We have a wonderful little library within walking distance of our home. The library has a good selection of magazines (I love magazines) and a good selection of “little” movies and television series, especially British TV series. To celebrate Athena’s eighth birthday, over the long weekend, we watched four different TV series and movies. We’ve rearranged the living room so that Athena can watch, too! And she does, when she’s not napping.
The films were “The House of Eliott, Season 3”, Marvel Studios’ “Eternals”, Disney’s “Jungle Cruise”, and “Lucky Man, Season 1” created by Stan Lee. All these were very enjoyable.
We saw the Season 1 of “The House of Eliott”. We liked the series so much, we decided to see Season 3. (The library didn’t have Season 2. No matter. Once you see Season 1, the plotlines are easy to follow.).
This tells the story of two sisters, one older than the other by twelve years (which causes conflict between them), who, when their father dies unexpectedly, are left penniless. They start a business using their designing and dressmaking skills. At first, they, and a staff, start out making custom clothes for wealthy women. Eventually, they start ready-to-wear collections. The third season focuses on the personal dramas of some of their seamstresses and one of the sisters. My grandmother was a skillful seamstress (she could knit, purl, and embroider, too). She made a lot of her clothes and my ballet costumes, which were the best in the show. I appreciate how difficult the skill to make clothes is. This British series is very watchable.
Next up, Marvel Studios’ “Eternals”. This is a more serious Marvel movie, positing that ancient heroes and heroines from beyond the stars who have come to Earth and inspired inventions and technologies that have helped human beings.
I kind of resent the notion that aliens have given technologies to humanity just like the present-day Egyptians resent the notion that aliens built the pyramids, not ancient Egyptians. Humanity is brilliant enough to build the pyramids and invent new technologies.
That reservation aside, the film focuses on one era of history to the next—the Eternals are there—in an entertaining manner.
Finally, we come to the present day when the “Deviants” have reappeared and threaten humanity. We enjoyed the film. One of the Eternals is named Athena! It was good to hear our cat’s name on the big screen.
Next up, Disney’s “Jungle Cruise”. If you dislike colorful, frivolous, fun, action-packed Disney adventures, maybe this film is not for you. But we love them and this film is very entertaining. We like the actor Dwayne Johnson, who plays a riverboat captain taking visitors along the Amazon River, but the real star of the show is his pet jaguar. She scares people at first, but is a gentle creature. (“Good girl!”).
Finally, a British TV series crime thriller and a creation by Stan Lee of Marvel Studios’ fame, “Lucky Man, Season 1”. Detective Inspector Harry Clayton in London is about to lose his family and is in trouble at the job. He’s also a gambling addict who goes to a therapy group with other gambling addicts.(He burns the money he wins at gambling.) Along the way, he acquires a bracelet that he can’t take off—the bracelet brings “good luck” but exacts a price. He’s assisted by another Detective Inspector, a woman of India heritage. She’s fantastic, much smarter than him (just like Joan Watson is smarter than Sherlock Holmes in the British series, “Elementary” and Hermine is smarter than Harry Potter). Action-packed, suspenseful plot with twists and turns. Highly recommended. (If the library has more seasons, we’ll surely see them.)
Enjoy your Movie Night!
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From the author of ODDITIES: 22 Stories is on Kindle worldwide, including in the US, in the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, in the Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Japan. ODDITIES: 22 Stories is in Print as a beautiful trade paperback in the US, in UK, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan. New! Now in Print in Australia
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