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.

Bleak House

M: This BBC mini-series based on the Dickens Novel is great. It has its super-villains, it has its heroes. Very enjoyable show. I considered giving it a 4, even though the lawyers were all absolute villains, which made me feel bad, perhaps deservedly so. Check it out at your local library. 3 1/2 stars

V: I was really drawn into this - it made for many too-late nights. (3 discs, or 4? With many episodes.) It was well-acted with many interesting, great characters. They managed to keep it from not going too far "out there" as Dickens can tend. Really enjoyable with some good lessons, too. Also 3 1/2 stars

Persuasion, BBC 1995

M: This is a much better version than the more recent BBC we watched a few weeks ago. There is really no reason to vary too much from Jane Austin's books, particularly the language, which is so good. This movie was much truer to the book, which I found great. That said, Persuasion, although brilliantly written with fascinating characters, is really not a great romance. I wasn't a huge fan of the leading man either. So this wont get the highest of marks. But it is a show worth seeing, especially if you are looking for a good adaptation of a Jane Austin classic. 3 stars.

V: Yes, much better than the other one. I'm not sure why they make the Anns so plain. I know she had "lost her youthful bloom" but she wasn't morbid looking. Anyway, don't bother with that other Persuasion. This one is quite good. Not perfect, but good. 3 stars.