I Served the King of England

Or, for your purists : Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále. This very cute "foreign" film (no I don't like that phrase) is full of absurd surprises. If you need a reference point, think Peter Seller's "Being There" - sort of.

This film from the Czech Republic starts with a man getting out of prison. He unfolds his past as his new life develops around him. Scenes bounce back and forth as you see subtle similarities. All the observations of humanity are quite clever.

English is rarely spoken but appears in subtitles. So, if you don't like "reading" a movie, and you don't understand Czeck or German, you may want to pass on this one.

It has a R rating from the MPAA people with good reason. Strong sexual content and lots of nudity. Don't watch this if that bothers you.

On the other hand, if you watch this with someone who likes being a virtual historical tourist, it might be fun.

Repo! The Genetic Opera

How can one describe this movie? Part Rocky Horror Picture Show, part Cinderella, part Frankenstein, part Blade Runner. No offense intended to any of the 4 aforementioned films. This goth opera tries to do a lot of things. Some of them are done very well.

If you don't like gore, don't watch this. If you don't like twisted tales or freaks, don't watch this. If you don't like a mixture of heavy metal and full orchestral score, don't watch this.

On the other hand if you can handle a story about a distant (or not) future where the only thing you have to borrow against are your body parts and when you can't make your payments the Repo Man comes carving, then you might like this. There are plot twists and turns. There are funny bits and good songs may get stuck in your head. There is sex and violence aplenty.

But, my fav part is when Paris Hilton's face falls off - literally!

Watch this movie with someone who is as tolerant as you or you may end up finishing alone.

Changling

With 3 well-deserved nominations Art Direction, Cinematography, and Best Actress, this movie is worth a watch again. And pay attention to all the above. Oh and the hats. I love movies with hats.

Angelina Jolie really can act. She is brilliant here. The payoff comes late in the picture when she finally smiles. That is the Jolie most of us know. Clint Eastwood does a super job of letting all her skills shine through. Her facial expressions are great, and her emotions are real.

The photography is stunning. One scene especially, in the prison visitation room. The use of light and shadow would make Ansel Adams proud. See a very old Los Angeles area is fun for us locals and visitors.

This story is compelling and emotional. It is very easy to get into this movie and the characters. There are a few to love and many to dislike. The acting all around is very very good. John Malkovich is a surprising "good guy" in this movie. When was the last time that happened?

Ultimately this movie is about hope and fighting for what it right. The moral is that one person can often make a difference. And when a few of these types get together they can change the world around them.

Watch this movie with someone who is a parent and watch them react.

Choke

If you like the TV series "My Name Is Earl", then you might like this movie. I don't and I didn't. It pretty much mirrors Earl's format but with a hard R-rating.

Recovering sex addicts, con artists, and delusional psych patients commingling is not a good cocktail in my world.

This movie had no likable characters. Even Angelica Huston, whom I usually really enjoy, is repulsive here. Now that’s good acting.

Maybe it's a generational thing, but I found very little in this movie to like. If you are under 30 maybe you will get more of the bits. It is based on a novel by the same guy who wrote Fight Club so I expected more.

Watch this one at your own risk.

The Spirit

I can give you 3 great reasons to see this movie - Sarah Paulson, Eva Mendes, and Scarlett Johansson. If that does not work for you here are 2 more reasons - Gabriel Macht and Samuel L. Jackson.

Now, if you don't like graphic comics or the movies made about them, you won't like this movie. If you liked Sin City or 300 or such, you may like this one. I did. And, here are a couple more reasons to watch the movie - Paz Vega, Stana Katic, and Seychelle Gabriel.

This movie does a great job of giving backstory along with the current story. And it even sets up the sequel with a funny twist. Again though, if you don't like this sort of comic, or novel, or movie, don't expect to fully appreciate all the little subtleties. Every part is over-acted, every line is intense. That is how these stories work.

If you go into this with a fun sense of humor and a playful mentality, you may really enjoy yourself. Find a character you can relate to get into it.

Watch this with someone who likes fast women and pretty action.

Nights in Rodanthe

Don't watch this movie alone. That would be a waste of the effort made by writer, director, cast, and crew. This movie is about coping with loss, grief, and second chances. If you watch it alone you may get the message but miss out on the benefit of sharing the emotion.

This is a classic tear-jerker movie. But, the quality of the cast makes it far more interesting and fun to watch. It's not all tear and drama. There are plenty of smiles and laughter too. And the music. The soundtrack for this movie is worth downloading and adding to your collection.

Diane Lane is great in her role here dealing with too many changes in her life at the same time. Richard Gere plays the equally troubled doctor dealing with losses of his own. Their paths cross and mingle as a symbolic storm passes over them.

There is plenty of kissing for this movie to qualify as a romance, and plenty of drama to fit that category as well. The scenery is classic Outer Banks and it is well photographed. The supporting cast is perfect with Scott Glen, Viola Davis, Christopher Meloni, and James Franco floating in and out of the story.

Watch this with someone who will not tease you about letting a tear or two fall.

City of Ember

I don't expect anyone over the age of 21 to enjoy this movie. Nor will anyone under the age of about 10. Kids rule in this movie and that is the target audience. Most the a-dults ARE dolts. And there are some critical thin spots in the plot. BUT, for those who see an all-things-are-possible world, this should be an enjoyable story.

In a city built underground to save the human race from some unspecified disaster on the surface, a odd cluster of descendants find themselves having to deal with life support systems which have long outlived their design. It is up to the current generation of teens to save the city and humankind in the process.

Saoirse Ronan and Harry Treadaway play the two heroic teens. Both do an excellent job with fairly weak material. No doubt we'll see more of both in future projects.

Bill Murray and Tim Robbins play two of the adults. Murray is a classic uncaring city bureaucrat and Robins plays the classic uber-nerd-mad-scientist inventor even Rube Goldberg would have been proud of.

There is plenty to laugh at as well as plenty to roll one's eyes at in the movie. But all in all I'm guessing the teen-ish crowd should have fun and find characters they relate to.

Watch this with your favorite teen, either in the room or at a distance so they don't know you are watching.

Bedtime Stories

I don't expect anyone over the age of 12 to like this movie much. It is clearly a movie for kids. But it should be fun for the 6 to 12 year-olds in the family. Watch it with them, make sure the get more than the funny bits.

Adam Sandler plays his usual loser-makes-good character with the usual aplomb. If you are paying attention you will see one-liners delivered by bit players from previous Sandler movies. And in one very obvious case, a one-liner is delivered by the same actor who did the line many movies ago.

Keri Russell and Courteney Cox make worthy appearances but won't win any acclaim for their work here. Nor will any of the other cast.

The story is pure Disney formula and it works one one level. Sandler does his best to keep the story moving, and no scenes are overly long or over done.

Watch this movie with the little ones in the family. They'll thank you for it.

No Reservations

Is it hot in this kitchen or not? Sort of. This is a cute romantic comedy with definite star power. But, the story is not all that sophisticated or unpredictable. The most complex character is the orphaned niece played by Abigail Breslin. She has come a long way since her debut in Signs.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is perfectionist chef who needs others in her life maintain balance. She does not know it however. Everyone placed in her path gets run over or shoved aside. When it becomes family however, she can't keep up her ways. Aaron Eckhart plays one of those people, and is the most likable character in the story.

Foodies should like this movie. Again a very good menu is a significant part of the story. An Italian chef I know found this movie deliciously authentic. What the story lacks in depth, is well made up for in charming scenes and plot "twists".

The music is fun, the concept is fun, and it is easy to relate to most of the characters.

Watch this movie with someone who has to have things done their own way all the time.

The Other Boleyn Girl

If you like period films about life "at court" in the 1500s, you may like this one. If you like torturous family dramas, you may also like this one. If you like both, you are in for a treat.

Based somewhat in fact and reality, this story is dark, brutish, and short, much like life itself was in those days. The acting here is just this side of over the top, but I suppose one wants that in a romantic drama.

Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson play the two Boleyn sisters who are talked into seducing King Henry VIII to gain the family added prestige and power "at court" by their father and Uncle. Both girls are temporarily successful, and both produce a female heir to the throne.

The drama revolves around the alleged competition between the sisters and the scheming of other family members. It is a good story, but one that most folks may find a little difficult to relate to, depending on one's background and culture. No doubt things like this still happen today.

The story itself is well told. The costumes are great and the music is enjoyable. Eric Bana does a pretty good job or portraying the well-known monarch.

Watch this movie with someone who will understand that nobody wins in this story.

Slumbog Millionaire

One thing is for sure, don't eat popcorn, or anything else, during the first 20 minutes of this movie. After that, it should be okay.

With 10 nominations and 8 Oscar wins, this movie will no doubt stay in the history books for many more years. But, is it worthy? I'm not convinced it was the best picture of 2009, but it is certainly a very good story, very well told. The convention of telling the story, 2 stories really, in the way it's done is not new, but very clever.

No doubt many of these previously little or unknown actors will be seen more and more in movies to come. They all did an amazing job. Director Danny Boyle does this in his films. He takes humble means and makes art and miracles.

I can find only one weakness in this movie. How does the country's most popular celebrity of the moment go from being on national television in front of a audience of close to 90 million people to being alone on a train platform all on the same night?

Watch this movie with someone who will appreciate how random knowledge is acquired and used every day to accomplish the extraordinary.