Review: "Mary Poppins Returns" is a Dazzling Good Time

Scene from Mary Poppins Returns

There is something daunting and rare about director Rob Marshall's Mary Poppins Returns. It's a sequel to Oscar-winning beloved family film that has become one of Disney's towering achievements (they even made a movie called Saving Mr. Banks to remind us of this). So, where could Marshall possibly go with 50 years of distance and generations hooked on some of movie musicals' most memorable music? The answer is simple. It goes for the whimsy, trying its best to capture the enthusiasm of the original while attempting to make a new story that compliments advanced technology to bring the landscape to life in ways not available in the mid-60's. While the music isn't quite on par or the performances as immediately iconic, Marshall has continued to prove himself one of the premiere musical directors of the 21st century with a quaint new holiday treat that may not match the original, but serves to entertain for a few hours as best it can.

Irish Immigrant Movie "Brooklyn" to Be Made into TV Spin-Off

Scene from Brooklyn

There is a good chance that you have seen director John Crowley's sweet new film Brooklyn. In fact, you probably have if you are an Oscars purist who wishes to see everything that was nominated in a given year. With three nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for star Saoirse Ronan, the film has proven to be an endearing crowd favorite as it follows a young Irish girl traveling to America in the 1950's. However, there's one thing that is likely to please fans of the film: there is a planned TV series to spin-off pretty soon. From the same production company that brought us the film comes a series that is expected to follow a memorable supporting character as she deals with her own life in New York. The one catch? Ronan has not yet announced any plans to be involved with it.