Superman Returns

Brandon Routh is the latest to play Superman. Kate Bosworth is Lois Lane and Kevin Spacey is his usual talented self as Lex Luthor. This is an enjoyable action/adventure flick with a little heart although somewhat predictable with the character of Jason. Enough said so as not to be a spoiler. The visual effects looked somewhat fake at times (flying) and once in a while (fire) looked pretty cool. Thumbs up but only as a rental as just a fun movie.

Half Nelson

Ryan Gosling is nominated as best actor for his role in this movie. This is the story of a history teacher and girls basketball coach who during off hours has a serious drug habit. I think Shareeka Epps as one of the students/basketball players is a fine up-and-coming actress. The movie doesn't know if it wants to be a inspirational teacher movie, motivating coach movie or a drug movie. I would lean more toward the drug movie. The problem is I never really felt a connection to any of the characters in this movie and could care less if they recovered or not. I was disappointed that the girl remains friends with the teacher because I feel like she is just going to continue to get hurt. It is not good when the best part of a movie is when they play a song (It's OK to cry by Rosie Greer) from Free To Be You And Me. Thumbs down....don't bother seeing this movie.

Water

This subtitled movie from India from writer/director Deepa Mehta took around 5-6 years to make due to death threats, arson and riots. This is the story about a Hindu custom where widows in India are forced to shave their heads, only eat one meal per day and live together. In particular, it focuses on an 8-year old widow and the lives she touches. Also touching on possible conflicts between conscious and faith. This is also a movie that teaches you a little about Indian customs. I would give this a thumbs up for the beautiful color and cinematography in this movie but I would be remiss if I did not highly recommend for people to read the young adult fiction books by Kashmira Sheth (Blue Jasmine or Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet). These books would truly give you a sense of living in India and with better stories.

Marie Antoinette

Sophia Coppola directs this movie about Marie Antoinette and starring Kirsten Dunst. This is movie is aesthetically beautiful in cinematography and of course costume. The acting had no particular stand-outs. I thought the music was good but curious as to why Sophia would select such modern music for a "period piece". If you like movies about the 17-18 hundreds see this otherwise there are other movies just as good. Thumbs not up but wide due to the hoop skirts they wear.

Jesus Camp

This is a documentary that focuses on the evangelical movement in America and specifically places like Missouri, Kansas, Colorado Springs and Devils Lake, North Dakota. Becky Fischer is a pastor who organizes a summer camp for young people every August. Ted Haggard is another pastor mentioned who meets with President Bush's advisers every Monday morning. This also shows Mike Papantonio who is a radio host of the program "Ring of Fire". He also considers himself christian but not a fundamentalist or evangelical. He cautions America to giving over control of their government to the 20% of the population who is evangelical because we were founded on a separation of church and state. This documentary I think accurately describes the evangelical movement. I personally agree that Jesus Christ is our saviour and that Christian music is uplifting (I listen every day at work), but some of the messages that they send seem anti-christian to me. I think they judge and belittle anybody that does not believe what they believe. I think we in America have a freedom to believe or not believe in whatever we choose. I give this a thumbs up in hoping that it opens positive discussions in society or at least with families.

Apocolypto

Warning, this movie is so violent, I literally got nauseous at points while viewing it. That said and I must say that Mel Gibson has again shown his talent at directing. The subtitles were not distracting in the least and I thought he used them sparingly so as to let the story and actors tell the story through action and body language. This was a powerful movie about the fall of the Mayan kingdom and one man's journey during this decline. The man is Jaguar Paw played by Rudy Youngblood and he is a wonderful actor. Very violent but well-made movie and a thumbs up.

Dreamgirls

If you like musicals, see this movie. Jamie Foxx is his usual good-acting self but the real story is the awesome voice of Jennifer Hudson along with the singing of Beyonce Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, Sharon Leal, and Loretta Devine. FOX Television viewers might recognize Leal and Devine from their roles in Boston Public as Marily and Marla, respectively. Danny Glover turns in another fine job of acting and in this reviewers opinion, Eddie Murphy is simply there for comic relief and characture-acting. A more enjoyable movie than Phantom of the Opera (stage is better) but not as good as Chicago.

Little Children

Little Children centers on a group of young marrieds, whose lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in many ways, the least of which is when a man who has served 2 years in prison for exposing himself to a child moves into their neighborhood. Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson are enjoyable as two of the young marrieds and Jackie Earle Haley is freaky as the ex-con. An interesting tidbit is that Jackie is obviously now grown up but movie viewers from the 70's might remember him as Kelly from the original Bad News Bears movie. Thumbs up in a freaky way.

Flushed Away

This is the story of an uptown rat that gets flushed down the toilet from his penthouse apartment, ending in the sewers of London, where he has to learn a whole new and different way of life. This is a heartwarming animated tale. The slugs and the soundtrack are the best parts. Do not flush this movie.....by all means watch it!

Volver

The premise is that a mother returns to a small village after her death to fix situations that weren't resolved during her life. Penelope Cruz plays Raimundo, one of the daughters to Carmen Maura's mother. Although subtitled, this movie was easy to follow. The movie gave away the plot twist in the middle so a little of the suspense was eliminated but overall, it was a good movie. It seemed to me that as an ensemble the cast worked very well together. I give this a pleasantly surprized thumbs up.

Pan's Labyrinth

The tagline "Innocence has a power evil cannot imagine" fits perfectly for this movie. Although somewhat violent, this is a unique story about Ofelia, a girl who moves out of the city and into the country during 1944 fascist Spain. She is joined with her very pregnant mother, Carmen, to live with the mother's new husband, a sadistic and evil army general, Capitan Vidal. Ofelia is very bookish and still reads and believes in fairy tales. She goes exploring and finds a fairy that leads her to a labryinth and Pan, whom subsequently tells Ofelia that she is the lost princess of his world. What follows is plenty of adventure, action and intrigue to sustain anyone. It is subtitled and bloody in some scenes so this is for around teenagers and older. Ivana Baquero as Ofelia and Maribel Verdu as Mercedes the maid/nanny are both wonderful actresses. I give this a creative storyline thumbs up.

Children of Men

This is a movie set in the future (2027) about our global society who is suffering from infertility. It is directed by Alfonso Cuaron of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Y Tu Mama Tambien fame. Clive Owen is good and Julienne Moore is not in enough. Michael Caine appears to be having fun in his role and I would have liked a little more of his character and a little more depth in his wife's character. Kee and Miriam (Claire-Hope Ashitey and Pam Ferris) were very enjoyable. You must like sci-fi/fantasy to enjoy this but I still give it a weak thumbs up. I have the feeling that the book by P.D. James is better.

The Departed

If you like movies with gangsters in them and directed by Martin Scorsese (ie: GoodFellas, Casino, Gangs of New York), then you should enjoy The Departed. Violent yet with a good story and good acting, Departed is nominated for Best Picture, Director, etc. Leo DiCaprio is better in Blood Diamond. Matt Damon and Alec Baldwin reprise their chemistry from the Good Shepherd. Jack Nicholson is his usual good actor self. The real standouts to me are Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg as the detectives Queenan and Dignam, respectively. Thumbs up as long as you see this before you eat of course then you won't be hungry afterwards either.

Pursuit of Happyness

Will and Jaden Smith, real life father and son, portray the father and son in Pursuit of Happyness. This movie is based on the real life struggles of Chris Gardner after he takes over custody for his son Christopher when Chris decides on a career change. This movie felt a little long at points and I would have liked to know what happened to the mother/how she felt at the end but overall it was enjoyable. It is a little depressing but more than that, you should walk out of the movie feeling inspired and thankful for what you have or that you don't have to struggle like Chris did. This is a strong movie that depicts the power of determination. If you want something bad enough and NEVER give up no matter how tough things get, you will find success. Stong, determined and inspirational thumbs up.

Venus

Multi-nominated actor Peter O'Toole has once again been nominated as a lead actor for his role in Venus. This is the story of Maurice (O'Toole) and Ian (Leslie Phillips), two best friends and fellow actors who have their lives turned around by the arrival of Ian's great-niece, Jessie (Jodie Whittaker). Jessie is a wild-child who aspires to be a model and is sent to help out with her ailing great-uncle Ian. Ian and Jessie clash but Maurice and Jessie hit it off. Maurice gets her a job as a nude model for an art class and takes her to see the famous picture of Venus which shows that the human body is a beautifl thing. He then calls her Venus and Jessie interchangeably. I found it refreshing that an aspiring model would eat as much as she eats in this film. Maurice is enlightened in the film as to how much his wife (played by Vanessa Redgrave) means to him. Jessie never really grows in the film and only starts to act like she cares about Maurice due to her guilt at how she treated him. I liked the friendship between Maurice and Jessie but the sexual scenes were nothing more to me than a dirty old man and a selfish young girl out to use him. The best parts of the movie were the interactions between Maurice and Ian and a third friend Donald (Richard Griffiths). Thumb part way up but distancing itself from the finger used in one of the scenes from the movie.

Notes on a Scandal

Dame Judi Dench is a legend. I don't think I've seen any movie that she has been in and not liked either the movie, her acting or both. Notes on a Scandal is no exception. The story of Sheba, a teacher (Cate Blanchett) who finds herself in an affair with a student (Andrew Simpson) and confides in co-teacher (Dench). They share the secret and that secret sheds light on other secrets which turns the film upside down. Cate seems to me like she is following in the footsteps of Judi in her wonderful range of good acting. Bill Nighy is a good actor in his own right as he plays Sheba's husband. Viewers will not recognize him without all his make-up but he also portrayed Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Carribean 2. The only drawback was the lack of conclusion in how Sheba's children (specifically her daughter) were affected. Philip Glass does a mesmerizing job as composer for the nominated score. I also thought that this movie was extremely well-written by Patrick Marber and that is the Oscar that I am hoping it will win. He has written such wonderful words that makes the viewer not only want to purchase the screenplay so as not to miss (or misquote) any dialogue but he also has peaked interest to go to my local library or bookseller to read the novel it is based on by Zoe Heller. Thumbs way up but will never reach the stature of Judi and Cate's acting, Philip's composing nor Patrick's writing.

The Good Shepherd

Directed by the legend Robert De Niro, this long movie (2 hrs, 40 min) depicts the life of Edward Wilson (played by Matt Damon) as he works for the CIA from its conception. Full of stars like Damon, De Niro, William Hurt, John Turturro, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, and Timothy Hutton; this film is larger than life not just for its length but for its topic. It is similar to Syriana in its heavy political feel but more of a story. The Good Shepherd jumps around quite a bit so the viewer must pay attention at all times. Knowing a little bit of history wouldn't hurt either like the "Bay of Pigs" scenario. The movie was had good acting and told an interesting story. John Turturro was my favorite actor for his humor yet maintining the realism to his character's portrayal. Angelina Jolie is not my favorite actress as she seems to sometimes do things simply for shock appeal but she continues to surprise in her wonderful protrayal of Edward's wife. I think the make-up was a weak link to the movie because Angelina's character showed her age progression but Matt's did not and toward the latter scenes with his son, it looked more like they were friends or brothers than father and son. I give this a tiring thumbs up but do NOT drink anything or you'll end up experiencing a bladder's filled-up!