The Princess and the Frog
-PG-
released December 11, 2009
What a classic story.
As a kid I grew up loving all the Disney animated classics. Then the studio started with The Little Mermaid in 1990 and then each year after that a new animated film followed. Each story came from our world history and the fairy tales we grew up with. But to keep them at lower ratings, the stories have been altered. The same is true in this instance. Some might say that the changes are inappropriate. Controversy was thick with this new feature. This is the first time in history where the heroin is black.
Set in New Orleans in 1912, Tiana (our heroin), voiced by Anika Noni Rose, a hard working young woman who has a dream of owning her own restaurant, in honor of her father.
Meeting Prince Naveen, voiced by Bruno Campos, Tiana is asked to kiss him after he had been turned into a frog by an evil witch doctor. Unfortunately Tiana is not a princess and the story takes an awkward turn as Tiana is also turned into a frog.
This bi-racial relationship is forgotten as they are forced to face a trial that they both need to overcome. Coming from different backgrounds, they learn to live with each other and that develops into love. With colorful animal sidekicks who talk (a Disney favorite) this film will keep you laughing till the very end. And the controversy of the racial differences should show us all how far we've come instead of looking at how hard it was. Look to the future and keep moving forward. (The theme from the movie Meet the Robinsons)
Avatar
-PG-13-
released December 18, 2009
This is the year for 3D movies. So many movies have been 3D. I hate wearing the glasses cause they squish my head, so I went to see this movie non-3D. It was amazing. I loved it so much that I went back a couple of days later to see it in 3D. It was just as good. The story and the vision was beautiful!!!! WOW!!! After the first 5 minutes of the movie I knew I would own it right when it came out.
I love to know how movies are made, so I went to the official website for Avatar and learned how this incredible vision came to life. James Cameron created a camera that is meant to film in 3D.
How many people make their opinions of movies before they know all the details of it. I have heard some say that they weren't all that impressed with the animation/CG elements in it. Visit the site and see how involved the actors had to be to film this film.
James Cameron, the director and the writer, dreamed of this vision before he made the motion picture, Titanic, but the technology at the time was not where he needed it to even try to make this film.
The colors in this film were wonderful. These are just a few pictures that show a glimpse of how extraordinary it truly is. This movie is the reason why I love movies. I am so glad that there are creative people in this world. Thanks to James Cameron for sharing his vision with the world...
Everybody's Fine
-Pg-13-
released December 4, 2009
A movie about a family who have lost their keystone (their mother) only months before. She was the confidant to all. So This movie starts out with Frank Goode, Robert De Niro's character, cleaning up his home, bringing out the grill & buying wine for his kids (which was one of the funniest scenes, where he talks to one of the grocery store employees about buying wine for his kids... watch this trailer to see it!)
The trailer makes it seem more of a comedy than what it really is. Be prepared to cry. It is an emotional movie.
I liked it a lot. It was hard to see Frank go through so much to travel to see all of his kids. I won't give away anything, but please keep an open mind to the variety of different lives in this movie.
Families are important. When you loose a family members, it should bring you closer together. Don't let it put a wedge in your family.
On a side note- it was weird to see Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell as brother and sister when they hooked up in Charlie's Angels.
Planet 51
-PG-
released November 20, 2009
An interesting story with humans being the aliens to those who live on, what we call "Planet 51".
Click on the title to a link with a detailed explanation of the film.
I liked it, but it made the human astronaut look incompetent and that our future with first contact of an alien species will be met with someone who got the job because of his looks and nothing else. It was very disheartening.
I did enjoy the flow of the film and the personalities of the main characters.
It was interesting how the planet is based in a time that is similar to our 1950s. The fact that they have the technology to have floating cars makes me wonder, but every species evolves in different ways.
I loved their circular designs for everything on their planet. I would love a house like that. The burgers on the grill are floating. Another thing is that it rains rocks instead of rain. Interesting.
Watch it at least once with the kids and they will get a kick out of it. It would be a great teaching tool for anyone to not be so prejudice of anyone we don't understand. They may become a better friend to you than anyone of your own race/species.
The Blind Side
-PG-13-
released November 20, 2009
I loved, loved, loved this film. AMAZING!
Sandra Bullock has played many roles, even one who made me cry in The Proposal, but this has to be my all time favorite.
The saying, "A picture says a thousand words" this movie poster makes a STATEMENT. Not only is this film based on a true story, it will touch your heart in ways no other movie has.
If you only watch one movie this year, this is the one I would choose for you!
That is all I'm going to say on this! Please honor yourself by watching it!
New Moon
-PG-13-
released November 20, 2009
This Highly anticipated sequel to the popular Twilight film, did not let the fans down.
As most people know, these movies are based on the best selling (and extremely popular) novels by Stephanie Meyer.
They compare Vampires to Warewolves, but Stephanie looks at these fictional monsters in a different way then anyone ever has.
New Moon is one of my favorites of the series because it focuses on the werewolves. I'm very happy the film makers decided to keep Taylor Lautner as the werewolf, Jacob Black. He was in the first movie and almost did not make the second because of his physic. Luckily, he proved that he's deserved the role by becoming the part. I admire him for that.
Joining the cast are those in the royalty of the Volturi, are Michael Sheen as Aro; Jamie Campbell Bower as Caius; Christopher Heyerdahl as Marcus; Dakota Fanning as Jane; Cameron Bright as Alec; Charlie Bewley as Demetri; and Daniel Cudmore as Felix.
I loved this film and cannot wait for the remaining two to complete the visual series.
This Is It
-PG-
released October 28, 2009
Okay......... Michael Jackson was an amazing artist with tons of talent and imagination.
Now that I've said that, I hated this film.
I worked behind big stage productions and my least favorite part was sitting through rehearsals and all this movie was was chunks of that rehearsal. I was expecting something much, much more from the pictures and hipe from what this actually became.
I loved all the songs that were picked and the ideas for the performance were great! I would have loved to be part of the stage production and see it all take place. Kudos to all of the minds who thought it all up!!!
