Powerful Films

A powerful film that honors true heroes and those that were lost. These officers of Port Authority had a true hero on their team. Each actor brought their A-game to this production and Oliver Stone made it all touching and powerful. See this now.

An amazing true story with an amazing cast. I heavy movie but a powerful story of love and the desire for answers.

Maybe the world's first rock star. Scaring the public with his songs about sex and debauchery Tom Hulce was fantastic as Wolfgang. He played the man's full range of emotions and suffering. The music was phenomenal (and still is). F. Murray Abraham was also a joy as the man confessing his deepest feelings about his having to compete with the young composer. An amazing film. You must see it.

You learn about the differing perspectives on the industry of beef. If this doesn't help you decide why you should NOT eat beef, you may be full of crap.

An absolutely unbelievable journey. Chris Gardner is an amazing human being. This film tries to capture this struggle by showing all the hardships. He tries to learn a new trade as a stock broker. Along the way he has to keep his son safe and sustain his optimism. It's a journey unlike any other. Will Smith did some great work on this and his real-life son also gave a good performance. Mr. Gardner is a man who changed his life with his determination and positivity and probably still does to this day.

Very profound message about frustrated kids forced to live in a new community while being ignored by all the adults.

I waited to see this one because I figured it would stir up some personal things...and it did. But, man, was this a weird and wonderful film. I loved it. I really liked what Charlie Kaufman wrote and how director Michel Gondry put it all together. Props to all the actors. Mainly, Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey. I loved how Joel tried to stop the procedure of erasing Clementine from his memories. It was cool how Clementine tried to help him too. I loved the out-of-body experiences. Joel kept hearing things that altered his dream-state. It was like a stream-of-interrupted-consciousness. Elijah Wood was creepy as a stalker of a new generation. Kirsten Dunst was pretty sexy as Mary. As Mary said, "What Howard gives to the world. To let people begin again. It's beautiful. You look at a baby and it's so pure and so free and so clean. Adults are like this mess of sadness and phobias. And Howard just makes it all go away." Exercise your mind and seize your memories!! Oh, and see this movie!

The amazing life journey of Ron Kovic. He was actually born on July 4th. This film shows you how someone can go from an idealistic and patriotic youth to a wounded, anti-war activist spokesman. This was a great production by Oliver Stone. Showing how the U.S. civilians and the soldiers were manipulated by the U.S. government. By now, 2008, Americans should see this pattern more clearly. Innocent men and women sent into combat for reasons that have nothing to do with the true meaning of patriotism. A great story with an emotional bomb that you don't see coming towards the end. Very important for everyone to see. I should have watched this long ago. I thought it was too heavy but now I see how profound this was. It was as dramatic as "Platoon" with an even heavier after-effect.

I was truly touched by this movie. After a plane crash takes the lives of the players, the coaches and many of the boosters of this football team from West Virginia, the first question is whether or not the football program should ever continue. The next question is how to rebuild a staff and a team when a town loses so many of its citizens. I love movies that take us back to a time and tell a story that we had never heard about (or I had never heard about). I do have to say that you may want a box of tissues next to you during this one. I heard different things about the acting in this film and I heard it was filled with cliches'. However, I dare those who say that to truly stand in the shoes of those West Virginians who experienced it firsthand. I don't know the real people this movie is based on but I thought the actor's performed well. In other words, it's hard to tell how the actor's played the real people so it is hard to judge, say, why Matthew McConaughey smiled so much as the new head coach without asking those who knew the real man he is portraying. I thought Matthew Fox did a fine job of portraying a man who is filled with so much guilt. Many of the actors in this film are not yet given credit on this page and they deserve to be. I have added some photos from the film especially the actors not listed. So much sad emotion but many positive things to help you, and those touched by tradgedy, to hang on and persevere. Another thing about the "cliches'" statements. I have seen many football movies but this one doesn't even end the way so many do. I also like the "MVP" scene which I hadn't seen previously either.

I thought about this film in two different ways. More on that in a bit. The cast was superb with a lot of actors seen in other director Darren Aronofsky films. Visually stunning with a deeper emotional connection and less kinetic energy of Aronofsky's previous films but it's just as complex. However, this seems to have thrown off many of his fans. His previous works seem to have more visceral effects on the audience. However, I had a deep connection with this. It had some very heartfelt moments that are affecting when you consider those who are most dear to you. It's slower pace drew more sadness and futility but also a grand spiritual awakening. I feel that it could have used an awakening with more of an intense impact for the popcorn munching audience. The biblical reference to Genesis provoke the desire to find the "fountain" of youth. This fountain is the Tree of Life which was taken from the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. So the Tree of Knowledge has been separated from the Tree of Life. Our characters are the conquistador (Jackman) and the Queen of Spain (Weisz) who are seen in different eras but with similar situations. The theory is that the Tree of Life is somewhere in the Yucatan hidden in the land of the Maya. The Yucatan is somewhat of a 180 degree from where Moses and Jesus did their fine work (but that's another movie). The queen sets the conquistador on this quest to find the fountain. Each story interconnects nicely (if you're paying attention). This part of the story connects to the modern setting by way of Weisz's story entitled "The Fountain." However, there is no ending to this story so Jackman, as a modern conquistador "re-searching" a cure for his love, is asked to write it. So, are you ready? Here are my two ways to view what the heck is going on in this picture. The first one is the deep one while the other is the simple one. Here 'tis: The meditation of this spiritual journey is much like the chemistry of all life on the planet we know as Earth. This plot has all the elements of a successful meditation - "growth", "decay" (or death), and "transformation" which can be the forces of spirituality as well as the forces of nature. The other way to view this is a beautifully shot, fancy and elaborate version of "Groundhog Day." Get it? Maybe you need to watch it again.

This is an amazing film. I was impressed by every aspect of it. I don't know how people could watch something like this and then go buy "conflict-diamonds." I didn't even know what that meant until I saw this movie. I learned a lot from this picture. I knew it would be an intense film but I had no idea how many different plotlines or perspectives this would cover. There is the plot about the mercenary (DiCaprio), the journalist (Connelly), the fisherman and victim (Hounsou), the child-soldier, victim, and son (played very well by Kagiso Kuypers), and the buyers of conflict-diamonds the journalist would like to expose. They all intersect in some way. I was moved by how the journalist wouldn't help the mercenary until she was sure she would have facts that could be proven. I would think that hearing "Diamonds Equal Death" by protesters would be enough to stop the buying frenzy around the world. It's DiCaprio's character that breaks down the whole scene for Connelly. It's supply and demand. "Control the supply and you keep the demand high." Hounsou ponders how people in his own country could kill their own. The greed for all natural resources is quite sickening. The "super" powers have been raping the land's ivory, oil, gold and diamonds for centuries. It was interesting to see how DiCaprio and Hounsou help each other at different times. The action has horrific realism. It didn't even look like a movie set as the "revolutionaries" attack a whole town in one continuous drive-by shooting. The brain-washing of the young is quite disturbing as well. Children are taught and forced to kill their own people. The acting was sensational. I even enjoyed the native African antagonist. The music in this film was interesting too. Some of it sounded like African hip-hop. There's even a moment where you see an American music video where a rapper is in close-up flashing his bling. My favorite line in this movie was DiCaprio's. "I wonder...will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other. Then I look around and I realize, God left this place a long time ago." T.I.A. This Is Africa.

Oh my GAWD! I only watched this because of my recent viewing of Ellen Page in "Juno." I had no idea it would be so good. I was impressed how things shifted and kept you guessing what was going to happen next. Page was excellent (as I am noticing that she usually is). I also should praise Patrick Wilson for his work as the creepy photographer who picks up Haley after their computer chats. Loved almost every minute of it. I had a few questions for the filmmakers but, overall, I was impressed by this production. Always enjoy seeing Sandra Oh also. I haven't seen anything like this story since I saw "Lipstick" back in the day. It also brought back a few memories of "I Spit on Your Grave." Shivers and giggles. Was it Haley...oooor not?

Spanning four countries, this film shows how intricately we are all connected. I waited a long time to see this but nothing was lost by viewing it on cable. The emotional impact was very strong. From Morroco to America to Mexico and then Japan, we learn different things about the characters only to realize that a cause in one country leads to an effect in another. Very powerful but you should experience it for yourself. This touched me in a deep place in my soul. We are all one so be kind to the world and it will returned to you. My applause to this cast including the new young actors. However, I now have to view the films of Alejandro González Iñárritu. This was truly heartfelt and amazing.

So glad that this movie won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language. This was unlike anything I can remember. Tsotsi (meaning thug) played by Presley Chweneyagae is a brutal yet beautiful story about a young man who is questioned by a fellow gang member if he has any decency. This begins a reexaminaning of his life. A chain of personal growth is taking place but it may be to little too late. The night of this mental trigger Tsotsi commits a crime and is left with a newborn child. This takes him even further into thought as to what has defined his life. Every actor in this motion picture was outstanding but the film reached an incredible emotional depth thanks to Chweneyagae. We see how rugged life is for the millions of people stuggling to survive in Soweto. The film shows glimpses of how the youth are not truly given a fair chance. One reason for this hardship is because you must pay to go to school. This film is at times very touching. It is an eye-opening experience for the Tsotsi as well as the audience. You are never quite sure what will be said next or what the consequences of the actions taken. The native music combines a mixture of modern African music as well as a stirring score. Another brilliant film about humanity. I would recommend this highly.

A fantastically engaging documentary that has as much beauty and grace as the subjects and the dances. In this brief film, we learn the history of hula, the man responsible for bringing hula back to the men and the gentlemen who have become a troupe who learn and then compete for a grand title.
The man who brought this amazing group together is Robert Cazimero. The competition that he works his all-male hula group is called the Merrie Monarch Festival. Cazimero's group is the oldest group in Hawaii and their journey took place in 2005. That was also the 30th anniversary of the group?s existence. This was a great production which shines with the island's beauty and the humanity of the precious Hawaiian culture. It is so amazing that you will quickly see why this became an award-winning documentary. My only reason for not giving this doc a five-star rating was that it clocks in at fifty-seven minutes. I wished it was longer.

An Oscar winning documentary about the most sinister crime against humanity ...rape. I call it the most sinister because to rape women and children destroys the planet at its very core. These rape victims are shown trying to come to terms with themselves by speaking about the crimes against them. These women have paid with not just their bodies but also their minds and their very existence. Most of the women in this documentary (including the filmmakeer) have lost their spirit, their children and husbands, their extended families and, at many times, their vital organs to rape. What is also shocking is the fact that these women blame themselves. The filmmaker has tried to bring the voices of these victims to the world to stop these violent acts. The Congo is a very wealthy republic. It is rich in precious minerals and oil which is one reason why war is still occurring in this region. I was saddened that these women garnered so much shame because their families and viillages had turned their backs to them. These victims are often impregnated and have given birth to the children of these sexual predators. There are so many predators in this republic. The republic is involved in an economic war for oil, gold and coalton. What is coltan? I didn't know what it was until I saw this documentary. Apparently, coltan is used in wireless laptops and cell-phones. So you may now realize that demand is high due to the world's disire to communicate (almost needlessly) with each other. The war rages on due to supply and demand for the products that the world didn't need until these products came to the market. The Congo holds 80% of the world's coalton. These predators are a variety of rebels who take food, clothing, family members and these women's God-given nature. I was further shocked to learn that, on occassion, these sexual predators have also included United Nations officers. The social stigma that these women face after rape has caused most of them to remain alone and in silence. There is not much, if any, legal recourse for the miillions of victims. The victims range from age 4 to 80. The rapists say they don't have time to love and when they ask for sex and get turned down, they simply take it. It is disturbing to learn that it is not just one man but many men with no disease protection. The film further descrbes how these women are left scarred and mutilated. Very powerful and eye-openning. Everyone should see this and think about what we purchase and how it hurts women and children.

A look at the effects of coal mining in southern West Virgina, U.S.A. This documentary showcases the residents and a few coal company men as they defend their perspectives on the negative effects on the land and people's health as well as the campaign by the company to create "clean coal." First thing I learned was that "clean coal" is only clean when it burns. It causes just a much negative effects as it is mined. The mining in this documentary is not the men who go underground to dig out the coal. This shows lots of "mountaintop mining" which makes the land look as ugly as clear cutting trees. It turns the beautiful carbon cleaning trees as well as the entire mountain into rubble. It makes the forest look like a quarry or a desert. The local residents not only suffer from the destruction and feeling the explosions of the mountain top mining, they have to deal with polluted drinking water which has caused kidney and gall blander failure. This all was so sad. These folks realize that coal is needed to create power for the U.S. but they also know that mountain top mining is not necessary to achieve this. These same folks take the long journey from the Appalachians to New York City to take part in the United Nations' Conference of the Commission of Sustainable Development. The very people who are suppose to be helping folks all around the world give them nothing but lame beuracratic answers. All of this documentary is moving but it was a scene towards the end of the film that really got me. This woman whose land had been lived on by her elders for over a century was with her fellow U.N. visitors. She was overwhelmed with the amount of energy wasted in New York's Times Square with all the glitz and lights flashing. She screams while asking if anybody knows what destruction is happening so that this scene could happen. Turn off your lights and save some lives. Go to burningthefuture.com for more information.

I final got to see the film that many of my peers had been talking about. Narrated by the incredilbe Martin Sheen, the film opens with a funeral for the electric car. Later in the film we learn this funeral happened on April of 2003 during a first stage smog alert that hadn't happened in the southern California basin in five years. The title poses the question who the killer was and the film gives us all the culprits. This gives us a chance to decide for ourselves but eventually the film labels the different possibilities as guilty or not. We get to see how these cars started, how they were manufactured and how they were later impounded and destroyed. I have my own opinion about this but I do think that considering the alteratives the electric car is the lesser of many polluters (due to the coal needed to charge the cars). Lots of details which include lots of corruption and negativity which caused a lot of unhealthy and unnecessary grief for people who didn't even know these were available and those who already owned them. What I was most excited about was the news of a plug-in hybrid - a self-charging hybrid that doesn't need any gasoline, minimal charging and drives longer than the original EVs. An important film about how the governments connection with companies (both car manufacturing and oil) makes for bad news for the American citizens and, thereby, the world.

I thought this was great. We get to hear from the fans, the family and the man himself. I thought I knew a lot about Hunter until I saw this. I learned that he felt he became a caricature of what he was. I got to see part of his funeral of which I had only heard stories. I enjoyed how there were many examples of his writing and the effects thereafter. We get to see his Hunter's television appearances. We get to hear from both of his wives and his son. Johnny Depp does some great narrating. I don't think we will ever know why Hunter took his own life other than he had talked about doing it quite often. However, we get to view a life well lived. Rest in peace to a wild spirit but a man who truly was a great American.