A Modern Moron Book Review

Army soldiers banging on our door, telling us to leave our home and take only what we can carry recalls George Takei in his latest book, "My Lost Freedom." 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered all Japanese Americans living on the west coast to be rounded up and arrested on February 19, 1942. Takei was living in Los Angeles with his baby sister, older brother and his parents during this time. "My Lost Freedom" is George Takei's documentation as a 5-year-old boy going to prison because of his ancestry, along with his parents and siblings.

Takei was 4-years-old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing more than 345 U.S. soldiers.   

This book pulls no punches, it presents the facts, yet doesn't judge. "My Lost Freedom" is the second book I've read on this subject. Another recommend read, "When the Emperor was Divine," written by Julie Otsuka.

Takei's mother was born legally in Sacramento, and her husband was a Japanese immigrant from San Francisco.  

The unjust Japanese prison's were nothing like the German had for the Jewish, and I thank all powers for that.

 

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki instantly killed more than a 130,000 or 150,000 people. Imagine your blood boiling the instant before you die, that's what is like being in direct contact with the atom bomb.

"My Lost Freedom" has the death toll numbers from Hiroshima and Nagasaki but doesn't refer to the blood boiling from the A bomb. I read that elsewhere. 

Five stars for George Takei's "My Lost Freedom," and yes, he's the George Takei, aka Mr. Sulu or Hikaru Sulu, the original "Star Trek." 

Mark Izzy Schurr   

 

A Modern Moron Movie Review

"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" weaves the bizarre fabrics of fantasy and reality into an unknown attire that cloaks the audience. 

Screenwriter Josh Friedman puts us into a world where the unimaginable is tangible and apes rule the world. A virus infecting the minds of both humans and apes vastly benefits the apes. Nova, aka Mae, marvelously portrayed by Freya Allan is teamed with Raka, the orangutan and the chimpanzee Noa, because of war. Raka is sly witted, funny and heartful. 

Noa's the grandson of Ceasar, a renowned chimpanzee interictal in uniting different breeds of apes and coexisting with humans. His funeral Pyra at the beginning of the movie sets the tone for Noa to continue the family legacy of unity among all.   

Noa and Raka slowly learn their human counterpart Nova is equally as smart as they are, if not more intelligent. All three learn from each other. 

The special effects and make-up team did a fantastic job, and the story is a well-orchestrated planet amidst a universe of monkey madness.  

Anybody who liked 2001s "Planet of the Apes" starring Mark Wahlberg would probably dig this months "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," This movie series began in 1968 and the special effects have always been impressive, yet the dialogue stands out the most. The latest installment of "Planet of the Apes" doesn't disappoint, three stars easy for this flick. The second row, B7 at Airport Cinemas is my new favorite way to watch movies. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

A Modern Moron Movie Review

The diabolical intentions of six kidnappers meets the nefarious desires of Abigail, a 12-year-old vampire.  

Six high profile thieves follow the dictates of an entity who convinces them to seize Abigal and hold her hostage for millions of dollars. Each of the six is set to make $7 million apiece, so they go along with the plan. 

This was the most original vampire story I've ever seen. Nonfans of graphic horror might wanna pass on "Abigal," but I laughed out loud on occasion, and the blood and gore are not the focal point of this flick. 

All the actors were believable in an utterly bizarre blitzkrieg of nonsense, but somehow "Abigal" works, and I found myself rooting for Abigal, extremely well portrayed by Alisha Weir. I also didn't want Joey to die. Joey was the sexy and savvy black-haired dream, Melissa Barrera.  

The ending was something I didn't see coming. Three stars easy for "Abigal." 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

A Modern Moron Book Review

Using her acorn compass and the help of Lewis Lady bug, Beatrix Butterfly and Cleo Cricket, Addie Ant sets forth on an all-day adventure. 

Addie lives with her two aunts, Gertie and Zelda in the tomato bed and decides to venture to where the watermelons and sunflower seeds grow. 

"Addie Aunt Goes on an Adventure" is the first book by acclaimed singer and song writer Maren Morris and former schoolteacher Karina Argow and illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton.  

Books and stories for young children still exist, and bravo to the trio of women who spawned Addie Ant. 

We cannot stay home all our lives; we must present ourselves to the world and we must look upon it as an adventure. (Beatrix Potter) 

Three and a half stars for the April release of "Addie Ant..." 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

Another Modern Moron Movie Review

A group of combat journalist encounter military maniacs without conscience or restraint and eager to kill anyone not born in the United States and that's just a small part of what happens in "Civil War," released on Friday.  

A college aged woman is determined to be a combat journalist and she gets what she bargained for and the horrid details of war reign in her camera's eye. I never had the desire to be a combat photographer and "Civil War" affirms these feelings. 

Three stars easy for "Civil War." 

Mark Izzy Schurr.   

  

 

A Modern Moron Movie Review

In order for the Catholic Church to survive, it's hierarchy resurrected the devil's son as an infant in 1971 in this month's "The First Omen."  

The latest installment of "The Omen" follows the book on the details of the pre and actual birth of Beelzebub's son. The unscrupulous and extremely macabre orphanage got their baby evil into the world of high-profile politics as an infant in the early 1970s in hopes he becomes the President of the United States. 

It's absolutely horrid what happens to many young nuns in this Roman church, but "The First Omen" writers, crew and actors left the absolutely horrifying details to the mind. Released on the 5th, "The First Omen" is the 6th installment of "The Omen" films, first released in 1976. The American nun, and star of the film displays true resistance and unites with another nun in a cunning ploy to escape the nefarious Roman church. 

This version is a prequal to the original movie and it's clearly set up for a sequel I'd definitely go see. I was disappointed the entire film revolved around Satan's birth, but the ending has an unsuspecting curve and a valid foe against Damien, the son of the Devil. Does the Devil have a sister?

Just under three stars for "The First Omen,"  

Mark Izzy Schurr 

  

"Imaginary," A Modern Moron movie review

Chauncy Bear lures his prey into a radically dark dimension by mixing their imaginations into his reality. 

"Imaginary" caused me to jump once. The sporadic moments of Hollywood fluff didn't bother me in this film. I thought the story was originally clever. Chauncey Bear is very meticulous in choosing who he slays or manipulates. 

Chauncey Bear kidnaps a very young girl and takes her to his realm of dark insanity. The little girl's mother and her 15-year-old sister must learn how to enter an unknown realm for an attempted rescue of their innocent sibling. Now that's a dilemma. 

"Imaginary" targets the suspense and terrors of the mind, rather than excessive amounts of special effects. Three stars easy for "Imaginary." 

Mark Izzy Schurr