Dora and the Lost City of Gold, mini movie review

Critical Movie Rating: B-

Dora and the Lost City of Gold follows the bright eyed wonder of an explorer raised in the Amazon.  When Dora is a teenager her parents decide to search for the famed city of gold, and deciding Dora isn't ready for such an adventure they send her to High School, a jungle of its own.  Dora didn't grow up around other kids, so her optimism mixed with underdeveloped social skills makes her an outcast.  This doesn't bother her, as Dora is unafraid to be true to herself.  Suddenly Dora, her cousin, and a couple mismatched classmates find themselves in the Amazon trying to find Dora's parents and the city of gold.

Dora and the Explorer, the show in which this movie is based, is a generation younger than I.  As a kid I watched Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and Captain Kangaroo on PBS.  Dora the TV show launched in 2000, and even though I never watched it, I would see jokes pop up about the show in memes.

Crazy as it sounds, I love how Dora and the Lost City of Gold knows what it is, and makes fun of itself while breaking the 4th wall on occasion and having fun.  This movie is a family film, a jumanji for youngsters mixed in with goof ball antics and even a song about poo.  Not joking, there's a poo song, and fart jokes.  Dora was on Nickelodeon, a channel known for green goo.

Is the plot predictable?  Yes.  The characters two dimensional?  In a non-animated sense, for the most part, sure.  But the movie is lighthearted.  This is not a film to take seriously.  There's jokes, but also a good story about family and friendship.

What really makes this movie sing, and I'm not talking about poo, is Dora as a character.  Isabela Moner plays her perfectly.  She's just a really good person with admirable strength.

If you want to see a fun family film Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a good movie, just know it gets really silly at times.  Oh my goodness, that drugged field of flowers.  What the crap was that?

MPAA: Rated PG for action and some impolite humor.
 

I Actually Got Taller in the Last Decade!

For the longest time I thought I was 5 foot 5 and a half something.  The Summer between the 7th and 8th grade I got my full height, growing about 6 inches which caused a few problems, and stayed that way at least through my 20's.  A couple times last decade I checked my height at the doctors, sure enough 5'5'' or so, and the doctors office is a pretty reliable measurement.

These last few years my Mom and a couple other family members started telling me they thought I had to be taller than 5'5 1/2''.  Family photos seemed to indicate this, but I didn't think much of it.  How many of us really know how tall we are?  And height changes, usually towards growing shorter.

When leaving a bank a few months ago I noticed that there was a height measuring marker by the exit door, probably to determine the height of bank robbers.  I stood next to it, seemed a little taller than 5'6'', and chalked it up to the door frame being wrong.

Last week my Mom and I took my Grandma to the doctors, which turned out to be a good thing because she had pneumonia, but I saw their height measuring wall thing (does it have a specific name?) and decided to check my height again, making it official.  5'6''!  A little over 5'6''!  The bank doesn't lie.  I have a great uncle, one of my Grandma A's brothers, who went from 6'3'' to 6'4'' in his 30's, so maybe it's hereditary?  A half inch or so is really all I've gained, but it's still something!

So that's fun.

In other news I managed to drive a mile on a flat tire last week, realized it was flat, and then drove another mile to a tire place to have it looked at, holding my breath the whole time!  Life and its oddities.

And I managed to step on a tiny fractured glass piece for the second time in a few months.  A little sliver, walked on it for five minutes while cleaning the floor before trying to get it out. -_-;;  Lesson of the story?  Just because you think an area has been completely cleaned of broken glass, don't assume it has.  But then we shouldn't live in fear.  Ah, well, it's better I found that tiny shard instead of one of the little ones over for a visit.  Taking one for the team.

Is it that time of year again!!?? Don't Wish Away Summer

While at the supermarket a couple days ago I was looking at flowers.  Didn't buy any, but when I saw the above pictured flower bouquet I did a double take.  "Happy Fall Y'all"!!  Wait, when's Fall?  Aren't we still in the middle of Summer?  No, no, no, time can't be moving that fast.  Ah, man. (And so many other thoughts flooded my mind.)

Nope, we still have a month.  September 23rd.  We still have time to enjoy the Summer heat!  I'm enjoying the dry Summer heat in Utah.  (Ever since experiencing the fluke-ish humid heat at Disneyland last month, I'm like, "Dry heat, bring it on!!"  But then I'm not a snow fan, sorry childhood wishes, and have learned how nice warmth can be.)

Honestly, Autumn is my favorite season.  Pumpkin cookies.  An excuse to warm up hot cocoa.  Sweaters and scarves.  Nippy, yet pleasant air.  Color changing leaves.  Autumn is nice.

For now I'm going to enjoy the rest of Summer.

I don't want to wish away time!!

Disneyland's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Initial Review

Patience is a virtue . . . I do not possess.

I said I was going to Disneyland in the Autumn, which is still happening, but an opportunity arrived that allowed an earlier visit.  My Aunt wanted to visit the beach.  My parents are always up for another visit.  And I happily went along.

Because of being with my family I spent most of my time doing what they wanted, which was split all over the place.  I got to step into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge a few times, built a lightsaber and droid (which I'll blog about later), ate an overpriced meal, perused the shops, and walked around.

What I didn't get to do:

Ride the Millennium Falcon, Smugglers Run ride.  The line was long and I didn't want to wait.  There's plenty of time in the future to check it out.  My parents said it's okay, a confusing game of a ride, and my Mom got motion sick.  It'll be interesting to finally check it out.

I didn't try the green or blue milk.  Disneyland was HOT!!!  It felt like Florida.  Milk was just so unappealing, especially since the flavor is a mystery, and my budget was for the saber, droid, and limited edition pins.

And I didn't go to the Cantina.  My parents did last month and said the non-alcoholic drinks were expensive and gross.  

What I did:

Try out Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo.

Never again.

Too expensive for what you get.

My Dad got the Fried Endorian Tip-yip meal, featured on the left and $15.49.  It's just a chicken strip and a scoop of mashed potatoes, and it looks unappealing.  My Dad looked disappointed and said he was.  I got the Roasted Endorian Tip-yip Salad, $13.99, which was interesting.  There's cold cauliflower, probably thrown in for texture.  It wasn't filling.

 I built a droid and lightsaber, so thoughts on that later.

Walking around the land is beautiful, especially at night.

I looked through the shops, but only bought the postcards, magnet, and pin.  Pretty much what I buy whenever I visit a new place, so these souvenirs was fitting.  But a lot of items for sale aren't things I would really buy.  A lot of the stuffed animals were strange.  Didn't look closer.  Didn't care to.  Should have checked to see if there were ewoks.

What Galaxy's Edge is missing:

Things for kids to do.  This is a land for those that are older.  Every other land has rides and activities kids can do.  Critter Country: Winnie the Pooh.  New Orleans: Pirates and Haunted Mansion.  Adventureland: Jungle Cruise.  Frontierland: Tom Sawyer Island and the Mark Twain.  Tomorrowland: Buzz Lightyear, Autopia, and the submarine.  Fantasyland and Toontown have tons to do.  Why would families go to Galaxy's Edge?  Except to eat, buy things, and walk pass.

Nostalgia.  With Galaxy's Edge taking place during the sequels there's no nostalgia, which Disneyland is known for.  Walk into Disneyland and you're greeted with Main Street USA, vintage buildings and love for the past.  Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, New Orleans Square, even Critter Country all have nostalgia.  Tomorrowland needs a little updating. But where's the magic we grew up with!!??

Now, I understand wanting to make it new.  I love possibilities.  New stories.  Making the land our own.  But when I think of Star Wars I think of the classic trilogy.  I think of characters I actually love.  I don't even like any of the new characters.  The second movie squandered the potential.  And I just. don't. care.  And Kylo Ren is a brat.  BRAT.  He's not scary.  I want Vader.

Funny enough I stumbled upon Rey and Chewbacca interacting in the resistance area.  Couldn't hear what was going on, but the girl they have for Rey is really good.  But I care more for Leia.  Funny thing is everyone was getting exciting for Chewbacca.  On another walk through the land I heard some guy yell, "Hey, Chewie!"  That's what we want.  The classics.  I don't like the First Order.  The Resistance is a joke.  The Empire and Rebellion is where it's at; they're both more powerful and interesting.  I wore my Rebel hat because I'm proud Rebel Scum.

Now, I do like Galaxy's Edge.  I've always loved Science Fiction/Fantasy.  And, granted, I haven't explored everything.  The second ride will make a difference.  I just wish so much wasn't geared towards shopping, buying thing.  The Lightsaber, droid experience is fun.  Just expensive.