Avatar

We went to see Avatar a few Saturdays ago. My daughter said it was "Dances with Wolves in outer space" which was true. We liked the movie, the 3-D effects were great. It seemed really long for some reason. It isn't a movie that I would go see again and I probably won't buy it when it comes out on DVD format. It was a movie that is best enjoyed on the big screen. I don't think it is best picture quality but it was good.

Up In The Air

This was my second favorite movie this year. George Clooney is wonderful. The supporting cast is great. You really feel for these people even though you have never met them before in your life. Over the past few years I have spent my fair share of time waiting in airports and the director really got the feel of that waste of time. You really believed that he truly felt that he was doing a service to these people that he had to fire. He found out about their pasts and he would help them see their future. It was just wonderful and I hope it wins some awards this year. Of course, anytime you can spend a few hours with George Clooney are never wasted.

The Princess and the Frog

I took my almost three-year-old granddaughter, Juliana, to see this movie on Thursday. We had a really good time. It wasn't her first movie but it was her first movie viewing experience with me. She enjoyed the movie and I really liked the movie too. It was a good flick and I would recommend it to any person with small to medium aged children. There looked to be some good movies coming out in the next few months too.

Invictus

My daughter Kate and I went to see 'Invictus' yesterday. It was great. I really enjoyed this film and it made me feel so good that when I left the theater I vowed to turn over a new leaf and be kinder to my fellow man. That lasted until we got into the car and tried fighting all the crazed Christmas shoppers out on the streets of Denver. Invictus is Clint Eastwood's retelling of a small part of Nelson Mandella's first days as President of South Africa and his plan to unite his country. Everyone should see this movie. It is terrific. I have always been a big fan of Clint Eastwood when he is directing a movie. He is an incredible director and writer. I have loved Morgan Freeman ever since "Glory" and have followed his career. I only hope that the movie, Eastwood, and Freeman all receive Academy nods in the spring. I recommend anything with Morgan Freeman in the film, including "Bruce Almighty" when he plays God, "The Shawshank Redemption", "Glory", "The Bucket List" where he holds his own with Jack Nicholson (which you have to admit is a very daunting task in itself) and "Driving Miss Daisy".

2012

I finally went to see '2012' this morning. This is the kind of movie that looks good on the big screen and not at home on your small television. It was really exciting and it had a good message, if we can't be good to each other than humanity is doomed. I don't understand this big glut of end-of-the-world movies that have been coming out lately. It we don't all die in some disaster we may be scared to death by Hollywood. It justs goes to show you that my favorite comedian Wanda Sykes says, "somethings gonna happen". Everyone from the Capital to Hollywood is going to scare us into buying more things and preparing for the end of the world. Anyway, back to the movie. It was exciting and kind of scary. My daughter, who has a Pembroke Welsh Corgi will be happy to learn that the Queen of England and her Corgi's survive. This movie is fun to watch on a slow Sunday morning when you really should be out buying Christmas presents but just don't want to face the crowds. I enjoyed it. I also recommend the original "The Day the Earth Stood Still" if you want to keep with the destruction of the world theme.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

We had to go opening weekend for "New Moon". I think I was more excited than my daughter who by the way got me started reading the novels by Stephanie Meyer. I don't know if I liked "New Moon" better than "Twilight" or not. With the first film, everything was brand new and exciting and when you have any movie after the original it takes a little away from the first film. It was the same with "The Lord of the Rings" movies. At least I didn't have my husband sitting next to me throughout the movie saying "that wasn't in the book" like he did with LOTR. I loved the werewolves, they were incredible. They weren't all gross like the wolves in other movies, although Martha Stewart said on her show this morning that they looked a little "mangy". I don't think I spelled that correctly but who cares. Of course, she had a private screening and I had to sit in an auditorium full of tween aged girls. Everyone just gasp the first time you see Jacob without his shirt on. Worth the price of admission right there. All the pack looked great. I am not loving Bella right now because she treated Jacob so bad but I know that had to be done.
If you like werewolves I would recommend "An American Werewolf in London" and the "Underworld" movies.

The Blind Side

"The Blind Side" starring Sandra Bullock is a wonderful movie. She plays a very headstrong southern mother who helps a homeless boy overcome some terrible odds. This is a true story and just makes you feel good after watching the movie. I love football movies so this was right up my alley. My 17 year old daughter even liked it and she hates football. I have now become a Baltimore Ravens fan. Sorry Broncos. If you enjoy sports movies I would also recommend "Breaking Away", "Invincible", and "Seabiscuit". True, Seabiscuit is about a race horse but what an athlete.