Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom reivew

Maybe I should work in Hollywood. I suggested in my review of Jurassic World (2015) that the Jurassic Park franchise should explore the militarization of the genetic dinosaurs which was the motivation of the villain in that movie. And in the sequel Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, they do.  And did I get any royalties?
  Sadly, no. 

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom takes place three years after the disaster at Jurassic World. The park is on an island with an active volcano that  is about to erupt. Hold on. Somebody had an idea to put an amusement park on an island with an active volcano?.  Yeah, it sounds as smart as having a zoo with gigantic man eating predators. Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) a former executive with InGen is running a group that is trying to save the dinosaurs. She is contacted by Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) who works for InGen's former founder's partner, Sir Benjamin Lockwood. (James Cromwell) She visits Lockwood at his mansion and also meets his granddaughter Maisie. (Isabella Sermon) They propose to Claire a way to save the dinosaurs by moving them to another island. She agrees and convinces Owen (Chris Pine, ... Chris Evans er I mean Chris Pratt) to join her. You see in the first movie they were love interests, now they are estranged. Oh and throw in Jeff Goldblum in a glorified cameo and fan service as Dr. ian Malcom. Anyway, the recovery team gets to the island and of course, all hell breaks loose. There are also some very interesting surprises.

Look, I can't say much about the ensemble's acting. It's not bad. It's actually good. But most of it is running in terror from dinosaurs or some actors becoming snacks for dinosaurs. Speaking of running, they got rid of Claire's high heels in the first movie. No sprinting from T-Rex in heels here. It's a running joke as there are scenes where the camera focuses on her shoes.

The screenplay by Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly is the thing that keeps this film from being just another Jurassic Park movie where stupid people go to the park and get eaten by dinosaurs. It starts out banal but after the first surprise plot point, it gets interesting. You see author Michael Crichton's themes about man's arrogance in developing technology without limits is brought back in this film. The issues of greed, militarization of the dinosaurs and the ethics of cloning are raised. And hopefully, I'm not giving anything away here but I would have liked to spend more time with Sir Benjamin and Maisie. They should have cut the contrived scenes of Claire and Owen getting back together after being estranged.

The time not spent with Sir Benjamin and Maisie is a problem in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The subplot regarding them is fascinating. Unfortunately, it's reduced due to the need to have CGI dinosaurs rampaging around the screen. Director J.A. Bayona or the screenplay makes some mistakes here. First, he films many of the action scenes in the dark. Can't really see the dinosaurs. Second, some of the important action set pieces are indoors. They are not in big rooms. Nope. You got big ass velociraptors chasing people through tight hall ways. It's all about getting good look at the dinosaurs. Still, Bayona's need to flex his directing chops don't kill the movie.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is one fascinating movie. Interesting themes on the ethics of cloning are raised. And I love the direction of the franchise because it's getting away from the amusement park. The grade is B Plus.

This official trailer might have too much information. Go see the movie first.

Conservative Trump's family separation plan was meant to be a deterrence

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has lately been saying that conservative President Trump's no tolerance illegal immigration plan was not designed to be a family separation plan. (MSNBC Morning Joe video below)   Liar. As the video shows, the Trump administration through Sessions told the public that children would be removed from parents since children would not be allowed to stay with their parents when they were arrested. Under former President Obama, parents were cited back to court in what conservatives call "catch and release."

What's apparent is from the actual words of Trump administration officials is that the zero tolerance policy was designed to be a deterrence to Latin American immigrants. (The Hill, June 19, 2018)

"We expect the new policy will result in a deterrence effect," said Steven Wagner. Assistant Secretary for HHS. Id.   Chief of Staff John Kelly in 2017 as Director of Homeland Security said this in a NPR interview,   "A big name of the game is is deterrence.   He acknowledged that separating families could be a "tough deterrent-would be a tough deterrent. ( NPR transcript. )

My fellow Americans, the Trump administration  wanted to rip children away from their parents as a deterrent.  Conservative Trump is cruel and inhumane. 

Colbert destroys Trump's immigrant family separation policy

After saying he couldn't stop his own monstrous plan to separate immigrant children from their parents, conservative President Trump signed an executive order which attempts to stop it. Wow. Trump caused the problem and is now trying to take credit for stopping it. We need America's satirist Stephen Colbert, to help us deal with this. Here's his hilarious monologue from The Late Show. Enjoy.

Conservative Trump is a racist in keeping Latin American migrants out of the country

I've often said this about conservative Republican obsession over Latin American immigrants. If we were talking about Swedish people who are mostly white, conservatives like Trump wouldn't be raising such a ruckus. In Trump's case, he's separating Latin American children from their parents. This monstrous action is to deter Hispanics from coming to America.

As a reminder, Trump in January said he wanted more people from Norway which is white, than African nations. (Vox) Yes, conservative Trump preferred white over black. And now white over brown. So, if Norwegians were trying to immigrate to America, would Trump be upset? Considering that he wants Norwegians here, the answer is no.

My fellow Americans. You can save your country. Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

Conservative Trump's brazen lie over his immigrant family separation

Prior to his disastrous immigration policy to rip children away from migrant parents, conservative President Trump said that it was the Democrats fault for his inhumane actions. He said Congress and Democrats could change the law and his monstrous actions could not be stopped by executive action. (MSNBC Deadline at 2:50 below) By the way, at this time Democrats do not control the House or the Senate.

Well, after horrific pictures and audio leaked out, Trump signed an executive order trying to end family separation. Trump lied again. It proves he didn't have to use a zero tolerance policy that would separate children from parents. And by the way, there is nothing in the order about the over two thousand children separated. Sadly, there is no real plan to reunite the children with the parents. Yep, conservative Trump may have created orphans.

Trump talks like a Sith Lord

Conservative President Trump views immigration in black and white. In a meeting with congressional leaders, he said if you're weak then the country will be overrun with immigrants. Interpret that to mean brown people to Trump. He then said he wanted to be "strong." Interpretation. Trump wants to separate children from their parents and use them as a bargaining chips to get his bloody wall built. (CNN video at the 7:45 minute mark.)

Trump looks at the world in absolutes. He believes he is America. As Obi Wan Kenobi said, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." (Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith. (2005) video below) Conservative Republican Donald Trump is a Sith Lord.

Thank you Stephen Colbert for comedy during the dark days of Trump

Stephen Colbert is America's greatest satirist. Today, we have a government led by conservative President Trump that rips immigrant children away from their parents. Colbert does a funny monologue that helps America get through this.

Mika Brzezinski, "None of this is normal"

MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski powerfully called out conservative President Trump's policy to remove immigrant children from their parents and placing them in internment camps. She said, "None of this is normal." At 7:33 minute mark in the video below.

Conservative Trump has no plan to reunite children with their arrested parents

The New Yorker is reporting that there are no plans to reunite children who have been separated from their parents due to conservative President Trump's no tolerance border policy. (The New Yorker) Innocent children are being harmed. It's a humanitarian disaster.

This fall, vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

A cinematic reply to DHS Secretary Nielsen's defense of separating children from parents

Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen tweeted out a whopper of a lie. She said that "We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period." Congressman Ted Lieu pointed out that Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Stephen Miller "gleefully" announced it and there's the fact that more than two thousand children have been separated from their parents at the border. (Huffington Post.)

Then yesterday, she addressed the White House press corp. Nielsen told more lies. For example, she states that separating children from their mothers is to stop the gang MS-13. Now, what two year old is a member of MS-13? She told more lies like blaming Congress for conservative President Trump's policy. In the below video, MSNBC's Mika Brzenzsinki destroys Nielsen's lies.



She's told lies for Trump before. Remember when Trump called African countries "shi#hole" nations? A term which was not immediately denied by Trump. And that Trump wanted more people to immigrate from Norway. At a Senate hearing, Nielsen protected Trump rather than America. She stated that she did not recall the term though people were using tough language. (Politico) Sen. Leahy (D-Vt) asked if she knew that Norway was predominately populated by white people, Nielsen replied, “I actually do not know that, sir, but I imagine that is the case." Really? Ms. Nielsen, your name is Danish, which is a Nordic country and Norway is also a Nordic country. Either you are a badly educated idiot or lying for Trump.

DHS Secretary Nielsen, you are defending an inhumane policy that is causing children to suffer. We need a child to reply to your defense of this administration's cruel actions. Here's a line from a little girl in the movie Demolition Man. (1993) "Fu.k you lady."
(Video below)

De Niro was right as Trump separates children from parents, "F..k Trump."

First, let's get this straight. The government's action to forcibly remove immigrant children from their parents is a Trump policy. It is not a Democrat law. Blaming the Democrats is a lie. Vanity Fair. It's a plan to deter immigrants who are seeking asylum from coming to America and to force the Democrats to cave on funding for Trump's wall. So, President Trump is using children as hostages.

This policy to remove children from their parents is vile and deceitful. Former Republican First Lady Laura Bush called Trump's policy "cruel" and "immoral." (CNN) My response to Trump's cruelty comes from actor Robert De Niro who at this year's Tony Awards said this. "F..k Trump."  (Video below.)  Amen. Oh, by the way Trump cusses and publicly  used the "F" word so, we can use it too. (Time Magazine) And remember my fellow Americans. Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

New York brings justice to Trump

CNN is reporting that the state of New York is suing conservative Republican President Trump and his charitable Trump Foundation for violations of law that includes self-dealing. That means the Foundation used money not for charitable purposes but to benefit Trump.

We know that the Trump Foundation bought personal stuff for Trump in the past. There was the six foot painting of Trump. (The Hill.) The foundation also bought a Tim Tebow football helmet. (Chicago Tribune) The hypocrisy is that Trump often complained about the Clinton Foundation which is a legitimate charity while the most corrupt President in history has been self-dealing.

I've said this before. Trump will try to pardon his way out of his collusion with Russia. But the states can fight back. He cannot pardon his way out of state law violations. They can bring Trump to justice for the multiple violations of law he has done. Since some of the crimes occurred in New York, the location of Trump Tower, it's up to New York. In the words of Frank Sinatra, "It's up to you New York." (Video below.)

This fall, vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

Conan O' Brien brilliantly parodies Trump fake movie trailer

At the summit between conservative President Trump and dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, Trump showed him a fake movie trailer that depicts the questions of what direction Kim Jong Un would take regarding his nuclear weapons program. (Business Insider) It was cheesy to say the least. Yesterday, Conan O' Brien on TBS produced a parody version of that video. Only this version is if Kim Jong Un produced one for Trump.
Hilarious. Check it out below.

Kim Jong Un beats Trump

Call the historic meeting between North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Un and conservative President Trump, "The Art of the Con." This being Trump, the meeting and its buildup was all about him. He clearly wants the Nobel Peace Prize. Vox It was all a dog and pony show for Trump. Kim Jong Un knew how to play Trump's ego and he got what he wanted.

So, with the world watching, what did the Great Dealmaker get for America? The answer is virtually nothing. It was just a signed letter with platitudes about peace and a "commitment" by North Korea that it would work towards denuclearization. (Huffington Post) There was no timeline for North Korea to even begin the process. Yes, there was no date say for North Korea to disclose its nuclear weapons test sites, or an accounting for nuclear materials or weapons. North Korea has played this game for years. Promise not to have nuclear weapons while developing them. And there is nothing about agreeing to independent verification.

What did North Korea get? Kim Jong Un got what his father, and grandfather never got. He got a meeting with the most powerful man in the world and leader of the free world, the President of the United States. This instantly gave him credibility and respect. (See former Ambassador Wendy Sherman's comments below at the seven minute mark.) And it gets worse for America, Japan and South Korea. Trump is cancelling future joint military exercises with South Korea. Folks, these are designed to prevent accidents between forces in event of war. The United States, South Korea and Japan got nothing for that cancellation.

My fellow Americans, conservative Republican President Trump only cares about himself and the optics of his image. His actions endanger not just Americans but now the lives of South Koreans and the Japanese. Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

Robert De Niro drops "F' bomb on Trump

I was going to warn the audience of bad language in this post because there's going to be a video of actor Robert De Niro dropping the "F" bomb. But since conservative Republican President Trump has done it in public (Huffington Post), I say there's no problem. Sauce for the goose.

Well, yesterday Trump embarrassed America at the G7 by insulting our friends like Canada. (Reuters) So thank God for one of America's greatest actors, Robert De Niro. At last night's Tony Awards, De Niro wonderfully said what many decent Americans have been thinking. "F...k Trump." Amen. Call evil for what it is.

And my fellow Americans. Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

Stephen Colbert on Trump's claim that he can pardon himself

Conservative Republicans President Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani have made some fascist claims. Giuliani indicated that Trump could shoot former FBI director and witness James Comey without legal repercussions. (Huffington Post) And Trump on Monday said he could pardon himself.

Un-American and frightening stuff. We need the country's satirist to comment on this. Here's Stephen Colbert from The Late Show. And remember, my fellow Americans. Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

Trump team: President can shoot James Comey and also pardon himself.

Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's lawyer, told the Huffington Post that President Trump could shoot former FBI James Comey and not be indicted for it, i.e. charged for the murder. (Huffington Post) It's an overbroad interpretation of a President's constitutional power. On Monday, President Trump also tweeted that he could pardon himself.

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

My fellow Americans, these views by conservative Republicans mirror those by history's dictators. The ideas that the President can kill witnesses against him in a corruption investigation or critics or that he is above the law are un-American.

Let me say this as a lawyer. A president has broad constitutional powers. However, he may not exercise them for illegal, unconstitutional purposes. For example, a president as commander in chief cannot order the Air Force to bomb his political opponents. That would be taking an American's life without Due Process, a violation of the Constitution.

This November, we can start to take our country back from the dictators and fascists. Vote liberal Democrat if you want to live.

Guilty Pleasures: Lovesick (1983)

There are a bunch of productions named Lovesick. This guilty pleasure is the 1983 film Lovesick. It's a romantic comedy about psychiatrist Saul Benjamin (Dudley Moore) who falls in love with his patient Chloe Allen. (Elizabeth McGovern) During the affair, Benjamin is visited by the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi... um make that the ghost of Freud. (Alec Guinness fresh off playing Kenobi in Return of the Jedi ) By the way, certain feelings for a patient or a patient's feelings for their psychoanalyst is known as transference. And Freud is the father of psychoanalysis. Anyway, look for early appearances of Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory, The Good Fight ) and David Strathairn. (Lincoln) The talented cast also includes legendary director John Huston, Ron Silver, Wallace Shawn and Alan King. Wow.

The film also features another great score by French composer Philippe Sarde. The music is lush, impressionistic in that French way, and just plain beautiful.  Mix that in with the gorgeous New York cinematography by Gerry Fisher, witty dialogue and you've got a warm romantic comedy. Lovesick, the 1983,  film is one of my guilty pleasures.

This trailer for Lovesick (1983) has some of Philippe Sarde's wonderful score.

Guilty Pleasures: The Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project is a 1986 movie about a brilliant high school student Paul Stephens (Christopher Collet) who builds a portable atomic bomb to protest a top secret government facility that has been researching a new type of nucclear fuel. He enlists the help of his girlfriend Jenny Anderman (Cynthia Nixon) for his civil protest. Nixon and the idea of a high school student trying to change their world makes this film relevant. As we see high school students today try to get governments to enact gun law changes and Nixon's liberal candidacy for governor of New York.

Written and directed by Marshall Brickman (Sleeper, Annie Hall, Manhattan), it's a funny and good thriller. It's also got an energetic score by French composer Philippe Sarde. The Manhattan Project is another of my guilty pleasures.