Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Sorry I haven't written in a bit. A lot of excuses... I've got some catching up to do as I've seen a number of movies lately.

As for "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," the most important thing I can say is that true sci-fi fans should view this movie. It is an incredible 1956 black/white vision so great that it has spawned (sorry for the pun) innumerable copycat movies.
This movie stars Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter. You may recognize McCarthy from the many MANY guest roles he's played over the years on various TV shows and movies. I realize a lot of people don't like black/white movies because they like the color and more modern effects. True, this movie doesn't have all the special effects today's movies have, but hey, it was 1956! They did a good job with what they had.
The movie centers on a small town, which is typical for most sci-fi creature movies. The doctor (McCarthy) just returns from a medical convention and is greeted by his nurse at the train station. She notes that there have been curious things happening, but just as soon as they started, they went back to normal overnight.
Turns out, seeds from somewhere out in space fell on nearby fields and took root. They grew pods which formed into humans, replacing the population in their sleep. This concept could be used to argue a number of more recent films, such as copycat "Invasion," "The Stepford Wives" or even "Nightmare on Elm Street" as sleep is the key ingredient for human death. Even "Star Trek" used sleep to defeat the Borg (the collective alien race determined to take human bodies and turn them into soulless machines). It is my belief that "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" started the sleep-replacement plot-line. So with that said, it is one of the cornerstones of the modern alien invasion genre.
Sex, well no, there really isn't any. Wynter's character is a divorcee who throws a few quips that are clearly sexual in nature. There are, however, scenes in which McCarthy and Wynter must spend two semi-platonic nights together. Wynter's dresses are fashionable and somewhat daring, especially compared to the rest of the town. It is clear that the producers wanted to make sure she was seen as the helpless sex kitten in the movie rather than an equal to the doctor (McCarthy).
As far as age appropriateness, I'd let middle school kids and up view it. That age and younger might have nightmares. Heck, some adults might have nightmares... I should also note that the movie was so disturbing to some of the preview audience (remember, 50s) that the producers wrote in two extra scenes: one as the intro and the other as the new ending. Personally, I think it would be much scarier had they left those two off. As an aside, if you liked the ending to "Soylent Green," you should enjoy this movie's ending as well.
The violence is minimal, as no one is actually mauled in the picture, but there are some slightly off-camera scenes in which you should be aware.
Socially, this film has been regarded as a reaction to communism. Write me and let me know what you think.
Overall, I'd rate this as one of the better sci-fi films of the 50s. The theme, music and plot-line are still very much alive today.

Twilight

This was an awesome movie! I didn't read the books (yet) but was able to follow along nicely. I had certain expectations and had heard rumors - but folks, it's about vampires so it wasn't really that hard to keep up. Unless you've been under a rock, you know what they look like, eat, act like, etc. No shockers there.
As for the overall feel, I really enjoyed the acting. Both lead characters did an excellent job. I have to say that my favorite acting was the secondary players though. Billy Burke as the dad was great - just like you'd expect in this role. Sarah Chalke as the mom was genius. The whole time I kept wondering where I knew her from and then BAM - she was the evil Nina on "24." (As a side note, several of the actors were in "24"... coincidence???)
There were issues with some of the directing that I need to point out. In the scene in which Edward shows Bella what he really looks like, his shirt is undone (thankyougod). But in the next shot, his shirt is buttoned up - not enough time to do this. There were several timing errors like this one that I caught - and I'm not a professional movie critic. This is the director's fault and it doesn't sound like it will be repeated as the gossip fodder is growing that Catherine Hardwicke may not be at the helm for the next series in this saga.
There is no sex, only a brief make-out scene. You don't actually get to see someone sucking the blood out of an unwilling human. There are a few scenes that border on that, but none that should make your teen have nightmares. In fact, it might make your teens hot for the male lead, steamy Robert Pattinson or the tomboy Kristen Stewart. I have to say that I've really liked Stewart's acting since "Panic Room." She's great in everything - I just wish she'd smile more.
As for the appropriateness, I would let 13 year olds and up view this. There are scenes that parents may feel are too grown-up for their smaller kids.
I would definitely say this movie is one to watch - and watch out for the sequels. I hope they don't disappoint.

Wall-E

What can be said about "Wall-E" that hasn't been said about all other Disney movies? Not much. Sure Wall-E is cute and there is a seemingly impossibly love interest. The one thing that makes this a little more unique is that it is told from a machine's point of view. Wall-E is a disposal unit who remains on earth long after the humans left to form their new life on a spaceship. Earthbound Wall-E is infatuated with all-things human. He collects human objects, much like Ariel did in "The Little Mermaid." And true to the Pixar creed, John Ratzenberger is in this movie too (I don't think they can make one without him.) Another slightly unique item is that Sigorney Weaver is the voice of the spaceship. She was also the secondary spaceship voice in "Galaxy Quest" - which was much more fun than this movie. Last but not least was Fred Willard's human hologram as the CEO of the company. That man is comic gold. He was the funniest thing about this movie to me. Wish I'd been a fly on the wall while taping his scenes.
As you might have guessed, "Wall-E" is about the earth's environment, being eco-friendly, having an apocalyptic trash overload and human redemption.
What made the movie a little more special to me was that one of the robots, Eve, had the ability to show a lot of emotion with her computer-generated eyes. I liked that feature. I also liked that Wall-E was able to mess up some of the machines so that the humans could really take a look at what they had been living in rather than what was on their personal screens (difficult to explain).
What I didn't like was that the Disney aspect showed through. There were no parents in the movie. There were cross-dressing scenes with Wall-E (once with a bra over his eyes and another with makeup on his eyes). I'm afraid Disney showed through much more than Pixar did on this one. I was hoping for more imaginative scenes, but then, I'm a mom - not a 6 year old. There just wasn't that much to laugh about in this movie compared to other recent hits, like "Madagascar 2." What I was hoping for was more fun and laughs.
Despite this, I'd say it was a decent movie and one that most preschoolers up would like. I would not recommend buying it until you've seen it because it just didn't live up to the hype to me. Cute, yes - but no "Nemo."

100 Movies to Watch Before You Die

According to Yahoo! these are the movies you need to see before you die. Take a look and let me know what you think. I think there are some they left out and some that might not need to be must-sees. I'm anxious to hear what you have to say.

Max

I watched "Max" this week and felt it was such a good movie that I wondered why it had not received more buzz.
The movie is about an art dealer named Max who meets a young Hitler after WWI. Hitler is an aspiring artist and desperately wants Max to pick him up as a serious artist with his own show. Max, a Jewish playboy of sorts, is skeptical about the quality of Hitler's art and is concerned about his growing passion for politics, as it may interfere with his artistic career. Max and Hitler share a common background in that they served in WWI and lost something. Max lost an arm but came home to a family and continued wealth. Hitler came home to nothing but increasing bitterness.
Most interesting to me was the relationship between Max and Hitler. At times, Hitler begged Max for help, once even stating that Max had saved his life. Yet when Hitler had a political audience, he ranted on about how the Jews had poisoned the German bloodline. It was as though Hitler was living two lives and consciously knew it.
I did a small amount of research after watching the movie and found Hitler's work to be excellent. You be the judge. If you were to see these paintings in a museum, would you have known they had been painted by the same person who had millions of Jews killed? It doesn't seem possible that someone who could create life on canvas could so quickly take it all away in reality.
I really enjoy historical films and this one didn't disappoint. The actors were phenomenal. John Cusack played the title role while the exceptional Noah Taylor portrayed Hitler in scary detail. Leelee Sobieski played Max's lover while Molly Parker was Max's long-suffering wife. It was very moving - I got chills when Hitler addressed a large crowd in an auditorium. I wept for the real-life Jews who had to be a part of this atrocity.
I would recommend this movie to teens and up. Remember that it is only someone's interpretation of what happened, not that everything is exactly as it is laid out in the movie. Historical movies are usually 50% truth at best. A lot of liberties are taken. As I try to remind high school kids - don't watch the movie instead of studying for the test.

Madagascar

The cast reads like a who's who hot list. Ben Stiller is Alex the Lion, Jada Pinkett Smith is Gloria the hippo, David Schwimmer is Melman the giraffe and last but certainly not least is Chris Rock as Marty the zebra. And these are just the main characters. The animals live in the Central Park Zoo where Alex is hailed king as he is the zoo's star and eats up every bit of attention.

The plot: Marty decides to take a field trip of sorts and the rest of the group either tries to stop him, or are a little encouraged by his bravery. They end up at the train station and are attacked by a granny wielding a purse and finally by the police and vet squad. An outpouring of public sympathy for the animals leads to the animals being boxed up and sent to their native habitat (Africa). Along the way, the zoo penguins get in the mix and take over the ship destined to Africa and hijack it to Antarctica. Once there, they decide it might be better somewhere else and sail off to yet another adventure. This time they land in Madagascar. They are eventually greeted by King Julian (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer). They are skeptically welcomed into the animal fold after Alex scares away the dreaded foosa. Together, the main characters find resolution to their newfound obstacles and learn to live peacefully in Madagascar. Happy, sweet and very funny.
There are parts of this movie that are WAY above the normal kid's intellect. There are references to a lot of sci-fi (love it!) and jabs about New York. For most kids, however, the music will get them in the movie. Somewhat ashamedly, I must admit that my own 4-yr old has to listen to "I Like to Move It" every morning on his way to kindergarten. It's infectious. In a good way. The penguins steal the show. I understand they will get their own cartoon on TV soon. Provided they keep the same writers and voice talents, that too will be great.
I won't say this is a must see, but it is not a waste of your money. It's cute, very funny and filled with references to pop culture. I would suggest this movie for 4 years and up. And they won't get half of it, but the parents will. My favorite part - look for the "Planet of the Apes" homage on the beach.

Oscars and To Be Released DVDs

Sorry I've neglected this blog. Really. I'm planning on writing about a few more movies I've seen lately. I usually don't want to comment on movies that are out at the theater until they are on DVD (hence the blog name) - but I have to admit that I am anxiously awaiting "Slumdog Millionaire" this time. I hope to see it in the theater; but I really know I'll be watching it at home, as usual.

Yes, I try to watch as much of the Oscars as I can stomach. Love the fashion, hate the fake interest in the eyes of the audience. I was moved by the team presenters this year - great move.

I'll reserve my comments on "Button," "Nixon" and "Changeling" until the DVDs come out. That way you can all argue with me. I've been told I'm a "hater" so I'll try to give the people behind the camera a little more credit.

More soon - and welcome third follower, John!

The Defiant Ones

This movie is a social statement about race relations in the 50s. It was made in 1958 and is in black & white (I know, ironic). As convicts, Sidney Poitier plays the black man shackled to the white man (Tony Curtis) as they are in the process of being transported to a facility. The prison van overturns and the two men have adventures on the lam. Their need to break their shackles and free themselves from each other is compounded by their need to get away from the posse. Add to this they need to sleep, eat and move quickly - all while shackled. I won't spoil the rest for you - yet there are comical moments along with the suspense.
Now for the dirt. There are "names" that are not p.c. for describing black people in this movie. Some language may not be what you'd want to listen to with your grammy, but hey, it's two convicts on the run. There is sexuality in that the two run across a young white woman, who has a young son. She is very much into Tony Curtis (and who wouldn't be?). The audience sees part of what we know will be love-making, but the camera pans to the window with the curtains rustling in the breeze. I also need to mention that the woman's son wears a gun in almost every shot he's in and gets injured (though not by the gun).
This is not a movie for kids. I would recommend teens and up watch this and with an open mind. This is more of a history lesson put in a fictional movie than casual entertainment. The movie was nominated for a slew of Oscars but won only 2 for cinematography and screenplay. It is a shame, really, because the two star actors did a phenomenal job.
*Remember, you can click on the titles to see the trailer or snippet on most posts by clicking on the title. :)

101 Dalmations - Animated

For some reason, my 4-yr old is fascinated with this Disney movie. We just bought the newest DVD reincarnation (as per the image), so the animation is really bright and less 60s/70s-looking than I remembered.
Plot: Being Disney, something bad has to happen to the children and/or parents. In this case, the dalmatian puppies are stolen away from their parents and are in direous peril. Of course, their human counterparts are helpless. It's up to the older canines to use the Twilight Bark and rescue the puppies. They are aided by a cat and a horse as well. The villain is the nasty human, Cruella de Vil. She wants the puppies for their skins - for a new fur coat (she said she "worships furs"). To see her in action, click on the title link in this blog - it will open in youtube.
I'm not sure if it's just me, but the two baddies remind me a lot of the two crazy burglers in "Home Alone." Cruella's henchmen/baddies, Horace and Jasper, bungle the job assigned to them. The dogs (along with a large number of store-bought dalmatians) finally find freedom. It's a warm fuzzy story that most kids like. Happy ending and sing along music. I especially liked the scenes in which the dogs are watching TV - to me those are the best parts.
Now, Cruella is not only scary to small children, she talks about killing puppies and in one scene makes a reference to hell. She's a chain smoker and the baddies drink alcohol. So, thought I'd put that out there... Possible teaching opportunities.
As I stated, my 4-yr old loves this movie. I think it is appropriate for most kids. You may want to be sensitive if children have been adopted (or taken from their parents).
Additionally, if you get the new DVD, Selena Gomez from The Wizards of Waverly Place has a cute little video that preteens will love.

A Goofy Movie

Disney, creators of lovable characters with early-onset potty mouths, managed to make a cute, funny movie about a boy and his dad. This movie displays the age-appropriate parental rebellion in the form of Goofy's teenage son, Max. Goofy struggles to stay a part of his son's life but it always (surprise) comes off the wrong way. In true Disney form, Max's mother (assumed Goofy's wife) is no where to be seen or mentioned. I think we are to assume she died. I know, but it's Disney.
Max, on the other hand, is interested in girls (Roxanne, to be exact) and struggles to free himself from what he feels is the Goofy curse of coming across, well, goofy. He is fun, has friends, wants to party and has nightmares that he's going to turn into his dad one day.
As part of a father-son bonding trip, Max and Goofy go cross-country to the Goofy traditional fishing place. Max has other plans. He'd rather go to his favorite singer's concert in L.A. But along the way, they find out they do have a lot in common and start to learn more about each other. Mind you, most of this is met at the same time as disaster, but that pretty much follows Goofy around anyway.
The best parts of this movie are when they visit Lester's Possum place and when they run into Bigfoot. I laugh every time, although I've seen this probably 20 times. Also be on the lookout for "Bobby," a teenage friend of Max who is voiced by Pauly Shore: "Leaning Tower of Cheese-a."
The only things that I'm not crazy about are that a parent is unexplainably missing and there are several times something sounds like a curse but is actually something that just sounds like it. So kids WILL pick up on this and you will hear it all the time. Just trust me. Remember in "Spy Kids" when the girl says, "Holy Shitake Mushroom!" Yep. Kinda like that.
Here's a link to a clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1840513305/

Downfall

Yes, it's in German. Don't let that stop you. Just read the subtitles. You'll get used to it - promise. If you can walk and chew gum, talk on the phone while driving or eat breakfast while checking your email, you can do that.
With all the buzz of Tom Cruise's new movie about Hitler, I thought it would be nice to review a really good movie about Hitler from the people who knew him.
As a disclosure, Bruno Ganz is my favorite male movie actor of all time. In "Downfall," he plays Hitler. Of course I loved his performance, but my admiration went to new lengths after watching reel footage of Hitler. Ganz picked up Hitler's mannerisms - it is truly brilliant.
The supporting cast is also excellent. I don't want to give too much away but this wonderful movie heralds Hitler's last days, mostly in the bunker with the rest of his faithful supporters. (Anyone who knows anything about WWII knows that Hitler dies, right?)
Despite Germany's imminent defeat, Hitler pushes his people on, determined to continue fighting. Some of his people defy his actions (I'm assuming this is where some of the Cruise film comes in).
Of particular significance is the family/military unit. The people in the bunker are like Hitler's extended family. It is clear he dotes on some more than others, and he has a loving partner to serve as the mother figure. What may not be known to most Americans, is what the real parents of some of the children who were living in the bunker did when they realized they were not going to win the war. I don't know how to put into words how I felt when I watched those scenes. It is emotional and I don't know what I would have done in their place.
As for the appropriateness of the movie, I'd go father than saying I'd let teens watch this, I'd ENCOURAGE them to watch this. It is a great history lesson and one they won't soon forget. My suggestion is for teens and up.
While I used to be a big Cruise fan, I'm not now. I haven't seen his movie, "Valkyrie," but I'm willing to bet you could get a lot more out of "Downfall." I hope you rent this (I have a copy). If you do watch this, please let me know what you thought.

All About Eve

This is a fantastic black/white movie with about as good a supporting cast as possible. The movie was released in 1950 but don't let that fool you. It's the same story today as it was then for Hollywood.
Eve more or less stalks the famous theater actress, Margo Channing (Bette Davis) and befriends Margo's best friend, Karen (Celeste Holm). While the audience forms a soft spot for Eve, we slowly but surely start to feel the same way Margo does about that sweet little Eve. The movie takes jabs at both Hollywood (the film industry!) and Broadway's group of little actors with huge egos. Margo belongs to the latter group and through her tight knit association with actors, writers, directors and their spouses, Eve works her way in and changes their lives forever. Eve is masterfully played by Anne Baxter. I cannot see anyone else in this role. She was superb.
One of the first big debuts for Marilyn Monroe was in this movie. She played an actress, of course, who was quite sexual, girlish and of course, blond.
The movie reviewer in me loved-loved-loved that Edith Head did some of the wardrobe. If you don't know who she is, her likeness was the model for the costume maker in "The Incredibles." She was to costumes what Picasso is to paintings. She knew the material, shades best suited to the actors and how the director wanted to dress both the character and the actor. She didn't disappoint because the ball gowns are fabulous - I wanted one of Bette Davis' when I saw it. They are timeless.
Now enough gushing and on to the sour points. There is a LOT of smoking, so if you are sensitive to watching people light up, you don't need to see this. There are hints of sexuality, but no nudity. Of particular interest to me was the way in which Bette Davis and Anne Baxter referred to lesbianism without actually saying or suggesting it. It was in the tone and in the way the lines were read. I think that if you were to watch it, you may or may not catch it. I was actually looking for it because I had read something about Davis. There is a line in which Davis says something about wanting (her beau) to go upstairs, undress her, and change her into her gown for a long night's rest. But then she adds something like, "or would you rather do it, Eve?" I don't think the average person would pick that out, but I wanted to be sure to add here.
My favorite character was Celeste Holm's Karen. She was sweet, pretty and hopelessly faithful to everyone around her, which lead to her downfall. I identified with her helplessness when faced with two impossible options. I think you will too.
As if coming full circle, the movie ends on a creepy note; yet not as creepy as a lot of other 50s movies. You may get a chill after the super sly Addison DeWitt (George Sanders) shuts the door of Eve's hotel room, leaving one of Eve's belongings in the hands of a stranger.
If you like well-written movies with quick, funny banter and tight plots, this is for you. Again, this is a movie I'd let teens see but not smaller kids.

Eagle Eye

Where to begin... The first 15 minutes were a series of "Wow!" Then I figured the movie out. I say this not to make myself sound superior, it's just that the plot wasn't that good. I think it would be better for folks who don't watch much sci-fi because those of us who do saw right through this one. One part particularly gave it away. A military person assigned to the "project" was named "Bowman." PLEASE, for the love of Stanley Kubrick, don't go all "Dave, I cannot do that" on us.
The acting was really good. I'm not sure how much Billy Bob Thornton got paid, but he earned it. He had the best lines: (something like) "I'll make sure you're next assignment is touching shit...with your hands." He was great in this movie. Watch it to see him.
As a quick note, you'll see a lot of people in this movie you've seen in other stuff. Watch closely. Rosario Dawson was super and I was crossing my fingers she wouldn't die in the end (you'll have to watch it). Michael Chiklis from "The Shield" played a small but pivotal role.
As for Michelle Monaghan and Shia LaBeouf, they gave convincing performances - I would watch them in other movies because they seem to have the "craft" down well. The movie's downfall wasn't in the actor's performances; it was in the plot, so if you l-o-v-e Shia, rent this. His was actually more of a dual performance as he has a twin brother, so you get two Shia for the price of one! He really did an excellent job as the grieving, neglected, lesser brother.
The score was good, the action scenes were fantastic and I especially liked the cinematography. There were quick shoot-to shots that aided the weak plot. The sleek design of the machine "Aria" was also very futuristic and somewhat convincing.
I don't think I can conclude the review without pointing out that this movie was original, but borrowed HEAVILY from other movies. The Aria shots were very much like "Event Horizon" or "Sphere," and possibly "Alien." One may even argue the "Star Wars" light saber duel had a similar backdrop to Aria. The 1984-ish Big Brother was obvious from the beginning.
Even with these other similarities, the movie is more of an homage to Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey." It is an example of what happens when the government puts more trust in the machines than the people. Crazy crap happens.
The ending is predictable but sweet. I suggest that fans of action movies and possibly sci-fi should watch this movie. It's not the best, but it has some great moments. While there is no sexuality, there are some strong phrases uttered, so I'd let teens watch it but not preteens or smaller kids. It would make a good date night movie or for a 15 year old girl's slumber party.

Hercules - Animated

Although I've seen almost every Disney movie made, I'm not really a big fan. One of the reasons is that Disney routinely places a child in a parent-less situation. Just think...when was the last time you saw a Disney movie that didn't involve a parent dying, a parent already dead, adoption or some sort of parental guardianship? Yep, never.
Disney's 1997 adaption (loosely) of the Greek fable of Hercules turned out to be a pretty good movie. There was action, a love interest, singing, a really bad villain, kooky talking animals and a feel-good ending. However, I think the movie didn't do as well in some parts of the country because it doesn't specifically address ONE higher being. This is also a Disney trait. You can see a small mouse wishing on a star or a mermaid's deal with an undersea devil but you can't address the notion of one "god." In Hercules, Disney displays multiple gods, as with the Greek monotheistic tradition. I think this probably got the far right-wingers upset. Who knows?
As for the movie, it has all the key elements kids like. My 4-yr old loves this movie. I'm sure part of it is because the colors are really vivid and he thinks it's funny. It's also got a catchy series of songs - I found myself singing along. The first time he watched it I think he might have been a little scared of the scenes with Hades (wonderfully voiced by James Woods).
The story, as you probably know, is about a child born to gods (Hera and Zeus) who is stolen away (by Hades) and lives among mortals, believing the people who raised him to be his true parents. He finds out the truth later and works to become a real god by performing feats of heroism. His training comes from the satyr Philoctetes (Danny DeVito), ensuring more laughs to the situation. There is a love interest in Megara, or Meg for short. Also, Paul Shaffer voices Hermes, the messenger, who looks and acts exactly like himself, including glasses. One other note is that Charlton Heston is the narrator. I think that was a great move on Disney's part.
The movie is sweet and not as scary as "The Little Mermaid" or "Sleeping Beauty." It is male-centered, which is rarer nowadays, but little girls will like it too. I would suggest this movie to any age person willing to endure several episodes of gospel singings by the Muses and can overlook the multi god sentiment. I really liked this movie.

Sci Fi Movies for the Thinking Person

Rotten Tomatoes has a new list of Sci Fi Movies for the Thinking Person. (Note: "Person")
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/children_of_men/news/1789873/ten_sci_fi_flicks_for_the_thinking_man

I agree with most of these. They mention the original version of "Solaris" and I have to say that I really enjoyed the remake with George Clooney.

It lists "Dark City" (watch for Keifer Sutherland), "Gattaca" (Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law), "Children of Men" (Clive Owen) and "Blade Runner" (Harrison Ford). All of these movies stayed with me long after watching them.

Persepolis

This is not a childrens' animated movie. Let's get that straight. It's for teens up.
Personally, I loved this movie because it is told from the female author/narrator's point of view as she grew up during various political regimes in Iran, particularly the Islamic Revolution. She is honest and often funny. I think all teenagers need to watch this movie.
"Your mom won't let you go to the mall today? Aw, maybe the government will change overnight and you'll have to wear a burka everywhere and go to religious schools, huh."
It is animated but in all black and white. The first and last scenes have additional color. While watching it you completely forget you are watching something that resembles a comic book. This is a don't miss history lesson that is enjoyable and funny to watch.
Additionally, it was nominated for best animated movie by the Academy but lost to "Ratatioulle." They should not have been in the same category from my perspective, but that's another story. The animation category is the most controversial. Don't believe me? Look up SpongeBob vs. Disney. Sadly, Disney always wins.

Death Note

This 120-minute film is subtitled in English and filmed in Japanese. To fans of this TV series (I am!), this movie could be a disappointment. I watched it with my two teenage boys and my oldest boy's girlfriend, who was unfamiliar with the series. The boys and I were upset from time to time because the movie did not follow the series in all areas. I had to keep reminding them that it was like any other book we'd read or TV series where they can't fit 30 hours of TV or 400 pages of a book into a 2-hour movie. Cuts had to be made and situations tightened, leaving out subplots. Overall, I have to say this was a really good movie. Don't let the title throw you off.

The story centers around a college guy, Light Yagami (played by Tatsuya Fujiwara), who studies law and investigates a crime. Thoroughly disappointed in what he learns, he stumbles on a notebook with mystical powers. He is later joined by what we would call a ghost , the shinigami Ryuuk. Invisible to everyone else, Ryuuk becomes Light's sole confidante as he begins a rein of what he calls justice. He does this by writing down the names of criminals in the Death Note, thereby killing them in a matter of seconds. Light's misguided attempt at world peace drives him to seek more power and eventually he becomes consumed with his arrogance and need for secrecy. There is a sequel to this movie so the ending will not be as satisfying as a stand alone. Of particular interest to many Americans is the role of Light's dad, who is also the police chief, played by Takeshi Kaga of "Iron Chef" fame. The role of Light's nemesis, "L" is excellent played by Kenichi Matsuyama.
There is very little blood. All the violence is in watching actors feign heart attacks. There are some bad words, but mild compared to most teen films. I recommend this movie because of the uniqueness of the plot, the great acting and an experience into foreign film that most teens are lacking. If you aren't aware, most films are either re-makes of foreign films or (sometimes AND) backed heavily by foreign money. So very few U.S. films are truly U.S. creations. Go rent this original.

Traitor

Don Cheadle, steals my heart as his movie roles keep getting better. His acting is so good and so believable that his movie roles are getting better. I loved him in the "Oceans" movies and adored him in "Hotel Rwanda," but this is a close second. The audience is not aware if Cheadle is a good guy or not as he races across continents, religions and international situations. Guy Pearce ("Memento") and Neal McDonough ("Star Trek:First Contact") play U.S. agents searching down Cheadle's character. Jeff Daniels plays the government official working the covert operation. Said Taghmaoui plays the radical Cheadle befriends and together work as a team against the U.S. This is one of those movies in which the audience is shocked (in a good way) at the ending. I highly recommend you rent this one.

Tropic Thunder

This was recommended by my professor. What was he smoking? Do I want to know? This was a silly, stupid movie with a few exceptions. The opening pretend credits were LOL funny, one with Tobey McGuire ("Spiderman") posing as a gay monk opposite Robert Downey Jr. Jack Black's role was stupid and forgettable. The star, Ben Stiller, had the everyman role and played it better than expected. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't all that. There are definitely funny parts (one at the end on the bridge) and takes at the mercy of the way movies are made. This is a movie for those who are not offended by racial slurs, gay situations, drug use, potty humor or child villains (who tote guns and smoke). Side note: Tom Cruise has a small part that is pretty good and you get to see him dance like an idiot as the ending credits roll.

UPDATE: My professor read this and feels I have done this review an injustice. I will admit that after reading his email, this movie was better than my bashing. Hey, it even got some award noms (not for the movie, but for the comedic actors) Looking at the movie from a film maker's perspective, it is slightly more funny than I gave it credit. Sorry.

The X Files: I Want to Believe

How about The X-Files, I Want to Throw Up? As a huge fan of the series and anything the two stars have ever been in, I was sorely disappointed. Yes, I knew it would suck, but I held out for some hope. It was poorly written (shame on you Chris Charter, Spotnitz, Morgan, Wong, or whoever else was involved - you know who you are) and not well acted. But who could with that script? David Duchovny acted much more laid back and Anderson was mild compared to her earlier role on the series. Pileggi showed up for 2 minutes and got top billing - WTF? Amanda Peet did a great job along with her partner Xzibit. Billy Connolly played the ex-priest with a fetish for young boys yet has some divine connection to God by way of visions. The twist is in the villains, of course, and that part is interesting. As a repeat villain (Battlestar Galactica) Callum Keith Rennie used this movie to help perfect his craft and thereby isn't in a starring role. Watch for him with a Russian accent. The rest of it is somewhat predictable and boring. Unless you are a hard-core fan, run from this bomb.