Troy

Homer, not the one one married to Marge, has contributed to almost 100 years of great film. Consider the 1911 version of Odyssey, and all the versions since then. And please don't forget "Oh Brother Where Art Thou", perhaps the most creative and entertaining version. Now we have "Troy" from the great poem "The Iliad. David Benioff did a masterful job with the screenplay too. Let's not forget him.

German Director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot, In The Line of Fire, and The Perfect Storm) knows how to tell a well-written story. He knows how to keep us waiting for the next scene like a dog waiting for the toss of a favorite toy.

Brad Pitt (A River Runs Through It, Twelve Monkeys, and Fight Club) and Orlando Bloom (LOTR series, POTC series, and Elizabethtown) are clearly the big box office draw here, but the whole cast does an amazing job of keeping this ancient story a 'period piece'. If you like either of these actors, you will enjoy this movie. Both have meaty roles and play them well.

Eric Bana (Black Hawk Down, Finding Nemo's Anchor, and Munich) has one of the very best fight scenes in the last few years when his Hector goes up against Pitt's Achilles. I don't know how much practice it took, or how many takes, but it looks, sounds, and feels real.

You don't need to know the story behind this movie, but it helps. Everyone has heard of Achilles' Heel, and the oddly named Trojan Horse. Well, this is the story that put those phrases in our every day.

Watch this movie with someone who will enjoy the graphic violence as much as the poetry.

The Simpson's Movie

Name me one 30-minute cartoon or sitcom that successfully makes the transition to feature film.

I didn't think so.

We're all used to The Simpson's taking on current issues with razor sharp albeit twisted wit. With "The Simpson's Movie" however, I was bored after the first 20 minutes. But wait, then the story changed. Amazingly, a new sub-plot was introduced and my oh-so short attention span was - oh wow, is that Marge in a teddy?

First it's Simpson's vs the EPA - an ongoing semi-preachy epic battle.

Then, Simpson's flee to Alaska - home of environmental sell-outs.

There is even a "To Be Continued"

Marge and kids leave Homer. Homer goes after them, rescues them from the EPA, and saves the world.

The movie does pay homage to several other popular films from many genres, but it still does not cut it for me. I cannot recommend this over-hyped DVD to anyone. Not even the kids.

If any of you saw this in the theater, I want to know if you asked for your money back. I would have.