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The Secret Kingdom (1998)
Fun and Inspiring to the Imagination, but a Little Scary.
Hi! Welcome to
Mr. FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT'S
SECOND REVIEW!
About me:
I'm a little different than most movie watchers. I try not to overanalyze or critique most movies. If you want the hot take, slap-them-in-the-face-with-a-rake, try elsewhere. I don't know the meaning of the word sarcasm! (Oops... lol) I also avoid movies with too much "extreme" content on any pole, but if there is any, I'll try to let you know! I strive to be an encouragement in your entertainment journey, with appropriate and moral content, and thoughts on the real life significance of the entertainment.
The Secret Kingdom (1998):
This is a pretty fun movie for anyone with a great imagination. I personally enjoyed it quite a lot. This movie left me with a lot of unanswered questions, which I think was intentional to promote the sense of wonder. Though they didn't come out and say all the answers, I do think you can reasonably speculate on most of the answers, and they did give a clearly stated and positive ending to the story. Like who was the man in the beginning of the film giving chase to our lead boy Mark? Was he an out-of-time version of Mark? Or a citizen of Relkin that was displaced somehow? They did give a clue to this answer at the end that I may have missed initially.
Something to keep in mind with this one is that it could be a little scary for younger kids. I myself am 25, and I found that some of the people of Relkin which inexplicably had flesh covering their eyes very frightening and internally unsettling. My guess is that these individuals had been altered for "perfection's sake" and that entailed covering their eyes to make them blind followers and whistle-blowers for some reason. Regardless, I know if I was younger that might have REALLY bothered me. I know it's actually not a hard special effect to do, but it was a convincing and scary one!
There's also some background screams when they go around the area where surgeries are supposedly done to "perfect" people, that actually turn them into semimindless performers of tasks.
All that said, I think this serves to say they did a pretty good job, because it was truly compelling and frightening at moments!
Messages For Real Life?
Some positive takeaways from this would be creativeness and fun in fantasy. How cool would it be to find a kingdom under your kitchen sink? I could have a whole day of play with that as a kid!
This is about the most meaningful moment of the film to me. Throughout the movie, the siblings can be quite rude to each other, but they do love each other in the end, and this is evident. It might be important to advise younger kids that calling other "cockroach" isn't nice or appropriate, but there is a sweet scene when the littlest boy is scared and goes to his sister in bed, and she is more sweet and honest in that moment than in most of the film... that moment really hit home for me. Sometimes it's that quiet moment in bed at the end of the day, especially as kids if you're in the same room, that the real emotional honesty and sweetness comes out.
At the end of the movie they seem to be treating each other better, perhaps because they recognize the blessing of being home and having one another and being home in no significant danger.
All in all, the kids aren't typically nice to each other in much of the movie, but this is kind of funny, as long as you know that it is inappropriate to treat your family members like that, and they are certainly not always mean. They are nice to each other at the end.
But Really, Tell Me More.
I think I would have really liked if the army men at the end of the film actually went into the kingdom of Relkin and became real warriors, although they seemed to somewhat parallel this idea without actually doing it.
I don't remember any cursing in this movie except they keep calling the little brother "cockroach", which I found annoying because I hate that word and those things with a flaming terror!
I liked how clear the ending was, even though there were some questions I had about the man at the beginning (and end) and the Relkin people with flesh-covered eyes.
I also found it funny how the woman friend of Dr. Chartwell's seemed to have a constantly differing level of blouse coverage, although the camera rarely gives you the chance to notice, and it never sinks to any objectionable level, and her role is very minor. I'm sure there might be some funny production insight over that, although her outfit seems to be the kind that might just like to move around a little, so I'm not sure if that qualifies as inconsistency or realism.
I think they did a really good job with what they had, it was a very convincing fantasy story. In all honesty it is amazing what they achieved with the likely budget they may have had. Sometimes you wish you could give a project like this just $10,000 more towards the end, because you KNOW they can actually put it to good use for hiring extras for a big battle or having visual effects added, things that make it even more spectacular, rather than just hiring another person for something and paying another salary like a lot of big movies seem to do by accident after a while.
I rated 7/10 because I had some questions, wished for a thing or two that didn't happen and some of it was a little bit nightmare worthy for me. All in all it was a great family film. I am pretty excited about one of my ideas about the mystery man from the beginning of the film, though.
God bless!
- Stephen.
Star Struck (1994)
Great, Lovable and Sweet Movie
Hi! Welcome to
Mr. FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT'S
FIRST REVIEW!
About me:
I'm a little different than most movie watchers. I try not to overanalyze or critique most movies. If you want the hot take, slap-them-in-the-face-with-a-rake, try elsewhere. I don't know the meaning of the word sarcasm! (Oops... lol) I also avoid movies with too much "extreme" content on any pole, but if there is any, I'll try to let you know! I strive to be an encouragement in your entertainment journey, with appropriate and moral content, and thoughts on the real life significance of the entertainment.
StarStruck (1994):
This is a great movie! This movie has very little inappropriate content. Kirk Cameron does a great job as a young actor with a funny yet lovable role. He is one of my favorites. This movie does appear to have been made before he was a Christian, although I cannot say that for certain because much of his role throughout the movie is trying to protect and moderate the craziness of hollywood with the girl he loves.
I think it's a really sweet fantasy story and I enjoyed the movie a lot, the lead actress is almost unbearably pretty, it's like I'm not sure how much longer I can look at her!!! Her hair is so amazing!!! Kirk is also a good looking guy and someone I can relate to, with a somewhat higher voice, and very innocently portrayed.
Messages For Real Life?
As far as the messages it sends for reality, I'm not sure. I think it could have different meanings for different people. My applied meaning would be that there is something about that first love that is special, so if you can, if it is morally appropriate, then try to be with them, because it is a hard connection to break, and you will thank yourself for it. I know for myself this has been true, but also that sometimes you have to break the connection because it's the right thing to do and getting back with your first love would not be what God wants. Regardless of that weird "special feeling" associated with first loves, that deserves recognition, you can find just as meaningful a love later on. Don't go chasing down a fairytale with the person you happen to make youthful mistakes with. It's entirely possible that this strange special feeling has to do with because God made it to be one woman and one man from the beginning. However the world has sin now so it will never be perfect, which is sad, but that's why broken relationships are not always best restored.
And if you want, you can say that the first person that is right for you is really the first true love, which is true in a way.
But Really, Tell Me More.
I'm trying to avoid giving away a lot of the plot because I HATE when people do that! It just spoils the turns of the whole film unless you can turn off your brain somehow.
Regardless, this film has a little bit of action, a lot of romance, several twists and turns, almost no cursing that I remember (though I do tend to forget), and a throwback retro vibe that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. It was made in 1994.
It is a bit slow moving and definitely dialogue and human experience based, taking advantage of the fact that you should feel as if you are living the movie, as you watch it. However the pace is not deadpan like a 1970s flick or anything!
Young children won't understand this film or give a flip, probably. Anyone who doesn't have the patience might be too distacted to fully enjoy and intake the content. If they can't get their head out of their phone, they'll be missing out. But if you give it your attention, it is a heartwarming and sweet tale about going to desperate measures for a pure first love. Basically a Hollywood fairy tale. Don't take it TOO seriously, but also don't be a grumpy frowner that insists there is nothing positive in a sweet story like this.
Just remember, everyone, especially kids, the likelihood of you being able to chase down your first love from summer camp is so low it's not really even worth speaking about. You might tear your life apart if you were to try! But do try to take love seriously and treat the people you love, especially someone who might be the special person you marry, with great respect, forgiveness and childlike sweetness.
God bless!
- Stephen.