Confessions Of A Video Junkie

Larry Crowne

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Larry Crowne is an unexpected treat. It's a movie where bad things are happening to many of the characters that we meet, but these people are finding ways to cope and rise above.

Larry loses his job, but he keeps going. The economy is bad, it's hard to find work, but he keeps moving forward. Housing isn't worth what it was a few years ago, so Larry faces this reality. It seems that every time he gets hit with a new problem, he just keeps on going and finds solutions. It could have been a depressing story, but it's not. Not even for a moment because these are mostly characters who are willing to take what life has to offer and deal with it.

Within minutes of starting the movie, Jeanne and I both liked Larry and we were hoping for him to suceed. We wanted him to find happiness and solutions to life. It was a joy to see each new turn and twist to this guy's life.

Holiday In Handcuffs

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'd never heard of it, easy since it was made for TV. If you are a Sabrina The Teenage Witch fan, you'll enjoy this silly little movie.

It's advertised as part of the 25 days of Christmas selection. These are usually pretty stupid and this is no exception, but with this movie, the stupidity works!

Some of the "racey" jokes are too stupid, and too "objectionable" to really be comfortable, so this really isn't suitable for family viewing. June Lockhardt (Timmy's mom on Lassie) is really good, why did they give her those embarrassing lines?

Dean Spanley

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we stumble upon a movie that we know nothing of and find that we have discovered gold!

This little gem is one of those. Just a great period piece, very Victorian, very English and very thought provoking. When it was over, Jeanne and I both said, "Huh!" not a question but an exclaimation of satisfaction. We had both been held, mesmerized for the lenth of the video which we viewed by streaming on Netflix.

This is not an action blockbuster, but a quiet, elegant, thought provoking piece of entertainment.

Pirates OTC: On Stranger Tides

2011-11-25T06:56:00.000-08:00

You might think that the franchise would have run out of steam bu now, but the portrayal by Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, is just as fresh in the film as in any of the others.

I've watched the beginning several times and been impressed by the production values and the imagination of those doing set dressing and set creation. The movie is just a treat!

So...if you've enjoyed the others, this is sure to please!

As I watched with the audio track for sight impaired on they said those were mermaids jumping in the water by the Disney logo. I'll have to go back and check cause they looked like dolphins to me, maybe it's time for a new screen!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! This would be a great after dinner Thanksgiving choice!

Babies

2011-11-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

We saw it and liked it. We viewed it on Netflix streaming. It's really a slow moving, yet interesting groupinf of scenes as babies from diferent cultures are born and grow to just beyond one year of age. What's refreshing is the way it was edited. We went chronologically through the babies lives without being repetitive. They selected the best examples of any bit of development and din't force us to see every thing that happened.

Then, our daughter came over and mentioned that she wanted to see it and went viewed it again, one day later. It was still good and we had lots of commentary because we'd seen it before.

This is not an action flick, so if you've got a short attention span, it might not be for you, but Jeanne and I enjoyed it.

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

2011-11-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

Netflix has a three disk collection and I just watched the extra "making of" feature that is continued across all three disks. The thing that makes this such an impressive and worthwhile movie is that all the effects were done before CGI. They had to come up with film methods and models to create each part of the film. This is such an achievement!

I really enjoyed the features on this set of DVD's and if you're a film buff, you'll enjoy it too!

Unbreakable

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Released in 2000, this may be my favorite work that M. Night Shyamalan has created.

Bedtime Stories

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Released in 2008, it's time to watch this one again! The other day, Jeanne said, "I don't think I ever saw this one," so we had to give it a viewing. She did think that one or two parts were familiar, but she couldn't remember them. I also had the same reaction, although I remembered many parts, it's been long enough that it was a treat!

Narrated by Johnathan Pryce (I remember him from "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "Brazil") the film is a wonderfully imaginative voyage into the world of some childrens imaginations. Mixed in are truly funny situations when bedtime stories become real in the life of Skeeter (Adam Sandler).

Grey's Anatomy Season 7 and Netflix

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, we got rid of satellite last year toward the end of season seven of Grey's anatomy and watched the first episode of the current season on Hulu. We were confused, we figured we'd missed the last episode, but it turns out that we missed five and that was too much to really know what was going on.

Fortunately, Netflix had those episode and we were able to watch them.

The other day I got the email about how they are chopping Netflix in half and renaming the DVD part. Now I know a lot of subscribers are angry and upset with these clowns, I'm just confused. I'm wondering what my plan should be. Go back to the DVR, record stuff and bail on Netflix? Join Hulu Premium? Keep both services? Get rid of both? I just don't want to pay so much for entertainment that isn't all that entertaining!

Whites

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

You can't buy it on DVD formatted for the US, but you can watch the first 6 episodes on HULU. Jeanne and I find it to be a very interesting and engaging comedy/drama about folks who work in a kitchen at a medium level resort in the UK. The head chef, Roland, is a man who has been passed over as one of the greats, so his career is somewhat in decline. Add in a strange owner, a quirky staff and an over wrought manager and you get a mix of delightful characters who make this very entertaining. If you like BBC dramas, you'll find this series a treat.

A Cold Day In Hell

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ick! This is a terrible movie. I'm writing this to warn you off. Don't bother renting this boring movie. It takes boring to a whole new level. There's only one thing worse than a badly written, slow moving movie and that's a badly written, slow moving movie with bad acting! And has this movie got bad acting. The opening scene happens inside a store which isn't believable at all. A trio on men walk in...there's no dialog...they stand around looking at stuff..another guy walks in. So the bad guys threaten to kill the store keep and the stranger kills them. Talk about bad! I've seen high school student videos that were better and more entertaining. And everybody in the film is fat! They must have been casting at a couch potato convention..so bad acting by fat guys! Hey, I'm not skinny, but but me up next to this bunch and I'll look much better! Really one of the worst movies I'm seen in recent memory.

Maybe you should watch it so you can appreciate a pretty good movie again!

Bad western, set in the old west. Long shots made everything look slow. The train looked slow, the "action" looked slow, even the train looked slow.

Galaxy Quest

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

It's a little surprising that this movie was made nearly 12 years ago. Just a funny, really funny parody of the phenomenon that happened to to actors that starred in "Star Trek."

But, what if REAL aliens contacted the washed up actors? I love this show! Tim Allen as the glory hound that believes in helping the aliens and going on the adventure. Allen Rickman is hilarious as the embittered Spock character and Sigourney Weaver is the communications expert who repeats everything the computer has just said.

"The Office" fans will recognize Raiin Wilson in a minor alien role.
Brandon Long is the head of the geeks who work to save the actors, you'll recognize him from Apple vs Mac commercials.

This is really clever while being FUN science fiction!
Time to revisit this great comedy.

Almost Famous

2011-09-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

I don't often recommend "R" rated movies. But I recently watched "Almost Famous" for a second look and the film is still very good.

Cameron Crowe (who directed the film) took home the academy award for best screen play. The film came out in 2000 and marked one of the first memorable appearances of Kate Hudson in film.

The film is a fairly realistic portrayal of a kid who wants to write about rock and roll and finds an opportunity. It's loosely based on actual experiences of Cameron Crowe and so has an edginess that earned it it's R rating. By today's standards the number of "F" words would still put it over the P-13 rating, but it would be a very soft R.

I found the entertainment value of the film to be worth the small amount of bad language and I would recommend it for a second (or first) look.

New York Doll

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

You can rent this on Netflix. I liked it. It wasn't as engaging as many biographical films I've seen, but the story of a rock star who has hit rock bottom and joined the Mormon church is pretty unique.

I probably liked the documentary more than most folks because David Johansen, lead singer of the Dolls, plays an important role in one of my favorite movies. You'll remember him as the "Ghost Of Christmas Past" in "Scrooged". I remember him as "Looney," the goofy sidekick of Richard Dryfus in the movie "Let It Ride." You used to be able to rent it on netflix, but someone must have broken the last copy and they don't know when it'll be available again.

Towards the end of the documentary, David Johansen sings "A Poor Wayfaring Man Of Grief." This is an unexpected moment. one that brought tears to my eyes.

I don't expect others to appreciate this flick as much as I do, but to me, it was pretty enjoyable. Nominated for the 2005 Grand Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival, the film has impeccable credentials.

The IT Crowd

2011-08-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

Occasionally crude, this British sitcom by the same producers that created the British version of "The Office" is quite clever.

The show is populated with 2 extreme geeks and a manager who knows little or nothing about computers.

Episode one opens with Jen getting the job and the boss telling her she would be working in the IT department because of her knowledge of computers. "You did say you have experience with computers, didn't you."
"Oh sure, I have experience receiving emails and ah..opening emails and ah..closing emails and ah..deleting emails..

You expect it to be a goofy sort of comedy, and it takes a couple of episodes to really get invested with these characters, but from the start, it's a clever, engaging comedy. I've been watching it on Netflix streaming and even Jeanne enjoys it! A little crass at times, there are some moments that are laugh out loud funny!

Ben Hur - 1959

2011-08-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Filmed in 1959, Ben Hur was a hit when it was made. Not many films in those days were produced for such a large sum. It cost $15 million, a huge amount then and the film took 11 academy awards.

I've seen it before and watched it again recently. Nearly Four hours on 2 discs from Netflix. This is a movie that requires a real commitment, but it stands up so well that the time just flies.

They used to show this film every year at Easter time, but with easier methods of getting your favorite movies, they don't seem to show repeats as often. Remember the old days when Wizard Of Oz was shown each year?

If you haven't seen Ben Hur, or haven't seen it for a long time, it's worth seeing it again.

Wild Target

2011-08-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

This is a surprising little comedy. It's avilable on both watch instantly and DVD rental on Netflix. The situation is quite funny, a hit man sent to kill a con artist and Rupurt Grint (Ron Weasley in Harry Potter Movies) gets scooped up in the drama.

This isn't going to have to laughing out loud, but you may find it amusing, I did.

Captain America

2011-08-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

I'm crossing over with this review because I am creating a stained glass Captain America shield for the couples art show in December that we're in.

But the movie! Very good! I didn't read the Avengers very often when I was a kid and Cap seemed to be a guest story in large comic books occasionally. So I was exposed to him as a reader, but not immersed in the story.

I really enjoyed the story line. After the movie, my son, Christopher and I had a conversation about movies in general. He overheard some youths talking about an action type movie and they were complaining that it spent too much time on the story and not getting to the action. We are both appalled at that attitude, since we've both been to "nothing but action" movies and they were horrible! The story line is what makes the action worthwhile, it's what makes us invested in the character, what makes us care if he suceeds or not.

We are both happy to report that the Captain America movie has a great story line. Chris Evans is made to look so wimpy in the beginning, you can't help but love the guy! And you can't have a great hero without a great villian, enter Hugo Weaving (agent smith from the Matrix), just a great actor! Tommy Lee Jones is a surprising character that is supurbly cast.

What the heck, just go see the movie, you'll find it worth your time.

Source Code

2011-08-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga and Michelle Monaghan

Here's a science fiction movie that one of the actors describes as being a cross between Ground Hog Day and Speed and De'ja vu on a train.

It's very good, very entertaining, and could easily be ruined by hearing too much about it.

You should see it as soon as you can before someone ruins it for you.

You may recognize Jake Gyllenhaal from "Moonlight Mile" or "The Prince Of Persia". The director, Duncan Jones also directed "Moon", which was a selected film at the Sundance Film Festival.

This is one of those movies that has something for everyone, it's sf, but Jeanne even got engaged in it!

Adjustment Bureau

2011-07-20T23:37:00.000-07:00

I waited till it came out on home video, but I've been excited to see this movie since it was announced. The short story by Phillip K Dick, who has brought so many great scifi stories to us is superb.

Just great, pure fantasy.

I highly recommend it.

Rango

2011-07-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

I heard from several people that Rango was pretty good. "It has Johnny Depp as the voice of Rango." That was the only concrete statement about the movie. I had seen previews and it looked mildly interesting, so I didn't have high expectations, but I thought I'd give it a try.

Right off, it was very quirky and the animation was excellent, but then it just went on and on. I felt no real connection to any of the characters. None of them really stood out, so it was a one character drama that didn't work. Halfway through, there was a moment that Jeanne and I looked at each other and admitted we were pretty bored by it and yet we endured that last hour. Pain and suffering. Just a stupid movie.

Paint Your Wagon

2011-06-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

If the movies you like say something about your psyche, then this movie must say a lot about me because I just love it! When Lee Marvin sings, "I was born under a wandering star," in that deep, gravelly voice, I just thrill!

"By Gum, they're Mormons!"
"Whats A Mormons?"
makes me laugh everytime I hear it.

There's just something stupidly madcap funny about this lowlife, decrepit musical.

Netflix has got it and Amazon has it for a great price. No reason to miss it.

"Got a dream boy, got a song, paint your wagon and come along!"
"Where am I goin' I don't know, when will I get there, I ain't certain, all that I know is I am on my way."

I like to have this one playing in the background for company once in awhile. You can watch it with little or no attention and enjoy the music and the adventure.

The Dilemma

2011-06-03T00:37:00.000-07:00

The Dilemma should have been a great movie. Ron Howard directed, Vince Vaughan and Kevin James are excellent comedy actors. There were moments that were pretty funny and yet after it was over, Jeanne and I both thought it was worth watching, but we won't need to see it again.

So what went wrong? Maybe it was the subject matter, which tended to be rather serious and wasn't handled in a slapstick manner..it was somewhat, but there were many instances where they played for the one laugh when there should be been much more. When Vince had the plant problem, they gave you a couple of laughs, but the problem cleared up way too soon and wasn't played for the comedy.

Queen Latifa was completely wasted in this movie. Was she the token black person? She was given some stupid embarrassing lines and that was all! Her character was a waste of space and should have been a great comedy element.

In fact, that's what was wrong, this was a comedy that was played too seriously or else it was a drama played for laughs, it just didn't do either as well as expected. There just wasn't that heart warming feeling that we expect from great films. The ending hockey scene was meant to be great finale, but it seemed forced.

Ron Howard just phoned this one in. No one took the time to tweak the script. Someone should have stood back and asked..is this funny? Sadly, it wasn't.

School Of Life

2011-03-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

This movie came out in 2005 and I'd never heard of it till I stumbled onto it on Netflix. What I liked about this comedy is that they didn't go for stupid, easy laughs that so many comedies go for. They played it straight, let it be funny without going for stereo types too much. It's a great story about a teacher who has been overshadowed by his father (John Astin) for years and now he gets his turn to shine. But the new teacher is pretty spectacular.

This was worth watching twice and it's just that good. Jeanne and I were both inspired by it and it may belong on my list of favorites.

The Note

2011-02-21T23:01:00.000-08:00

I found this movie advertised on some other DVD and it looked intriguing, so I ordered it from Netflix. Some movies that teach positive values are a little sappy. This one seemed to avoid that problem. There were many times when the opportunity was there for juvenile behavior and bad acting that takes place in the sappy shows, and they didn't lower their standards, the actors, director and editors kept the movie a good solid story. Maybe it's because it was based on a book, so the author kept it steady. Whatever the reason, this is a good solid piece of entertainment!

Netflix and the video streaming

2011-02-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

I don't have any of the cool video equipment that will stream netflix to my TV so if I want to watch a movie on netflix, it's at my computer. Mostly I find it a way to verify that I want to rent or pass on a movie. I usually pass on R rated fare. It's usually so unsavory. The other day I clicked on Zombieland, because it had been one whose preview had looked interesting. I didn't make it through the opening credits, the gore was way over the top. It just wasn't going to be something I wanted to fill my mind with.

But everything rated R isn't necessarily bad. I stumbled upon "The Oxford Murders" with Elijah Wood. There was a sex scene and a couple of f word instances that got it the rating, but otherwise, I found it to be a highly intelligent, concise and well written piece of drama.

I'm going to continue to avoid R rated fare, but this streaming is great to preview a few minutes of a flick and see if it's worth seeing. I watched a minute or two of "How To Murder Your Wife" with Jack Lemmon. It reminded me of what a cute movie it was and It's at the top of my Netflix Que.

Peacock

2011-01-30T08:48:00.000-08:00

This should have been good, maybe it was, but I didn't like it at all. There were moments where I wondered what was going to happen, but it was so unsettling and slow that it wasn't worth my time. It's a twisty, strange story about a man who has lost his mother. It's like Norman Bates of Hitchcock fame, mets Lars and the real girl with none of the humor. From the very first it has an unsettling, creepy feel about it. Why they wrote it and why some good actors thought it would be good is beyond me.

If you try it, I'd really like to hear your opinion of this worthless story.

Despicable Me

2011-01-21T01:14:00.000-08:00

This is one of the best movies of all time! I had no expectations, I thought it was going to be stupid or insulting. Instead, I discovered a priceless little nugget. A real heart warming adventure. The story and voyage of self discovery and how it effects all around is a message that can and should make us all strive for a better life, to be a little less despicable.

Dinner For Schmucks

2011-01-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

I really had low expectations for this one, I was sure that a dinner where you bring your candidate for worst loser sounded like a horrible idea and a horrible premise for a movie. Several of the characters in the movie felt the same way.

But you know sometimes in the opening moments of a movie that you've stumbled on something with promise, like the opening of Ghostbusters. The music of this was from the beginning, funny, or promised to be and it delivered.

I was surprised, there was a lot of story before the dinner and it was not just bearable, it was down right charming. But the dinner just promised to be a train wreck and the set up is part of the comedy genius of this flick.

This was a great comedy! Thinking people will enjoy the life lessons, the rest of us will just laugh at it!

The Lottery Ticket - Eck

2011-01-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

This is a movie that had some value, but you had to suffer through too much to get to it.

The ghetto, lowlife idots that populate the movie are uncomfortable to watch. I wouldn't want to live in their neighborhood, because I'd be afraid they would drag me down to their level. This is about living in the projects and having little hope of getting out. The thing is, it's not pleasant and it's dangerous and why would anyone want to pay to see this movie?

It's well done, well edited and has a very good plotline, it's just so difficult to watch!

Flipped, I flipped for it!

2011-01-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Rob Reiner directed this film and it was quite an unexpected nugget. Throughout the unusual film which shifts from viewpoint to viewpoint and back again, I wondered where is this going to go?
We start with the neighbor boys' viewpoint and then shift to the same story from the neighbor girls' viewpoint. In this story it worked and it couldn't have been easy to adapt the book to film.
You never know how the story will turn out but you feel that whatever happens, it will be the right thing for Julie in the end.
A heartwarming look at people, relationships and family.

It's A Druid Solstice Miracle!!

2010-12-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

30 Rock...Jeanne doesn't usually care for it but the last episode, "Christmas Attack Zone," had us both laughing. I think Tina Fey is a comedy genius. And this episode is so quirky. It's really about the jacked up way people in big cities get to feeling about the holidays. The whole thing was a constant riot.

You can see it on Hulu if you missed it, but you need to see it while you can.

A Christmas Carol w-Jim Carey

2010-11-20T09:17:00.000-08:00

With a great cast and wonderful director, how could this version of a Christmas Carol be a miss? And yet it was. Jeanne and I watched it all the way through Tuesday nite, the day of its' release and we were completely bored. Jeanne commented that there was nothing new that they brought to the story. The next day we talked about it again and agreed that there were some bits that had been interesting, but just not enough to carry the movie.

I didn't care for the animation on occasion when the characters would appear jerky. The style was that of the "Polar Express" but this movie was devoid of the magic of that movie. This was more of a ghost story, but one you didn't believe in.

One Good Man

2010-10-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

There are many poor reviews on the Deseret News website and I think the folks that were reviewing were mostly those who hadn't seen the film. It's true that many LDS films are lousy, but this one isn't. It's real, sensitive and not afraid to let silence speak. A very well done, very entertaining view of what it's like to be LDS.

Jeanne says that it's the best of the LDS films and I agree.

Repo Men..R rated

2010-09-22T01:41:00.000-07:00

Jude Law and Forrest Whitaker star in this first rate science fiction film. It's reminiscent of Blade Runner as well as Minority Report, but it's completely unique and fast paced. No science fiction film works if it doesn't have a solid plot, there has to be a story and this has a very clever story that held my attention. I really don't want to say more because I wouldn't want to ruin it for you. It is graphic in many blood and guts scenes, these repo men deal in organs and they went for realism.

Lone Star

2010-09-21T00:06:00.001-07:00

I really enjoy the start of the new season. But I didn't think much of "Lone Star" It just didn't seem engaging. The main character is a con-man, married to two women and it just didn't grab me. I try to give each show a fair view, but they need to be fairly well executed. This had a fairly good cast, but the concept just wasn't engaging to me.

The Losers

2010-09-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is a movie based on a graphic novel that DC put out under the Vertigo label. It was loosely based on the old series that featured Sarge and Captain Johnny Cloud...quite old comics, who were killed off during DC's crisis on infinite earth's (a series that got rid of a lot of older, less popular characters). The new series is a different group of misfits who are a lot like the originals. I didn't know anything about the comic before seeing the movie and didn't need to before seeing it. It is a good solid action adventure. It doesn't seem at all "comic" like, since it's based in a gritty "reality". Seems some soldiers are double crossed by the CIA and they want to settle a score. I found it to be entertaining throughout the film. If you are an action fan, you'll probably like it as well.

The Duchess Of Duke Street

2010-08-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

Some friends loaned us their copy of The Duchess Of Duke Street, A BBC miniseries and we really enjoyed it. As I was getting ready to return it to them, I noticed that the box was marked "Series 1" and they don't usually do that unless there is another series. But the last episode of the series had seemed so final that we felt pretty sure that there wasn't any more to the story. Just to make sure, I checked on Netflix and to my delight, found that there is a second series, five more cd's that continue to follow the stories based on the true life of Louisa Trotter. We started watching one of the disc's this evening and were quite happy to find the stories to stand up just as well as the first season did. We love Louisa and are horrified by her dreadful Mother and Brother in the first episode. It was so great to see all of the returning characters when we had been sure that the series was over. What a delight!

The Book Of Eli

2010-08-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

I don't recommend R rated movies often, but this is one that I have to suggest. Similar to "The Road" this is a more hopeful post apocalyptic story. We meet Eli, Denzel Washington, a wanderer, a walker, heading towards the West. By the title and the previews we have a good idea that he's got a book that is precious to him and he is driven to head West. Turns out, he's been on his journey for thirty years. There has been a war that burned the Earth and killed most inhabitants, but unlike "The Road" there is still life on Earth, birds, animals and people.

It got it's rating for some violence and well deserved, there are some well done action scenes. There are a few language moments, but they aren't so offensive that I felt bad about the scenes, but I wouldn't watch this with my five year old grand kids.

This is one of those depth of character roles that Denzel plays so well. Good Science Fiction.

Everybodys Fine

2010-08-14T22:16:00.001-07:00

Jeanne and I watched this tender hearted movie this evening and enjoyed it all the way through. Robert DeNiro is so famous for his tough guy, bad guy roles that you forget that the man can really ACT! All the way through the movie, I wondered what was going to happen as Dad visits one kid after another. A slice of life movie, based on the Italian movie, "Stanno tutti bene," is just an excellent movie..not for kids, it's one that folks who have more life experience under their belt. Just plain excellent.

Amelia

2010-08-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

We finally got around to watching "Amelia." It was a good flick, but easy to know what was going to happen. So you had to just let it go and enjoy the experience. I like aviation because my friend, Kevin Steadman liked it so much when we were growing up. It stuck with me although I never pursued aviation the he did.

Jeanne and I both admire Eleanor Roosevelt, we have a quote by her on our wall and so it was fun to see a scene or two where the two women meet. I'd give this movie a good recommendation for those who are mature and looking to learn a little more about history.

Timer

2010-08-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

I don't watch very many R rated movies, but this one seemed like a good plot. It came up as recommended for me on Netflix and I watched it on the watch instantly Que. But I didn't watch it instantly, I watched half of it and then watched the other half later. Which makes this a real keeper, because I wanted to come back and finish it. It's set in the near future where half the population has implanted timers that will indicate when you've met your one true love. A cute premise and many variations on the theme. It's rated R for the 4 or 5 F words, otherwise perfectly acceptable as if it were PG-13

Holmes On Homes

2010-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

My new favorite show is "Holmes On Homes." I've been watching it faithfully for months and I LOVE this show! You can find it on the HGTV channel. It's just so good. First you are dumbfounded by the horrendous building that some contractors get away with and they take advantage of so many home owners.

Then Mike comes to the rescue! They take things apart and put them back together the way they should have been done in the first place. Some of the older episodes are interesting because he's gotten better over time and he does things even better than he did in those first episodes.

I'm still a big fan of "This Old House." But Holmes is my new favorite!

Kingdom

2010-07-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

I like Stephen Fry from his portrayl as Jeeves the Butler and as his role as the psychitrist turned chef on Bones, so I was happy to stumble on this "Dramedy". I looked it up on netflix and they only have season 2 and 3, so we went to hulu where we found the first season. We watched the first episode this evening and it was enjoyable, although a little choppy. Hulu must have had a lot of viewers at the time because the broadcast got worse as it went along. But in spite of delivery problems, it looks to be an excellent series.

Fry plays the part of a small town lawyer andthere are plenty of quirky characters to make the series promising.

2012

2010-07-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

Really a great flick. Surprisingly, I hadn't seen it till this week. I had it collecting dust in my collection, but got it out and watched it with my friend Bob. We both thought it was great, really worth watching! I couldn't get over how well written and organized it was. When there was a point where they could go for the easy way to further the plot along or the hard way, they always chose to do it the hard way, so we as an audience are challenged, wondering how are they going to get out of this.

Two thumbs and two big toes up. Haven't seen it, you need to..already seen it, you probably want to see it again. Oh, really a poor choice for the cover art on the box.

The Lovely Bones

2010-07-24T23:12:00.000-07:00

This is quite a departure for Peter Jackson after doing the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy and King Kong. I didn't know he directed this until the closing credits began. There were many times that I was reminded of the movie, "What Dreams May Come," as I watched this thriller. I was compelled to watch this drama and there were a few times when I worried that it was going to become too creepy. Well acted, visually fantastic, very thought provoking.

I'm not sure how my friends will feel about this flick, should I recommend it? Yes and No, it was very engaging, but the subject matter, murder of a kid was tough. You make the call..you won't be bored.

An Ideal Husband

2010-07-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

An Ideal Husband came out on dvd in 2000. It might seem dated, but as it is set in another time period, it could have been made yesterday. Jeanne and I watched it again last night and found it to be just as good as the first time we saw it.
I liked it because it was a light comedy that dealt with the principles of honor and virtue. It wasn't stuffy or preacy, but there were interesting moral dilemas presented throughout and we never really knew if it would end in diaster or not. Excellent acting by Rupert Evertt, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Minnie Driver make this a delight and worth seeing again.

Gentlemen Broncos

2010-06-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

I lasted 36 minutes into the film..Jeanne was ready to quit viewing it after 10 minutes, WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!!
Sick writing, bad characters, and a disappointment. I was looking forward to it, a good premise, a kid writes a novel and it gets ripped off. But the execution is just sick..so I'm giving it a definite thumbs down.

Alice In Wonderland

2010-06-27T01:36:00.001-07:00

We went to see it at the dollar show and found it to be very entertaining. Most people we've met were telling us that they didn't care for it, but my belief is that those who read the books appreciate the clever writing. This new movie is worth seeing..as Terry Gilliam likes to say, "Lower your expectations and enjoy the show!"

The Box

2010-05-14T21:40:00.001-07:00

I really liked it. A true thriller..I was really involved. It was taken from a short story and while you are on the edge of your seat, you'll be thinking about choices and life. I can't say much more about the flick because I don't want to ruin for you.

The Dresden Files

2010-04-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

I liked this short lived series when it was on the scifi channel. Awhile ago I tried to recall what it was titled so I could look it up..but I just couldn't recall the name of it. Then recently Netflix recommended it as something I might enjoy. Would I? I immediately requested it (only three discs for the entire series of twelve episodes).

This is why I have a Netflix account..to be able to revisit video that is noteworthy. Dresden is a guy who knows magic and pits himself against dark magic and helps the police solve crimes. Based on a series of books, I recently reserved one at the library so I can give it a try when it comes in.

Larkrise To Candleford

2010-04-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

We've been faithfully watching this series each week as it's broadcast on PBS. We find it such a delight that we recomend it to all our friends. The Murphy's found it at the Orem public library and I've got it coming on Netflix.

We like it so much that we'll watch the new episode on Saturday evening and then give it a second viewing on Sunday evening. The characters are so interesting and real. Dorcas Lane is the Postmistress in Candleford who employes a niece from Larkrise in the post office. From the start we are introduced to the differences between the town and the village.

This is a gentle and delightful drama. If you haven't been watching it..don't start now because you'll want to watch from the beginning and follow the story..get to your library or video source and begin from the beginning.

Doc Martin

2010-04-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

This series is one of those little gems you stumble across and feel as if you've found gold. It was on my reccomendations on Netflix and I watched the first episode instantly, then we rented the discs which were available.

The story is of a doctor who goes to a small town and has a hard time fitting in. He's so gruff and clueless, he would have a hard time fitting in anywhere. With every episode, Jeanne and I keep wishing he would get a clue..but he can't and so we love the show but don't quite love Doc Martin.

If you are a fan of BBC type humor, you may want to give this a try.

Mad Men

2010-04-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

This week I got Mad Men season 3 from Netflix and watched it. We don't get AMC on the satellite package we have right now, so it was nice to catch up on the action. This show is really politically incorrect as it's a pretty accurate portrayal of the 60's and I like it. The morals are often lousy, but you seem to get a good representation of true life. You do bad, you have negative consequences..now or later.

The Devil Wears Prada

2010-03-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

This movie is a treasure! It was well received when it came out and stands up to the test of time. Anne Hathaway is the girl who doesn't understand fashion and they did a great job in bringing her from clueless to clued in. This type of show usually takes the girl and dresses her as an ugly duckling, a caricature rather than a person, so the change will be more dramatic. But they didn't do this here and so the movie and the changes are all that more convincing and dramatic.

Meryl Strepp is so good as the driven woman of business who runs the fashion magazine with the passion that it requires to be the best in your field. Stanley Tucci is good as the designer who takes pity on Anne occasionally and gives her harsh criticism and advice as needed.

This is a great comedy because it shows us a fresh glimpse of an industry as we follow a girl who follows the strength of her convictions.

Music And Lyrics

2010-03-07T12:52:00.000-08:00

After watching a dissapointing movie, I dug out Music And Lyrics. I needed to see something I liked. It's a very cute little romantic comedy with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant. I watched it with my son Dane, who complained throughout the movie. And I wonder if who you watch a movie with effects the results, because the jokes didn't seem as funny, the songs weren't as crisp and I enjoyed the movie less. Guess I should have seen it when Jeanne was around, she's a better audience.

I love this movie, it's a very happy, upbeat comedy that truely entertains.

All About Steve

2010-03-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

Folks are really blasting Sandra Bullock about this movie. She was given the razzie for worst actress. But she wasn't that bad in the movie, it was just the wrong role for her. Her character is meant to be a bubble headed type and she really couldn't carry it off. Past roles for her have been smart, tough women, so this departure either needed to be extremely convincing or it would flop. Sorry to say, it just wasn't that convincing. This is a case not of bad acting, so much as bad movie choice. I want to know what's wrong with her agent. They should look out for her and help her avoid mistakes.

There were other problems with the movie, character development between the three news people could have been so much better and since it wasn't it felt flat. The scene in the van on the first date was awkward and embarrassing. If it had been directed and edited with a little talent, it might have worked but this is the point where the picture really tanked.

This is the type of picture where the team let down the talent and the results is a disappointing story. With all that said, I still would recommend you see it. It's not wholly without value, just a let down.

Cold Souls

2010-03-03T22:23:00.000-08:00

This is a strange movie. They call it a comedy and it is but it so strange and quirky. Definitely a dark comedy. I really like Paul Giamatti a lot who is not yet a really well recognized actor. I first recognized him in "Fred Claus" and later admired his work in the HBO project, "John Adams." Then I saw "The Illusionist" again and recognized him. I'm going to go back and re-watch "The Lady In The Water." I saw on-line that he's in it.

Because it is so different and thought provoking, I recommend it..but don't expect the same old thing, this is anything but "normal."

Millions

2010-01-24T16:51:00.001-08:00

This incredibly quirky comedy is one that I really enjoyed. It's not a laugh out loud comedy, in fact it's not so funny at times. But it really gets you to thinking and you'll want to know what will happen. I wonder what others will think of it since it is so strange..you may think I'm off my rails, so after you watch it, let me know what you thought.

Video Warning

2010-01-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

On the FOX news the other night, there was a report that scientists in the UK had put together that says that if you watch four or more hours a day of television, it will significantly shorten your life. They tracked over 8000 people and found that those who watched two or fewer hours of television per day had fewer life threatening problems than those who watched four or more hours. So now, my attempts at watching less video has taken on another dimension. They also say that those who spend the same kind of time on computers or any other sedentary activity run the same risks. Oh great!

Julie and Julia

2010-01-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

January 5th, I've been avoiding watch TV this year (five whole days)to get more done and have a better quality of life. We went to some friends' home and watched Julie and Julia. It was so good, I wanted it to tell more of the story, I didn't want it to end. It showed two very compelling stories. Meryl Streep nailed it, she was so convincing as Julia Child. Sometimes I don't care for her because she plays the part of brooding serious women and no matter how good the performance, I don't care for the character...but this is not the case with this wonderful, thoughtful movie.

It got all of us thinking about food and we are planning another movie night where we bake some great recipes. You'll want good snacks before and during this movie!

Father Of The Bride II

2009-12-21T23:13:00.000-08:00

This is not a Christmas movie, but I was checking to see if it had skips and we just started watching it! Just such a joyful movie. It reminds you what's important in life without being preachy or sappy. Just a good, funny reminder of how important family is.

Christmas Vacation

2009-12-05T22:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas Vacation is every bit as stupid and crass as any of the other National Lampoon movies, and we're watching it tonight and laughing at all the stupid jokes.

The Bishops Wife 1948

2009-12-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

We got back from the opening of our art show late last night with just enough time to watch a favorite Black and White comedy from 1948, The Bishops Wife is a light hearted comedy about a Bishop (David Niven) who prays for help to build a new cathedral and (Cary Grant) is the angel sent to help him.

Last Holiday

2009-12-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

Released on DVD in 2006, I saw this movie last year for the first time and had to get a copy on DVD. It's just so well done! Katherine didn't want to watch it, her friend Robyn said it was sad. And it's true, there are some sad elements in this movie, but the message is anything but sad. Queen Latifa plays a woman who is timid and has been putting her life on hold. But the fates intervene and she is forced to live the time she has remaining to the fullest.

No movie last night because we were finishing a stained glass window for our show at the Covey Center.

The Holiday

2009-11-29T20:13:00.001-08:00

Tonight we watched "The Holiday". A great little movie with wonderful old movie references. The story of two women who swap houses for Christmas. The soundtrack references and the trailer bits are sure to make movie buffs fans of this movie. It may be a couple of years old, but it's still a well crafted romatic comedy.

Fred Claus-On DVD in 2008

2009-11-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Movie for tonight is Fred Claus. It was panned by critics and I say it's pretty easy to sit there and smuggly judge a movie by your own snotty standards, but we love this movie! It's true that when you have high expectations, you can be easily dissapointed by a film. I suggest critics go back and watch this one again. It's really enjoyable, and not any more silly than any other Santa Claus movie!

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

2009-11-27T20:48:00.001-08:00

Tonight we're watching Christmas in Connecticut, it's the original from 1945. The comedy is well done and this is a favorite of ours. I've grown to have many favorite lines from this movie, Barbara Stanwyck,"Everytime I opened my mouth, he talked!" And Sidney Greenstreet (Yardley), "Cold Chicken Is My Weakness." S.Z. Sakall plays the part of Uncle Felix, my favorite character in the movie. Just the perfect mix of madcap silliness. Uncle Felix says, "Fatman," in disgust as Yardley takes a drink from him, who is no larger than he is.

Miracle On 34th Street

2009-11-26T22:24:00.001-08:00

Tonight, being Thanksgiving Day, we watched the remake of "Miracle On 34th Street." It starts on Thanksgiving and ends on Christmas, so it's the perfect start for the holiday season. Many things are well done in this version, some things I even like better than the original, but there are some moments that are less happy than the original.

The Christmas Cottage

2009-11-25T21:53:00.000-08:00

Tonight's Christmas movie that we watched was one we hadn't seen. The Christmas Cottage is based on events in Thomas Kincaids life. I expected it to be hokey and b-movie-ish, but we were pleasantly surprised. It's a very good, low key production. It's not earth shaking, you can live without seeing it, but neither was it a waste of time.

The Family Man

2009-11-24T23:45:00.000-08:00

We're just finishing "The Family Man" with Nickolas Cage and Tea Leoni, we try to watch it every Christmas season and it just doesn't get old! It is such a great movie about goodness and family and hope.

My Life In Ruins

2009-11-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

Quite a few people didn't like this movie, so you may have missed it since it got poor reviews. I'm here to tell you that you can't believe everything you read. It's not a riot, but it is a perfectly fine little comedy that has a great sentiment. Richard Dryfuss is very entertaining and steals the show.

The cast was suburb and even though they could have been used better by a more highly polished script, they did lend an air of fun to the overall story.

Tis The Season!

2009-11-22T20:17:00.000-08:00

On Saturday (yesterday) we watched all three of the Santa Claus(e) movies. A great way to really kick off the season (we had already seen Elf and a couple other flicks, but this marathon really got us in a Jolly mood).
What movies do you watch year after year?

Star Trek - 2009 on DVD

2009-11-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

We got our copy of Star Trek on DVD this week and it's just great! I've played it several times through, it's been company in the background while I work. It's just got so many layers to the story that it's worth seeing or hearing again and again. For me, it just doesn't get old.

I really never cared for the original hokey episodes of Star Trek and those movies weren't all that good, but this new encarnation is so well done, that I'm officialy a fan of this new franchise.

Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past

2009-11-20T08:10:00.001-08:00

I didn't like it.
Really...
Here's the thing, it's advertised as a light romantic comedy. It promises to be a fun light hearted parody of Dickens Christmas Carol. But it doesn't deliver. What we get is this womanizing main character who we hate because he uses and throws women away. You just can't like Matthew McConaughey in this role. And then they promote this attitude that women want casual sex throughout the movie. Talk about duel messages. He's a creep for having casual sex, but it's normal? It's just jacked up new age crap. I think that most folks would agree, nice monogamous marriages are something to strive for. Even if we can't reach that ideal, we admire those who do and we know that they are happier for it. This movie heaps lie upon lie and isn't even funny doing it.

Imagine That

2009-10-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Yes!
This is a very great movie. Eddie Murphy really hit the mark with this one and little Yara Shahidi was perfect as his daughter. This was a great movie and I hope kids get it the way we did when watching it. A very heart warming story about a clueless dad who learns to pay attention to his daughter.

Murphy proved that he can really act and brought the level of comedy up a notch without the kid comedy becoming stupid. Martin Sheen did a short cameo at the end that was also well done.

Year Of The Dog

2009-10-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

You know that feeling you get at the end of a movie and you turn to the person you're with and you ask them, "Why do you think they even made that movie?" That's what I felt after watching this movie. Jeanne found it and wondered why we hadn't ever watched it. As it got underway, I remembered that Katherine had seen it and told us it wasn't very good, which is why we hadn't watched it in the past.
Boy! was she right Year Of The Dog is a dog! because it's a comedy that isn't funny! There seems to be a trend with movie makers, they make movies that make you uncomfortable and that's supposed to be funny. Just not something I'm in love with but this really was a dog, just wasn't funny.

Just Like Heaven

2009-10-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

Jeanne and I watched this last night. It's a very well crafted story and, in an age when comdy's aren't very funny (See Year Of The Dog) it was surprisingly good. With a plot that kept you wondering throughout the film, It really was a treat!

Review Of Duplicity

2009-09-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

I prefer to write favorable reviews about movies and videos, but I have nothing good to say about this one! It was extremely confusing with the story cutting back in time for a flashback, now we're back to today, then we jump to some other time. It was too much work to follow along. I found myself feeling weary with all the jumps back and forth and truthfully I could follow it by careful viewing, but I didn't really want to. We all sat watching (Jeanne and some friends) and the comment we all made was "surely it'll get better." But it didn't!

And the biggest problem was that Julia Roberts and Clive Owen had NO chemistry. They kept running into each other and there was just no connection. They could have cast any "B" level actors together and had an equally disappointing movie.

So, if you've already seen it, I'm sure you'll agree that this one is a dog and if you haven't seen it, I've saved you a few hours of boredom!

Defying Gravity

2009-08-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, It comes on Sunday night and I really like it! They say it opened to disappointing viewing numbers and I say, "What else is new?"

Science fiction takes time to catch on, except to real fans of the genre. But I recommend it. Maybe you can catch up by watching episodes on Hulu. But don't miss it, it's pretty entertaining.

Duplex

2009-08-06T23:28:00.001-07:00

Ben Stiller and Drew Barymore team up in this cute comedy about a couple who buy a home and have to deal with a rent control tenent.

It was released in 2003 and came out on video in 2004, so you've probably already seen it, but if not, you're in for a treat!

Arrested Development

2009-08-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

We recently finished watching the entire series of Arrested Development. I had never seen it and Jeanne and I found it to be well worth watching. It's such a quirky comedy and Ron Howards narration is so great.

My favorite episode is in the second season. I think it was called "Good Grief." But they kept playing the music from the Charlie Brown Christmas when he's walking sadley home. It was funny, but it got more and more funny. You don't find yourself laughing out loud at many tv series, but we both were during that episode.

Arrested Development

2009-06-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

Katherine Allens son, Stratton, loaned us his set of Arrested Development DVD's. We've watched the first 6 episodes and find them quite humorous and worth watching. They are a little "un-refined" but that's what makes the series so funny. This dysfunctional family will make yours seem normal and so you'll find yourself feeling better about your life. Ron Howard directs and narrates this quirky comedy.

New Show Premieres

2009-06-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

There are so many new shows now that the summer season has kicked off. I watched the two episodes of "The Listener" they showed last night on FOX. I was watching and with all the Fall foliage, this had to have been shot last year, so even the producers knew the show was weak. I might give it another chance, but for now, it really wasn't excellent.

"Mental" is another FOX offering and it felt like a "House" wanna-be. The premises is allright, but the characters seemed pretty soft, not great but some good possibilities.

The winner was last nights premiere of the USA drama, "Royal Pains." Very well done, I liked the characters right away, they are flawed but not stupidly so. And it was an enjoyable storyline. As the episode was coming closer to the end, I found myself wishing that it would go on, that there was another episode to watch, it was that engaging.

Star Trek - 2009

2009-05-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

Christopher and I went to see "Star Trek" tonight. He had already seen it, but was up to seeing it again.

Here's my review, "Man, oh man, oh man, OH MAN!!!! It was non stop, but not the kind that never lets up, there was a real plot, with real character development. The writing was smart, not at all like the original...but it was so true to the original...only so much better. Comedy is sprinkled through out, but not so much that it wrecks the show...just a well done ride! This has to be my vote for best summer movie, I can't imagine anything topping this!

Quantum Of Solace

2009-05-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

With a name like "Quantum Of Solace," I was already wondering about this flick. I thought, "maybe a book had that name..but I couldn't find it. Maybe it would make sense after watching the movie. I did hear the word "Quantum" but ehh!

But this new bold Bond is so tough and violent. He's like a "real" spy, not some posing playboy. I did like "Casino Royale" and this movie picks up just after that one. Just as fast paced, it didn't have the graphic violence that the first did, so I found it even more enjoyable. Very intense! Not one Jeanne has any interest in seeing.

Today On Oprah 5/19

2009-05-19T16:48:00.001-07:00

Today, Oprah had a show of note, celebrating the good people are doing for one another. Some very creative people are out there, giving those in need a hand up. One man has started a garage that fixes up cars and sells them to people for little or nothing to folks in need. Another lady was at a foreclosure sale and bought a womans house back for her. Very inspirational stories of people...not government...helping out those in need.

Last Chance Harvey

2009-05-17T22:06:00.001-07:00

I'm probably the last to see and review a show. We wait till they come out on video and then don't usually get them that quickly. Jeanne and I really enjoyed this romantic comedy. It was our kind of show, thoughtful, witty and poignant. We were looking forward to the film since we liked "Stranger Than Fiction," which they both starred in.

Extreme Make Over - Session Finale

2009-05-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

I never thought I would feel driven to write about this show, but the 2hr season finale of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was unique. The family was a father who was raising his boys on his own and has become a role model of a huge number of kids in the community. It was a message of hope and perseverance.

My Name Is Earl Season Finale

2009-05-16T00:03:00.000-07:00

Earl is a pretty consistant show. Not as funny as it was in the first season, but it's pretty good. The season finale presented some pretty good open questions that make me want the fall season to get here. It was a fairly uncomfortable episode. Norm MacDonald's character "Little Chubby" is pretty sickening and not very funny.

Lie To Me Finale

2009-05-16T00:00:00.001-07:00

Very interesting plot twist in this season finale. Not the big suspenseful ending that most shows go for, but there are several threads that the new season will have to pick up.

Grays Anatomy Season Finalie

2009-05-15T07:40:00.001-07:00

The two back to back episodes last night were very dramatic. They really built on the relationships between people that have developed recently and mixed in some real drama. In the past, Jeanne and I have been uncomfortable at times with some of the story lines. Why writers feel the need to push homosexual relationships on us is a whole course of philosophy in itself. But the show has seemed to mature over the last few seasons and last nights episodes was not only dramatic, it showcased some very interesting ideas about war and presented both sides of the issue, while not being preaching or taking sides and it was still entertaining. A very good conclusion to the season, now we have to wait for Fall!

Maid In Manhattan - 2002

2009-05-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

We watched this again tonight. It is a cute romantic comedy. Jennifer Lopez is really believable in the role of a maid at a major hotel. Ralph Fiennes is well cast in the role of the poor duped male in the comedy. It was fun to watch it again, it didn't lose a thing, even though we knew what was going to happen and I may have enjoyed it more now because the music was familiar and it brought out a bit of nostalgic feeling.

"What defines us is how we rise after falling." (Bob Hoskins Character)

Lady In White - 1988

2009-05-11T22:44:00.000-07:00

It's not my normal choice of movies, but if you are in the mood for an old fashioned ghost story/murder mystery, "The Lady In White" is a pretty good thriller. Fans of slasher movies and blood and guts horror movies probably won't appreciate the subtle slow build as this movie takes us step by step, building to a very suspenseful ending. I found it to be quite good, although they telegraph some of the ending. It's worth seeing.

Just TV ???

2009-05-08T22:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight we just had to sit down and catch up with some TV viewing. I watched an episode of "Bones" while Jeanne was catching up on some writing. Then we watched "Grays Anatomy" that was enjoyable. Then we watched the Michael J Fox special about optimism. It was good, but I have to confess, I wouldn't have finished it if Jeanne hadn't been enjoying it. Now, she's gone off to read so I can catch up on one or two of those stupid shows I like to watch, like "Castle." She might like it, but over the years, she's gotten to where murder mysteries are less and less her favorites. We used to laugh out loud at "Monk," but now she'll only watch an episode after the murder is over and then she doesn't find it that funny. BUT I DO!

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School

2009-05-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

This quirky movie was made in 2005 and Katherine and Scott watched it tonight, so we saw most of it as well. It is just nuts, it's so strange and so engaging. It moves slowly but it really is interesting. Mary Steenburgen is the teacher at the Dancing and Charm school. The characters are all so different. John Goodman plays a bit part as the man who has an accident. Robert Carlyle (of Hamish Macbeth fame)is the kindly baker who stops to lend assistance at the scene of the accident and is drawn into the lives of people who frequent the charm school.

The illusionist - 2006

2009-05-06T22:14:00.000-07:00

The movie came out about the same time as "The Prestige" and I liked it then, but after watching it again tonight, I really admire this movie! Edward Norton and Jessica Biel were the leads of the show, but I just loved Paul Giamatti. Yes, he was good in "Fred Claus" and "Cinderella Man." But Oh what a great character in this movie!

Fringe - The Fox TV show

2009-05-06T00:52:00.001-07:00

In its first season, Fringe is a fairly intriguing show, although the puzzles and episodes are not nearly the caliber that X-files were. Maybe it takes time for the mix to be found. What I really like is the notification that Fringe will return in 60 seconds. I will often say, I can wait 60 seconds and let the commercials run for that long. But what drives me nuts are the stupid graphics of 3D letters hanging in the air whenever we get an establishing shot. Just because you can introduce a new video technique doesn't make it a good idea.

French Kiss

2009-05-03T23:08:00.000-07:00

After watching two episodes of Extreme Makeover, The Home Edition this evening with Jeanne, Katherine insisted that we watch a movie with her and Scott, and we chose "French Kiss." You know it's just a timeless romantic comedy. Very well put together, sweet and sensitive.

Crude at times and crass, but in a funny way. A watching it nowadays, her hair style doesn't seem as strange as it did when the movie was new.

Moonlight-The SciFi Channel Series

2009-05-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

I didn't know that the Moonlight series was so new. We recently changed to Direct TV and now we get the scifi channel again. I discovered the Moonlight series and have seen four or five episodes. I highly recommend it.

Mick St. John is a charming private investigator from Los Angeles with a dark secret. Sixty years ago on the night of his wedding, his bride, the seductive Coraline, bit him, turning him into a vampire who will be eternally locked in the immortal world.

Forever 30 years of age, Mick is as handsome and charismatic as the day he was "turned," and he rejects others of his kind who view humans as nothing more than a source of nourishment. With only a handful of like-minded confidantes for company, including the wealthy and mischievous Josef Kostan, Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living.

If you've got scifi..set your DVR..this is really a well done series.