Greetings, caring viewers, and welcome to Cinema Scene. On today’s program, we will explore three films featuring the deep love between siblings: “Twins,” “Zathura,” and “Ramona and Beezus.”

Our first feature, “Twins,” is a 1988 film directed and produced by Oscar-nominated Ivan Reitman. It is a story about fraternal twins; Julius, played by Golden Globe Award-winning Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Vincent, played by Oscar-nominated Danny DeVito.

After being separated at birth and raised in very different environments, they reunite in adulthood. Julius Benedict is the result of a genetics experiment designed to produce the perfect child in body and mind through combining the best genetic traits from six distinguished fathers. He was told that his mother, Mary Ann Benedict, depicted by actress Bonnie Barlett, passed away after giving birth to him.

Since then, Julius has lived his whole life on a remote South Pacific Island, raised by Professor Werner, played by Tony Jay, who is one of the scientists involved in the experiment. It isn’t until his 35th birthday that he learns he actually has a twin brother named Vincent.

Motivated by an innate longing to bond with his brother, he leaves the island for the first time, determined to look for his long-lost twin.

Julius has been taught many things including the ability to speak 12 languages, but has no real life experience. Optimistic and innocent, he arrives in California, USA, seeking his twin, who Julius believes will be similarly tall and muscular. In reality, Vincent, played by Danny DeVito, is a short, stout man. He lives life as a conman stealing cars and is constantly in debt.

Julius manages to find Vincent while he is in jail and bails him out.

The naïve Julius proceeds to tells Vincent everything about their parents and expresses his strong desire to find them. Vincent, on the other hand, is very pessimistic about finding the father and mother he believes abandoned them. He shows Julius his documents from the orphanage that he grew up in, which reveal that their mother is actually still alive. Through persistent effort, Julius manages to meet one of their six fathers, who directs the twins to the head scientist living in New Mexico.

Meanwhile, Vincent discovers that one of the cars he has stolen, a Cadillac from the parking garage, has in its trunk a highly-valued and revolutionary fuel injector that was illegally obtained for delivery to Beet McKinley, played by Trey Wilson. If he can deliver the merchandise to McKinley in Houston, Texas, he will receive US$5 million. Julius tags along, hoping that he and his brother may visit New Mexico along the way and reunite with their mother.

Through their journey, the brothers’ bond continues to grow as Vincent shows Julius how to enjoy life and Julius helps his brother understand the merits of being virtuous.

A highly entertaining and humorous adventure, “Twins” is a delightful, light-hearted film about the deep love that exists between brothers, no matter how great the differences. In addition to winning several awards, “Twins” was also nominated for the 1989 Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

Our next award-winning feature is “Zathura: A Space Adventure.” Directed by Emmy-nominated Jon Favreau, the film was released in 2005 and is based on the illustrated book “Zathura” by Caldecott Medal recipient Chris Van Allsburg. The film stars Jonah Bobo as six-year-old Danny and Josh Hutcherson as his older brother, Walter.

Walter and Danny do not get along. Danny does not understand why Walter can catch better than him, always wins in games, and most of all, why he is not nice to him. Likewise, Walter believes things would be much better without his younger brother around and always ignores him. When their father needs to run an errand and leaves the brothers alone in the old house with their sullen older sister Lisa, played by BAFTA-winning Kristen Stewart, the boys immediately get into yet another argument.

While trying to get away from Walter, Danny hides in the dumbwaiter, but ends up being lowered into the basement. There, he finds a fascinating board game called Zathura. As usual, Walter is not in the least interested at his brother’s discovery, so Danny opens the game by himself. He turns the game’s key, pushes a button, and a card comes out.

Suddenly, the entire house— Danny, Walter, and Lisa included—is brought into the alternate dimension of Zathura in outer space. It soon becomes apparent that in order to go back home, one of the boys must win the game. Each time they take a turn, the game gives them a card, often fraught with danger, and the oblivious Lisa is frozen for five turns.

During this time, the boys must fend against a defective robot and face attacks by aliens called Zorgons. One of Walter’s turns summons the “stranded astronaut.” Explaining that the Zorgons are meat-eating beings who burned up their own planet, the mysterious astronaut helps the boys evade their aggressors.

Every time they take a turn, the brothers argue with increasing intensity. The more the tension, the more difficulties they encounter with the game. Without cooperating with each other, how will the boys be able to finish the game and return home?

“Zathura: A Space Adventure” is about a board game’s magical ability to unite two brothers. A world filled with obstacles, wormholes, parallel universes, and precious wishing star chances, Zathura is ultimately a symbol of the game called life, in which we have the free will to choose the best path to walk on and ensure a bright future for ourselves and our planet.

Our final feature is the 2010 family film, “Ramona and Beezus,” directed by Elizabeth Allen. The movie is based on the Ramona novel series by US author Beverly Cleary. At the start of the movie, nine years and three months-old Ramona Quimby, played by Joey King, explains that, contrary to what her older sister, Beezus, played by Selena Gomez, says, she is not a pest.

We then see the adventurous Ramona proceeding bravely across the playground’s monkey bars, only to end up stuck hanging upside down with all her classmates laughing at her. Certainly, Ramona is different, as her sister is quick to point out. Unlike straight-A student Beezus, the younger sibling is constantly getting into trouble at school for her daydreaming and lack of adherence to rules.

Ramona’s good-natured family, including mother Dorothy Quimby, played by Bridget Moynahan, and father Robert Quimby, played by Golden Globe- nominated John Corbett, regard her antics with loving amusement. However, the young girl feels very misunderstood and frustrated that she cannot live up to her older sister’s seemingly perfect reputation. The only person who seems to be able to empathize with her is Aunt Bea, who is a younger sister herself.

The next day, construction workers come to their house for remodeling, a matter which brings great joy to the playful Ramona and her best friend and neighbor Howie Kemp, played by Jason Spevack. But when her father returns home later that day, it is with not-so-happy news: he has been fired from his job, which means that the family might have to move.

Feeling at a loss, Ramona resolves to raise money to save their house.

But after an unsuccessful lemonade stand, car wash, and commercial audition, things do not look so good. Ramona may not understand the adult talk around her, but it is clear that the family’s financial situation is causing more stress and tension between her parents.

Also, with her uniqueness seemingly only bringing her into trouble, Ramona wonders why she cannot be like everyone else and be of more use. But as their family faces their challenges together, Ramona begins to understand that they love her just the way she is. “Ramona and Beezus” is an endearing and affectionate tale of acceptance, understanding and especially the special bond between sisters.

“Twins,” “Zathura” and “Ramona and Beezus” are three heartwarming films on the invaluable lessons and love learned through sibling relationships.

Wonderful viewers, it was a pleasure having you for today’s episode of Cinema Scene. Now, please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television for Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, coming up next after Noteworthy News. May you and your loved ones be graced by the Divine always.