Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Star Wars:  The Clone Wars
Where:  @ home on DVD
Why:  It was Jonathan's b-day present

**Warning - I will be spelling every single Star Wars name incorrectly!**  Ever since we went to Disney's Star Wars Weekends and saw Ashley Eckstein (the voice of Asoka), we've been The Clone Wars fans.  Thanks to DirectTV, we recorded all of season 1 of the animated series.  But the movie preceded the animated series, and I've always been curious about where Asoka came from.

Unfortunately, this movie doesn't answer any of those questions.  Asoka just shows up because Obi Wan Kanobi wanted another padawan learner.  Since Anakin turned out awesome, he's ready to teach again.  Asoka shows up and says she's here to learn from Anakin, not Obi Wan.  Well, he has no interest in a padawan learner.  He's a free spirit, he's reckless, he can't teach somebody. Nice switcher-o Obi Wan!

The Clone Wars is in full swing.  Obi Wan, Anakin and Asoka go from one battle to another. When to Jedi's rest or even eat or sleep?

Then Jabba the Hutt calls.  His son is missing!  Even though he's not a friend of the Republic (the good guys), helping out Jabba will be a great ally for later.  The Jedi's find Jabba's son right away, but he's very sick.  They need to get him back to Jabba alive, or he'll kill the Jedi's.  Also, the Empire (the bad guys) are trying to kill the Jedi's as well.  Count Duko (the main bad guy) has Jabba convinced that the Jedi's have already killed his son, and they are coming to kill Jabba as well.  Of course, the opposite is true.  Count Duko is the one who has actually captured his son.

Holy cow - Jabba is ugly, but his little baby son is adorable!  It makes me wonder, where do little Jabba's come from?!?  Think about that for a moment.

In typical Star Wars fashion, many droids are killed.  Red and blue gun fire is everywhere.  The clone troopers also fall dead left and right.  It's not bloody or anything, but those are still people dying.  It's kind-of graphic for little kids.  Although, also in typical Star Wars fashion, the Jedi win, and the bad guys loose.

The movie doesn't really end per say … this part of the battle is over, but there are many, many other battles to be won.  Stay tuned to Comedy Central for the continuation of the story.  Star Wars just keeps going and going and going!

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!

Bewitched (2005)

Who: Bill and Melanie
What: Bewitched
Where: Aired on ABC
Why: We wanted to see it.

The 2005 comedy Bewitched takes a unique approach. Rather than a straight adaptation of the classic sitcom, the movie is about the attempts to make a new TV version of the old series. In another twist, the woman chosen to play the new Samantha is actually a witch just like her character.

Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) is a conceited jerk of an actor whose movie career is fading. He turns to television and conceives of a revived version of Bewitched where as Darin Stephens, he will be the actual star. Searching for an unknown actress to play wife Samantha--and stay in the background, he meets an attractive young woman named Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman) and hires her. Unknown to Jack, Isabel really is a witch and trying to live a normal life. However, her magic powers prove too tempting and uses them in the filming of the series, to the delight of the studio audience and the chagrin of Jack. But as Jack continues to be upstaged, he becomes more attracted to Isabel. Will that change when he finds out she is a witch just like her character and will he be willing share the spotlight?

Bewitched the movie boasts a top notch cast including Shirley MacLaine as the actress playing Endora in the TV show, Michael Caine as Isabel’s father Nigel Bigelow, David Alan Grier as Jim Fields, Kristen Chenowith as Maria Kelly, and Steve Carell in a scene-stealing cameo as Uncle Arthur (originated in the series by Paul Lynde). All in all, Bewitched is really not a bad movie, boasting many funny moments. Where it comes up short is in the awkward pairing of Ferrell and Kidman. It’s hard to pinpoint, but they simply don’t make a great screen couple. As a whole though, the movie is good as escapist fare and may put you in the mood to enjoy an episode or more of Bewitched the series. And let’s face it: no one can twitch their nose quite like the original--and best--Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) could!

Not coincidentally, Bewitched was recently presented on ABC, the network that originally aired the show from 1964 to 1972. The series has been released on DVD and reruns can currently be seen just about every day on WGN America.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspien

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  The Chronicles of Narnia:  Prince Caspien
Where:  at home - Jonathan got the DVD for Christmas
Why:  I've never seen it

Let me just start out with, I'm not a huge fan of Narnia or Narnia-type movies.  In fact, Jonathan saw this in the theater by himself, while I went to go see Zohan (by myself).

This movie wasn't half bad, it's just not my cup of tea.

With in the first 5 minutes, the kids are whisked back to Narnia, which I was happy about.  Why waste time in England?!?  Turns out Prince Caspien is in trouble (people who want to be king are trying to get rid of him and steal the throne), and he blows a magical horn to bring the kids to Narnia.

Once they are there, they realize that Narnia has gone to pot, and try to figure out what happened.  Turns out the land of humans (where Prince Caspien lives) have made the Narnian extinct ... or so they thought!

The 4 kids, and Prince Caspien (totally shocked to see 'real live' Narnians!) wage a war to regain their independence.  They are tired of hiding in the woods, pretending not to be alive.

One big war after another, everybody lives happily ever after.

If you were a fan of the first movie, then I recommend you check this one out.  If you haven't seen the first one yet, then this movie might not make any sense.

Penelope

Who: Rochelle
What: Penelope
Where: At Home via Movie on Demand
Why: Nothing good on TV

I was searching for a good story that wasn't too mushy. This stars Christina Ricci plays a girl, Penelope who was born with a curse from her dad's family. The first born girl would be born looking like a pig. Sounds way out there I know! The only way to break the curse is for her to find one like her and marry him. So her mother protects her from the outside by keeping her in the house her whole childhood. Her whole goal in life was to prepare to marry so the curse could be broke.

Her mother, played by Catherine O'Hara from Home Alone, is a complete basket-case. She tries everything to find a man for her daughter so that she can be normal. While it sounds like she wants the best for her daughter she really just wants her own life to be normal. Through a series of events she meets a boy and he is the only one so far that doesn't run away once he sees what she looks like. He likes her but won't marry her but it isn't because of her looks. That is what she thinks so she runs away to the city. It is her first time outside her house and there are reporters trying to get a picture of her. She goes public with her picture and the whole city falls in love with her. There are many little things that happen along the way but so I don't give everything away I'll just say it has a very happy ending!

I remember seeing the previews for this but I never heard anything about it. It seemed like a child's storybook that had been turned into a teen/adult movie. It was interesting but at times seemed childish. The time frame of the movie was set in today but the story seemed very make-believe like; kind of like a darker version of Enchanted. The lead boy was played by James McVoy--not my type but beautiful eyes. Reese Witherspoon also makes an appearance in this one! I would classify this movie as a good rainy day flick!

The Dark Knight

Who: Kerri Scott Emily & Mitchel
What: The Dark Knight
Where: At the crappy little theatre in Beloit, because the good theatres sell out
Why: It's Batman - and we had to say goodbye to Heath Ledger

Could be slight spoilers if you don't know the basic characters of the series, but I tried to remain vague...


I am a fan of 'comic book' movies, I am not however a HUGE fan of the first round of Batman movies. I liked them, yes, but they were rather 'cheesey.' Not to say I don't like cheesey, I'm a fan of cheesey (except in football). But I never became 'attached' to them like other movie series.

What I loved most about this movie is that Gotham was filmed in Chicago and it had a 'real world' feeling. You felt that these people, characters, and places were real. It was not some stylized green screened 'fantasy world.' That, along with Heath Ledgers brilliant and creepy Joker made the danger, and the fear seem real.

Ok, I realize there's also a guy running around in a batsuit, but it is the movies.

This was also not some over the top Tommy Lee Jones Two Face - Aaron Eckart's character was very sympathetic - even after he changed. And I liked how they created him - and the effects for his face.

Back to Heath... if you didn't know it was him, you may not have figured out who the actor was. He became the Joker, the voice, the mannerisms, Very creepy - they never really fleshed out why or who he was - but I think that was a brilliant choice. It's scarier when you don't know the villian, you don't know what's motivating him and there's no 'magic movie scenario' which will turn him back good. He is bad for the sake of bad. He is motivated by nothing more than just 'enjoying his job.' A villian with nothing to lose is one you can hardly beat.

Michael Caine and Morgan Freemen were back - both excellent actors adding nice weight, and even some comediac lines. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaced Katie Holmes as Rachel. She did a good job, but there's something about that actress that doesn't always smack for me, but I think she fell into the story nicely and it wasn't so "hey that's a different actress" through the whole movie.

I thought the first one with Christian Bale was a good film, this sequel - Tops it. I don't often say that. It could be Batman's "empire" if you know what I mean.

Go See this movie. Now. Don't wait for the DVD.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Who: Kerri & Mitchel
What: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Where: Theatre
Why: We wanted to see it

I enjoyed this movie very much, probably because I had not read this book before, and I was able to just enjoy the movie and not wonder 'how will the do this, and that' like I did the last one.

The special effects were well done and did not distract from the story. Eddie Izzard was great as the very brave mouse warrior, Reepicheep.

There was a sword fight that reminded me of Knights Tale the way they sped up the frames, that was cool, although there wasn't the same soundtrack. The main fight was very "Helm's Deep" even with Uruk-hai and trees.

There was enough comic relief, but also lots of death, it is much darker than the first, but I do think it is a better film. It takes place one year after their return to England, and the children are still adjusting to being children again. They are summoned back to Narnia where 1300 years have passed, and all hell has broken loose and they must help return Prince Caspian to his rightful throne that his evil uncle has overtaken. I very much enjoyed the character, Susan, brave, and got right into the fighting with the boys.

If you are a fan of fantasy or Narnia, you'll enjoy this.

300

Who: Alina
What: 300
Where: Movie Theatre when it first came out and now on cable
Why: Bill wanted to see it

I wasn't all that interested in seeing this movie. I knew the history and true to most movies based on mythology and those times it didn't really ring true to the actual story. Nevertheless, Bill wanted to see it and I obliged.

Was I wrong! It was a great movie! I like the way the movie looked with the colors and muted backgrounds. The war scenes are great, the story and liberties they took with it was great, the acting and visual effects were awesome! It's basically a period war movie so there was a lot of violence and a LOT OF BLOOD. It was gruesome and gory at times but it all goes with the "no guts, no glory" theme. *Bonus for the girls-300 hundred ripped guys with abs and pecs for days in red briefs and capes all marching down toward you. Yeah, that was the best and worth the movie theatre price alone!*

Masters of the Universe

Who: Jaclyn
What: Masters of the Universe
Where: Home
Why: Nostalgia

So I decided to Netflix this movie to relive my childhood, which I've been doing a lot lately. However, I didn't remember this movie being SO awful. For those who don't know about this movie, it's a live-action movie of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which was made popular by the 80's cartoon. You know, Skeletor, Orko, He-Man, Cringer, Teela, etc.

The acting is dismal and the effects are cheesy. I know that's pretty standard for 80's movies, but come on. This is a total slap in the face to the cartoon, which I'll admit is cheesy in its own way. I wonder if in the theater I actually stayed awake. Even as a seven year old, I imagine I was out like a light.

I wonder if they were to attempt to make this movie again (hopefully with a better script) if the characters would do the original series justice. They certainly didn't in this movie.