Saturday, December 25, 2004

Meet the Fockers

Okay, we've all been waiting for the sequel to Meet the Parents with Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro. It was a packed house on Christmas eve and there were only 20 times the whole crowd laughed. I was in a good mood except for the beer battered old guy who sat next to me and smelled awful and had an equally awful laugh.

Anyway, Gaylord Focker's parents are Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman. They're an overly affectionate and open couple who embarass Stiller in front of DeNiro. Uptight DeNiro still feels as though Stiller isn't the right man for his daughter and goes into CIA mode for some expected laughs. This movie seemed way to staged and hoped for too much. Streisand and Hoffman seemed natural yet overly quirky but were much better than the other players. The baby stole the show though. You'll know why I said that when you watch.

I think too much was trying to go on in this movie that it detracted from the real comedy about the nervousness of getting married and having your parents meet each other. I feel about this movie like I did about Bridget Jones, the Edge of Reason-the elements that made the first films so classic are just strained when made into a continuing movie, though this one did better than Bridget Jones.

High expectations, don't have them for this movie and maybe you'll enjoy it more. Easy time passer but I'd wait for pay per view or video.

Worth the money rating: $$$

Saturday, December 18, 2004

In Good Company

If you want to feel a little depressed and get a good dose of reality, watch this movie. It stars Dennis Quaid, Scarlet Johannson and that guy from That 70's show- can't remember his name. What's interesting is to see different actors play complete opposites. The guy from the 70's show, Carter in this movie, is a very successful young businessman who lucks out and impresses his boss enough to land his dream job by running the sales division of a sports magazine during a takeover by his company Global Com. In this day and age where everyone is merging and no one is sure of their jobs based on the economy and the bottom line, this movie is too real. Losing your job at 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 is all the same. You just have more to lose when you have a family to support. And how would you deal with that emotionally?

Carter is supposed to fire Dennis Quaid. But he's smart enough to know he can't do this job without him so he reains Quaid and fires everyone else. Carter's personal life becomes a shambles and he invites himself over for dinner with Quaid's family. He's a 26 year old who meets Quaid's daughter played by Johannson who is going to NYU for creative writing. A romance insues behind Quaid's back.

Does the movie end up bad or good? Depends on how you look at it. This movie deals with family, loss of self esteem, jobs loss and just plain struggling with who you are and what you know. How obsolete are we on any given day? And how much do we let our emtions run us?

I found Carter's character to be well played. He had hints of humanity while keeping up the facade of a strong businessman. Quaid was okay as a father but I think he over played it and was too dramatic. Johannson was sexy and strong like she was in Lost in Translation. She has a great presence on screen.

This movie gives you something to think about. Like who you really want to keep in good company. I think the title for this movie was a loser. I kept forgetting what it was. The storyline I remember. And although the movie's story is about struggle, it's good to know that we're not alone. It's totally relateable and relevant for today. Maybe a good chaser for this movie would be some vodka.

Worth the money rating: $$$ 1/2

Thursday, December 09, 2004

National Treasure

I was dead tired but went to see this movie and I'm so glad I did. Okay, Nicolas Cage isn't my favorite actor, unless we're talking Raising Arizona and Leaving Las Vegas... but this was a fun movie. I say, fun because it wasn't a super great movie and it wasn't a really bad movie, it's in that grey area inbetween. That place where you're not expecting that much and are suprised that you enjoyed it since you weren't in the mood to feel really excited even if you wanted to be.

Needless to say, Nicolas plays the youngest son in the Gates family whose legacy has been chasing the mystery of this great treasure. His father spent 20 years of his life looking for it and gave up the dream but Cage just knows it really exists and lives for each clue that brings him closer to finding the treasure. He has a young side kick tech guy and picks up a beautiful art afficianado ( a geek after his own heart) and they try to find the treasure before the bad guys do. There are some interesting action scenes and witty lines but Cage figures out every clue too neatly and the ending is too mediocre for us to care. But it was entertaining. So, ask yourself if dreams are worth pursuing till you die. I suppose if you ask anyone, depends on the dream. I say, why the hell not. No one should take your dreams away from you.

Worth the money rating: $$$ 1/2

Friday, November 26, 2004

Bridget Jones, The Edge of Reason

Okay. Here's another Bridget Jones movie. Zellweger is a cutie for sure, but this movie falls flat compared to the first. Maybe it's because the novelty is over. Colin Firth is charming as cautious but less uptight, Mr. Darcy. Hugh Grant as Daniel Clever is the same womanizing jerk. And even thought we all want to see what happens after the supposed happy ending of the first movie, this is like your best friend talking over and over about her romance and you want to slap her because you get it-- they live happily ever after, well, at least as happily as an insecure Bridget Jones can be.

I wanted more out of this movie. There were no surprises and her trip to Thailand seems as though it were a different movie altogether. I'd rather imagine how she and Mr. Mark dreamy Darcy turned out than have watched this film. The film was too contrived and tried way to hard to be funny. Much like bad dates, this was easy to walk away from.

Worth the money rating: $$

Monday, November 15, 2004

The Incredibles

Pixar is incredible. They prove this over and over again. The animation was amazing and so was the twist on a typical story line--typical bad guy vs. good guy superheroes. But these heroes are stripped of their superhero status after being sued so much that it costs the government too much money. Forced to stop using their powers, they go from incredible to normal and enter the witness protection program as the family next door. The father works for an insurance company helping every sob story that walks in the office- making his money grubbing boss angry. He moonlights as his superhero self, minus the super getup, every week on "bowling night" with another superhero friend who slings ice. An evil man threatens the safety of New York City with giant robots. And the Incredible family turns back into their incredible selves to make us laugh at every turn and truly amaze us with all the strength a family possess.

Worth the money rating: $$$$

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Ray

First of all, I've never heard the full story on Ray Charles so I have no idea if this movie took lavish liberties with the truth. But it certainly was dramatic. Jamie Fox brilliant as Ray Charles. The music was great. It was interesting to find out how the songs got created. And I had no idea I knew most of them. That's how much he's ingrained in our pop culture.

Ray Charles, before he lost his vision, suffers from watching his brother drown in a wash basin and blames himself for it the rest of his life. To quiet his inner demons, he starts heroin. There are many flashbacks from childhood of how he learned to deal with his blindness and instead of crippling himself, he turned his impediment into pure gold, records.

Greed and self destruction insue, which is much like the storyline of every rock star we've ever heard of. But in order to appreciate the Ray Charles legacy, it's important to know that he overcomes his inner demons and brings the world many first's-- mainly blues and gospel in a new inspirational form-- all his own.

Although the story was compelling, I got distracted by the screen swipes since they only went from left to righ as though advances have never been made in that department. But that's just the movie geek in me.

If you want to watch the internal struggle of a musician trying to make good, this is the story for you. If you're not a journeyman, pass on it. It makes you want to believe.

Worth the money rating: $$$$

Monday, October 18, 2004

Timeline

Here's a movie where I read the book after. The book was better but not by much. It's about some scientists or archaeologists who go on a dig. Their professor ends up missing. Oh the drama and mystery that brings these characters back in time to France during one of their wars. I'm not a history buff. Nor did I care. I did care that Paul Walker was in it. Though he didn't do much acting and unfortunately there wasn't any nudity involving him. Darn! At least I could have stayed awake for it. Anyway, there were wars and knights and these time travelers try to find the professor, not screw up history and make it back to the present. I didn't care if any of them died.

The film sucked.

Worth the money rating: $

Honey

Another rental I saw awhile ago startting Jessica Alba from Dark Angel and previously Never Been Kissed. It's fun to see Alba all tough and dancing but there was no storyline at all that was the least bit interesting. Watch the movie for the dancing, the music, the hip hop celebrity scene stealers and a good soundtrack. Basically you could play ping pong and watch this movie and you wouldn't miss a thing.

Worth the money rating: $$

Mona Lisa Smiles

Here's a story of Julia Roberts who's the hippie woman from California sent to a conservative school on the East coast to teach the women of the 50's about art. Even though Roberts is supposed to be an outsider in this film, I feel she doesn't even fit the film's role at all. Roberts struggles as a woman who feels that WOMEN in general should have a career and live up to their full academic potential. Julia Stiles plays a young college woman who could be the next lawyer and go to a prestigious law school but instead opts to get married. Roberts can't understand this. The films deals with some women doing what was expected and others actually finding themselves and choosing other paths. Kristen Dunst plays the angry girl in the film which creates most of the film's tension.

This films brings up interesting topics for discussion about women's roles in society for that time and today. It was an interesting film. The girls learn from Roberts and Roberts learns from the girls. I didn't learn much, but the fashion was fun.

Worth the money rating: $$ 1/2

Thursday, October 07, 2004

The Prince and Me

Imagine a real Prince Charming (Prince of Denmark) and an ordinary farm girl falling in love at college in the US. Crazy? Crazy-cute. Julis Stiles is in yet another teen movie about falling in love. She's her usual sassy self and finds Luke Mably, or Eddie— short for Prince Edward or Edvard in Danish. Eddie is an odd student who has a strange side kick who fixes him eggs benedict in his dorm room. Paige, Stiles, finds herself spending time with Eddie when he gets a job working with her at the school cafeteria. She's pursuing pre-med, he's pursuing her. Through spending time with Paige, Eddie finds he's learning about more than how to be a man, but how to be the next King of Denmark. Does this story have a happy ending? Here's a secret— there was a real life wedding with the Prince of Denmark to his non royal wife, who apparently are living happily ever after.

Predictable but fun and Mably is quite charming. Fitting, don't you think?

Worth the money rating: $$$ 1/2

Jersey Girl

No matter what anyone says about Ben Affleck and his Benniffers, I like him as an actor when he's in the right roles. Jersey girl was his kind of movie. J. Lo has the first 10 mintues with him onscreen delivering a baby and dying leaving Affleck with a daughter. Affleck having no baby experience who's used to being a big PR exec. loses his job and moves back home with his dad to New Jersey. Affleck fights with the reminants of his past life and his current life with his daughter. He meets Liv Tyler at the video store and they begin to spend time together. Affleck keeps trying to get his old life back and stumbles over the fact that he may just have a great one already.

It's a heartwarming story about a man growing up and finding out what's really important. It has Ben. It's a no brainer. Rent it.

Worth the money rating: $$$ 1/2

Big Fish

I've got to start reading books before they become movies.... Naw!

Tim Burton's film is quite good based on the book Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Southern writer/illustrator Daniel Wallace. Billy Crudup stars as the son of a traveling salesman who tells presumably tall tales of his life rather then tell the truth. Crudup is home for his father's last days, listening to more stories of his father's life starting with how he met his wife. Ewan McGregor plays the father as a young man. He's plays his part to a T. Wide eyed and sappy at times, McGregor takes us on a ride of the way life should be, interesting and full of beautifully fun people and places. Crudup wonders if there's any truth in his father's stories, he's spent more of his life fabricating than in touch with what's real. He comes to grips with his lifelong misunderstanding of his father, and he learns that there's a little of dad in himself that he can hold onto when his father passes.

It's a beautiful movie to watch with full, rich colors and imagination appeal juxapostioned with the reality of the end of someone's life. I hope we all can go out having a life like this to talk about.

Rent this. This is one big fish that's a keeper.

Worth the money rating: $$$$

The Laws of Attraction

Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore team up for a predictable movie about two lawyers who spend more time lawyering each other than doing something for their clients. Moore is an uptight marital prosecutor and Brosnan a relaxed, marital, defense attorney who work on the same case involving a rock star's divorce. This leads them to London, or was it Scotland or Ireland, whatever. Anyway, they get drunk many times in the movie and end up married. Do they stay married?

This movie tried to be entertaining and I love Brosnan but I think his last best movie was The Thomas Crowne Affair and of course, as 007. Even though he sort of sported a little of the old Remington Steele charm, this movie was flat and needed something else to make it interesting. There wasn't much on-screen chemistry between the characters which leads me to question the casting of these two.

Even if you can't get enough of love stories, I'd pass on this one unless you're really drying to see a somewhat charming love story.

Worth the money rating: $$

50 First Dates

This has been out on video for awhile. I actually saw it on video with one of my friends so I can say, it's a fun rental. Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler are a great pair. Their comedic timing is in sync enough to not over shadow the other but still individual enough to make the characters interesting. Of course, this movie is cute and off-beat, with a Hawaiin backdrop. I didn't laugh out loud like I did when I saw Happy Gilmore for the first time, but I think this movie made me feel good in only a way Sandler can. Also it's a nice notion that some people don't give up on love no matter what the circumstances and when's the last time you heard of realistically someone actually going on 50 first dates?

Worth the money rating: $$$1/2

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Lost in Translation

Bill Murray fans may like this movie or may not. I think he was perfect in it. His odd-ball sense of humor came out touchingly in the way he looked and spoke to Scarlett Johansson in their scenes together. It was just them in a restaurant, on the steet without little else going on in the background, yet it was still entertaining and you wanted to hear every word.

If I would have seen this movie last year, I couldn't have related as much as I can now that I traveled to Barcelona this year and didn't know a lick of Spanish or Catalyan. Being alone in an environment you know is bad enough, but being alone in a foreign country is a new level of loneliness. You can't just start up a casual conversation with someone at a bar who speaks a different language, has a different sense of humor and who couldn't give two shits about you. And dealing with a language and custom barrier as vastly different as Japan, is difficult and frustrating, especially if you're there for a short time and don't have the ability to adapt to a comfort level with the place.

What I really liked about this movie is how real it felt. How real the characters were to me, like I could be these people. I remember loving Barcelona but toward the end of my 10 days, I just wanted to get home to the conveniences of America and what I was used to. I didn't want to have to point to food anymore and wonder what it was, or feel stupid that I couldn't ask for a sandwich. My experience wouldn't deter me to go abroad again, but knowing what I know, I'd be more prepared for the culture differences and language and obviously, bring a friend who speaks English.

Back to the movie: To fill the loneliness of being a 50-something, commercial actor, former movie star, who'd rather be doing a play, Murray meets Johansson, 20-something, who's married to a photographer working on a film. They begin exploring Toyko together. Some of the experiences are strange, and perhaps the strangest of them all, is the deep bond they form between them. For all of us who've been in traumatic experiences or have shared experiences that are out of the oridnary, bonds like this grow stronger, faster. Johannson is a newlywed already feeling ignored by her husband and bored in Japan. Murray has been married for 25-30 years with kids he rarely sees since he travels for work. Both use Tokoyo to escape their lives and create a world with just the two of them in it. And neither of them want to leave the Japan they've created for themselves. It takes two to create and carry an illusion.

It's a beautiful film not in the typical way. It's beautiful that this type of experience can be on screen for all of us to share so we know, none of us is really alone.

Definitely rent this.

Worth the money rating: $$$$$

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Van Helsing

Unfortunately, I saw this in the theatre but only paid $5.50 to see it. Bad movie. Even if you're a fan of vampires and the like. The leading lady? was attractive but a bad actress. Not much to work with for her or Hugh Jackman. Frankenstein looked bad, the lady vampires flying around looked better, but this whole movie sucked ass. Most of the time this gendre of film is really fun to watch and you forgive things and believe so you can enjoy the movie. I couldn't pretend that much, and I have a great imagination.

The story is that Van Helsing can't remember his past. So he goes to Transylvania and runs into our heroine and her brother and he tries to save a town from Dracula, his wives, and his children, which are bats, in case you didn't know that. The action scenes are stale and the movie seemed to drag on.

This is a major turkey. Don't rent it even. B-O-R-I-N-G.

Worth the money rating: $

The Stepford Wives

This movie was better than I expected it was going to be. Only because I saw the original and even a made for TV version with Barbara Eden from "I dream of Jeanie".

Anyway, the town of Stepford is strange, tucked away in Connecticut with beautiful, immaculate houses and equally exquisite wives. Wives who aren't career women but excellent bakers, homemakers and great in bed. A new couple, Kidman and Broderick, move to Stepford after Kidman, a TV executive, has a nervous breakdown. She meets Bette Midler and a gay man (don't know the actor) who are not yet transformed into the culture of Stepford yet. During the course of the movie, Kidman is the last one to be transformed.

The movie didn't have a ton of surprises (just one, or was it two?) but it's humor was first rate. And though Kidman was overly dramatic with her eyes and I hated her short brown hair, I still had to watch it. In fact, I'd see it again on video.

Also check out the original version in black and white. It's been forever since I've seen it, but the comparison could make a fun night.

Worth the money rating: $$$$

Love Actually

You have to rent this movie. It's a pleaser. Fun and original. Oh and it's about love in general. It revolves around families and people trying to connect with each other at different stages and dealing with different types of love.

You have love from afar, first date love, office love, the death of a loved one, young love, stately love, brotherly love, co-worker musician love and music that makes you tap your feet and pulls you through all the forms love can take like a fun sleigh ride.

I won't ruin any part of this movie for you, except to say, watch it when you're sad, it'll make you happy. But only see it once, it's not one of those films you can watch again and again. The surprise is gone. But isn't that the same as love? It becomes comfortable and no longer surprising, but you can't live without it. And better yet, something can always come along and zing it up.

Actors: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Kiera Knightly, Emma Thompson and other people I forgot.

Worth the money rating: $$$$$

Excalibur

I suppose, along with many of you, we've seen many versions of the tale of King Arthur and his knights. I would say this is yet another, there was one detail that was different but I won't ruin the movie for you.

The girl from Bend It Like Bekham and Love Actually (can't remember her name but I remember her face) Keira Knightly? is a sassy Guinevere, unlike Julia Ormond's version in First Knight in the mid 90's or the 1981 version of Excalibur. The man who played King Arthur was much more attractive than the guy who played Sir Lancelot. Usually it's the other way around. There were way too many battle scenes. One with Guinevere wearing very little clothing and no armor. She does has a way with the bow and arrow and isn't afraid of anything, though. Progressive for her time with a warrior-like conviction, that was one woman who got what she wanted.

This tale had less magic than other tales. I'm sure they were going for that, to be different. So if you're looking for a movie about King Aruthur that wanted to be "Gladiator" with Russell Crowe, then see this one. The movie could have been cut at least 20 minutes. It was well shot and tried to please too many people with sex, voilence and too much drama. It was entertaining but again, too long.

I suppose it's too hard to ask that someone make an original movie?

Worth the money rating: $$$

Raising Helen

If I recall correctly I saw this movie while I was in Dallas house sitting for my friends in June. Anyway, if you want a cheap movie $2.50 for new releases go to the theatre in McKinney, TX. All matinees are that cheap.

Anyway, I love Kate Hudson. So when I was at Blockbuster today, I realized this was coming out on video mid Oct.

The movie was cute, as are all of her movies. John Corbet being in it didn't hurt, a sexy priest. Kate is the younger sister of Joan Cusak who's been a mother for a long time. Their older sister dies, leaving two kids (or is it three) to Kate. One is a teen girl and the other is a boy. Kate has to give up her life as promoter for a modeling agency for the family life. Upon finding a shool for her kids, she meets John Corbet. He's not the usual guy she dates-the last one wore bubble wrap to have a bigger chest in a photo shoot. She goes through the growing pains of motherhood while sporting an adorable wardrobe and, of course, giving up a fabulous Manhattan apt. to live in, I think, Queens. Does she become a great mom? Hmmm, that's a tough one.

Although predictable, it's a cute movie. No stellar performances from anyone. But it just made me feel good about the security of a loving family and it was fun to watch. It'd be a great rental for any rainy night or girl's night with Ben and Jerry's or a slumber party. Are we ever too old, girls?

Worth the money rating: $$$

Vanity Fair

Reece Witherspoon, not sure about you, but I'm tired of seeing her. Regardless, this movie wasn't bad. The costumes were beautiful as well as the decor. Time piece films are always a spendor to watch even though some of this cast was frumpy. There wasn't enough drama in this movie, there should have been more interesting things that happened to Rebecca Sharp (Witherspoon) even with the restraints of the time period. She was a social wall climber, quite convincingly was the gleam in her eye, but there wasn't enough of a story line built between her and the rich man (Gabriel Byrne) from her youth that buys a portrait of her mother from her father. I wanted to love this movie, but was sadly disappointed. It felt as though it was 3/4 finished- hurried to get it to theatres. And the ending was upbeat and too tidy.

I didn't read the book, but I reckon, it was better than the movie.

Worth the money rating: $$$

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This movie just came out on video, starring Jim Carey. Unlike his usual off-beat, stupid characters, he's cynical, dark and insecure in this so called comedy about erasing his girlfriend from his memory. Although this sentiment is universal to all the broken hearted out there, this movie makes you really think about the consequences of doing just that. Memories are tough. Shouldn't we be tough enough to keep them? Isn't this the best road map of who we are, by seeing how we've grown in our relationships emotionally? Does it really matter that most relationships end, when we carry the experience with us in one way or another— just like everything we've learned (good or bad) from every part of life?

There's a quote that sums up the entire movie in a nice little package for you about 3/4 of the way through. It's not a tidy ending, for sure, though. I stick with this quote: 'Tis a far far better thing to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all-- well, that's how I remember it, anyway.

Make sure you're not distracted watching this movie, there's alot of dialogue and nuances that add to the drama and the pain and the mystery of love that you don't want to miss.

None of the actors look very appealing so if you're going for eye candy, don't bother.

Worth the money rating: $$$$

Saturday, October 02, 2004

13 Going on 30

Jennifer Garner stars in this girl version of BIG (Tom Hanks). It has the fun 80's references, clothes, music and the growing pains of choices and dealing with the repercussions of being an adult. Unlike the rest of us, who can't change the past, Jenna Brink (Garner), can, well she tries anyway. What if you made a big mistake in the past and you realize it in the future? Would you change it? Can you change it?

Garner is sort of believeable as a 13 year old girl now 30 and editor of a magazine she idolized in her youth. She becomes disallusioned with life when her best friend, Matty, at 30 is shocked to see her appear at his door. He's hesitant to talk to her but she wins him over due to nostalgia and worry that she's crazy/going through a 30 something crisis. Numerous situations created by the premise of looking 30 but being mentally 13 makes this movie interesting to watch at times, but overall too cutesy and predicatable.

It's something to rent. I saw it in the theatre when it first came out and now recently as a rental. I wouldn't recommend watching it twice, even if you're trying to copy the wardrobe and hairstyles Garner sports in the film; which I hope you're not.

Worth the money rating: $$$

Friday, October 01, 2004

Mean Girls

Not sure how long ago this movie came out. But, it was a good movie that got a lot of hype because it was one of those teen flicks that had a message— you can be yourself and fit in. Though the sentiment of the picture is nice, I didn't think it was particuarly that original, except for maybe the Africa references— tigers attacking each other and HS girls doing the same. The Teen gendre of movie, from scary- I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream to Jawbreaker, Bring It On, Clueless and let's not forget the Mother of all of them, HEATHERS with Shannon and Winona— are fun movies to watch when you want a no-brainer with a twist, or to laugh at overdeveloped girls having cat fights or being caddy.

I have to say, I love Lindsay Lohan. She's fun to watch as are all the sassy girls that play teen roles. So I hope the powers that be in Hollywood keep making them. I love the wardrobes and the flash back to the innocent teen days, that are not so innocent now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go see it— if for nothing else but to see the new teen queens in action.

Worth the money rating: $$$$

SpongeBob Square Pants

I'm trying to decide betten seeing this movie or Wimbledon, Kirsten Dunst's new one. No matter which movie I choose, I think the leading charaters would both be square.

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Shaun of the Dead

Okay zombie fans or slacker fans, Shaun of the Dead was actually pretty good. I say this, because it's not the gendre of film that I usually like. But it was offbeat and funny and well written. The gore wasn't scary either. And it had a love theme— it was also about family, friends and zombies. It was pure entertainment. No hard to follow story line. And moments of surprise.

A 29 year old wakes up one day and starts fighting zombies. Something which he learns, he's good at. Or at least has a plan on how to save his mother, girlfriend and best friend to live another day. If you've seen the previews, you've seen the movie but it doesn't begin to give you the offbeat jokes and fun camera shots. Though a bit campy at times, the movie was charming for a horror comedy.

So I'm not giving it the ax. Quite the contrary. If you want to go with a bunch of friends after happy hour, or a date you don't know very well, or someone you've been married to for 10 years, this movie is all-around fun.

Worth the money rating: $$$

Cellular

What's all the buzz about? An annoying cell phone. Yeah, that's about a sumation of how I felt about this film. It was boring. The chase scenes and supposed action were sedate. I think I would have had more fun watching popcorn blow across the screen. Regardless, the new young guy in the film was cute. And the movie theatre playing this was right by my house so I watched it for lack of something to do on a rainy night.

Synopsis:
Woman is kidnapped. College guy who just broke up with his girlfriend gets a phone call from Kim Basinger to save her son and family. And this guy had nothing better to do than to help her because he's a putz and has nothing going for him except tight jeans. He steals a car and tries to make some sassy remarks, yada, yada, yada. He gets the police. The police screw it up. Will Kim and her family die? WHO CARES!

Don't see this movie. Not even if you're bored. Not only will you be bored, but you'll be angry with yourself that you spent money to see this crap.

Worth the money rating: $

How to Marry a Millionare

Sometimes you're in the mood for a classic. What you're not in the mood for is a classic movie to drag on. The pacing of movies like "How to Marry a Millionare" make us very aware of how fast and furious our society is today. Quick action cuts and car crashes with unbelievable Dolby digital surround sound is just what we've been babied on for the last century. Needless to say, back in the day, they sure knew how to make a star, though . Today Marilyn would still give any leading lady a run for her money. She's gorgeous in the film, funny in a ditzy blond way (imagine that) with the wardrobe and figure to match. Lauren Bacall is fabulous as well. The third woman? Don't recall. I don't think she added to the film at all.

Okay the story line is this. Three women in their mid 20's looking for rich gentlemen in New York, thus the title. They search for men with money but end up falling in love and going with their hearts and marrying? Well, you have to see it to find out. But bet you could guess. There's a plot twist at the end but the story line is very predictable. Old movies often are and the fun is seeing how they get to their inevitable ending.

Needless to say, "Gentleman Prefer Blonds" is just a better movie hands down. Dancing and singing numbers, costumes and of course, the famous "Diamonds are a girl's best friend" sung by Marilyn in her pink gown. Plus a cruise ship and swimmers and just eye candy fun.

If you want to watch women trying to marry millionares, just come to Manhattan.

Garden State

Zach Braff. Need I say more? Dynamic, actor, director and a screenwriter to boot. Unstopable. This is the perfect movie to offset his zandy characted, JD, on Scrubs. Zach plays a over-drugged 20-something who goes home to New Jersey for his mother's funeral. "Largeman" is his last name, his friends just call him "Large". He meets quirkly Natalie Portman and the dialogue between the two is memorable and often moving. So are the moments of life that he recalls and shares with the characters on screen and with us. We get to know Largeman and love that he learns to love himself and un-ideally gets us to agree that emotions are worth feeling and experiencing- happy or painful. That's what life is.

Check out this movie. It's a great date movie even if your man is largely into pure entertainment movies without a real story line. It has drugs, sex, strange experiences and it's as funny as you always thought real life could be.

Worth the money rating: $$$$$