Up

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  UP
Where:  AMC Pleasure Island
Why:  It's Pixar!

I had been seeing previews and photos for UP for about 8 months now.  Since it was Pixar, I knew it would be good, but I wasn't so sure about the story and if it would be as good as all the other Pixar movies.

And, as a friend mentioned to me today, if I told you the plot and the funny scenes of the movie, it would just seem ridiculous and lame.  But the movie is WONDERFUL.

Maybe because I'm such a sap for seeing movies with cute old couples who have been happily married for ever ... or maybe because my life is kind-of like Carl and Elle Fredrickson.  They are happy to be around each other, and they happily just live their lives.  They aren't really extravagant or noteworthy.  They just build a home for themselves and enjoy being married.

If you don't really want to see UP, or if you're embarrassed that you want to see UP, but your friends won't see it with you, I highly encourage you to at least watch the first 15 minutes.  After that, you're ok to leave.

Also, the classic Pixar short film before the the movie is adorable.  I think it might be my favorite yet!

Go see this movie immediately!!!  Adults will love the romance, kids will love the adventure.  It's a win/win!

Changeling

Who: Liz
What: Changeling
Where: my living room
Why: I heard it was good

Angelina Jolie played mom Christine Collins, mom of Walter Collins. She is a supervisor at a telephone company in 1928 Pasadena CA. She has been called in to work and so she has to go, leaving Walter, a 9 year old, home alone for the day. When she gets home, Walter is gone, vanished. This movie is about her search for Walter. I thought it was a little slow going, but then, boy did it get better.
This is 1928 and I don’t know my history, but according to the movie, Los Angeles was filled with rogue cops and was really a corrupt place to live. Christine reports her child missing as soon as she gets home, but they tell her she has to wait 24 hours. So she does and then reports him missing. Time goes by and he is not found, then about 5 months later, the police claim to have found Walter. So she goes to the train station to pick him up and it’s not him, but the police insist it is and tell her to take him! Unbelievable! She knows it’s not her son and can get proof from the dentist, the neighbors, the teachers, and some others, but the police still don’t believe her and won’t continue to look for Walter. Case closed.
In the meantime, a decent cop is trying to find a young boy to deport back to Canada from a ranch and the boy ends up telling a really grisly story. There is also a minister who is trying to tell people about the corupt politicians and cops and he comes to help Christine.
What happens next is really scary to me and I have a hard time believing that this was the US and that people could be treated the way that Christine was treated. You'll have to watch the movie to see what happens!
I wouldn’t say this was a really enjoyable movie, but it kept me intrigued and wanting to root for Christine to get through this time in her life. I would say that this movie is not for everyone, its definitely not a “feel good” movie, but I liked it.

Fireproof

Who: Emily, Scott, & Kerri
What: Fireproof
Where: At home, On Demand special .01 movies
Why: Picked it at random

I really did like the story, and the message. It is rare that you mix so much faith in a Hollywood movie, especially concerning love and marriage. Generally movies are 'get out when the going gets tough' on marriage but this movie showed a man trying to save his marriage, and it wasn't until he understood the love of Jesus for us, that he realized how to truly love another. This kind of message is actually very powerful and I think everyone could learn from it.

The downfall of this movie? There was some really bad acting. The male lead is Kirk Cameron (you may know from Growing Pains!), but he seemed to be surrounded by people who'd never acted before in their lives, or were doing a local production of a play. At times I found that distracting. The actress who played his wife was beautiful, but at times her line delivery took me out of the movie.
Scott said it felt like an afterschool special for adults. And there's some truth to it.

I think if you can get past the acting, and listen to the message, you will take something valuable from this movie.

Ever After

Who: Kerri & Emily
What: Ever After
Where: on DVD
Why: We wanted something to watch, and it's an old favorite we hadn't seen in awhile.

This movie is 11 years old now, but I enjoy it every time. It's supposed to be the 'real' story of Cinderella. Drew Barrymore, Angelica Huston and Dougray Scott star.

Angelica plays the evil stepmother to absolute perfection, her disdain for Danielle (the Cinderella Character) is absolutely unforgivable. She cannot find it in her heart at all to love or care for Danielle, and turns her into the servant for her and her two daughters after Danielle's father unexpectedly dies.

Danielle accidentally meets (and yells at) the prince while disguised as a noblewoman. She gives her mothers name and over the course of the week, they fall in love. All while keeping out of her step mothers eye - as step mommy is trying to get her own daughter married off to the prince.

A fun entertaining movie with some laughs and some love and some tears, and a glass slipper. What more could you want?

Oh, and they do live, happily ever after!

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Who:Kerri & Emily
What: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Where: At the movies
Why: We wanted to see a movie

I would rate this movie as "cute yet typical romantic comedy."

It is a fun little movie with good humor, but the story is really nothing new. Matthew McHottie plays your typical leading man too hot for his own good can't commit womanizer, who finds his way.

I did like Michael Douglas' role of the dead ghost (the Jacob Marley character) who guides him through with his three spirits, it was through his uncle that he learned his womanizing ways, and his uncle has come back to make sure that McHottie doesn't end up dying alone and unloved. And the Ghost of Christmas past who took us on a middle school trek to the 80's was a lot of fun.

Jennifer Garner was likable enough in this role, although something about her tends to bug me, I can't put my finger on it, really her role could have been done just as well with probably a little more chemistry with any number of other actresses.

I wouldn't say run out and go see this movie, nor necessarily buy the DVD on day one, but in the marked down bin, or netflix, it's a fun Saturday afternoon popcorn flick.

X Men Origins: Wolverine

Who: Kerri, Scott & Mitchel
What: X Men Origins: Wolverine
Where: Showplace 14, Rockford IL
Why: Because it's Hugh Jackman!!

Now I preface this entire review on the fact that I am not into the comic books, I do NOT know the back stories as written in the comics, nor am I aware of how the comics and movies differ. This review is entirely based on what I do know, the XMen trilogy that came before this one. (And the fact I really like Hugh Jackman) There may also be some light spoilers, I will try not to give too much away, if you've read the comics I'm sure nothing will be new here.

This movie takes place prior to the trilogy - and you learn the story of Wolverine. We pick up with him as a child in 1845, he's ill and his father is taking care of him, a friend of his is also at his bedside. We learn that he's ill a lot, and his friend had been to, then one day just got better. Basically the mutation is starting to mature. Through accident, a young Logan realizes he has bones that can protrude and retract and his skin heals. He's also discovered a half brother. We watch as the two go through time as seen through them fighting in wars, from the Civil war through Viet Nam.

His brother has the ability to heal as well, and each appears as though they are only in their early 30's and are discovered by Gen Stryker (who you will remember in the XMen Trilogy). They join this elite team, but ultimately his brother grows darker and meaner, and Logan wants nothing to do with it. He leaves and finds a quiet life, and love.

Through loss and ultimately betrayal Logan agrees to undergo the antimantium procedure voluntarily. We do put some pieces together, where he got the name Wolverine, why he doesn't remember what happened to him, even where he got his leather jacket. I really liked Liev Shreiber as his brother, who eventually becomes Sabertooth. This is the one point I don't like Liev was a great Sabretooth, but differs so greatly from the same Character we saw in the first Xmen movie. I'm thinking they are taking great creative license here, or maybe there is something in this character's history that changes him over this time period as well and even made him forget his own brother?

It was an enjoyable movie a lot of great action, and if you like the character you should enjoy this movie. If you are a die hard comic guru, I'm sure there will be plenty that will make your skin itch, as there usually is in book to movie translations.

21

Who: Amber & Jonathan
What: 21
Where: @ home - free Starz weekend
Why: Looked entertaining

Oliver & Company

Who: Bill and Melanie
What: Oliver & Company
Where: DVR recording from The Disney Channel
Why: Bill had never seen it.

The classic Charles Dickens novel “Oliver Twist” has been adapted to film numerous times, both as a drama and even as a musical-- 1968’s Oliver!, which itself was adapted from a musical play in England and on Broadway. In 1988, Walt Disney Pictures gave the story a contemporary animated “twist” set in the gritty streets of New York City and featuring all-star vocal talent.

Oliver (Joey Lawrence) is an abandoned kitten who is befriended by a group of street-smart dogs led by Dodger (Billy Joel). The pack‘s owner, bumbling but good-hearted Fagin (Dom DeLuise), owes a huge debt to a powerful loan shark named Sykes (Robert Loggia) and in danger of losing his life if Fagin can‘t come up with the needed funds. Meanwhile, Oliver is soon befriended by a sweet young girl named Jenny much to the chagrin of her spoiled prize-winning poodle Georgette (Bette Midler). The kitten unexpectedly departs his new friends, but they haven’t forgotten about Oliver and manage to get him back in the pack. But Fagin plans to hold Oliver for ransom once realizing the wealthy nature of Jenny’s family. This being a Disney movie, of course there has to be a happy ending for all involved… but maybe not.

Disney animation was on the verge of a second “golden age” of highly successful features when Oliver & Company came out in 1988. In addition to Billy Joel and Bette Midler, musical contributions are provided by Huey Lewis, Barry Manilow, Ruth Pointer (from The Pointer Sisters) and lyricist Howard Ashman. Other characters in the film are voiced by Cheech Marin, Richard Mulligan, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Roscoe Lee Browne and the versatile Frank Welker. And for the first time, CGI effects were put to extensive use in supplementing the hand-drawn animation. Yet while an entertaining movie, Oliver & Company is lacking as an overall engaging story. Certainly Oliver the kitten is cute enough, but none of the other characters are especially lovable. The music is well-done, but ultimately forgettable. Still, its worth recommending as fine family entertainment and possible musical nostalgia for children of the 80’s. For fans of Disney’s animated classics, look for cameos from dogs seen in Lady and the Tramp and the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians.