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9 - PG-13
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I loved the basic story-line and the look and feel of the animation and little burlap characters...but something got away from the original short-feature (that was nominated for an academy award) to this full length feature version. I think the gel to fill in the storyline more in order to do so was simply not needed. However, over-all this was a delightful little animated film with great voice overs by a fantastic group of actors.
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January 5, 2010
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N/A
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Blue Skies - Unrated
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Same old story (even for it's time) of boy meets girl, boy marries girl, boy loses girls, but gets her back in the end. However, the fine and memorable and classic song and dance tunes that intertwine the familar story are still so enjoyable and fasinating to hear and watch. Bing and Fred singing and dancing to Irving Berlin are always worth the watch.
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January 3, 2010
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N/A
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Four Christmases - PG-13
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This is a fair Christmas Romantic Comedy about a couple who are happy not being married or tied to the trappings of marriage and family; who one Christmas being fogged in and unable to get away as they normally do, are trapped into spending Christmas with each of their individual parents and their families. There are some enjoyable moments but nothing really all thta memorable.
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January 3, 2010
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N/A
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The Gift - R
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Cate Blanchett stars as a widow with 3 boys who supplements their income with her "gift" as a physic. When a town murder occurs she is drawn into solving that mystery on more than one level. Chilling & touching and well written screen-play by Billy Bob Thorton and well directed by Sam Raimi. An excellent star-studded cast but the stand outs here were Ms. Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi. Loved this movie. It deserved far more attention that it received.
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January 2, 2010
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N/A
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Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project - Unrated
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What a wonderful surprise this little bio-doc was on the life and career of comedian Don Rickles. Offers quite a bit about his life while growing up and before he was famous, as well as a lot from recent stage shows. Good insightful interviews with those who know him best and well directed by John Landis who first worked with Rickles 40 yrs earlier on the set of Kelly's Heros where Landis worked as a gopher. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this - very well done.
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January 1, 2010
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N/A
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It's Complicated - R
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Funny, smart and tender. Wonderfully written & directed. JUST the right people in just the right roles. Meryl Streep plays a divorced woman who in the middle of falling once again for her X husband (who is married) played delishiously by Alec Baldwin - also falls for a lonely yet charming divorcee played by Steve Martin. In the midst of this is her confused children and one soon to be son-in-law played by Krasinski (of the Office) who knows a little more than he wants to know. Totally enjoyed this.
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January 1, 2010
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N/A
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Please Vote for Me - Unrated
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Children in communist China get a rare lesson in democracy in their elementray classroom...and so does the viewer. I was totally captivated by the 3 children up for election as "Class Monitor" and watched this with more interest and excitement than most of our own polictical elections. Intriguing and smart and I'd recommend this 1 hr documentary to everyone. Brings a lot to the table for discussion afterwards as well. LOVED this.
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December 30, 2009
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N/A
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Pirates of the Great Salt Lake - PG-13
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I had trouble staying awake through-out it. The one plus I would offer here is some originality - but the screen-play and acting for the most part were lack-luster and boring.
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December 27, 2009
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N/A
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The Circus - G
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Written, directed, scored and starring Charles Chaplin as the little tramp in "the Circus". Utterly charming and innovative for it's time (1928) this silent film that brings plenty of laughs but also has lots of heart demonstrates well how a movie when done right - no matter when it was made is a timeless piece of art.
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December 26, 2009
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N/A
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Land of the Lost - PG-13
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It did a fairly good job of paying homage to the 1960s / 70s Sat morning children's show this is taken from, but over all this was a fair movie at best. Still enjoyable, but nothing really special. It felt like not a lot of time or thought was put into the screen play past incorporating some of the original details.
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December 25, 2009
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N/A
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Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian - PG
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As the first one was - this is a great "family" movie. In part II we meet an adorable Amy Adams as Amelia but it's hilarious Hank Azaria that steals the show here - and that's a good thing...a lot of the original characters are back to enjoy again...just silly fun for the whole family.
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December 22, 2009
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N/A
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Run Fatboy Run - PG-13
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Not an unfamiliar tale, but charming is the word for this movie with Simon Peg as the self proclaimed loser of a guy that left the gorgeous (and pregnant) fiancee at the altar. Flash forward 5 years later and though he has a relationship with his son, he has let himself and his life fall to pieces until he discovers his wife (beautiful Thankdie Newton) has fallen for a new man (Hank Azaria) who seems to be "Mr Perfect". Just an enjoyable little movie.
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December 22, 2009
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N/A
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Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School - PG-13
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This was enjoyable to watch just for the sheer calvacade of great character actors and actresses willing to appear in very small parts here; HOWEVER this sweet little story is uncomfortably told/narrated by John Goodman's character from his dying last words from the back of an ambulance, and has too disjointed of a screen play. What a shame really as it had real potential to be something much greater than it was - especially because of the talented folks director Randall Miller had at hand. Over-all though still enjoyable enough with an uplifting theme of enjoying one's life...despite it all.
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December 21, 2009
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N/A
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Whatever Works - PG-13
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Written and directed by Woody Allen. A sweet story about an older man disillusioned with life, who one day meets a young woman (Evan Rachel Wood) living outside his door in NYC. He begrudingly takes her in and they begin to change each other's lives for the better in unconventional but workable ways...hence, whatever works. This was enjoyable, and though I like Larry David, I didn't care for him in this role. I kept hearing the diaglog and hearing how Woody himself would have delivered those lines more effectively; never the less an enjoyable little film but not one of Mr. Allen's best.
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December 19, 2009
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N/A
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Herb and Dorothy - Unrated
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Herb & Dorothy are an elderly couple who have quietly over 4 decades gathered one of the largest minimalist art collections in the country. They are charming together and their passion for art shows when they talk about it. That being said, when the Vogels were off screen, I didn?t care. The other people in the film were boring and uninteresting and were given far too much screen time. The film is also too long for what they needed to say. Call it Herb & Dorothy, make it only about Herb & Dorothy, and turn it into a 15 minute news program segment, then we will all be happy. Otherwise, I'd say skip this one.
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December 18, 2009
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N/A
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Avatar - PG-13
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Visually this was just stunning in 3D...I grew up on the ol' ones from the 60s and 70s - and this is NOT your mama's 3D movie. Amazing really. There is a NON 3D version and if you see THAT you are not really SEEING this movie. The script was excellent and I knew as I watched it - it was kicking up a lot of contraversy- and boy has it...but it brings talk to the table and discussion and that is always another sign of a good movie. I really liked this and totally enjoyed the adventure and thought put into this. My only qualm was I felt it a little too long at over 2.5 hrs long - nearly 3 really - but...other than that - this was great. I might also mention the dialect used in this for the Avatar language was excellent and the soundtract was as well. Good job from director James Cameron.
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December 18, 2009
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N/A
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The Remains of the Day - PG
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One of very favorite Anthony Hopkins performances. He has to play his emotions (however strong) so close to the cuff in this role as the Butler to and English Lord during the 1930s & 40s (and later in the 50s/60s to an American Congressman - played nicely by Christopher Reeve) Hopkins character is the stodgy stiff upper lip butler with a world of emotions bottled up inside - they remain in there until the day he meets the new house maid played by Emma Thompson who consistantly challanges him to open up. A small part by a young Hugh Grant as the Lord's Godson also challanges Hopkins character to speak his mind on his own behalf rather than that of the Lord he serves (who becomes morally flawed as the film moves along) Brings a lot to the table for discussion, but truly the gem of this film is Hopkins himself and the worth of this film is primarily for those who love Anthony Hopkins - if so, this is a must see. He is just amazing to watch.
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December 16, 2009
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N/A
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Our Vines Have Tender Grapes - Unrated
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One of my favorite Edward G. Robinson movies. He plays a much gentler soul in this one as a farmer in Wisconsin during war time years with a loving wife (also in a more gentle role than typical by Agnes Moorehead) and little girl played ever so charmingly by Margaret O'Brien. A story about the importance of family and community - especially during tough times. Nicely directed by Roy Rowland and screenplay by Dalton Trumbo.
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December 14, 2009
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N/A
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Johnny Got His Gun - PG
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I find this highly over-rated. Bad acting - very creepy in the worst possible way and horrible script. I like Dalton Trumbo - I like most all of his films. He both wrote and directed this one - but I was nothing but highly disappointed. Weirdness to the point it's anti-war point of view will not be taken seriously.
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December 14, 2009
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N/A
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Julie & Julia - PG-13
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Excellent characterzation of Julia Child by Meryl Streep. Uncanny really. Adorable Amy Adams playing Julie, the young NY writer inspired by Julia Child as she writes a cooking blog for one year working her way through Child's cookbook. Two true stories intertwined and nicely brought together by director Nora Ephron. Very enjoyable.
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December 13, 2009
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N/A
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The Playboys - PG-13
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A sweet little drama, though nothing special. About a young single mother in the 1952 in Ireland who is wooed by the town cop and by a man (handsome Aiden Quinn) from a traveling theaterical show.
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December 11, 2009
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N/A
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It Happened on 5th Avenue - Unrated
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This is a little known but quite enjoyable classic Holiday film. You will recognize ob Cummings and evcen Alan Hale Jr (later of Gilligan's Island fame). A young man (Cummings) during the war is found sleeping in the park and invited to stay at rich man's mansion - only to find out that man is a drifter and not the real owner. Enter the real millionaire's (who has been living in the south) daughter and you now have a love interest too. Fun
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December 11, 2009
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N/A
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The Lucky Ones - R
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December 8, 2009
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N/A
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Shrink - R
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Nice performance by Spacey in this flim about a Hollywood Shrink to the stars who's own wife commits suicide and throws him into a grief he finds that his own "get happy" philosophy can't save him from; which deepens his depression even more so when he doubts his own creditability. Along the way we meet his patients and aquaintances who all cross paths in one way or another - sort of a "Crash" of emotional trauma. That being said this wasn't particulary anything new and the slow dark pace of this is not always easy to hang in there with ...but as a fan of Spacey's it was still a worthwhile watch.
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December 8, 2009
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N/A
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Thunderpants - Unrated
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Cute, and where funny at first the joke gets old fairly fast...the performances of Paul Giamatti and Ned Beatty in this give it more value than it would otherwise have for me...but?, for a famly film it's not too bad really. Silly fun...about an English boy who can't stop farting ..and learns that his "unique gift" can actually be put to some very good use to help out the American Space Program.
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December 8, 2009
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N/A
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11156 ratings
1371 reviews
