Adult Film Review

No Cost Ideas For Valentines Day That Will Bring More Love Into Your Relationship

2009-02-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when it comes to gift giving we all get carried away and spend more than we can afford. We have become a culture that sometimes values "things" more than sentiment. Valentines Day is about love so why not make this day a day to express to your Valentine a message from your heart in a more creative way this year. Both men and women appreciate originality more than the standard offering (well let's be honest, women notice it more than men) so put your thinking cap on and come up with something that is meaningful to the Valentine in your life.

Rather than going out and spending heaps on red roses and chocolates (which always cost more around Valentines Day) why not look at other ways you can make the day special for your loved one. Think about what is important to your Valentine and make a gift that reflects that. I know this requires a little more effort but it is so worth it. The day is all about love and appreciation anyway so why spend money on expensive gifts if a cheaper and more personal one would be more welcome?

Most women like time to do "girly things" like take a bubble bath or paint their nails or go give themselves a face mask and a pedicure. If you have small children in the house or she is working very long hours she may not be able to find the time for those things. So give her the gift of "time". Time is one of those things we all wish we had more of and is so precious. To give someone the gift of time is to say "I know you do a lot and I feel you deserve time to yourself." It shows you are recognizing the effort your Valentine is putting in and that you appreciate them for what they are doing. People will always give more when they feel appreciated. Appreciation prevents resentment and that nasty feeling of obligation from surfacing.

Most guys like sport so give him time to indulge his favorite sport or pastime. Often when couples get together each party has to give up some of the things they used to do to make room for the new partner in their lives. If your guy doesn't get much time to spend as much time with the guys as he used to give him a "weekend pass" so he can do "guy things" all weekend with his friends. Again it's giving something that is important to the individual. You may want to spend Valentines Day with him, but if you give him the gift of "time" with his buddies, that, is showing him that you recognize that you know they are important to him. If you don't get much time together and you want to have him to yourself on Valentine's Day, pick a weekend when there is a special game on or event they can all go together to. He may well be the only guy whose partner "suggests" he spend time with the guys and boy will he be proud of you. My guess he will be boasting to his friends what a wonderful partner he has.

Here are some no cost ideas for you to consider:
1. Make her a gift token and offer to prepare a bubble bath for her at least once a week for the next two weeks ( or whatever time frame you want) or whenever she is stressed

2. Make him a gift voucher that says " This voucher entitles ..(insert his name here) to a whole weekend of uninterrupted internet game time.

Whatever you do, have fun and make your gift something extra loving by being original this year .
Enjoy.

Gaynor

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Movie Review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2008-12-18T07:51:00.001-08:00

As a long-time fan of the Harry Potter book series, it is always with trepidation that I approach a new Harry Potter movie. With the recent release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I felt even more uneasy than usual. As the longest book in the series to date, it was almost painful thinking of all the potential cuts that would be made to package an 800+ page book into a two-and-a-half hour movie. After my relative disappointment with the movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I admit I was quite worried about the new Harry Potter movie.

Thankfully, though, the movie met nearly every expectation I had. Everything in the book had been culled except for the main thrust of the plot and all of the action, but this resulted in the most action-packed, breathless Harry Potter movie thus far, from the dementor attack, to Harry's first kiss with Cho, to the final battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort. The only drawback to this approach is that major themes were presented as simple one-time occurrences and some of the continuity of the book was lost in the movie.

One main theme where this was apparent was Harry's detention punishments by Professor Umbridge. The book focused much more on the physical torture being inflicted on Harry and his resilience in the face of the unfair, brutal detention sentence. Another theme only briefly mentioned in the movie is the interaction of the adult members of the Order of the Phoenix and their desire to shield the children from its meetings and actions. The students, on the other hand, do their best to penetrate the secrets and learn what they can about the Order. The movie only glosses over these interactions, which make up significant portions of the book.

However, in such a short movie, it was amazing that so many themes were hit upon. Although it is in more of a "Greatest Hits" type of format, there are really only a few scenes or themes that did not make it into the movie. One of the more powerful scenes in the book that I found missing from the movie was the students' visit to Ron Weasley in the hospital after the snake attack, where they were also introduced to Neville Longbottom's parents, who had been tortured into madness by the Death Eater, Voldemort follower Bellatrix Lestrange. This visit provided some valuable insight into both the main characters as well as Neville, in an emotionally powerful scene. Although it was not central to the book, it was a scene well worth seeing in the movie.

Arguably, the character of Dolores Umbridge is the most irritating professor to have graced the halls of Hogwarts during Harry's years there. The movie does a remarkable job of bringing out the most unlikeable traits of the Professor Umbridge. From her irritating cough, "Hem, hem," to the use of Ministry of Magic Educational Decrees to take away the students' rights and privileges and take over control of Hogwarts, to the arrogant attitude that results in her eventual downfall late in the story, it is hard to imagine a more grating character. The actress who plays Umbridge does so masterfully.

The special effects in the movie, as in all of the Harry Potter movies, are great, and the acting is believable. While it could not have been easy paring down a book of this size into a more manageable movie, the end result is a wonderful visit to Harry's world and the best summary of the book that could be expected. For anyone who has not read the books or seen any of the other movies, all this talk of "He Who Must Not Be Named," Muggles, and wizards wearing black masks of death will seem absurd and confusing, but for those of us Harry Potter fans, the movie only makes the week-long wait for Book 7 that much slower. In fact, in my case, the movie did exactly what I am sure it was designed to do: when I got home, I pre-ordered the book on Amazon.com and will be eagerly reading in when it gets here on Saturday.

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The Dark Knight [2008] - DVD Releases Review

2008-12-05T00:09:00.000-08:00

The Dark Knight [2008]

Customer Reviews

The Dark Knight (2 Discs) [2008]
Dvd ~ Christian Bale
Price: £11.98

Availability: Available for pre-order

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Amazing, 2 Aug 2008

There are many people that would gladly shut down this film saying it's surrounded by unjust hype simply because it's the last role of Heath Ledger. I have to say that a statement such as this couldn't be anymore false. Sure, the hype was bigger due to the untimely death of Ledger. But it was a movie and a role (Joker) that delivered on all levels. Batman Begins introduced us to the troubled man that is Bruce Wayne and told the story of how he becomes The Batman. Batman Begins, although very well put together and the story being told brilliantly; I found that at times it had moments when it would drag. The Dark Knight repairs those problems and gives us a movie of equal length, which manages to hold my attention throughout. My review will be split into three sections. The story, characters and verdict. This is to give you, the reader a fair and open opinion of the movie for which you can place your own opinion.

The Story: A year after the chaos caused by Ra's Al Ghul, the Batman has become a symbol in Gotham for all citizens. It's a symbol to show that nobody needs to be afraid when confronted with the criminal underworld of Gotham. This is a problem for Batman as it's created a lot of copy cat vigilantes. Unfortunately, the copy cat's attempts don't go as well as the Batman's attempts do. Batman has inspired even the law to fight against the mob underworld as the new District Attorney in town; Harvey Dent is determined to put the mob behind bars. The fight will be even harder than first thought as a man known only as the Joker, isn't interested in financial gain. He's just interested in creating chaos and he breeds a new class of criminal.

The Characters: I'm not going to talk about the Batman character, as simply it's not the most interesting character in this film. Surprisingly. I am, however, going to talk about the "supporting" cast in this movie.

The Joker (Heath Ledger): This is easily the most intimidating villain in movie history. Even more so than Hannibal Lecter, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins. The voice, the look and the body language are all done superbly by Ledger. They blend together brilliantly in order to create a very believable psychopath. The back story of the Joker isn't touched in this film, as in the comic universe it's never been confirmed 100% of how the Joker came about. The Joker, in order to achieve his goal of killing the Batman he must employ the help of the mob. He doesn't have the money but he has the skill of intimidation and the callousness to frighten, even the mob into working for him.

Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart): I have to admit, I've never been a fan of Eckhart as most of his movies preceding Dark Knight have been mediocre at best. He wins my vote in his role as Harvey Dent; the fearless District Attorney who, thanks to the work by Batman is willing to put his life on the line to put the mob behind bars. His transformation from respected DA into the broken "Two-Face" is inspiring and really seals him as a legitimate actor and a legitimate role.

Gordon (Gary Oldman): Oldman plays a much bigger role as Gordon in this movie. He's someone who becomes more involved in shaping the Batman character from hero to vigilante. It's a much more likable role this time around and has bigger impact when confronted with the Harvey Dent alter-ego "Two-Face"

The Verdict: I honestly love this film. Unlike the first instalment, this never stops. From the opening we're treated to a great bank robbery that gives us the genius and craziness of Joker. This has it's truly heart wrenching moments, but I'm not going to mention them as they give away the plot. I was a little disappointed by the very small and quite frankly, pointless cameo of Scarecrow. Although a beaten shell of a man I would have liked to see him have a darker and more prominent role once again in this picture. Apart from that it's a non-stop genius picture and something that lives up to the hype. The role of Ledger lives up to the bill and is something that could win Heath his first and only Oscar. This makes it more unfortunate that we no longer have Ledger with us to feel the glory created by his Joker.

(Read More)

Product details

Actors: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Directors: Christopher Nolan
Format: PAL
Language English
Subtitles: Arabic, English, Italian, Hebrew, Icelandic, Greek
Region: Region 2 ( DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 2
Classification:
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: 8 Dec 2008
Run Time: 152 minutes

(Review More)

Rocky Movie Review

2008-11-21T21:25:00.000-08:00

"Rocky" is the ultimate underdog story. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is the average man who gets a shot at the title and has the chance to do something truly extraordinary. It's a story that anyone can be inspired by and runs parallels with Stallone's own career as he was very much an unlikely choice for movie stardom (as happened after Rocky became a big hit). Rocky is the perfect character for Stallone; he's never better as the title character and his drive and enthusiasm to make this film really comes through in every frame. Stallone is amicably assisted by a stellar supporting cast, with Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith being the standouts. Director John Avildsen shoots in a very realistic, documentary style fashion which gives the film a very authentic, gritty look. "Rocky" is a landmark film; it may be a bit slow compared to today's films but it still has the same timeless resonance.

Rocky Balboa is a down-on-his-luck would be boxer. He resorts to being a loan shark to make money and his life is generally going nowhere. But he has a heart of gold, despite his tough exterior and mangled speech. Fate happens to drop an opportunity in his lap when flamboyant boxing champion Apollo Creed (played by an excellent Carl Weathers) offers to give Rocky a shot at the title. Rocky starts out on a journey which sees him actually going the distance with the champ and stunning the world.

"Rocky" is one of those films that just aren't made any more. It's story and characters; that's it. It's simple, yet strong. This type of story isn't really new but the way it's done is fresh, original and authentic. There's the sense that everyone working on this film was working on 'the little engine that could'. In a case of life imitating art (or vice versa, whichever came first!), "Rocky" is a representation of a drive in all of us to realise our dreams, and what it means not to. On this level, most people can identify and enjoy a film like this even if they have no interest in boxing. It could have been about anything (the boxing is just a plot point), but the boxing motif does introduce the idea of literally fighting for your dream.

"Rocky" was one of the first films to use a steadicam. Cameraman James Crabe is somewhat critical in the audio commentary of his early work with the steadicam in this film which he feels is quite rough but it does give the film an documentary-style authenticity that you couldn't stage. And given the low budget nature of the film, the steadicam actually gives it much more production value in a number of scenes. The final fight sequence looks fabulous, and Avildsen does a great job of recreating a fight as opposed to glossing it up Hollywood style.

Carl Weathers is great to watch. He leaps off the screen and perfectly captures the larger-than-life Apollo Creed who is inspired by the real life boxer Mohammad Ali. Burgess Meredith is truly authentic as Rocky's manager Mickey. His voice, his mannerisms, even his walk are just perfect. These guys are these characters. Talia Shire does very well as the shy and reserved Adrian who is literally the opposite of Rocky. Burt Young is also superb, if not likeable as the irritating Paulie, Adrian's brother. But the star of the film, Sylvester Stallone deserves the most credit, portraying an empathic, realistic character in Rocky Balboa. This film is all about Sylvester Stallone and what he accomplished with this film.

"Rocky" is a piece of inspiration. It's slow by today's standards but it's still great entertainment with strong characters that you can relate to.

For the complete, original DVD review, click this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/dvdreviewrocky.htm

Alex DeMattia is the lead DVD reviewer at the film/DVD review web site All About Movies.net. He also contributes reviews and articles for the Digicosm Film Blog: http://www.filmannex.com/Digicosm

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Desperate Housewives Season 4 DVD Review

2008-11-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

In the fourth season of the DVD Desperate Housewives we begin with a brief recap of the previous season.

Gabrielle overheard Victor and his father saying that he made the right decision in marrying her because she will bring in the Latino vote. Gabby hurt by hearing this turns to Carlos. Susan and Mike finally made it down the aisle while Lanette found out that she has cancer. Bree arrived at Gabby's wedding pregnant. And Edie had climbed onto a chair and put a noose around her neck.

And that's where season 4 DVD of Desperate Housewives picks up. Our four favorite housewives and Edie are up to some crazy shenanigans as usual.

We have the revelation of Lanette's cancer to the other housewives. One housewife loses a husband tragically, while ones husband battles a drug addiction. And one housewife is faking a pregnancy hoping not to be discovered.

We also have new neighbors on Wisteria lane. We have our very first gay couple and the much anticipated arrival of Dana Delany playing the character of Katherine Mayfair. Some of you may not know that originally Marc Cherry wanted Dana Delany for the role of Bree Van de Kamp. But due to other commitments she wasn't able to accept the role.

I would just like to point out that things do happen for a reason. I don't think anyone could have played the role of Bree better than Marcia Cross. It was a perfect match.

I also would like to mention that Gabrielle is one of the most hilarious characters on television. Eva Longoria-Parker should be nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Gabrielle Sollis.

In the season 4 DVD of Desperate Housewives a tornado hits Wisteria Lane. And we watch the housewives cope with the aftermath.

As always there is deception, betrayal, blackmail, and murder in this season of Desperate Housewives. But there is also love, friendship, loyalty, and overcoming obstacles as all women do but not before a few dirty little secrets are revealed.

So catch up with your favorite Housewives before season five premieres. Desperate Housewives Season 4 is currently available of DVD.

Hi, I am Apinions4u and I Blog. My goal as a blogger was to get back into the habit of writing daily. I am a published author currently working on my second novel.

A Proper Review
This is a review blog. You can find a review of almost anything. For example reviews of DVD's, CD's, and Restaurants, TV, Films, Products, Books and more. If there is something out there that I have tried and I feel it's worth writing about you will see it here.

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Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix Movie Review

2008-11-17T08:59:00.002-08:00

Back when Daniel Radcliffe’s voice hadn’t broken, Harry Potter meant just a book. Nowadays it means videogames, stamp collections and chess sets amongst other equally pointless cash-in products. However with the new film – Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix – the films certainly don’t feel part of the family franchise.

Trying to keep up with the books, the films have always been lagging behind and with the seventh book on imminent release some skeptics have branded "Order" as a prelude to the main event. At 766 pages, the fifth book is like a large appetizer to the main course, and certainly gives producer David Yates a lot on his plate to work with. The movie to many will be a “brief” (138 minutes) refresh of the fifth installment whilst others will see it as the “slacker-approach” to knowing everyone’s favorite wizarding celebrity turned teenage emotional adolescent.

"Order" itself distinguishes that Harry Potter (Radcliffe) isn’t all about Quidditch and Wizard’s Chess like in its predecessors, but instead brings much darker overtones. Starting with a dementor attack, Yates doesn’t hold back on the mediocre violence, childish swearing or adolescent romance that ensues. The 12A certificate feels hard earned yet being a film aimed at children its also a secret delight to the younger adults.

Nevertheless the film still draws parallels with real-life and though there is less of a focus upon taking O.W.L.’s (wizarding GCSE’s to muggles), there is much more of a focus on extra curricular activities. In fact with the main problem coming from new headmistress Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) who along with the Ministry Of Magic is ready to apply their fascist regime, the movie is able to conjure all sorts of stories delicately inter-twined with each other.

In fact with every scene left to the crème of British acting - Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane all return to their familiar roles – there is definitely strength in depth. Rickman especially plays Snape with the cold heartedness expected of a character perhaps as evil as Lord Voldermort himself. Moreover Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are able to bring a bit of light-hearted relief via a combination of brains and inanity. Additionally with new recruits including the insane Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix LeStrange the cast is growing bigger and bigger for the final two films.

The film itself is a joy to watch whether you have read the book or not. Not only has "Order" marked Harry Potter as not just a very good read but a very good film as well. Entertaining, dark and mysterious the film is more than just an appetizer but more like a second helping of the main course.

By Joel Girling

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"Role Model," Soul Men," Madagascar" Film Reviews

2008-11-17T08:59:00.001-08:00

"Role Models" (quality rating: 7)
Director: David Wain
Screenplay: Paul Rudd, David Wain, Elizabeth Banks
Cast: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Jane Lynch
Time: 1 hr., 35 min.
R (crude and sexual content, vulgarity, nudity) (1:35)

A fairly funny comedy considering its overload of foul-mouthed gaglines, this has a suprisingly high laughs level which blind-sides you with comic capers when you hardly expect them.

"Role Models," one is reluctant to admit, gets a lot of mirth out of inventive locker room humor that has a way of making you laugh even though you don't know why. The ongoing theme is that boys of any age just never grow up and it turns out, in this plot, to be the kids, not the grown-up guys, who get the most laughs.

The film has an amazing flow of serviceable chuckles based on caricatures who, although fitted into a very formula flick, maintain a peppery consistency all the way through. Generally, in fact, the movie strides with such lively energy, with never an unattended moment of comedy, that one must admit that profane dialogue can actually find a place, if force-fitted, in our complex society.

Misanthropic Danny (Paul Rudd) and doofus buddy Wheeler (Sean William Scott) try to get kids off drugs by selling energy drinks to school systems as they drive their delivery route in a novelty monster truck. But while on their own energy drink binge, Danny, stressed out over family problems and, having been rejected by longtime girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks) because he's so morose, goes nuts and gets both himself and Wheeler in legal trouble. Beth, a lawyer, deals with the court to get them off if they'll put in 150 hours with "Sturdy Wings," a big brother kind of public service outfit for troubled kids. It's run by Gayle Sweeney (Jane Lynch). who's pretty much an off-balance neurotic who mixes discipline with explosive spunk.

So here's Wheeler, a sex-obsessed party animal by nature whose only thoughts are toward rolling in the hay, assigned to a filthy-mouthed, hard-tempered pre-teen, Ronnie, who loses no time in jerking Wheeler around into a situation in which he can have him arrested as a pedophile. That resolved, it's clear that Ronnie needs a father figure. All Ronnie does now is wave wooden swords with his other geek pals. Danny's also got his special problem boy to guide, Augie, who has no idea what growing up is about. So what we've got here is two immature misfits on a project to guide younger misfits.

As to character development, if you care about that at all, one notices that this happens only up to the point where the two guys get into the Sturdy Wings settings. After that, the kids take over the screen, Danny and Wheeler being relegated to backboards to bounce off. The really rudimentary situations and plot are turned, by the kids, into generators of lots of laughs.

The ending, suggesting that they're all humans who really want to relate to each other, is obligatory, but OK.

"Soul Men" (quality rating: 7)
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Screenplay: Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes, Sharon Leal, Jennifer Coolidge
Time: 1 hr., 43 min.
Rating: R (nonstop vulgarity, sexual content, nudity) (1:43)

Is it possible to view profane language as a verbal art form in itself? Well, let's do it ,says "Soul men."

This is a deftly assembled movie which marches to a hard beat and in which the river of vile verbiage actually gets integrated into the film's whole design, making itself even indispensable. The particular brand of black putdown banter, inexorably evolved over the decades, is humor from the gut, a no-nonsense "vulgarity" which actually transcends the conventional way in which dirty words are used and flows naturally as its own tongue, smoothly and expressively instead of in the nasty, intrusive way of films which often seem to drag in obscene words just because the writers and directors think we expect them.

This is an unintentionally ironic title, with Bernie Mac having actually died tragically in August.

It's actually hard to categorize this film in terms of genre. It's definitely drama but its substance invites comedy at a crude but colorful way and lets it flow organically. Most delightful is the perfect pitch performance of Samuel L. Jackson, easily one of Hollywood's most versatile stars. Of no lesser impact is a vigorous job done by Bernie Mac.

In this memory lane road film, the two key characters had been back-up singers of a long-ago popular group, now aged and of no more use to the modern media world. Seems that promoters are urging them, now 20 years later, to rejoin in order to offer tribute to their once lead singer who has just died. This will be dicey because the two men bear mutual resentment, this stemming from a love rivalry over the same woman.

First of all, Floyd (Bernie Mac) is morose anyway, living a life of aimless leisure as an insomniac with a hip replacement. And Louis (Samuel L. Jackson), now a pauper, has nonetheless retained his pride even though he's an ex-con living in cellars.

So they set out from L.A. in Floyd's vintage chartreuse Eldorado convertible for the great musical reunion at Harlem's Apollo, all the while chasin' skirts as they pop into town after town with Floyd poppin' Viagra. They'll partake of the fast musical life of Memphis as they stop in cowboy roadside taverns and anyplace else where they can do a gig and bring down the house, all the time viewing each other with shared antagonism. A significant plot turn comes when the two men stop at the home of lovely Cleo (Sharon Leal), whom we gather is the daughter of one of them, probably the bone of contention for both.

Strangely, you will find yourself chuckling again and again at the two guys' digs at each other even though you sense a vital relationship here. It's not easy viewing, but then, almost immediately, you sense that you wouldn't want that.

"Madagascar:Escape 2 Africa" (quality rating: 6)
(All-animated feature)
Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Screenplay:
Voices: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac, Alec Baldwin
Time: 1 hr., 29 min.
PG (some mild crude humor)

Wacky but not witty.

Good kiddie flick, folks. Take the tots. All ingredients of the original have been given new attention in an effort to maintain its appeal. The pace is peppery and the whole design seems to be to mesmerize the kids with a parade of eye candy. For you as an adult? Well, it's probably an underachiever.

Amidst the slapstick comedy in "Madagascar:Escape 2 Africa" there are some new characters, including a zesty old grandmama from New York who does karate. The film's colors are ever more vivid and the rhythm of camera movements is enhanced, with shot length at a median length of three seconds. Talking is mostly loud and urgent. There's also some adult-oriented funny stuff, like having to negotiate with the monkey union for health benefits.

Various themes are pulled in from environmental material and many other movies but the flat-out observation is unavoidable that this just comes down to an endless series of visually catchy images that are madcap but often monotonous. The dialogue is more noisy than funny, seemingly struggling to balance between grown-up references and kid stuff. The music is totally forgettable.

In this sequel to "Madagascar" all the charming animal characters are back: light-footed Alex the lion (voice: Ben Stiller), sensitive Melman the giraffe (voice: David Schwimmer), smarty-mouthed Marty the zebra (voice: Chris Rock), big mama Gloria the hippo (voice: Jada Pinkett Smith), zany King Julien (voice:Sacha Baron Cohen), his sidekick Maurice (voice: Cedric the Entertainer) and the penguins.

We recollect that all these mislocated New Yorkers from the concrete and steel zoo had been, by nutsy circumstances, stranded on the island of Madagascar located off the East African coast. They really wanna get back. But what resources do they have? Well, there is that crashed plane. And there you go -- the ingenious penguins, with military precision, and mainly digital magic, actually make it flightworthy.

Umm . . . kind of. Seems that, with its engines smoking, it'll go just so far, which is, like, over the great savannah of Africa where they crash land. So you'd think they're now in their natural home, right? Well, they are, but they are not natural in their "natural" home. They've been raised by the rule and animal interactions of the zoo, not the communities of the jungle.

So while they discover their roots, they also must confront a whole bunch of real conflicts. And that's going to involve relatives of so long ago, romance intrigues, a deadly drought, and a self-styled medicine man who wants a rain god sacrifice for the volcano. Alex will be recognized as the long-missing son of the local pride's chief, Zuba (the late Bernie Mac). Ah, but the evil egomaniac Makunga (Alec Baldwin) wants the throne for himself and he will humiliate Alex to get it. There will also be some conflicts with tourists and hunters pointing up their crassness.

The usual obligatory themes of self-esteem, self-confidence and learning your identity and independence are there.

Generally, the film will work modestly as holiday fun for the tykes. If you got nothing out of the original, you will do no better here. It's very lively.

Marty Meltz

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Children of Heaven - Foreign Film Review

2008-11-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

Children of Heaven ((†GG'Ì "3E')
Made in: Iran
Language: Farsi

Synopsis: Ali (Amir Farrokh Hashemian) is a 9 year-old boy living with his poor family in the outskirts of Tehran. While running errands, Ali accidentally loses a pair of shoes belonging to his younger sister Zahra (Bahare Seddiqi).

Deeply regretful, Ali urges Zhara not to tell their parents. For if their hard-ass of a father (Amir Farrokh Hasemian) finds out, the kids will have more than just U.N. sanctions to worry about. As a temporary solution, Ali arranges to share his own worn sneakers with his sister. Despite a slew of challenges and troubles that result, the children are able to make their plan work for a time.

But knowing this can't go on indefinitely, Ali finds a solution when he enters a marathon for school kids. The prize for finishing third is a new pair of shoes, and Ali swears to little Zahra that he'll do everything he can to enter the race.

Already proving himself to be one of the best runners in his school, the day of the race draws near and Ali is determined with all his might...to finish third!

Remarks: Children of Heaven is a simple, clean kid's movie full of positive messages. There's an innocence and purity in the film that makes it relaxing, and there's no obtrusive political commentary. The few pro-Iranian lines are there to provide context, but the main focus is on Ali and his dilemma.

Majid Majidi does a good job exploring the worries of small children, and having the viewer see the world through their eyes. Amir Farrokh Hashemian as Ali does a convincing job playing an ordinary kid, but Bahare Seddiqi is absolutely adorable as Zahra. She's not a little starlet with a smart-mouth. Rather, her natural cuteness comes from being a precocious, good-hearted kid who trusts her big brother.

Other than the language, there isn't much in Children of Heaven that non-Iranians won't understand. In some places, the pacing might be a little slow for adults. But the climactic marathon scene is very well done, and actually builds up quite a bit of excitement.

Who would like this movie: The Oscar-nominated Children of Heaven is for you if you're a fan of foreign films, and if you're interested in seeing an Iranian movie that deals with people who aren't interested in nuclear proliferation or wiping anyone off the map.

It's refreshing to watch a movie about ordinary Iranians, and it's nice to see something about Iran without associating that country with President Ahmadenijad and his irresponsible ranting for a change.

Majid Majidi's film puts a human face on a country that most of us will probably never get a chance to visit any time soon, and hopefully other filmmakers from the "Axis of Evil" will continue making movies that break cultural barriers with the "Great Satan."

(3 out of 4 stars)

Director: Majid Majidi
Starring: Amir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi, Mohammad Amir Naji, Dariush Mokhtari, Behzad Rafi
Year: 1997

Joe Yang is a freelance film reviewer specializing in foreign films. You can find more reviews of foreign dramas at his website: http://www.foreign-films-for-you.com/foreign-drama.html

The site is often updated- please visit often!

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Primary Colors (Movie Review)

2008-11-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

Based on the best-selling book of the same name, Primary Colors is a beyond belief film about a smooth-operating candidate who runs for President of the United States. When the book first hit shelves in 1996, Primary Colors drew immediate parallels between its chief character and the then sitting president, Bill Clinton. Written by "Anonymous" (which probably fueled the book's mass appeal and rise to the top of the best-seller lists), the book has since been attributed to journalist Joe Klein. Amazingly, Bill Clinton never denied that Primary Colors bore an astounding resemblance to his own life and campaign. Instead, he joked around with the White House Press Corps, saying "I too would like to know - who wrote this book!" …Startling, considering that the book paints a less than flattering picture of the candidate and the man.

Primary Colors begins when campaign operative Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is introduced to a potential candidate for the presidency. Burton notes the deft with which the man handles his craft - the way he shakes hands, maintains eye contact, and tells compelling stories to his audience. The infatuating man is Southern Governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta), and he wants Burton to join his campaign as a top aide. (Travolta does an amazing job in the performance of this role).

After much thought, Burton throws his support behind the seemingly idealistic governor, but he soon learns that Stanton is less than what he first appears to be. Stanton is an incessant womanizer, to the point that he can barely control himself. He stretches the truth, and outright lies, if it means a good sound-bite for the cameras or convincing a group of illiterate inner-city adults that he "feels their pain" and understands the obstacles they face.

Flanked by an aggressive, power-hungry wife, Governor Stanton is kept in line by Susan (Emma Thompson) who makes certain her husband maintains a tight focus on the goals ahead. Bombastic and arrogant, Primary Colors paints a picture of the woman (i.e. Hillary Clinton) that is anything but complimentary. As the campaign picks up a number of seedy characters from Stanton's past, such as Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton) and Libby Holden (Kathy Bates), Burton struggles with his own inner demons. Is it right to support a man of flawed character in order to carry out what he believes are good policy measures that will help millions of people? Do the ends justify the means?

When the campaign is forced to dig up dirt on opposition candidate Governor Fred Picker (Larry Hagman), the entire campaign including Governor Stanton must struggle with a bruised conscience obtained from wallowing in the mud…

One of the more interesting films of the decade, Primary Colors draws its appeal from a sort of gossipy voyeurism. Audiences want to see what happens "on the inside" of the president's inner circle and on a campaign trail. What they see is not pretty. If Primary Colors really does portray a semi-accurate picture of the 1992 Clinton campaign as some people portend, then it's a testament to the strength and durability of the American republic that we survived those years with relative peace and stability. Regardless of one's political affiliation, Primary Colors is a true eye-opening experience, and it's close correlation to the Clinton campaign, and the history thereof, is what makes Primary Colors a must-see film…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie review site where you can find more articles like this one of the Primary Colors (DVD) Review.

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The Incredibles (Movie Review)

2008-11-17T08:52:00.002-08:00

Nominated for four Academy Awards, and winner of Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, The Incredibles is one of the best animated films ever produced. A cross between Toy Story, Superman, and Office Space, it provides an endless array of action sequences, visual creativity, and well-delivered humor. Director Brad Bird (who's directed a few episodes of The Simpsons) not only creates a memorable film, but also voices one of the star characters of The Incredibles, Edna Mode. And following in the rich tradition of animated classics such Bambi (1942), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and The Lion King (1994), Walt Disney Pictures teams up once again with Pixar Animation Studios (with whom it collaborated on Finding Nemo) to produce a film both children and adults will love with equal verve and passion…

The Incredibles is set in the fictional cartoon township of Metroville (a hybrid of Superman's two homes, Metropolis and Smallville). Metroville is home to a number of miraculous superheroes who do everything from hunting down evil murderers to saving cats stuck in trees. Foremost among the superheroes is Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) who resembles Superman in both strength and style. Shortly after Mr. Incredible's marriage to the vivacious Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), a surge in civil lawsuits and other unwarranted torts are brought against the superheroes by the people they save, who cite numerous damages to their person as a result of being saved. The rash of legal action, and the strain it places on the local governmental budget, turns the tide of public opinion against the superheroes and forces them underground.

Harbored by the government witness protection program, Mr. Incredible has assumed a new identity - that of Bob Parr, an ordinary middle-class suburbanite who works as an Insurance Claims Specialist. Cowering in his cubicle, Bob Parr must deal with the typical travails of a 9-to-5 job, a boss he hates, and regulations he feels are immoral and hurtful to the company's clients. Meanwhile, Elastigirl is now known as Helen Parr, and she's grown comfortable in her new role as a housewife rearing the couple's three suppressed-superhero children - Violet (a shy girl with the ability to turn invisible), Dash (a cocky boy with the ability to run super fast), and Jack Jack (a baby with no as-of-yet-known super powers). All goes well until Mr. Incredible, anxious to return to life of helping people, is approached by a super secret government organization hoping to enlist his aid. When it turns out to be part of an elaborate conspiracy hatched by the evil Syndrome (Jason Lee), a former Mr. Incredible sycophant turned bad, Elastigirl and the entire Parr family must risk blowing their cover in order to save Mr. Incredible, and the world, from certain doom…

The Incredibles deserves a spot on anyone's list of the Top 100 films ever made. It really is that good. The musical score, composed by Michael Giacchino (know for his work on Alias), sneers at today's digital multi-track recording in favor of the old-school analog recordings of the 1960s in its effort to recreate the jazz-orchestra ambience often associated with the golden age of comic books. This attention to the form and detail of the story sets the tone for The Incredibles. And that's why the film is an absolute must-see. Its meticulous blend of sound and visuals, coupled with an utterly hilarious - if not ingenious script - makes The Incredibles a solid contender for the best film of 2004…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie review site where you can find more reviews like this one of The Incredibles (DVD) Review.

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The Goonies (Movie Review)

2008-11-17T08:52:00.001-08:00

Brainchild of cinematic genius Steven Spielberg, The Goonies is a thrilling fantasy adventure film for younger audiences - although adults will find it enjoyable as well. Foreshadowing the success of the Harry Potter films, The Goonies involves a series of tests and obstacles that a group of young kids must overcome in order to save the day. In a lot of ways, the film is like an Indiana Jones for kids - produced in such a way that kids can envision or fantasize about being in just such a situation.

The film follows the exploits of a neighborhood group of kids who call themselves The Goonies. Upset that they will soon have to part ways because of the forced commercial development of their neighborhood, the kids are enjoying what they believe will be one of their last meetings together.

But while Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, and Data (the nicknames of the Goonies respectively) are exploring Mikey's attic, they find a treasure map hidden in the back of an old picture frame. Purportedly, the map leads to the long lost treasure of the famous pirate "One-Eyed" Willy. Banding together with Mikey's older brother Brandon and two neighborhood girls, Andy and Stef, the group sets out to uncover the pirate's vast riches and thus save their homes from the wrath of the wrecking ball.

But a small problem stands in their way. The treasure map's starting point rests underneath an old abandoned house used as a hideout by the notorious Fratelli crime family. Brothers Jake and Francis, coupled with their deformed yet gentle brother and mean Mama Fratelli, are quite an intimidating force. When the Goonies manage to uncover the entrance to the cave that harbors their treasure, Chunk is left behind. The Fratelli's viciously interrogate the boy in an effort to find out what happened to his friends. But it takes a freak accident (spilled water falling down the hole in the fireplace) before they find One-Eyed Willy's secret passage.

With the Fratelli family hot on their heals, the Goonies must pass through a series of mental and physical obstacles set up centuries before by pirates intent on keeping undesirables away from their precious bounty. Interspersed in the action is a number of clever and humorous one-liners that add to the overall audience enjoyment of the film.

In the end, the kids discover One-Eyed Willy's monstrous treasure. But can they stave off the greedy ambitions of the Fratelli family? Will they manage to save their neighborhood with the newfound treasure? You'll have to watch to find out, and trust me, this movie is a lot of fun…

Each of the stars contributes to the film in his own way. Chunk provides many moments of comic relief with his endless whining, and Data's constant deployment of quirky homemade inventions, although stretching the limits of reality, are a welcome addition to a fantasy adventure film tailored for a young audience.

With the introduction of The Goonies DVD, an entirely new generation can discover the thrill and wonder of this instant cinema classic. Given its wide range of appeal to audiences of all ages and the exciting quest for hidden treasure, The Goonies passes the test as a definite must-see film. If you haven't seen it, or even worse - if your children have been deprived of seeing it - then I highly recommend renting this one…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie review site where you can find more reviews like this one of The Goonies (DVD) Review.

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Hoot - A Review

2008-11-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

It’s difficult to watch the new family film “Hoot” without comparing it to “Holes.” Besides the obvious similarity in names, both were based on popular children’s books, revolve around sweet-faced boys in their mid-teens who are bullied, present bumbling redneck adults in authority positions, and include valuable treasures hidden inside holes in the ground. Both films also feature actor Tim Blake Nelson in virtually identical supporting roles.

Also like “Holes,” the New Line Cinema film “Hoot,” directed by Wil Shriner and based on the Newbery-Award-winning novel by Carl Hiaassen, is a thoroughly enjoyable romp for children and a mildly entertaining experience for the adults who accompany them to the theater. While some children might be surprised at plot developments, few adults will be blindsided as events unfold.

Filmed in Florida during Hurricane Katrina (and some less severe weather) during the summer of 2005, the environmentally themed movie captures the beauty of imaginary Coconut Cove. Three teenagers (Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, and Cody Linley) use vandalism, fear tactics, pranks, and even assault to help save a population of endangered owls escape certain death from the construction of a new pancake house.

Caring about the environment links the three dissimilar teens, and helps the younger audience members differentiate between the good characters and the bad. Just to set the record straight, good characters try to save the cute little owls while bad characters try to save the land development deal. It’s agreed among the entire town, however, that everyone (good and bad) likes pancakes.

Family film staples, including greedy land developers, clumsy cops, clueless parents, and ignorant bullies populate this small coastal town. Luke Wilson takes a break from date films to star as an inept policeman who longs to be a detective. Jimmy Buffett provided five new songs for the soundtrack and co-produced the film; in addition, he plays a compassionate teacher at the middle school who adds a breath of fresh ocean air to some of the stale stereotypes.

“Hoot” is an agreeable family film that you can all watch together, although afterwards you might want to tell your children that in real life spray paint and snakes might actually create more problems than they solve. One thing you won’t have to do when this PG movie is over is blushingly explain off-color language. This owl is “screechy” clean.

Central Florida entertainment writer Leslie Halpern is the author of more than 1,300 articles in trade and consumer magazines. She wrote the books “Reel Romance. The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies” (Taylor Trade Publishing), which reviews movies for couples and suggests romantic ideas inspired by these films, and “Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science” (McFarland & Company), an analysis of representations of sleeping and dreaming in more than 125 movies. Both books are available at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Visit her website at http://home.cfl.rr.com/lesliehalpern/leslie_halpern.htm

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Speed Racer - Family Movie Review

2008-11-17T08:50:00.000-08:00

Movie Mama Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman

Directed By: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski

Running Time: 2 hr. 15 min.

MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of action, some violence, language and brief smoking.

Genre: Comic Book, Sci-Fi, Sports

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) breathes, eats, and lives car racing. With his trusty Mach 5, Speed is at the top of his game, winning race after race, and he starts getting noticed by huge corporate sponsors. When he turns down an offer from big-time conglomerate, Royalton Industries, Speed learns that professional racing is controlled by the sponsors--even the results of the Grand Prix are fixed. Not only that, but Royalton takes his revenge out on the Racer family business, hoping to destroy them. In order to change how the game is played, and save his family's legacy, Speed must risk his life competing in the fiercest race in the world--the same one that claimed his older brother's life many years before.

I must admit, I wasn't too excited about seeing this film. After what the Wachowski brothers did to the Matrix sequels, I wasn't sure if they could win my admiration back. But within only ten minutes, I was turning to my husband saying, "You know, I really like this so far." He even agreed with me. And as the film progressed, we found ourselves laughing, tearing up, even repeating several times that the film was better than we expected.

The first thing to grab our attention was of course, the brilliant color palette. The Wachowski brothers filmed almost all of the actors against a green screen back-drop, which they then filled in with an amazing, jaw-dropping world of color, outstanding animation, and comic book cinematography. The techniques they use are guaranteed to be nothing you've ever seen on screen before. The bar for special effects has now been raised.

Speed Racer is a thrill ride for anyone who loves comic books, video games, racing or NASCAR, kung fu, gangster films, or anime. It's almost like Mario Kart on the big screen. The scenes with Spritle (Paulie Litt) and Chim Chim (his trusty chimpanzee) really put you in the mind of a child and are truly funny. The car races are so spectacular that they had quite a few kids (and adults) in the audience yelling out, "Cool!"

In case you've heard reviews that the film's bright colors and psychedelic effects will make you nauseous or give you a headache, I'm here to tell you that I received neither. (I actually got a raging headache from last year's The Bourne Ultimatum with its constant jerky cinematography--if you can stomach that, then Speed Racer shouldn't be a problem.) The Wachowski brothers split up the racing scenes enough so that you don't have a constant blur, and there's enough plot going on outside the actual races that help keep a nice pace.

PROS

The most touching part of the film is the heart-to-heart talks that Pops Racer (John Goodman) and Mom Racer (Susan Sarandon) share with their son, Speed. The family unit is very strong and important in this film, and both Pops and Mom make sure to encourage Speed and tell him they love him.

Speed and his girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), have an admirable relationship, both making good role models for our kids. There is no kissing until the very end, Speed is a perfect gentleman around her, and their relationship involves more than just making out like other teen movie couples. Trixie supports and encourages Speed no matter what without being manipulating. They spend a lot of time together with his family and in essence, she's been a part of the family since grade school. There is a underlying theme that Pops Racer married his best friend, and it looks like Speed is following in the same footsteps--a great lesson for young men in the audience.

Another theme in the film is standing up for what is right, even if you think you don't have a chance. Speed Racer going against the major moguls of the racing industry is a sort of David and Goliath story. The lesson is: money and greed get you nowhere, but love and family does.

Finally, some reviewers have said that the film isn't true to life--personally, I'm glad it isn't! I think that if it weren't set in such an obvious comic book or video game world, kids would be more inclined to imitate the outlandish things they see on screen.

CONS

Here are a few things that parents should be aware of before they venture to the theaters:

There are a few comic book/gangster-like violent parts like piranhas biting off someone's finger, a few scary car chases, and lots of shoot-em-up action.

As far as the PG rating, I'm a little disappointed as to how much crude content was allowed to slip by. There are a handful of curse words, even young Spritle gives someone the middle finger, and one racing opponent calls everyone "turds." Chim Chim throws his own excrement at one point, and an enemy gets kicked in the groin (both of which received roaring laughter from the kids in the audience).

There is also a fair bit of sensuality in the film. I was hoping a PG racing film wouldn't have to include the "hot babes and cars" stigma, but unfortunately, the Wachowski brothers thought they had to throw it in. There are several sensuous camera angles, some women wear indecent shorts and very low cut tops, and at one point, a woman wearing what seems to be a swimsuit steps into view, resulting in a half-bare butt cheek filling up a major portion of the screen. The film would have been even better without these unnecessary distractions.

Part of the plot involves the stock market, which might be over kids' heads, but they should understand the general idea portrayed. And the film jumps back and forth between the past, present, and future--this also might be hard for some younger viewers to follow.

OVERALL

In my personal opinion, this film should really be rated PG-13. It had much more objectionable material than the recent Nim's Island, which was rated the same. Having said that, here's a word of advice: go to the theater with an open mind. You just might be surprised at how much you enjoy this Spring flick.

Megan is the staff family movie reviewer for pluggedinparents.com. For more parenting articles on health and safety, nutrition, baby, money and tech, family life, pets, and movie reviews, visit pluggedinparents.com today!

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ESL Book Review: Just Like a Movie

2008-11-16T17:35:00.000-08:00

Just Like a Movie is an absorbing novel for adults reading at a beginning level of English.

Sue Leather, author of this book and several others, spoke at a conference I attended. She said she had a tendency to write murder mysteries; sometimes she tried to write a romance, but a corpse always found its way into the story. That tendency is clearly at work here.

I'm a handyman, like I told you. I mean, I was a handyman. I worked on houses and office buildings in Toronto. Hard work and not a lot of money. Well, one day I did some work in Rosedale, the rich area of Toronto. Really rich. I was at a house. Carrie's house. I met her there . . .

Brad Black, the narrator, is self-centered and greedy -- but he knows how to make women trust him. When he meets wealthy, lonely Carrie, he decides to marry her for her money. He figures he'll go back to his real love, Gina, and live happily ever after, once he arranges for Carrie to have an "accident".

Brad's seen too many movies. He learns the hard way that life isn't like one. Although he's not a likeable character, and certainly not a hero, his story is compelling right up to the end.

This is very easy reading, but the themes of exploitation and murder make it a book for adults.

Just Like a Movie (2000 by Sue Leather, Cambridge University Press: English Readers, Level 1, 32 pages) is also available as an audiobook.

Jane Wangersky is editor of the ESL Free Press, a daily online news source for ESL learners and teachers. She is the author of the e-book Each Week for A Year: Readings for ESL Students on Everyday Life, available in Canadian and U.S. editions from Lulu.com. You can download her free e-booklet, Taking Your English to the Street: Six Common Problems and What to Do About Them, at the ESL Dollar Store.

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The Future In DVD Rental

2008-11-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

There is a concept that has been become increasingly popular. Online DVD rental is a huge industry that has created a buzz in e-commerce. The model of this industry was created by Netflix in 1997 and the specifics have been kept very secret. Basically, you can sign up on a website and make your own list of movies that you would like to see. The movies are mailed to you with a return envelope that has prepaid postage. You can mail the movie back anytime you like with no late fees because you are on a monthly membership. When you do mail back any movies that you have, the next movies on your list are quickly mailed out to you.

Netflix has gained a huge customer base and only has one major competitor, Blockbuster. The problem with this business model is that there is a market that is so much better for what they have created and they continually avoid it. Adult DVDs are the perfect fit for this service because it offers convenience and discreteness. With services like GetNakedMovies.com, you can browse a huge library of movies and have them shipped to you without ever leaving home. This way customers have discrete access to adult DVDs like they never have before. There is no need to purchase expensive titles because you can rent them for any amount of time that you want.

Local stores offer DVD sales and rental but they have a limited selection and many customers loathe being seen in the stores.
The adult DVD business has had to compete with online video streaming in recent years, but streaming requires high bandwidth capabilities and you have to view it from your computer. DVDs offer the ability to watch movies from any DVD player or computer. There is more freedom with DVDs and the quality is superb. The future of online DVD rental is very bright, and the customer base is growing by the minute.

Rent great adult DVD titles with no late fees at http://www.adult-dvd-reviews.info

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Latest Movie Review of Space Chimps

2008-11-14T18:59:00.000-08:00

When a satellite from outer space gets sucked through a black hole, a group of chimps are sent to retrieve the satellite and also explore the possibility of extra terrestrial life. When they arrive at this different planet the find out that their satellite is being used by an evil alien called Zartog to rule. The chimps must survive on this hostile planet and some how get back home safely after their space craft is stolen by Zartog.

Basically that's everything you need to know about this movie. Although your kids will probably enjoy Space Chimps there's a few things that bothered me. One of the main problems I had with this movie was the story - yes this is a kid's movie but all the recent smash hits by Pixar and Disney have all had a good story behind them. For example in this movie we see that a group of kids are teasing Zartog and he is arguing with them because of this, but its nothing really sinister but all of a sudden when this satellite from earth lands he becomes an evil dictator and anyone who doesn't listen to him he puts them in this type of volcanic waste which oddly freezes people.

The next biggest problem I had with this movie was the CGI, one minute it looked great i.e. the scenes where the focus is on the chimps them selves but when the scenes change to the other planet it looks as if a different CGI company was used and a bad one at that, some times it looks like your watching a cheap Saturday morning cartoon.

Some of the jokes are more adult orientated but that's not to say your kids wont get most of the jokes because they more than likely will, some of the dialogue between the Chimps is quite funny but that's not enough to save the movie. Overall Space Chimps lacks a wow factor and feels incomplete so save your money and give this one a miss, or even wait until this one is out on DVD.

I award Space Chimps 2 out of 5 Stars.

Get the latest movie reviews from http://www.mytvtalk.com

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Sex And Lucia - Foreign Film Review

2008-11-13T21:00:00.001-08:00

Sex and Lucia (Lucía y el Sexo)
Made in: Spain
Language: Spanish

Synopsis: Lucía (Paz Vega) is a free-spirited waitress who's trying to get over a bad breakup with her boyfriend Lorenzo (Tristán Ulloa), who's a writer. When she hears that Lorenzo's been in a car accident, she assumes he's been killed.

Devastated, Lucía takes a trip to the remote island off the Spanish mainland where she and Lorenzo used to go. While coming to terms with her loss and life, she meets Elena (Najwa Nimri), who runs a lodging house for visitors (kind of like a bed & breakfast).

The story then takes us back six years prior, and we learn about the intertwined histories of Lucía, Lorenzo, and Elena, and the emotional entanglements that result. And while working on his latest novel, Lorenzo discovers that he's the father of an illegitimate child.

As he later becomes intrigued with the child's alluring nanny, Belén (Elena Anaya), Lorenzo's real-life complications find themselves into his work and we're treated to a complicated and often confusing tale of sex, romance, love triangles, jealousy...and cooking.

Remarks: At its core, Sex and Lucia is actually a pretty intriguing story with the blending of time, characters' lives, fiction, and reality done in very creative ways. As it was with Lovers of the Arctic Circle (Los Amantes del Círculo Polar), Julio Medem once again makes a compelling drama about seriously dysfunctional people.

The coincidental, and seemingly impossible connections between characters, made me think of David Lynch's Mulholland Drive at times. But as confusing as it is, this mobius strip of a film somehow logically works itself out in the end. From a technical standpoint, the cinematography is great and the bright, stylized way that many of the exteriors are filmed give the film a lot of character.

However, the overall narrative of Sex and Lucia doesn't quite live up to its juicy title. Sure, there is plenty of sex in the first half of the movie, but once the plot starts thickening the tone changes so much that you might wonder if you're still watching the same film. And once that happens, the sex scenes from before start feeling out of place.

Don't get me wrong. As a guy, I have no problem with seeing Paz Vega and Elena Anaya in the buff. But after I (eventually) discovered that this story was indeed a deep psychological drama (as opposed to a porno disguised as art), I think this film could have worked fine without the gratuitous nudity and shameless boob shots.

Furthermore, Paz Vega's character Lucía is not as central to the entire story as we're led to believe, so I'm not sure the title is all that accurate. And if I'm not mistaken, the slinky red dress that Vega wears on the Sex and Lucia movie poster (and DVD cover) isn't actually seen in the film.

Who would like this movie: You'll like the first half of Sex and Lucia if you're the type who's too embarrassed to rent porn from your local video store because you're worried that the sales clerk or other customers in line will think you're some kind of pervert.

But when the actual story kicks in, this movie should appeal to fans of foreign films and those who appreciate complex, psychological narratives. But the contrast between the first and second halves are jarring, and will most likely color your overall expectations/impressions of the film.

(2 and 1/2 out of 4 stars)

Director: Julio Medem
Starring: Paz Vega, Tristán Ulloa, Najwa Nimri, Daniel Freire, Elena Anaya
Year: 2001

Joe Yang is a freelance film reviewer specializing in foreign films. You can find more reviews of foreign dramas at his website: http://www.foreign-films-for-you.com/international-movies.html

The site is often updated- please visit often!

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Movie Review of WALL-E

2008-11-13T20:57:00.002-08:00

Just before the start of the movie "WALL-E" there was a short feature about a magician and his white rabbit. The feature was called: "Presto Bunny". It was a wonderful and very funny animated feature that definitely had a giggle factor for the kids and the adults. I have to say that I enjoyed the short feature more than the "WALL-E" movie but that isn't to say the 'WALL-E" movie wasn't entertaining.

"WALL-E" is a love story between two robots. WALL-E (Waste Allocator Load Lifter - Earth Class)
is the last robot left on a very polluted Earth. His duties are to clean up the Earth while the humans have been evacuated to a spaceship habitat called Axiom for five years. 700 years later Axiom is still roaming space.

Back on Earth things change for WALL-E when Eva shows up. She is a female robot whose directive is
to search for life. WALL-E becomes curious with Eva and then falls in love with her. Eva at first is only
interested in her directive but eventually warms up and falls in love with WALL-E.

WALL-E's adventures begin when a spaceship returns to pick up Eva. WALL-E hitches a ride on the
spaceship and finds himself on a spaceship filled with humans and an unusual assortment of robots.

The kids and the adults in the theater audience were just spell bound by the spectacular animation in the movie. At some points during the movie WALL-E even made the kids cry. Like I said earlier, the movie was entertaining but I felt the plot was a bit slow at times. I would have liked some more twists and turns in the story plot to keep my attention.

"WALL-E" really makes you think about the most trivial things we throw out and how our habits affect our planet. Recent pictures of garbage lining the roads in Naples Italy come to mine. This movie will definitely keep the kids quite for a few hours and make you think about how we all can be greener in our habits. Come to think of it, I did see a discarded mall parking lot lamp post on the side of the road when I left the theater.

I wonder what we can do about that. Hmmm....

Don't miss my books on sale at my web site: lorrainemessina.com

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High School Musical 3 - Senior Year Movie Review

2008-11-13T20:57:00.001-08:00

Movie Mama Rating: 3 out of 5

Starring: Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu

Directed By: Kenny Ortega

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.

MPAA Rating: G

Genre: Kids/Musical

In the third installment of the High School Musical franchise, the beloved characters Troy (Zac Efron), Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), Chad (Corbin Bleu), and Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) are thrust head-first into their senior year. The overwhelming world of prom invitations, college applications, and graduation is weighing heavily on the teenagers, but through musical expression and dance, they all seem to find a way to move forward. After all, they're all in this together.

Director Kenny Ortega certainly knows how to appeal to the tween audience, and in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, he pulls out all the stops. This sequel is bigger, better, and brighter than the previous films, with more memorable songs, jaw-dropping choreography, and dance performances that will blow you away.

So what if some of the dances seem a little boy band-ish, and Gabriella wears high heels to school and does her homework in a dress? So what if the dialogue is bland and unrealistic, with lines like, "Shhh, you don't have to say anything..."? So what if East High seems to have a fatter theater budget than Broadway? The fact is, little girls are going to swoon over this film, and parents are sure to be entertained on some level, even if it's just from seeing the smiles on their daughters' faces.

But if you want to get down to the nitty gritty, most of these Disney stars don't have much going for them beyond their dancing and singing talent, or their perfect bodies and gleaming skin. Vanessa Hudgens' acting ability peaks at giggling, smiling, and a voice that mimics baby talk. Ashley Tisdale can certainly portray a snotty rich brat, but she's not the best thing to come out of the Disney Machine. Corbin Bleu is an excellent dancer, but his acting seems forced...like he's still on the stage. However, even though each of these kids have blazing futures ahead of them, fueled by HSM, it's Zac Efron that steals the show. His dancing is absolutely incredible. There is one particular scene where he dances throughout East High by himself after hours that is reminiscent of Kevin Bacon dancing in the warehouse in Footloose.

PROS

Gabriella's character may be lacking in depth, but she is a good role model as far as girlfriends go. Even dating adults could take a few pages from her book. She is selfless, doesn't fall into the overly dramatic trap, isn't clingy, and isn't jealous of Troy's friendships with other girls. She is supportive of him, no matter if his college choice takes him miles away from her. When there is something important to say, she usually isn't afraid of speaking up. Even though I wouldn't want my own daughters wearing skirts as short as hers, I wouldn't mind if they emulated her in a few of these admirable ways.

HSM3 dives into dilemmas that all kids are going to face one day--leaving your friends behind, choosing your future path, etc. The idea that "you don't take the girl with you after high school" is explored by Troy, who is obviously in love with Gabriella. Does going away to college mean that young folks have to break up? Should your teen relationship bear some weight in your future decisions? Should kids choose their own paths or choose the ones their parents have already laid out for them?

And as usual, HSM tries to encourage kids to be who they are, stand up for what is right, be humble and kind, and step past the barriers constructed by society about race, age, and ability. In other words, the over arching message is: you can be anyone you want to be.

CONS

Young men in the film consistantly pant and salivate over Sharpay each time she walks by. Even though it's supposed to be funny, I just find it disrespectful and demeaning. But what can we expect when Sharpay minces about in scant skirts and her dance moves are almost always risque? In fact, all of the girls wear unbelievably short skirts in this film. (In one scene, Sharpay nixes the skirt all together and just wears a sequined bodysuit.) Dancing with such short hemlines is tricky, so Disney cinematographer's do their best to keep anything embarrassing from flashing on screen, but I found myself squirming in my seat, wanting to yell at them like they were my own girls, "Sweetie! Stop that! You're showing your underwear to the world!"

Not only do the girls show a bit more skin than I would like, but so do the guys. Two boys are forced to run around the school wearing nothing but towels around their wastes, bare chests abound, and muscles always seem to be glistening at all the right moments.

Troy and Gabriella do kiss at the end, but I found it sweet and swoon-worthy. However, I'm not so keen on the two dancing together in the rain, and feeding each other chocolate covered strawberries. They're 17, for goodness sake! How unrealistic can you get?

OVERALL

You can't deny that HSM3 is a far superior film than it's predecessors. Loyal fans will not be disappointed.

Megan is the staff family movie reviewer for pluggedinparents.com For more parenting articles on health and safety, nutrition, baby, money and tech, family life, pets, and movie reviews, visit pluggedinparents.com today!

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City of Ember - Family Movie Review

2008-11-13T20:56:00.000-08:00

Movie Mama Rating: 3 out of 5

Starring: Bill Murray, Toby Jones, Saoirse Ronan, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau

Directed By: Gil Kenan

Running Time: 1 hr. 39 min.

MPAA Rating: PG for mild peril and some thematic elements.

Genre: Action/Adventure and Science Fiction/Fantasy

After a mysterious doomsday leaves the earth uninhabitable, the surviving human population is sent to thrive in a refuge city called Ember. Deep underground, Ember is powered by a mighty generator and thousands of lights fill the sky like a starry night. But Ember was only built to last 200 years, after which humans could once again inhabit the earth safely. However, the instructions to leave Ember were somehow lost. Now, after dozens of generations have passed, the generator is dying, and food is scarce. Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan) believes she may have found the means to escape Ember, and with the help of her friend, Doon (Harry Treadaway), she embarks on a final mission to save humanity.

At first glance, City of Ember will entice viewers with its visually captivating design and its enthralling story full of mystery and suspense. Think WALL-E meets Lost meets the computer game Myst. The acting is first-rate. Saoirse Ronan brings the adorable and endearing Lina Mayfleet to life with excellence. The oddities of this underground world (from giant moles, moths, and beetles to absent-minded robots and other crazy inventions) will fascinate movie-goers of all ages. But the pace is a bit bi-polar. The beginning of the film is too swift with clipped scenes and confusing transitions, followed by other scenes that are painfully drawn out. The real downside of the film, however, is the anti-climactic and predictable ending. The director could have embraced this obstacle with a fresh concept, but sadly, he does not. As the film draws to a close, viewers might feel impatient as they wait for the inevitable.

PROS

Even though the circumstances of the characters in City of Ember are unfamiliar, young adults will find ways to relate with Lina and Doon. Lina's parents died a few years ago, leaving her to care for her little sister, Poppy (Amy and Catherine Quinn), and her grandmother (Liz Smith) who suffers from Alzheimer's. When her grandmother dies mid-film, Lina must move in with a new guardian and learn to conform to a new house and new rules/expectations. As a big sister, Lina's responsibilities are great--she must become an adult well before her time. Meanwhile, Doon faces difficulty with his father, who once shared the same idealistic and adventuresome spirit as himself, yet has given it all up due to past failures. Doon struggles to convince his father not to give up hope and to always persevere.

The film also begs the question: do we just sit back and wait for someone else to fix our world's troubles, or do we step up and do something about it ourselves?

CONS

As with all Walden Media films, objectionable material is few and far between. City of Ember is a 100% family-friendly film, but I will note that Doon and Lina steal on occasion, as well as break into locked doors. There are a few scary scenes, but nothing too intense. Lina repeats a message that includes the word sexy.

However, the most offensive part of my moving-going experience was before the film even started. A preview for The Spirit was shown, which I felt was wholly inappropriate for the young viewing audience waiting to see City of Ember. Although the film is rated PG-13, the preview should have been rated R. Machine gun fire, as well as sexual and frightening images were splashed across the big screen. Parents beware.

OVERALL

Although lacking in a few minor areas, City of Ember is an adventurous and enthralling family experience.

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Shrek (Movie Review)

2008-11-13T20:53:00.001-08:00

A modern-day fairy tale rife with cutting edge humor, Shrek is a computer-animated film for the ages. In the tradition of Disney (the recipient of a number of clever jibes throughout the movie), Dreamworks manages to create a film that adults (and not just parents) will enjoy as much as children. The comedy is clean, witty, and refreshing. The animation is mind-blowing, and the characters are as likeable as any ever created.

The story follows the life of Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), a green ogre with a friendly disposition who lives in a swamp during medieval times. When ever-so-short, midget nobleman Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) banishes all local fairy-tale creatures from his land, they are forced to resettle in Shrek's swamp. Shrek, who prefers to live in solitude, sets off, accompanied by a wisecracking mule named Donkey (Eddie Murphy), to find Lord Farquaad and convince him to leave the fairy-tale characters where they belong, and leave his leave his swampland alone. Lord Farquaad agrees to honor Shrek and Donkey's request under one condition. The odd couple must locate the beautiful Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and bring her back to Duloc so that he can marry her (he chooses her as his bride over Snow White and Sleeping Beauty because he wants to become king). Although Princess Fiona is held in a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon, the task is one Shrek and Donkey are more than capable of taking on…

Shrek is quite simply of one of the best films of its time. The computer-generated image animation creates a fantastic setting filled with unique, groundbreaking characters. The storyline (basically Beauty and the Beast) is timeless, and the comedy manages to stand on its own in a movie that pushes the outer-boundaries of excellence. Eddie Murphy is at his best playing the Donkey, and Mike Myers may also have put in his best cinematic performance to date. Shrek is one of the few animated films ever made that should be seen by adults who don't have children (in other words, those who otherwise wouldn't bother to see an animated film). So if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and give Shrek a try...

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie review site where you can find more articles like this one of the Shrek (DVD) Review.

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2 Movies About Young Adults That Prove Their Integrity and Substance

2008-11-13T20:42:00.001-08:00

Pretty in Pink - 2 Stars (Average)

Pretty in Pink is a classic high school story of first love and prom night, starring Molly Ringwald as Andie, a girl from the wrong side of tracks who falls for Blaine (Andrew McCarthy), a rich preppie.

For people who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks (this group includes your movie reviewer), Pretty in Pink strikes some emotional chords, such as looking at the homes of rich people, wondering what it would be like inside, and realizing you will never know; or, being asked to the prom and then being dumped by your date.

I give this movie two stars because of one story line item: after being dumped by her prom date Blaine, Andie decides to go to the prom alone; that requires not only courage but integrity, the idea that the date you had is not going to control your life.

Pretty in Pink falls apart psychologically in two critical ways. One, we are led to believe that Andie does not know that her best friend from childhood, Duckie, is crazy in love with her; and two, there is no real explanation why her date, Blaine, decided not to take her to the prom.

We are led to believe that it is because his rich parents and friends turned on him for dating a girl from the wrong social class, yet Blaine makes a case that it was something else; we are never told what that something else is, or the story line does not make it clear, either way, it fails to communicate properly.

Andie proves to be a girl of truth, courage and integrity. I give some props to John Hughes, the writer who chooses to make Andie a budding woman of substance rather than a push over. I believe that Andie, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, will live a better life than Blaine, who must overcome his social position to discover himself.

This movie is better done than so much slop of the same genre. I reserve the right to raise my rating on this film at a later date, and just might.

Saint Ralph - 2 Stars (Average)

Saint Ralph is the story of Ralph Walker (Adam Butcher), a 14-year-old boy who is raised by his single mother. He grows up without his father who died a war hero. His mother then gets ill and falls into a coma while he ends up living in his home alone telling school authorities he is living with his grandparents.

As if his life is not troubled enough, he is picked on and put down continually by his Catholic school classmates.

When he realizes he is bound for an orphanage if his mother dies, he has an epiphany that tells him if he accomplishes the miracle of winning the Boston Marathon his mother will come out of her comma and recover.

You will have to see the movie to discover if he wins the Boston Marathon. Despite some technical issues and weak acting, Saint Ralph is a movie worth the time and effort to see because of the values that it teaches, including having a dream, believing in your dream, being focused on your dream, and being determined to accomplish your dream.

This is a good film with a good message that falls short of a great film. There are audio problems which experience and knowledge could solve. Ralph has a diction problem which maturity and experience could resolve.

The title (Saint Ralph) does nothing to lift this good film to a great one. Miracle in the Making would have been a better title than setting up poor Ralph with the task of becoming a saint. The story line is really too much of a stretch, but at least the movie will touch your heart and moisten your eyes.

I would love to give this movie a 3-star rating, because it deserves it, but it just does not get it done.

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