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.