Rango (2011)

Big names.  Big voices.  Great animation.  A wee bit preachy.  But, still a very fun movie to watch.

The biggest surprise is who does the Eastwood-esque voice of The Spirit of the West.  The character looked, walked and talked just like the man with no name.  But it was not who you think.  No spoilers here.

Johnny Depp and Ned Beatty square off as the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Isla Fisher is the voice of the love interest, sort of.  And several others lend some very funny performances.  The voice of the rattlesnake is the second biggest surprise.

Written by the same guy who wrote Gladiator, The Last Samurai, and The Aviator, some of my favorite works, this story is as moralistic as the others.  Vegas stole the water and left small desert communities high and dry.  No judgments here.  I don't know the facts.

Watch this movie with someone who has a romantic vision of the old west and the many legends who punctuate those stories.

Cookie's Fortune (1999)

Thinking about visiting the south?  Watch this movie instead.  You will get a 2-hour review of many things Southern.  In one way or another all these deliciously quirky characters are connected or related.  Watch to the end to find out how.

Glenn Close is a know-it-all-busy-body.  Julianne Moore is her socially-challenged sister.  There are so many other great names, let me try a list a few - Liv Tyler, Chris O'Donnell, Charles Dutton, Patricia Neal, and Ned Beatty.  Even Lyle Lovett and Courtney Vance have great cameos.

The first hour is chock full of character development.  Be patient.  The second hour clips right along and is stuffed with twists and turns.  Stay for the pay off.

Watch this movie with someone who fishes.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Easily the best of the bunch. Great story, true to the original. Great animation. One forgets is a "cartoon". Great voices - talk about an all-star cast.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return as the voices of Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Joan Cusack is back as Jessie. Don Rickles and Estelle Harris as the Potato Heads. Wallace Shawn and John Ratzenberger Rex and Hamm. All the staples of of series.

We are treated however to some new fun surprises. Micheal Keaton and Jodi Benson as Ken and Barbie. Fabulous! And Ned Beatty as the strawberry scented Lotso. If you have not seen it yet, you don't know what you are missing.

John Morris returns as guy who has been the voice of Andy all these years.

You may know what you think is going to happen next, but you will not guess how. You may know what you think is going to happen in the end, but you are still surprised and pleased. At least I was, and I love when that happens.

Watch this with someone who has donated their favorite toys to a worthy new owner.

Shooter

As conspiracy theory stories go, this one is up there among some of the best. "If you want your man dead, what better way than to stand him next to the President". As action movies stories go this a pretty good one, but not up quite so high. That is not a bad thing however, it just means the director, Antoine Fugua, did not over-do it. I respect that.

Mark Wahlberg pulls his roll off well as a loner marine sniper who feels the country has its back on him so he returns the favor. Considered expendable and a pawn, he retreats to the mountains of Wyoming. One of the interesting parts of this story is to try and figure out who the pawns are and who the chess players are. It's not terribly difficult, but is presented in a very interesting way.

This movie qualifies as "a good story well told". The ending is a little sloppy however, leaving more questions than answers.

Ned Beatty is a wonderfully fun dirty senator. Kate Mara (Brokeback Mountain and We Are Marshall) is pretty fun to watch and a pleasant surprise. Danny Glover almost overplays his part, and comes off a little stiff at times, but is believeable.

Watch it with someone who thinks faster than you do.

Hopscotch

Imagine the possibilities. Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Ned Beatty, and a young Sam Waterston together for a playful game of "catch me if you can". Before there was Jason Bourne, there was Miles Kendig. And Kendig plays his game without killing anyone. He humiliates them, but few people, if any, get hurt. Brilliantly too I might add.

"Hopscotch" is definitely worth a watch again if you have seen it, and if you have not, I highly recommend renting it. If you are a fan of John Le Carr spy novels, this plot is worthy of your time. If you enjoy smart, albeit screwball comedies, this movie will certainly expand your rib cage. And, if you want lesson in how to leave your current job with style, this is a must see movie.

Yes, this movie is almost 30 years old now, and yes, I remember seeing it on a big screen back when going to movies was still a pleasure. But, it is an excellent example of how to make fun movies without special effects, without computer graphics, and without a jumbo budget. Simple pleasures are still the best, in my opinion.

Although this movie carries an R-rating for language, it is one you can watch with your parents without being embarrassed. And I bet they'll enjoy this story as much as "Grumpy Old Men".