The Twilight Saga: New Moon -- Desperate Love in a Supernatural World

I don't have illusions that this review will make a difference for the people who will see this movie. It's like the Harry Potter phenomena -- a tidal wave. That's why at my preview, fans filled two theaters and more were turned away. Hundreds more attended the midnight showings all over the city on Thursday - a school night for Pete's sake. And, you know what? It was WORTH it! My rating: $7.50 (1.-10.).

Vampire movies fascinate me as much as anyone. After seeing the first 'Twilight' movie, I went out and bought all four books and became hooked, too. I'm on the fourth and have read a third since Wednesday with the little free time I have. The common thought is that all the fans are teen females and their mothers. If so, it's a cash cow.

Isabella Swan or 'Bella' (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) met in their Junior year of high school in Forks, Washington. Their attraction was immediate and undeniable. He, a vampire, and she, a complex product of a broken home. When dating a vampire, mortality can be a liability.

Curiously, the writers decided to open with the dream scene where Bella sees an old woman across the clearing in the woods. Thinking it is her grandmother, she shyly walks toward her to introduce Edward. But their movements mirror each other. Suddenly she realizes it's her own future she sees. What is not clear to the audience is what the book explains -- if she remains human, she will age and die while Edward remains 17 years-old. (You must read the books to get the significance of this scene to the story. The book explains Edward's history, how he became a vampire, and that influence on his attitudes in general.)

After that opening, the story sticks more closely and clearly to the story. Many times there was some condensing of the panoramic passages only possible in a book. None of them took away from the movie or book. I was glad I'd read the book because I could understand and remember the intensity of emotion from the book characters not so well delivered by the young actors.

Kristen Stewart is a compelling young woman on screen. Edward, too, has sex-appeal in that he looks young and old at the same time which is the perfect vampire. They have chemistry. While I have seen much clamor about Stewarts's amazing acting ability, I have found her someone confined to attractive but rebellious young girl characters. In none of her roles has she been the bubbly type. It might be awkward if she were. Her skills do well with for the brooding, love-sick Bella.

In the first movie, Jacob, the 15 year-old Indian-friend of the family was introduced along with some of the pertinent characters from the local reservation. He crushes on Bella who sees him as a little brother. Well, in the second movie, Jacob grows up fast -- but doesn't age. Make no sense? It does if you read the book. There you get the whole explanation. Short story - the arrival of the vampires (Cullen family as well as the visitors from the first movie) stimulates an obscure gene in the Indians that turns them into werewolves. Werewolves are the natural enemy of the vampire. Thus, Carlisle Cullen made a civilized pact with Jacob's distant relative ages ago that would allow both factions to live and let live. The whole explanation is in the book.

Jacob becomes a hunk practically overnight. Talyor Lautner is the perfect Jacob. He passes for Indian with very dark hair. His physical trainer did an EXCELLENT job. I recently read where he felt like a 'piece of meat' having to take his clothes off in a movie. Well, I think you and I can agree, he'd better get used to it. He's a hot commodity and even Matthew McConaughey still takes his clothes off because that's what sells movies. If he's patient and becomes the preverbal "star", he can become more selective.

Anyway, Bella is injured at a birthday party at the Cullens' from a paper cut. Edward, ever the emotional one, decides to break things off and leave Bella so she can forget him and have a normal, human life. Does anyone think this will happen? Raise your hand. Yeah, no. She goes into a meltdown depression, the depth of which is only marginally projected in the movie -- at least for me. The cliff diving thing is fairly accurate. in the book, the wolves chasing Victoria scene is more described to Bella after the fact. But, it was a good demonstration of the wolves' prowess and a good action sequence. In addition, I don't for a moment believe the guy on the motorcycle just rode off and let the kooky girl get away after they get on a dark, isolated road. It's another simple deletion from the book.

The Volturi scenes are pretty accurate, thankfully. I loved the casting of Michael Sheen as Aro, the mind-reading Volturi leader and a maturing Dakota Fanning as, Jane, the mind-bending Volturi lieutenant. The fight scene was a little much but, again, good action. The repeated slow-motion end-slams into walls, floors, and stuff was a little over-used, however.

MichaelThe physical attraction between Jacob and Bella, to my recollection, does not happen as much till the third book. It's all good, however. Author Stephanie Meyer wrote the collection for teens. That means youthful hormones can run amuck without doing the nasty stuff. The more experienced can add their own imagination and the naive can stay that way. Sexy vampires are just money in the bank. All in all, 'New Moon' IS all it's cracked up to be and deserves success. After all, there are two more books which every bit as good as this one!!

Melissa Rosenberg wrote this book adaptation for the screen. She's also tasked with writing the next, 'Eclipse'. Rosenberg's resume includes lots of TV projects like 'Dexter' and 'The O.C.'. She also wrote 'Step Up'. All credible work. Chris Weitz directed. Weitz wrote and directed 'The Golden Compass'. Run time is 2 hours and 10 minutes NOT including previews. It's rated 'PG-13'.

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The Blind Side: Beautifully Done True Story About Football Star, Michael Oher

So, in case you couldn't tell by the title that I loved this movie -- I did.  Sandra Bullock's characters always seem obsessive-compulsive.  It's part of what makes her so funny and likeable that she can do it on screen, no holds barred.  She's kept on a bit tighter leash in "The Blind Side" because she plays an extremely wealthy, upper-crust wife, mother, community icon, and professional woman.  Bullock pulls it off so well, I wanted to hug her.  My rating:  $9.00 (1.-10.).

Michael Oher started his life born to a crack-addicted woman who made her living selling her only asset -- herself.  He endured horrible living conditions and neglect until he became a ward of the state very early in life.  In case you aren't aware, abused kids are often the most protective of their abuser -- a feeling of responsibility or something.  Amazingly, Oher became withdrawn rather than lashing out in anger.  His mother told him, when terrible things happen, close his eyes until it was over.  Then, forget it.  He took it to heart. 

Oher was also a VERY big boy from an early age.  Let's face it, he was a big, black boy who wandered the streets, which made portions of the population uncomfortable.  Taken in by an uncle, he made sure not to be a burden.  He had about 4 pieces of clothing to his name, a couch he called a bed, and his downtime was spent in a laundromat where it was warm and he could dry his unworn piece of clothing in someone else's dryer load. 

His size finally worked to his advantage when the uncle bribed his way into a private, Christian high school by letting him play sports.  Not surprisingly, the first response from teachers was frustration at having to teach a moron.  That was until one teacher found a beautiful but sad note about the state of his isolation in the world he's written during class one day.  Someone finally caught a glimmer of the person inside the big body.

The best part of the movie is Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Touhy, the dynamo wife to Sean Touhy (Tim McGraw) who owned 85 Taco Bell/KFC franchises.  But the movie is most about the determination and love of Leigh Anne.  Leigh Anne saw Michael walking in the freezing cold in shorts and a shirt.  She who instantly questioned why and decided it didn't matter.  If the boy needed help, she'd give it.  OK, she was a gazillionaire.  That helped.  But really, to take a kid in off the street -- really? 

Too good to be true.  She had to have some other motive.  Her family couldn't have gone along with it.  WRONG!  For once, the family not only stuck together, their love made the whole thing work even better.  I'm sure the movie glossed over some of the everyday hardships of integrating a strange child into a home.  But, Michael Oher was truly a bright child who had been handed the wrong life. 

Twenty-five year-old Quinton Aaron plays Michael.  A big galoot, withdrawn, isolated with those eyes that looked like a sad puppy waiting to be kicked.  Perfect casting!! His slow transformation into a happy, confident guy with the love of a family will be the best emotional experience you'll get in a movie this year.  When the Touhy's showed Michael he was worth loving, he became worth loving to himself and to the rest of the world.  

Bullock plays Leigh Anne as a mother bear in haute couture.  There are tons of scenes where she takes up for Michael and no one had better say 'nay'.  My most favorite was when she has to go the inner city neighborhood to find him.  A criminal acquaintance of Michael's threatens Michael and her.  She stops, turns around, and walks straight back to his face. ''You threaten my son, you threaten me."  Too many lines to put here.  But, we find out she's 'kissing cousins' with the mayor and member of the NRA.  Oh, and she's packing-- all the time!!  BEST scene ever. EVERY roadblock, she moves it. 

Little brother S.J (Jae Head), and sister, Collins (Lily Collins) turn out to be made of the same fabric as their parents.  S.J. and Michael form a special bond to the point, S.J. speaks for Michael in many of his college sports negotiations.  The producers had all the real recruiters from colleges around the country playing themselves groveling for Michael's attention.  Priceless. 

At the very end, you must stay and see scenes of the real Touhy's and Michael being recruited to the Ravens Football team.  It was a long road.  The family had the resources to hire a tutor, Miss Sue (Kathy Bates), who not only gets him through high school but also moves to an apartment near his college.  She stays with him through all 4 years of college to assure his academic success.  He didn't cheat.  He worked very hard---with his private tutor.  Not many families could afford this luxury even for their children by birth.   

The film comes from the book by non-fiction writer, Michael Lewis.  The script comes from John Lee Hancock ("The Alamo"/"A Perfect World").  Hancock also directed.  The run time is just over 2 hours and it's rated 'PG-13' for the parts about drug use and violence, mostly.  It's a warm, uplifting, emotionally cleansing movie everyone should see this holiday season.  I know people who saw it twice BEFORE it came out.  That's a good movie.

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Planet 51: Yeah! Some Funny and Friendly Aliens!!

When I tell people about this movie, I hear 'I really don't like cartoon movies'.  Too bad, so sad because this one is the best around right now.  My rating:  $8.00 (1.-10.).

You might feel more inclined to listen to me about the quality of this cartoon if I tell you Joe Stillman wrote it.  He not only wrote 'Shrek' and 'Shrek 2', he wrote a lot of the Beavis and Butt-Head material including two movies.  While I understood their popularity, Beavis and Butt-Head made some pretty witty observations about the world.  Thankfully, Stillman went on to make much more quality movies with Dreamworks.  And, he has now made another adorable addition to green cartoon characters everywhere.

The opening of 'Planet 51' reminded me of the opening of some Dr. Seuss books.  We see regular old folks running errands, mowing lawns, taking walks, driving their round hovercraft, kids playing, etc.  Short of the hovercraft vehicles and the folks being green with little antennae on their foreheads, it could be Earth.  It gives us that homey feel.  I loved the beat up, round, hovering vehicle with the VW symbol on the front. 

The popular past time for kids is watching movies.  The most popular movie is about a one-eyed alien who eats brains.  There are several references to, 'It's only a movie.  Stuff like that doesn't really exist'.  And we know that perception, too, will soon be shattered. 

Once the scene is set, we go to the planetarium where Lem (Justin Long) is giving a lecture to local school kids about their planet.  'Our solar system is 500 miles wide and we're the only intelligent species in the galaxy' -- one of many false assumptions we can guess will be shattered.  There's the brooding planetarium director glaring at the nervous Lem. As the kids start getting unruly,  Lem offers them yo-yo's that look like the planet.  All are happy and Lem gets the job as an assistant in the facility. 

Lem has a crush on the next-door neighbor, Neera (Jessica Biel). Her brother tells him she knows and to ask her out but she just makes him tongue-tied.  Then there's Skiff (Seann William Scott) who really reminded me of Woody Harrelson as a hippy.  He plays the guitar about environmental issues and forever stops Lem from talking to Neera.  The families are having a barbeque.  There are white picket fences all over the tidy little town.  Somewhere along the way, the question about intelligent life elsewhere in the universe comes up and is poo-poo'd.  Not long after, the world begins to quake as a craft races into the atmosphere and lands in Lem's front yard.  (Looks like the moon-lander with NASA logos all over.) 

A door opens and out comes an astronaut complete with sun-visored helmet jauntily humming as he walks to the center of their yard and plants the American flag -- very proud of himself.   All the while, the green crowd stares in shock.  It's really hilarious.  But wait.  The astronaut, Captain Charles Baker (Dwayne Johnson), finally notices and stumbles backward in rising fear.  About that time, the military shows up with Professor Kipple (John Clease) as the resident alien expert.  He's the government guy who gets to tell General Grawl (Gary Oldman) to capture the alien before he can eat everyone's brain -- he really wants the astronaut's brain for experimentation.  The Professor also gets to snap on those pesky rubber gloves that are good for PROBING!  (The Planet 51 military totally satirizes all alien movies where the army expects the worse and tries to hunt down the alien unmercifully. )

The funniest parts come from real alien movies - old and new.  A dog on this planet has the grey, rounded head from 'Alien' with rows of sharp teeth....and a long, pink tongue hanging out of his big smiling mouth.  His little tail wags as he bounces around like tigger.  He pees acid!!  Ha!!  He clamps onto the back of the astronaut's uniform as he runs through the yard and can't be dislodged for a while.  Eventually, in all the chaos, Lem picks the astronaut up in the basket of a bike.  They fly out of control down ski slope of a street, through a billboard, and fly in front of the moon...ala 'ET'. 

Captain Baker has no resemblance to his voiceover person.  But, he is debonair as well as in love with himself.  Most of the movie is one animated physical stunt after another as Lem, Baker, and all Lem's friends try to keep the military away.  The only bad guys are General Grawl and the Professor.  As in most kid movies, the kids can outsmart the adults pretty well.  Even the soldiers who get their brains removed by the evil Professor come out with a brilliant vocabulary and a British accent.  Too funny!!

There are too many things about this movie that I loved.  I can't resist a cartoon movie when the script actually has some depth, there's a good pace, and it makes me feel good when I leave.  'Planet 51' has three directors with no resume on IMDB.  They are given co-director credit:  Jorge Blanco, Javier Abad, and Marcos Martinez.  The movie is rated 'PG' and runs about 90 minutes without trailers.  Kids of all ages can enjoy 'Planet 51' without fear of anything inappropriate. 

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The Box: Why Do All Aliens Hate Humans Lately?

I knew why this movie didn't preview as soon as I realized it was about aliens. ALIENS!! It came out the same weekend as "The Fourth Kind". If they'd told us about aliens, I probably wouldn't have paid to see it. Oh, wait, I had a free ticket. Writer/director Richard Kelly ("Domino"/"Donnie Darko") meant well - tried to be enigmatic in his blending of the aliens into society. Langella's facial issues look cool. But, in the end, it all just melds into an old "Twilight Zone" sort of story. Could be because the original short story writer, Richard Matheson ('Button, Button' in 1970), wrote a lot for this type of show over the years. My rating: $4.00 (1.-10.).

"The Box" does have a nice cast with Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella. Diaz is now at the age she can believably do wife, mother, and high school teacher parts. Marsden kind of pulls off an upwardly mobile, aerospace genius. Langella has always seemed sinister since playing Dracula and Skeletor ("Masters of the Universe - 1987- remember that one?!). But Kelly went further to make Diaz hobbled by a youthful accident -- an ugly, disfigured foot that makes her limp around. Was she too perfect without it? It serves as a source of ridicule from a deranged-looking student who torments her at the end of class one day. She doesn't threaten him with the principal. She takes off the stupid shoe and grosses out the whole class with a pitiful look on her face.

Then, when we feel sorry for her, she learns that her job benefit allowing tuition discounts for their kid is going away. The couple is financially strapped. NASA doesn't pay so well, evidently. Neither does teaching at a private school. Dump, dump, dump -- all the stuff running downhill.

Sweet husband uses work time to make her a prosthetic for her foot so she won't have to limp anymore. Everyone at his work, her work, and their families treat them both like they're damaged goods. What a set-up for an alien to walk in and offer them a million dollars. Just push a button and 'kill someone you don't know'.

Of course, we don't know he's an alien. We're fascinated by the side of his face that looks like Skeletor -- teeth and jaw visible surrounded by huge scars to his left ear. He looks like an eccentric, rich guy in an expensive trench coat. The 'box' has no mechanical parts to be able to send a message. Instead of being intrigued, I knew there was going to be some type of sci-fi or paranormal answer. With the world against them, SHE pushes the button. The money guy returns, picks up the box, and hands over the money. Then all the truly weird stuff starts.

I was annoyed with all the people giving them with the two-finger peace sign randomly. The cryptic, partial warnings from co-workers start later. Next thing you know, the troubled couple is hunting down an alien handbook published by our government. (They flip through it a little for effect.) Marsden gets chased through a library by a bunch of zombie-like folks and walks into a column of water that transports him back home ('Stargate' anyone?)

Like a rolling boulder, the clues come faster and faster but not clearer. Langella's character was struck by lightening the moment that the Mars rover began to transmit pictures back to NASA killing him instantly. But, he walked out of the hospital 2 days later all healed but his face (think 'War of the Worlds' with aliens arriving in lightening). The human ones that have a single consciousness are 'employees' and they all have 'employers', presumably the Martians running the show.

Ta-Dah...we're being judged by a bunch of aliens for the right to survive as a species. Those who push the button and agree to kill someone 'they don't know' aren't the quality our judges want. So they get to be on the other side of the button. I'll leave the means of their punishment in case you want to really see this movie.

"The Box" is rated PG-13. It's too cryptic for small kids to understand. Heck, I didn't get the point. Anyway, there's nothing in it to warrant an 'R'; although, I WAS disturbed by the ending. The run time is about 1 hour 50 minutes -- too long for the content.

P.S. Pardon the grammar and spelling, I'm using my new MAC and am still learning!! Take care.

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2012: Fun Ride Through Readjustment of the Earth's Crust

Billed as the end of the world, '2012' is an epic example of what could happen if the sun's solar activity one day microwaves the Earth's insides.  It is not the true end of the world. The wording in the film is "end of the world as we know it" (hey, wasn't that the song from "Independence Day"?).  'Knowing' still has the franchise on the destruction of Earth.  But, that movie wasn't so hot (forgive the pun).  The digital effects, well-formatted screenplay, and lively set of actors in '2012' did make it worth the 2 1/2 hours of sitting. At least, I thought so.  My rating:  $8.00 (1.-10.). 

Obviously, unless you live under a media-less rock, you have heard something about the ancient Mayans and their theories on the end of the world.  The religious sects refer to it as the apocalypse -- which is supposed to happen after the 'rapture', by the way, not just any old way.  Nostradamus somehow figures into these theories, too.  The year 2012 is now the year to fear, kind of like 2000 was when all societies were to collapse at the change of centuries.  I really hope not.  Otherwise, I won't get to go to the 2016 Olympics in Rio where my son has promised to take me. 

John Cusack plays Jackson Curtis, the writer of a brilliant science fiction book about the end of the world that sold fewer than 500 copies.  This information tends to be an interesting fact we learn over time but is never fully developed.  I mean, it's info to reach an end in the movie -- a convenience only.  He drives a limo for a rich Russian, Yuri Karpov (Croatian-born Zlatko Buric, 56), who is a big, bear of a man you will recognize as an 'enforcer'-type in some other films.  Curtis, we find early on, drives a limo because he's totally depressed about losing his wife and kids to his writing obsession.  Also, he is too depressed about his life to get out of his rut.  "I'm hurtling toward you as we speak" -- his line to everyone when he's late, which he always is.  He's late picking up the kids he loves for a long-awaited camping trip because he overslept.  Yep, depression.

Amanda Peet (who played Cusack's love interest in "The Martian Child") plays ex-wife, Kate.  Kate lives with successful and charismatic (so says the script) Gordon Silberman (cute but goofy Thomas McCarthy - "Baby Mama"/"Duplicity").  McCarthy's character turns out to be a good guy but there's no chemistry like the scenes with Cusack.  Maybe that was on purpose, not sure.  His goofiness helps the humor within the disaster.  Liam James (13 years) and Morgan Lilly (9 years) play kids Noah and Lily.  Nothing not to like about these kids -- just enough personality and minimal misbehavior.

Woody Harrelson plays another wild-haired conspiracy theorist who lives in a camper in the woods and broadcasts his propaganda to the airwaves.  Like the tabloids in "Men in Black" that turn out to be true, such is Charlie Frost.  Harrelson commands a screen.  Cusack's understated terror worked well in their scenes together.

Emerging star, Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Endgame"/"Red Belt"/"American Gangster"), is well-spoken, believable, likeable, and good looking.  I like to watch him on screen.  Therefore, I predict a bright future for him.  Either he's going to be so famous we finally can remember his name or he'll it to something we can remember.  Ejiofor has the biggest spot after Cusack as the government geologist, Dr. Adrian Helmsley,  who directs all efforts to save mankind.  (Like Dennis Quaid in "Day After Tomorrow").  Lovely and fragile-appearing Thandie Newton plays Dr. Laura Wilson, the daughter of U.S. President Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover).  She's an art specialist or such who is put in charge of rescuing priceless works of art from destruction.  Glover makes a good president.  His part isn't so big, if you catch my drift (sorry, not trying for water puns!). 

Predictable Oliver Platt, plays the President's advisor, Carl Anheuser, who is really running all the preparations to save mankind.  The script makes him practical and efficient but falls back on Platt's tendency to be an a-- (do I dare say -- in the end?).  Large twins with bad hair, Alexandre and Philippe Haussmann, are the spoiled kids of the Russian billionaire.  Gorgeous 32-year-old Johann Urb plays Russian bodyguard. Sasha (is now with a nice American accent on TV's 'Eastwick').  Urb should have more screen time -- his acting is coming along and he's, well, GORGEOUS.  If he can escape the tendency to make a career only of his looks, he will make some Hollywood money. 

Blonde cutie, Beatrice Rosen (French-born but sounded like her Russian accent was more American-Russian) plays Yuri's mistress/arm-candy. She got a perfect part for herself and played it well.  British-born, Jimi Mistry, plays the scientist from India who actually discovers the world's inner turmoil.  He gets short shrifted with a couple of scenes only in the beginning.  He gets one more short and semi-heartwrenching scene near the end.  Too bad, really.  There's a nice interjection of Blu Mankuma as Harry, Adrian's dad, and George Segal as Tony, a couple of lounge singers booked on a cruise ship job.  It allows us to see what happens on the high seas as well as some more tearful scenes later on. 

So you can see all the facets of the movie that make it exciting and longer than usual.  The story builds nicely from normal to disaster. The Washington guys all have agendas.  Cusack and family try rush about to save themselves.  The Russian guy finds that walking all over people to get rich comes back to bite him.  I liked the build up of suspense.  Curtis finds out there's something wrong by overhearing subtle pieces of conversation as well as his own sci-fi smarts.  The book he wrote gets used for inspiration and becomes a legacy for mankind.  The race to save his family is some of the best digital effects in a long time.  Sometimes it seems too manipulated, but I didn't mind.  It was fun.  As the world's fate evolves, it happens in stages.  This allows us to see multiple times over  the people we have met onscreen handle their separate disasters.  Sure, there's humor and sadness.  None of it is terribly severe.  I likened it to "Independence Day" on the scope of the story.  The ultimate world solution/ending was a little less exciting than I'd have liked.  But it was enough. 

It's funny that after I had the feeling this movie was like "Independence Day" and "Day After Tomorrow", I discovered the co-writer and director of "2012', Roland Emmerich, also wrote, directed and produced these very same movies!!  Emmerich has a resume rivaling James Cameron only he's not as boastful as Cameron.  Emmerich also had part in bringing us "Stargate", "The Patriot", "Godzilla", "The Thirteenth Floor", and "Eight Legged Freaks".  I LOVED these movies.  I own "ID" and "D.A.T" watching them over and over.  Prodigious film and TV composer, Harald Kloser, co-wrote this screenplay and "10,000 BC" with Emmerich.  It's rated 'PG-13'.  Nothing in it to prevent kids from seeing it.  The disasters are huge and entertaining more than terribly scary.  The loss of millions of lives is tragic but not made overbearing.  And the 151 or more minute run time would be WITH credits.  It was just under 2 1/2 hours not including trailers and if you leave at the last scene.  It is a fun movie adventure with no boring downtime -- at least for me.  Worth seeing. 

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Coco Before Chanel: Lovely French Handling of Coco Chanel's Formative Years

The French have such marvelous talent for making the ordinary so much more.  Their movie stars dress up well for the red carpet.  Yet, on film, they show human flaws that allow us to connect with them.  This realism allows star Audrey Tautou ('DaVinci Code') to be Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel from orphan, dancehall girl, kept woman, and on to fashion maven.  Tough, vulnerable, clever, shy, resilient, and independent, Tautou gives us an accessible Chanel.  My rating:  $7.50 (1.-10.). 

The film starts in 1893.  I had no idea Coco Chanel was that old.  Somehow, I thought she was born around World War 2.  Mais no.  Ms Chanel was a young orphan dropped off with the nuns in 1893.  She and her sister, Adrienne (Marie Gillain), live there until they were old enough to make a living as seamstresses in a dancehall. They made extra money singing on the side for tips. The name 'Coco' came from a French ditty about a lady and her lost dog.  Whether or not one of her admirers actually attached that nickname to her or not (which happens in the film), I don't know.  The name followed her for the rest of her life.

'Coco avant Chanel' lasts 1 hour 50 minutes.  Chanel was poor.  She did not travel much.  What we get to see is the personal struggle of a bright woman with no means at the mercy of a class society.  Tautou's makeup-less face with those big dark, brooding eyes shows every nuance of Chanel's struggle.  There is much dialogue. Rightly so.  People of the era had elaborate social expectations.  Social banter was actually taught in school and at home.  It was not a consideration that one would not be able to carry on polite conversation and such.  So, we get a bit of history but lots of education on social interactions, class restrictions, home life, and beautiful scenery.  What I am saying is that this is a movie to experience.....like a relaxed boat trip on a sunny afternoon.

Coco and her sister begin their life journeys with the highest expectation of making it out of poverty.  Coco, however, always has the most grounded view of their prospects.  It is she who wants to become a famous singer and actress.  Adrienne wants to marry the Baron who is courting her.  Coco knows that society will never allow it.  She cannot stop Adrienne from going away with the Baron.  And he does make a pretty life for Adrienne.  But when his parents discover his intention to marry a penniless orphan, she is relegated to a little house out of sight.

Meanwhile, Coco takes the disappointment of finding she has no real singing talent fairly well.  Thrown out of the dancehall with her sister early on for refusing to whore, she was left only with sewing and the attention of patron, Etienne Balsan, a wealthy and charming older man.  Coco, never coy, makes Balsan work for her wares.  Her intention never to be "bought" by a man soon changes when he can make advantageous liaisons for her.  None of them pans out.  When he pops up one day to say 'so-long, it's been fun' (of course charmingly!), Coco decides to pack and follow him home. 

Balsan does indeed take Coco in.  It's so great, the scene where he gives her the grand tour of his estate ending at the landing of his bedroom on her first day.  He opens the door saying, ' And this is my bedroom'.  There's a pregnant pause when I half-expected her to refuse to enter.  Then he charmingly reminds her that she has a choice but not if she expects to stay.  Without a word, she glides into the room, he follows, and the door shuts.  Absolutely no need for graphic scenes.  What's greater?  She takes his terms and refuses to leave.  He goes as far as having the coach brought up to take her away.....and she refuses and returns inside.  AND he lets her.  Strange the charisma without any chemistry between the two.  Great cinematic work!!

The next best performance in "Coco" is from Emmanuelle Devos as actress and former Balsan lover,  Emilienne d'Alencon.  Devos, who is 45 years-old, seemed much younger.  Actresses in those days were a step above hookers.  But  Coco and Emilienne strike an unlikely friendship in spite of the relationship thing with Balsan.  Balsan entertains and enjoys the pleasure of his social station while Coco is kept in her place.  Always wishing to fit in better, she tries to join Balsan's friends, learns to ride horses, and helps him entertain.   Told she isn't feminine enough, Coco continues to feel disjointed. Almost as an aside, Coco's sewing and fashion evolve out of the need for clothes and boredom.   It's sweet when Balsan realizes his attachment to Coco. 

Slowly and painfully at times, Coco grows up.  She falls for a British businessman, Arthur Capel, played by all-grown-up Alessandro Nivola.  You might remember the American Nivola from 'Jurassic Park 3'.  He's the graduate student who steals the eggs.  With a nice French accent and pretty-good British one every so often, Nivola sweeps the sweet, love-starved girl off her feet.  The two have no future but Coco never learns of it.  Capel is killed in an unfortunate car accident. 

Capel is her soul mate and she never recovers from his death.  The tragedy forces her to focus on her fashion sense. It becomes her life and means of success.  Thankfully, the world came to appreciate Coco's corset-less, relaxed clothes for women.  The ending wasn't the best for me.  No dialogue there.  She chain-smokes and designs clothes.  These scenes eventually transition to Chanel as she presents her fashions.  The clothes are gorgeous.  Coco herself sits on a staged-stairway against a mirror where we see her somberly watching her models. (?- expecting bad news)  Suddenly, the fashion show is over and she's receiving a thunderous round of applause.  As though wakening from sleep, her eyes brighten and she smiles with joy.  The END.    

I only had a couple of complaints after watching 'Coco avant Chanel'.  I'm not sure if I felt the conflict in Coco Chanel as a woman in the wrong era because the writers were expressing it or because the writers themselves didn't understand Coco's true complexity.  From depressed to purposely-crashing dinner parties -- was she an introvert or extrovert?  I'm still not sure I really understand Coco Chanel although I do know her history now.  The other complaint was the abrupt ending after Capel dies. 

Journalist, author, and former head of Vogue France, Edmonde Charles-Roux was a friend of Coco Chanel.  She wrote several books about her friend that are the basis for this screenplay both written and directed by Anne Fontaine with co-screenwriter, Camille Fontaine (no relationship I can find).  The movie is rated PG-13 for adult situations although it's verbally more questionable than visually  --- more for French kids who can understand the words!  I don't think many American kids would sit through this period piece which is void of guns and explosions.  The dialogue is witty, the scenery is heavenly, and the acting is striking.  Grab a glass of wine and watch. 

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A Christmas Carol: An Old Story with Amazing New Digital Effects

I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to watch the newest Disney cartoon movie, "A Christmas Carol", in IMAX 3-D the other night.  From the first explosion of sound and color (that made me jump practically out of my seat!), I was glued to the screen in awe of the impressive digital detail by Disney's new collaborator, ImageMovers.  My rating: $8.00 (1.-10.).

ImageMovers has quite a resume when it comes to quality-animated features.  No one can argue that "Polar Express" didn't open up a completely new level of digital animation.  This studio also made "Monster House" and "Beowulf".  I don't know how many of you saw "Beowulf", but I could see him in a centerfold he looked so real!!  Nevertheless, "A Christmas Carol" seen in IMAX 3-D is an experience I won't soon forget.  The detail of the wrinkles in the old man's fingers, each strand of hair, the facial expression, the colors, the snow (they had the A/C on high-- I thought I was in the snow with the movie characters). 

Most people know the story of Scrooge.  He's always mean and stingy.  Robert Zemeckis (who also directed and wrote the previously mentioned animated features) outdid himself with this script.  The first scene has Scrooge overseeing his business partner's (Mr. Marley) hideously dead body.  The undertaker holds out his hand for payment.  Scrooge, looking thoroughly disgusted, slowly parts with one coin -- not wanting to even release it into the man's hand.  When the hand remains out for more, it takes a brief and painful pause for Scrooge to release one more coin.  He quickly turns to Mr. Marley and removes the death-coins from his eyes, "Don't want to waste good money", as he slides the coins between his greedy fingers. 

Walking home in the snow, the stick-thin old man grimaces at every passer-by who's in the holiday spirit.  Men, women and children stop and turn away.  His fingers are so arthritic I could almost reach out and feel the dry skin over the boney joints.  The doors of his business and home are both large and foreboding like their owner.  His first contact with the night to come is at his front door.  The doorknocker morphs into Marley's dead face holding the knocker.  Scrooge falls nearly to the bottom of the steps. In denial, he 'harrumphs' into this home and readies himself for bed.  His fireplace fire is VERY small.  It's dark, shadowy, and  isolated.  When the spooks start, they are pretty scary.  At least Scrooge has the decency to show some fear along with the bossiness of his visitors.  I just loved the dialogue.  AND Scrooge looks like Jim Carrey might look if he lives to be 80!!

The current animation trend is to have as many stars voicing the characters as possible.  Disney is no different.  However, they allowed some of the main characters to look like their actors.  Scrooge certainly looked like Jim Carrey.   But did you know that Carrey played all the ghosts of Christmas, too.  Very economical and ingenious really.  Scrooge's first employer, Mr. Fezziwig, was played by and looked like Bob Hoskins.  Bob Crachit was played by and looked like Gary Oldman.  Yet, Oldman also played Marley and Tiny Tim -- I would have never known.  Colin Firth played nephew, Fred.  Cary Elwes played some miscellaneous persons so I didn't know to look for him.  I thought Scrooge's first love looked familiar but I couldn't place her --- Robin Wright Penn.  There are many more actors you'd know if you saw their faces but would be too time consuming to give you here. 

Thankfully, Zemeckis doesn't let Jim Carrey improvise much.  It would have taken away from the effects and the story.  He does shrink down and run through a drainpipe running away from the specter of hearse and demon-eyed black horses.  When he emerges, there come his tormentors again.  A quick close-up of Scrooge cringing in fear and the simple line... "Oh, come now", in Carrey's mannerism... great subtle humor!!  The scariest part of the movie is the future ghosts with all the demons, chases, falls into fiery pits, caskets, etc.  I had to think that small kids might be afraid -- cuz I was! 

Charles Dickens made a classic.  Disney and ImageMovers have made it worth paying to see again.  The rating is 'PG' -- I don't lie about the effects being so good (and scary at times).  The run time is just under 1 hour 40 minutes.  If you can see it in IMAX along with 3-D, you won't be sorry.  Animation has never been better. 

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The Fourth Kind: Aliens from Outerspace or Hell?

The trailers for "The Fourth Kind" have Milla Jovovich sternly warning the audience that what they are about to see is real, supported by archived footage which we will see intermittently throughout the movie docudrama.  The story was written by Terry Lee Robbins and Olatunde Osunsanmi who also collaborated on the supernatural/horror film "WithIN".  Because the protagonist, Dr. Abigail Tyler, a psychologist, appears pretty crazy throughout her interviews, I can see why they put Ms. Jovovich out there to lead the audience through their storyline.  My rating:  $6.00 (1.-10.).

The movie opens in the year 2000 in Nome, Alaska where Dr. Tyler has begun to notice several clients all coming to her with similar stories of sleep disturbances, night terrors, and physical illnesses/rashes etc that cannot be explained.  Dr. Tyler uses hypnosis to help uncover the core of her clients' fear.  It's during these sessions that the "real" film clips are cut in.  We see the real, grainy clip cutting in and out with the dramatization.  Both are intense and give a night chill up the spine. 

Dr. Tyler seems a coherent, scientific woman who sincerely wishes to research the strange phenomena in her practice.  She even reaches out to colleagues for assistance in brainstorming.  But, Dr. Tyler is not distanced from her patients altogether.  Her husband was killed in bed next to her by an intruder in their home.  Trauma has kept her from remembering any physical features of the murderer.  Every so often, folks ask how she's doing and suggest she take some time off.  Humm. 

There are two children who live with their mother, Dr. Tyler,  in a lovely home rather out in a remote area.  The daughter is about 5 and the son 8 (can't remember for real, sorry).  The son has something against his mother --- more like a rebellious teen than a school-aged kid.  Why so oppositional?  Humm. 

As Dr. Tyler brings back the memories of her clients under hypnosis, some of the most frightening scenes occur.  And everyone who remembers has unfortunate consequences.  So bad that the sheriff starts accusing Dr. Tyler of causing the bad stuff.  About the same time, Dr. Tyler starts having her own flashbacks and recollections just like her patients.  Anytime you turn the lights out and scratching movements in the hall precede a disembodied force opening the door to come get someone.....it's CREEPY!!  It definitely works.

I saw this movie with the hundreds of other die-hards at 10PM at night.  That helped the fear factor.  No real aliens beings are shown.  A "trigger" figure of an owl comes to each of the victims.  Commercials make the owl look alien very close up.  That doesn't come through much in the movie.  I have to say, most of the audience who gave opinions that I heard, loved this and believed it was true. 

Now, I have to tell you my point of view.  I know you rely on me for that.  Every film clip where the aliens come or humans are revisited by aliens under hypnosis, the film becomes wavy, grainy, or totally obscured.  Why, if this went on for months, does no one film with more than one camera and/or get someone in with electronic expertise to be prepared for this interference?  But no, every clip is the same.  This is the year 2000, folks, not 1958.  A floating guy scene was pretty great.  But the scene where Dr. Tyler has an experience, it becomes the "Exorcist" revisited.  Supposedly, she and her two colleagues filming the event were all abducted and returned later.  Neither of the two would make a statement on screen.  Alien voices are recorded.  Lo and behold, they sound just like demons ..... and they speak in ancient Sumerian  (and her colleague knows how to translate it).  The translation is something like, "I am God and you have no control".  Sound like demonic possession to you?  Uh, yeh. 

So, now we have to consider that aliens have been visiting Earth since ancient times ('Stargate") and maybe they are demonic ("The Exorcist: The Beginning").  The devil has spaceships and likes his demons to put computer chips into humans?  A paranormal researcher/writer has a video clip on IMDB "Fourth Kind" site that you can watch.  She wants the movie to open a dialogue because millions of people are having these experiences.  Humm. 

Familiar face, Will Patton, plays the Sheriff who wants to pin everything on Dr. Tyler.  Elias Koteas plays Dr. Tyler's colleague and family friend who helps her brainstorm and hypnotizes her.  It's really a small cast.  The talented screenwriter, Mr. Osunsanmi, also directed this strangely unique film. It's rated PG-13 and runs about 1 hour 40 minutes.  Robbins and Osunsanmi have other projects in the works which I won't mind making time to see.  I would NOT take children who would be disturbed by this topic or you won't get to sleep alone again for a while. 

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Astro Boy: The Best of Japanese and American Cartoon Talent

I expected 'Astro Boy' to be another nice kid-movie.  Pleasantly surprised, I found it witty and thoroughly entertaining --- one of those cartoons in which adults will enjoy catching double-entendres while the kids will enjoy the characters and action.  My rating: $8.50 (1.-10.).

As in most alternative universes, man has destroyed his home planet by negligence.  Scientists have found a way to levitate a huge island of land into the sky on which all the privileged live.  The old earth is a junk yard. 

Nicolas Cage plays the brilliant Dr. Tenma whose research into humanoid robots has led to an entire industry of second-class servants in his floating world.  Some robots are more refined than others.  But, they have in common, that their owners do not see them as intelligent creatures.  Such is the underlying theme -- who owns humanity?  Is it the humans or is it those who respect the uniqueness of all sentient creatures?  

Dr. Tenma has a son.  He, too, is brilliant.  A good boy until his curiosity literally kills him.  When the boy is lost, it is early in the film and removes some of the safe boundaries of a normal children's movie.  This turns out to be a good thing because it allows exploration of the contrast between human/nonhuman as well as the idea of discrimination and class structure within a society.

Tenma's intense grief over the loss of his son stimulates the making of Astro Boy.  At first, he is to take the place of the son.  But, Tenma's intelligence over rules his emotional side.  He rejects the boy.  The robot doesn't know he's a robot.  It is truly heartbreaking to see the cruel withdrawal of love.  The boy is sent out  to face a cold, cruel world.  Never fear, he soon discovers the unique talents that make him a super-boy.   

Donald Sutherland voices General Stone.  He's the current head of society and up for re-election.  There's a jab at the our modern politicians who insist that making war on someone will assure successful re-election.  It is Gen. Stone who contributes to the loss of Tenma's boy.  And Gen Stone who wants to expoit the robot child -- to the point of making his own father turn him over to be destroyed.  I'm telling you, the story has some deep moments. 

Tenma's partner, Dr. Elefun (Bill NIghy), is the usual short, white-haired, scientist without capacity for evil.  He discovers the blue and red power crystals.  Ying and yang, if you will.  The blue will produce life and good things; but to exist, there must be it's polar opposite.  (Can't you see the Japanese cultural coming through?)  Not surprising, Gen Stone see the value in the red side to build an army of indestructible robots.  The blue ends up in Astro Boy.  Good against evil -- the age-old battle.

Freddy Highmore, the absolutely amazing, British child-actor from 'August Rush', plays Astro Boy.  (His accent has been erased, something many adults can't master with expensive coaching.)  Astro Boy ends up on the earth's surface and mixed up with some waifs under the supervision of a circus ringmaster named Ham Egg (Nathan Lane -- they even made the character look like him).  Egg has the kids scrounge for parts and old robots to use as robot gladiators.  Even on earth, there is animosity between humans and robots.  You can see the predicament in which Astro Boy finds himself.

The hodge-podge of kids all have stories.  Most are orphans.  Kristen Bell plays Cora, a girl about Astro's age.  Astro's good energy brings to life an old battle robot called 'Zog' (Samuel Jackson).  He becomes good as a result.  The stray robots on the surface can see through Astro to know he is robot.  Some of the funniest scenes are with these robots of the Robot Revolutionary Front.  Astro is discovered and put in the ring.  His goodness will reach into the hearts of kids and adults both in the audience.  His innate belief in making peace keeps the evil side from getting too out of hand.  There's plenty of action, though.  The topics around discrimination are tackled beautifully. There is a very nice ending.  Charlise Theron is heard as the intermittent narrator -- I'm not sure the narration added much, however. 

Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) has the honor of being the originator of 'Astro Boy' as well as most of the genre of 'Manga' and 'Anime' we know today.  I'm not always a fan of pure Manga and Anime.  The Japanese have a penchant for being pretty brutal in their violence even in children's programming.  I liked that writer Timothy Harris ("Trading Places"/"Twins"/"My Stepmother is an Alien"/"Brewster's Millions") worked with animator/director, David Bowers, to make a softer Astro Boy with humor and redeeming grace while still hitting hard topics like good versus evil.  Bowers (from Britain) has worked as an animator on many successful films such as "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West" and "FernGully: The Last Rainforest".  I think he was a wonderful choice to work with Harris.

The movie runs about 1 hour 45 minutes and is rated 'PG'.  There were children of all ages at my screening with none being visibly traumatized by the subject matter.  'Astro Boy' is well written and entertaining.  The animation is superb.  I'd watch it again. 

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Amelia: Hilary Swank Channels Amelia Earhart, 1928-1937

"Amelia" has stacked against it the fact we all know the ending.  Can't change that.  I wanted to see what the writers and director would do with Hilary Swank as the leading lady.  Billing Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor was icing on cake.  Swank's costumers, hairdresser, and make up artists own the credit for making her a perfect Amelia Earhart.  I daresay no other actress could looks so like her.  But the story, ultimately, was a biography slanted toward her personal life.  For as much as flying is mentioned and done, the main story was Amelia's non-flying life.   Add no chemistry between either of her movie lovers and you get 'awkward'.  My rating:  $6.50. (1.-10.).

Hilary Swank can act.  However, I think her success is owed to her smarts in picking great parts.  Let's face it, she has that tomboyish quality that fits a fighter ("Million Dollar Baby") and a waif-ish quality that didn't serve so well as femme fatale("The Black Dahlia).  I liked her as the grieving widow in "P.S., I Love You" (even though I saw it because Gerard Butler was in it).  Not to be impolite, having such angular features and figure, Swank couldn't pull off playing, say, Scarlett O'Hara or Bridget Jones.  Yet, screenwriters Ronald Bass ("My Best Friend's Wedding"/"How Stella Got Her Groove Back") and Anna Hamilton Phelan ("Gorilla's In the Mist"/"Girl, Interrupted") tried to make this Amelia Earhart a modern woman of her times with, maybe, a hint of bi-sexuality and a practitioner of 'free love'.  Sure, it details her rise to aeronautical success but there's definitely more emphasis on her relationships on the way up. 

Richard Gere plays Earhart's publicist turned lover turned husband, George Putnam.  According to this film, he practically had no other client after Amelia Earhart.  His whole revolved around her personally and professionally.  Occasional jabs at his using Amelia as a meal ticket come up.  He certainly drove her to maximize her fame selling shoes, luggage, her own clothing line, etc.  She did it "so we can afford to fly, George.  That's all that matters".  Gere is still a hunk -- white hair and all.  He can take his shirt off with pride.  I just wasn't feeling his professed "I'll die without you" devotion in the script.  There are a couple of before and after bedroom scenes -- probably because they wanted to keep the rating 'PG'.  Or maybe they saw the blatant lack of intimacy between the two stars. 

I appreciated several pieces of padded history such as Eleanor Roosevelt's trip in a plane with Amelia.  Their dialogue was well written and I liked Cherry Jone's (the police officer in "Signs") as Eleanor.   On Amelia's first flight over the Atlantic, she's used for female publicity rather than respect as a flyer.  But she gets to confront the two cocky male pilots one morning.  Swank does that in-your-face seriousness well - verbally kicking the guy's butt.  Then, it's her brainstorming that makes the mission a success.  That part of the story documents her true aviation intelligence paving the way for more respect from the male-dominated field.  She came in third in an all-female airplane race after becoming famous.  Thinking to make her embarrassed, the media attacked.  But, the good sport that she was, Amelia cheered on the winners and retorts that "as long as a woman wins, I'm happy!". 

I felt lost when a young woman knocked on the door one morning.  Putnam (Gere) seemed to know her and invited her in.  She glanced knowingly at the mussed bed.  It's Eleanor Smith (Mia Wasikowska - "Defiance"), a young, female pilot come to interview Amelia.  She practically tells Amelia she's gunning to take her fame.  Amelia just says, "Don't let anyone hold you back."  So, tell me, why is this in the movie?  You have to know who Eleanor Smith is in the context of history not to be out in left field.  That would be me.....way out there in left field.  Putnam gets to be an overbearing lout telling Eleanor to throw the airplane race a couple of scenes later.  Why was that in the movie? 

Back in early movies and TV, the sotto-voce speech was all you heard.  Everyone sounded like they came from New England or Boston   Thus, the other major irritant for me.  The accents came and went ---- badly.  In one and only one scene, Gere sounds like Ted Kennedy.  Thankfully, the accents generally went by the wayside most of the time.  They were so bad, the humor of it would have taken away from story. 

The  most annoying peculiarity was intermittent narration by Swank/Amelia as she wrote/read all kinds of flowery prose about her life or flying.  Her movie character gave us no inkling she had that gift.  I assume that the writers, trying to be true to Amelia, interjected these passages from her real memoirs.  But, the cadence of Swank's speech as Amelia often followed this unnatural prose-ish rhythm, also.  These little things throughout the movie made me feel I was in a bumpy car rather than a gliding train -- sorry, got carried away by metaphors.  

IMDB gives credit to two books, "East to the Dawn" by Susan Butler and "The Sound of Wings" by Mary S. Lovell from which the script was adapted. To me, the writers couldn't decide if it were to be a romance, woman's rights story, or biography.  Director, Mia Nair, ("Monsoon Wedding"/"Vanity Fair"/"The Namesake") has a history of emotional moviemaking.  I think she lost focus with all the directions the script took to tell Amelia's story. 

This movie is rated 'PG'.  It runs just under 2 hours.  There are lots of redeeming qualities in "Amelia".  I enjoyed most of it.  I also thought  Amelia got lost in all the soap opera before she was lost at sea in her plane. 

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