: an armored suit that he wears to break out of his prison. When he returns to the civilized world he reflects what he has seen on the other side of the world and he decides that weapons production isn't a good idea after all. But he can help people if he would wear that new suit of his more often...

My Opinion: This was a blind buy for me. Tony Stark's character is very two-dimensional, even after his change of heart. I would put it closer to Underworld than to The Incredible Hulk, more visuals than actual story or profundity. What bothered me, was the fact that they invented a superhero that has no actual superpowers and yet he survives the most absurds stunts as if he had superpowers. First when he crashed into the desert and again when he tested his rocket-boots and crashed without armor into a concrete wall. It may have looked funny but it didn't help with the character's credibility.
I find it interesting that movies about a teenager who has been bitten by a spider or about people who are born differently are more serious than a movie about a guy who's inventing the newest weapons.

(From DJ Doena's movie watchings 2009 on March 8th, 2009)

Sliders Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

10. ASYLUM
Rembrandt falls for a beautiful doctor who is Quinn's only home for survival, but her dangerous secret could mean doom for everyone else.

My Thoughts:
This was a good episode... pretty much a Kromagg episode with no Kromaggs. They sliders arrived on a world that dealed with the kromaggs and they took all their natural resources and left them. I found this to be more entertaining then the ones where the Kromaggs are actually in the episode for some reason.

My Rating:

11. CALIFORNIA REICH
Rembrandt's latest jump has him fearing for his life when the groups lands in a dimension where minorities are rounded up by the violent racist elite.

My Thoughts:
This time the end up in racist world. Definitely not one of my favorites. I mean it is ok... but no more then that. I find it a bit on the slow and boring side.

My Rating:

12. THE DYING FIELDS
An Eden-like-setting hides a fearful secret when the Sliders stumble across two Hu-maggs - part Kromagg, part human - who are involved in a deadly game.

My Thoughts:
While I normally dislike the Kropmagg episodes... this one I enjoyed quite a bit. I liked the whole manhunting game and the Hu-maggs were actually quite entertaining.

My Rating:

13. LIPSCHITZ LIVE
It's light, camera, Colin when the Sliders land in a world where he is mistaken for his wealthy double and the whole society seems to be turned in to a ridiculaus TV show.

My Thoughts:
This one is more of a humourous episode. And I can enjoy it for what it is... but the quality of the storyline really isn't up to standards with the rest of the series.

My Rating:

14. MOTHER AND CHILD
Maternal instinct causes trouble for the Sliders when they dicide to help an escapee from a breeding camp and her half-Kromagg offspring.

My Thoughts:
It is an alright episode. More Kromagg stuff. The storyline wasn't really bad... but it isn't an episode that I tend to remember much after watching it... for some reason the Kromagg heavy episode just bore me a bit.

My Rating:


(From Sliders Marathon on December 10th, 2009)