My Word

[rating: 5.0]

I heard on the news this morning what I have been noticing and saying for a few years now. Families want good movies where they don’t have to worry about exposure to inappropriate talk on the big screen. Duh.I have the naive notion that people in Hollywood wanted to make money. (Hello. Did they ever hear of Disney?) A new study by the Neilson Co. found that movies with the least amount of profanity made the most money. Movies with depictions of violence and sex that scored an average 0.8 on a 10-point profanity scale collected an average of $69 million. Movies that averaged 2.8 for profanity averaged $38 million. So, let’s hope they get the picture.

We have been enjoying the beauty of Netflix and Time Magazine’s list of the top 100 movies of all time. Last weekend was a 1946 classic “The Best Years of Our Lives.” It was amazing to see the depth of understanding, and still pertinent, treatment of the return of three WWII war veterans as they come back home to life in the States and find that their families have changed.

So much was said without any words (or very few of them). One of my kids said, “They just don’t make ‘em like they used to anymore.” I looked over to make sure he didn’t have any gray hairs cropping up underneath his baseball cap.

I cracked up when after we watched it, I noted that it was in black and white. An argument ensued, some saying it was and others claiming it was in color and I was crazy. While that may be true, we had to put the disc back in to prove once again that I am right. When will they every learn? I guess the movie was so alive in story and message that no one noticed it wasn’t in living color. It deserves to be on Time’s top 100 movies of all time. It’s a good one.

  rating [3.5]

While this isn’t the funniest movie I have ever seen, it had its moments that made us chuckle and some that made us sad. Personally, knowing Jack Black, I was expecting laugh after laugh but not so. Jack Black, Mos Def and Danny Glover (oh, a a still spacey Mia Farrow) and friends make some pretty funny spoofs of some well known movies, but they also show how a group of people in a community can work together for a cause, get along and learn from each other in the process.

The basic premise is a failing VHS video rental store slotted for demolition to make way for an urban renewal project gets new life from the Mike, the store clerk, and his slightly crazed and super-charged friend, Jerry, who decide to take directing remakes to new heights – or lows – or cheap imitations.

Some funny versions of Ghostbusters, Driving Miss Daisy, Rush Hour, Godzillla, Men in Black etc. are acted out with some assistance from the neighborhood cast of “characters”. The way the whole production thing gets started is bizarre (Jack Black’s specialty) but as the goofy movies begin to get a following, and rental fees starting coming in unexpectedly, saving the building, owned by Danny Glover’s character, Mr. Fletcher, becomes the goal. I won’t ruin it for you but not all stories have Hollywood happy endings. But it isn’t all sad.
I didn’t expect this to be a “feel good” type of movie, but it was in the end. You will have your sense of hope and community recharged. It was overall a pretty decent movie and one that you could let the kids watch without too much worry. Pretty clean as far as I am concerned, a few sexual references here and there but considering all the crap that is out there now (the previews for the upcoming releases were super skanky), this movie was okay.

rating: [3.5]

Sydney White is a remake of Snow White but instead of 7 dwarfs, she has 7 dorks. Sometimes it’s hard to find a movie that you feel okay to show pre-teen girls that isn’t so sappy you will make them feel sick. Sydney White will do the trick.

I love Amanda Bynes and her natural way of looking beautiful and friendly. She is Sydney White, of course and her dad is played by someone us old-timers will remember from the original Dukes of Hazard days – John Schneider. Yes, they worked all the old characters into this new version and you will hate the witchy girl who is the fairest of them all – at college. There is even a poisoned apple but I won’t spoil it for you by telling you how they worked that one into the script.

All ends well in this tale and yes, the handsome guy saves the day with the power of his kiss. Parents can really relax with this one. There is nothing to make you scared – no sex, no swearing, no violence. Just good old-fashioned good vs. evil and good eventually wins. But not before you sweat it out a little.

My favorite parts are some of the lines from the 5 dorks. My two daughters are in their late teens and early 20s and even they enjoyed this movie a lot. They even said they would buy it if they had the chance, which means they eventually will add it to their collection. It is a little sappy for guy types but perfect for a teen or pre-teen sleepover. This mom gives Sydney White her approval.

[rating: 3.0]

I love Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yes, I know I am a woman but she is such a classic beauty I can’t help but stare at her. She also isn’t the type who projects a lot of self-admiration. She seems humble and comfortable with herself too, which anyone would admire. With that said, this movie was very slow and a bit boring, so I have my reservations about it. Here’s why…

In my opinion, (and this is my blog so, whatever!) the male lead just isn’t very good looking. Sorry Aaron Eckhart. He also seems like a bit of a casual jerk in this movie, and nobody I would take seriously. The story moves along pretty slowly and much of it is way too predictable.

A tragedy changes Kate, our main character’s life as it does her young niece, Zoe played by that wonderful little actress, Abigal Breslin. You may remember her from Little Miss Sunshine. She is a sweetie. They must learn to adjust to life as it will be and then a love relationship gets thrown into the mix. The story is set in a restaurant and some egos and other savory items get dished up again and again throughout the story making it pretty dull. (Note to editor – you should have taken 20 minutes off somewhere.)

As always, a change of heart saves the day and voila – we have cooked up a happy ending. It was a bit to syrupy (pancakes were involved so I am trying to be clever) for my taste. I have seen worse (Atonement) but I have seen a lot better. Still, it was nice to see Miss Zeta-Jones up close and personal so I remain placated instead of cantankerous.

[rating 1.5]

I must have missed something…but I don’t care to go back and find it. This movie was “el stinko” as far as I am concerned. If you want to get depressed, angry or enjoy being flash backed and flashed forward so many times you get motion sickness, then by all means go see Atonement. I would rather watch The Simpsons or Family Guy – any day of the week.

This  movie was painful in so many ways. Perhaps it was a good book but if you choose to watch this, you should ask God if he will accept your time trying to watch it as your own personal atonement for whatever you may have done to offend your fellow man. Watching this tragedy was like doing penance although admittedly, the acting is pretty good. At least the main character, Robbie, is nice looking enough.

Sorry, but Keira Knightly needs to gain weight. Her back looks like something reminiscent of a starving refugee and the woman has no chest. I had more upfront in 4th grade. Not that this should matter but I had to stare at something and engage in some imaginary fascination so that I didn’t doze off during the more than 2 hour-long wait for the story to get interesting, which it never did.

Bottom line: I don’t like movies where the good guys finish last. Oh, no wait. Instead, they are just finished. Didn’t like this and wouldn’t tell my loved ones to waste their money. Sorry Hollywood and all you sophisticated critics. It was just a droll bore.

[rating: 4]

The old Disney is back! Walt would be so happy. Enchanted is the type of Disney movie I remember as a kid and the kind that is entertaining for both kids and adults. Fantasy collides with reality in New York City as it’s the evil step-mother number all over again. (My opinion is that a love story with laughs is sure to be a winner.) What took the studio so long to get back to what worked in the first place?

What you say? No boobs, swearing, sexual activity (well, there is kissing but it is only when true love is involved – serious business) to make you scratch your head and say, “This is a kids movie?” Yes, yes, yes and it is very refreshing! You will laugh, get a little nervous, root for the good vs. evil and feel all warm and fuzzy as you enjoy Enchanted with the kids.

This is a very great movie for the whole family (with a testy Susan Sarandon as the wicked stepmother), and my family will probably be adding this one to our DVD library when it’s released. We took our three kids and seven of their cousins to watch it and when it was all done, I looked down the row to see them all giving me the thumbs up sign. I agree. Go ahead and buy your ticket for Enchanted. It is a charmer.

….And you might get to see the previews for Alvin and the Chipmunks. I can’t wait to see that one – it looks very funny and cute. I see a whole line of singing chipmunk stuffed animals and on the toy store shelves already.

Adam Sandler, Kevin James [rating:1]

Oh that single digit rating is harsh but not as harsh as having to sit through this flick. In fact, I couldn’t do it all the way to the end. It was so bad that I had to leave. To make matters worse, I had my teenager and his friend with me to witness this dumb and distasteful movie. It really begs the question, “How dumb do Hollywood producers think we are?” Maybe that’s better left unanswered.

One of the stupidest scenes was the “they’re real” with Jessica Biel when we are supposed to believe that women with gay friends walk around half naked in front of them and comfortably let them squeeze their breasts like they are melons at the market. Oh, and the foot rub was so pathetic I began to gag. When was the last (or first) time you asked a girlfriend to rub your feet? Please. Give me something that resembles reality – throw me even the tiniest bit of a bone!

While this attempt at entertainment is rated PG 13 it really isn’t appropriate for anyone close to 13. Like Ricky Ricardo said, it would take a lot of ‘splaining for this Lucy to think this painful movie is PG 13 unless it stands for pure gook to the 13th power. I love Kevin James and Adam Sandler but was very disappointed that they wasted their time with this one. Don’t waste your money.

[rating: 3.5]

This 2006 release stars one of my perennial favorites, Denzel Washington, in this thought provoking, somewhat sci-fi production. It has its share of guns and blood, but there it has a good guy and a bad guy with a love story wrapped around it. What was refreshing is that all the main good guy (and girl) characters are shown as really good folks and we can root for all of them.

There is a futuristic twist that grabs and keeps your attention and little things that happen during this part of the story come back later with depth, making my kids, who are teens, shout out, “That’s why those letters were on the ….” Lots of other little hints are left like breadcrumbs to lead us to the end of the story. I love an end with a twist and this one does not disappoint. Not going to win any all-time awards but it’s a pretty good show all around and it certainly entertains. Go ahead and rent it!

All Time Family Favorite from 1987 [rating:5 stars]

You have heard of comfort foods. It is the same with the movie, “The Princess Bride”. Watching it together as a family is a tradition that binds us, reminds us of our collective history and thus, provides security within that framework. Yes, its absurdity and silliness rocks us and soothes us. There are no surprises, no bad words. It is comfort viewing.

If you have never seen it, and you like “silly,” you must go rent it. We all know certain lines by heart. At any time, any one of us could be prompted to pop some off at the least little bit of provocation. The rest will join in and giggle. Observers will scratch their heads, look at each other blankly and confirm that yes, we indeed are crazy. Lines like, “Anybody want a peanut? Be quiet, and I mean it.”

Or there is Miracle Max and his diagnosis of being “mostly dead,” which is different form all dead, or the rodents of unusual size, the pit of despair, the cliffs of insanity, the fire swamp, and the undying power of true love. To us, are all metaphors for family life: We need to laugh at life’s absurdities and trust that love always triumphs. And we all hate Prince Humperdink – that really keeps us together.

There is one line that we all know and repeated as if we are falling down a big hill while saying it. We are sending a message to each other in code – “Aaaas youuuu wiiiiish!” Get the movie and find out for yourself. I highly recommend it. Rent it ASAP!

You’ll be glad you’ve seen it. Anybody want a peanut?

[rating: 4.5]

While this movie didn’t set the box office on fire, I thought it was very good: a show of man’s determination,tragedy and a love story intertwined in this portrayal of this true life story.

It is the story of William Wilberforce, an English gentleman who put everything on the life to abolish the business of slavery. He begins when he is very young and not used to the political machine of his time. We watch him lose his health, his reputation and almost his mind before … well I won’t tell you the end of the story but he is persistent – to be sure.
This is also the story of an undying friendship that Wilberforce has with then British Prime Minister William Pitt. Pitt ends up using his power to maneuver through the politics to help behind the scenes so that our hero can do what is right. You will cry and be inspired.