Movies with Mom

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2008-12-26T18:05:00.000-08:00

David Fincher’s memorable new drama, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” is a wonderful movie that is loosely based on the 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. However, in Fitzgerald’s story Benjamin was physically, mentally and emotionally older at birth and got younger on all fronts.

The film’s structure starts in a New Orleans hospital in 2005 on the eve of Hurricane Katrina. Daisy (Cate Blanchett) is on her deathbed. Her daughter, Caroline (Julia Ormond) is reading a diary kept by Daisy’s childhood friend Benjamin (beautifully played by Brad Pitt in a bittersweet and endearing performance).

At nearly three hours, the movie is too dense to fully explore, but as Benjamin ages in reverse, we find him meeting along the way all those people who will become important to him. Through reading the diary we flash back from 1918 and follow Benjamin and Daisy up to the 21st century.

Throughout this movie, there’s an ache to the proceedings that’s palpable, particularly as Benjamin slowly turns into the man we eventually recognize as Brad Pitt while those close to him move into the old age he already has experienced. As he grows younger and younger, he watches those closest to him slip away while he himself is fueled by a vitality they have long since forgotten.

This film is rich and intelligent, it's beautifully shot and just as well acted. I would say that it's one of the years best movies.

Australia

2008-12-04T16:22:00.001-08:00

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman star in Baz Luhrmann's epic tale of adventure, romance, war and racial reconciliation Down Under in the movie Australia.

It's 1939. Concerned that her husband is cheating on her, the aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley flies to the remote tip of Northern Australia to grab him by force and drag him back home to England. But his ‘mistress’ is in reality a cattle ranch that others have been trying to steal from him. All Lady Ashley discovers is the crumbling spread called Faraway Downs and a murdered husband. Though she means to leave, she finds herself inexplicably attached to an aboriginal child, as well as intrigued by the challenge of saving the ranch.

Fortunately, to accomplish this, she has help from the rough-edged Drover (Hugh Jackman) and a small team of loyal employees, who must all race across the desert to Darwin to break cattle baron King Carney's (Bryan Brown) monopoly on the armed forces' meat supply. Soon Sarah, Drover and the recently orphaned aboriginal boy, Nullah (excellent newcomer Brandon Walters) have formed a loving, if not quite legitimate, family unit, but there are further troubles brooding on the endless horizon.

This is a classic old-school epic set-up with Kidman and Jackman delivering big performances and chemistry we'd expect from the big ticket 1930s Hollywood film or, in 1997, Titanic. The story and the characters are all larger than life.

Australia won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but its blend of old-fashioned film making and fantasy had me hooked.

Rightious Kill

2008-10-12T14:48:00.001-07:00

In the first movie where Al Pacino and Robert De Niro starred together, The Godfather: Part II (1974), they both played gangsters. In their second movie Heat (1995), Pacino was a cop, and DeNiro was a gangster. In this, their third movie together, they are both cops.

It's good to see the two great actors of their generation back together in Righteous Kill.

The two Oscar winners star as veteran New York City detectives - David 'Turk' Fisk (Robert De Niro) and Thomas 'Rooster' Cowan (Al Pacino) - who find themselves caught up in an explosive case involving a vigilante serial killer, with problems ensuing as it becomes progressively apparent that a fellow police officer is the most likely suspect.

The majority of the film is a series of flashbacks. "Righteous Kill" portrays Turk and Rooster via deliberate point-counter-point that can, depending on how it’s perceived, lead the viewer to consider that the real killer’s identity isn’t the same one the story is pitching.

While a fine-toothed dissection of plot development would reveal snags, seeing Robert De Niro and Al Pacino circling the thin line between cop and criminal paints a giant grin on the face.

Mom and I enjoyed this movie. We thought it had great humor and an impressive plot twist.

Nights in Rodanthe

2008-09-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

With Richard Gere and Diane Lane you already know mom and I could hardly wait for this one to come out. I am pleased to announce that it was well worth the wait.

Nights in Rodanthe is based on the book by tear-duct specialist Nicholas Sparks, who also gave us The Notebook and A Walk to Remember.

A story of two unhappy people whose lives become entwined as they develope a life changing romance. Adrienne, played by Diane Lane, is a woman who's weighing up the option of whether or not to allow her cheating husband to return home. To get her head together, she agrees to manage her best friends beach side boarding house in Rodanthe, on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Since it's the storm-heavy off-season, the boarding house only has one guest, in the form of solitary surgeon Paul (Richard Gere), who's come to Rodanthe to make amends with an embittered local whose wife died on the operating table.

Both are troubled souls, stuck alone in a hotel with little to do but sip wine and stare wistfully at the ocean. And when a storm hits the boarding house, Adrienne and Paul find themselves drawn to each other and romantic sparks start to fly.

There is nothing new here – but taking the film on face value, everything that needs to be done right is spot on.

Get the girls out to watch this but don't forget to take your tissues!

Ghost Town

2008-09-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here's one that almost passed us by. Not very well advertised, but with a name like Ghost Town you already know I was going to check it out.

But don't let the name fool you...This is a funny movie and well worth the price of the ticket.

Ricky Gervais plays a Manhattan dentist with an over-sensitive gag reflex who hates people.

He dies for seven minutes during a routine medical procedure and as a result, he can now see ghosts and, of course, they all want something from him. The "something" that one particular ghost, played by Greg Kinnear, wants is for him to prevent his widow (Tea Leoni) from marrying a guy he doesn't like. At first reluctant to take on the task, he is finally blackmailed into to trying to break up her relationship and soon he falls for her himself.

We went in not knowing what to expect in this one and came out pleasantly surprised.

The Women

2008-09-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

This weekends movie choice was The Women. This was one that mom and I had been looking forward to seeing since we first saw the previews.

For me, the best part of this one was getting together with my friend Amy and my mom. We ate, talked, laughed and took fun pictures of our day together.

And what would a day be like with Amy and me together without at least one of us walking away with a bathroom story? But enough about us, now on to the movie...

I hate to report that I was a little disappointed in this one, but I was.

When we first saw the previews and the great cast, I just knew it was going to be one to see; unfortunately, I was mistaken. The previews kind of reminded me of Hanging Up - with Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton, Lisa Kudrow and Walter Matthau. I really enjoyed that movie, so maybe I went into this one with unrealistic expectations.

Mary Haines (Meg Ryan) is a wealthy, naive wife whose husband is having an affair with Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes), a gold digging, perfume girl at Saks 5th Avenue.

As Mary embarks on a journey of self-discovery, she'll find help - and hindrance - in her friends, Sylvia Fowler (Annette Bening), the cutthroat editor of a women's magazine; Edie Cohen (Debra Messing), a married woman who keeps popping out kids; and Alex Fisher (Jada Pinkett Smith), the token minority/lesbian/youngster all rolled into one.

At first, Mary tries to deal with this as advised by her mother (Candice Bergen) - just ignore it. When that doesn't work, she confronts Crystal, then Steven, before filing for divorce. Eventually, when separated from her husband, she discovers two truths: she has not been a good mother and she has never figured out who she really is.

The film's second half represents her journey of self-discovery.

Packed with this all star cast, I really had high hopes for this movie. While I had a great time being in the company of two of my favorite women, the movie did nothing for me.

It was alright and had a few funny moments but for the most part, this one was a big disappointment to me. Maybe we should have gone with the guys to see Burn After Reading!?!?

Amy has also posted about this one, but keep in mind, she doesn't get out much - I'm just sayin.

Tell No One

2008-08-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

If you've looked at the movie listings recently, you probably already know that there isn't much playing right now. With the pickins being so slim, we decided to check out something a little different.

The name of the movie is Tell No One. Francois Cluzet stars in this French thriller, based on the international best seller. A story of upended love with a mystery that exerts its power till the very end.

Eight years after the heinous murder of his wife, doctor Alex Beck receives an ominous email from an unknown source. The message contains a video image of Alex's thought-to-be dead wife in real time.

Maintaining a rewarding balance of genuine emotion and high tension entertainment, Tell No One is one that - if you don't mind subtitles - you will want to see and tell everyone.

The Dark Knight

2008-08-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

I can not tell you how many people have asked me, knowing that mom and I go to the movies each weekend, if I've seen The Dark Knight and what I thought about it. I know this is going to come as a bit of a shock, but until today she and I hadn't gone to see this one. Neither of us are a big fan of crowds; therefore, we waited - and waited, and waited. Well folks, today was the day that we finally got around to seeing it and after all of the movie that we've endured lately, I'm wondering why we waited so long...This was an excellent movie!

Batman (Christian Bale) joins forces with Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman) and a fearless district attorney (Aaron Eckhart) to take on the Gotham underworld and a wild-card villain, the Joker (the late Heath Ledger).

Batman has been doing a good job cleaning up the streets of Gotham. In fact, he may be doing too good a job. The organized crime lords have been backed into a corner. Not only do they have Batman after them, but the new DA, Harvey Dent, who actually wants to clean things up. And of course, Jim Gordon and his crew are fighting the good fight as well. Seeing no other way to deal with the situation, they accept the assistance of a newcomer: The Joker. The trouble is, they don't know what they've unleashed....

Even if Heath Ledger hadn't died, critics and audiences alike would still be buzzing about his performance as The Joker. He was superb!!

If you are one of the few who still hasn't gone to see this one, I suggest you head to your nearest movie theater and get yourself a ticket - make sure you use the bathroom first though, because it is a long movie - you won't be disappointed.

Mirrors

2008-08-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

When I saw the previews for this one, my first thought was that I wouldn't even be able to watch it. A movie about Mirrors, a childhood fear of mine not completely abandoned, I thought this would be the one that actually managed to scare me. I almost talked my self out of going to see it; but as the date grew closer, I began to get excited and couldn't wait to go check it out.

Kiefer Sutherland plays Ben, a down and out ex-cop who's battling an alcohol problem and the stigma of killing a man while in the line of duty. While waiting to be reinstated into the police force, he takes a job as a night watchmen at the Mayflower, an old, burned down but still valuable department store. Once there, he begins noticing creepy things going on with the mirrors inside which then leads to him seeing disturbing things in all mirrors.

The potential for a good fright was right there, I could almost grasp it, but then it turned into a gore fest with a stupid ending and I was left feeling very disappointed. Maybe one day someone will a make a scary movie that actually does as it claims, but this wasn't that day.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

2008-08-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

After seeing the first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and loving it, I was excited when I saw the previews for a sequel.

If you haven't seen the first Sisterhood movie, the sequel opens with a nice introduction of the characters and summary of events from the previous film, narrated by Carmen (America Ferrera). Carmen's been looking forward to the summer after her first year at Yale, because she will be reunited in her hometown with her three Friends of the Pants: Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), Lena (Alexis Biedel), and Bridget (Blake Lively). They jointly own this pair of really cute jeans, which somehow fits all of them even though they're hardly the same size, so everyone gets to take turns. But it turns out that all four have plans that will keep them from hanging out together, so the pants will have to travel from friend to friend once again.

The three years since we first met them have seen the girls mature and so has the story: sexual discovery, heartbreak, abandonment and forgiveness are on the menu as the girls face adulthood. Perhaps the magical, good karma-bestowing pants that act as a way from them all to stay connected via FedEx have started to fray, destined to be put away with the childish things of girlhood.

Simply, this was a sweet and satisfying time spent in the company of characters we like and understand that ultimately confirms the importance of women's friendship.

The Mummy: Tomb of Dragon Emperor

2008-08-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

There weren't a lot of choices this weekend. Our choices were between The Mummy: Tomb of Dragon Emperor and Swing Vote, I chose The Mummy; about half way through the movie, as I struggled to keep my eyes open, I was regretting my choice.

I realize that this is nothing more than a popcorn movie designed to lure summer moviegoers in the lull after Dark Knight and before the serious Oscar contenders start to roll out. But even silly pop movies have standards and this one falls short.

The film starts off in 50BC China by telling an ancient tale of forbidden love and revenge when the power-hungry Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) - along with his terracotta army - are turned to stone while seeking the secret of immortality.

Fast forward 2,000 years and we’re in 1946 Oxford, where Egyptologist Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) has retired after his adventures of the first two films with wife Evelyn (Maria Bello, replacing Rachel Weisz). But, the power-crazy maniac has been unleashed and it is up to Rick and his wife to stop him from taking over the world.

Dumb, inept and more than a little dull, this lacklustre film suggests that it’s time to put The Mummy back in its coffin - for good!

X-Files: I Want to Believe

2008-07-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

The X-Files: I Want to Believe was one that you would think I couldn't wait to go see. I've never watched the series so it was a take it or leave it movie for me; but mom, on the other hand, was a big fan of the show and seeing how this show is all about the paranormal - and I LOVE paranormal stuff - it seemed like one I might enjoy so off we went...

As the famous theme tune is whistled over the opening credits, listen carefully and you may hear the gentle chime of ringing tills as Mulder and Scully return for a pointless cash-in on the TV series. I Want To Believe isn’t a terrible film but it’s just not very good either.

Mulder and Scully are called back into action when a disgraced priest starts hearing voices and having visions after two FBI agents disappear.

Void of any monsters, super-natural quirkiness or even a psycho killer, the film fizzles. The only ‘mystery’ in the movie is whether or not the paedophile priest could possibly be psychic – and it’s hard to take this seriously when the priest uses his powers to deduce that the house he’s been taken to isn’t the scene of the crime at all – rather it’s the house opposite. The yellow police tape surrounding the property was probably the biggest clue.

I think it's lost its X factor.

Mamma Mia!

2008-07-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

We could not wait for this one to come out!! A Musical...with Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan?!?! Oh yeah! This one was on our "MUST SEE" list.

Donna (Meryl Streep) owns and runs a resort hotel on a remote Greek Island where she has raised her daugher, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) alone. Neither Donna nor Sophie know who Sophie's father is but Sophie has narrowed it down to three men - Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and Harry (Colin Firth) - after reading her mother's diary. And unknown to her mom, she invites all three of them to her upcoming wedding.

Donna's closest girlfriends - Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski) - also show up for the upcoming nuptials. Leading into tons of singing, dancing and silliness.

I laughed, I tapped my foot, I smiled, and I found myself undeniably amused. If that's the kind of experience you're looking for, and if you dig ABBA, this crazy, mixed-up movie might just be for you.

This is entertainment, not a movie. And as entertainment goes, Mamma Mia! belts it out of the park!

Journey to the Center of the Earth

2008-07-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

Journey to the Center of the Earth was one that mom and I just had to go check out...If for no other reason than the visual effects (it was 3-D).

I don't know if this one would be nearly as good in 2-D. These filmmakers understand why audiences have put on the 3-D glasses, and they offer up visual trick after visual trick in hopes of keeping the viewers wowed.

The plot is simple. Brendan Fraser plays Trevor Anderson, a volcanic scientist whose brother went missing during fieldwork. Trevor agrees to have his troubled young nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) stay with him for a week, but as soon as the kid arrives, suspicious activity is found on Trevor's computerized volcano-watch system. He and the kid pack up and head for Iceland, where they hire a tour guide named Hanna (Anita Briem) to lead them to the base of a volcano. There, Trevor finds what he always suspected: that there are volcanic tubes plunging straight into the Earth's core.

The trio falls down one of these tunnels and discovers a little "world within the world." There are mountains and an ocean, and other more dangerous things like dinosaurs, carnivorous plants, and man-eating fish. Together, they must navigate all these dangers and find a way to safely return to the surface.

Knowing that two-thirds of American cinemas will show this movie in standard 2-D, which is kind of sad considering that the whole thing exists as a demonstration of how digital 3-D takes a movie thrill ride to the next level. I say in 3-D - yes, absolutely, it's worth your time and money. In 2-D - probably not-so-much; that is unless you just like looking at Brendan Fraser and, in that case, it's still only a maybe.

Handcock

2008-07-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

Mom and I thought that Handcock looked like it would be a pretty funny movie so this weekend we decided to go check it out.

There are heroes… there are superheroes… and then there’s Hancock. With great power comes great responsibility – everyone knows that – everyone, that is, but Hancock.

Perhaps the oddest take on superheroes that film has offered yet, Will Smith does an excellent job of playing the disinterested superhero with an existential crisis.

Hancock (Will Smith) is a drunken crime fighter with publicity issues stemming from his tendency to constantly cause collateral damage. But, after saving the life of compassionate public relations expert, Ray Embry (Jason Bateman), Ray is grateful enough to offer his services. Ray thinks he can get the public on Hancock’s side if he agrees to a serious attitude adjustment. Ray’s wife Mary (Charlize Theron) is not happy about the arrangement, fearful that Hancock will disappoint her husband. As it turns out, her reluctance to be around Hancock has more to do with a secret she’s been keeping from her family.

That secret kicks the story into hyper-drive. It changes the entire mindset of both Hancock and the audience, a course change that provides a layer of complexity that the first half of the movie never even hinted was around the bend.

In short, I am more than happy to recommend Hancock as a fun movie to see; however, I would like to stress....that this movie is rated PG-13 for a reason. It has a LOT of foul language and is not one for children under 13!!

Wanted

2008-06-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

This weekends movie of choice was Wanted, starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman.

This story is about an anxiety-ridden, frustrated office worker named Wesley (James McAvoy) who has less than $14.00 in his bank account, his boss is a donut eating slob on a power trip from hell, and his best friend is sleeping with his girlfriend.

Wesley gets the opportunity to avenge on his tormentors and enter a fantasy world where he can realize his hidden powers as a skilled assassin. This happens after he is picked up in a bar by Fox (Angelina Jolie), who confides that he is now a member of the Fraternity, a thousand-year-old secret society of assassins who kill bad people.

We enter a heightened reality in which there's a transformation from nerd to killer, a mystical a language in thread and an upside down world when fate spits out names to balance a chaotic world. Guilty pleasure or ripping escapism, it's a wild explosion of a film that rides high on its extravagant script and blows us away by its surreal action scenes.

I really enjoyed this movie!!

Get Smart

2008-06-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, mom and I didn't go see Get Smart together because my husband wanted to see it. Since this weekend was our anniversary, we decided to have 'date night' - Yep, you guessed it...Dinner and a movie (we're so original).

For fans of Steve Carell this is a must-see. No classic here but not an embarrassment either. Get Smart has admirably mimicked the blend of genres and innovations that made the original series so memorable, and while die-hard fans will likely pick apart what this re-envisioning doesn't get right, it's almost impossible not to laugh at Carell's ludicrous on screen antics.

Although CONTROL is supposedly defunct, Max works for the still active but clandestine U.S. spy agency as an intelligence analyst. But he dreams of becoming a field agent like his friend Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson). When many of the identities of their top agents are revealed to the international crime organization known as KAOS, Max’s chief (Alan Arkin) is forced to send Max on his first assignment, along with seasoned Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) to thwart the villainous group's latest plan for world domination.

Whether or not Steve Carell perfectly embodies Maxwell Smart, he certainly knows how to handle his comedy. If you're looking for a good laugh, this is a must see.

The Happening

2008-06-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

Today mom and I wanted to go see Get Smart; but, since this weekend is my husbands and my anniversary, and he wants to see Get Smart, we decided to watch something else. So we headed out to see The Happening, which turned out to be nothing more than a GREAT BIG disappointment.

It's official: M. Night Shyamalan is no longer the next Spielberg. After the stellar Sixth Sense and the equally excellent Unbreakable, he's managed a downward spiral that few others writers could survive. Signs was alright, but with The Village, Lady in the Water, and now The Happening, he has touched a level of incompetence that could never have been expected of him.

"The Happening" contains a horrifying premise, and, at least for the first forty-five minutes, Shyamalan is on his game in a way that he hasn't quite been since "Signs."

One beautiful fall morning, all activity in New York's Central Park suddenly stops as an ominous breeze overtakes the citizens, first disorienting them and then causing each and every one to gruesomely take their own life. Further downtown, construction workers begin leaping off buildings. As news of these mysterious catastrophic events sweeps down the northeastern seaboard, so does the epidemic. Soon, rumors begin flying of terrorist involvement, while others think the local nuclear power plant may be responsible. All anyone really knows is that the psychological virus is spreading and no one appears immune... or safe. Hoping to outrun whatever it is that's occurring, Philadelphia science teacher Elliot Moore (Mark Wahlberg) and math professor Julian (John Leguizamo), along with Elliot's wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel) and Julian's young daughter Jess (Ashlyn Sanchez), prepare to travel southward. When the train conductors lose contact with the outside world, the group is left stranded in the direct center of the hot zone with seemingly no escape..

Unfortunately, Shyamalan's writing is a big let-down for the rest. As the focus moves from the metropolitan to towns and from crowds to smaller groups, the sense of fear is lost – the biggest sin a horror movie can commit.

My advice, don't waste your money.

Kung Fu Panda

2008-06-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't get to go see a movie with mom this weekend; instead, I took four girls to go see Kung Fu Panda. This weekend was my baby girl's fourth birthday and she told me that she wanted to go see the "Panda movie"; so we loaded up the car - blankets in tow - and headed to the movies...

I will start by pointing out the excellent cast that I wasn't aware this movie had..You probably already know that Jack Black was the voice of Po, the Panda. But did you know that the other voices where that of Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan and Lucy Lui??

And if that weren't enough to make me happy, the song at the end was song by one of my favorite artists - Cee Lo AKA Gnarles Barkley.

I took the girls to this movie, really not expecting much, other than a few laughs. But Kung Fu Panda exceeded all of my expectations. The story is simple but the execution is superb. The animation is very rich and the colors are crisp and bright. The action sequences are great and the laughs are mixed in at the appropriate moments.

The theater was full and it was composed of a mixture of Adults and young kids, with almost complete silence - with the exception of laughter - throughout the entire movie. There were no kids running around, screaming and crying; they were all involved in the film. And I heard plenty of laughter from the parents too.

This is a fun for all movie. A testament to this fact is that almost the whole crowd stayed for the end credits and this is a very rare occurrence nowadays - of course, that could have been because of the great song at the end :)

If you haven't taken your kids to see this one yet, I suggest you go see this one. You might even enjoy it too.

Sex and the City

2008-06-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

There aren't really any movies out right now that mom and I are just dying to go see. Sex and the City is a hot one right now and it looks like a fun 'girl' movie so off we went, with our friend Sharon too.

As columnist/author Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) prepares to move in with her longtime beau Mr. Big (Chris Noth), her three fabulous friends are facing their own unique issues. Samantha (Kim Cattrall), after five years in California with her soap actor boy toy (Jason Lewis), is getting antsy for her old stomping grounds... and sexual ways. Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon) husband Steve (David Eigenberg) has been feeling unloved, and his actions drive a wedge in their marriage. And Charlotte (Kristin Davis) loves being a wife and mother.

Keeping in mind that neither mom nor Sharon have ever seen Sex in the City - the HBO Series - they really had no idea what to expect. I, on the other hand, had watched a few of the stories on HBO and was familiar with the basic story line.

However, I thought the movie did a really good job bringing everyone up to speed at the beginning - perfect for those who went to the movies without knowing anything about it....

This being said, if you've never watched the show, or you've never sipped Cosmos and hung out with a tightly knit group of girlfriends, or gazed with true adoration at a pair of $500 shoes, this really isn't the movie for you.

As for me.....I really enjoyed it!

The Strangers

2008-06-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since mom and I have been to a scary movie. This weekend we decided to check out The Strangers. Inspired by true events, it seemed this might be one that was actually scary.

"On the night of February 11, 2005, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt left a friends wedding reception and returned to the Hoyt family summer home.

The brutal events that took place there have never been revealed."

This is stated at the very beginning of what turns into an hour and a half of nail biting, edge of your seat suspense.

"The Strangers" claims to be inspired by a true story - According to Wiki, with whatever veracity you choose to accord it:

"The movie is inspired by an event from the director's, Bryan Bertino, childhood, among other things. A stranger came to his home asking for someone. Later, he found out that empty homes in the neighborhood had been burglarized. With that memory in mind, Bertino created this, his debut screenplay. The screenplay is also inspired by the events of the Charles Manson murders."

The rest is probably fiction. But oh, what fiction! For what it is - a movie about suspense, dread, and helplessness - "The Strangers" is very well done; however, after an hour of watching these 'strangers' mess with this couples minds it got a little old.

Was it Scary? I don't know that scary is the word I would use to describe this one - Disturbing, yes. Scary, not really. However, I can definitely see how some would find it scary.

All in all, mom and I thought it was pretty good.

What Happens In Vegas

2008-05-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

Mom and I went to see What Happens in Vegas this weekend. I just checked the reviews and was shocked to see that most of them were negative. I guess it just goes to show; once again, if they hate it....I'll love it.

Again, this is romantic comedy that stars Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz so one shouldn't go with expectations of anything more than a fun movie with lots of laughter. And the good news is, it's not too girly so the guys will enjoy it too.

New Yorkers Joy (Diaz) and Jack (Kutcher) meet in Las Vegas, get seriously drunk and, end up married. The morning after, Jack plays a slot with Joy's quarter and wins big.

Back home, a cantankerous judge (Dennis Miller) sentences the couple to "six months hard marriage" before they can collect the fortune. YIKES!!

Six months hard marriage between a couple who met in Vegas and ended up married and you can probably guess what happens next.....a couple of hundred fights.

Both Diaz, with her gangly charm, and Kutcher, the lovable goof, fit perfectly into this breezy, occasionally tasteless, mostly enjoyable comedy.

Made of Honor

2008-05-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Made of Honor was the movie of choice this week. I've read the reviews on this one and was very surprised to find that they were mostly negative.

It's a chick flick and it stars Patrick Dempsy, what's not to love??

I always wonder exactly what it is that the critics are looking for when they watch these movies..

I have found that, 9 times out of 10, if the reviews are negative - I will love it and this one was no exception...

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) have been best friends since college and it was the perfect set up for Tom: He had the smart, funny Hannah for companionship and got to sleep with as many hotties as he wanted.

Fast forward ten years later and they still have a sweet friendship and fantastic chemistry; they're perfect for each other—except for Tom's silly rules, the strictest being that he does not, will not, must not commit, to anyone. Love? It's not for him.

It's not until Hannah leaves on a six-week business trip to Scotland that Tom realizes how much he depends on his weekly outings with Hannah and that he might actually have feelings for her. When she returns with hot Scottish fiance Colin (Kevin McKidd) in tow and asks Tom to be her "MOH" (Maid of Honor), Tom realizes he can't let the one person he truly loves get away. He accepts the assignment and sets out to become an "insider" in all things wedding in order to show Hannah she's marrying the wrong guy.

This was a cute, no brainer that mom and I both really enjoyed.

Leatherheads

2008-04-26T22:10:00.001-07:00

Leatherheads was the movie of choice this weekend. Mom has wanted to see this one since she saw the previews; I thought it looked fun too, so off we went...

As 1920s football coach Dodge Connelly (George Clooney) banters for the affections of feisty journalist Lexie (Renee Zellweger) against the all-American youthful charm of his hotshot new player Carter "Bullet" Rutherford (John Krasinski).

Leatherheads is a beautiful recreation of an era when pro American footballers couldn't give up their day jobs and Connelly's beloved team are broke. But hope comes in the lanky form of college footballer Rutherford, cute as pie and a war hero to boot, who draws in the crowds and saves not only the team but the pro game too. Lexie is the journalist dispatched to dig behind Rutherford's hero persona but, as screwball would have it, wreaks a little in-team fighting when both he and Connelly fall head over heels for her.

"Leatherheads" is glib, sophisticated and silly. While a bit too scruffy to be a great comedy, it is enjoyable all the way and written for adults who would like a break from jokes that rely on bodily fluids or reams of profanity.

88 Minutes

2008-04-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

This week mom and I went to see 88 Minutes. This suspense thriller starring Al Pacino as a police psychologist/teacher, is a fast paced, entertaining little film, which keeps you gripped all the way to the end.

September 1, 1997. Most of the world is talking about the death of Princess Diana. In rainy Seattle, twin sisters Janie and Joanie Cates are getting ready for bed. Before the morning comes, one of the them will have been brutally murdered, the other tortured. A man is arrested and, with the help of testimony from Forensic Psychiatrist Jack Graham (Al Pacino), is sentenced to die, a sentence that takes nine years before it can be carried out. The killer (Neil McDonough) has always maintained his innocence, claiming that Graham lied and persuaded the jury to convict him. In fact, in of the many plot twists, it appears that the Seattle Slayer (the nickname given the cause of these brutal murders) is still killing nine years later, on the day the alleged killer is due to die. Are these copycat crimes or might Forster, as he convincingly maintains, be innocent?

Forster wins a stay and is about to be released. Then, ominously, Gramm receives mysterious phone messages, punctuated by the words “Tick-tock, Doc,” warning that he has only 88 minutes to live. The story unfolds at breakneck speed as Gramm tears through one frantic morning trying to maintain his routine schedule as he struggles to get answers and dodge the ever-increasing threats.

“88 Minutes” is a fine showcase for the talent that IS Al Pacino.

Nim's Island

2008-04-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

This weeks movie choice was Nimm's Island. Every since I saw the previews for this movie, I couldn't wait for the release. We were not disappointed. This is a family entertainment package made for the child in all of us and it was great!

Abigail Breslin is Nim Rusoe, a precocious 11-year-old being raised on a remote South Pacific island by her scientist dad Jack (Gerard Butler) after her mom was apparently swallowed by a whale in the surrounding waters. Proud of her own 'perfect secret world', Nim spends her days exploring nature, reading adventure stories, and socializing with her menagerie of animals - the local wildlife - including her best friend, Fred the Iguana.

But one day when Jack goes out boating and disappears during a violent storm, Nim finds herself home alone. That is, until the San Francisco writer of her favorite books, Alexandra/Alex Rover (Jodie Foster), emails Jack to do some research for her next wilderness tale. While Nim mistakenly believes she's communicating with the brave world explorer Alex, that she's been reading about avidly in Rover's books, Alexandra/Alex for her part thinks she corresponding with Dad.

When Alex finally figures out that Nim is stranded on the island by herself, she's determined to pack her bags and go protect the child. But there's one little problem, Alex is a deeply neurotic borderline agoraphobic, basically fearful of everything, who hasn't left her house in 16 weeks. So her biggest problem in embarking on her journey to the far off Pacific island, is figuring out how to get past her front door.

So full of panic, she has to be literally flung from her safety nest by Alex Rover- the main character in her popular adventure stories (also played by Gerard Butler), her imaginary confidante, creative inspiration, conscience and emotional crutch.

Nim's Island is a wondrous and warmhearted adventure story with some nifty special effects and some first-rate performances. Go see it with your kids or even just to get a laugh, and remember to have fun!

21

2008-04-07T18:58:00.001-07:00

Mom and I decided to see 21 this weekend. We had seen the previews and it looked like a fun movie.

Ben Campbell is attending MIT and has been accepted to Harvard Medical School. Unless granted a scholarship he learns that it will cost him $300,000 for tuition, room, and board and sees no possible way of paying the bill.

While studying one night, he is approached by Jason Fisher who invites him into the secret world of Professor Micky Rosa's (Kevin Spacey) card-counting club. With an elaborate system of formulas, buzzwords, and signals, Rosa and his students have been hitting Las Vegas on weekends and winning big. They now want Ben to join their clandestine cabal.

Ben's goal is simple and his motives pure: study the tricks of the trade and work hard enough to generate $300,000, enough to cover tuition and living expenses on the way to becoming Dr. Campbell, then get out.

His best-laid plans begin to sour when a daily diet of vectors and formulas segues into high-roller suites, fantasy clubs and the irresistible lure of teammate Jill Taylor.

There were some unbelievable things throughout the movie, but we enjoyed it.

We were entertained!

Youth Without Youth

2008-03-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend's movie choice was Youth Without Youth. Their plot outline is that it's a love story wrapped in a mystery.

Mystery is a very good choice of words for this one. In fact, it was so much a mystery that the mystery was never revealed. I guess you have to be one of those high IQ types of people to understand this one because I totally did not get it.

This was the longest two hour movie I've ever seen. There were a couple of times when I started to doze off but I was afraid if I fell asleep I might miss something that would explain it all. Unfortunately, that never happened...

Personally, I didn't care for this one but I'm sure there's some highly intelligent person out there who would be happy to disagree with me...

The Eye

2008-03-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend mom and I decided to go see The Eye. This one's been out for a while and it looked like a movie that we would enjoy, but we just never got around to seeing it.

Sydney Wells (Jessica Alba) is an accomplished concert violinist who has been blind since a childhood tragedy. Sydney undergoes a double corneal transplant, and her sight is restored. But soon afterwards unexplainable shadowy and frightening images start to haunt her. Are they a product of her imagination, or something horrifyingly real? As Sydney's family and friends begin to doubt her sanity, she believes that the images are part of the life experiences of the deceased cornea donor, and she's convinced there is a message she is supposed to be receiving through all of this.

This film considers the ramifications of newfound sight more thoughtfully than you'd expect. Overall, The Eye is a tense, shudder-filled movie with suspensful scenes that make it passable, if not wet-your-pants scary.

The Other Boleyn Girl

2008-03-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

This weekends movie choice - The Other Boleyn Girl.

Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson co-star as the infamous Boleyn sisters, who use passion and persuasion, delusions of grandeur and deceit to vie for the love of King Henry (Eric Bana) and advance their family’s status.

Their father, Sir Thomas Boleyn and his brother-in-law, the Duke of Norfolk suspect that Henry, convinced that his aging queen, Katherine of Aragon, will never provide the male heir he so desperately desires, will soon be searching for a mistress. Their first idea is to offer the headstrong, dark-eyed Anne as a candidate for the king's consort and maneuver her into the monarch's line of sight. Upon meeting her, Henry is momentarily intrigued, but she's too much of a handful. Instead he fixates on Mary, the sweet, gentle sister -- it doesn't matter that she's already married.

The stage is set for a lifelong rivalry between the siblings.

The Boleyn family is installed at Hampton Court Palace. Together, Henry and Mary conceive a son, but it's not long before Henry's eye begins to wander again, this time back to Anne: After an imprudent secret marriage, she's been packed off to France, where her brazen manner has supposedly been toned down. Now she's back, and Henry seems to like her much better and the machinations that eventually sever England's connection with the Catholic church and Anne's head from her shoulders begin.

Vantage Point

2008-02-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

Vantage Point stars, among others, Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, and Forest Whitaker. Quaid and Fox are secret service agents assigned to protect the president (William Hurt) while he makes a speech in Spain. Quaid is the old agent whose lost is nerve and probably should have retired, who has only recently been reinstated after taking a bullet for the Chief a year earlier.

Whitaker is an American tourist, who happens to be in the crowd with a camcorder when the president is suddenly shot, he thinks he has captured the terrorist on film, and for no apparent reason gets it into his head that the best way to help the Secret Service is to chase after them on foot with his camcorder.

The movie introduces each character one at a time, following them right up until the attack and then shortly thereafter. Then it stops, literally rewinds and shows us the same thing from a new character’s perspective, following that character until he too reaches a predetermined cut off point.

With each replay, different pieces of the puzzle are revealed helping us piece together the circumstances leading up to the deadly tragedy. The final picture is a surprisingly captivating, edge-of-your-seat experience.

Definitely, Maybe

2008-02-18T17:32:00.000-08:00

Definitely, Maybe was the movie of choice this weekend.

The movie starts out as one thing but it metamorphoses into something different. This romantic comedy/drama is structured in such a way that the outcome does not feel predetermined.

On the same day Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) receives the divorce papers from his wife's lawyer, his 10-year-old daughter, Maya (Abigail Breslin), has had her first sex-ed class at school, and is bursting with questions: Why do people have sexual intercourse if they don't want a baby? Did you have sex with anyone other than Mom? How did you meet Mom anyway, and were you ever in love with anyone else? Will finally agrees to tell Maya the whole story of how he met and fell in love with her mother, but he's going to change a few key details, like peoples' names - it'll be up to Maya (and the audience) to figure out which of the three major "suspects" Will will eventually marry. It could be Emily (Elizabeth Banks), Will's college sweetheart, Summer (Rachel Weisz), an old friend of Emily's, who is a little on the wild side, or a fellow co-worker April (Isla Fisher), who doesn't think much of marriage but thinks a lot of friendship. With the exception of occasional breaks in the "future" with Will and Maya, the story progresses in chronological fashion. It details Will's relationships will all three women and, until late in the proceedings, leaves open the question of who Maya's mother is.

Please pay attention to the PG-13 rating on this one...it has some very frank sexual dialog. Since I'm just a few years older than 13 **ah-hem** it was okay for my mom to take me to this one, and we both enjoyed it.

Hannah Montana

2008-02-11T18:42:00.001-08:00

Hanna Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert in Disney Digital 3-D.
Not much to tell about this one, the name says it all. Her concert tickets sold out in under 10 minutes, something I don't think anyone expected to happen, but it looks like Disney has the right idea - turn it into a movie, and they will come.

This was the most well guarded movie I have ever seen. First they reviewed our tickets, then thay gave us our glasses and instructed us to make sure we take our ticket with us in the event that we go to the restroom because we would need it in order to get back in. WOW!

My daughter is one of the MANY who is crazy about Hanna Montana but didn't get to go to her sold out concert (me, fight THAT crowd, are you kidding me?? HA!). When she learned that there would be a movie she asked if I would take her. To make matters even more interesting, they only released it for a limited time in theaters - I think they like to watch mom's and dad's jumping through hoops trying to please their children.

It was released last weekend and I thought about taking her, but the tickets were selling out hours in advance and, once again, I wasn't willing to fight that crowd. However, she has done really well in school for the past two weeks - bringing home E's in conduct, an amazing feat - and so I thought I would reward her with a surprise trip to the movies.

I called a good friend, who also has a Hannah Montana Crazed daughter, and we set our plans in motion. Saturday night was the last night it was playing and we decided to go to the latest showing possible (11:20 pm) in hopes that it wouldn't be too crazy.

A great time was had by all - despite the late hour - and the God's must have been smiling down on us, because we were the only ones in there! We had the whole theater to ourselves.

27 Dresses

2008-02-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

This weekends movie choice, 27 Dresses. Mom and I have been talking about seeing this one since we saw the previews. We finally got around to seeing it and the only disappointment I have is that we didn't go sooner. What a great movie!

Katherine Heigl stars as a codependent, perpetual bridesmaid whose sister steals the man of her dreams and then expects her to plan the wedding.

Meet her real match Kevin (James Marsden), a cynical New York journalist who meets Jane at a friend's wedding and considers her plight perfect for his popular "Commitments" column.

Perfectly Predictable, Delightfully Delicious. We loved this movie!

No Country for Old Men

2008-02-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

Last weekend mom, Sharon & I went to see No Country for Old Men. This is one that mom has been wanting to see for a while, but we kept putting it off for other films. Although I've heard nothing but great things about this movie, I went in not knowing anything about it.

Not really sure what to say about this one. It was definitely different. There wasn't a whole lot of "dialog" and it was very intense. I really enjoyed it right up until the end. I was left scratching my head over that ending.

I'm sure there are many who will love this movie and I must admit, I will more than likely watch it again - if for no other reason than to see if I can figure it out the second time around - but I'm not sure this one was for me.

Great until the end.

Untraceable

2008-01-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

Today mom and I went to see Untraceable with Diane Lane. She plays a widowed, cybercrime-investigating FBI agent on the trail of a guy who kills people in various grisly ways and broadcasts it live over the internet, on a website called killwithme.com.

The problem is that the more people who visit the site, the quicker his victims die. Worse, this sicko is extremely internet savvy, and knows how to prevent the cops from determining his IP address. In addition, every time the authorities attempt to shut down his site, he has it back up and running in a matter of moments.

This one got plenty of bad reviews and it is pretty grizzly and very intense, but all in all mom and I liked it.

The Orphanage

2008-01-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

Mom, Sharon and I went to see The Orphanage today. We didn't know much about this movie, other than that it was supposed to be scary. I LOVE scary movies - though they are rarely ever scary to me - and couldn't pass up a chance to go see this one.

The movie centers on Laura, who as a young girl was raised in the orphanage before being adopted. Now in her 30s, she has returned with her husband Carlos and their young son Simon to buy the orphanage and run it as a home for handicapped children.

Soon, Simon begins reporting conversations with new imaginary friends.

Then, an ominous woman claiming to be a social worker shows up and we learn that not only is Simon adopted, he's HIV positive.

The son goes missing. Six months later, Laura is convinced Simon is still alive, though probably desperately ill without his medications. A medium is called in and Laura seems to be walking a fine line between fantasy and reality.

If you don't mind sub-titles, this is a pretty good movie. The scenery was beautiful and the acting was superb. Although this one wasn't really "scary" to me, it was suspenseful enough to capture and hold my attention.

Mad Money

2008-01-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

Mom, Sharon (our new movie buddy) and I went to see Mad Money today. I knew this was one to add to our "must see" list as soon as I saw the previews for it, some time back in December.

Bridget (Diane Keaton) is an upper-middle-class Kansas City housewife whose husband, Don (Ted Danson), lost his job in a corporate downsizing and they're now in debt. When Bridget learns that Don is about to put their home on the market, she scans the help-wanted ads and takes a job as a janitor at the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, where they shred old, worn-out currency.

After a few days of scrubbing toilets, Bridget comes up with a plan to pocket the cash just before it's destroyed; but to pull it off, she needs some inside help, which she finds in shredder Nina (Queen Latifah) and iPod jammin cash-cart pusher Jackie (Katie Holmes). Bridget trusts her accomplices, but she's soon tripped up by the one factor she never took into account: her greed.

This was a cute movie - no deep thoughts required. Although it had some very funny scenes, I have to admit that I was a little dissapointed. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy it, I just expected it to be a little funnier than it was - this is what usually happens when I go to see a movie with expectations; more often than not, I end up leaving with a feeling of being let down.

The Bucket List

2008-01-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Mom and I found a new friend to with us to the movies and today we went to see the Bucket List.

Edward (Jack Nicholson) and Carter (Morgan Freeman) meet in hospital because of cancer. After some initial bickering, this odd-couple pair of cancer-stricken coots - who have been told they have less than a year to live - bond and set out on a trip around the world, bankrolled by Edward and organized by his personal assistant (Sean Hayes), to complete a bucket list - a list of all the things you want to do in your life, before you "kick the bucket".

On the agenda: Skydiving. Getting a tattoo. Dinner in the south of France. Racing Mustang Cobras. Chasing the wildlife on an African safari. Visiting the Pyramids of Egypt. Absorbing the wonders of the Taj Mahal. Cruising across the Great Wall of China on a motorcycle. The postcard views are breathtaking.

Working with each other for the first time, Nicholson and Freeman thrive as replicas of screen persona's both have built for decades. Jack is the forceful wild man; Morgan the methodical dispenser of wisdom. Two great actors come together for one great movie!

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

2008-01-06T13:21:00.001-08:00

I tried really hard to wait for the hubby so that we could watch this movie together - especially since he forbade me to see it without him. I waited as long as I could then this weekend came along and mom and I wanted to go to the movies, just like we do every almost every weekend, but there wasn't anything else worth watching - not to mention it would probably no longer be in the theaters by the time he finally got around to going with me, so...National Treasure: Book of Secrets, here we come!!!

There's not much to tell you about this movie, it's pretty much the same as the first one and just as good. If you liked the first one, you'll enjoy this one too.

Charlie Wilson's War

2007-12-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

Charlie Wilson's War stars Tom Hanks as a whiskey drinking, womanizing Congressman with connections, who used his power and influence to the max to stick it to the Soviets big time. Now, add a rich Texas socialite who wants something done in Afghanistan, played perfectly by Julia Roberts; and a pain-in-his-boss's-ass CIA agent, superbly done by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and you have a movie well worth watching. Outstanding writing, and superlative acting.

P.S. I Love You

2007-12-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

Despite the all of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, mom and I were able to make it out to a movie today. **Chick Flick Alert** We chose to see P.S. I Love you, which is based on a best selling novel by Cecilia Ahern. If you decide to go see this movie, you may want to make sure to bring some extra tissues along.

P.S. I Love You is one of those painful films that makes you cry right off the bat, then lifts you up with some choice comedy only to slap you in the face with a heart-breaking flashback. But despite the extremely depressing subject matter, it still emanates an aura of hope.

The film opens with Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) and her Irish husband Gerry (Gerard Butler) fighting over a seemingly innocuous comment Gerry made to Holly’s mother. Just when the couple realizes how much they need one another, the film cuts ahead several months to Gerry’s funeral, where Holly is absolutely devastated. On Holly's 30th birthday she receives the first of a series of letters that Gerry composed during his battle with a brain tumor, which were to be delivered to Holly after his death, each ending with the phrase “P.S. I Love You.” As each letter arrives, Holly struggles with the memories of her past as her two best friends Denise (Lisa Kudrow) and Sharon (Gina Gershon), and the shamelessly blunt bartender Daniel (Harry Connick Jr.), all struggle to get her to start anew.

Ultimately, the film serves to prove that annoying adage you hear after every break-up, "‘Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” is true. You will not be disappointed with this movie. It is not an academy award winning film, but it is a tearjerker and definitely makes you go home home and hug your significant other and be more appreciative to have them in your life.

Although this movie seemed a little long at times, mom and I really enjoyed seeing it.

The Holiday

2007-12-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

This is one that mom and I couldn't wait to see when it came out last year and it did not disappoint. After watching it again today, I remember just how much I loved this movie! It's a really good, light hearted movie, with GREAT characterization.

The Holiday is enjoyable to watch with touching and funny scenes throughout the movie. The ending is predictable, but what do you expect, it is a romantic comedy. You will leave the movie feeling good, and isn't that what movies are all about?!?!?

If you're tired of holiday films that are so stacked with so much Christmas cheer that it makes you sick, this is the perfect alternative. Light enough for some serious laughs, and with enough drama to keep it interesting to audiences, this one's a good date movie; definitely one for the collection!

Atonement

2007-12-15T21:14:00.001-08:00

As you know, mom and I haven't been to the movies in two full weeks but we got back on track today and what a good day for the movies it was too - cold, rainy and wet, perfect conditions for sitting in a warm theater and forgetting about the weather outside.

We chose to see Atonement and we were not disappointed in our choice. This was a brilliant movie based on the 2001 novel by Ian McEwan. It begins on a light and airy note and descends into an abyss of tragedy and loss. The film, as the book, is divided into two principal sections with a short epilogue.

That story opens in 1935 in a vast British country estate where Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), a servant's son with a bright future ahead of him, is in love with Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley), the beautiful daughter of the lord of the manor. Cecilia returns his affections, but their love is a secret.

13-year old Briony (Saoirse Ronan, later played by Romola Garai) is watching this developing relationship and when she catches them in a compromising position, on the same night a shocking sex crime occurs on the manor, she gives wrongful evidence that forever alters three lives, including her own.

It skillfully pulls itself together in the end and packs an emotional punch that justifies the movie's title and concept. It will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

This was an excellent movie! I would not be at all surprised if it were nominated for Best Picture.

Catch and Release

2007-12-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

For the second weekend in a row, mom and I didn't make it out to go see a movie; instead, we spend our time shopping, again - 'tis the season. I feel certain that we will be back on the movie track come next weekend. There are several movies coming out soon that we have on our list...

Before you start feeling too sorry for me, that I didn't get to go to the movies, I should tell you that I did get to see a good movie that came out earlier this year called Catch and Release. Mom and I never went to see it but it was on cable Saturday night and it sounded good so I watched it.

This was a wonderful romantic comedy starring Jennifer Garner, as Gray, who is struggling to deal with the death of her fiancé and the secrets she discovers that he kept from her.

I don't know how we missed this one, but I can't recall ever hearing about it. Excellent little movie! Definitely one for the collection - which apparently my husband thought I would enjoy too, since he got it for my birthday and I forgot. I'm only sorry I didn't watch it sooner but, now that I know I've got my very own copy, I can watch it any time I want.

August Rush

2007-11-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

Two movies in one weekend!?!?! WOW! What a lucky girl I am, and what a great weekend it was too!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know that many people like to go see movies over the Thanksgiving holiday’s and mom and I are no exception to this rule…..my only complaint was just how crowded the theater was, but other than that it was all good.

As you already know, we took my daughter to see Enchanted on Friday and we LOVED it!!! On Saturday we decided to go see August Rush, another one that mom and I were looking forward to seeing.

I had heard reports that this movie was a Fantasy, so I didn’t go in with the beliefs that this would be a realistic movie; therefore, I wasn’t as disappointed as some of the reviews have been for this one. Is it believable? No, absolutely not but I don’t know that it fits in the category of “fantasy” either – at least, not what I think of when I think of the word fantasy.

This is a movie about a boy named Evan (Freddie Highmore) - who is the product of a brief union between a punk rocker (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a virtuoso cellist (Kerri Russell) – who hears melodies and harmonies all around him. He was put up for adoption - unbeknownst to his mother, who believes he is dead - at birth by his grandfather and grows up in an orphanage, where he is bullied daily for being a freak. But through it all, he never gives up hope that his parents will one day come for him.

When he runs away from the institution, he falls into the clutches of a musical Fagin (Robin Williams), who soon discovers the kid is a musical prodigy and puts him on the street as a busker. After that, the plot has the boy bouncing between Julliard and his old street gang. Meanwhile he's writing a symphony for the New York Philharmonic in hopes of telepathically reuniting his parents and mending his broken family.

In my opinion, the ending left something to be desired but overall, this was a sweet movie about music and love being able to overcome any obstacles. It’s a toss up whether others will like this one; it had some nice music, but I don’t think it will be for everyone. I believe this one is going to be one of those “loved it” or “hated it” types of movies; as for mom and I, we enjoyed it.

Enchanted

2007-11-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

Today mom and I took my oldest daughter to see Enchanted. This was the cutest movie I've seen in a while. Amy Adams is wonderful in this film. It was easy to believe that she really did emerge from a fairy-tale land and what better choice for the evil queen than Susan Sarandon?

This movie begins in the animated land of Andalasia where there lives a beautiful damsel named Giselle (Amy Adams) and the handsome Prince Edward (James Marsden) both dreaming of loves true kiss. When the two meet, all of Giselle's dreams are about to come true; she's about to become a princess by marrying her prince charming which would dethrone Narissa (Susan Sarandon). The evil queen would do anything to maintain her position on the throne and she thrusts Giselle into a well which sends her via a manhole into New York's Times Square.

This is a great family movie!

Transformers

2007-11-17T18:19:00.000-08:00

Mom and I had to skip the movies this weekend because of holiday family plans; however, the hubby asked me to get him the Transformers movie when it came out on DVD. We just finished watching this it and I must say... WOW!!! What an incredible movie!!!

For a man, there are few things more powerful than the relationship he has with his first automobile, and it’s no different for Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf). Sam is your typical teenager living the life of angst over not being one of the cool kids, and pining away for the girl of his dreams, Mikaela (Megan Fox). He has worked and saved for his first car, and his father has agreed to help him. Together they go car shopping, but all Sam can afford is a beat up old Camaro. However, this clunker is no ordinary piece of crap, it's more than meets the eye! Sam’s relationship with his car is about change his life and propel him into the middle of a galactic war between the Autobots and Decepticons.

Will the Decepticons succeed in taking over Earth as their new home planet, or Can Sam and the Autobots stop them?

Just because this movie is about a boy and his car does not mean that it skimps on action; in fact, it wastes no time getting right to the incredible, eye-popping, rampant robot destruction.

This is one for the collection!

What's your favorite?

2007-11-13T10:12:00.001-08:00

Is there a movie that you watch every time that it comes on the television - you could watch it over and over again and it never gets old?

For my husband it’s Flash Gordon – don’t ask me why, I’m sure I do not know. In my opinion this is one of the cheesiest movies ever made, but he loves it and I love him so I deal with it. In fact, I even bought the DVD for him when it came out – mistake? Maybe, he made us watch it that day and the next.
It’s been a while since he last subjected us to it – shhh…don’t say anything to him though, maybe he forgot that he as it. Ha! (a girl can wish)

I have a few but the main one for me is Dirty Dancing – and I must admit he probably feels the same way about my movie as I feel about his. It came on again last night and of course I watched it; I just love this movie!! Besides the great music and dancing; they really captured the conversion of going from daddy’s little girl into a woman. I’m sure the hubby disagrees and thinks that this is one of the cheesiest movies ever made, but I love it and he loves me and so he will deal with it. In fact, he even bought the DVD for me when it first came out – mistake? NOPE! I’ve never made him watch it, but he has been subjected to it, once or twice, when it came on TV. Lol!

To me, it’s always interesting to learn what movies people like the most and why; comment now and tell me about your favorite.

P2

2007-11-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

Today mom and I went to see P2. We didn't know much about it, other than it's supposed to be scary. We love scary, so off we went....

Although this movie wasn't bad, it is not what I would classify as scary. However, I must admit that my scare factor is off the charts - maybe even broken.

The entire movie takes place in a parking garage - cost efficiency at it's best! I thought the script was very good and the acting was nicely done.

All this being said, there were a few parts that I found unrealistic:

One was the nasty fingernail coming off scene - and can I just say, I HATE that!!! That is the one thing these film directors just love to put in their movies and that I could completely do without! It absolutely grosses me out, like fingernails running down a chalk board, and turns my stomach!! I don't know, maybe that's the effect that they're going for??? Anyway, my point is this....if you've ever bent your fingernail back, you know just how bad that hurts never mind how it would feel if it actually got bent so far that it detaches. When her fingernail comes off, she barely has a reaction - at least not one I would expect - she doesn't scream, or even curse...but then again, maybe she just has a higher tolerance to pain.

Another part that was unbelievable to me is when the cops come to check things out. How is it that they don't notice all of the security cameras that she broke?

All in all, this was a pretty good movie.

Martian Child

2007-11-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

Mom and I have been looking forward to seeing this weeks movie feature for a LONG TIME!!! As you know, we go to the movies almost every weekend, which means we get to see lots of previews and they have been showing the previews for Martian Child for several months now, but they always said "Coming Soon", never giving us a date. Well, it is FINALLY out in theaters and we couldn't wait to go see it!

This was a feel good movie about a widower (John Cusak) who is still grieving from the loss of his wife, two years earlier, and a troubled boy (Bobby Coleman) who thinks he's from Mars and is in desperate need of unconditional love. I thought the acting in this one was phenomenal; John Cusak gives and outstanding performance and a grieving husband, you can actually feel his pain.
Why is it when critics give a movie a poor rating we usually love it?? Most reviews I have heard/read for this movie have been mediocre, but mom and I both really enjoyed this one!

The Contract

2007-10-28T21:45:00.001-07:00

Mom and I didn't get out to the movies this weekend because I was busy hosting a Halloween party. However, the day after the party - when all the hubby and I were doing absolutely nothing except sitting around and relaxing - we watched The Contract with John Cusack and Morgan Freeman. With such big actors I would have though this movie would be good; in fact, I bought this movie because it had both of them in it and I was surprised that I had never heard of it. However, after after watching it, I now know why I had never heard of it. The script was horrible and the plot had way too many holes.

High school gym teacher Ray Keene (Cusack) goes on a bonding excursion with his teenage son, who got in trouble with the local law for smoking pot, and comes back with a new girl friend and a new pal in the underworld. With these two amazing actors, this movie has all the ingredients for a speedy action thriller, and just how it fails to raise even the tiniest bit of suspense is beyond me.

This one was a disappointment.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

2007-10-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

Cate Blanchette and Clive Owen bring magic to the screen in this beautifully filmed and costumed tale of ELIZABETH THE GOLDEN AGE.

In this movie, Queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchette) prepares for war against Spain and King Philip II (Jordi Mollà). But as she readies for a major fight to save her crown, she also finds herself falling in love with the adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). While an official relationship is strictly forbidden for the Queen, she comes up with a devious plan to keep Raleigh by her side that may actually end up breaking her heart.

There were a few scenes that were gory but all in all this was a good movie. Mom and I both enjoyed it.

Michael Clayton

2007-10-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

The movie of choice this weekend was Michael Clayton. In this Legal-Eagle thriller, Clooney’s Clayton is trained as a high-class lawyer but works the lower end of the judicial spectrum. So low, in fact, he has not set foot inside a courtroom for over a decade. Michael is the firm’s “fixer” - a guy who knows the right people for the right circumstance, a somewhat shady character and hard to define- until you need him.

After spending 6 years defending a phosphate conglomerate in a multi-billion dollar toxic poisoning case, veteran lawyer Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) has lost his mind and is threatening to change sides. On the orders of his boss (Sydney Pollack), Clayton is told to bring his powers of persuasion to bear on his friend. However, Clayton’s instincts tell him there could be some truth to Arthur’s insane ramblings.

This movie reminded me of a combination of The Firm and Erin Brockovich. If you liked those movies, your sure to love this one - Not to mention, George Clooney is always nice to watch...ha!

The Jane Austen Book Club

2007-10-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

I've not read any of the Jane Austen books but I've seen a few of the movies based on her books and I've enjoyed them all. Recently, I watched a movie - Becoming Jane - that was loosely based on her life; I enjoyed this one much better.

The Jane Austen Book Club is about Six people who start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find that their relationships begin to resemble 21st century versions of her novels. The members of the club are hopeful about love, but helpless when it comes to relationships. The characters in this movie are interesting and likable, the acting is good, and it isn't filled with violence and vulgarity - something that's increasingly hard to find these days.

Mom and I both very much enjoyed this movie.

Feast of Love

2007-09-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

The movie that mom and I chose this weekend was the Feast of Love, an adaptation of the 2000 book by Charles Baxter.

The story begins with a brilliant theory on love, “There is a story about the Greek Gods. They were board, so they invented human beings. But they were still board, so they invented love. Then they weren’t board any longer; so they decided to try love for themselves….and finally, they invented laughter – so they could stand it.” quoted by philosophy professor Harry Stevenson (Morgan Freeman). The couplings and uncouplings in Feast of Love are observed and pondered through the wizened eyes of Professor Stevenson who is a regular at Jitters, the coffee shop owned by the good-hearted if less observant Bradley Thomas (Greg Kinnear). This is a movie about love, the chances we take and the things that connect us together.

I really enjoyed the wit of Freeman’s character in this movie, as well as the story lines. However, if you are uncomfortable with sex and nudity then this is not the movie for you!

In the Valley of Elah

2007-09-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

When Mom asked if I wanted to go see In the Valley of Elah this weekend and then went on to tell me it stars Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Surandon, and Charlize Theron, I was on board. I went into this movie knowing nothing about it, I had never even heard of it before mom called.

This movie takes its name from the story of David and Goliath, which takes place in the Valley of Elah. But it has nothing to do with the Bible.

Instead, it is based on the July 13, 2003, murder of Richard Davis, a 23-year-old Army soldier who had just returned to Fort Benning, Ga., when he was declared AWOL. The young veteran’s charred remains were discovered in the woods four months later.

The murder trial that followed revealed disturbing information about Richard Davis and the Army unit he had belonged to, including alleged war crimes they committed against civilians in Baghdad and the fact that some of the soldiers were suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank Deerfield, the father of Mike, the murdered soldier and a retired Army criminal investigator. In the films beginning we learn that Mike has gone is considered AWOL. Jones' portrayal of Mike's worried father is painfully realistic.

Unfortunately, as a murder mystery, “Elah” is lacking. Once we learn the who, what, where and when about Mike’s death, the looming question of “why” — the one the PTSD angle is supposed to address — never gets answered.

Personally, I like to go to the movies to escape from reality and this one - although the acting was on point - was just a little too "real" for my liking.

The Brave One

2007-09-16T14:27:00.001-07:00

It's been a few weeks but mom and I got back on track with the movies this weekend. Our pick this time was The Brave One starring Jodi Foster and Terrence Howard. As usual, both both actors gave a stellar performance.

Radio personality Erica Bain has the perfect life - the perfect boyfriend, the perfect dog and the perfect job; but one fateful night, as she and her family stroll through a New York park, life as she knows it suddenly comes crashing down around her.

Mercer is a New York detective, who is passionate about his job and works diligently to put away the bad guys. Suddenly there's a string of murders and it appears the city could have a vigilante, but what's the common denominator?

As Erica works through her demons from that life altering event. Mercer works to put the pieces of the puzzle together in order to stop this person before he kills again.

The intensity of this movie reminded me of the intensity you felt in the movie Crash. Jodi Foster's performance brings you on the journey with her and makes you identify with her character and the trauma she's been through.

Mom and I both really enjoyed this movie.

The Lion King

2007-09-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Although mom and I didn't get to see a movie this Labor day weekend, we had plans to take my daughter to the Broadway musical, The Lion King. Unfortunately mom wasn't able to attend, due to an unforeseen family matter, so we ended up inviting her teacher from last year. It's a miracle that we arrived on time since I thought it started at 2:00 only to find out, an hour before the show, that it actually began at 1:00. I guess I was getting the date and time mixed up....I'm not sure but we made it there with time to spare - thank goodness for Michelle and her lead foot..ha!

If you've seen The Lion King movie/cartoon and enjoyed it, you must go see this play. In fact, even if you haven't seen the movie, which I can't imagine, this is a show that you really should purchase tickets for when/if it comes to your area.

As a side note, if you haven't seen the movie...I highly recommend it too!

This musical was amazingly beautiful, absolutely outstanding! I was in awe of all the actors and actresses that performed this show. If you are looking for something to do that the whole family can enjoy, this is it! I would not recommend it for children under 8, just because they may have trouble following along and some parts could be scary for them. However, there were several small children at the play today and I thought they all did very well.

This show was well worth the money spent for the tickets. I absolutely loved it!

Perfect Stranger

2007-08-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

Mom and I went to the theater today but there wasn't really anything worth seeing and the one movie that we thought we may be interested in wasn't playing until tonight. However, a couple of really good movies have recently been released on DVD (so of course I had to buy them) and one of the ones I got was Perfect Stranger. Mom and I wanted to see it when it was in the theaters but other movies kept getting in the way. ha!

Tonight the hubby & I had movie night and the main feature was....you guessed it, Perfect Stranger. There have been a lot of negative comments about this movie but after seeing it tonight I am again reminded why I never pay attention to what the critics think (IMO they get it wrong more often than not).

This was a suspenseful movie about an investigative reporter named Rowenda (Halle Berry) whose friend had an affair with add exec Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis) and then ends up murdered. Rowenda vows to bring her friends killer to justice and, suspecting Hill, she goes undercover to work as a temp in his add agency - engaging in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

This movie kept my analytical mind working throughout its entirety. I really enjoyed it and I'm glad I've got it in my collection.

Becoming Jane

2007-08-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today's movie with Mom was Becoming Jane; A biographical portrait of a pre-fame Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irishman.

Author Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) eventually became famous for writing epic novels like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

This movie is loosely based on her early years as an aspiring author with dreams of doing what was then nearly unthinkable - marrying for love. As a young woman in the 18th century, writing was not a respectable goal for a young woman. With the entire world telling her she can't achieve her dreams and her parents searching for a wealthy, well-appointed husband to assure their daughter's future social standing, Jane meets and falls in love with a charming rogue, Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), who inspires her to write the books generations have come to know and love.

Although there were some funny moments, I felt it was somewhat dark and at times seemed to drag on. It was a good movie, but not anything I would run out to buy once it's released on DVD.

Stardust

2007-08-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend's movie of choice was Stardust; a whimsical little movie about a young man named Tristran (Charlie Cox) whom we follow on his journey into manhood, as he sets out on a quest to find a fallen star (Claire Danes) and bring it back to the woman he loves in order to prove his love for her.

This is a tale of fantasy with everything you could possibly want in a movie: action, adventure, comedy, and love - something for everyone. All of the performances were outstanding but the performance to talk about was delivered by Robert De Niro, as Captain Shakespeare.

This is one for the collection.

I loved this movie!