Despicable Me

M: I went to see this on a date with my 6 year old Daughter. It was good. Pretty enjoyable. Had a good message. At times it felt a bit predictable and heavy handed. But, all in all, a good show to see with the kids. 2 1/2 stars

Wives and Daughters

M: Another great mini-series by the BBC. Same author and director as North and South. The characters are likable, and I thought that the leading lady, played by Justine Waddell, was great. But the leading man was not so great. Not the best romance, but a very good and enjoyable show. 3 stars.

V: We both liked this. Some very good actors. Some annoying (because they were supposed to be) characters. Really good. 3 stars

Proof

M: As good as a movie about math can be perhaps. But, not great. 2 1/2 stars.

V: I actually liked this quite a bit. It is not light, fun entertainment, be warned. But I thought it was a really interesting psychological drama and well-acted. Yeah, I really liked it. 3 1/2 stars.

Girl with a Pearl Earring

M: A pretty good show. It tried to be a bit too deep though. And if there was romance, I didn't buy it. But, well done. 2 1/2 stars.

V: I was underwhelmed by this movie. Though I thought the acting was good, the overall mood was just a little too bleak. I mean, I like myself some bleak, don't get me wrong, but it was unwarranted here. It needed a little balance. But, it was good. Not great. 2 1/2 stars.

Diaries of a Wimpy Kid

M: This is a pretty fun movie about a kid making his way through middle school. I liked it. The boy and his friend were both very likable. The parents were funny. The brother was a bit over the top but funny. The "cheese touch" was a funny touch. I didn't really care for the overly mean bullies and the overly wise newspaper girl. Otherwise, it is a fun show. 3 stars

V: This had a lot of originality. The main kid was an anti-hero, which is perfect for a kid this age - (weren't we all unacceptable human beings in middle school?) He's insecure and trying to succeed by being anyone but himself. His best friend, a chubby, cheesy boy who professes his admiration for his mother openly is great. He ends up being liked because he's himself. I thought they mixed in the graphic novel sketches well. It was cute. And I'm glad not to be in junior high anymore. 3 stars

Take a Chance

M: This is another in the series of Mormon movies. But, although it has all the same actors as the other Mormon movies, and although it is clearly filmed in Provo, Utah, the characters in the movie aren't Mormon. Or, at least, it is pretty vague. I guess they hoped to expand the viewer base. Whatever. It made it a bit weird. So, two guys from Texas meet a guy from Idaho who looks like a missionary. Texas guy falls in love with Idaho guy's sister after looking at a picture of her. So he goes to Idaho and pretends to be an exchange student to meet her. Pretty funny. Not great, but good. I liked the main guy and the main girl. The story was tough to buy, and I didn't care for some of the secondary characters. 2 1/2 stars

V: It was pretty cute. Both the main guy actors were fun. One problem was that a girl who tells this guy that she'll help coach him so he can successfully woo her roommate gets mad at him because, and I quote, "You were just using me to get to her!" Uh, yeah, that was your plan. So a tighter script there would have been good. But, it was still pretty enjoyable. 2 1/2 stars

Whip It

V: So, I kinda liked this movie about a high school girl who wants to join the roller-derby. It had a lot of actors that I like. The dad and the coach were always funny. The mom, just really good - Marcia Gay Hardin - she's just such a great actress. Kristin Wiig is great - one of our favorite SNL staples. Ellen Page is very natural. You kind of know how it's all going to turn out, but it wasn't one-sided. Ellen's character, Bliss, comes to see her parents' point of view, just as they come to see hers. So she grows up a bit. The movie's got that mellow indie feel. Directed by Drew Barrymore, who plays Smashley Simpson. I enjoyed it. 3 stars

M. Great cast, Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), Jimmy Fallon, and Kristin Wiig (whose Penelope Character is change-your-life-funny). Unfortunate, not a great movie. In fact, I give Whip It this years Worst Use of Talent Award. V and I really differ on this one. For the most part, I found it predictable, cliche, and annoying. It was a bizarre mixture of inspiring sports movie, slapstick comedy, and family drama. For me, it was really disappointing. 2 stars.

Kill Bill (Edited)

M: Kill Bill is 111 minutes long. The edited version V and I watched came in at 88 minutes. So, with 23 minutes missing, I suppose this review should be taken with a grain of salt. I didn't buy it. It was quirky, but, between the quirkiness and the editing, I didn't know what quirks were purposeful and what quirks were simply editing. Extremely violent. I mean, extremely. The editing may have made it choppy, but without the editing it would have just been vulgar. I just wasn't a fan. 2 stars.

V: So they fought a lot. And then they fought a little bit more. And sometimes when they fought they flew through the air, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon-style. And sometimes they were cartoons. So, it was kind of stylish, but otherwise, y'know, they just fought. So, yeah, meh. They fought. 2 stars.

Inception

V: What an interesting, unique movie! M and I sat through the credits and then walked out of the theater in silence, just so much to think about. It was a cool concept involving dreams and dreams within dreams. I won't include any spoilers, here. There are times with wild action and violence, but it's inside dreams, so the people are "pretend", and it doesn't seem so bad. Leonardo DiCaprio and the rest of the cast are great. There are some super-cool effects, and amazing images. I was thoroughly captivated and interested. I loved it. 4 stars

M: Great show. Took a while to figure out what was going on. Then, at the end, V and I could agree on what it all meant. But, I think that it is a deep and well thought out movie that is absolutely worth seeing. I would love to go further, but I can't think of what to say that would not include spoilers. After you watch it, which you should, call me, we can discuss. 3 1/2 stars

News Radio

M: This is one of my favorite TV shows ever. I just finished watching the first season and half of the second on Hulu.com. Hulu has the first 4 seasons right now. A fantastic show with a great cast, including Phil Hartman. Check it out. 3 1/2 stars.

V: Pretty funny. It is good to see Phil Hartman. 3 stars.

Ben-Hur

V: So I dragged out another classic for M to see. (It had been a long time since I'd seen it -- as evidenced by the fact that I remember the burping scene as my favorite. Yes, there's a burping scene, not really the most important part of Ben-Hur - which you surely realize if you've seen Ben-Hur. I mean, deep and heavy sweeping epic BEN-HUR . . . and I remembered the burping scene. I was young, OK?) The movie goes a little slowly for our modern taste. The people kind of pause and stare at each other for uncomfortably long, dramatic periods of time. And I wonder . . . did people really used to do that, y'know, back in the day? Were they actually slower than we are now? I digress. It is really, still, a very cool movie. Did you know it held the record for most academy awards until 1998's Titanic? Almost 40 years! It has amazing costumes and sets - and the chariot race! Even people who haven't seen Ben-Hur have seen the chariot race. And M's boss's dark humor was revealed when we watched the galley scene. "We keep you alive to run this ship. Row well . . . and live." Hey! says M, That's what my boss is always telling the associates! Ha, ha, ha. (watch this scene and you'll see. It's hilarious.) It's long. It's good, though. And I even watched the long making-of documentary afterward. (Well, this spread over a couple of days.) It's a winner. Who am I to say otherwise? 4 stars

M: I agree that Ben-Hur is, well, epic. It is absolutely amazing how many costumes and actors are in this movie. No special effects, just tons of man-power and time. And a 3 1/2 hour originally composed sound-track to boot. Really pretty amazing. For me, the whole religion thing clashed a bit with the rest of the show. I know it was an important part, and I am probably a bad person for saying that, but it didn't quite fit for me. That is perhaps the only thing keeping this movie from getting absolute top marks. Even still, Ben-Hur is amazing to watch. There is no way this movie could ever be made today. No way. I cringe when I hear that Titanic broke the record for academy awards. Titanic?! My nemesis. Check out Ben Hur. It is worth seeing an epic that doesn't rely on computerized graphics. A classic. 3 1/2 stars

Invictus

M: This was only ok for me. I thought that Morgan Freedman did a good job as Nelson Mandela, and Matt Damon was likable as always. But the movie itself was a bit much for me. I can be inspired by sports, but this was too inspiring. It is too simplistic to accept that rugby alone saved a nation and changed everybody's perceptions and biases. There were also a few scenes that absolutely bugged me to no end, namely the airplane scene and the scene with the guy scoping out the rugby stadium for, what was at least inferred to be, a good sniper location. The movie tried to add some suspense by inferring danger or assassination potential, but then later completely ignored the fact that it had ever mentioned it. Anyway, that is my take. 2 stars.

V: Interesting. I liked this movie. I didn't think that they were portraying that rugby saved the nation. Rather, I was intrigued by the careful attention that Mandela gave to the rugby team, and the world cup, as a way to reach across barriers and to unite the country. It made me want to know more about Mandela. There was a strong message of forgiveness portrayed, which is particularly poignant given the way things had been for the country and for Mandela, personally. I liked the phony teeth they had Morgan Freeman wear when he appeared in the crowds, smiling that great big Mandela smile. Even though this was a sports movie, I liked it. "Invictus", meaning "unconquered" is the title of the poem that Mandela quotes and gives to the rugby team captain: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." That's quite the mantra after 27 years in prison. 3 1/2 stars.

The Time Traveler's Wife

M: I don't want to lose my man card, but I kind of liked this movie. Maybe its because I like the notion of time travel, and it was interesting to see what they did with that. I didn't really care for the relationship in the movie, which I suppose is pretty important. I hated the notebook, same actress, way too sappy. This relationship also dripped a bit of sap, but not nearly as bad. It felt like the relationship moved too quickly and then went backwards though. The first time they meet, at lease that the viewer sees, she is madly in love with him and they jump in the sack. A little while later, he is gone for a few weeks and she is intensely mad at him. This after a lifetime of his being gone most of the time, which she didn't seem to mind? Not buying it. In the end though, I loved the idea of his moving through time and how it came together, especially with his daughter. That saved this from being another lame over-the-top romance. 2 1/2 stars

V: Interesting concept. My disbelief was almost immediately un-suspended though by the way they were so matter-of-fact about the whole time-traveling thing. This poor little boy loses his mom in a car crash, and immediately this weird man shows up and says, "It's okay, I'm you. I time-traveled here." Only the friend of the wife's friend seemed to show some real dismay at the idea. Okay, other than that . . . It made for some good - wait, pause the movie, let's talk about these time-travel implications - moments. But that is outside of the movie, isn't it. The end had me a little teary, not because of what the movie achieved really - but the thought of *Spoiler* seeing your husband again after he had died - yikes. And what does she do? She smiles pleasantly and holds her daughter at her side as he disappears again. No! That is the time for the tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth! What was that blithe "See you maybe some other time for a couple of minutes love." Arg. So, it was kind of interesting, but not particularly well-executed, I thought. 2 stars.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

V: I just want to remind you all that I was a big fan of Robert Downey Jr. long before Iron Man came about. College roommates? Back me up on this. So, I really enjoy a good suspense/mystery movie every now and then. I thought both Downey and Jude Law did a great job. The story was interesting. I thought it was a good romp. The Rachel McAdams character was just all right, for me. It felt like they were just trying to fit in a female character, affirmative action style. It could have been a better character. Apparently she was a super-thief, but then, oh dear, the girl got in "over her head," to quote from the movie. She was supposed to be Sherlock's equal. She didn't come off very experty to me. Anyway . . . I otherwise enjoyed it. Good fun. 3 1/2 stars.

M: Yea, I am with V on the McAdams' character. I didn't see the point, except to add a pretty face. Which I guess doesn't hurt. I mean, if you are going to have Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, it is, after all, only fair to throw something in for the guys. So, ok, I talked myself out of not liking her part. Otherwise though, the movie was just ok for me. I thought Jude Law really stole the show, taking Watson, a historically forgettable character, and making him really interesting and likable. Downey, as usual, was quirky and dark and good. Watson definitely should have died though in the big explosion he got caught in. No way he survived that. So, I was a bit annoyed with that. I am really torn. I definitely could go a bit higher, but I am going to have to give it 2 1/2 stars.

North & South, BBC

V: This is not the war mini-series. This is the love across cultural lines mini-series. And I really liked it. It's quite romantic, great leads, good chemistry, and all that. It's an interesting look at social differences and injustices. The characters are malleable and likable. It was addictive. Really well done. I had the teeniest of qualms with one scene - I would have preferred a quieter, humbler character than a rude one . . . but, I really enjoyed this, so . . . 4 stars.

M: Really good. Another great job by the BBC. Beautiful music. Beautifully made. Very real and intriguing characters. My qualm is that the hero is way to grumpy. Way to grumpy. It gets to the point that you are not convinced that he is redeemable. Still, it is a great show. I loved the mother, and the other characters, they were flawed, but real, and I liked that. I felt that the movie presented a very believable and compelling story. A great show to watch with your love. 3 1/2 stars.

LOST

M: Where to begin. Lost is the only current TV show that V and I have been actively following. After watching the first season on DVD, we started tuning in each week. Thank goodness for DVR and the internet, over six seasons there was probably about a months worth of commercials. Well, Sunday was the final episode. I am left really torn. When Lost is on its A game, there is no better drama, on TV, possibly ever. When it is off, it is really off. As my friend noted, Lost is both the best and worst of TV. The plot walks a fine line between mind blowing mystery and absurdity. See if you can spot the plot twist that didn't actually happen.

1. A giant polar bear attacked a character while she was stranded on a tropical island
2. The characters set off a nuclear bomb that created an alternate reality
3. One of the characters drowned in some murky water and came back to life evil
4. When one of the characters escaped, it caused the island to start jumping trough time
5. A character shot and killed her yet to be born son when he came to the island
6. A character pushed a button every few hours in order to save the world
7. The characters discovered a magical bird that could tell the future
8. A black smoke monster helped a highly radioactive man go into a cave and unstop a glowing well of water, which led to earthquakes
9. One of the character's dead father is spotted alive several times
10. One character plays a cop, a con-man, a murderer, and a 70's security guard for a scientific community
11. One of the characters does not age and has lived for hundreds of years
12. The island had a giant statue (hundreds of feet tall) and a magical man lived in its foot
13. The island contained a lighthouse that could be used to look at people all over the world
14. A man fell into a cave, turned into a smoke monster, and later inhabited the body of a former cripple who was cured when he came to the island but was later killed after he left the island
15. A character can hear dead people talking from their graves. Another character sees dead people and talks to them face to face.

Which plot never happened? Number 7. A magical bird, that's ridiculous! But I guarantee that someone who hasn't seen the show could not correctly answer this quiz. My biggest complaint is that the writers are clearly better at creating intriguing mysteries than in explaining the mysteries. At the end, a lot was left completely unexplained. That bugs me. But still, as my brother in law noted, at times a Lost episode will come along that can only be described as "high art." These moments occurred the most frequently in the 1st, 4th and 5th seasons. I definitely recommend Lost. The characters are great, and, for the most part, the storyline is compelling. But be prepared to get lost a few times. 3 1/2 stars

V: Lost is fun. Watch it. 3 1/2 stars.

Night at the Museum 2

V: Had no high expectations, and I thought it was pretty funny. We watched it with our girls and they liked it, too - and there wasn't anything offensive. It made for a very fun movie night. I don't remember the first one very well, but this one was a lot of fun. I laughed out loud when the little guys were stabbing peoples shoes in slow-mo during the final battle. 3 stars.

M: I agree. Funny, clean, a bit overly silly at times, but generally good fun. They did a good job having a villain that was both villainous and hilarious. A good show. Not amazing, but good. 3 stars.

Corner Gas

M: Let me introduce you to my favorite TV series, hands down: Corner Gas. A Canadian TV show that aired for 6 seasons on CTV. The show is based in the fictional town of Dog River, in Saskatchewan, Canada. Dog River has one gas station, Corner Gas. Brett Leroy--played by comedian, producer, writer, and sometimes directer, Brett Butt--owns and operates the station with the help of his employee, and real life wife, Wanda. Attached to the gas station is the town diner, owned by Lacy, the girl from the big city. Other regulars include Brett's best friend and town laze-a-bout Hank, Brett's cranky parents, and the two lovable but incompetent local cops. I was introduced to this series by my sister, and through me, a think quite a few have now watched and, I hope, loved it. I love Sienfield, the Simpsons, and Arrested Development. They are all great shows. They also, at times, are not all that wholesome. They leave you laughing, but feeling bad that you are laughing. This is where Corner Gas shines. While it's not perfectly squeeky clean, it is more so than anything you can find on US television. It is also a lot better, funnier, and far more endearing.

The first thing that struck us about the show, as we start watching, was its slow, gentle pace. There is no laugh track, so you have to figure out when and if to laugh all on your own; I like this, it adds to the calmness of the show. As the show's opening theme states "You think there's not a lot going on, look closer, your so wrong. And that's why you can stay so long, where there's not a lot going on." The more I watched, the more I learned to absolutely love all of the characters, each quirky and delightful in their own way. When we got down to the last episode, I couldn't bring myself to watch. Each night, V would ask, "should we watch the last Corner Gas tonight," my response each night was, "not tonight, conditions have to be perfect." I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend. Cheesy, I know, but true. Fortunately, we missed a few episodes along the way, V more than me because we watched one season in the Hospital after a baby, so she viewed it through very sleepy eyes. So, we have started again from the beginning. Corner Gas' offbeat humor, quirky and hilarious characters, and willingness to do a sitcom without dragging its viewers through the gutter is what makes Corner Gas the best comedy series ever. It is why we "can stay so long." It is why we can't get enough.

The closing theme describes Saskatchewan, "It's a great big place, full of nothing but space, and its my happy place." Corner Gas is my "Happy Place." Give it a try, maybe it will be yours too. 4 stars.

V: M is right. Corner Gas is a delight! We are now watching it over again from the beginning. (Can you believe M chided me for falling asleep during some of the episodes - while I was in the hospital? The nerve. Morphine is stronger than even the draw of Corner Gas. Besides, it hurts to laugh after a c-section. It was self-preservation.) I especially love Wanda. The "Conjunctivitis" and "Queasy Rider" episodes are some of my favorites. Also the one where Hank whines after losing at golf was pretty funny. I think that one caused me some pain in my hospital bed. And then there's "The Brent Effect" and the one with the Archie's characters, and well, you'll just have to watch. We love Corner Gas. It's a gas, gas, gas. 4 stars

Blindside

V: A very touching story. I like the characters. But not perfect. 3 1/2 stars

M: Pretty Good. 3 stars

17 Again

M: I didn't expect to like this movie. For some reason, and as I reflect, for no reason at all, I have not liked Zac Efron. I don't remember ever seeing him in anything. He is in the High School Musical movies, which I have only seen parts of. I guess I just thought he was a young, pretty-boy, tween idol who had no actual talent. But, I really liked him in this. He was funny, touching, and yes, a pretty-boy. My only complaints were that his character was, at times, a bit hypocritical. After knocking up his high-school girlfriend, he, as a 17 again high school-er, tells his daughters class how important it is not to have sex before your married. But, to me, the theme of the movie was that he wouldn't change anything. It didn't quite add up. Also, like the movie Juno, which I also really liked, they took teen pregnancy and turned it into a happy ending where the dad loves the mom and child and takes care of them forever. This is a happy ending, for sure, but, I believe, is also statistically unlikely. But I am nitpicking here. All in all, I really-really enjoyed the movie. It took me back to high school. I sometimes wonder if I went back to high school now (my old self with my current knowledge and confidence) how I would fare, if I would be more or less popular. Throw in your kids being there for you to be a good example to and protect, and it makes for some very interesting thinking, and for a very good movie. 3 1/2 stars.

V: Zach Efron was delightful. The rest was just ok. 2 1/2 stars

Angels and Demons

M: I wonder if it is better to have read the book or not. Very violent, and not a good as the book, which was also violent, but which was also a page turner. I don't think that the Dan Brown books, and their thinking and talking about conspiracies and symbols, translates well to the big screen. But, in any event, pretty good movie, with good actors, that was a bit too long. 2 1/2 stars

V: I thought is was a good adventure. It kept my attention. There was no reason for the girl, except to have a female counterpart, so that bugged me. 3 stars

Alice in Wonderland

V: My favorite book growing up was Alice in Wonderland. The previews looked really creepy, and the reviews mixed, but we decided to go see it anyway. Yes, it was creepy. Tim Burton is the King of Creep. But, it kinda fits in Wonderland - because it's Wonderland. Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen was pretty funny. I liked her. Anne Hathaway, as the White Queen, was also good, in a quirky, wistful way. Johnny Depp was right at home as the Mad Hatter. Crispin Glover as Stayne, the Red Knight, was uber-creepy, with his huge body and tiny head. It was a much darker Wonderland than I liked in the book, though. Nonsense for nonsense's sake has been replaced by tragedy-induced madness. And I got a hint of a nightmarish cyclical history in Wonderland. Was it just me? I guess the makers of this movie felt they had to explain things and reason some plot out of this - which is precisely not the point. Remember what the "most important piece of evidence heard yet" was? "Nothing, whatever." It's supposed to be nonsense.

Okay, the more I write the more I'm convincing myself I didn't like this - but I actually did enjoy "seeing" it. I enjoyed most of what was happening visually in Wonderland. I was liking the movie very much, actually, until Alice returned to England. Her actions there were rude and historically improbable. *Spoiler* It's fine if she doesn't want to marry someone, but rather than politely decline, she meanly tells poor Hamish that he just didn't do it for her. Then she stomps off, as the entire crowd, silenced, parts to let her grandly parade by. I really hate stuff like that in movies. It's so over-the-top. And of course then she takes her father's place in his adventuring business (which seemed quite a jump from the way things had been set up socially at the beginning of the movie.) It's great for Alice to want to be independent, and to find adventure in her life. But it was abnoxious and political grandstanding: "Look at me! I'm a woman in turn-of-the-century England and I just told this guy to shove it in front of all his family and friends! I'm so strong and liberated! And now I'm taking over my father's business and am going to boss all these wealthy old men around! Yeah, I'm 19 years old, but I'm strong and liberated!" Not likely. I see that they were trying to make Alice out to be a strong heroine, slay the jabberwocky and otherwise not follow traditional roles, blah, blah, blah... I guess what I'm trying to say is, Be strong, but don't be bratty and immature about it.

So that was a lot about what I didn't like. Again, the Wonderland visuals, and many of its characters, I liked. 3 stars

M: I was not the biggest fan of the book. I know, I know, you are thinking that I didn't understand it, or I am a fun-hater. Maybe. Watching the movie though, gave me a little better appreciation for the book. I, like V, think they missed the boat. In the book, there are no "good guys" or "bad guys," just characters. There is no winning or losing, or winners or losers, just a nonsensical adventure. In making this movie, someone must have said, "wait, we need a plot, a good team, a bad team, a battle, and a winner, that is just what we do in movies, and if we don't, how will people know who wins, how will they know they saw a movie at all?" So, like a miniature version of Lord of the Rings or the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, the movie separated the characters into teams, good and bad. Then, in the end, the teams had an epic battle, which for me, was the last straw. I didn't want a winner, I didn't want good to overcome evil, and I didn't want a re-hash of ever other movie out ever made. I wanted Alice in Wonderland, the book I didn't really under stand or appreciate. The unique, nonsensical, delightful adventure of Alice in Wonderland. This just missed the boat. On a side note, it was very beautiful, but I think I have had by fill of 3D movies. 2 1/2 stars

James Bond: Quantum of Solace

M: Definitely action packed. Fairly stylized too, more like the classic James Bond than its predecessor. But, not as good of a story. Just a lot of revenge. But still, I am going to give it a little bump up for the attention-grabbing action. 3 stars

V: Interesting, but not amazing like Casino Royale. The "rogue agent" idea was not well developed. And the opening credits sequence was waaayyy toooo long. I was bored before the movie started. Otherwise, it was a good Thursday night's entertainment. 2 1/2 stars

G-Force

M: Sometimes movies are just for parents, sometimes they are just for kids. Sometimes you can get a movie that the whole family can enjoy. On a rare occasion, you can find a movie that is hated by all. Welcome to G-Force. The best, and most telling, part of the movie was when, after watching for about 1/2 hour, our daughter (5 1/2 years) asked, when do we see the weird funny things (the movie had a preview for Alice in Wonderland, and she thought that was going to be the movie we watched). We explained that this was the movie, that it was about these guinea pigs and their adventures. She covered her head with her blanket to hide her disappointment and to weep quietly. Our other daughter (4 years) had fallen asleep. I wanted to join them (sleep would have been preferable, but gentle weeping would have sufficed). But there we sat, through the end. I don't know what it is about our family, but when it comes to movies, we finish what we start. Even if it is awful. I think we hope it will turn around and redeem itself. So I never get it when I hear someone say "oh, we turned that one off after 10 minutes" I don't know if they are wrong or I am. Even our 5 1/2 year old is starting to display this tendency (although she was very disappointed, she wouldn't let us just turn it off, we had to wait to the end). We really only turn something off if it is just foul (see Year One). But, since we don't really watch the rated R's, that is not common. Even Year One we may have made it to the end if we weren't watching it with my parents (squirm . . . blush . . . squirm). So last night, after the movie, I was thinking about this, and humming a song by Cake which kind of sums it up. It's called "End of the Movie"

People you love will turn their backs on you,
You'll lose your hair, Your teeth,
Your knife will fall out of it's sheath,
But you still don't like to leave before the end of the movie.

People you hate will get their hooks into you,
They'll pull you down, You'll frown,
They'll tar you and drag you through town,
But you still don't like to leave before the end of the movie,
No, You still don't like to leave before the end of the show.

I don't even know where to begin on the actual content of G-Force. It just bugged me. I will say that I hear it had some cool 3D effects. But on a TV, those scenes set up for the 3D theaters just fell flat. 1 Star

V: M, you had fun with that review, didn't you? Yes, G-Force was really quite dumb. Very disjointed, throw-in-the-stuff you think people will like but give it no sense, pick-your-nose and fart humor, bleagh. Not a fun one for our family movie night. (Our kids are still re-watching Chicken Run.) Why would these smart little rodents be devastated by the fact that they were not genetically engineered, but just regular guinea pigs who made themselves into intelligent creatures? Why would the villain who spent so much time plotting world destruction so quickly wake up to the fact that what he had done was wrong and he needs to try to stop it? "Oh dear, what have I done?" Dumb, dumb. 1 1/2 stars

Martian Child

V: I liked it better than 2 1/2 stars. I am having a hard time remembering it, it was a couple of weeks ago. I'm a big John Cusack fan. (LOVED "Say Anything" as a teenager. Holding that boom box (or was it a ghetto blaster?) in the rain . . . so romantic.) Anyway, I liked it. It was a tender-hearted story. 3 stars.



M: Pretty good, heart warming, worth seeing. Had a classic kiss that made me laugh. Cusack was good, the boy was ok. The end of the movie didn't really do it for me. 2 1/2 stars

Gilmore Girls

M: TV series are interesting. They are different from movies. They are a bigger commitment. They are something you can look forward to, and they are in your life for an extended period of time. They can be great, or they can be huge time wasters (or both). A Movie is like choosing a restaurant to eat a meal, and a TV series is like choosing a caterer to make your meals for the next several months. So you have to choose wisely. The Gilmore Girls, at 7 seasons, is definitely a big investment. It took us about a year, and two different homes, to get through. The first season, I kind of half watched, have played on my computer. But, as the series went on, I tuned in more and more. Over time, it became something that V and I looked forward to. This is a fun series, with great dialog (and a lot of it, tons in fact). A mother and daughter live and love and learn. Lots of quirky characters come and go, and make a place in your heart. Lauren Graham plays the mother, Lorelai Gilmore, brilliantly. Some questionable moral decisions, and a bit preachy at times. But very fun. This is a good series to watch as a couple. 3 stars

V: We had a lot of fun watching these. I found it to be good escapism after a long day of housewifery. Lauren Graham, as M mentioned, is really great. Very funny, very likable, even though she does really dumb things sometimes. The writers (there are many) loved sticking in as many obscure cultural references as they could into an episode. Sometimes the extent to which they did that was annoying- kinda like the word-of-the-day snuck into high school plays. I remember the "gravy" performance. Otherwise, it was kind of fun, and they provided a list of their references in the dvd, uh, "pamphlet." Because there were so many writers, there were incongruities at times, but only irritating people like me would be bothered with it. (Or is bothersome people like me being irritated?) Just a few tiny complaints. So, you can tell that we liked it since we watched the entire series in a year. It was good fun. 3 stars

Indiana Jones

M: I delayed seeing this movie. I had some low expectations, but even more, I had fear. Fear that another childhood love (see "Transformers") would be brutally ruined for me. That didn't happen here, so I am pleased. I really like Indiana Jones. The Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Last Crusade, for me, are classics. This latest attempt, "Crystal Skull" does not stack up, but it is better than I expected, and better than the Temple of Doom. Definitely cheesy in parts, definitely unbelievable too. But I thought the movie had a good heart. 2 1/2 stars

V: I didn't expect this to be good at all. So I ended up liking it more. It was enjoyable. There were fun references to the earlier stuff. I enjoy the goofy humor in the middle of deadly situations. It was a fun watch. And I swear they threw the Superman theme in there, just for a second. Am I wrong? 3 stars.

Battlestar Galactica

M: Ok, so at the risk of revealing myself as a closet nerd, I really liked this series. This has been my treadmill series, meaning the series I watch on the treadmill in the evenings. It works good because it is action packed and not necessarily dialog heavy. From the first episode, which is really a two hour movie, I was hooked. Very exciting. Who are the Cylons, who are the humans, what will become of civilization, and what exactly does frak mean (ok, so that last one is not really a big mystery). With 4 seasons, there are of course a few throw-away shows. And, I am not sure that I am 100% sold on the finale, I wish they had pulled it together a bit more. But all in all, I recommend. Beware, there are some sex scenes that will make you uncomfortable. I wish they weren't there, but they are. Also violent at times, but I don't think to an extreme. If you don't mind space ships and suspense, mingled with death and sex, give Battlestar Galactica a shot. 3 1/2 stars

V: Wow, really sold it there at the end, M. I actually DO mind spaceships. I find them really boring. I do. I even didn't love, I know some of you will hate me for this, Star Wars. Too much metal, too many buttons. I thought the first episode of BG was all right, it took a little longer for me to get past the spaceship block, but after a while, I really got into it. There are a bunch of characters that you get to stick with throughout the entire series, that you will get attached to. It is interesting, exciting. Like M said, good treadmill material. Some good actors, like Stand and Deliver's Edward James Olmos and Dances with Wolves' Mary McDonnell. There is some objectionable material. And, yeah, it's kinda violent at times - because it's a war - the whole thing is about a war between the humans and cylons. Star Wars had some war in it, if I recall correctly. So I wouldn't not see it based on that. Overall, we really liked it. Like, I'd call M at work after seeing an episode to tell him I couldn't believe what happened, or I think ___ is a cylon! It was good. 3 stars

Confessions of a Shopaholic

M: If I had to choose one word to describe this movie it would have to be superficial. Which is kind of ironic. The shopping is supposed to be superficial, the story, probably not. It's like someone went through a book and picked out necessary elements to a movie: scruffy guy from a rich family that wants to do his own thing, check; cute girl who stumbles on fame and fortune, check; wacky parents for comic relief, check; evil pretty girl who gets her come-uppance; check. But everything just seemed like a cheap veneer. No real feeling. I was mostly bugged. 1 1/2 stars.

V: This wasn't funny, as billed. Well, maybe one part: her dancing in Miami got a little funny. But the other dancing at other times wasn't funny. The romance and the girl's immediate and amazing success at writing for a finance magazine was unwarranted and unbelievable. I thought they had something going there with the mannequins who talked and waved and lured - but then when she decides not to buy something, they applaud her. What? No, these are her irresponsible and worldly desires, not her friends. They should have just shrugged and started waving at the next girl, leaving our heroine to deal with that loss of adulation, get over it, move on. Otherwise, the heroine, whatever her name was, the "Girl in the Green Scarf" was just so silly and goofy, to an annoying, not darling, extent. 2 stars

Nanny McPhee

M: A good family movie night movie. Nanny McPhee is an ugly nanny who comes to help teach extra bad children to behave. As the children get better, she gets more beautiful. The movie had some fun spots, and good imagination. But the kids annoyed me at times, and I wasn't really feeling the love interest. Somewhere between OK and Pretty good. 2 1/2 stars

V: Our kids liked it. It had some fun moments and some great actors. Written and played by Emma Thompson, Nanny McPhie had some fun magical stuff (the messing-up-the-kitchen scene) and some silly stuff (dancing donkey) and some okay-I-get-it repetitive stuff (NM always showing up out of nowhere and startling people.) I agree with M. (I'm always agreeing with him lately.) 2 1/2 stars

Coming Soon!

Some TV Series. What? you say! Yes.

The Princess and the Frog

M: The other day we had cousins day, and all of the cousins, and their parents (that's me) went to see The Princess and the Frog. V didn't go, so for now, I am on my own on this one. A few things of note: this movie is old fashion hand-drawn animation, and this movie has the first black princess. Both are good things, and present a beauty all their own, where computer animation gives way to old-school drawings, and old school drawings get the honor of shaking loose from their past and emerging with a wonderful story with beautiful characters that have not been included in the past. The good thing about the age we live in is that, even though all the adults talk about what this movie represents, to my girls, it is just another movie, with just another beautiful princess. Her color didn't matter to them, which made me proud both of them and of society. But I digress, this is about the movie. The movie takes place in New Orleans and takes you from the bright carnival-filled streets to the firefly-filled swamps. One particular firefly almost steals the show. This movie is very touching and sweet, though a bit loud and bright at times, probably like New Orleans. Also has some dark and scary scenes involving voodoo, which may not be for everybody. All in all, a very good show. 3 1/2 stars.

Julie and Julia

M: To start, I am an Amy Adams fan. I liked her when I first saw her in the Office. I think she was brilliant in Enchanted. But, when placed on the same screen with Meryl Streep, you can't help but draw comparisons, and they were not favorable to our little Amy. Likewise, I found myself drawing comparisons between Julie and Julia, and I reached the same conclusion. Julia Child is practically a historical figure, the persona of cooking. Julie, as far as I can tell, wrote a blog and cooked Julia's recipes. That they ended up on the same screen is unfair to Julia Child. Julia is absolutely masterfully played by Meryl Streep. It was perfect. Amy Adams did a commendable job portraying Julie, but she is no Meryl Streep, just as Julie is no Julia. Plus, I don't know, but I am guessing that Julie, not Julia, got all the money for this movie, which makes it feel, to me, a bit exploitative. It seemed like if I wrote a report about Winston Churchhill, and how awesome he was, and they made a movie about my report. The part of me is played by Keanu Reeves, and the part of Winston is played by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Is it fair, how does it compare? Is it just me? Am I going too far? Anyway, I didn't think the storyline was all that interesting, or half of the storyline anyway, and I am always left a bit in the dark when movies start talking about how "cooking saved my life." But, Meryl Streep was brilliant, as was Stanley Tucci, who played Child's husband. For that, I give the movie 3 stars.

V: M is right that the Julia part is the best part. But I do think the Julie part is valuable, too. Julie, an average person, was trying to accomplish something with her talent, and leaned on an established heroine to do it. It is motivating on both ends, both women going for their goals. Julie was a good vehicle in telling the story of Julia. So I think the Julie half was fine. That having been said, I think they could have done this movie just about Julia and it would have been awesome. I loved all those parts. Streep and Tucci were absolutely adorable and delightful. I did find the movie to be inspirational and fun. 3 1/2

*As a side note, it was interesting to watch this movie from my perspective - (from what other perspective could I watch it?) - that of a woman, wife, and mother. Julia was pretty much free to explore what she wanted, having relative good wealth, and a supportive husband. Julie had a supportive husband, and a day job - so adding this large project ended up straining her relationship with her spouse. Neither had children. So you start to wonder how much do you do? At what point does following your dreams stop being virtuous and becomes just self-indulgence? Just because Julie discussed the problem in the movie doesn't make the issue disappear. And, apparently, the real Julie's marriage has fallen apart. Balance is one of the hardest things to achieve. And good timing. Hmmmm.

Year One

M: We like Jack Black and Micheal Cera, so we got this thinking it would be a laugh. Do not make the same mistake. It is disgusting, pointless, and humorless. Very disappointed. Never did such a good cast create such a piece of garbage. We turned it off, which we never do. It's got it all - stupidity, vulgarity, and blasphemy - a true triple threat. Don't waste your time or money. 1/2 star

V: We only saw about 10 minutes of this. Mostly dumb, crass humor. Little that was actually funny. If we had seen a preview or review of this, we wouldn't have picked it up. Don't bother.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

M: A pretty funny movie, with some great lines. Nothing is going to stand out to make me remember this movie, but the kids loved it. A good family movie. 2 1/2 stars

V: Pretty cute show. Some uniquely funny stuff. It was fun watching it with the kids. 3 stars

500 Days of Summer

M: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel team up in this anti rom-com. If ever a movie were to punch Sleepless in Seattle right in the face, it would be this one. But still, I kind of liked it. Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun) did a great job. I really, really liked him. I pulled for him. I felt for him. And this made the movie very poignant. I always like Zooey, although I am starting to think she may be a bit of a one-trick pony. But her one trick, dead-pan humor and beautiful singing, is a pretty good trick. Be warned, this movie is a downer. But it does a good job of capturing the emotions of the not-quite-requited love. Well-made, with some fun artsy crap thrown in for looks. I was close to going higher, but I think I will give it . . . 3 stars

V: This movie is billed as hilarious. It does have many hilarious moments. But this movie just broke my heart. I found it to be so sad, probably because it is pretty real. I liked how their relationship was depicted. It wasn't one of those so-well-scripted that it was unrealistic or otherwise made you feel dumb about the mundane way you talk in normal, real life - type movie relationships. It seemed quite real, with adorable highs, and some subtle cruelties. That just killed me. So anyway, they warn you at the beginning of the movie: This is not a love story. It is creatively made, enjoyable to watch. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Some stuff I didn't care for, garbage-wise. It's a pretty good movie. I think M enjoyed this more than I did, but still, and for different reasons . . . 3 stars

Avatar - no spoilers!

V: It's that special time of year again: the time we see a movie in a movie theater. (In general, we feel it's a financially silly thing to do when you could just wait a few months and pay a buck for it at the redbox.) But you must, you really must, see Avatar and see it in the theater. And I would say watch it in 3D, too. Imagine watching Cirque du Soleil on a 22 inch television. Not the same, right? I'm itching to watch a "making of" because this was just really cool to see. James Cameron has created a beautiful world with beautiful creatures that need to be seen up close. Try not to draw comparisons-- whether or not they were intended, (which I suspect they were) and despite the strong urge to do so-- to world politics. (I wonder how members of the military community will react to this film.) I also heard mention of Pocahontas. But I think the story stands on its own, and is more interesting (less annoying) that way. Just take a deep breath, and let your mind go. Avatar is almost 3 hours and I ate it all up. I only have a very few complaints: a little less swearing would have been nice. I like my swearing as much as anybody, of course, but in this fantasy-land it was distracting and too pedestrian. And I wish they would have held the very last shot for a couple more seconds. And they had to include a pop song right after all that coolness, really? I guess they were hoping for another "My love will go on" money-maker. Despite those little things, this film is an easy 4. It's an amazing accomplishment. I'm not usually much concerned with special effects, but this was . . . just so cool. I read that Avatar is the second largest grossing film of all time internationally. The first is Titanic (also Cameron.) He takes his projects seriously, apparently. I love the concept of the Avatar, and the two worlds, the split consciousness. I loved it. 4 stars

M: No spoilers! Well that spoils things. I think V gave that title as a warning to me, which I will heed. As V and I left the movie, V commented that Avatar is a feat of movie making and an accomplishment for mankind (ok, so I am paraphrasing). She was right, and my paraphrase is right too. This is the most beautifully made movie I have ever watched. I had a few minor complaints, I didn't like the narrating, and some scenes were a bit long - ala King Kong (full disclosure, I loved King Kong). It is also fairly violent. Nevertheless, this movie just floored me. You have to see it on the big screen. I thought the characters and the world were so beautiful, lifelike, and full of expression. Do not miss this movie. It is 3 hours, so be prepared. And as V said, don't get caught up in what political statements you can draw from the story. Just sit back and be entertained. Amazing. The best show of the year, and the best show I have seen in a long time. Wow. 4 stars

Fiddler on the Roof

V: If I'm asked what my favorite movie is, I usually say Fiddler on the Roof. I watched this again with Mike (who had never seen it!) over Christmas break and I had chills and dewey eyes the entire time. I'm way too biased to give this a new review because of the memories it conjures from when I watched it growing up - with that, added to my now adult understanding of the world and family, all objectivity is lost. I love this film. For me it will always be 4 stars.

M: I had never seen this. Thank goodness for V. Great movie. Very funny and touching. Great music. A bit of a downer at the end, but such is life. 4 stars.