Dead Again

M: V has seen this movie many times, and I have seen parts, but never all the way through. Well this past weekend we were up at the lake and sat down to watch it. This movie is good (get it edited for swearing and some violence). Robin Williams' character (which is not a major part) could be completely removed and not missed. A classic scary/mystery/fun film. 3 stars.

V: I have seen it a few times, and it is an interesting, good movie. The funny part about this viewing was that M's innocent sister (favorite movie: Pollyanna) was really pushing to watch this one over the other choices which had offensive material in it. She didn't realize that the version she'd (and I'd) seen before was edited, and was duly embarrassed by the F-bombs and violence. Ah well. I still like it. It's a creative story and artfully done. Try to see it edited if you don't love F-bombs and violence. (For me, I love that stuff!) 3 1/2 stars.

Leather Heads

M: A movie about the coming of age of professional football starring George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, and John Krasinski (Jim of the Office). A relatively funny and quirky movie that at times tried too hard to be quirky and came off silly. I enjoyed Clooney and Krasinski's characters, but did not care for Zellweger's character and did not believe the romance side of the film. It also bugged me when they tried to turn Krasinski's character into an antagonist. It felt awkward for the movie to try to force me to root against the character that was the most likable and that I most liked. 2 stars

V: It's fun enough, but it tried to go in too many different directions and fit into too many different genres at once. The effect is a pretty discombobulated show. The actors are fun. I always say I don't like Rene Zellweger, but then usually find that I lose the actress in her character. So she is a good actor, after all, I admit. George Clooney and John Krasinski are loveable actors, and their characters are fun, too. But it still is jumbled, ending in a joke that was fun, but still, what's all this running around about? Seems like Clooney, as director, was trying to sandwich the slapstick from his 20 favorite old movies into this show, and it just got silly sometimes. 2 stars.

Wall-E

M: Loved it. Wall-E is the funnest character. Very sweet. The movie is simply fun, clever, and worth seeing and owning. 4 stars

V: I really wanted to watch this movie again almost as soon as I was finished seeing it. That's a good sign. It was so sweet and clever. I've got a soft spot for that little trash compactor. One thing I appreciated was that - though there was an obvious environmental message - there was no preaching or moral-stating, they just told the story. Wall-E, so darling and love-starved, just kept shoveling away through centuries. I loved the plucky way the people approached their "new" home at the end. It was very optimistic. 4 stars

Kung-Fu Panda

V: I know everyone else has already seen this. Like I said, we're red-boxers. Hey, did you get to make Gyoza and eat them while watching this show in the theater? I didn't think so! I'm a big Jack Black fan, so I was pretty sure I was going to love this. And I did! Great characters, some hilarious lines. Good moral. My 4-year-old adds, "It was pretty fun, and just a little bit scary." We might even buy this one. (We kinda hate collecting movies, so that's saying something.) I wrestled with this a bit, but decided to just embrace the joy: 4 stars.

M: This legendary movie was the stuff of legend. 4 stars.

Baby Momma

M: I like Tina Fey, and to a lesser extent, Amy Poehler. I love them on SNL's weekend update, where the writing is funny, and they play off each other very well. This movie was ok. Parts were touching, parts were very funny, and parts were silly. A very light movie. Probably worth a redbox. 2 1/2 stars.

V: This was better (and less crude) than I expected. There were lots of people in it that I really like: Fey and Poehler (of course) and Steve Martin, Greg Kinnear and Sigourney Weaver. It was a fun watch. Definitely a red-boxer. (Course, we pretty much always red box it.) 3 stars.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

V: Another film we saw on the plane - I think I missed the very beginning - and of course, kinda hard to hear in parts, blah, blah, blah. But, I thought it was pretty charming. I really like Francis McDormand (Pettigrew). Amy Adams plays a young singer trying to make it in London - laid it on a little thick at times, but okay. Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) plays one of her 3 (or 4?) lovers - and was really cute and likable. I like how it all turns out, so I say it's an enjoyable show to see. I'm sure it's better seen not on a plane. 3 stars.

M: Pretty good, for a flight movie. You should take any review of a movie viewed on a plane with a grain of salt. I did not really like Amy Adams character very much. She was overboard, and kind of slimey. But, the movie was pretty good, and Francis McDormand was great. 2 1/2 stars.

The Visitor

V: We saw this on a looonng plane ride. It was really the only one of eight movies I watched during our trip to and from our far-away destination. This movie is about a depressed, middle-aged widower who meets and befriends a couple of immigrants who have taken up residence in his Manhattan apartment. This is a slow, sweet, troubling, but ultimately positive story that I really liked. Particularly Richard Jenkins, who plays Walter, does a really terrific job. I loved watching his subtle reactions and how he changes throughout the movie. This is a realistic story; some may resent its lack of neatly tied-up ends. I found this movie interesting and touching. 3 1/2 stars.

M: Take this with a grain of salt. Planes have a way of lessening the enjoyment of a movie, maybe it is the cramped seating, or the fact that the screen is so far away, or the poor sound quality of the headphones, or the guy that keeps standing in the way. The movie was ok, the main character was quite likable. But the movie was a downer, and the ending was a downer. Not my bag of tea. 2 stars.

Evan Almighty

V: I had not heard good things about this movie - so maybe it was low expectations - but I really enjoyed it! Particularly, the first half of the movie had many truly funny things in it. How can Steve Carrell not be funny? The end was a little silly, but still an interesting resolution. So it was a light, entertaining show, all in all. 3 stars.

M: I thought the movie was hilarious. I laughed out loud several times. Micheal Scott (some call him Steve Carrell) is so funny, it is hard to go wrong. There were a few over the top, kind of silly moments. But as a light hearted, nice, and well intentioned film, I loved it. Don't take it to seriously. 3 1/2 stars.

Definitely, Maybe

M: I liked the love interest, the one ultimatly ends up with. The two other love interests were not likable, and the main character was not all that likable either. All and all, I just couldn't get behind this movie. 1 1/2 stars.

V: There were some good parts to this movie. Ultimately, though, it was just a little too long - too spread out - the story didn't warrant it. I didn't feel particularly sympathetic toward any of the characters. So it was just OK. 2 stars.

The Dark Knight

V: "The Ring" ruined scary movies for me. I thought it was done really well, scared me from the first minute. But . . . the way it ended was so dark. Beyond scary, it was just evil. That was it. It (the thing, the girl, the antagonist) was just evil. There was no ongoing battle, no hope that good would somehow overcome. Well, this is how Dark Knight left me feeling. I loved Spiderman 2 because the villain was well-rounded and sympathetic, tragic even, as a fallen human. But this joker-guy, (yeah he was played well) was just evil. Not human at all. At first you think, okay, he had an abusive father, how sad. But then, it seems he's just making up stories. He's just a bad seed. Not interesting to me. I really don't have a problem with a super evil character - it could have worked had there been some balance. But all of Gotham seemed depraved. A few (two, three?) people were good guys. There has to be good, too, to have conflict in a story. So I can't say, yeah, it was really dark, but a great show. It was just dark. And really, really mean. (Go see Iron Man again, instead.) 3 stars


M: This is by far the darkest Batman to date and the darkest movie I have seen this year, and beyond. Heath Ledger did a fantastic job as the joker, very haunting. Christian Bale makes a good Bruce Wayne, but a less convincing Batman (the voice he puts on when he is Batman drove me a bit crazy). Incredible action and plenty of curve balls to keep you guessing. But, just too dang dark, and not enough redemption. 3 stars

What Happens in Vegas

M: Tough one. On the one hand, this movie represents everything I don't like in a movie. It was at times crude, mean-spirited, and overly silly. It had potty talk, an unusually easygoing investment banking firm, and it heaped abuse on the institution of marriage. And yet . . . I kind of enjoyed it. Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher worked as a romantic couple, at least toward the end of the movie when the movie allowed for a spark of romance. The movie also had its laugh out loud moments (often followed by a make you cringe moment). All and all, probably worth seeing if you have a night you want to give your brain and your sense of shame a rest. 2 1/2 stars.

V: I don't think I can top M's review. He pretty well summed it up. And I did decide on my rating before I looked here. I guess we are of one mind. So yeah, there are a lot of dumb/inappropriate/crude things in this movie. And there are also a lot of pretty genuinely funny things that made it kinda charming. 2 1/2 stars.

The Jane Austen Book Club

M: The movie had its share of downers, particularly in the beginning of the film. And not a single explosion or car chase, so not for everyone. But the characters grew on me and I found myself liking them and enjoying their little book club adventure. You wouldn't think you could do much with a movie about a book club, and at times the movie took itself too seriously with mega cheesy lines meant to inform the viewer that Jane Austin's books are really, really, deep and important. Nevertheless, in spite of myself, I enjoyed the movie. Highly recommended to some. Moderately recommended to many. To which club to you belong? 3 stars

V: This movie had a lot of charming, refreshing things about it. The cast is good, particularly Amy Brenneman, Hugh Dancy, and Emily Blunt. (Emily Blunt is really good, she really can take you wherever she wants - her character is great in this.) It's a nice little journey the characters take together, as they read all the Jane Austen novels together. They change and grow and learn to understand each other better. Lots of fun lines and quirky things - (like the pan to the robot on the couch - hee, hee!) Do not think squeaky clean, just because Jane Austen is in the title. I could have done without a few parts. The final scene was a little disappointing (cheesy). But otherwise, I enjoyed this movie. 3 stars

Ocean's Thirteen

V: This one reminded me of the first one (the first remake, that is.) Which means it was better than the second, silly one. This one takes us back to Vegas and involves all the great characters in their plot to bring down the jerk who hurt their friend. (Loved the Mormon kids who got sidetracked from their duties by getting all their fellow workers in the Mexican factory to go on strike, protesting poor working conditions.) It is funny, clever and interesting. 3 stars.

M: I agree with V, better than the second; but not as good as the first. These guys obviously have a blast working together, and hats off to them for it. But maybe next time we should get an Ocean's five. There are just too many characters in this movie to give them all camera time without making it feel like a disjointed cameo fest. Plus, you end up feeling bad when the likes of Bernie Mac only gets a half dozen lines. Still, fun, fairly action-packed, and enjoyable. Spend a dollar and get it from red box. 3 stars

Mamma Mia

V: Fun, fun, fun! We really enjoyed this show. It was silly and quirky and rompy - just really fun. Meryl Streep, as always, is great. And she can sing! We actually pulled up a couple of the movie soundtrack songs afterward - and she sounds really good. The "Winner Takes It All" number was the best - really powerful and touching. The music by ABBA is so addicting. And I hear they make an appearance in the film (but I don't know what they look like.) I loved the filming location - I want to go there. Pierce Brosnan, I think, sounds better if you don't look at him. His face seemed awkwardly strained when singing. The rest of the cast was very likeable, as well. I really laughed hard and out loud at the very end when the stars are dancing in full sparkly bellbottoms and platforms. Seeing Fitzwilliam Darcy wiggle like that was priceless. 3 1/2 stars

M: To start, V and I went and saw Mamma Mia in Las Vegas and absolutely loved it. The woman who played Donna in the play put together what I think is the greatest performance I have seen by an individual in a play. Meryl Streep and this movie rendition of the play had big shoes to fill. And they did a pretty darn good job. Meryl Streep was fantastic, likable, believable, and a great singer. Amanda Seyfried, who played Sophie, had the best voice of the bunch, while Collin Firth (Pride & Prejudice) and Pierce Brosnan made me squirm with embarrassment at times when they broke into song, but even they were lovable and enjoyable. All and all, a very good show. The play is better, especially at a big venue, but $6.50 for a ticket beats the $120.00 (each!) V and I paid in Vegas any day. 3 1/2 stars

National Treasure 2

M: After enjoying the original so much, I was disappointed in this sequel. This movie lacked both the originality and the cleverness of its predecessor. It was a decent adventure movie, but the characters were not super likable and the adventure seemed unnecessary, unbelievable, unrealistic, and, ultimately, unfulfilling. Ed Harris' character was completely beyond my understanding, one minute he was a maniacal murderous monster chasing the good guys through the streets of London, hell bent on beating them to the treasure even if it meant killing them all along with half the city of London, the next minute he was seemingly part of the team. an OK show, worth a red box, but ultimately, fairly disappointing. 2 stars

V: Yeah, the first was so fun because of all the puzzles and clues they had to figure out. This one had just a few puzzles. The big problem was that -unless I missed it - I saw no justification for what they were doing. Supposedly it was to clear his ancestor's name, but there was no reason finding the treasure would clear his ancestor's name - if anything (!) it further proved his ancestor's guilt in being involved with the original bad-guy-gold-hunters! So that could have used some clarification. The villain was oddly motivated, too. If it's just for money or fame, keep it at that. What's with the artifacts and then destroying them, and being so intensely violent, when he had been so calculated and cautious for so long before? The relationships between the good guys were fun, though. Fairly entertaining, even if there were a few puzzle pieces missing. 2 1/2 stars

Bee Movie

M: This is the latest cartoon about a bug that is unsatisfied with its lot in life and wants to shake the mold, ala A Bug's Life and Ants. In Bee Movie, a young bee, Barry B. Benson, graduates from school and discovers that he has to immediately decide which job he wants to perform for the rest of his life, every day, until he dies. All the other bees seem happy to work their lives away, but not Barry. So Barry goes off on an adventure and meets a human woman and falls in love. Up to this point, about the first third of the movie, I was on board and really enjoying myself. However, the movie then takes the viewer on a disjointed adventure where the story seemed to really unravel. A lot of potential, and pretty good, but disappointing in the end. My 4 year old really seemed to like it though. I give it a B. 2 1/2 stars

V: Had some very funny parts. Thank you, Jerry Seinfeld. I agree it got a little discombobulated at the end. And the point seemed to be (unlike Ants and Bug's Life): Maintain the Status Quo. Which is, I admit, a little uninspiring. But kids liked it. I enjoyed it, too. (I actually found the tv ads that Jerry did to promote the show hilarious.) For light-hearted humor, I give it 3 stars.

Penelope

M: Heart-warming, funny, well acted and well written. I really liked this movie. Penelope is born with a pig-nose. Her family hides her in shame, waiting for the day when her love will accept her as she is and marry her and break the curse. However, the curse is not as simple as they think, and before the end of the movie, the characters will all learn some good lessons. Such funny lines. Cathrine O'Hara plays Penelope's mother and nearly steals the show. James McAvoy plays the same character he played in Becoming Jane (one trick pony? I guess we will see). The movie is hilarious and definitely worth seeing. 3 1/2 stars

V: A really charming little movie! This is a darling story about loving yourself, and looking for the beauty in people. Great cast. Great color. Liked the characters a lot and the quirky little world they lived in. It shows that everyone has their freakiness and their lovliness, just depends on where they wear it. I loved that the investigative photographer, who is trying to discover Penelope, is a little person. Christina Ricci is great, and James McAvoy charming. Penelope's parents, hilarious. Very sweet show. 3 1/2 stars

Jumper

V: This show was pretty entertaining, but didn't give you enough story or info to cause you to really care. Like the characters, it jumped from place to place, and lacked good connections. But most importantly, the real conflict was never developed. Why do these people just want to kill them so bad? It would have been so easy to develop some grudge that Samuel Jackson's character had - like a Jumper killed his son or something - to explain why he's this crazily driven Jumper-killer. And the main guy's mom - doesn't she have a choice? - she just has to hunt Jumpers? That's just who she is? The only thing they offered was that Jumpers "think they are gods." So what, you're jealous? Poorly developed - were they so assured of a sequel? Also, some simple carelessness: They are blocked by the guards from entering the Collosseum, so they "sneak" in another door - and you can clearly see more guards and lots of people at that door, too. Good visual effects. 2 stars.

M: Great visual effects, and I loved the concept of jumping through space and loved even more they way the movie portrayed the jumps. The movie grabbed me from the start. Unfortunately, the storyline was a bit weak and the acting not superb. Plus, I never figured out why the paladins wanted to kill the jumpers so bad. Come on, it has to be a serious deal for a mother to consider it her duty to hunt her own son. Where did this hatred come from? The explanation of "we have always done it" didn't quite do it for me. See the movie though, its a fun watch. 2 1/2 stars.

I am legend

M: Will Smith is a lone man in New York after a virus strikes which turns people into "dark seekers," creepy monsters that cannot come out during the day. I am not entirely sure how this virus caused this incredible transformation in people, or how it have gave these monsters their insane strength, speed, and their unhuman monster look, but it did, and I accepted it. Unfortunately, Will Smith's role caused me to draw comparisons to that of Tom Hanks in Cast Away. You know, both guys living alone for a long time and trying to cope and survive. For me, the comparison hurt Will Smith because he just wasn't as believable in the role. Nevertheless, he was likable and the action and suspense of the movie kept things interesting. All in all, a good movie and worth seeing. But not amazing. 3 stars.

V: This movie was way creepier than I expected. I guess I was thinking more of a Planet of the Apes-type flick, or something. It's very suspenseful and sometimes joltingly scary. Creepy. I thought Will Smith did a good job. I heard there was an alternate ending, which would have been interesting. I just didn't feel totally engrossed or fulfilled by this movie. It was interesting though. But creepy. 2 1/2 stars.

The Golden Compass

M: Woody Allen said, "This food is terrible . . . and such small portions."

This movie felt like it tried to cram so many characters and scenes into its - actually not so short time allotment - that the story just bounced randomly from character to character and event to event. The movie wasn't exactly short, but I can only explain the splintered presentation by a lack of time to present an un-splintered version. I didn't feel like I knew, or liked for that matter, any of the characters. Because I didn't know or understand them, I didn't know why they did the things they did (like the little girl going into a scary tent by herself in the night). The movie was definitely made for people who have read the book and know what is going on. For the rest of us, it makes no sense. And the discussion of "dust" just doesn't matter, who cares. Give us an idea of what you are talking about and maybe we can get on board. Instead, I was just bored. The movie was very pretty and and well made, but it was very high on the "what the" factor. After pausing the movie for a brief intermission, we came back, pushed play, and discovered to our amazement that the movie was actually over. A major "what the" moment. After sitting through over 2 hours of head shaking moments, the movie presented us with a "leaves you wanting more" moment. Woody Allen's refrain fits: the movie was terrible, yet it was too short and it ended too soon. 2 stars

-

V: I was looking forward to seeing this, and it left me quite underwhelmed. When it ended, we were both asking, "Really? Really, that's it?" (We know they hope for a sequel, but still.) The positive is that it is very, very beautifully done. (Oscar for Best Visual Effects, nominated for Art Direction) It might even be worth watching just for that. Maybe just mute the sound. No, the script isn't that bad, but it does have a few of those obvious "power" lines that the characters repeat later in the film (or a couple of lines later) for dramatic effect. My biggest complaint was that it just quickly jumped from event to event with little lead-up or suspense. It was incongruous and inconsistent. For example, we asked (spoiler!) why the bear was nothing without his armor, owed his life to the girl for (very quickly and casually) helping him get the armor back - then spent so much time without it - then had it again after traveling long distances. Stuff like that bugged us. A shame as it is obvious that a lot of money and effort was spent on the rest of this film. We'd heard Tom Stoppard was hired then fired for this film - now that might have been a great movie. And the religious controversy - it's pretty harmless. (I would say more about that, but this is already getting long.) I'm adding half a star because it's so pretty. 2 1/2 stars

Sense and Sensibility (BBC, 2008)

V: Here we are again, I think this is the last S&S we'll be reviewing - partly because this one really satisfied. Like Mike mentioned about the last one, this is better than the book. The main reason? Colonel Brandon. I think this is a better told story because they flesh out Brandon, all the way through the movie. It really adds to the tension and romance. (Probably because he reminds us of Darcy - and who doesn't love Darcy?) There's a particularly great moment when he catches Marianne - I was sold. True, it's not in the book. Who cares? If it's an improvement to an already good story, I accept it. I think we all (4 of us) agreed that this is a bit better than the Emma Thompson version. But giving credit, I do think it borrowed some things from Thompson's. And I preferred Thompson's Willoughby. (As did Thompson, actually, she married him. Well, the actor, anyway.) This Willoughby wasn't as handsome, and gave you reason to dislike and distrust him from the beginning. I preferred to be taken in. Keeps things complicated. This was a little more Villain-Hero simplistic. But I still liked it a little better than the other. 3 1/2 stars

-

M: Great movie, great casting. I liked this even more that the last version we watched, which was also very good. As V said, the characters and their relationships were just a bit more fleshed out. This contained more from the book which the earlier version had cut out; it helps that it was 3 hours long. Although it was better that the prior version, and I gave that 3 1/2 stars, I just don't think this can quite jump to the 4 star mark for me. That is pretty prestigious company and this doesn't quite make it there, but it is close. See it. 3 1/2 stars

All About Eve

V: Today was a sick day for V. I usually don't like to watch movies without M, but since I had hours of lying in bed ahead of me, and it was an old show, I thought I'd go ahead. I had picked up a pack of old Best Picture winners from the library and out of four, this was the one I picked.

All About Eve (1950) garnered a record 14 Oscar nominations (not tied until Titanic in 1998). The star, Bette Davis, didn't win the best actress Oscar, (but got the Golden Globe, NY Critics, and Cannes award) though many felt it was the best performance of her career.

All About Eve is the story of a young woman who flatters and deceives her way into stardom at the expense of those who offered her help. It is also the story of an actress who is beginning to feel less valued because she has reached the ripe old age of 40, worrying about her identity as an actress and a woman. The script is great. The acting is really great. The story is interesting and engrossing as you follow the variety of characters. I'd heard of this movie and have meant to see it for a long time. I'm glad I did. It was especially fun for me to see Bette Davis in action, who is a Hollywood legend, but of whom I knew little. I would be embarrassed not to give this film 4 stars, since it is one of the classics, and who am I to say otherwise. But I also think it really deserves it. There is great tension throughout, great story, great characters. 4 stars

M: Oooh. Sounds good.

Sense and Sensibility (1995)

This is the Emma Thompson version, for which she won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. M&V read the novel just before watching this, and we'll be watching the 2008 version soon.

V: I'm always a fan of Emma Thompson. She's a great actress and did a good job adapting the novel into a screenplay - of which, editing, seems the biggest challenge. Lots of characters were chopped, which is good in an Austen movie. (Too many Miss This's and Mr. Thats and so-and-so's cousin...) So to cut a lot and keep it cohesive is a hard task. I thought it was really good. She gave Margaret a life, who was just a footnote in the book. I liked the casting of Edward (Hugh Grant), Lucy, Marianne (Kate Winslet) and Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman.) And though Emma Thompson did a great job, she was, I think, a little old for the part. (She was 36 at the time. Her character is in her early twenties.) One critique of the adaptation was that Colonel Brandon says he's offering Edward a parsonage in order to enable him to marry quickly, when in the book, he offers it just for some small financial support but says it's too small to allow him to marry - which was great because it gave the reader a bit of hope, before it was dashed again . . . (I'll try not to give the plot away.) I think it's tough to always be happy with an adaptation right after you've read the book. Oh well. All in all, it was a very good movie. 3 1/2 stars

M: Sense and Sensibility is not as good as Pride and Prejudice. Can you compare two books like that? I think so. Although the book is good, the characters are fairly static and the story is not as enjoyable as Pride and Prejudice (see our movie review, also right after reading the book). Still, the book is good, and this movie is even better than the book. Partially because, as V pointed out, many unnecessary characters were left on the editor's floor. Also because the characters were so well cast and the parts so well played. Also, is it fair to single out Emma Thompson as the "old" one. All of the characters in the movie were technically too old. For crying out loud, in the book, Maryanne went from 17, in the beginning, to the ripe old age of 19 by the end. So this was the 90210 of the Austin movies, thats ok. Who wants to watch adolescents act anyway. 3 1/2 stars

Midnight

V:This is an olllldie, but goodie. It was recommended to me by VSL (Very Short List) so I thought I'd give it a try. This 1939 movie stars Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche and John Barrymore (Drew's grandpappy). A penniless singer poses as a wealthy baroness and has to decide between marriage for love or money. This is a fun little romantic comedy. I liked Claudette Colbert, she was very charming. There were some funny, silly parts in the thick of the mix-up. Like a lot of romantic comedies, there is a lot of silliness, and not enough development of the romance. But it was cute. 3 stars

M: This is an oldie . . . .

I find that sometimes when I watch an older film I rank it on a sort of scale. I say to myself "that was good . . . considering how old it is." But, I don't think that is a fair way to rank a movie, so I am trying to base my review strictly on how the movie struck me, today. I have to say, it didn't strike me all that well. I don't know exactly why the romantic couple ever fell in love. So he drove her around in a cab for a few hours, and threatened her with a little physical abuse and kidnapping. Does that love make? Maybe in the 30's. In fairness, there were a few pretty funny parts. But mostly silliness and overacting. 2 1/2 stars

The Great Debaters

M: Denzel Washington stars in this movie about an all black debate team from a small college in Texas in the early 1930's. This is a touching movie about standing up for what you stand for and breaking barriers of racial intolerance. The acting is good, especially by Denzel. Having said that, the movie feels a little long and tends to drag in parts. Also, the message, though good, felt a bit heavy and pushy to me at times. Worth seeing, but don't expect an action packed movie, or a movie you can laugh along with. 3 Stars

V: I guess I liked this a little better than M. I thought it was well done. It isn't lighthearted, as it shouldn't be. It is worth seeing. Denzel does a nice job acting in and directing this movie. All in all, it is uplifting and interesting as it is based on true events. 3 1/2 stars.

Iron Man

V: I've been a long time fan of Robert Downey Jr. - even annoyed my college roommates by posting an ode to him on our shared refrigerator. He did a really great job in this, and I'm glad things are good for him right now. So, Iron Man . . . First of all, it says a lot when we see a movie in the theater - and not even the dollar theater. This happens 3 or 4 times a year, at most. (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for watching our kids!) It means we expect big, big things, and Iron Man didn't disappoint. The pace of the movie was great, always kept you into the action, moving forward, not too much or too little, and never boring. Downey, as Tony Stark, was funny and cool. These movies easily find themselves in cheesy, bad-lines territory, but this one never did. The bad guys were bad. The gizmos were awesome. The love interest was well-handled. It was exciting! You may find yourself searching for something to hold on to. (Sorry M). I really enjoyed it. The end really surprised me. Not good or bad, but I just wonder what they're going to do with it. One small critique and that is that I thought Pepper (Paltrow) was moving pretty slowly when being pursued by a big, bad robot monster thing. But she did have on some really tall heels. And maybe she didn't know he meant her as much ill will as he did. But anyway, even with that I give it 4 stars. (And don't forget to stay all the way through the end of the credits. It's important to know who the Additional Second Assistant Director is.)

M: It took me a while to suspend my belief in this one. I suppose I should have been prepared upon entering the theater to accept without question what I saw, after all, the movie is based on a comic strip about an iron man. But still, there I was saying, how did this guy build this contraption in a cave in the desert in a few days . . . no way . . . couldn't happen. Well, once I allowed myself to get into the show, I thought it was really good. Downey did a terrific job, as did Paltrow. The effects were sweet and the show, fairly unpredictable. Go see this show. 3 1/2 stars.

The Sea Inside

It was foreign film night at our house last night. We thought, hey, let's watch a film in Spanish since it's Cinco de Mayo. But this film is actually from Spain, not Mexico. Anyway . . . This film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film 2005, and stars Javier Bardem (Best Supp. Actor in No Country for Old Men) And just an interesting note, I kept seeing the same name pop up in the credits: Alejandro Amenabar. This guy is a true auteur -- co-writing, directing, producing and even writing the music for this film. (Incidentally, he also directed "The Others", our favorite scary flick.) This film is about euthanasia, and Ramon, who wants to die. (This same year the Best Picture Oscar went to Million Dollar Baby. Hmmm. Whoever said Hollywood isn't political?) Rated PG-13.

V: This is a beautiful film. (You gotta call foreign movies "films" y'know, because you feel kind of cool and important watching them in the first place.) The filming, acting and music is really great. There are particularly moving sequences when the main character imagines himself out of his confining position and the camera takes you away with him, in impressive single shots that are minutes long, travelling over land and sea. Bardem does a fabulous job. His character is touching, sympathetic and frustrating. The film is a little long (125 min), but I felt, worth it, as you really feel compelled to stay with the characters. It is thought-provoking, poignant and not simplified. Euthanasia is one of those tricky subjects, and though the movie does eventually take a stance, it is not overwhelming in that they give you plenty of reasons to be persuaded both ways. But mostly, it's a moving personal story about Ramon. 3 1/2 stars

M: V is right that this is a very moving film. However, for me, it was frustrating to see this man, who was capable of having such a positive impact on the lives of those around him, want so desperately to end his own life. Nevertheless, Bardem gave a stirring performance and the movie is a show that is worth seeing. A bit thick on the political persuasion. 3 stars

The Waitress

M: For me, this movie was a lot like Johnny Depp's Chocolat. Everybody around me seems to be nodding their head in a deep and understanding way, as the actors talk of, and passionately cook, some sort of food product. I just sit there, thinking to myself that I must be missing something. Is it just me? Is food production really that meaningful and sexy. I don't get it. Also, I am not a huge fan of affairs in a movie. If one is going to happen, I like the spouse that is cheated on to sort of have it coming. Maybe I am naive in that way. This show had two spouses who were cheated on. One had it coming, the other, as far as I could tell, didn't. This made it very difficult for me to like the main characters. And when you don't care for the main characters, that can't be a good sign, can it? 2 1/2 Stars

V: This show has plenty of charm. It does, however, revolve around an affair, which made me uneasy for the duration. In defense of the food thing, (see above) . . . it's not the food (pies, in this case)- it's the care she puts into making the pies, the nostalgia she feels from when her mother taught her how to make them (she has been missing a caring/nurturing presence in her life), and the genuine interest and appreciation the co-adulterer has for the heroine's talent - those things mean something. Plus pies, specifically, are wholesome and comforting - things also missing from her life at the onset. It doesn't really matter what it is, food, music, art, nature - as long as someone cares about what you care about - it's romantic. Did it work romantically here? Yeah, a little. Mostly the pies were a great device for her to express any kind of emotion, e.g., frustration, gratitude, anger, guilt. And at times it was pretty funny. Keri Russell does a good job in this movie. I think I would recommend this show, with reservations because of the infidelity. 3 stars.

All of Our Reviews are here!

Don't forget to check out the link on the right to the spreadsheet with all of our reviews. We've been keeping this for years, so please forgive if we haven't updated all of the entries. We're working on it - In the meantime, give what we have done a look.

Juno

V: Juno, Juno, Juno. Well, I think it was interesting. I had high hopes. In the end, I thought the story was pretty good. I liked the up-close attention to the main character-- they didn't speed through her conundrum slapstick style. Interesting how some characters changed in her perception (and ours), though it may have been too clean a switch. Ellen Page was very good. The boyfriend is great, we already loved that actor. Her Dad was a highlight, funny, rude, but always loving. It had a lot of crude elements/language, so that cast a shadow over it from the beginning. However, the script was natural and original. Music was fun. It was good, not super. 3 stars

M:I had very high expectations going into this movie, which perhaps put it at an unfair disadvantage. At first, I was a bit surprised at the content (you might say, "what did you expect from a movie about teenage pregnancy," but I didn't see it coming). As the movie rolled on, I grew to really like the characters. Juno is funny, her family is dysfunctional but fun. In the end, I really liked this movie. Of course, Ellen Page did great. I really like Michael Cere (played George Michael in Arrested Development). I wish they had found a way to do more with him. I also liked Juno's dad, cracked me up. I am not going to say that this is the greatest movie of all time, it isn't. But, it is good, the characters are likable, and the content, looking back, wasn't really all that bad. Tough call, tempted to give it a 3, but I will go with . . . 3 1/2 stars.

Dan in Real Life

M: Good Show! We love Steve Carell. The first time we saw him in Bruce Almighty, he stole the show. He is also fantastic in The Office. And now, we find that he makes a good-- weird-- but good, leading man in a romantic comedy. Dan's insecurities and his funny relationship with his family made the show for me. Line of the show: "This corn is like an angel." Makes no sense sitting here on this blog, but watch the show, it is one of many lines that left us laughing out loud. As a bonus, the show had very little swearing, if any, and no sex scenes. A few innuendos, but light. 3 1/2 Stars

PS - I (V) watched the bonus material and it turns out the "corn is like an angel" line was an ad-lib by Carell.

V: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! Another take on Cyrano de Bergerac, Steve Carell (who does have a pretty big schnoz) is a writer and the less-likely candidate for the affections of the lovely Marie (Juliette Binoche) who is dating a younger, more "manly" man. The humor was perfect - I laughed at everything they intended to be funny. There were also some very sweet and touching moments. (kleenex grab, tear dab) Carell and Binoche, of course, were great. No one in the cast bugged me. The family was diverse and endearing. The script was unique and realistic. I liked the filming, the soundtrack, the story. Almost a PG show, too. I have no complaints - and am so happy to have seen it! Excellent. 4 stars

Enchanted

M: This is a fantastic movie. McDreamy (Grey's Anatomy), Jim's Pam-look-alike girlfriend (the office), and Cyclops (X-Men) all made appearances and all three were great. Particularly Amy Adams who was so sweet and funny and perfect for the part (maybe Jim should have stuck with her, see review of Blades of Glory). The prince, James Marsden, was pretty hilarious, and Patrick Dempsy made a very likeable leading man. The music scenes were great. This is a classic, for adults and children. Nearly a four star movie but a couple of overly silly things, think animal bowels, keep it from perfection. I also wasn't 100% sold on the ending. Having said that, I highly recommend. 3 1/2 stars

V: I also really liked this show. Many funny parts and great references to Disney movies past. Amy Adams as Giselle was so great - you could really picture her animated counterpart. Loved watching her change, too, as she grasped reality. The prince was one of the funniest parts. The chipmunk was the least funny when he could talk - so it was good he could only squeak for most of the movie. Songs were great fun. Very entertaining. 3 1/2 stars

August Rush

V: Movie of a young boy who must "follow the music" to find his parents. This show had so many unlikely and unbelievable elements, we were constantly rolling our eyes, "yeah, right"-ing, or being plain creeped out. So girl and boy play in their respective concerts, girl meets boy on rooftop, boy sings Moondance and says he talks to the moon, so girl sleeps with boy on rooftop, they part the next morning, both forswear music and pine for each other for 11 years, 3 months and 15 days, son searches for parents, they all "follow the music" to their happily-ever-after. And when they find each other, they seem remarkably unsurprised and underwhelmed. The script was bad, predictable and rushed to dramatic points. This could have worked had it been treated in a more fantastical way (ala Big Fish or Pushing Daisies). But since it took itself so seriously, we just couldn't. The best part was the little African American girl from the church choir. (She had about 10 lines.) Music was good, by Hans Zimmer. 2 stars

M: A couple that knew each other for less than 11 hours pine away for 11 years, abandoning their music and being generally blue. Girl gets hit by a car and her dad forges her signature to give away her baby while she is unconscious. She thinks the baby is dead. Baby grows up in an orphanage, but can hear his parents "music" so, at about age 12, he follows it, literally, through the streets. Meets an incredibly creepy Robin Williams and his gang of singing ruffians. Creepy Williams really likes music. Baby, now kid, learns to play a guitar like a pro overnight. Escapes to a church, where he learns to play the piano and write symphonies in an afternoon. Is enrolled by the minister/choir director into Julliard (what is that, $40,000 a year tuition) where he naturally becomes the top student. Conducts the philharmonic in central park as they play his music. Of course! My neck hurts from shaking my head so much. Otherwise, its a feel good movie, if you can only accept the heavy heavy cheese that comes along with that good feeling. I couldn't. 1 1/2 stars

Blades of Glory

M: Will Ferrell and Jon Heder star in this show about two figure skating superstars who join together as a couple in pairs skating after being banned from male singles skating. This had some very funny stuff, including some laugh out loud moments . . . but. Crude jokes throughout ruin the show. This show had potential, not a lot of potential, but some potential. This obviously was no Napoleon Dynamite, but it was a lot better than bench warmers (Jon Heders prior films, see our full list of reviews for reviews of both). Jenna Fischer of "the Office" has a role in the movie, and though I love her in "the Office," her character in this film, the sweet likable girl, is neither sweet, nor likable. Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler and Arrested Development's Will Arnett, both hilarious in those shows, don't do much to help this show. I can't recommend, but if you don't mind senselessly crude humor, give it a shot. 2 Stars

V: Amen to what Mike said. 2 Stars.

Ratatouille

M: Good movie. Maybe a little long. Little Rat (voice of spence from King of Queens, Vic can fill in the name, she is good at that kind of thing) likes to cook. As a cooking fan, he doesn't fit in with the other rats, eventually separates from them, and ends up at a fancy restaurant helping a human wannabe cook make fancy dishes. This is very funny, but, if you are like me, the sight of rats cooking is not all that appealing. The only real flaw in the movie is toward the end where there is this sort of false ending that is proceeded by more action, another climax, and a bit of an anticlimactic second ending. Perhaps this unexpected bonus time after my mind thought the movie was over contributed to the feeling that the movie was about 20 minutes too long. See it though, it is good. 3 Stars

V: I really liked it, a great fish-out-of-water/rat-in-the-kitchen story. I do agree that the huge family of rats scurrying around the kitchen was shudder inducing - which is probably the main reason I didn't give this one full marks. When the show looked like it was going to wrap up, I'm really glad it didn't - it would've been too simple, too trite. Instead, it further explored the complications of pride, loyalty, peer pressure - and the reality of the problem of a rat in the kitchen. So I really ended up liking this show. Really fun and unique - The Pixar people don't disappoint. 3 1/2 stars

Transformers

M: Oh man. A piece of my childhood, spoiled. This action-packed movie contained so many cheesy lines that it was one long cringe throughout. The battle scenes were chaos, I couldn't tell who was who. Oh, so disappointing. And when they had Prime giving his lame lines, it was almost more than I could take. But, some cool effects, I guess. 2 stars.

V: This show was way, way too long. (I can do 2 1/2 hours for a really good movie - this one should have been 90 min.) Even with that length there were loose ends. And for a show that I'm sure attracted a lot of 8-12 year-old boys, it had quite a few crude elements. Lost credibility in many parts, with characters making uncharacteristic moves. The effects were cool - but not 2 1/2 hours worth of cool. I thought Shia Labeouf did a good job with what he was given. 2 stars.

No Reservations

Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckart and Abigail Breslin. Story about an uptight Chef (Zeta-Jones) who finds herself surprised and changed by a pajama-wearing newcomer chef (Eckart) and her newly-orphaned niece. Rated PG.

V: First of all, I admit that my viewing of this movie was interrupted many times, which I think lowers my overall opinion of it. I expected a romantic comedy, but it came off as a drama. Fairly contemplative, some tragedy, tension. I guess there were some funny things, and a happy ending, but it still didn't seem comedic, to me. It was very soundtrack heavy. The instrumental background music was distracting and repetitive. And the songs were many and unnatural - almost like they were trying to fit a movie into a movie soundtrack album they'd put together. Not very original stories. We (the three of us who watched it) all said we liked the food parts. The cooking/kitchen was interesting. I do like these three actors, too. So it was alright.

I give it 2 1/2 stars.

The Simpson's Movie

A classic TV show gone movie length.

V: Didn't disappoint. Funny, moving, inspiring - just like the TV show. 3 stars.

M: As far as I am concerned, the Simpsons is perhaps the best TV show of all time. This created a high bar in my mind for the movie. (as I have learned during this primary election season, its called the “expectations game”). The movie was good. But maybe my expectations were too high. Much like when Wallace and Gromit came out with a movie, I came away a little bit disappointed. Maybe both shows are best in 30 minute increments. Having said that, it is still the Simpsons; don’t miss it. 3 stars.

Bourne Ultimatum

PG-13, The third (and last?) of the Bourne series. Jason Bourne still trying to find out who he is and why he has been running around killing people.

V: My favorite so far. That car chase in the last one went on for hours. Bourne is a great spy/assassin. Very sneaky, very tricky. I gave this one 3 1/2 stars.

M: This is the final installment of a great series. I love watching Bourne in action. The first show was the best, the second the worst, but this third movie was good, action packed, and definitely worth catching. 3 stars.

Becoming Jane

Movie about Jane Austen's life. Starring that one girl from Ella Enchanted and Devil Wears Prada. Can't remember name right now. I liked her in this. And James McAvoy. Where have I seen him before? (Mr. Tumnus in Narnia - and in Atonement, though I haven't seen that.) Rated PG.

V: I thought it was pretty good. At first, we were both saying, OK, OK, we get it, she wrote from her experiences. But then the story began to form better, and it became a good, sad story. There was a bit of tear dabbing on my part, and some "Argh!"ing. Tough time and place to live in. I give it 3 stars.

M: For the first three-quarters, this felt like a strange redo of pride and prejudice. At the end, the show came into its own and had a nice, but sad, ending. However, not enough to raise it beyond 2 1/2 stars.

Comin' Up

This blog will be for posting our ratings, feelings, complaints, recommendations, warnings or praise on movies we've seen. You're welcome to our opinions.