MOVIE REVIEWS:
M = Mutt to MMMMM = Marvelous
The Holiday: I thought I would start with my favorite of this bunch of movies! I never even heard of this movie until I saw the trailer of it before another rental. The cast looked great and the premise looked amusing. Cameron Diaz (a movie trailer producer) and Kate Winslet (a newspaper writer) play women who are sick and tired of their lives, especially the men, and want a break. Diaz goes to a website that offers trading homes for the holidays. Winslet agrees to trade her home in the quiet English countryside for Diaz's home in LA for two weeks during Christmas. Jude Law (schwing!) plays Diaz's love interest and Jack Black plays Winslet's hopeful. I won't give it all away except it is a charming film with many memorable moments and excellent supporting cast. I especially enjoyed the "movie announcer" guy's voice coming into Diaz's head as she figures out her life..."she had the job, the house, the guy and gave it all up..." If you want to just sit back and enjoy a fun romantic romp...this is it.
MMMM
Rocky Balboa: I know what some of you are thinking, "Puhleez!" Right? If you just think about the first Rocky and maybe that was the only one you have seen (or want to remember) and you liked it...then you will appreciate this one. Forget all about Mr. T, Russians, etc. Just remember, Rocky. A guy who was being used as just dumb muscle but had a little faith and faith from others. Well...in any case...Sylvester Stallone should have only made TWO Rocky movies - the first one and this one. In this movie our hero, Rocky, is a punchy former boxer that owns a restaurant named for his late wife, Adrianne. The movie spends to much time on Rocky lamenting for his late wife...but the guy has heart. He tells the same stories over and over of his time in the ring, to his customers, while at the same time not forgetting that he could be the punch drunk boxer that is washing the dishes. He appreciates what he has. Then there is a computer generated boxing match between Rocky (back in the day) and a current heavy weight. Rocky shows to be the winner. The current Champ's handlers decide that this would be easy money and a way for their guy to look good to the fans, who don't like him. Rocky agrees and there you have it. I wish there was more boxing in the movie. The movie has surprising heart, much like the first movie, like it or not.
MMM
Happy Feet: You just gotta love penguins! There is just something about them that is adorable yet comical. This animated movie is a lot of fun and music is great. This clever movie follows the life of a penguin that instead of singing like his fellow penguins...he is born dancing. He has well...happy feet. He can't belt out a tune to show his emotion, instead he lets his feet do the talking. Needless to say, he is an outcast as if he had a red nose that glowed. Even though it is a penguin dancing you know someone had to choreograph the tap steps and in the credits I saw the name Savion Glover. Glover is one of the best tap dancers that has ever lived and you can tell he had fun with this premise. The dancing penguin, Mumbles, sets out to prove he can make something of himself and help his fellow penguins get through the drought of fish. This was just a totally fun and toe tapping movie. The animation is different than most animal animated movies. The animals weren't cartoonish, they actually looked like the animals but talked. I was surprised it beat out Cars for best animated movie but in some ways it was a toss up. Cars had a better story but dancing penguins...c'mon!
MMMM
Edison Force: Okay, this was a "who ever heard of it" movie by a "who ever heard of it" production company BUT has Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Dylan McDermott, John Heard, LL Cool J and even Justin Timberlake...I had to give it a shot. This is an interesting crime/thriller that kept me with it as the plot followed a young newspaper reporter who wanted to prove corruption in the police department but really digs up corruption at the foundation of the city's government. All this happening as the city is going through a revitalization know as "Better Edison." Personally, I think that would have been a better title for the movie and the box would have been better served without LL Cool J on the cover with a big gun. Deep characters and a surprise rental for sure. As far as the production company goes...all I can think of is that it must belong to one of the stars.
MMM
The Movie Mommy will not be renting many movies in the next couple months and will feature guest reviewers! Thanks for reading!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Little Man is Three
Another birthday come and gone. I can't believe it. Last night I was laying in bed thinking about when he was born. When I held him in the hospital and just coming home. Just quiet moments of him sleeping with his head under my chin and his feet not reaching my waist. Back when he was swaddled in a little cocoon. I would look at him and he would look expressionless at me. But I felt we had an understanding...like, I'm new at this too.
I remember thinking he was so awesome, beautiful and well...mine.
I thought about how his skin was only moments ago...my skin...in my body...that my body made him.
Now he seems so far from that. A big boy. But tonight he snuggled with me in my bed and it was nice. Just me and my little man.
I remember thinking he was so awesome, beautiful and well...mine.
I thought about how his skin was only moments ago...my skin...in my body...that my body made him.
Now he seems so far from that. A big boy. But tonight he snuggled with me in my bed and it was nice. Just me and my little man.
Friday, March 16, 2007
TV as the Teacher
I was going to call this post "In defense of TV as the babysitter." But that opens up a whole can of worms and opinions.
Instead, I want to talk about how TV has worked to teach my children. It has not made them zombies or inattentive or whatever else TV has been blamed to do.
I swore I would never use TV as a "babysitter." But I have to admit I tried. When my son was an infant he insisted on being held all the time. I would be doing dishes and he would be sitting under me in his swing, screaming his head off. I mean I was right there! I would have loved it if he took an interest in TV...believe me.
When he was about one, he had an interest in The Wiggles. In case you don't know...The Wiggles are grown Australian men that dance and sing...and the children love them. They are very good at what they do. My son first communicated to me using a simple sign, for banana, that he saw The Wiggles do during a dance. I should have probably gotten sign language videos right away but didn't really put it together. I was working and exhausted...and a first time mom.
The Wiggles were great for a long time. He liked other stuff as well. But there is so much crap on TV that I had to really watch what was being dumped in his head. I set limits on his broadcast TV viewing. If I watched TV at night, he never had much interest except to dance to the theme songs and commercials. We got a DVD player in our van. I make no apologies.
He also watched Sesame Street and Little Einsteins. I even got him the acclaimed "Muzzy" language system from the BBC to teach him Mandarin Chinese. They had little effect. He does enjoy Thomas The Train because of the songs and even sings along (very funny to hear).
Then he branched out to Blue's Clues. In this blog you will find my lament to Blue's Clues. Then my son had a breakthrough in learning. I completely credit Blue's Clues and probably my son being ready to learn. Blue's Clues taught him all his colors. We of course reinforced it...but Blue did most of the work. I also credit the show with my son being more interactive. He interacts with the characters on the show and then wants me to as well. I would dance to The Wiggles but mainly get weird looks.
I slowly worked on his alphabet with him. Then someone gave us the Leap Frog learning DVDs. One of them is called The Letter Factory. This DVD follows a character that goes through a factory that teaches letters their sounds. Each letter is introduced and the sound is also introduced - in a sing-song manner that is easy to remember. Not only does my son know any letter he sees but he also knows the sound. Sometimes when he is announcing a letter he sees he might just say the sound the letter makes. It is amazing. I can't wait to introduce him to the other DVDs in the set.
Another favorite is the Potty Power DVD. Sounds silly but it's only 20 minutes long and goes into how to use the potty, wipe, wash your hands and the joy of being a "big kid" and wearing underwear. At the end there is even a story about "The Princess and The Potty." All of this is done with great enthusiasm and catchy songs.
My daughter now enjoys these DVDs. She is watching some of them younger than he did. I am okay with that...she can watch ALL the Potty Power she wants! She also responds to some more than he did. She loves his Mandarin Chinese video. She even grabs the "Muzzy" stuffed creature and brings it to me when she wants to watch it.
One thing to remember about TV and the children - is that WE have to watch it to. If I want to puke every time I see the beginning of Teletubbies...I don't want to encourage anyone else in the house to watch it.
TV as a babysitter? Not for me. TV as a tool? I think it can be used as one. And used well. I don't think my son would be where he is now in learning and communicating without it.
I admit putting on a DVD that they like so I can start dinner or take a shower...that is just surviving parenthood...and that's another story.
Instead, I want to talk about how TV has worked to teach my children. It has not made them zombies or inattentive or whatever else TV has been blamed to do.
I swore I would never use TV as a "babysitter." But I have to admit I tried. When my son was an infant he insisted on being held all the time. I would be doing dishes and he would be sitting under me in his swing, screaming his head off. I mean I was right there! I would have loved it if he took an interest in TV...believe me.
When he was about one, he had an interest in The Wiggles. In case you don't know...The Wiggles are grown Australian men that dance and sing...and the children love them. They are very good at what they do. My son first communicated to me using a simple sign, for banana, that he saw The Wiggles do during a dance. I should have probably gotten sign language videos right away but didn't really put it together. I was working and exhausted...and a first time mom.
The Wiggles were great for a long time. He liked other stuff as well. But there is so much crap on TV that I had to really watch what was being dumped in his head. I set limits on his broadcast TV viewing. If I watched TV at night, he never had much interest except to dance to the theme songs and commercials. We got a DVD player in our van. I make no apologies.
He also watched Sesame Street and Little Einsteins. I even got him the acclaimed "Muzzy" language system from the BBC to teach him Mandarin Chinese. They had little effect. He does enjoy Thomas The Train because of the songs and even sings along (very funny to hear).
Then he branched out to Blue's Clues. In this blog you will find my lament to Blue's Clues. Then my son had a breakthrough in learning. I completely credit Blue's Clues and probably my son being ready to learn. Blue's Clues taught him all his colors. We of course reinforced it...but Blue did most of the work. I also credit the show with my son being more interactive. He interacts with the characters on the show and then wants me to as well. I would dance to The Wiggles but mainly get weird looks.
I slowly worked on his alphabet with him. Then someone gave us the Leap Frog learning DVDs. One of them is called The Letter Factory. This DVD follows a character that goes through a factory that teaches letters their sounds. Each letter is introduced and the sound is also introduced - in a sing-song manner that is easy to remember. Not only does my son know any letter he sees but he also knows the sound. Sometimes when he is announcing a letter he sees he might just say the sound the letter makes. It is amazing. I can't wait to introduce him to the other DVDs in the set.
Another favorite is the Potty Power DVD. Sounds silly but it's only 20 minutes long and goes into how to use the potty, wipe, wash your hands and the joy of being a "big kid" and wearing underwear. At the end there is even a story about "The Princess and The Potty." All of this is done with great enthusiasm and catchy songs.
My daughter now enjoys these DVDs. She is watching some of them younger than he did. I am okay with that...she can watch ALL the Potty Power she wants! She also responds to some more than he did. She loves his Mandarin Chinese video. She even grabs the "Muzzy" stuffed creature and brings it to me when she wants to watch it.
One thing to remember about TV and the children - is that WE have to watch it to. If I want to puke every time I see the beginning of Teletubbies...I don't want to encourage anyone else in the house to watch it.
TV as a babysitter? Not for me. TV as a tool? I think it can be used as one. And used well. I don't think my son would be where he is now in learning and communicating without it.
I admit putting on a DVD that they like so I can start dinner or take a shower...that is just surviving parenthood...and that's another story.
Lame Times
MOVIE REVIEWS
Harsh Times: Alfred Hitchcock invented the term: "The McGuffin." That is the event in a story that starts the action or sets the story in motion. For example, in most TV crime shows it's before the credits. In most movies it can be in the beginning or about a quarter of the way in. The movie Harsh Times has no McGuffin. Nothing ever happens thus no story. Not even the over the top performance of Christian Bale (I would like to see him play something other than a dark, brooding young male) can drive this driven-less film. The film follows Bale's character and a buddy as they drive around LA, get high, get drunk, talk like idiots about women and well...do nothing to drive the story. We kept waiting for something to happen...someone gets killed, busted, hurt, etc. - which seemed to be the only thing that these guys could be good at. Nope. Don't bother.
M (for Bale's performance only)
Man of The Year: Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, and Jeff Goldblum could not save this movie. I am sorry to say that critics were right...but they were. This movie was pretty lame. I would rather see Robin Williams take to the stage and do an HBO special than see him attempt to work it into this movie. Williams is to good of an actor for this film...as well as everyone else in it. It had some funny parts to it but the film wasn't committed to being a comedy or a drama. It really needed to be one or the other. Williams' character is someone who has his own interview/commentary show (like Bill Maher or John Stewart) who runs for President. At the same time there is something hinky going on at the company that makes the computerized voting machines. Comedy insues...ah, no it doesn't. It's a bit clunky and dissapointing. Robin, please go back to the stage and freshen up a bit.
M
Harsh Times: Alfred Hitchcock invented the term: "The McGuffin." That is the event in a story that starts the action or sets the story in motion. For example, in most TV crime shows it's before the credits. In most movies it can be in the beginning or about a quarter of the way in. The movie Harsh Times has no McGuffin. Nothing ever happens thus no story. Not even the over the top performance of Christian Bale (I would like to see him play something other than a dark, brooding young male) can drive this driven-less film. The film follows Bale's character and a buddy as they drive around LA, get high, get drunk, talk like idiots about women and well...do nothing to drive the story. We kept waiting for something to happen...someone gets killed, busted, hurt, etc. - which seemed to be the only thing that these guys could be good at. Nope. Don't bother.
M (for Bale's performance only)
Man of The Year: Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, and Jeff Goldblum could not save this movie. I am sorry to say that critics were right...but they were. This movie was pretty lame. I would rather see Robin Williams take to the stage and do an HBO special than see him attempt to work it into this movie. Williams is to good of an actor for this film...as well as everyone else in it. It had some funny parts to it but the film wasn't committed to being a comedy or a drama. It really needed to be one or the other. Williams' character is someone who has his own interview/commentary show (like Bill Maher or John Stewart) who runs for President. At the same time there is something hinky going on at the company that makes the computerized voting machines. Comedy insues...ah, no it doesn't. It's a bit clunky and dissapointing. Robin, please go back to the stage and freshen up a bit.
M
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Worthwhile Rentals
MOVIE REVIEWS:
Hollywoodland: I didn't know what to expect from this movie and I couldn't quite remember how the reviews were. I was afraid it would be another big disappointment like Black Dahlia but thought I'd get it anyway. I was glad I did! I have to admit that had I known Ben Affleck was going to have so much screen time I probably wouldn't have rented this movie. I have to say now that I wish he had more screen time. Affleck plays TV's Superman, George Reeves who in 1959 commits suicide. Big news at the time and an open and shut case. Adrien Brody plays a sleazy private eye who sees the Reeves suicide as a way to grab some headlines and bilk Reeves mother for money as he investigates it as a murder. The movie follows two plot lines at the same time: Reeves as he goes from Superman to not getting work and Brody as he investigates and doesn't like what he sees in the investigation and in himself. Backing up this pair is Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins. You don't have to know anything about Reeves story but if you did...it might help fill in some of the tragic blanks. I am willing to give Affleck a break now that I have seen his performance in this movie. I think it's a breakout role like Val Kilmer in Tombstone and he should take advantage of it. Kilmer didn't. Must rent.
MMMM
Stranger Than Fiction: This is another movie that I didn't know much about. I remember the previews and thought it looked funny. Odd but funny. Will Ferrell plays a boring man who works for the IRS. There is a narration by Emma Thompson describing his life up to this point. Then one day while Ferrell is brushing his teeth - he hears the narration. I could think how this could go cheesy but instead the movie stays fresh and fun. Ferrell goes to a psychologist who suggests that if he is not crazy that he see a literature professor. He meets one played by Dustin Hoffman. I won't tell you anymore because this movie is fun to discover on your own. I was pleasantly surprised by all the performances in this movie including Queen Latifah as Thompson's assistant. Watch this movie with an open mind and enjoy!
MMMM
Hollywoodland: I didn't know what to expect from this movie and I couldn't quite remember how the reviews were. I was afraid it would be another big disappointment like Black Dahlia but thought I'd get it anyway. I was glad I did! I have to admit that had I known Ben Affleck was going to have so much screen time I probably wouldn't have rented this movie. I have to say now that I wish he had more screen time. Affleck plays TV's Superman, George Reeves who in 1959 commits suicide. Big news at the time and an open and shut case. Adrien Brody plays a sleazy private eye who sees the Reeves suicide as a way to grab some headlines and bilk Reeves mother for money as he investigates it as a murder. The movie follows two plot lines at the same time: Reeves as he goes from Superman to not getting work and Brody as he investigates and doesn't like what he sees in the investigation and in himself. Backing up this pair is Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins. You don't have to know anything about Reeves story but if you did...it might help fill in some of the tragic blanks. I am willing to give Affleck a break now that I have seen his performance in this movie. I think it's a breakout role like Val Kilmer in Tombstone and he should take advantage of it. Kilmer didn't. Must rent.
MMMM
Stranger Than Fiction: This is another movie that I didn't know much about. I remember the previews and thought it looked funny. Odd but funny. Will Ferrell plays a boring man who works for the IRS. There is a narration by Emma Thompson describing his life up to this point. Then one day while Ferrell is brushing his teeth - he hears the narration. I could think how this could go cheesy but instead the movie stays fresh and fun. Ferrell goes to a psychologist who suggests that if he is not crazy that he see a literature professor. He meets one played by Dustin Hoffman. I won't tell you anymore because this movie is fun to discover on your own. I was pleasantly surprised by all the performances in this movie including Queen Latifah as Thompson's assistant. Watch this movie with an open mind and enjoy!
MMMM
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