The Jungle Book (2016 film) - Movie Review

By Disney [CC BY-SA 4.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

The newly released movie, The Jungle Book, is the best new movie of 2016!

The combination of a fabulous book, excellent actors, and spectacular animation techniques makes The Jungle Book one of the best movies ever released.  

I sat in amazement as I watched the new movie version of The Jungle Book unfold on the big theater screen.  The characters were so realistic it was seriously hard to believe that they were not real live animals.  

I have read the book by Rudyard Kipling several times, I've seen the original Disney The Jungle Book many times, but the new Jungle Book movie starring Bill Murray as Baloo literally breathed new life into the old beloved story.

Bill Murray as Baloo

By Paul Sherwood from Welland & Toronto, Canada
(Bill Murray  Uploaded by Diaa_abdelmoneim)
[CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, Baloo has been one of my all time favorite animal characters.  His cheerful personality in the original Disney movie always made me want to dance and sing right along with him.

I didn't initially want to see the new Jungle Book movie because I didn't want my mental image of the beloved bear to be ruined.   Once I found out Bill Murray was Baloo, I decided it might be okay.  It was better than okay!

Bill Murray is Baloo!   There could be no better choice to play that part.  Since Bill Murray has always been part comedian and part serious actor, he was perfect for the part!!!  Baloo the Bear is fun-loving, easy going and yet very powerful in the jungle.  All of those descriptions apply as well to Bill Murray.

Oh, and yes!  He does sing "The Bare Necessities" with Mowgli.  They were so precious together.  

Christoper Walken as King Louie

John Harrison [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)
or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)],
via Wikimedia Commons

King Louie was always my least favorite character in The Jungle Book.  Much to my surprise, that is no longer true.  This is The Jungle Book character that has forever changed for me, and it is a great change.

Christoper Walken, as King Louie, was magnificent!  The man actually made me like the orangutan.  So much of Christoper Walken's personality showed though that the orangutan made me laugh.   

The really crazy thing, there was a part of me that wanted Mowgli to give this King Louie the desired red flower (fire). 

Exceptional Animation in Jungle Book 2016

I've seen a lot of animated movies in my lifetime, but the new Jungle Book animation is truly beyond spectacular.  You can see the real human actors in the facial features of the animals.  Their voices were not simply dubbed in.  When I looked at the face of Baloo, I could see Bill Murray's expressions.  The same thing was true for King Louie.  Those eyes are so very recognizable especially when the voice matches.  

Each of the animals were exceptional!  I dearly loved Mowgli's wolf mother, Raksha in the new movie.  She is gorgeous, expressive and very believable.  Prior to seeing this new adaptation of The Jungle Book, I would not have even remembered her name.  Now, her image and her protective strength will come to mind when I define motherhood.  

It is truly hard to believe that this movie, this story that I was previously so familiar with, had such a powerful impact of me.  I largely attribute that affect to the realistic animals and their interaction with what appears to be a real human boy.

 The Art of The Jungle Book

& 

You can see for yourself in the photos above how very realistic the animals look and how beautiful they each are.   The little wolf cub sitting next to Mowgli is his little wolf brother, Grey.  The stunning beauty in the lower right photo is Mowgli's wolf mother, Raksha.

The Two Big Cats in the The Jungle Book

Shere Khan, the tiger, is so gorgeous that at first he is really hard to dislike.  Just in case you are not familiar with the story, Shere Khan desires to take revenge on Mowgli for the injuries he suffered when he killed Mowgli's human father.   His hatred of the man-cub is palpable and sadly diminishes his outward beauty.

I saved one of the best til last.  As the story goes, after Shere Khan kills Mowgli's father, Bagheera finds him and gives him to the wolves to raise because of their strong, protective family pack.   Bagheera, who is so profoundly well played by Ben Kingsley, is beautiful inside and out.  I have always thought black panthers were pretty, but Bagheera's beauty goes beyond the fur.  He is wise, protective, intelligent, loyal and above all else, good.

More Notable Actors in The Jungle Book 2016 

Simply stated, all of the actors are exceptional and deserve a standing ovation for their performance.  

Here are a list of the main actors in Jungle Book  (2016) 

•  Neel Sethi - Mowgli
•  Bill Murray - Baloo the Bear
•  Ben Kingsley - Bagheera the Panther
•  Idris Elba - Shere Khan the Bengal Tiger
•  Lupita Nyong'o - Raksha, Mowgli's Wolf Mother
•  Christopher Walken - King Louie the Orangatan
•  Scarlett Johansson - Kaa the Snake 
•  Giancarlo Esposito - Akela the Wolf Pack Leader

All of these actors, and more, worked together to make The Jungle Book film of 2016 the best movie of the decade!  You will not want to miss it.  While quite suitable for kids, this movie is not just for children.
 

 The Jungle Book [Blu-ray] [2016]Check Price

The Jungle Book (2016) Movie Review by:

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Seascape Photography

Down by the Sea

I have always been fascinated by the sea, so seascape photography has been a wonderful hobby to pursue.

I am continually mesmerized by the beauty of the ocean. I love the way it never looks the same. The beauty of the waves, the reflections of the sky and clouds, and the way the wind interacts all make the sea a fascinating subject to photograph.

There is something quite wonderful about being by the seashore. I have lived all of my life in the midwest, miles away from the sea but I have always been pulled by the allure of the sea.

On this page I will share with you some of my favorite photos from trips to the seashore. 

Sunrises

I  love a beautiful sunrise, but it seems that when that sunrise is coming up over the ocean it is even more stunning.  Here are a few photos I took this year of the sun rising over the ocean in Jupiter, Florida.  They were all taken on different days, from the same location, and yet each one is different.  I will never tire of getting up early and enjoying the sunrise over the ocean.

Before the Sunrise

If you get up really early, you will find that on some mornings the colors about 30 minutes before the sunrise can be quite spectacular.  It only lasts for a few minutes so be sure to have your camera ready.

Moonlight Photography

Another fun way to look at the ocean is in the moonlight.  To take these photos it is important to use a tripod with your camera and set your speed for a longer exposure.  Here are a few moonlight shots I took in Jupiter.

Waves and Rocks

I like having something in the foreground on my seashore shots and these rocks worked great.

I hope you have enjoyed to my seascape photography.  The following are links to some of the Zazzle products I have created from my photographs.

Sunrise in Paradise Card by mbgphoto
View Tropical Cards online at zazzle

Sunrise and Waves Ceramic Tile by mbgphoto
Find other Sunrise over ocean Tiles at zazzle.com

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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It's National Banana Day!

National Banana Day happens on April 20th and for all of you that don't have a calendar handy, that just happens to be today.

Now I don't know about you, but for me, bananas are not just monkey food, they are the best people food too.  After you are finished eating them, don't throw away the peel either.  I'm not going to suggest eating it, but did you know that you can bury it in the ground around your rose bushes and they will love all the nutrients that are coming to their root systems.

No mess and no waste, all of that banana goes, first, to feeding you, and then the peels, into feeding your garden.

Picture courtesy of Pixaby : I love My Minions and my Bananas
Bananas are one of Nature's most perfect fruits.  They are very high in vitamin B6  and low in sugar. They also contain essential minerals, Vitamin C,  and dietary fiber.  While bananas also contain potassium, they are not as high in potassium as other fruits and vegetables.  Having said that, you will still get a good amount of potassium,  8% of your daily requirements from a banana that weighs about 100 grams.  You get more potassium from beans, apricots, carrots and bell peppers, but they aren't nearly as ready to eat as that beautiful yellow skinned banana. (USDA)

What is really neat about bananas is that they help to regulate your blood sugar and cholesterol.  They are good for people who are having issues with their heart.  Bananas have also been studied in relation to High Blood Pressure and found to be very effective in regulating blood pressure in many people.  That is good news if this is something that worries you.  

Different Ways to Use Bananas 

I'm always interested in ways that people use bananas other than just peeling and eating them.  I love to peel them, cut them up and then layer them with ice cream either chocolate or vanilla.  If I've had a bad day and you make me a bowl of ice cream and banana, I will be a happy camper.  There is also the perennial standby of a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  I don't know anyone, regardless of age that doesn't like that for a treat (unless of course you have a peanut allergy).

Banana bread is always a welcome treat too.  There are so many recipes with different variations, but the same soft moist and nutritious outcome.

In my kitchen there is always a banana available.  Those banana hooks are pretty good at keeping them from getting all bruised.  They are right there in the open for anyone looking for a healthy snack. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals and not a whole lot of sugar.  So perfect for anyone who is watching their waistline too.  Quick and easy to eat, nutritious and delicious and really good for you.

When you buy too many bananas and they start to go brown, you don't have to make banana bread right away if you don't want to.  Just peel the bananas and place them into a Ziploc Bag, freeze them and when you are ready to make a banana dessert, they will be ready too.

Basic Banana Bread Recipe:

2-3 very ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar (you can make this 1 cup if you want it sweeter or 1/2 cup if you like less sweetness)
1 egg beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 and butter a 4x8 loaf pan.
In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Stir in the melted butter.
Add to the mixing bowl,  soda and salt.  Stir in the sugar, beaten egg and vanilla extract. Add flour,
mixing until incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.  Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour.  Test with a skewer, when it comes out clean, the loaf is done.

Remove from oven and cool completely.  Remove from the pan.  Use a serated knife to cut into slices.

That is the basic recipe from Simply Recipes (http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread), but you can add chocolate, nuts, cherries, dates, and a host of other additions to make this banana bread your very own.  I have used this recipe so often, and each time I try a new addition.  I have not been disappointed yet.

It is moist, delicious and nutritious. Banana bread is always a good seller at Bake Sales too!  You can also freeze it, just in case unexpected guests arrive.

Some things that may help you keep Bananas at the ready in your house.....

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Reviewing A Parking Garage Set For Kids

Toy Parking Garage Can Be Oodles of Fun

Parking Garage Image from Amazon.com

This Grandma finally has a little boy to buy for and I think that  the Melissa and Doug Parking Garage is something that I will get for him in the future. I love that it is made from durable wood to provide hours of fun for any little boy and not metal or plastic like so many toys of today.

The toy parking garage is suggested for children three years old or older so, I need to wait for a little while before I purchase it. There are two wooden cars that come with the set that can be lifted by an elevator to any of the four levels of parking.  Those four levels of parking provide plenty of room for all your little son's or grandson's small toy cars. The set also includes a parking booth with an attendant, a gas pump, and a car wash.

You will have to get Grandpa, Daddy, Mommy or Grandma to assemble this toy set but it comes with really easy and detailed instructions to follow. Once it is assembled the toy parking garage by Melissa and Doug measures about 17 1/4 inches tall by 15 3/4 inches wide and 15 1/4 inches deep.

I Have Seen This Toy In Action

I recently watched with delight as a little boy played with this parking garage set while I got the oil in my car changed. I was impressed with the high quality of the product and when I saw that it was a Melissa and Doug toy, I knew it was a great choice for this company to provide for little children to play with because it was built to last many years.  I noticed that someone had left little matchbox cars to be parked on the parking levels and they fit really nicely with the set.

Obviously as a Grandma, I would want to buy this for my grandson but it would also be a perfect gift for a pre-school, church nursery, or even a children's hospital play area.  Little boys and even little girls will have hours of fun playing with the Melissa and Doug Parking Garage. I can hardly wait until my little guy gets big enough to play with it.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Trackimo - An Excellent Personal GPS Tracker

Do you have problems finding lost belongings? Are you anxious about pets or family members who may wander? The Trackimo may be the perfect solution to end your worries.  The Trackimo is an international GPS tracking gadget that is affordable, very easy to use, and works great.  If you need to find something or someone, need someone to be able to alert you if they are in trouble, or have a potentially problem driver driving your car, this may be the answer.

I have thought about purchasing a GPS tracker for a few years.  I've wanted one for my dogs, when we are in the woods. But reliable tracking dog collars  have been expensive - and can only be used on your dog. I've also wanted one for the vehicle I own but don't drive.  But most of those GPS trackers somehow need to be installed in the fuse panel, or need to be wired into the system.  And also have monthly subscription fees.

Then I learned about the Trackimo by watching a video of a gentleman who finds his drones when they go down.  He gave such a thorough and excellent review that I had to get one for myself.

Trackimo

My Truck

I own and am financially responsible for truck that I don't drive. At times, it received tickets for speeding or parking in questionable areas. I ended up paying for the tickets.  After time, I realized that I need to know the location of the truck until which time I'm not longer financially responsible for it.

I was so impressed by this gadget.  The Trackimo is not weather-proof.  However, it does come with a rubberized skin to help protect it.  When I had ordered the Trackimo, I had also ordered a really big, magnetized key holder - the type placed under cars for the spare key - because I did not expect the Trackimo to have a strong enough magnet for my purposes. But I was wrong. The Trackimo is plenty strong!

I followed the charging and setup directions.  I also started my account on the Trackimo website. And found the site really easy to use. I drove around for days, with it attached to the painted metal inside my Jeep.  Yes, it does send an alert when speeding.  I tested that out almost immediately by accident.  I intentionally placed it on my door (on the inside) and slammed the door shut when exiting.  I expected it to pop off. But it remained where I had placed it.  

I was ready for the real test.  I placed it under the bumper of the truck. The Trackimo tracked it very well.  Day after day I got reliable information about the location of my truck.  I only have a few cautions - depending on how you need to use it - and am listing those thoughts below.  Concerned about it during all of our rainy weather, I then began to place it under the bed rail.  It worked just as well there. 

My Trackimo in the rubberized cover

My Dog

As soon as I decide how I want to attach it to my dog, he will be wearing it when he's in the woods. My only hesitance comes from not wanting him to get snagged on trees.  I currently take off his collar or harness completely when he's in the woods.  However, if he were wearing the Trackimo, and was snagged, I could find him to release him.  

I am considering making an elasticized collar for him, with a Trackimo pocket.

Other Uses for Trackimo

Tracking

I mentioned the gentelman who uses the Trackimo to locate and retrieve his downed drones.  I think this would be a perfect way to track your teenager who is borrowing your car. Because the Trackimo is not permanately attached, you can move it easily to whichever car the teen is driving that day.  I also think it's a great tracker for your elderly family members who may become lost or your younger children who are walking down to the local playground - and you want to know where they are.

I think this would be a great item to place in checked baggage.  If a bag is ever again "lost" for a long period of time, I could tell Amtrak (insert: airlines) where to begin their search!  

Signaling for Help

This device comes with a SOS signal. If the button is pressed for four seconds, you receive a signal. And can see the location of the device. If your child pushes the button for help, you will receive that call for help. If your teenager has had an accident, and they want your help but can't describe their location, you will know where they are. If your elderly family member can remember things except their location, they can feel more confident knowing you are a button-push away.

The Drawbacks

It is not water-proof. While mine weathered the rain nicely, I'm not sure how it would have done on the dog in a rainstorm. 

Depending on how often you set the tracking (as often as every minute), the device will need to be charged up to every day or two.  Not practical for your business vehicle that an employee may have for a few days at a time. (I charged my Trackimo every evening and placed it again every morning).

In some areas, the "triangulation" problems may present a brief problem with accuracy. I live near Chesapeake Bay. When the truck was closest to the water, the map would sometimes have a warning that the device was traingulating for a more accurate location. During these moments, the "you are here" icon would blink up to about a mile from where the truck was located.  However, these moments were brief and only showed on the map during real-time tracking.  This inaccurate moments did not show up on the tracking history map.

Even though my Trackimo stuck to the painted surface of my Jeep without problems, I would always look for a more "bare" metal surface area - to ensure a strong bond.

Reasons to use the Trackimo 

Find belongings
Find your vehicle
Know where your elderly, young, and teen family members are
Track your dog
Know how responsibly your teen driver is driving
Cheap and Easy (I paid $139 for mine, with no subscription or hidden costs for a year)
Free Android (and iphone) apps 

I am not technologically savvy.  I usually can't get those "plug and play" computer things to work without help. But this thing was ridiculously easy. Because I'm not very good at gadgets, I'm including the following videos that are very helpful. 

** Warning -- Stalking and similar things are against the law. I would not advise using this to track you neighbor, boyfriend, girlfriend, enemy, frenemy, or secret crush.  Just don't do it. **


Related Videos:

Trackimo Advertising

How to setup Trackimo

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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