James Review -Trump: Art of The Deal

Donald John Trump is one of the most important figures in American and world history, especially in the realm of business and politics. For years, he's been one of the biggest business owners in the West, then history changed when he ran for president in 2016. Trump made history as the first outsider to become President of the United States. Twice. He has his fans, but also has his critics. Many people don't like how Trump does things as the POTUS, but if only they read books.

And this is where we get to "Art of The Deal".

Written by Donald Trump, "Art of The Deal", released in 1987, offers an in-depth look into how the future president ran his company and made deals with people. I read this book ages ago and it is astounding and there is a chapter called "A Week in The Life", following Trump's schedule as he runs The Trump Organization. As someone who respects Trump and loves reading, this is a good book worth a lengthy read, a great recommendation for anyone who wants to read about real life politics. Solid 9.9. Donald Trump is not only a genius businessman and politician, but a fantastic writer.

James Review -Look Who's Back (2015)

 

Adolf Hitler. One of history's most infamous leaders, responsible for one of the greatest horrors in world history. For years, whenever he's appeared in a movie or a TV series, played by an actor, it's in stories set during World War II or before the war while there are occasions when Hitler appears in a story set years after Nazi Germany's defeat. Over a decade ago, German movie theaters were rocked when a satirical, comedic and dark political movie dropped, known as "Look Who's Back".

What's the plot?

Somehow, Hitler returned.

At the start of the movie, Adolf Hitler, played by actor Oliver Masucci, awakens in 2010s Germany, in Berlin, in the spot where his bunker used to be. Hitler starts exploring the changed Germany and learns everything that has happened in the last seventy years since the end of the war. One of the first people he encounters is a freelance filmmaker named Faiban Sawatski. Sawatski, like almost everyone else in the movie, believes Hitler to be an impersonator and, unlike the other characters, realizes the truth near the end of the film only to wind up in a mental hospital when he tries to get the word out. "Look Who's Back" is a comedy, but it is also serious, especially as Hitler is the focus on the movie and the story ends on an ominous note with the infamous failed painter regaining popularity and nobody realizes that it's the real Hitler.

We should all be fortunate that people can't actually come back to life. If Hitler were to come back from the dead and in modern day Germany and nobody knew it was the real Hitler, there would be a ton of trouble abound, even if things were okay in the end. I've seen this twice on YouTube, once alone, and a second time with my father, and it is a good film. In fact, not only does it turn Hitler into a joke somewhat, "Look Who's Back" actually references 2004's Der Untergang aka Downfall, which starred Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler, and Thomas Thieme, who played Martin Bormann in that movie, plays a TV station boss in this movie.

For those who like comedy, especially a black comedy, and want to see a silly Hitler film, I'd suggest watching "Look Who's Back", just be prepared for what you're getting into since the story is deep as heck and the undertones are pretty ominous.

James Review -Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)

 

Since the 20th century, across comics, literature, film and TV and video games, people young and old have been mesmerized by superheroes such as Captain America, Batman and Mr. Incredible. There are so many superhero characters with decades of stories behind them, but one superhero stands out among the bunch, created by Dav Pilkey in the 1990s and having starred in twelve books as well as a movie and a few animated TV series. And that superhero is Captain Underpants.

The gist is simple. Captain Underpants was an ordinary school principle named Mr. Krupp, who was grumpy and hated fun, then two kids, George and Harold, hypnotized him and he became the red-caped, underwear-clad crusader of justice Captain Underpants from the kids' homemade comics. Krupp becoming Captain Underpants eventually becomes more than just fun for George and Harold, especially when real bad guys start causing trouble, bad guys such as Professor Poopypants or the Talking Toilets. Produced by Dreamworks, the Captain Underpants movie released in 2017 and I've seen it a few times with my dad and it is wonderful and funny.

Dreamworks' movie adapts both the first Captain Underpants book, the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants and some elements of Attack of The Talking Toilets, covering Captain Underpants' beginnings, featuring Professor Poopypants as the film's main villain, and the ending sees Captain Underpants, George and Harold dealing with Talking Toilets after, spoilers, Poopypants is defeated and his toilet robot is dumped at a scrap yard with its toxic waste transforming a pile of toilets. Captain Underpants is a special kids' movie, full of juvenile potty humor that can fly over a child's head and is picked up by someone older, but it is still family-friendly. 

If anyone wants to see a kids' superhero story involving a superhero running around in his undies while fighting bad guys and you're looking for a laugh, Captain Underpants' books by Dav Pilkey are for you, along with this movie. The film is beautifully animated, full of wacky scenes, and most of the music is incredible. Mr. Krupp aka Captain Underpants is voiced by Ed Helms with George and Harold being voiced by Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch respectively, Helms shows range as Krupp and Underpants, emphasizing Krupp's stern, fun-hating demeanor which contrasts with Captain Underpants' playful, friendlier side. You can't go wrong with "tra-la-laaaaaaaa". And I rate this film 9 out of 9. Worth a watch, never boring for a moment.

-James M