Cine Beaverhausen: The Jungle Book: Live Action Version

Disney's live version of The Jungle Book, directed by Jon Favreau of all people, is a film in overdrive, though it may entertain kids and some adults.

I found its special effects to be over-the-top and more than a tad ham-handed. You can see it in the movies now, including in 3-D.

Neel Setl stars and is brilliant as Mowgli. Ben Kingsley, who famously plays Indians so so well, is in this as are Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, and the late Garry Shandling.

Even as a kid, the animated version of this Rudyard Kipling tale was never a favorite. It seems completely redundant to me now. This film opened in theaters yesterday. I say you can wait it out on video.

The story presents a Rousseau-like idea of nature when, in fact, these large animals would probably have eaten him alive.

Disney should have heeded The Bear Necessities rather than go into this mostly overwrought feature! The joi de vivre of the animated original has sadly dissipated.

Cine Beaverhausen: For Mature Audiences

Theaters have found a new audience, thankfully, with an older crowd who like to go out to a good movie now and then. It's not all geared to the kiddie crowd and has lured many more mature patrons back to movie houses.

The trend seems to have started with 5 Flights Up last year, starring Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman.

Ben Kingsley and the ever-divine Patricia Clarkson team up in Learning to Drive, a wonderful film released late last summer that I highly recommend about an attractive older woman and Ben Kingsley of Gandhi back in ethnic disguise as her instructor.

Richard Gere is a perennial and does one of his finest performance jobs in the deeply affecting Time Out of Mind, a 2015 release about a NYC homeless man of a certain age that also stars the wonderful Ben Vereen. An absolute must-see for all ages.

A Walk in the Woods stars Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson in a bromance comedy that's not all fluff. And Michael Keaton continues on a comeback roll co-starring in Spotlight, based on a true story about the press uncovering a scandal within the Catholic Church. It also stars Mark Ruffalo and is highly worthy of your time.

Yes, movies recommended for mature audiences -- but not only that demographic -- are back. Baby boomers are still a big audience at theaters. Movie-makers are now clearly seeking out a niche market for the older crowd, and isn't that wonderfully refreshing?

Video Beaverhausen: The Loony Bin of Edgar Allen Poe

Stonehearst Asylum is Gothica with creds. It's based on the short story by Edgar Allen Poe, "The System of Dr Tarr & Prof Fether." Loosely adapted as in all Poe-daptations; as in "inspired by an idea from.... kind of."

With more elements of drama and suspense than horror, this is a handsomely mounted film with plenty of exploring dark rooms with only a gas lamp in hand to light the way. It's 1899, after all!

Kind of Roger Corman on a big budget, with touches of Marat/Sade and a nifty twist ending, the set designs, costumes, editing and direction (by Brad Anderson, an American from Connecticut) are all very tiptop as is cinematography in the dark palette vogue of the day.

The very accomplished cast features Kate Beckinsale and Jim Sturgess, both very talented and attractive new stars, and includes Ben Kingsley (very prominently), Michael Caine, David Thewlis and Brendan Gleeson.

But who's sane and who's crazy at Stonehearst Asylum will keep you guessing and giddy with amusement through this film's web of illusions. Barely released theatrically in 2014; now available on dvd and Blu-ray. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this at night, home alone but, then, I might just be crazy.