Movie #472 .........................."A Marine Story"

Movie #472 "A Marine Story" is a Naperville film festival entry, and so I was watching it to judge if it should be shown to many others. And I say Yes, yes, yes! This is one of the better feature films I've seen in judging for this festival. It is noticeably professionally done, well acted, with a good, taut story, and one I haven't seen before. First, I like that it shows no battles --- at least on the battlefield, but it does deal with conflicts that our soldiers go through: with townspeople and new jobs they are coming home to, expectations if you come from a military family, with being gay in the military, and many others. The movie covers so much in the short time it plays, and I commend it for the subjects it tackles. The lead is exceptional --- never once did I believe she wasn't in the military herself for a length of time, she's that good! And the younger girl she mentors is exceptional, also. I recommend the film, and I hope it gets chosen for the festival so others can get to see it!




I gave it 4 stars
A Marine Story
(2010) NR
A decorated officer from a military family, Alex (Dreya Weber) is unexpectedly discharged from duty. When she returns to her conservative hometown, the Marine struggles to readjust to civilian life, but agrees to mentor Saffron (Paris P. Pickard), a troubled teen who's enlisting. Alex is the no-nonsense role model and authority figure Saffron needs, but as Saffron finally hits her stride, Alex must find the courage to face her own demons.
Genre: Dramas, Gay & Lesbian Movies, Independent Movies, Gay & Lesbian Dramas, Independent Dramas, Military Dramas
Availability: Streaming and DVD (Blu-ray availability date unknown)

Movie #471 ........................."Nanny McPhee Returns"

Movie #471 "Nanny McPhee Returns" -- I just noticed the last line in the Netflix summary --- "This movie is goofy" and I highly agree. From the get go, the kids are glib, the mother (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is exasperated to the nth degree, Maggie Smith and Rhys Ifans (the underwear guy from "Nottinghill") are just silly and the movie is quite fun. Emma Thompson wrote the script and I thought it was as good as the first one, just without Colin Firth. If you have kids, this should be on a list to see because it really is quite cute.



You rated this movie: 4
Nanny McPhee Returns
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang ; Nanny McPhee 2
(2010) PG
When Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) arrives at the Green farm, she uses her blend of magic and discipline to help frazzled Mrs. Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) run things while her husband's off fighting in World War II -- and to help the Green kids deal with their nasty cousins. Soon motorcycles start flying and statues come alive as everyone learns important lessons. Maggie Smith and Rhys Ifans co-star in this sequel to the 2005 film.
Genre: Children & Family Movies, Movies/TV for ages 5 to 7, Movies/TV for ages 8 to 10, Movies/TV for ages 11 to 12, Movies based on children's books, Family Features, British Movies, Family Comedies, Family Sci-Fi & Fantasy
This movie is: Goofy

Movie #470 ........................."Duma"

Movie #470 "Duma" was a very good film for kids to see ------ as for me, I was watching it alone in my living room, so it didn't have as much effect on me. The story is another one of those films where a kid finds a strange animal, raises it, but then when it gets older , the kid along with the viewer of the film, learns the theme of the movie --- which is "If you love something, you need to let it go" ---- and thus the journey Xan takes to get the cheetah back into the wilds again. The journey is quite Huckleberry Finn-like, esp. when he meets up with an African American and they become fast friends. The only negative I saw in the film is that some scenes seemed to drag on a bit too long --- so more judicious editing one have cinched a 4 or maybe even a 5 for me. As it is, it is very good, just pace holds it back a bit.




3.5
Duma
How It Was With Dooms
(2005) PG
When young Xan (Alexander Michaeletos) befriends an orphaned cheetah named Duma, he commits a pure act of selfless love and traverses the southern region of Africa, just so he can help his pal return to his one true home -- the wild. Although he may never see Duma again, Xan discovers that love lingers in spite of distance in this heartwarming family drama, which explores the bonds of friendship between man and beast.
Genre: Family Adventures, Family Dramas, Animal Tales
This movie is: Sentimental
Availability: DVD

Movie #469 ........................."Bridesmaids"

Movie #469 "Bridesmaids" I saw today with the Movie Club and really enjoyed it. It's good to see something professionally done again (been watching a lot of Naperville Film Festival entries, and some aren't very good at all --- but that's the job, to weed the not-so-good ones out) Anyway, love Kristin Wiig ---- she's able to go way over the top in freaking out, but there's still something about her that we like ---- that's a tough line to walk on, but she does in this film. When the group was done watching the film, we talked about the scenes that were our favorite ---- there's a trying on wedding outfit scene that's indescribable, the plane scene was my favorite and there's a bit with the car that another of our group enjoyed. The girls all work well together, and yes, it is raunchy, but those bits you squirm through, and still think they are funny, just not when you are watching the movie with an audience. Really impressed with Rose Byrne -- knew she could act in Damages (t.v.) and the movie "Adam" that our group saw together last year -- but she really is funny here --- and liked Melissa McCarthy (from t.v.'s Mike and Molly) --- she's from Plainfield, and we thought she stole some of the scenes --- she's really "out there" but funny. I don't know if I would recommend this movie to everyone, but it's hands down better than the male version ("Hangover") to me!

You rated this movie: 4
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Bridesmaids
(2011) R
Named her best friend's maid of honor, down-on-her-luck Annie's competition with a fellow bridesmaid, the wealthy and beautiful Helen, threatens to destroy the wedding. Meanwhile, a local cop takes a liking to Annie.
Genre: Comedy
This movie is: Goofy
Availability: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown

Movie #468 .......................Pirates of the Caribbean 4

Movie #468 "Pirates of the Caribbean - 4" was one of my favorites of this franchise, in my opinion. Yes, I missed Knightly, the one watchable female in this franchise, but Penelope Cruz was a wonderful addition. Mr. Director Marshall once again shows he knows how to handle Jack and it's all him in this one --- the story, for once, is easy to follow (gets a bit long in the middle, but it's okay) , the bad guys are good, the humor is more than the others (because they let Depp do more) and it's a fun ride through the film --- I didn't even mind the big fight scenes --- at least they weren't the focus most of the time. I recommend this 4th one --- it's better than most of the others!




4 stars
Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides
(2011) PG-13
Cunningly clumsy Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) meets his match when mysterious beauty Angelica (Penélope Cruz) forces the pirate to join her in search of the Fountain of Youth in the fourth installment of the humorous and action-packed "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. Sparrow tries to determine whether Angelica is friend or foe while the riotous adventure sets him aboard a vessel belonging to the fearsome pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).
Genre: Adventures, Super Swashbucklers, Action Comedies
This movie is: Goofy, Exciting, Imaginative
Availability: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown

Movie #467 ........................."Midnight in Paris"

Movie #467 "Midnight in Paris" I absolutely loved, loved, loved this movie. Yes, I am a great Woody Allen fan and I've seen most everything he has done ---- "Annie Hall" and "Purple Rose of Cairo" are two of my all-time favorite movies --- movies I actually would sit down and watch again and again, and I would show them to people who came over and wanted to watch quality films. In my film class, I would show "Purple Rose" usually for my final movie when I got the chance because it says everything I feel about movies and what they can do to lift the spirit and the mind of the watcher. This does the same about arts/literature. Woody Allen weaves his magic again and takes a writer played by Owen Wilson who is engaged to beautiful (and one of my favorite actresses) Rachel McAdams to Paris for a trip --- he instantly falls in love with the place and wants to live there; she wants to live in Malibu when they tie the knot. But he yearns for the Paris of the past, not really the present. One night at midnight, Wilson is sitting by the side of a Parisian street and a car from the 1920s comes by and picks him up ----- and the rest is too delicious to explain --- you have to experience it instead, but sufficeth it to say that you meet all the greats: Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda, Cole Porter, Dali, Toulouse Latrec, and more as the story unfolds. It's quite a witty script and one of the best Allen has done in years ------ranks right up there with his best, and that's pretty great! Proves he hasn't lost his stuff! And that means there could be more Woody Allen greats in the future years to come? Hope so! Go see this one------it's a for sure quality film!




Average rating: 3.957
I gave this movie 5 stars
Midnight in Paris
(2011) PG-13
In this bittersweet dramatic comedy, legendary director Woody Allen focuses his lens on a young engaged couple whose experiences traveling together in Paris make them begin to question the kind of life they want to live as a couple.
Genre: Romantic Comedies, Indie Comedies
This movie is: Romantic, Witty
Availability: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown

Movie #466 ........................."Thor"

Movie #466 "Thor" was not near as bad as I thought it would be ---- with a competetent director at the helm (Kenneth Branagh) I was pleasantly surprised ---- it had a nice sense of humor, good acting, and nice juxtapositioning of time on earth and time in AsGard (home of Thor). I still didn't care much about what was happening, but that's me --- don't care for comic book good guys vs. bad guys thing --- however, the bad guy was a tad more complex than I expected him to be, and so was the good guy, so that made watching the film more pleasant as well. Don't really know why it was 3D, though. Didn't need to be because it makes all the characters look separate from the environments. Other than that, it is recommendable. Fun time at the movie theatre, and I wouldn't mind seeing the next one (and oh yes, there will be a next one --- they had a preview of it if you stay through the credits)







You rated this movie: 3. 5
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Thor
(2011) PG-13
Kenneth Branagh directs this Marvel Comics-inspired action flick about the thunder god Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful warrior whose father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) -- the king of Asgard -- forces him to live among humans on Earth and learn humility. Once there, he finds a friend (Natalie Portman), along with unexpected enemies sent from his world. Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård and Rene Russo co-star.
Genre: Comic Books and Superheroes, Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy
This movie is: Exciting, Imaginative
Availability: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown