Death Race (2008)

No more violent than Braveheart. No noisier than Days of Thunder. No more outrageous than any of the Mad Max movies. In fact, this story felt a bit like Thunderdome. The smarts behind "the machine" is an evil woman. The hero is a bad boy who bends the rules in his favor. If you liked Thunderdome I predict you will like Death Race.

Jason Statham takes his Transporter character to a different level with this one. He is smarter than the average bad guy and just a little bit tougher. As usual.

Joan Allen is a bit of a surprise as the evil warden of a very unusual prison. If cold and expressionless can be called acting, then she does a great job. I wish she had put more relish into the role. It would have given more credibility to the crazy behind her make-up.

Ian McShane is much more enjoyable here than in his role in HBO's Deadwood. Much less potty mouth and much more brains. Just as plotting and evil though.

The movie had much more story than I expected and was actually as interesting as it was entertaining. You may actually find yourself cheering for the "bad guys" in the end a bit like The Longest Yard.

Watch this movie with someone who will be patient enough for the good bits.

Burn After Reading

If this is comedy, it is very much on the dark side. Perhaps I wrongly expected something different from the Cohen brothers. Most their other work I truly enjoy.

And perhaps I also wrongly expected more from such a big-name cast. George Clooney and Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Francis McDormand, and Tilda Swinton are all capable of much better things. Don't get me wrong. The acting here is very strong on everyone's part. In some cases brilliant.

My problem with this movie is that it does not fit my definition of a good story well told. First the story. My problem with the story is that it is incomplete and leaves way too much needed information until the end or it is left completely out. No wait, that is the opposite of a well-told story. Either way, the story is lacking. None of the characters, major or minor, are in the least bit likable. They are all badly flawed and unredeemed people. Thank you Cohens for reminding us what a messed up species we belong to.

If you must, watch this movie with someone who is trying to find dates via the Internet.

Traitor

Don Cheadle is a great actor. Hands down, one of the best unsung greats of the current generation. He plays good guys, bad guys, funny guys, pathetic guys, and pulls them all off in a way that everyone can relate to. This movie is first and foremost about his character Samir Horn.

I hope our Islamic brethren find this movie as respectful as I believe it to be. I'll hear otherwise, I'm sure, if I'm wrong about that. I found this story to be as patient and thoughtful as The Kite Runner and almost as nail-biting as Spy Games. Both of those stories get high marks from me. While I liked this movie, it was a bit slow, but only if you are expecting an action thriller, which this movie is not. It is billed solely as a Thriller, and I suppose that fits it best. There is some action, tastefully placed, but not enough to get your heart pounding. This movie does however get you mind working. Given the title, which side is right in calling the main character a Traitor? No spoilers here.

The other great performance in this film is by Guy Pearce. Despite being primarily from Australia, Pearce completely pulls off his role here as the son of a Southern minister now working as an anti-terrorist FBI agent. Well done Mr. Pearce.

Watch this movie with an open mind.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

"Hulk smash" were two frequent words from the comic book Hulk. They are used just once in the movie, but at a perfect time and it almost describes the movie. Almost.

Edward Norton was a perfect choice for Banner/Hulk, and Liv Tyler was a delicious choice for Banner's love interest Dr. Betty Ross. William Hurt and Tim Roth round out the fun cast as the bad buys. Two very nice surprises were a brief shot of Bill Bixby (TV Bruce Banner) and Lou Ferrigno (TV Hulk). I also totally enjoyed the visit by Tony Stark (Ironman) at the end. Oops. Don't let that spoil anything for you.

This is a fun movie for Hulk fans from the comic to the TV series to the video game. If however someone is not familiar with the Hulk story, this movie does not really offer enough back story to get them up to speed fast enough. Do a little homework first if necessary and you'll enjoy the film much more.

I liked this movie for many reasons, not the least of which are the scenes shot in Brazil.

Watch this movie with someone who loves their superhero comics.

The Happening

I'm pretty sure when Al Gore saw this movie, if he did, he was shouting "I told you. You know I told you" and shaking his closed fist at the audience, the screen, and Washington, DC.

If you have already seen this movie, you know what I mean. If you have not seen it yet, and still choose to after reading this, you will know.

Writer, Director, and Producer M. Night Shyamalan had a quirky idea driving down the road one day and made it into a movie with some pretty big names. The story itself is plausible enough to work on a Hollywood level. The dialogue and acting however were SO bad (with the exception of John Leguizamo) that it made it hard to keep focused on the movie.

The film goes through a series of sappy, somewhat irrelevant, conversations punctuated by brief scenes of graphic violence. It just didn't work for me.

Unless you must see all Mark Wahlberg movies, I suggest giving this one a pass.

The Strangers

According to Director Bryan Bertino this movie is more of a terror film than a horror film. I totally agree. There is very little of the graphic gore and violence you find in a horror movie. Instead you find evidence of violence, you hear noises, LOTS of noises, but you don't actually see much happening. The perception of danger that results in panic and chaos is the very definition of terror. Well done Bryan.

Liv Tyler is not only the big name on the cast list, she is also 90% of the movie. The story is about her fear, her terror, and her suffering.

Very clever film-making and editing make this movie very real to the audience.

Watch this, if you dare, with someone who will not hear things going bump in the night for weeks afterwards.

Le Fils de l'épicier (The Grocer's Son)

If you understand French, you may enjoy this movie. If you enjoy quirky, slow-moving romances, you may like this movie. If you enjoy bucolic scenes of French countryside, you may enjoy this movie. If the antics of senior citizens make you smile, you may like this movie. If 2 or 3 of the above items make you wish you were getting a root canal, you may want to stay away from this one.

French language only with English subtitles. Be prepared to understand French or read this movie. Even at that, it is a nice pleasant journey.

If you are a fan of French cinema you will surely recognize many faces. If not, you should enjoy several new ones.

It's a simple concept. Country boy falls out with family and runs to the city. Country boy has a tough time in the city. Country boy's father gets sick and needs help. Country boy returns with a girl friend and helps with the family business.

Watch this movie with someone who sees things differently than you do.

The Dark Knight

If you have seen this you will know what I'm talking about. If you have not seen it I highly suggest you see it at least twice. The first time you watch just let the ride happen. You may be totally emotionally exhausted by the end of this 2.5 hour epic. The second time you watch it do so for the nuances. Relish the smart script. Savor the more than Oscar-worthy performance of the late Heath Ledger. Get into the sub-plots and subtle messages. It is easy to miss them the first time through because there is so much happening so fast you need to see it twice, at least, to take the full measure of this movie in.

This is hands down the best comic-based action thriller movie out thus far. And it sets the bar very high. This is what big budget movies are supposed to look and feel like. This movie would still be great without Batman. If, instead of Batman, you plug in a very tough, very smart, cop or vigilante, or even a very rich crime solver, it would still work. That is because the movie is not about Batman. The movie is about the criminals. This is so brilliant it has evaded most the watching public.

Don't get me wrong, Christian Bale does a brilliant job as the Caped Crusader. I shows a full range of emotions and is more human than some of the other guys have been. He is truly heroic.

Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman reprise their roles in support of Bruce Wayne. Each is a very welcome, smart, and funny addition to the story. Maggie Gyllenhaal is also back and the love interest, but with a huge interesting twist.

Other welcome faces include Aaron Eckhart and Gary Oldman.

But the true star of this movie; the one who carries the entire story on his shoulders with delicious flare is Ledger's Joker. Nothing like Nicholson's over-the-top masterwork of 20 years ago. This Joker is much more real, much creepier, much more sinister, and much more macabre. His character study is so perfectly psychotic one might wonder who he used for inspiration.

Watch this movie with someone who can help you keep up with what's going on.

Fred Claus

As holiday movies go, this is one of them. It is not great, but it is not terrible either. There are some fun scenes, and some funny moments, but with so many other great holiday movies out there, this one should be down the list for your family to watch.

Vince Vaughn plays the title role which is pretty much the same character he plays in every other movie. If you like it, you'll love this movie. If not, you may want to skip this movie. There are no other performances here that I can recommend. This is sad too because some great names signed up.

Paul Giamatti is less than saintly as Santa. Miranda Richardson is almost painful to watch as Mrs. Santa. Kathy Bates made me cringe as Santa's Mom. And Kevin Spacey can play bad guys, but is not very convincing here as an efficiency expert sent to shut down the North Pole operations.

There is one scene that I really enjoyed in the middle of the movie. With Elvis's "Rubbernecking" as a soundtrack Fred Claus gets the elf workforce to loosen up and have a little fun. For me, this was the best part of the movie. You may enjoy other parts however.

Watch this movie with one of your siblings.

You Don't Mess With The Zohan

This movie was not supposed to be any good. This movie was supposed to be one predictable gag or prat fall after another. In fact, in my opinion, it was much better than that. The salon scene alone is worth the watch all by itself. But, if you can handle the heavy-handed satire and tongue-in-cheek racism it's a pretty fun ride.

Also well worth the watch is all the surprise appearances from people you know but may not recognize. Adam Sandler of course plays the title role, and goes so far over the top with it he actually makes it work.

Other names you may recognize with out catching their faces include: John Turturro, Rob Schneider, even the musician Dave Matthews. Other SNL alums you may know are Kevin Nealon and Robert Smigel the cartoon guy. Mariah Carey, John McEnroe, and George Takei of Star Trek fame, and Paul "Mitchell" of the hair products fame, all play themselves believe it or not, and one of them takes their top off. Chris Rock and Kevin James also have scenes. Way too much fun.

If you are a fan of James Bond, please don't let this movie offend you. If you are Israeli or Palestinian, gay or old, the same goes for you too. And if you are still very much into disco I'm pretty sure you should be offended.

Watch this movie with someone who has a strong stomach.

Moscow on the Hudson

Who knew all the things you could get at Bloomingdale's in Manhattan. A very hairy Robin Williams plays a musician for the Moscow circus performing in New York. A very funny string of events, beginning in Moscow, and ending with a defection in Bloomingdale's sets this story in motion.

Maria Conchita Alonso is beautiful as William's new American girlfriend. And Cleavant Derricks is the security guard to whom Williams defects. And the late great Alejandro Rey plays Williams immigration attorney. Funny stuff.

This poignant story is as timely now as it was 25 years ago. Everyone wants to be in America. Everyone in America is from somewhere else. Williams goes from a tiny apartment with 3 generations of his own family to an identical situation with a black family in New York.

Watch this movie with someone who has been a stranger in a strange land. Like this one.

The Bucket List

Everyone should see this movie regardless of age, economic status, or religious belief. There are not many movies I feel this strongly about. Crash also comes to mind.

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are at the absolute top of their game here. Like their characters, they are a very unlikely acting duo. But this makes the whole concept, the whole movie, work much better.

Sean Hayes of Will & Grace fame, also does a great job playing the straight-man to Nicholson's character. Pun intended.

I also recommend watching the Extra Feature short about Writing a Bucket List. Then I suggest, while the laughter and tears this movie emotes are still fresh in your memory, you write your own Bucket List.

Even though you know from the beginning how this movie ends, I'm guessing you will still be touched by how well Rob Reiner pulls it off. Reiner is an absolute genius. Look at the diversity of movies he has done - This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, and now this. Any one of these movies would make a career high for someone. But to all come from the same mind is evidence of solid brilliance.

Watch this movie with someone who will be part of your personal Bucket List.

Wall-E

It's all about sound. Watch the DVD Extra Features and see, or hear, for yourself.

Some have said this is the best thing Disney has done with Pixar since Finding Nemo. I disagree. The Incredibles is still the best thing since then. Wall-E is good; very good even, but not Oscar material. I may however be proven wrong on that count because of the moral of the story.

This movie is a little preachy but entertaining enough that you may not mind. This is certainly a good family movie. Kids will enjoy the sounds and the action. The story teaches some pretty good lessons to kids if the parents are clever enough to discuss them. The lessons are there for us so-called grown-ups too if we are honest enough to admit them.

Count how many Apple tie-ins you can spot in this film. You'll need more than two hands.

Fred Willard is the only "live" actor in this movie (a first for a Pixar feature-length project), but he is certainly animated enough to fit right in. His face and voice are perfect as the leader of the corporation that ruins the planet and then abandons it.

You may also recognize the voice of Sigourney Weaver, Kathy Najimy, John Ratzenberger, and Jeff Garlin.

As with most animated shows these days there are different layers of entertainment for different age groups. Watch this movie with someone who will have fun on at least 2 of those levels.

Tropa de Elite (The Elite Squad)

If you liked Colors, Training Day, or any of the other gang-related movies of past years, you will most likely enjoy this movie. Yes, it is from Brazilian cinema, but the themes are similar. You can choose either Portuguese or English dialogue. I recommend the Portuguese with English subtitles.

This movie was shot entirely on location in Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods. In fact, over 90 weapons were stolen during filming. It was also shot with hand-held 35mm cameras giving a very real sense of "being there". The soundtrack is purely Carioca. Muito bom.

Unless you are familiar with Brazilian cinema, you will most likely not recognize any faces here, but I want to give high praise to Wagner Moura, Caio Junqueira, and André Ramiro. All do a great job of showing the stress and range of emotions police undergo in a variety of social situations. All are familiar faces to Brazilian audiences and I hope we get to see more of them in mainstream cinema.

Yes, I am biased. I love most things Brazilian. But this is a genuinely good entry in the police-thriller genre.

Watch it with someone who will not be afraid to visit tourist mecca Rio afterwards.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

This was clearly not the fun roller coaster ride of Raiders or Last Crusade, but I think this movie was at least a bit better than many critics have made it out to be. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Last Crusade remains the best of the series in my opinion.

Any time you get Steven Spielburg and George Lucas together on a project you MUST accept that is will be a little cutting edge. I highly recommend watching the Extra Features on this DVD before watching the movie. That may accomplish a couple of things. First, you hear from the Titans themselves about how hard it was to decide to do this project and why it took the direction it did. It makes total sense once you have from them. Second it will catch you up on some of the high points of the previous 3 films. You don't need to have seen the first 3 to get or enjoy number 4, but I recommend it.

Harrison Ford was 65 when this movie was finished and he looked great and played the role of the now-senior Dr. Jones very well. Karen Allen reprises her role as Indy's old flame with a significant twist.

Jones is fighting the Russians this time now that WWII is finally over and the Cold War has begun. His nemesis is played by the ever-amazing Cate Blanchett. John Hurt is the big surprise and delightful member of the expedition.

Some have said there was too much CG in this movie and yes, there are significant amounts. But, I did not find it distracting. This movie could not have been made without it, or it would have been done very badly.

Like Spielberg, I would have been content to let the Crusade end with Raiders III. But I do not think this movie was a mistake even if the story bears striking similarities to "Secret of the Incas" starring Burt Lancaster in 1954. But if you know this history of the creative team behind Raiders in the late 1980's, they were wide open about using this great movie an an inspiration. End of story.

Watch IJ4 with someone who will suspend belief with you and enjoy the ride.

Mister Foe

First let me say that this movie is not for everyone. But I liked it. A lot. Part of the reason is I liked this is the Scottish humor just under the surface. Very dark. Another reason I liked this was the supernatural performance of relative newcomer Jamie Bell. Was he really possessed? His character was surely haunted enough.

Other faces you will surely recognize include Ciarán Hinds and Claire Forlani but someone you may not be so familiar with is Sophia Myles. She is another reason to enjoy this movie. Maurice Roëves even has a charming role here as a career hotel dishwasher. He too is a very pleasant surprise.

The plot is not really as complicated as most the summaries suggest. You have a teenage boy who is distraught over the death of his mother. He is convinced his father's girlfriend committed the murder. He runs away from home and is forced to find a job to survive in the big city. He meets a woman who looks just like his mother and he falls in love. This trouble young man is finally able to make peace with all his relationships. No, I'm not giving anything away there. He is also a Voyeur, which plays prominently in the plot, but is really just a second tier story feature.

And as with so many well-done independent projects, this movie has a fantastically eclectic soundtrack with music by many Scottish artists you'll love once you've heard them.

If you can make it past the first 40 minutes of this movie, which I admit are pretty disturbing, you will be richly rewarded with a funny, tasteful ending. And I've seen way too many movies I can't say that about.

Watch this movie with someone who can handle the nudity and the psychotic teen angst.

Charlie Wilson's War

Where were you for the 10 years between 1979 and 1989. Do you remember what was going on in the world? Do you remember Iran-Contra and Oliver North? Do you remember that the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan? Do you remember what the United States did about that invasion?

This movie will only answer the last question. It brings to light what was known in only a few small circles during that period of time. And, rather than a typical history lesson, this movie teaches without letting you know a lesson is going on. That is high craft indeed.

Director Mike Nichols who has been the brains behind such varied greats as The Graduate, Catch-22, Working Girl, and The Birdcage, brings what I believe is another classic story to cinema.

It helps that he had such a powerful cast. Tom Hanks is his usual brilliant self. Julia Roberts shows that she really can act. And Philip Seymour Hoffman shows us again what playing a role is supposed to look like.

What is this movie about? It's about how a hand full of people brought about the beginning of the downfall of the old Soviet Union. And a less likely bunch is hard to conceive. Fact truly is stranger than fiction.

Watch this movie with someone who "gets" how things happen despite themselves in DC.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Written and directed by Steven Spielberg over 30 years ago, this is a timeless, classic, masterpiece. You can see several themes which are seen again 5 years later in E.T.. Spielberg loves to play with light and shadow. He understands that telling stories does not have to include constant dialogue. He uses music, imagery, facial expressions, and action to tell a story in addition to very smart dialogue.

Richard Dreyfuss is brilliant here in his third Spielberg project. He leaves nothing in the dressing room when he acts. Directors love him as do the audience.

French screen legend François Truffaut makes what is his only appearance in an American film to date, but is great as the other Lead is this script.

If you have never seen this movie, I suggest you give it a try to see how good sci-fi can be without today's computer graphics. Don't get me wrong, I love good CG. But I also like film-making on real celluloid. This is good story-telling at a very high level. You can see things in this movie that Spielberg uses in most of his projects since.

If it has been a while since you last watched this movie, I suggest you take some time and do a little cinema appreciation project.

Better yet, watch this movie with someone who has not seen it yet, and help them get into it.

Mongol

After being on my rental list for a very long time, I was happy to see that it was well worth the wait. Epic in scope. Grand in scale. Simple is message. This movie is very much a work of art. Filmed in parts of China that were so remote crews had to build roads before equipment could be transported in.

Totally in Mongolian with English subtitles, it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 2008. A very worthy nod.

Based on historical records with a great deal of fictional license, this is an interesting look into the early life of Genghis Khan. It is a war story. It is a love story. It is a personal discovery drama. I'm convinced everyone will take something different away from this movie.

Every character is totally believable and most are lovable. This is not so much different from movies like Braveheart. Just in a language very few of us understand.

Watch this movie with someone who will enjoy the battle scenes as much as the love scenes.

War, Inc.

There is an awful lot to NOT like about this movie. But when added all up they still don't equal a bad movie. This is political satire in a very high form. No doubt in many countries this sort of thing would be banned or outlawed, and the makers flogged and banished. But, this is America and we hold some truths to be self-evident. One of those is the right of fools and scholars alike to to behave badly in the name of art.

Stepping down from MY soapbox now, let me address the soapbox that is this film. If you are from a "red state" you may not like this movie much. If you voted for Bush or McCain, you probably won't like it either. If however, you can accept and digest some very sharp barbs pointed at the current, and soon to be future, administration's perceived policies and relationships, you may have a very good time watching it.

Here are a few of the minor things I didn't like about the movie:
John Cusack in an action, tough-guy role
Ben Kingsley with a strong southern accent
Joan Cusack as herself (yes editorial liberties taken here)
American soldiers portrayed as confused and addicted, trigger-happy idiots

Here are a few things that make those other things insignificant:
Marisa Tomei - full stop - enough said
Hillary Duff as the exploited pop-singer who I didn't even recognize
Joan Cusak as herself (yes, this counts twice because she is so funny)
The soundtrack is diverse and wonderful

Add to the above items that I truly enjoy good satire even about things I hold dear. Some say it is the lowest form of comedy. Maybe that's true, but I laughed plenty in this movie.

Watch it with someone who gets whats right and wrong about this movie.

Get Smart

Is anyone NOT in this movie? What a cast. And what an intentionally goofy movie.

As a kid I was a huge fan of the TV series. I was Maxwell Smart for Halloween a couple years there in the 60's. So, I had very high expectations for this movie. I was not disappointed. It had everything from the TV series plus 100 other things TV never attempted. Like Agent 23 and Agent 86 kissing. Welcome to the 21st century.

Smart's catch phrase "Missed it by thaaaat much" cannot be be applied to this movie. They got it - just right.

This is a very fun, very dumb, very inappropriate movie. If you like the TV series there will be plenty for you to recognize. If you never saw the series, it's a shame. But if you like movies like the Pink Panther series, the Police Academy series, the Naked Gun series, and so on, you will like this movie too.

Watch it with your secret friend.

John Adams

Not long ago a business associate sent me an email asking if I had seen HBO's John Adams. I had to admit that I had not. But, I had read the biography upon which the mini-series was based. At the time I suggested that if the movie was half as good as the book, it was well worth a watch. I never heard back from the guy who asked about it, but I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did.

You need not be an American history buff to enjoy this movie. You don't even need to be an American. I watched this movie with someone who knew almost nothing about the American revolution, and they totally enjoyed it too. That speaks well for the high production values of this work as 13 Primetime Emmy awards also attest.

Paul Giamatti is absolutely amazing in this role. Laura Linney did true justice to how important Abigale Adams was to her husband's and the revolution's success. The two together make movie magic on a geometric scale. When you add in the other absolutely believable performances by the rest of the cast. Stephen Dillane as Jefferson and David Morse as Washington were wonderful. But Tom Wilkinson steals the show as Benjamin Franklin. And unless you've read a bit about the real Franklin, you won't recognize this portrayal.

Watch this movie with someone who loves a great love story. Yes, this IS a great love story.

Edge of Heaven (Auf der anderen Seite)

Like twists even when you see them coming? Okay listen up. This is a story about Turkish guy who lives in Germany with his father. The father accidentally kills a woman who is also from Turkey. Father goes to prison and is eventually deported to Turkey. The son moves back to Turkey and buys a bookstore that specializes in German books. While all this is going on, the daughter of the murdered woman gets into Germany illegally after being hunted in Turkey as an anti-government rebel. While in Germany she falls for a German girl who kindly offers refuge.

Still with me? Okay now it gets interesting. Early in the movie the Father who is sent to prison tells the story about a woman he was once married to who had a young daughter. See any potential twists yet? Stick with it. After another shocking death in the story things get tricky. The son who owns the bookstore makes friends with the mother of the German girl. Together they work to save the daughter of the woman slain early in the movie. Are they all somehow connected? We are never told, but I have a hunch they all share a common connection. See if you agree.

Regardless of your age, gender, or station in life, you will find a main character to like and relate to. They are all good people despite their flaws. They are us. The acting is outstanding. I doubt you will recognize any of the cast, but they were great.

Spoken languages include German, Turkish, and English. Subtitles are only given when German and Turkish are spoken. Accents are strong but it should be easy to keep up with all the dialog.

Watch this movie with someone who has a father or mother.

Chapter 27

Many who have seen this movie give it low marks. I think they have the subject confused with the quality of the product. This is a very good movie about a very pathetic person. It is not a pathetic movie. It IS creepy but not in the typical horror story sense. To me, it is creepier to think that there are perhaps thousands of people just like this guy wandering our cities at any given time.

This story is billed as a crime drama. It is clearly not a thriller because we all know how it ends. It is more autobiographical than anything. The main character himself does a chilling narration. The supporting characters are almost as sad as Chapman.

Jared Leto completely transforms into Chapman here. His performance is amazing.

This movie is only difficult to watch because the audience may feel uncomfortable in such close company with such a disturbed individual. That in itself is a testament to how well this movie was done. We feel as if we are right next to this guy during the whole show. His haunting narration gets into our head. Very well done indeed.

Watch this movie with someone remembers John Lennon and the Beatles.

Iron Man

Welcome back Robert Downey Jr. Again. His over-the-top performance and self-mockery totally "make" this movie. The whole cast is great fun. More on them later.

Superhero movies are supposed to be fun. This is a very fun superhero movie. I remember the joy of losing myself in a good action comic when I was a kid. This movie brought that all back for me.

Love interest Gwyneth Paltrow and business partner, an almost unrecognizable Jeff Bridges, are perfectly cast for this story. Paltrow is subdued and Bridges is overtly brilliant. How unusual are those performances? Find me another one where the usual performances are so flip-flopped.

We have good guys and pretty girls. You have evil bad guys and stern government agents. Pesky press and super-serious military officers. Oh and the robots are great comic side-kicks.

Watch this movie with a big bowl of popcorn and someone who thinks YOU are a Super Hero.

Run Fatboy Run

Simon Pegg and company do a passable job of bringing this story to screen. Hank Azaria is the token yank and as such is pretty much as unlikeable as possible. In fact few characters here, if any, are a pleasure to watch.

Another sad thing is that script and this cast should have been capable of many more laughs. It seemed sad to me that the first good belly laugh came 35 minutes into the film. After that, there were a few, but up to that point not many. Director David Schwimmer should have taken the horse by reigns and make this movie less predictable and more funny.

Maybe my expectations were too high for this one? I was thinking up in the stratosphere nearer "Sean of the Dead" not down in the stale basement with the likes of "Nacho Libre".

If you must, watch this movie with someone who does not run for pleasure.

To Live and Die in LA

Almost 25 years ago this movie introduced bungee-jumping to a very wide audience in the US. It also brought a very hip soundtrack to life, and gave outsiders a glimpse of what living in the LA basin can be like. Angelinos and tourists alike should enjoy this fast romp through the streets and hills of SoCal. Fun fun fun.

Willem Dafoe is young here, pre-Platoon even, and shows why he had been a powerful screen presence for the last 3 decades. Here he plays a Secret Service agent tasked with catching counterfeiters. His partner is played by William Petersen of CSI fame. While the two look a bit older and wider now, their chemistry on screen makes this story well worth watching.

Some other now-familiar names here you might recognize here are John Turturro, Robert Downey Jr, and Dean Stockwell.

The soundtrack is a fun flashback to 80's rock. Remember Wang Chung? Otis Rush? Junior Wells? How about Rank & File? If your 80's party needs a good compilation, choose this one. Put on some polyester and flex-out!

Watch this movie with someone who has lived in or visited LA often.

Sex In The City: The Movie

If you were a fan of the series you will enjoy this movie. It is true to form and tracks very will with where the series left off. If you did not see the series, it does not matter. They do a very good job of explaining who is whom. If you didn't like the series, you may not like this movie. However, in my opinion, this movie was better than the series. Better story. Better acting.

Sarah Jessica Parker remains the center character as before, but they do a great job of character development for all the main folks. Plus they bring in Jennifer Hudson who is perfect for her role and does at least one song for the soundtrack. All the original cast returned and that added continuity was added hugely to my enjoyment as an avid fan of the series.

The full-length format for was also a big bonus. Having more than an hour to work with allowed them to really give us a look into the lives and stories of these 4 women. The extra time gave them a chance to show a wider range of emotions. Well done!

Watch this movie with the same folks you watched the series.

Before the Rains

Beautifully filmed. Richly sound-tracked. This odd film is based on another film, Red Roofs, an Israeli short project. Interestingly enough, this film feels like the short. It feels like the middle of a very interesting story. To me, what passes prior to this film, and after, are as interesting, if not more, than the film itself. But, we are left without explanation of what precedes and what follows this portion of the story. That may not be all bad however. It leaves much for us to think and talk about. If you like that sort of movie, you'll like this one.

Linus Roache does a great job as the English planter at the center of the story. But, the show is totally taken by the performance of Rahul Bose. Hopefully we'll see lots more of him in future. The leading lady here is Nandita Das who also does a wonderful job. The supporting cast is too numerous to list individually, but I think everyone was great. They make it easy to forget this is acting.

Because this story is so compelling and believable its easy to get swept up into. When the end comes, and no I won't spoil it, the story seemed to me unresolved. Perhaps that was the Director's point?

Watch this movie with someone who will not take sides.

The Cooler

Are we smart enough to like this movie? I sure hope so. If you are old enough to remember old Las Vegas, this trip down memory lane will be full of delicious morsels. If all you know of Vegas is what can be seen from The Strip, welcome to a real Vegas Fremont Street experience. This despite the fact that, except for most of the exterior shots, the movie was actually shot in Reno.

William H. Macy should have received an award for just his facial expressions in this film. The look on his face when he first sees the "Little Joe" tattoo on his leading lady, Maria Bello, is priceless. Great nonverbal story telling. Great Andy Rooney eyebrows.

And let me give huge props to the editing crew. The movie is crisp. The parts when some would let the movie play on, this crew actually fast forwards through the parts we would want them to. Brilliant. Scene transitions are smartly done, almost every time, without the use of blackouts. The story flows perfectly.

Oh, and the music is right out of lounge theaters. There are songs you may not have heard of before. Listen well and see how perfect they fit with the story. As for the music you do recognize, sing along.

Watch this movie with someone who is feeling a little down on their luck and help them have a spectacular day.

The Forbidden Kingdom

You don't have to be a fan of the Kung Fu, or more correctly "Gung Fu", genre to enjoy this movie. In fact, it will probably help if you are not. A healthy part of the plot pokes a little fun that direction. And if you pay close attention, there are elements of some other fairly popular movies tossed in for fun.

You may see scenes that remind you of LOTR or Indy Jones. You may see homage to The Wizard of Oz and the obvious Karate Kid.

Jackie Chan and Jet Li were wonderful together in this oddly funny buddy movie. I have to admit that I enjoyed it far more than I expected. I am not a Kung Fu fan, but I did enjoy this movie. Michael Angarano was very, very good as the American teen in the middle of this goofy fantasy story. If you don't think Jet Li capable of comedy, think again. He even surprised me with a wide open mouthed belly laugh. I wonder if he used a laugh double?

Watch this movie with someone whom you will enjoy talking too during the movie. It is hard to resist.

The Promotion

Not too much for me to say about this one. It is a very fun concept, but was not very well packaged or delivered. No doubt many younger movie viewers will relate to the young couple at the center of this story. But I hope this is not the future of storytelling via film.

While there are some funny bits, they are too few and far between for my tastes. If you watch this movie under the influence of alcohol, I'm guessing it will feel too slow. If however you are stoned, it may be very very funny to you.

Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly are less than convincing a competitors in a promotional opportunity at an inner-city Chicago grocery store chain. Neither character is likable and the acting here was pretty much high school. Line. Line. Line. No real conversation. No real dialogue.

My recommendation for this movie is to watch something different.

Premonition

Sometimes I have to go through a few bad movies to find a good one. This is one of the bad ones. And don't read on if you prefer not to know the details. Oh yeah, and I spoil the ending which is totally predictable.

This is a movie about inconsistencies. But there are so many inconsistencies in the film I was unable to focus on the supposed happy ending. And if you think changing the circumstances under which someone dies IS a happy ending, then you may actually like this. I personally don't see it, didn't feel it, and don't recommend it.

Sandra Bullock plays a depressed housewife who has incredibly vivid dreams or premonitions about the death of her husband. As the movie progresses Bullock's character tries to take control of the specific circumstances and even prevent the death. While she slightly alters some of the things going on in her husband's head, Bullock's character actually ends up causing the death. Oh yeah, there, I spoiled it.

I think I will stop now before I incur the wrath of the die-hard Sandra Bullock fans.

Watch this with someone who is far less cynical than I, who will enjoy this movie as a 2-box tear jerker. Or not.

Juno

This movie was nothing like I expected. It was much better. Unlike most movies, the good stuff is not all in the trailers. There are dozens of surprises; great movie one-liners, sage parental wisdom, and teen-speak that will add new expressions to pop culture the same way Napoleon Dynamite did, or Caddyshack for you older readers.

I love it when a small-budget indy film gets nominated for an Oscar. When they are nominated for 4 and win 1, it must churn the stomachs of the Hollywood decision makers. The Best Writing Oscar was well deserved here. The dialogue is fantastic. And after all, this is a dialogue movie.

If you liked Napoleon Dynamite, you will most likely love this movie. Totally different stories, don't get me wrong. Both are great teen angst movies very well done; sometimes very painful to watch, quite often painfully funny.

Watch this movie with someone who will not be offended by the blunt, pretentious, irreverent language. And, be up on your slang, or you may miss some of the funniest bits.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Here is another, certainly older, movie with major star power in the cast. And it is probably the very first movie I ever saw in a theater.

Legendary director John Ford had James Stewart and John Wayne working together for the first time. Add to this Lee Marvin, Edmond O'Brien, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Woody Strode, and Denver Pyle, and you have a wonderful un-western western. Vera Miles was still fairly early in her voluminous career of five decades when this movie was made.

This movie is no so much about the old west as it is about personal friendships and the early politics of frontier America. This story is only a western in that it has cowboys in it, and is set in a theoretical wild west town of Shinbone somewhere in the area surrounding southeastern Colorado.

As were many movies at the time, this was shot in black and white. It is a classic of it's genre and should be viewed by any serious film student or fan of cinema. The basic story has been used over and over. This one has a multi-layered plot that should keep the literary-minded among you satisfied.

If you don't like westerns, you should still consider this for it's integrity moral and political spin.

Watch it with someone who may or may not know how great these now old actors were in the prime of their careers.

Lions for Lambs

"Nowhere else have I seen such lions lead by such lambs..." Quoting a German General from World War I, Robert Redford's university professor character compares former students of his volunteering to join the army to fight the war on terror. Hence the title. It is not a political statement.

If nothing else, this movie had star power. Robert Redford directed and starred along with Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise. There were also some relatively new faces like Michael Peña (the locksmith from Crash) who I think is very very good and should be offered and take more stereotypical roles.

Now, to the story itself. This is neither a pro or con movie in my mind. It was given lots of press at the time but I believe it does fair and balanced service to all sides of a very complex issue. Cruise represents the right. Redford represents the left. Streep represents the press that gets caught in the middle. Each is faced with black and white choices in a very grey world.

I liked this movie as much for what it does as what it does not do. It cleverly covers a slice of time, in this case about a hour, from three very different places in the world. In each case, two people are having a very personal conversation. This format is not unique to this movie, but it is so well done that unless you are paying very close attention you may not even realize it. Because each conversation is so connected to the other conversations it is easy to forget that three different stories are being told. Well done Mr. Redford.

What this movie does not do is go over the top or out of bounds in any one area. It is not too long. If anything, it is about 20 minutes too short. You get to see an ending to only a third of the story and are left to wonder about the other two-thirds. That is perhaps by design. Leaving us to our on conclusions is an option, but not for everyone in this story.

Watch this movie with someone who has either seen action in the war on terror, worked in Washington, DC, been to college, or worked in media.

Dead Poets Society

If this movie does not make you want to be a teacher, watch it again. This one is on my Top 10 list, but don't confuse that with my idea of the best movies ever made. This is just one of my favorites to watch.

Just 18 years ago, this movie was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay. Sort of a movie grand slam for you baseball fans. It won for only Best Screenplay however.

Robin Williams was at the height of his career, or at least one of the peaks. I believe his character there to be his most noble to-date. Some of his lines from this movie are now part of pop culture. Carpe Diem?

And if you look closely at the supporting cast (pretty much everyone NOT named Robin Williams) you should recognize a few faces that are now part of today's most popular TV shows and movie.

While the ending may break your heart, it is still a very inspirational movie. There is something in this movie for everyone. See how many of the literary misquotes you can catch?

Watch this movie with someone. Thats it. Don't watch this alone.

Reservation Road

If you want a statistics lesson in the small number of hit and run crimes which are solved in this country, you may want to watch this movie. If you are looking for a reason to take the law into your own hands, this movie might give you some inspiration. On the other hand, if you find very realistic suffering caused by the loss of a child, maybe this is not the best revenge story for you. If you enjoy a flashy uber-violent ending where the bad guy is eviscerated by the very weapons he used to impose suffering on his innocent and lovable victims, this movie is not for you. No, I did not just spoil the ending.

Now that my warnings are out of the way, and you have a better idea of where this movie fits in the scheme of things, I can get to how well done it is, and how well Director Terry George gets his points across without shouting at us from a soapbox. His work in Hotel Rwanda proved that point as well.

Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly do a masterful job of taking us through the range of emotions parents would go through after an accident like this. They also demonstrate how tough it is for a relationship to survive any traumatic experience that, while being the same on the outside, is internalized differently by each individual. Sometimes that difference cannot be emotionally reconciled by others.

Mark Ruffalo may be the bad guy here but his acting is so good it's almost hard to not like his character. Almost. I like how well he portrayed all the conflicting emotions that would be going on in the mind and soul of such a guilty person.

While the ending is not all that satisfying, it is tidy and believable.

Watch it with someone who will enjoy all the ironies of conflicting emotions and complexities of parent-child relationships.

Music Within

This is basically the story behind the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). It is also a very funny story and a very well told story.

Once again, the supporting cast of relative unknowns upstages and outshines the "box office". Ron Livingston is a much better actor than his work indicates. Except for his great work in Band of Brothers, he is almost always cast as the same basic character. Shame on his agent.

The real stars of the story are Yul Vázquez, Michael Sheen, and, though she has very few lines and is almost unrecognizable, Rebecca De Mornay. Melissa George also does a wonderful job as the only main character without a significant disability.

If you have ever walked past a disabled person and ignored them, you should see this movie. If you have ever looked the other way instead of making eye contact with a disabled person, you should see this movie. If you worry about your ability to employ, work with, or work for someone with disabilities, you should see this movie.

Just as I've recommended the movie Crash be used to conduct diversity training in every workplace in the US, I now recommend Music Within be used to train every employer and employee in the US in sensitivity training. Tilting At Windmills should also be read by everyone, regardless.

This movie is instructive without being preachy. It is funny without being disrespectful. It is heart-warming without being saccharine. It tells a real story with feeling like a documentary.

Watch this movie with someone who may be made uncomfortable by the message, and you will have done your part in helping make a difference in someones life.

There Will Be Blood

Have you seen this one? Both Oscars; Best Cinematography and Best Actor, were well deserved. Based on an Upton Sinclair novel "Oil", this is a period piece written very close to the period it covers. Sinclair captured and exposed his prey in his classic style. Paul Thomas Anderson adapted this screenplay and directed. This film fits in nicely with Anderson's other works of oddness, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love.

There Will Be Blood is a very slow-moving art film. If that is your thing, you should really enjoy this. If you enjoy very detailed close-ups without dialogue, or sweeping vistas of some very nice central California scenery, you may really like this film too. If you have close to 3 hours to watch this, consider it an investment. It will give you plenty to think about.

Daniel Day Lewis plays some very unlikeable characters, and you may notice some similarities between his tyrannical character in Gangs Of New York and his role in this film. He is almost unrecognizable as the driven oil baron of early California. It is a masterful performance.

I liked this film because it did not fit any typical Hollywood formulas. I didn't like it because it moved painfully slow. I liked it for all the strong performances of deeply flawed individuals portrayed. I also liked the way it does not tell us as much as it does tell us about what is going on in the minds of the characters. I didn't like it because it's difficult to watch how rotten people can treat each other knowing how close to the truth is could be. In a romping thriller it's easy to tell oneself that real people don't behave like this. That was not possible in this movie regardless of how outrageous one thinks the behavior is. I just couldn't shake the feeling that these are very realistic characters; painfully believable.

Watch this movie with someone who will be patient enough for the big pay off and will commiserate with you when you think it is not delivered.

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

Harmless family fun. If you are a fan of Loch Ness lore and related movies, this will not disappoint. If you are not a fan or believer or even curious, I suggest you skip this movie. While there are a few familiar faces and some great movie moments, some of the acting is over-the-top and a bit of a distraction.

Alex Etel is as fun to watch here as here as he was in Millions. Her barely looks the 3 years older, but his acting is still great. Brian Cox is also wonderful though his role is small. He is a very welcome face on the screen. Emily Watson rounds out the most familiar faces, but if you are a fan of British theater, you will no doubt see more.

Don't expect to be overwhelmed with amazing CG monsters. Think Alf or ET or Pete's Dragon. Please don't misunderstand. The "monster" is very convincing and kids will love this story.

This is a great family movie. Watch it with a family that will let you join them for the evening.

The Bank Job

Yet another Jason Statham movie you might ask. Yes, is the answer. It appears Mr. Statham is on a tear to catch up to Michael Caine's record for making more movies in one lifetime than a body ought to. Since Statham plays basically the same character in each film however, I predict either he or the viewing public will get bored and give up. Statham has a head start however; Caine did not start making movies until he was the same age as Statham is now.

This movie is a bunch smarter than the average Statham movie. Perhaps being based on a true story helped? Despite that there are a couple of scenes which did not help the credibility of the script. Not to spoil anything, but not all post-heist residences were equally covered by the police or the thugs, which is a mystery to me. If it happened that way, so be it, but I find that very difficult to believe.

The characters in this story are so real, and the acting so good, that I found myself talking to the screen and telling them how stupid they were be behaving. I usually talk about them, not TO them. This was fun. Nevermind and the skin scenes, this was fun to watch.

Watch this movie with this someone who enjoys a good heist movie and can keep up with the unexpected twists.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

With 3 Oscar nominations and 1 win, you'd think I might like this movie better. With the likes of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman, all of whom I usually love, you'd think I find some pleasure in the acting. Toss in Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat himself, and you'd think the comic relief impact would be good enough to lighten even Tim Burton's darkest vision. Not so in any of the cases above.

I found the story without any redeeming value. I found the acting so over-the-top that I was not sure when to laugh and when to cry. It was easy enough to know when to look away. Okay, so this exposes me as a horror film wimp. I don't see the point, and freely admit it. I do love a thriller, and this was far more the thriller than horror story. But as a thriller, it was to predictable.

Even if you don't read the DVD jacket, it becomes obvious what the barber will do, and how he will dispose to the bodies. Even if you have not seen the Broadway production, you should figure out fairly soon who proves to be the barber's undoing.

Please don't get me wrong, I did not dislike ALL the movie. The music was great. Stephen Sondheim is wonderful. From West Side Story to this, he has proven the master of setting complex dialogue set to music.

Having said ALL this, let me add some caveats. If you usually like Tim Burton's work, you will most likely "get" this movie. You may even love it.

I suggest watch it with someone who gets, or even loves, you.

PU-235 : The Half Life of Timofey Berezin

While this movie is at times painful to watch, with sad themes, sad realities, and truly bad people, it is one of the smarter movies I've seen in a long time. You don't need to know much about the old Soviet regime to understand the plot, but it helps. The dialogue is in English, but the accents are very strong. I recommend the subtitles.

There is enough comic relief at the appropriate times to keep the audience from getting totally depressed by what is happening to the main character. I don't usually bond with characters quickly as I did with "Timofey". His plight is so real so fast, and is so totally believable that I was taken with him within minutes. Paddy Considine does an absolutely amazing job with this role. He is a total pro. His character goes from devoted nuclear technician and family man to corporate terrorist AND devoted family man. His progressively zombie-like state would make any of Hollywood undead a little nervous.

I don't want to spoil the ending for you, but I found it very satisfying. While it was a surprise, and not exactly what on might want, it ties things up nicely, and is not rushed.

Watch this movie with someone who like butterflies. No kidding.

The Kite Runner

Unless you are a foreign cinema aficionado, you most likely not recognize any names or faces in this movie. If that kept you from seeing this in the theaters, please let it be your motivation for seeing in now. This cast is spectacular. You forget you've not seen them before and they feel as familiar and part of the cinematic experience as your usual favorites.

You long-time readers know I am big on redemption movies. This is a great story of personal evolution and redemption. I hope audiences cheered in the theaters towards the end. I'm sure more than a few wept. And no doubt several were touched deeply and personally by this story.

Because it is set in California, Afghanistan and Pakistan prior to September 11, 2001, it takes us to a place very few of us knew anything about. The themes are universally felt. They cross cultural, national, and religious boundaries. In one way or another, I'm sure we have all been in similar circumstances to one of the main characters. We can relate to their drama and their plight. We all have families, and this is first and foremost a movie about family.

Please don't misunderstand. This is not a family movie. There are some very adult themes to wrap your mind around, and they are presented perfectly. There is nothing gratuitous about this movie. Every scene; every line; every frame has a purpose.

This is a great story, very well told.

Watch it with someone who will appreciate the great writing and acting by total strangers.

Awake

Lena Olin has always been on my list. You know the list I'm talking about. Her performance in this movie, while key, is only a supporting one. Just the same, I still have my baby crush on her.

Heyden Christensen appears to be growing into his voice. His character while anesthetics is very interesting. Not so much the rest of the time. That may be by design, but I'm not so sure.

Jessica Alba as a villain rather than the heroine was a pleasant surprise. This is pretty much all the good surprises though from her.

You know how much I like Terrence Howard. You also know I think his delivery does not change from character to character. That works for me so far. Keep it up Mr. Howard.

Bottom line, this is a movie you can skip.

Revolver

To say that Guy Ritchie does odd stories in an odd way would be an understatement. To say that nobody tells a story quite like him is a bit more like it. If you have seen his other 2 landmark films, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, you know a bit of what this movie might be like. However, this goes beyond the others with mixed animation and much better sound.

I like Jason Statham generally speaking. He usually plays pretty much the same character in most his work. Just the story changes. His persona and delivery don't. In this movie however, he branches out into some real acting. He plays his usual quiet tough guy, but he also plays his alter-ego. That little voice in his head has some real emotions even if the character does not. Very interesting stuff. And, there is some serious psychology to go along with this story. You have to be very patient or watch it a time or two to totally get it.

Ray Liotta has become a caricature of himself, and I love it. Because he has been type cast so many times, what choice does he have but to make fun of those casting choices. He is brilliant as the flawed bad guy in this movie. His final scene is Oscar worthy but I doubt anyone in the academy stayed long enough to see it. It's amazing acting and appears to have been done in one take. Mr. Liotta WAS ready for his close-up.

André Benjamin is one smooth character. I liked him in Four Brothers, and I like him more after watching this film. He has a unique look, a silky voice, and timing that speaks of far more work than his resume shows.

Okay, now I'll stop gushing about this movie and tell you a few more things. It's a very violent, gory, skin-filled, foul-mouthed script. And now the Guy Ritchie fans can all say in unison: "#$^*#$ **+#%%## #$&((%^%& right" and they are correct in doing so.

Watch this movie with someone who has a strong stomach for this sort of thing.

Young Frankenstein

How have I gone this far without telling you, or reminding you, about this great piece of film work. This classic is one of my all-time favorites. If you have not seen it, I recommend a rental. If it's been 35 years, refresh your memory the fun way.

Just before the end of 1974, this movie came out. I remember seeing it in one of the big old movie houses, balcony and all. I think I remember laughing so hard... well I don't need to finish that story.

Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder are comedic geniuses s in their own right. When they got together to write and direct this piece. The DVD special features tells the crazy story about how the script was written.

Marty Feldman may not be well-known to most of today's movie audiences. No modern comic side-kick comes even close. He has he look, the voice, and the timing. He set the bar very high, and in my opinion, all others just limbo under it.

Cloris Leachman has served well in almost every Mel Brooks film. In this one, she is just stone cold funny. Peter Boyle was perfect as the "monster". Teri Garr was stunning in her first role in a real movie. And see if you can recognize Gene Hackman without checking the credits first. Most audiences at the time did not.

How many of these names are familiar to you? These names were a solid part of the movies I grew up with. Some have left us. The rest eventually will. But they will all be remembered for how they helped us to see the funny side of every day life.

Now, back to this classic movie. Horror movie spooks are pretty popular these days. Few if any come as close to retelling the story while doing a fantastic parody. If you look closely you may recognize the equipment from the original Frankenstein movies. Yes, the same prop-master was used. Who goes to those extremes in today CG world?

Watch this movie with someone who will appreciate all the great gags, one-liners, and all the fourth wall breaches.

Atonement

Perhaps this should have been called "An Attempted Atonement", or something like that. It did not quite get there for me. But I don't want to give anything away.

If this were a true story, I'd say it is yet another example of good things happen to bad people. I hate when that happens. And, it happens all too often in reality, so why would someone write it into a story and call it fiction? But I don't want to give anything away here.

But please, don't get the wrong idea here. I liked this movie. I just didn't like how it ends. It is very well written, directed, and acted. This is like an old Masterpiece Theatre story told in MTV terms. It is a period piece with modern dialogue, and modern editing.

It was nominated for several Oscars, but won only for Best Original Score. That does not mean the academy agrees with me, it just means there were other things to vote for.

Keira Knightley plays the daughter of a wealthy British family who has her life torn apart by the lies of her younger sister. James McAvoy plays her love interest who is sent off to prison and eventually World War I by those same lies.

The atonement expected is that the little girl will somehow set things aright. I'll leave it to you to decide if she does or does not.

I get it - movies don't always have happy endings. Sometimes the good guys lose. Sometimes bad guys get away with their crimes. The boy does not always get the girl. People don't always live happily ever after. But in this case, I think the title is misleading and the title character fools herself and the audience into thinking everything IS okay in the end. For me, it's not. But I don't want to give anything away.

Watch this movie with someone with a balanced sense of fair play.

What An Interesting Bunch We Are

Seven months into it now and some very interesting numbers are beginning to show. And YOU are part of it.

26 different countries & 21 different languages

While most our visitors are from the USA we also have as many from "Russia" as from Canada; as many from Australia as from Germany; as many from France as from Brazil.

Thank you all. I'll keep writing. You keep reading and commenting. We'll all keep watching.

Cheers!

Letters From Iwo Jima

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, but it won only for Best Sound Editing. But, then again, when was the last time a foreign language film won any of the other Oscars? Clint Eastwood did a magnificent job of telling one story from two totally different points of view (despite what Spike Lee says).

If you have not see this or it's companion piece "Flags of Our Fathers", I highly recommend it. Yes, they are classic WWII films. But, they are done so well, and told is a very different way, that film-lovers everywhere should see these movies. If for no other reason than their unique spin on the story.

It is always good to see some of one's traditional history from someone else's traditional point-of-view. This half of the duo will make you laugh and cry. It will give you insights into Japanese culture and history. Please keep an open mind. Are the soldiers of our country really so different from the young soldiers of other countries? To quote of the of main characters of this story: "Son, have you ever met one?"

Ken Watanabe does another masterful job of making his kinsmen proud of their heritage. Unless you are a huge fan of Japanese cinema, I doubt you will recognize many other names or faces however.

Watch this movie with someone who appreciates a good story well-told, especially retelling of such a hugely historic story as this one.

August Rush

Bring your tissues. Bring extra hankies. Bring a towel. If this movie does not make you at least a little teary then I will hang up my keyboard and turn in my remote.

This is first and foremost a fairy tale. Don't be guiled into thinking its a slice-of-life piece, or based on something vaguely similar to a true story. It's a fantasy. No doubt its a very good one. Screen-writer Nick Castle does some great stuff (see Hook).

This story is borderline inspirational and some of the deeper, most meaningful points are placed like familiar themes in the overture of a great work. For example, and perhaps the best one at that: Music is God's little reminder that there is something else besides us in the universe - a harmonic connection between all living things - every where - even the stars. I think "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" made the same point, but I digress.

The sound track is diverse and very satisfying. Add it to your collection.

Freddie Highmore plays the son of two musicians who don't know he is even alive. He grows up in an orphanage and dreams of learning to play music so he can call out to his parents. Highmore has played some very beefy roles for his age. Pray he does not turn into Macaulay Culkin.

His parents are played by Keri Russell, who is still a face in search of talent as far as I'm concerned, and Jonathan Rhyse Meyers who has both Elvis and King Henry VIII under his young belt. They are the story, but far from making the show.

Robin Williams steals the show. Completely. His Bono-esque character is so real and so spot-on-perfect you forget it's Mork. I love this character as I have loved every "bad guy" Williams plays.

Be prepared to suspend belief for just a little while, and watch this movie with someone whom you are not embarassed to shed tears with.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

More of the same. A little Da Vinci Code. A little Indiana Jones. A little bit predictable.

But, I have to admit it was fun to watch. Nicolas Cage has this role down. His timing is perfect. Jon Voight could be a great actor, or he could be just playing himself. I can't tell. The great surprise in this movie was Helen Mirren as the academic Mom. She is one of my top 10 favorite actresses.

Nevermind the whole premise is whacked, and many of the best funny bits are not even remotely possible. This is a fun watch and a great date movie. Bring lots of popcorn.

Hitman

The fact that the main, uber cool, character looks a little bit like me has almost no weight on my opinion of this movie. Almost.

Timothy Olyphant, whom may be best known for his role in HBO's Deadwood series as Seth Bullock, does a splendid job here of playing the almost emotionless killer for hire. Somewhere along the way however, he picks up a conscience and feelings for others. Because he is very smart, he quickly figures out what has happened and how to fix it. That's all I can tell you without spoiling the plot.

Yes, unlike so many hit men movies this one has a plot. And it is a fairly twisty one at that. This is a pretty smart movie. And, I enjoyed it much more than I expected.

Dougray Scott was the perfect counter point to Olyphant's stone cold, Joe Black-esque, performance. Scott plays the Interpol officer hunting the elusive ghost of "Number 47". I must say I've been a fan of Dougray Scott since his surprise work in Ever After. He has matured as an actor and I like his work now even better than before.

Now, for some warnings. This movie is a bit gory. In fact, arterial spray plays a pivotal plot role. If you don't like juicy shooting scenes, maybe you should try and find an edited version of this movie. Add to this the sexless nudity, and a couple of very brutal torture scenes, and you have a fairly hard R rating.

Also, there are a varieties of accents and languages. At one point in the movie you have two languages going on and two sets of closed captions. Keeping up is tough. You have to watch this movie and pay attention, or you may be left behind.

Watch this movie with someone with someone who is turned on by quiet bald guys.

Enchanted

My gut feel here is that poking fun or Disney should be left to non-Disney writers. Let the professionals do what they do best. Not that Bill Kelly isn't a pro, don't misunderstand me. I like his other work (see Blast From The Past).

This is a very form-fitting predictable Disney princess story. The twist is it starts out and finishes up animation. In the middle the characters are live. It's done is classic Disney fashion and flare, but that is not the problem. Actually there isn't so much a problem as there is an annoyance.

The good news is that the animated characters STAY in character through-out the movie. That is also the bad news however, in my opinion.

Patrick Dempsey is the only main character who is not animated. That too is a bit of a worry. His performance is pretty wooden, but perfect for his character. But, a little more emotion would have made the stark contrast between his characters and the others less annoying. Perhaps had I watched this with a child I would have appreciated it more.

Having said that, please let me also say that you SHOULD watch this with any princess in your life, regardless of her age. The little ones will most likely appreciate it most. But older ones may pick up a few new tricks too.

The quality of the animation and live action match was not quite as good as it was in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but is was still pretty good.

Susan Sarandon showed how perfect she can be as a villain. Her work is perhaps the brightest light in this movie. I totally enjoyed all the fun she with this role.

Julie Andrews was a welcome voice for narrator, but sadly, there was not much to her part.

Timothy Spall (Wormtail for you Harry Potter fans) did a splendid job of playing both sides of the street in this story. The poor guy is type cast so often it fun to see him do something slightly different.

All in all, this is basically another in the long line of Disney princess machines. If that is your thing, then you'll like this. If it's not, you should most likely skip it.

But, if you can, watch this movie with a little princess and watch her imagination go into over-drive.

Everything Is Illuminated

How can I even begin to explain this movie? There is nothing like it out there. Deliciously weird. Way off beat. Painfully funny. More than likely spot-on true. Warmly sad. These scratch the surface. You just have to rent it to see the rest.

Elijah Wood continues to shake off his Frodo role. His character collects family memorabilia and in the process learns some interesting stories about his ancestors. To feed his fixation, he travels to the fatherland in search of a mysterious woman who appears in a photo with his grandfather. Along the way he meets some of the most memorable characters you will find in a movie like this.

Eugene Hutz, front man of a musical group called Gogol Bordello which also does much of the soundtrack, plays tour guide and translator to Wood's character. What he does to the English language is brilliant. It will keep you smiling if not panting with laughter.

And, speaking of the soundtrack, this is a great addition to your collection if you like music you'll never hear on the radio in this country. Gypsy polka rock? I don't know how else to describe it. It's fun, and it's perfect for this movie.

If you have ever gone of a real journey to learn about your family, you will relate to this wonderful story. It unfolds gently and by the time you realize what is going on it has lured you in. When the trap is spring you don't may have trouble deciding if you should weep with joy or sadness. Bittersweet is how I think the literati describe it. I did both.

Watch this movie with someone who you don't mind laughing AND crying with.

Arranged

If you think you grew up in a close-knit, controlling, family-oriented, faith-based community, you will most likely related to the two main characters in this delightful story. While they may live only a few blocks apart and work in the same place, these two characters come from very different, if similar, worlds. One is Orthodox Jewish and the other is Islamic. They are throw together under circumstances beyond their control and turn to each other because they have nobody else.

Few names on the cast will be familiar to most of us, but they did an outstanding job of casting a flawless job of acting. This movie was released as part of the Film Movement movie-of-the-month club (http://www.filmmovement.com/). It is dialogue movie as opposed to an action movie or some other style. Be prepared to sit through some uncomfortable racial, anti-Semitic, and anti-Islamic conversation. The young main characters find a way to see past each others ancient history to become comrades and eventually more.

The accents are strong with frequent lapses into languages other than English. There are no subtitles. If you can handle all that, I highly recommend this movie. Every single woman should watch this movie. Every family with daughters should watch this movie; regardless of their religion.

Watch this with someone who gives you an electric-like spark every time you touch.

A History of Violence

Ever wonder about people in your neighborhood? Ever wonder what they are like when you can't see them? Ever wonder what they were like before they moved to your area? This movie is a great story about the past life of one small town's familiar face.

Viggo Mortensen is your typical mild-mannered small-town cafe owner. One day when bad guys come in to rob his cafe he handles them with the aplomb of a seasoned street fighter. He is an instant local hero with expanding press coverage. This exposure brings with it some unwanted attention however.

Ed Harris, who almost always plays the best of genuinely good guys, plays the opposite here. He is amazing, and makes us forget his other roles as Mr. Perfect.

William Hurt is a big surprise as well, but I don't want to give too much away by explaining why.

This movie will take you places you did not expect to go. The title suggests something far more sinister and dark that is actually portrayed. If you skipped this movie back in 2005, I totally understand. But, I highly recommend it as a good rental with popcorn. Yes it is violent. Yes it is brutal and a bit graphic. But I bet you'll relate to Mortensen's character, or to that of his wife, played smartly by Maria Bello. Few wives won't see a bit of themselves in Bello's trusting, faithful character. How far that goes is something most relationships go through at some point.

Watch this movie with someone who will debate with you the pros and cons of how it ends.

The Bee Movie

Have you seen this movie yet? Did you like it? Why? I have not decided yet.

Yes, kids should love this. Lots of colorful action, enough slap-stick to keep them laughing, and a very simple plot - basically. Much however will go over their heads as is usual animation genre. That was the case Bugs Bunny and it's still the case today. Smart cartoon producers know to keep the big AND little kids happy and you'll have fresh material for many generations.

I'm not sure however there is enough in this story to keep us bigger kids fans for more than the duration of the flick. The most fun I had was trying to identify all the famous voices used. The list IS very impressive. There were 4 or 5 I was totally wrong about. How about you?

As Jerry Seinfeld projects go, this one is iffy in my opinion. Again, the voices are what make this movie the most fun for us alleged grown-ups.

The bee puns are everywhere, and some are actually pretty good. But enough is enough already. They do mock several very popular movie concepts too. How many did you notice?

Regardless of how you felt about this movie, I can recommend it to anyone with kids; big or little. Watch this movie with your honey. Oy vey.

Dan In Real Life

This movie was much better than I expected. For a change, all the funny bits are NOT in the previews. In fact, the best parts are not.

This movie got to me on a different levels. First, as a father of daughters. Second, as former single guy. Third, one familiar with large funky families.

This story keeps moving and goes in directions you may not expect. It is smart. It is funny. It hurts to watch certain scenes if they are things that have happened to you or people you know.

Steve Carell may be one of the most recognizable faces on American screens big and little. He is so funny because his timing is perfect, and he represents the "everyman" in each of us. He is very smart and knows how to make us laugh. He is the ultimate straight man. And I mean that in the comic sense.

If the conversation between Carell's character and his daughters (any time he talks to all 3) does not bring a tightness to your throat or a tear to your eyes, I'll refund the cost of your rental. If you are a parent of teens, especially daughters, you will totally relate to these conversations. They are totally real.

Juliette Binoche is as charming and desirable as she is in Chocolat if not just a wee bit older. The meeting between her character and Carell's should appeal to the romantics of both genders. Brilliant.

Dane Cook is the same doofy character he played in "Good Luck Chuck", but this time it actually works.

The relationships in this family should ring true with anyone who grew up in a big family.

Dianne Wiest and John Mahoney are perfect as the heads of this very interesting bunch of adults and their kids.

Watch this movie with someone who will play word games with you to see who does dishes.

No Country For Old Men

This is NOT your normal "Best Picture" winner. This is not even your normal movie. The characters are deeply disturbing. It is a brilliant piece of work. But, like other work of the Coen brothers, it is not for everyone. This movie will most likely leave you with more questions than it answers. If it does, then it has succeeding in defending itself. What other movie from last year are people still talking about?

Has crime and criminals changed so much over the years that there is no place any more for the techniques and attitudes of old-time law enforcement officers? This is just one of the questions posed by the Coens in this script.

When I said the characters were disturbing, I meant all of them. The good guys AND the bad guys here are all deeply flawed individuals. There are no white-hat-wearing heroes. The villain is as dark and fearsome as they come.

Javier Bardem truly earned his Best Supporting Actor Oscar here. Cold-blooded is the only way I can think to describe his character. The Sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) trying to figure out what is going on in his county calls Bardem's character a ghost. But the string of dead people across West Texas is real enough. The paradox here is the common sense of the "old men" are not shared by the new techniques of the new cops. Neither alone is enough to catch or hold the bad guy. He is too smart and too fast.

Josh Brolin is perfect as the Viet Nam vet living out his days in rural Texas. His instincts and skills keep him alive, and few steps ahead of the bad guy. But, it's not just the bad guy who is after him. No spoilers here.

I'm guessing you will not be happy with the ending of this movie. It is abrupt and at a very odd place. I even fast-forwarded through the credits to see if there was more movie after them. Nada. And this is where the real questions may begin for you as they did for me. What just happened? What does that mean? Can they really leave it at that?

Watch this movie with someone who does not need to tidy ending.

Farewell Sydney Pollack, and Thank You

Hollywood lost giant a today. Fans of the big screen lost a favorite saint. Sydney Pollack was a unique talent and gifted on both sides of the camera.

Six decades of work are rich in culture, humor, wonder, and romance. Thank you Sydney, for many, many hours of magic and imagination. We will never forget you.

Few other directors has as many movies on my list of personal favorites:

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
The Electric Horseman (1979)
Out of Africa (1985)

Sydney Pollack was as big in small parts as he was in lead roles. He was Will's father in the Will and Grace TV series. He worked with Hitchcock and was in a few Twilight Zone episodes. He did westerns, medical dramas, comedies, and thrillers. Few in Hollywood have worked with as wide a range of big names as Sydney Pollack.

Farewell Sydney, and thank you!

Four Brothers

This story runs deeper than your average revenge pic. There are plot and character twists that make it much more interesting AND much more fun.

Director John Singleton takes a great script and turns it into a well-told, smart, funny, sad, but also satidfying story. The plot and characters are do believeable one might expect this to be based on real events. No doubt there are real people behind everyone in this movie. There are no over-the-top, hard-to-swallow, performances.

You may not recognize Fionnula Flanagan's name, but I bet you've seen her face and heard her voice. She has been a familiar face on American TV since the days of Bonanza. For the fans of "Waking Ned Devine", she played the wife of the main living character. Brilliantly.

In this movie she plays the adoptive mother of children who are difficult to place in foster care. What she ends up with is four difficult boys who are not related to each other, but have this wonderful soul for a mother, in common. These same four "brothers" unite as adults to revenge the murder on their adoptive mother on the steps of her home.

Garrett Hedlund, Andre Benjamin, Tyrese Gibson, and Mark Wahlberg play the four bothers. The chemistry between these professionals is amazing on the screen. Not everyone could have pulled this trick off, but somehow these guys make it work.

The movie has a dark look, but that is no trick. Shot entirely on location during the winter, all the snow is real, including the scene on the frozen lake. Allegedly, outside temperature never rose above 24 degrees Fahrenheit during shooting. Detroit IS a cold place in winter.

The language is graphic as is the violence. In fact, I'm told some very big box office names turned down the roles because the script was too violent. Ouch. But along with that comes a great dose of family as each of the sons, in turns, have visions of the deceased mother.

If none of the above scares you off, watch this movie with someone with whom you have a bond but are not related to.

Beowulf: Director's Cut

This is not the Beowulf you read in school. It is more like the Beowulf in the comic book.

As Director Robert Zemeckis (Used Cars, Back to the Future series, and Forrest Gump) put it, "This story is about eating, drinking, fighting, and fornicating." I would call that description accurate.

The target demographic is clearly the male 23 to 33-year-old-video-game-playing public. If you are not in that group, you will most likely not enjoy this movie.

I watched it with a well-known Beowulf scholar, and she was at best, amused. The modernized puns overshadowed the mistakes made in the original Olde English. It was as much fun to watch the scholar as the movie.

The method for making this movie was very high-tech and cutting edge. Everything is computer generated. The main characters are in great detail, and everything else is more like Shrek.

So, let me recap. If you like video games you will probably like this movie. If you are a guy, you will probably like this movie. If you studied Beowulf in school and enjoyed it, you may enjoy this telling of an ancient story. Many parts are recognizable. If you are into CG movies, you will totally enjoy the extra features on this DVD telling how they did it.

If, on the other hand, you don't fit any of those categories, you may not enjoy this so much. Watch it with someone who is also from one of those categories.

Downfall

This movie is not for everyone. It is in German. It has subtitles. It is about Hitler's last few days. It is in black and white. It is based on accounts of those who survived. It is dark and without much humor. If you can get past all those things, it is very, very good.

Bruno Ganz reminds me of a late uncle of mine. The face, the voice, the hair, the way he carries himself brings brings back fond memories of my Uncle Buddy; my father's eldest brother. In this movie however, Bruno Ganz is almost unrecognizable. He plays Adolf so well it is almost disturbing. My uncle was nothing like Hitler despite his 20 plus years in working in California prisons as a welding instructor.

If you are a history buff, and enjoy fresh looks into old stories, this movie is a gem. Bringing to life this often-told story of how Hitler spent his last few hours has as many versions as there are storytellers. I'm no expert, but I have a feeling this one comes closer to reality than anything to date.

My interest in WWII started at a early age when I learned of my fathers involvement in North Africa and Italy. He fibbed about his age to go in the place of his older brother who stayed home to run the family farm. If you have seen the movie Tobruk, you've seen the story of my Dad's unit. That 1967 movie actually got my interest piqued in war movies. The fascination continues today. But, I'm getting off topic a bit.

"Downfall" or "Der Untergang" is a very surgical telling of a very unhappy story. It is instructional though for anyone who has to be a decision-maker. Any manager can learn some lessons here. Some things Hitler did were very smart, and some were very dumb.

Watch this movie with someone who will help you sort out the differences.

Into The Wild

What a masterpiece. Sean Penn is a genius. While you may not approve of the message, the ending, the skin or the language of this movie, you will most likely have to admit it is well-written and well told. It was not what I expected, and yet much more than I had hoped for.

Emile Hirsch does his best work to date, but raises my expectations for future work from him. Powerful acting is a gift. Please use it wisely. May you be as wise as this character.

This movie communicates some very strong messages. Many are a commentary on American society. You may, or may not, want to hear everything this young scholar has rumbling around in his head. But the story is very compelling.

If you like to do your travel and tourism via your TV, this movie will take you to many places in the US you might not otherwise see. The main character does a fantastic walk-about across America and gains wisdom and dept in the process.

At one very critical moment in the film, Hirsch's character pens the entire point of the movie. It has taken him 2 years and many bumps and bruises, both physical and emotional. Happiness is only real with it's shared.

Don't watch this movie with an animal rights activist. Don't eat dinner while watching the second half of this movie.

But, do watch it with someone who will enjoy the message, the scenery, and the wonderful Eddie Vedder soundtrack.

Madagascar

You may know it as the 4th largest island on the planet. You may know it to be home to 5% of the world's plant an animal species. You may know that Lemurs are a endemic to Madagascar. But you know know their parties rock?

Most of us have seen animals in a zoo. Some of us have seen animals in the wild. But, none of us have seen what goes on behind the scenes like it is depicted here, although a few of us have suspected it for a very long time.

Do you think animals who are born and raised in captivity long for the wild life? This movie answers things for us once and for all. And as some of us suspected, you can blame everything on the Penguins.

If you skipped this movie when it was in the theaters because it was a cartoon, I totally understand. I did too. If you skipped it because it looked silly, I get that too. So did I. It's okay, the it's just as much fun on DVD as it would have been. Perhaps more so unless you watch it with a room full of kids.

Imagine a bunch of bored, pampered New Yorkers sitting around wishing for a life out in the real world. Imagine they get a chance to spend some time out there. Wouldn't that be funny? Yes, it would. Now, put those New Yorkers in animal costumes and let the fun begin.

I enjoyed this movie far more than I expected. I don't often get a DVD from Netflix that I like so much I watch it twice before sending it back. This is one of the few. Yes, I watched it the second time to show it to someone who had not seen it, but I enjoyed just as much, if not more, for doing so.

Voices are provided by some classic New Yorkers who filled those costumes perfectly. But, the scene-thieves were the Penguins and the Lemurs. There is plenty of multi-level humor for both kids and adults, but please feel free to laugh at all of it. Make sure to watch the extras and the Christmas short. Good stuff.

Watch this DVD with someone who knows both coasts of this continent.

In The Valley of Elah

The Valley of Elah is where David defeated Goliath. Who is David in this movie and who is Goliath is still a bit unclear to me, but the story is referenced a time or two. I suppose on some level, the character of Tommy Lee Jones is David. Small by comparison. Simple and humble. His Goliath is a little more complex though.

Jones' character likens Goliath to a monster. When he tells the story to a young boy, it is intended to teach the boy how to face his "monsters". It may well be that the monster facing Jones' character is the truth. Or, it could be the Army. Or it could be the war in Iraq. I think he found if difficult to handle the truth.

His sons followed his example and served in the military. His youngest son served in Bosnia and then later in Iraq. Shortly after returning from Iraq, the son disappears. Was he AWOL? Was he killed by drug gangs? Was he lured away by a woman? Few clues are left behind. Seemingly.

Charlize Theron is almost unrecognizably thin in her role here a the only local police detective who helps Jones find his son. Once again she goes to great lengths to physically become her character.

Susan Sarandon plays the mother of the missing soldier. It is a small role, but heart-breaking. She is brilliant.

Many said this movie was anti-war and unpatriotic. Few characters in film history have been more patriotic than Jones' character. I did not find this movie either anti-war or unpatriotic. I did however, find it disturbing, and sad. Regardless of the truthfulness of the events in this movie, few can deny that soldiers today are far different than those of the greatest generation. War is different. The enemies are different. The problems are different.

This movie will most likely not change your opinions about Iraq, or Bush, or anything else. This is not a political movie. It is a gut-wrenching murder mystery. Opps, I just gave away one of the early questions. Sorry.

I can recommend watching this movie, because it is well-made. It is a very compelling story, even if you may not want to watch every scene. Some shots are pretty grisly. So, watch it with those who serve in your thoughts. Then go out and find a way to help them cope; either as a group or as individuals.

The Darjeeling Limited - Hated It

I'm guessing when this was pitched to studio heads, it sounded like a heart-warming comedy. Three American brothers embark on a journey of discovery in a far land after the death of their Father. They hope to meet up with their estranged Mother as well who now lives in that same land.

What fun this could have been. Language differences. Strange customs. Foreign foods. Ugly Americans trying to make their way in India. It could have been very very funny. But it was not.

Instead, we have an overly long, deadly slow (pun intended), story of three creepy, self-absorbed Americans who are easily manipulated by anyone.

The only interesting part was when they finally meet up with Mom, played by Angelica Houston. If I had been her character, I would have tried to get as far from her loser sons as possible too.

My recommendation is to NOT watch this with anyone you care about.

The Cider House Rules

Seven Nominations and two wins. I don't always agree with who gets an Oscar, and this is one of those cases. This movie deserves more. This movie is on my top-20 list.

Michael Caine carried this movie. With a cast of much younger, but no less talented, actors, his solid performance won Best Supporting Actor and wove their work together. His importance to this movie is similar to the fictional orphanage in the story.

Tobey Maquire (Pleasantville, Spiderman series, and Seabiscuit) is the main character and represents all the character evolution as he should. His work here shows a wider range than some of his other work, and he is totally believable.

The other main character in the story is Maquire's character's love interest. Charlize Theron (That Thing You Do, Sweet November, and In the Valley of Elah) plays one of her more loveable roles here. So many of her characters are off-the-charts rough around the edges to say the least.

Most of us did not grow up in an orphanage. This story will help us better appreciate what we had no many how bad we felt we had it. Watching this movie may motivate you to go out and adopt someone. Fair warning.

Another warning is in order. More than one abortion occurs during this movie. Not on screen mind you, but you know what happening when it happens. And a healthy debate ensues between the main male characters.

If you can handle that, you will should enjoy this well-written, well-acted, visual masterpiece.

Watch it with someone who loves children.

Batman Begins

With all the recent fuss over comic heroes on the big screen, I figure it's time to remind ourselves that this phenomenon is not new. Only 3 years ago Director Christopher Nolan brought his vision of a legendary character's somewhat humble beginnings.

Nolan does not have a lengthy resume, but it is, nonetheless very impressive with offbeat stories for us to sink our imaginations into. Memento. Insomnia. The Prestige. He is also the director who will bring "The Dark Knight" later this year. This tells you how

Christian Bale (Reign of Fire, The Prestige, and 3:10 to Yuma) is perfect as an emerging Batman, a role he will reprise for us in The Dark Knight. He is dark, brooding, understated, and feels like he has always been Bruce Wayne.

Michael Caine, the hardest working man in Hollywood for the last 50 years, does great homage to uber-cool butlers everywhere in his role as the always steady Alfred. Do you know Alred's last name? True Batman fans will. Caine is also in the upcoming Batman movie.

And what a super cast of supporting bad guys, weirdos, and Gotham regulars. Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Morgan Freeman, and Ken Watanabe. Take your pick. One or two alone would be worth the watch.

And what is a good Batman story without pretty girls? Katie Holmes fills that bill well enough.

If you enjoyed Tim Burton's versions of Batman, you should also enjoy this one. I know the Burton purists will boycott me for saying so, but this movie is every bit as entertaining as the previous. I grew up reading Batman comics, and watching the old campy black-and-white series on TV. This movie was very satisfying to me personally.

Watch this movie with your childhood firmly attached.