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.

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.

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

If you haven't seen this one, please do - with kids. It's set in Scotland in the middle of a war and the children are concerned about their military dad's well-being. Mother (Emily Watson) tries to keep the dad's death from the kids but they figure it out in the end. To avert the kids' worries, a water creature comes into their lives and grows bigger by the hour. It's funny, entertaining and educational. For the romantics, you'll get a light brush of swooning. The best part about the movie to me is watching the son, Alexander Nathan Etel, and the newcomer, David Morrissey. I have seen Morrissey in a number of movies and he is always awesome. I cannot say enough about the actor - there is a connection. He seems to "get" the roles he plays.