Movie Reviews

AT THE MOVIES:

National Treasure - Book of Secrets: I loved the last National Treasure movie. So, if you are like me - you will love this one as well. Nicholas Cage and company go on another treasure hunt with secrets hidden in things like the desk in the Oval office and a desk in Buckingham Palace. This of course means Cage has to get access to these locations. He also has to get information out of a book that only the President of the United States has access to or knows about - the "book of secrets." This book contains stuff like Area 51 information and JFK assination facts. The reason our heroes are on this quest is to clear the name of Cage's character's ancestor who is accused of helping James Wilkes Booth assinate President Lincoln. This keeps everyone very busy and eventually leads to Native American treasure that was supposed to help the Confederates during the Civil War. The story gets a little convoluted but is great fun from beginning to end.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)

Enchanted: This sweetheart of a movie is sure to be fun for everyone in the entire family or even if you don't bring them...you will still enjoy it! The premise is kind of silly but not unique - a cartoon character is transformed into real person in NYC. The thing about this fish out of water scenario is the fact that Disney is not afraid to poke fun at itself. Our heroine assumes everyone is as nice as they are in her fairytale world and that leads to a reality check while at the same time making harsh citizens of the live action world soften up a bit. There are some great tunes as our gal is not afraid to just break into song and enough humor to make adults laugh. This is not really a kids movie - maybe kids over the age of 10 but there is some humor they might not get. Bring your suspension of disbelief with you and you will leave feeling good and...like singing a happy song.
MMMM (out of 5 M's)

ON VIDEO:

Stardust: This was a fun movies that fans of The Princess Bride, Ella Enchanted and other fun fantastical movies should enjoy. The knowledge that an unknown world is beyond a stone fence in England is to much for a young man to ignore and he decides to tempt fate and venture accross. The result of this short journey will lead his own son and a fallen star on an adventure that involves witches, kings, ghosts and pirates. Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfieffer are standouts and are appearing to have a great time of it. Just enjoy.
MMM (out of 5 M's)

The Waitress: The fact that the only "star" in this movie is Kerri Russell should be a strong indication of lameness...but I read the box for the movie and it used words like "sassy" and "comedy." It was also supposed to leave me "inspired." Well, after induring this movie for 2 hours - I found myself hardpressed to find any of these items. Russell plays a young woman that works at a pie shop and gets pregnant by her very abusive husband. She ends up having an affair with her married obstetrian. There are some amusing things that happen in this movie like the fact that everytime she feels a strong emotion she thinks up a pie to go along with it, "the baby is keeping me up all night pie," "I hate my husband pie," etc. In the end Russell's character does have an epiphany after having the baby - which is good. But inspired? Sassy? Comedy? Nope. I guess I was really expecting those things. If they said "drama" then I wouldn't have been waiting for it to be funny. And Kerri Russell cannot carry a movie at all.
M (out of 5 M's)

Land of the Blind: Two hours of my life I won't get back. This total dog isn't worth the space in this blog to mention. Ralph Finnes and Donald Sutherland are totally wasted in this weird movie.
Zero M's

I Am Legend

I Am Legend is some good sci fi filmaking and is based on the book by the same name that came out in 1954. There have been other adaptations of the book including the trippy movie Omega Man with Charlton Heston and a graphic novel. Basically, been there, seen that. Will Smith plays Robert Neville an Army scientist trying to find a cure to a pandemic that has infected, seemingly, the entire world. The results of the infection is that those infected display vampire like tendencies...drinking blood, long teeth, sensitivity to sunlight, etc. The disease was caused by a cure for Cancer, unlike other adaptations that blame some kind of germ warfare. Smith does an excellent job portraying a man that is dealing with an incredibly bleak future for himself and the world. He goes to day to with his routine (and his dog) of hunting for food, renting videos and most importantly broadcasting his message on the radio of where survivors can meet him. He has done this for 3 years. The vampires are wonderfully freaky with CGI distorted faces Ala The Mummy. Our first glimpse of the creepy dark dwellers is when Smith follows his dog, reluctantly, into a dark building. There is definite suspense building when all you see is the light mounted on his gun searching through the darkness. Then we see them- a group of them standing in a circle with their heads bowed. All we really see is the pale backs and bald heads. It's enough for everyone in the theatre to yell, "Run!" In some ways it would have been okay for the baddies to just stay in the shadows like that but when they do decide to descend upon him in the darkness it is not disappointing - they are very scary.
As I said in the beginning, we've seen some of this before...a little 28 Days Later with a dash of Children of Men and Lifeforce. And the scenes of the abandoned and grown over New York City is way cool. However, I think there was some stuff left on the cutting room floor that could have fleshed this movie out a little. For instance, Emma Thompson has what appears to be a cameo as the creator of a cure for Cancer and only through Smith watching recorded news programs do we find out the cure's role in what has happened. Even then it isn't clear. I feel Thompson must have had a larger role. It also isn't clear what Smith's character's role was in the disease. He seems to have a singular goal to find the cure and even sends away his family at the beginning of the outbreak in order to stay in New York City (ground zero of the illness) and continue his research. We see a brief glimpse of a Time Magazine cover that has his picture and "Our Savior" under it. What did we miss? Did Thompson and Smith have a scene together? True, a good filmmaker wants to give his audience some credit for being able to figure things out...this was a little to much. And we know with all the money they spend on effects and sets - that is what has to make it on the screen.
I did like this movie, it was good but it wasn't great. Will Smith gives great depth to his character and really makes this movie worth watching. I think this movie could have been great if it was a little longer. I hope when it comes out on video they have a "director's cut" that includes some things that just have to be there somewhere to have the movie really take hold of the viewer.
Rating: MMM (out of 5 M's)

Finally Excited About Christmas

Nothing can be more annoying to the mother of an infant, baby or toddler than someone saying, "Is he excited about Christmas?!" What 8 month old isn't?! Duh! Parents out there understand what I am talking about. At my son's first Christmas, he was more interested in playing in the pile of wrapping paper. His second Christmas, he was more interested in laughing when someone broke wind. At his third Christmas, he actually got the fact that unwrapping a box meant something was inside for him. Now, he is almost 4 years old and is excited!
NOW, you can ask me!
He knows that Santa will come and bring him presents - he asks every morning if this is the day. He likes to watch the Christmas specials - his favorite, right now, is the original animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I have to start him out with the classics and it is so cute to hear him singing along. He loves to hear me sing Christmas songs and insists that the tree be plugged in every morning - like I need the encouragement. He loves the lighted train that is in our front yard and opening the drawers in the train Advent calendar we have. He is just starting to get that it is only one drawer a day. He loves driving around and looking at Christmas light displays. He is excited.
The great thing now is that my daughter (just turned 2 years old) is also excited about Christmas! I know it's because of my son's excitement. I don't know if she understands about getting presents...but she will get that figured out soon enough. She can't say "Santa" - instead she just points and says, "Ho, ho, ho!" (in an incredibly adorable little voice). She likes the lights on the tree and in the yard. She knows something different is going on around here...and it's happy.
Christmas really does take on new meaning when you have children and that new meaning has finally happened to me.
I always loved Christmas but now it seems, "Christmas means a little bit more..."

The movie mommy strikes Back!

Finally...the movie mommy has rented some movies!

Ocean's 13: I rarely see a movie that I could own and watch over and over but this is one of those movies! Hard to believe coming from me...I found Ocean's 11 and 12 to be a waste of 4 hours of my life I am never going to get back. But there is just something about this movie that hits the nail on the head...at least for me. I did a full review of this movie when I saw it at the movies (you can look through my blog for it) and I like it even more now. George, Brad, Matt and Co. are not just doing a switcheroo big time heist for themselves...this is motivated by giving someone their comeuppance. That someone is a casino scumbag played by Al Pacino - a nice addition to the already established characters. Ellen Barkin is also part of the action and seemingly enjoying her role as the "cougar" assistant to Pacino. You might need to see it again and again and each time you will catch something different.
MMMMM (out of 5 M's)

Shrek 3: This is another one I saw at the movies and feel really blows away it's predecessor. I really never thought the Shrek movies were all that - this one finally lives up to the hype. I am probably the only one that feels that way. Shrek fans I have talked to were disappointed. Since I wasn't expecting much...I was pleasantly surprised. Much of the humor probably appeals to me because I am a parent. Shrek finds out he is going to be a father and there are some humorous scenes involving his anxiety over it, including a nightmare about baby Shreks - everywhere. I also like anything that has to do with the Arthurian legend and they did a fun take on it. Give this one a chance!
Must Rent.
MMMM

We Are Marshall: This movie begins with an unbelievably tragic event (I might as well tell you and spare you the shock...and it was a true event) of a plane carrying the entire Marshall University football team, coaching staff and prominent boosters all dying in a plane crash outside of the University's town - 75 people in all. The town is small enough that everyone in the town lost someone or knew someone that died. It is mentioned that the prominent boosters were the town's doctors and lawyers and that 28 children lost both parents. This leads the University to vote to close down the football program. When the news is broken to the 4 players that did not make the trip with the team, one team member decides there must be a team. After the player rallies support, the University president (played by one of my favorites, David Strathairn) goes on a search for a coach. No one wants to do it. There is the assistant coach, who gave up his seat on the plane, haunted by the event and he cannot bring himself to take the head coaching job. Even the town is still divided about having a team and it being a painful reminder of what they have lost. Mathew McConaughey plays the coach that wants to fill those shoes. The rest of the movie pretty formulatic and we have seen it before. The problem I have with the movie is that McConaughey's facial ticks and gestures (I suppose trying to be like the real coach) are distracting and actually take away from his performance. Rent if you have lots of tissues handy and just like football movies in general.
MM

Others to consider renting:
The Flying Scotsman - MMM
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer - MMM1/2M
Hairspray - MMMM

The New Fab Four

Okay...so, I went to a Wiggles concert. If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about...don't feel bad. I never heard of them until I had children and found out the Wiggles were the biggest money making act in the world in 2005 (including CD, DVD, concert ticket and merchandise sales). They are HUGE. And I got the see them in concert. They have also been around for almost 15 years. Most children know them from their TV show or DVDs.
Without going into a large amount of detail...the Wiggles are four men from Australia that are musicians who also majored in early childhood education. I was turned on to them when my son was an infant. I was pretty impressed. The tunes are catchy and the foursome have a way with communicating with the children that is their own. The children really respond. I credit the Wiggles with teaching my son to dance and communicate...he was a late talker but could ask for a banana by rubbing his hands together (like in one of their songs about a smashed banana) at an early age.
There are three original Wiggles and earlier this year had to replace the fourth with an understudy (fans might know him as Professor Sing-A-Lotta-Song-A). A great choice. In concert they all get the job done.
On to the concert...
I have to admit that even I was excited when the Wiggles appeared on stage. I found my self whooping it up like I was seeing a rock concert - all the parents were. I mean I know all the songs as well as I know the songs from my favorite rock group and after seeing them on TV for over 3 years...I'm a fan. The toddlers in the audience were a mix between being mesmerized (like my daughter) and immediately dancing and singing (like my son).
After a few songs my son did get overwhelmed and had to leave the show for a while. He doesn't like crowds and I think the excitement and screaming were to much for him.
The Wiggles had very few special effects and a simple stage but lots of energy, dancers and all familiar faces. The Wiggles were joined by Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus (in large costumes) and every one's favorite pirate, Captain Feathersword. They performed all their hits including Fruit Salad, Rock-a-Bye Your Bear, Look Both Ways, Here Comes a Bear, Play Your Guitar with Murray, Shake Your Hips with Wags the Dog and Hot Potato. Yes, I know all those songs and all the words! My children especially liked the version of Captain Feathersword Fell Asleep on His Pirate Ship (Quack, Quack, Cockadoodledoo). By this time my daughter had really gotten into the show and was dancing up a storm. And my son was back in the party. The parents were amused by them going into the Can't Touch This riff and at the right place shouted, "Can't Quack this!" and shuffled across the floor in duck suites like MC Hammer.
The Wiggles had a great time on stage and the audience could easily pick up on that. They put as much or more into a show as any top performers that I have ever seen.
If you have small children and have been dreading seeing the Wiggles in concert...don't.
The BEST part of the whole experience was watching my children (song after song) dancing and singing. That's why every parent was there.

What A Little Moonlight Can't Do...

To say, "been there, done that..." in regards to the new TV show Moonlight would be more than redundant. Most viewers will think it is like the show Angel (1999-2004), the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin off, about a vampire that is also a private eye. I didn't think that because I wasn't into the whole Buffy/Angel scene.
I say, "been there, done that" because of a show called Forever Knight (1989-1996). Forever Knight follows the evening activities of police Detective Nick Knight (Geraint Wyn Davies), an 800 year old vampire, who resides in a Toronto, Canada and drives a 1950s convertible Caddy. The episodes featured him solving crimes, on the night shift, with his partner (played by veteran actor John Kapelos) and avoiding the bad influence of the vampire underworld lead by, another veteran actor, Nigel Bennett. There is also Natalie, the night morgue worker, who lusts after our vampire hero - she knows he's a vampire. He of course cannot let himself love her because he's a vampire...yeah, yeah, we know the rest. There were many flashbacks during every episode, ala Highlander, but it never really got old because of how long his life spanned. An interesting episode is when you got to see how the head vampire was turned...just before the erupting of Pompeii. There is also a cool vampire club in town where Nick has to go on occasion to find a vampire that has been making trouble. Forever Knight was never actually on any network. At that time networks like USA and TNT were not in the major TV episode market. Instead it was on one of the big 3, after the news, on what they called "Crime time after Prime time." They also showed a wonderfully decadent show called Silk Stalkings (a fluffy Miami Vice type show). Basically, if you were up late...you may have seen an episode of Forever Knight.
This brings us to Moonlight. And here is a rundown of the originality...or lack there of. Moonlight follows the story of a private detective named Mick St. John - who was made a vampire in the 1950s and drives a 1960s Mercedes. Australian actor Alex O'Loughlin grumbles his lines, in his best American accent, through some pretty lame episodes (so far). He bounces his troubles off a vampire friend and you do see other vampires around Los Angles including ones that clean up after sloppy vampire activity. Mick also has someone he wishes he could be with and that is a young police detective whom he saved when she was a young girl. In the second episode of the season he tells her the truth about himself. I really don't know where the show is going to go at this point. I mean, the really can't do the whole flashback thing because...well...the guy only has about 80 years to flashback into. And there really isn't an interesting supporting cast. I have watched a couple episodes so far...I might stick with...but then again...I might not.
If you are into this kind of thing...rent episodes of Forever Knight.

Welcome Home

The movie mommy has dropped the ball lately when it comes to movie reviews...I know. But I have a good excuse...I have been moving.
I have moved a lot in the past 6 months...house to house...house to apartment...and now, in a week, apartment to home. Not just a house but a home. Everyone's definition of home is different. Some people think of home as being where they grew up, where their parents live, where they lived the longest, where they raised their own family, where they last lived or where they live now. There are countless more, I am sure. Mine is...where I can finally stay and not have to move again, for a long time. A place with my husband and children are waiting for me when I come home from work. A place that I can decorate anyway I want for the holidays. Those are just a few of my definitions of home. A home can be allusive for some people. Take my office and my desk - or lack there of. A home away of home...as it were.
Ever since I arrived at my office I have not had a desk of my own. I have been sharing desks with people. I refer to it as "hot desking." That is a term borrowed from shipboard living - an expression called "hot racking." That is when you have to share a bed (rack) with someone else. You go to work, someone else sleeps in your bed - can be several someones in a row. The bed is still warm from the other person when you go to get in it, thus the term "hot racking." Ew...I know.
Every time someone, in my office, went out for a few hours I would unplug their computer, plug in mine and use their phone. Sometimes even a few minutes. They understood. But sometimes when the office was full...I was stuck. I really do need a computer to do my job. Especially, since I am new and have a lot less busy work than my co-workers.
Last week my own desk dream came true. It's an old desk and will be replaced by a new one in a couple months...but to me it is my very own. Some of my co-workers think my desk arrangement and use of space is claustrophobic. I am in a corner, facing a wall and behind me is the back of a high walled cubicle. I have a computer and a phone. I call it my cave. And it is my cave and basically, I am the only one that has to like it.
Like a home.
As for my actual home...my new home...it won't be a home until next week when my family comes. After all...home is where the heart is.