A Christmas Carol 3D

Saw this on Thanksgiving Day after dinner with my oldest and youngest sister. We wanted to get in the Christmas spirit. What better way to do that than by watching a Christmas classic?! This is the Dickens tale we all know and love but with stunning 3D graphics and a Scrooge like no other. Jim Carrey was fantastic as the "humbug" spouting old geezer, Ebeneezer. The ghosts in this version were creepy and weird, although, the ghost/spirit of Christmas past (the floating candle man) cracked me up with his whispers and dancing flame head. His voice reminded me of Will Ferrell.

There were some surprisingly morbid moments in this movie so I definitely wouldn't recommended this to anyone thinking they want to show this to a 5-year old. This is definitely one of the best versions of A Christmas Carol that I've ever seen, but I still rate The Muppet Christmas Carol as my number one just because I love its balance between humor and darkness and the fact that it's a musical...also, I love Muppet movies.

Emma - Jane Austen

Not my favorite of the Austen books that I've read. Maybe b/c I watched the movie first, I already knew what was going to happen and I couldn't get Gwenyth Paltrow out of my head. I did like suspense with Knightley and Emma. And I liked how Emma kept getting herself into trouble, but she remained pretty stuck up till the end. I guess that was her character and what she was supposed to do, but it was annoying to me. Like the Shopaholic girl. She learns her lessons, but still, overall, goes back to being the same way she always had. Emma was okay with letting Harriet go b/c she wasn't really a close friend. She was a project. I think that's sad.

Reminded me of Shakespeare how everyone thought someone was in love with someone else.

As usual Austen writes AWESOME annoying characters. I just wanted to beat Mrs. Elton and Mrs. Bates to death so they would SHUT UP. Perfect. I'm going to rent this again just to see how these ladies played out in the movie. Fun!

As usual...my favorite quotes from the book.

Page 18. Describing Miss Bates. "And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without good-will. It was her own universal good-will and contented temper which worked such wonders. She loved every body, was interested in every body's merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with blessings..."

Page 134. "She had taken up the idea, she supposed, and made everything bend to it." I liked this sentence showing that you can make something out of nothing if you convince yourself of an idea. Everything seems to fit that idea you've created in your head even if it's not true.

Page 206. "One cannot love a reserved person. Not till the reserve ceases toward oneself; and then the attraction may be the greater." This seemed to me like a be confident quote. I liked how it read. Negative..in a positive way.

Page 264 "I would much rather have been merry than wise." Ignorance is bliss. haha!

Page 289 "You have everybody dearest to you always at hand, I, probably never shall again; and therefore, till I have outlived all my affections, a post-office, I think, must always have power to draw me out, in worse weather than to-day." This makes me think of leaving my friends in Murfreesboro and how much I love mail!!

Page 492 "The fact was, as Emma could now acknowledge, that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin; and that his continuing to love her had been irresistible." This was interesting to me b/c it was his great love for her that kept her in love with him. Had he given up, she would have too, but since he asked again and cared so deeply, she loved him. I wonder how long or how much a relationship can depend on the great strength of one-sided love. How many people are in love just b/c that person adores them?

The Invention of Lying

This was pretty good. Glad I went but not all that I expected. I love the main character. It was alot more awkward than I thought, and it was like everyone had terrets (sp??). They told the truth, but even when people didn't ask. I think it would have been funnier if they worked that part in more subtley (is that a word?). I liked the messages, and the whole idea of choice vs. going with the group. The ending was sweet. Overall good movie.

Doctor Detroit

Bought this movie at McKay's last time we went. Watched it when I was really little with my dad, and it's so stupid that it's amazing. Dan Akroyd is a nerdy professor guy who gets suckered into helping these prostitutes escape this evil pimp by pretending he's an even meaner pimp named Doctor Detroit. So cheesy and really sweet b/c his character is all into chivalry and can't understand why these girls want to be hookers. So...next time you're in the mood for a cheesy 80's movie, pick this one up, but don't pay over a few bucks to rent it. Hehe...I also recommend Who's Harry Crumb? and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels if you're looking for similar flicks.

17 Again

I really enjoyed this romantic comedy, and I know a lot of it was sort of like a bringing-the-family-back-together type film but there is romance at the heart of it. Zac Efron is a hunk and a doll, and I think he was awesome as a 40-year old man trapped in his own 17-year old body. He was believable, and his comedic timing was perfect. I was really worried that this flashback adventure would be predictable and only mildly funny, but it was pleasantly surprising and full of good humor. Leslie Mann and Matthew Perry are two hilarious actors, and it was nice to see them starring as the romantic leads. It stinks that Perry didn't get as much screen time as Mann. I hope to see Perry in more movies soon...I miss his comedic stylings.

I also want to mention that the side love story of Ned and the principal cracked me up...their nerdiness brought them together. Loved it! Ned was awesome...same guy that played Doug in I Love You, Man. He is a hoot.

Recommended to all the romantic comedy chick flick types out there, but I think guys will get a kick out this, too.

I Love You, Man

This movie totes magotes! Paul Rudd is cute and hilarious. He plays a sweetheart of a fiance. I loved the first dinner man-date, and the kiss at the end of it was so funny. Peter Segel is great as Sydney...I'm starting to like him more with each movie he does. He was fantastic in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Rashida Jones was a delight to see on the big screen, too. I think she and Paul Rudd had excellent chemistry, and I think it's sweet that her character wanted her fiance to have guy friends. I'm glad Jones is doing movies now, and I'm looking forward to seeing her in a new season of Parks and Recreation.

This movie is hilarious, like I said, but it does have a little of The 40-Year Old Virgin vibe going on...maybe it was all the curse words, but it was not completely gross or hard to watch like that movie was in some parts. I recommend this for good laughs. It's definitely worth a rental, but I'm thinking I might buy it later. I already added it to my bday wishlist on Amazon. :o)

New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer

SPOILERS - I'm just yacking about the books overall so don't read this if you don't want to know what happens.

I finally finished the 4th book last night. I liked the story early on a lot better than as it got farther into it. Bella got kind of annoying after a while. THEY BOTH LOVE YOU WOMAN! What the heck?! How many times does someone have to tell her something before she'll believe it? I felt bad for her situation. Tough call.

I loved all the characters, and I liked how they all worked together in the end.

I thought the whole Reneeseme (sp?) part in the 4th book was pretty messed up, and I could have done without all that. Yuck. I don't have kids so I probably can't relate, but once she had her daughter, Bella was so confused. I love Edward. I'll die if he dies. I love Nessie. I'll die if she dies. It would have been interesting if she would have had to choose between the two. There's another crazy decision to make. At least in the beginning, she always knew she would choose Edward. The other ideas could have worked and could have made her happy, but there wasn't even a decision to be made. I suppose it worked out that Jacob imprinted on her and wrapped it up really nicely for a happy ending, but it was just kind of strange. I hope that the little girl grew up more, and he wasn't stuck diggin' on the little one for the rest of his life.

Adventureland

Another weird movie. What the heck? I'm on a strange streak or something. This one was really slow and awkward. Kid wanted to go to an ivy league school, but his dad last his job so the kid has to get a job at a theme park to get money. Cute nerdy kid, but now that I'm writing about it, I can't even remember what happened. I just remember I didn't like it all that much. Don't bother with it.

Sunshine Cleaning

This movie was pretty slow and kind of strange. I was disappointed, but I like all the actors. Amy Adams, that girl from Dan In Real Life that his brother ends up with and the old guy. They're all great, but the story was just weird. Amy Adam's character is trying to make some more money so she gets a job cleaning up after people die or kill themselves. Gross! It has funny parts and it ends well, but overall it's just sad. I'll stick to the happy movies.

Inglorious Basterds

Josh's movie choice after he was practically forced to watch Nights in Rodanthe while we were on vacation. I was worried based on the previews, but it ended up not being too gross. I just shut my eyes on the scalping people and beating people with baseball bats parts. Yuck. Guns I can handle, but knives cutting people...yuck. The story was good, and I liked the characters. Definitely a guy movie. Brad Pitt's accent didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought it would, and he surprisingly had no love interest in the film. That I remember. Good one to check out if you're into that sort of movie.

The Bucket List

I saw this the other night on TV. I thought it was going to be just a bunch of hilarious adventures, but there was a great deal of sadness in this movie, too. I really enjoyed the trips and the experiences that Carter and Ed shared together, and I especially liked the "Chock Full of Nuts" thing. That was really sweet. I didn't think I would do it, but I cried at the end. For the past few years, I have made lists of things to do before each year before my next birthday, and now I kind of want to make a bucket list for my life.

Good for a rental.

Twilight

Okay. I take back all the nasty comments I had about series books, and this just being a "teen" fad. I decided to read this b/c a lady at work brought it to me singing its praises. Her other recommendations have been good so I cautiously started the first few pages. Now I'm totally hooked. I finished the entire book in 3 or 4 days. Now I want the next one. Smart writer...

It's so good! You have to read at least a few chapters, and then you'll understand. It's simple but really deep at the same time. Real love and real danger all mixed together. Who knew vampires could be so sexy? Geez. The whole book is like a tease. Just talk to her already. Just make out with her already. Just change her already. I think I like it b/c it's so dramatic.

I'm ready for the next books. And I apologize to anyone I made fun of for reading it. :o)

A Year In Provence

For a short book, this took me forever to read. Another book about another country where they talk about food almost the whole book. It's good, and it's descriptive. But just not that exciting. I guess I'm a story girl, and I like for something to actually happen in the book. Need some conflict to make it good. Or some hidden meaning. Hidden meanings and conflict..conflict that is resolved. That's my type of book.

Sorry for the ramble. This book was great as far as giving you a feel for a place which I imagine was the idea. Made me want to hunt down all these little restaurants and see if they actually exist. Yum! Or made me want to live a year in Provence. Seems like an interesting group of folks.

I recommend this if you want to experience Provence from the mind of an outsider trying to understand how to live like an insider.

The Proposal

Predictable chick flick, but I loved it. Very funny indeed. Betty White is wonderful. Sandra Bullock's dance around the fire with Betty White was hilarious. I cracked up! Ramon was an interesting surprise (the guy that plays Oscar from The Office). I thoroughly enjoyed the Alaskan setting. As Tina Fey once said as Liz Lemon in an episode of 30 Rock, "I want to go to there." Ryan Reynolds is soooo hot, especially in the nude. And Sandra Bullock has done a great job of keeping her body looking smokin', too. The nude scene with those two was great and oh so funny. The end theme, of course, if you love someone let them go and they'll come back to you, worked out really well. I will probably be buying this when it gets released on DVD. Romantic movies are my weakness. Oh, one more thing, I loved Sandra Bullock's hair in this movie. She's just gorgeous.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 3D

Cute animated flick. I don't think the 3D element was played up enough in the graphics, though, so I feel like I wasted my money on that. The family theme was played up in this Ice Age. The adult humor was good, but it was still child-friendly. There were a lot of sweet moments, and the action/adventure in the underground dino-world contrasted nicely with the feel-good stuff. I like how the T-Rex befriended Sid, that was cute. The cuteness factor went way off the charts. I did enjoy the movie, but I felt like there was something missing the whole time...not sure what, though.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Such a good movie. Shia LaBeouf was just as hot as ever. And Megan Fox steamed up the screen as well. The action was non-stop (some might think there was too much action), and the graphics and explosions were fantastic just like the first movie. I like the tie in to Egyptian culture. The love story between the leads was cute but a bit saccharine at times with the whole who's gonna say the L-word first thing. I saw this in an IMAX theater, and it was awesome! I hope there will be a third Transformers movie...I'm sure there will be.

East of Eden - John Steinbeck

Whew! That was an enormous book. Maybe I should ask the length before I ask for recommendations on what to read next time. That took forever. I mean I read fast, but there's only so many pages you can read in a lunch break.

Okay. Overall, I liked it. Messed up book. Messed up. Cathy/Kate was scary. She makes me think of the Joker. Just pure evil, and there's no way to plan around that craziness. No reasoning with it, and at points, no stopping it. I tried to explain the story to Josh, but there were just too many turns to explain. You'd just have to read it.

I liked his writing. Kept me interested while not a whole lot was going on. Seemed like he had alot to say behind what he was really saying, and on occasion he just pulls out of character and goes on with what he wants to say even though it doesn't seem to relate. Or maybe it does, and I'm just slow. Either way. I liked all the thoughts.

I'm still not sure about the ending. Did he bless him or not? I think maybe not? Was he saying he chose to do bad when he could have overcome it so he's not going to forgive him?

I loved Lee's character, and Samuel Hamilton's. I would like to meet some folks like them.

And for the quotes....

Pg. 130 - "Sometimes a kind of glory lights up the mind of a man. It happens to nearly everyone. You can feel it growing or preparing like a fuse burning toward dynamite. It is a feeling in the stomach, a delight of the nerves, of the forearms. The skin tastes the air, and every deep-drawn breath is sweet. Its beginning has the pleasure of a great stretching yawn; it flashes in the brain and the whole world glows outside your eyes. A man may have lived all of his life in the gray, and the land and trees of him dark and somber. The events, even the important ones, may have trooped by faceless and pale. And then - the glory - so that a cricket song sweetens his ears, the smell of the earth rises chanting to his nose, and dappling light under a tree blesses his eyes. Then a man pours outward, a torrent of him, and yet he is not diminished. And I guess a man's importance in the world can be measured by the quality and number of his glories. It is a lonely thing, but it relates us to the world. It is the mother of all creativeness, and it sets each man separate from other men."

Pg. 131 - "Our species is the only creative species, and it has only one creative instrument, the individual mind and spirit of a man. Nothing was ever created by two men. There are no good collaborations, whether in music, in art, in poetry, in mathematics, in philosophy. Once the miracle of creation has taken place, the group can build and extend it, but the group never invents anything. The preciousness lies in the lonely mind of a man." Hmmm...I guess this is technically true, but it seems weird to me. What do you think??

Pg. 143 - "You have a point, Louis. But some men are friends with the whole world in their hearts, and there are others that hate themselves and spread hatred around like butter on hot bread."

Pg. 160 - "That's why I'm talking to you. You are one of the rare people who can separate your observation from your preconception. You see what is, where most people see what they expect." This is a tough one b/c, at least to me, everything is already tainted by what you think of it. So it's leaning toward your preconception already. Takes a strong character or act to push it back the other way.

Pg. 255 " 'You're never satisfied to let the Testament alone. You're forever picking at it and questioning it. You turn it over the way a 'coon turns over a wet rock, and it angers me.'

'I'm just trying to understand it, Mother.'

'What is there to understand? Just read it. There it is in black and white. Who wants you to understand it? If the Lord God wanted you to understand it. He'd have given you to understand or He'd have set it down different.' "

Ha. I like this. I like to question things, but sometimes it would be nice to just accept.

Pg. 268 "And I here I make a rule - a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and foreign is not interesting - only the deeply personal and familar."

Pg. 301 "But 'Thou mayest!' Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win."

Pg. 413 "It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world."

Pg. 415 "They say a clean cut heals soonest. There's nothing sadder to me than associations held together by nothing but the glue of postage stamps." Boooooo.....I'd rather write that let it go.

Possession

This was an okay movie. I didn't think they built up the love enough between the two present day characters to where when they started talking dramatically to eachother I even cared. If you don't believe the love, then the cheesy love lines just sound fake. I liked the past poet guy better as a leading man. He looked his part. I liked the mystery being solved through the poetry. That's always nice. Riddles. I liked the ending, and the story moved along pretty well. Check it out if you're bored and happen to see it available.

Inkheart

This movie was so cute! If you're a nerd like me and love books and fantasy stuff, you'll love it. The characters in the books come to life whenever someone with the special gift called a silver tongue reads outloud. Then the whole movie is about the characters fighting eachother, and this guy trying to save his wife that's gotten stuck in a book. Very Neverending Storyish, and I loved it. Sigh. I love happy stories.

Austenland - Shannon Hale

My Jane Austen kick continues! This is the story of Jane, a quirky New Yorker who is gifted a fantasy trip to "Austenland" where she gets to pretend to live the life of someone similar to a Jane Austen character during Regency times. The "vacation" lasts about three weeks. Jane's trip is a fun escape, but she also uses the trip to try and prove to herself that romantic men like Mr.Darcy of Pride & Prejudice are not worth pining over and fantasizing about. There are several comedic moments (Mrs.Charming's attempt at proper British is hilarious with her "what-whats" here and there), and there are some surprising romantic twists and turns in the plot (and fun make-out sessions, too). The characters in this story aren't who they seem to be, and I was a bit confused by some of them at times. The author was able to pull the story together nicely at the end, and, even though the ending seemed liked it was put together quickly, it was a good one. I recommend this to anyone looking for an enjoyable, fast read...and I don't think Jane Austen fans will mind this bit of fluff.

Jane Austen Ruined My Life - Beth Pattillo

I love Jane Austen everything, and when I saw this book and read the first page, I knew it was coming home with me. I really enjoyed this story. It's easy to get into, the author's writing style is so relaxed and welcoming, and I wish the story hadn't ended. Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen love story, and I'm so glad that the author chose to feature it the way she did in this novel. I wish I had my own Captain Wentworth!

Emma's story is uplifting, and I love how Beth Pattillo kind of paralleled her story with Jane Austen's in the book. I especially loved reading all the made-up letters and the fun tasks Emma had to complete. My favorite task was the last one at Chawton where Emma runs her finger across Jane Austen's writing desk when no one is looking. I can totally see myself doing that, and my heart beat even speeds up just thinking about such a rush! Oh man, to feel the power! I would love to visit all the places Emma went to during her research. Fun, fun!

The only thing I wish was different was the ending. I was hoping the author would have featured a little more about Adam and Emma reuniting in the epilogue. I was really rooting for Adam the whole time. Poor guy. Pattillo should have written more story so that Adam and Emma could get together again back in London and have a happily-ever-after. Those are always nice...but the final ending does suit the story and leaves the reader wondering what will happen next. Sometimes at the end of a really good book, it is nice not really knowing the rest. It made for a good "find yourself" type story, and even though there was not as much romance as I would have liked, it was still a satisfying, fun read. I'm definitely keeping it to read again in the future.

Stern Men - Elizabeth Gilbert

It started out well enough, but I lost interest halfway through. I couldn't finish it and took the book to my local used store for credit. Sorry, Ms. Gilbert. I loved Eat, Pray, Love, and I couldn't put it down, but I gave up trying on this story.

New In Town

Really liked it. It was almost like one of those cozy novels you pick up to keep you warm by the fire during winter. The Minnesota accents were too cute, and I loved the scrappers. They made me want to start scrapbooking myself. Harry Connick Jr. was perfect as the rugged handsome Ted, and he and Renee Zellweger had great chemistry. I'm not a huge Zellweger fan, but I think she was perfect as headstrong businesswoman, Lucy Hill. I especially loved the crow hunting excursion when Ted just about flipped Lucy upside down trying to help her get her zipper unstuck on her jumpsuit.

It's a predictable movie, but predictable can be a good thing during uncertain times like now. I like that there are some movies out there we can depend on for a good laugh, a good cry or just pure fun.

Killer Weekend - Ridley Pearson

Picked up the hardback at McKay's for six bucks. Definitely worth the price, but I had credit to use. :)

This is the first Ridley Pearson book I've read, and I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of James Patterson's books because the chapters were so short and the story was very fast-paced. Pearson's writing style is also very similar to Patterson's, but I think Pearson's language is a little bit more complex.

It's mainly a story about an underdog Sheriff, Walt Fleming, in a small town trying to protect the Attorney General, Liz Shaler, (whose life he saved eight years prior) from being assassinated at a conference where she plans to announce her candidacy for President. It all takes place in one weekend, and the killer's plot for assassinating the AG is pretty unique and kind of disturbing. There is also another side plot going on throughout the whole story involving some elite characters and a cougar. Yes, a cougar.

This was a good page-turner. I was a little confused in the beginning, though, because several characters were introduced at once so it took me a few chapters to get them all straightened out with their corresponding story lines. I pressed on, and I finished the book in about two days. It's a very fast, entertaining read but a little on the light side for being a suspense/thriller, but there are enough surprise moments that make up for that lightness. This would probably be a good beach read or something for the car or on the plane during a trip.

Passengers

Ok, the main character's fate is totally predictable right from the get-go, but how she finds out about herself is a decent mystery. I thought the creepiness factor of this movie was definitely up there, and the acting was good. Anne Hathaway never disappoints. Patrick Wilson was a nice treat for the eyes, and he did better than I expected. I enjoyed their little unethical romance. I thought the plane crash scene that was fully played out was good, and I am glad they showed the whole thing. I liked the ending of this movie even though it was a little too sweet. Good rental. I wouldn't be opposed to buying this if it was on sale.

Last Chance Harvey

A sweet middle-aged love story. This reminded me a little of the movies Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, only the characters are older and kind of sad but oh so charming and deserving of love. I love Emma Thompson and all her little acting nuances. She's just great. Dustin Hoffman is so pathetic in this movie which makes him more likable in an odd way, and I was rooting for him to come out on top. I love how he's shorter than Emma, it's cute.

I like that this whole movie takes place over the span of a short weekend in London, and it's mostly realistic. It's just so sweet. I don't know that I would watch this again. It's kind of depressing even though it ends on a high note. It's not the regular romantic comedy with all the hoopla and the jokes and the attractive young couples that we're used to seeing, but it's definitely more than worthy of sitting on the shelf beside or even above those predictable flicks.

In The Electric Mist

It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great. I have become a big Tommy Lee Jones fan over the past few years, and I enjoyed his acting in this murder mystery/ghost whatever it was.... I thought John Goodman was a little on the sloppy side with his portrayal of "Baby Feet Balboni" (hilarious mob boss name, btw), Peter Sarsgaard was kind of funny and did an OK job. I was confused by his actual role in the movie. I mean, I know he helped to move the plot along alot, but he was drunk more than half the time, which was so annoying, and I couldn't understand what he was saying sometimes. I will say that Mary Steenburgen was a nice surprise. I think she's a wonderful presence in any film. The rest of the cast was only so-so with their acting, definitely not up to par with Mr. Jones.

The story was entertaining despite being confusing, and maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the actual book first. I don't know...I think the producers were trying too hard. I got the gist of all the story lines, but I think this could have been done better and neater. Glad it was only a dollar rental.

Jane Austen in Scarsdale - Paula Marantz Cohen

Add this one to the long list of books that I'm glad I read but probably won't pick up again. It's quick to read and has an interesting little story, but I wish there were more details in this one. Yes, yes, I know. I whine when there are too many details, and I whine when there are too few. This one had a great little lost romance story line going, but it finished up too quickly at the end. Give us more of that greatness! Paula built up the awkwardness and longing enough but then just barely gave us a consolation for reading it through.

I loved all the individual characters of the high school students and would have also liked to see more of them. Maybe a postlude a few years later with letters from the formerly crazy parents writing about how great their students were doing now that they were in the right school?

Anyways...I might look for more her in "Jane Austen in"....wherever series. It worked out well for a fast book while riding to New York state to see a wedding this weekend.

NEXT!

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

This movie sucked. I love stupid movies and I like the main actor guy, but it sucked. Scuba doobie dooo??? Seriously??? Stay away from this one. I was forced to pity laugh, and I laugh at everything.

Still Waiting.....

I ordered my book East of Eden on May 5th from half.com...and it's STILL NOT HERE! What the heck.. We're driving to NY on Friday, and I've got nothing to read. I'm going to have to pull one of the McKay's impulse buys out. Grrrrr.....

Angels & Demons

First off, it was interesting to see Tom Hanks in a speedo. I'm glad we got to see the normal side of his character, and I'm so glad his hair was not long in this movie because that was just an odd look for him in DaVinci Code. As per usual, Hanks did a great job in this film. He's got Robert Langdon down.

OK, I know he is the bad guy, but I especially enjoyed Ewan McGregor in this movie. His portrayal as the Camerlengo was perfect. He was so believable, and his transition from light to dark was very smooth. I haven't read the book in so long, and I almost cried when he went up in the helicopter with the antimatter, so, at the twist in the end, I was just as blown away as other audience members. I love that surprise element!

Now, I don't remember it, but I thought there was a bit of romance between Vittoria and Robert in the book. I didn't mind that nothing happened between the two in the movie because I was more interested in good defeating evil the whole time. I don't think that it would have fit very well into the movie anyway.

The only disappointment was the original fax in the beginning...I was hoping to see the one of the CERN guy's branded chest instead of just the plain word Illuminati on a piece of paper, but I guess Ron Howard wanted to keep the story moving forward without too much backstory, which is understandable.

Overall - Fantastic film! 5 stars! I actually think this movie is better than the book! The whole movie is action-packed and suspenseful, and I was even kind of scared during a few moments. All the historical information and ceremonial details were revealed and explained perfectly, and the artwork was very well incorporated. The setting was magnificent, and the graphics were also pleasing to the eye. The music and cinematography was wonderful, and I really like that the same music from DaVinci Code was used for this film. Ron Howard is an excellent director and should definitely be praised for this film. I enjoyed this movie ten times more than DaVinci Code, and that was my favorite of the two books. Angels & Demons is now my number one!

I was entertained by every second of this film and want to go see it again. I will definitely be buying this when it comes out on DVD!

Bride Wars

Very sweet movie. I was a little annoyed by all the bridezilla craziness, but I know Hudson and Hathaway had to act that way so they could redeem themselves as better human beings and better friends in the end. I like the change in direction of the plot towards the end for Hathaway's character. That is as specific as I can be without giving anything away.

The movie is predictable, but it is still fun and amusing, and I enjoyed the pranks. I liked the Vera Wang dress the best, by the way.

Blindness

I think there was a message in this film, but the delivery was terrible. I wish I hadn't wasted my time watching this movie. I couldn't stand Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. I don't like that there is no explanation for why most everyone went blind. I couldn't stand the cinematography - it's not artful, it's annoying. It started off good, and I thought it was going somewhere...but it flopped. Don't waste your time.

The Uninvited

Definitely suspenseful and a bit scary and creepy, but the plot was predictable and so were all the twists in it. The girl who played Anna had distracting lips. I felt like I was watching an Angelina Jolie wannabe. There are holes in the story, and I didn't really enjoy it excluding the few frightening jumps it gave me. I wouldn't recommend even renting this. Get it as a freebie with a coupon or at a redbox on Mondays with a promo code like I did.

The Tale of Despereaux

The animation was definitely up to par with movies like Shrek and Monsters, Inc.

Aw, I thought Desperaux was the cutest with his big Dumbo-like ears. My heart went out to Roscuro the rat, though. He fell into such a dark hole (literally and figuratively), and all he wanted to do was make things right again. He's the real hero in my opinion. Yes, he had a downfall, but every hero gets lost once in a while.

I thought the three different worlds were interesting - Mouesworld, Ratworld and the human world - the plot that unfolds between them never lagged. Although, the soup story was kind of a weird way to start off, but it's suitable for youngsters and fits in with the G rating. I did think that for a G-rated film there were several moments that might waver on the scary side for small children, but there wasn't any bloodshed shown and the dramatic fight scenes weren't too harsh and didn't last long.

Overall, well done with likable characters, an engaging tale, and the moral of forgiveness shines brightly at the end. I'm glad I watched.

The Skeleton Key

I thought this movie would have a predictable plot and cookie cutter characters, but I was wrong. The entire cast delivered memorable performances, especially John Hurt who has maybe one line during the entire show. The story was engaging the whole way through, and the twists at the end were well played. I was so surprised by the turn of events, and good suprises always kick a movie's likability level up a notch for me.

I have to note that the creepiness of New Orleans has always served well as a backdrop for mystery films, and the plantation house in The Skeleton Key was almost like a freaky character itself adding to the spooky Hoodoo vibes throughout the film. I got this as a free rental, but I will probably buy this later.

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris - Sarah Turnbull

Just finished our April book last night. I think it was our April book. Whatever it was, I just finished. I have to say this book was very cool to read after just being to Paris. I knew alot of the places she was talking about and had a better perspective on everything. Even if I was just an American tourist. :o) I can honestly say I wouldn't have eaten the things she ate with such enthusiasm. I might have tried, but they've got some rough looking stuff over there.

I liked the book, but it was probably much more fun to live than to read about. I like that it was someone's story. I always wonder how people remember that much about everything in that order. Surely she had a journal or something during this time. It would be hard to remember the details of everything.

I love when she told the guy off in the bakery! Too funny. And I love that she put Maddie on the back of the book in her author photo.

I could have done without all the food descriptions, but maybe that's a French thing since she talks about it so much in the book. How detailed they are about food. I found myself reading quickly through those parts to get to the mess-ups and action of the story. That's how Playing For Pizza was too! Maybe it's a European thing. Describing food just doesn't do it for me. I'd rather try it out myself.

Cute book. Glad I read it but probably wouldn't pick it up again. I would recommend it for Americans about to take a trip to Paris. You could probably finish it on the ridiculously long plane ride over, and you'd be all pumped to take on the city then.

Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro

I read this forever ago, but I think I forgot to comment on it. Lovely book. Kind of reminded me of a not so crazy shopaholic book how the girl kept spazzing in and out of doing what someone suggested and going back to her old habits. Easy to read and had fun romance parts, but the romance wasn't the main focus.

Good book. Check it out.

Doubt

The cinematography was wonderful. The acting was superb, definitely Oscar-worthy. Meryl Streep was at her finest, and Amy Adams proved she can do more than sing and dance with her role as Sister James. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was fantastic as usual.

Nothing was actually proven by the end of this movie, and that makes it better than just really, really good. It leaves you wondering and debating with your thoughts about tradition and liberalism, and I like that about it. The ending made the movie.

I think the best thing about this movie is Meryl Streep and all her dragon-lady qualities, but I really enjoyed the little compassionate nuances we get to see - most of all in the way she is about Sister Veronica.

I like this movie. Doubt is certainly for thinkers.

Knowing

This movie makes you think about this question - Does everything, in fact, happen for a reason?

If we're all part of something that is already decided, do any of us really make the choices we make or are we somehow being lead to moments and places in our lives that have already been set up for us to get to? I love movies that make you think in circles like this one does. This movie is like a blend of science fiction and faith, and it's a whole different kind of end-of-days type film. The graphics are fantastic, the acting is pretty solid, and the main characters are not the typical cookie cutter Hollywood father and son.

This movie is sort of scary and definitely very suspenseful, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The ending really holds up and makes the film feel complete and sort of refreshing. It's fun and a little scary to think about afterwards. It's fiction so it's not like a revelation or anything, but it's supercool. I really recommend it. It was definitely worth a full theater ticket price.

The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice

I saw this on Amazon while browsing for movies to rent. Once I learned that Noah Wyle is the main character, it was on my list. Plus, it has a four-star rating from reviewers so I figured it must be good. It was. I didn't want to spend money buying this just to watch it because it's not at Blockbuster, but luckily I was able to use a freebie at a local Redbox (whoever came up with that contraption is a genius).

This movie is actually the third installment in a series, and Flynn, the main character, is a librarian who goes on missions collecting rare and historic relics for the Metropolitan Library of New York. The library has a secret amazing basement filled with treasures from all over the world, and getting a glimpse of its wonders really adds to the fun of the show.

Flynn's character works well because he knows so much and adds pieces to the story through his random factual interludes and references. The Librarian's vast knowledge and love of information really brings the whole story together. He kind of teaches you, and the action and suspense are almost like extras. I doubt that all of the things he says are true, but they sure captured my attention and made me want to know more.

I liked the idea of the Judas Chalice having a vampiric history. Definitely a good twist in the plot. I am not usually into the vampire thing, but it was fun and suspenseful and not the boring, same-old stuff we're used to when it comes to those creatures of the night. I also liked the little love story between Flynn and Simone. It had its own little twist as well.

Bob Newhart is loveable as kooky Judson, and Jane Curtin is also good in her nerdy role. Noah Wyle really surprised me, though. He's funny and nerdy-hot and an action hero all at once. I think he makes the perfect Librarian. I definitely want to see the rest of the series now. I hope they make many more. Definitely recommended. I think you would like this Heather. It's Indiana Jones-esque.

The Secret

I had no idea what this movie was going to be when I read the summary for it. I thought it was going to be like a spooky horror type film, but it was completely different. I've seen transference films before like Freaky Friday, etc., but this is the only one I have seen that is truly dramatic. An overbearing suburban mother gets a chance to understand her daughter and see who she really is in the most personal way before it is absolutely too late - a repeated premise, but this one takes the cake for me.

And, this may sound kind of perverted or gross, but I thought all the sexual tension and innuendos that came across between David Duchovny and Olivia Thirlby, the actress who played his daughter/spiritual wife, were kind of hot. This movie almost crosses that line, but it doesn't go there which I was totally afraid of in one particular intimate scene.

Olivia Thirlby reeled me in with her dual role in this movie, and I look forward to seeing her in more films in the future. David Duchovny was delicious as usual. I don't know what it is, but I just love to watch that man.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Just what I expected it would be from the trailers, and of course I cried. Brad Pitt did an excellent job as Benjamin Button, and wow did he ever look hot in the middle where he is the perfect age! Whew! I was stunned, though, towards the end when he comes back as a teenager. He looked so realistically young. The CGI and make-up crew did amazing with his facial features.

I thought the story was interesting and engaging, very sweet and sad. I would watch it again.

Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa

Very funny and much better than the first movie. The adventure and the story is more complex and interesting to watch this time around with the animals being in their all-natural habitat of Africa.

I like to move it, move it!

The penguins were hilarious as usual, but the character I was more pleased to see in a larger role was King Julian. His accent and his lines were all so funny. I especially love the part where he is consoling Melman, the giraffe, when he is down about love. That part was my fave. Oh, and Julian's story about making a sacrifice to the volcano was funny, too.

All the little animals in this were so cute, and I especially loved the mini deer. Adorable.

Good family fun.

Wanted

Hot movie right here! James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie - two hot people to start. This is based on a graphic novel I believe, so the action and the story were more enjoyable just knowing that that is where this originally stems from. I liked the story set up with Wesley's boring life and how he gets so irritated by his boss all the time. Cracked me up. When the actions comes into play, it comes in fast and hard and is great! Bullets curving and flying to unimaginable distances, riding the tops of trains, car crashes and so much adrenaline - I loved it all. I especially liked the humor in this flick and loved the surprise twist, and the ending was fantastic. Don't expect this movie to be anything like The Matrix or other action movies of that bad-ass calibur, but it was still pretty darn bad-ass.

Seven Pounds

Wow. This movie was something else. Will Smith was perfect in this movie. He played his character so well, and I couldn't believe how attached to him I got. I hate that, too, because of the ending. I cried so much and so hard it hurt. Summer was right there with me crying as well. We really let ourselves get too into movies sometimes. Whew! I don't want to go into detail about the plot because I don't want to give it away to people who haven't seen it, but let me tell you that it was really inspiring and sad and wonderful and just so moving. Also, I normally don't like Rosario Dawson, but she was great in this movie, too. I recommend this to everyone, but I won't be watching it again because once was too much - emotionally.

Fireproof

I had not heard of this movie until yesterday, and I watched it today with Summer. It is a must-see, and I would recommend this to anyone in a relationship or who wants to be in one. Heather, you should definitely see this.

This movie is a great example of what happens all to often to people today...relationships are tough, and when the tough gets going people these days seem more likely to run seperate ways and leave their problems rather than address them and work on them together to improve. People forget why they got married in the first place (and I have known a few couples like this) and they just give up rather than examine what they have and try to repair and build up their relationships and make them better than before.

I am so glad I watched this movie. It makes you think and certainly encourages alot of Christian values, but even without that aspect of the movie, the lessons learned here are great ones.

I have always been a Kirk Cameron fan (he's so hot in this movie), and he was wonderful in this movie. He brought me to tears more than once. He cries so well. The other actors in the movie might not have been up to par, but they all had their good moments and did their job. I didn't expect any Oscar-winning performances, but the movie was enjoyable and satisfactory overall.

He's Just Not That Into You

Really funny and enjoyable. I think the advice given is certainly true to life, but there is room in life for hopeless romance and the like, too. I really enjoyed Ginnifer Goodwin's character's story, and I also liked Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck's story as well. Bradley Cooper was totally hot in this movie, and I hope to see him half naked more often in the future on the big screen. ;) The love scene between him and Scarlett Johansson in his office was smokin' hot...till his wife interrupted. And Drew Barrymore and Kevin Connolly's bit at the end during the credits was so cute.

I'd see it again, and I'll probably buy it.

Dog On It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery - Spencer Quinn

Couldn't finish this. I forced myself to read to chapter 9 and gave up. The writing seems juvenile to me, and the plot was not holding my interest. The way Chet describes what is going on is annoying and tedious, and his doggone distractions are completely frustrating. I wanted him to stay focused on the main story. I guess I thought this dog would be a little smarter than the average everyday dog. Two stars for some comedy, but other than that this book was a waste of my time.

Bottle Shock

Excellent film! I very much enjoyed the whole thing excepting the love triangle bit. I think that could have been left out as it didn't really add that much to the movie. The story was so entertaining, though. It's nice to see the underdog win. The Barretts are people who put their heart and soul into making wine, and it's more than just really good...it's a part of who they are and their history, and I think that is something to be admired and appreciated. I watched the extra on the DVD about their search for an excellent wine, and it was informative and neat to see the real Jim and Bo Barrett talking about their wine and wine-making process. Very cool. It was short, but it was still a good little feature. I love Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman, and both of them didn't disappoint in this film. The guy who played Bo - couldn't get over the hair, but he did well. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a good wine tasting or underdog story.

After seeing this movie, I want to purchase a bottle of wine from Chateau Montelena. I already took a look at their online store, and I will definitely be making a purchase in the future for a current Riesling release and maybe a bottle of Zin. I love Rieslings, and I am sure theirs will taste excellent.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

I read the book so the movie was a bit of a disappointment in that the book was chopped somewhat, and I think they kind of combined the first two books of the series to make this one. There was not much character build of anyone really except Becky and partly of Luke, and I didn't feel the bond of friendship between Bex and Suze like I did when I read the book. The shopping aspect was played up well, but in the book, even though Becky comes off as annoying at times, she redeems herself and becomes a loveable character. The movie Becky was certainly cute and very funny and silly (love the fan dance), but I didn't think she became as loveable as she should have been so that the audience would really want to root for her to come out on top. She seemed more crazed and out of control than I remember in the story. Luke Brandon was good, played by Hugh Dancy, and I love Hugh Dancy. I wish the movie had been just like the book (but that never happens much anymore really), so I appreciate it for what it is...I'll still buy the DVD.