WOOHOO! It's finally here! Hannah and Emma (and 20 of their closest friends) dared the midnight showing, Joe and I waited for the matinee $5 movie.
I've read all the books, loved this book (#7). The movie pretty much followed the book, I wasn't disappointed. I've read some critical reviews from FOX NEWS, don't listen to that critic. Obviously he didn't get into the whole Harry Potter life like our family does.
The movie was intense, not too bad because I liked it. It did have one slightly off seen where Ron is being showed lies to make him not do something (can't tell... have to see), Harry and Hermoine are kissing, no clothes, nothing shows but we all know there nothing there....you can tell it's also a dream-like state shot.
It's a fun movie, if you don't like snake scary scenes, take someone with you that's seen it so they can tell you when to close your eyes. I'll go if you need someone.
Would I let a pre-teen go? Have they read the books? Then yes. Anyone under 7-8? probably not, too scary. Would I see it again, maybe. Buy it? I'll buy the complete set when it's out.
Out of 10 pairs of Dumbledoor bifocals, I'd give it a 9...... 1 off for the racey scene that didn't need to be there.

HEREAFTER

Interesting topic, Matt Damon stars, Clint Eastwood directs, Steven Spielberg produces...sounds like a winner? Don't waste your money.

It took about 75 minutes for this movie to start coming together, for for that first 75 minutes, your watching 3 movies, one is in subtitles. When it finally comes together and ends, Joe's quote "Well there's 2 hours of my life I'll never get back." My quote was "Do you think she could invest in a brush?" The co-star's hair was a mess by hairstyle choice.

We were all quite disappointed, knowing what we know with the subject matter, it could have been explored more. The title says HEREAFTER, but really that wasn't the subject or plot of the movie. They didn't treat the hereafter with the reverence that it deserves.

One F-Bomb was dropped, no nudity but there was a scene where the woman was dressing and you saw underwear (it was very pretty and lacy!)

If you decide to go and waste your $$, take some Kleenex, there are some sad scenes, because the movie does talk about death.

Out of 5 Disani Water bottle caps, I would give it a 1. 4 off because Clint Eastwood should have consulted with someone who knows a little more about the HEREAFTER.

Despicable Me!

Despicable Me.....
Appropriate for ALL ages. No inappropriate scenes. Well, there was one nudity part. It was where the Minions were sitting on the copier, photographing without pants on.
But, you've probably seen that on the commercials already.
Mr. Gru (played by the Office guy, Steve Carell) a sinister evil man who wants to top all other sinister villians and steal the moon. To do this, he adopts 3 little girls to help him break into another villian's home to steal a shrink gun.
These 3 little girls are soooo adorable, they soon turn his heart into mush and they have him wrapped around their little fingers. And they quickly win over the love of the minions, and the pointy toothed dog, Kyle.
The main character is extremely funny, but also pay attention to the other characters, they are just as funny, and can hold their own.
I really want to find the book about the three kittens, if anyone has seen it. Very cute!
I can see many one liners coming out of this movie!!
One of the many funny lines... "It's SO fluffy!" and the Unicorn song.
Would I see it again, YES! Would I rent it, YES! Would I buy it, YES!
Out of 10 Burger King Eclipse Cups, I would give this movie an 11.
It was that good.

ECLIPSE!

ECLIPSE! My girls saw it at the midnight showing. I just saw it this afternoon.
Part three in the 4 part book series. This is the book/movie where I developed the distaste for Bella, the female star in the books. She leads on the vampire and the werewolf, she wants both to love her, but yet is torn. What drama. Yawn.

When I saw it, honestly I was embarrassed for Emma who saw it with her friends. LOTS of steamy kissing. No sex, Edward stops Bella before it goes too far. In fact, he uses the "V" word.... VIRTUE! It was good to hear the word in the right context in a movie, someone actually defending a girls virtue. But still, lots of kissing, making out scenes. I'm sure it made her uncomfortable, made me uncomfortable!

The jury is still out on if I liked it or not. It followed the book pretty well, good special effects. Hannah loved it, Emma didn't talk about it (I'm wondering if she paid attention or fell asleep). It had violence, killing vampires. The way you kill a vampire is to tear it's head off and burn the pieces.... that's violent. No blood from all the killing, because they are like stone, and rocks fly, but you still see beheadings. Joe said, "Cool" several times.

Would I see it again? Yes Would I rent it/buy it, definately. Would I let the 14 and under crowd see it? Maybe not. No swearing, maybe 2 times with the "D" word.
Best quote in the movie, "Doesn't he own a shirt?" Edward asking Bella if jacob owns a shirt because he's pretty much topless in the whole movie.... a little eye candy. :)
Out of 10 eyelash curlers.... I'd give it a 9.5

The Prince of Persia

This film was INTENSE! If you know me, then you will know I didn't like it. I don't like intense. It was way way intense.

It starred Jake Gillenahall (sp?) who played the hero, the street urchen who got adopted by the King of Persia because he liked the way little Jake handled himself fighting off the King's guards in the market place while protecting his little friend.

The story is a little hard to follow, listen and watch carefully. They couple extreme violence with humor, and it was hard to turn off the killing and turn to humor. I didn't get it. Lots and lots of killing. Lots of sword fights, lots of special effects. Maybe too many special effects to make it so unreal, so unbelievable, so desensitizing.

All throughout the movie, I couldn't get past that everyone had an English accent, and yet this was in Persia, aka Iraq, Iran, MIddle East.

Would I see it again, no. Would I rent it for free, no. Would I let anyone under the age of 21 see it? No. Way too violent, too much killing. No sex, maybe a kiss (can't remember), Can't remember any bad language... it was all the sword fights and SNAKES. Ugh.

Out of 10 half-empty water bottles, I would give it a 2. One for the scenery, and one for the story.

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland was a pretty good movie. I was surprised. Too intense for little ones, though.
Alice finds herself returning to Wonderland after being gone for 13 years. She doesn't remember her first trip there, but the other characters remember her.
Johnny Depp does a GREAT job in playing the role of the Mad Hatter. The director, Tim Burton really puts a twist on the story in his own twisted sort of way. Don't think he follows the same Disney story line as Hannah did, she couldn't keep the story straight when she saw it the first time. Crispen something plays the Queen of Hearts' knight. You'll know him when you look closely... he's George McFly! Also, listen to the caterpillar.... you'll know his voice if you're a Harry Potter fan!
No language, no inappropriate scenes, just some violence and wars, and gross scenes like Alice walking on heads (the be-headed heads from the Red Queen) and the eye-ball that gets plucked out from some poor creature.
Over-all, pretty good movie. Would I see it again, as a rental for $1. Buy it? No, I'd rather rent it.
Out of 5 Cherry Blossom body lotions... I'd give it a 4 (1 off for the eye-ball plucking.... GROSS!)

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief

If you are in to Greek Mythology and lots of action, you'll like this movie.

We were a few minutes late, fortunately we had someone with us who read all of the books who explained to us what we missed. Don't be late.

Percy is a Demi-God, meaning he is the son of Poseidon and a mortal mom. Percy has been accused of stealing Zues's lightening, but didn't really. He and his friends go out into the world trying to find the underworld where Hades has imprisoned Percy's mom. Very appropriate, the underworld's entrance is in Hollywood, CA. Emma got a chuckle out of that.

If you know your mythology, you'll enjoy the movie more. I was stuck next to someone who didn't know a whole lot about it and was explaining alot.

Lots of action, monsters, beheadings, sword fighting... I thought the movie is perfect for a teenage boy. Not for the under 12 crowd, though. It was way too intense for me in some parts. Maybe one or two bad words, nothing too too bad. A couple of scenes of sexual "promiscuity talk", you didn't have to imagine too hard.

Out of 5 Medusa snake heads, I would give it a 4.5. I'd rent it at Red Box for a $1.

THIS IS IT!

MJ's Final Concert!
Saw this in the theater when it came out, just rented it this weekend. Bought the CD of the music that same night we saw it in the theater.
All I can say is WOW. This was a talented/messed up human being. If you can get passed all the crotch grabbing then you'll enjoy the dancing. I just think he was insecure.
The dancing was incredible, those dancers were phenomenal. My only though was I sure hope they get paid in full and get residuals from this DVD. They totally deserve every penny and Joe Jackson shouldn't get his hands on any part of it.

The producer... can't remember his name.... coddles MJ so much, it's nauseating. MJ really was a hands on type singer that had a vision of how he wanted this concert. The producer was more like a puppet or yes-man.

During this movie, everyone looks for any sign of his faultering, or sign of weakness, something that would give a clue as to if he were unhealthy for this concert. Didn't see anything at all. He looked good to me! Way WAY too young to have died.

Out of 5 OOO-OO's, I'll give it a 4 (1 off for MJ not being able to keep his hands off his zipper-area)

Extrodinary Measures

This is based off of a true story....
Harrison Ford produced this film and starred in it. I'll be honest, I did NOT like his character until the VERY VERY end of this movie. Brandon Frasier, however, I fell in love with his character right away. Here's why: He truly loved and adored his children and wife. How many times does Hollywood portray this? Not too many. This movie showed a husband and wife problem solving together, supporting each other thru difficult times, really leaning on each other, rather than them going off looking for support from greener pastures. This little family really was struggling with medical bills, employment, life and death situations and they held together.

Harrison Ford played a research doctor. His life consisted of living/working by himself, concerned only about himself, consumed about finding an enzyme that would metabolize the the human body to help patients with a form of MD, Pompe Disease. He's just so close, but lacks funding. In walks this father driven to save his 2 children that are stricken with this dreadful disease with an Ivy League business degree to raise the money.

That's about all I'll tell you.... The ending is remarkable. The actors that play the children have personality plus! You can't help but fall in love with them. Harrison Ford did.

If you like medical type movies, you'll love this one. There is no blood or guts though. There is one scene where the parents finally get a moment alone and the home health nurse walks in, but it's not bad (clothes are ON). Then, there's the language.... they use the word that is synonymous to fecal matter freely.

Would I rent it, No. I don't want that language in my home. Would I watch a cleaned up version on TV? OH yes! Would I want my kids to see it, Hannah yes (she likes medical things), Emma I don't know.

Out of 5 Nemo Fish hanging from my mirror, I would give it a 4 (one off for language)

Blind Side

BLIND SIDE with Sandra Bullock.
Joe saw this, it's a football movie. He likes sports movies. He LOVED this movie.
I"m not sure what's in the movie, if there was bad language, sex, violence. He would see it again, I'm sure we'll rent it when it comes out.

AVATAR

Avatar! We saw this in 3-D the other night....
Good: It was a special effect feast, good storyline (although, You knew what was going to happen next), good ending. GREAT imagination!
Bad: It took me 2 days to recover from those 3-D glasses. The headache I had! When the movie was over, Emma and I both could'nt walk straight. I'll never do 3-D again, don't care if they profess it's the newest, must-see movie tech ever made. Also, the language was horrible. It's an army movie, so therefor you must have bad language? There was some alien love going on too, nothing graphic, but you didn't have to imagine too much.
Would I see it again? In 3-D, never. Rent it with a free coupon, maybe not because of language.
Would I let anyone under 12 see it? No way (language), I didn't even like Emma seeing it.

Out of 10 Kodak Digital Cameras, I would give it a 3. I hope there's no part 2 being made.

Cloudy With A Side Of Meatballs

Emma and I saw this in 3-D! Thought I would get a headache, but they've come a long way since I saw a 3-D movie last!

This was a very enjoyable, funny little movie. Emma's 2nd time in seeing it. Take the kids to this one, it's a keeper! No language, no bad stuff, except falling pancakes and one little boy gets a tummy ache from eating too many jelly beans.

Flint, the inventor, invents food from water vapor and thinks he is saving his town. You see before your eyes the mayor growing larger as does his ego. Mr. T is pretty funny, yes Mr. T finally got a job! I know he's been unemployed since the cancellation of the A-Team.

So, out of five Blackberry Flip phones, I give it a 4.9. We'll probably buy it, but it won't have the same effect of coolness if I can't see it again in 3-D.

Julie and Julia

Just saw Julie & Julia! We laughed and laughed. This is a funny movie.
It's a story about how Julia Childs became a french cooking rock star and how a writer, Julie, tested and made all Julia Childs' recipes in her The Art Of French Cooking cookbook.

I would even say this movie was delightful. BUT... it does have strong language, not alot but the "F" word was used once and other strong words. It also has some sexual innuendo scenes, from both Julia and Julie.... not together, with their respected husbands.

Speaking of husbands, this movie depicted something we haven't seen hardly anything of... husbands and wives actually working out problems together, showing support for each other, being happy they are married, showing respect and honor to each other... no one went out and had an affair. That was refreshing to see.

Meryl Streep was FANTASTIC! She really captured the real Julia Childs. I remember watching when I was a little girl, the real Julia on her cooking show and wondering if she really was a little tipsy trussing a turkey.... the answer is yes.

Gramma Walker has her cookbook, I've even tried making some of the recipes from it. I am not a French Chef.

Out of 5 Med-Surgical Nursing Books, I will give it a 4. One off for the language and sexual content. Would I see it again? Maybe on video, definately on TV with the stuff cut out.

Bon Appetite!

So this movie will be premiered in September. I don't know what it is rated, yet.
It's about two men, fighting in Iraq, about their lives, etc....
Why am I advocating this movie? I know the director, writer and producer. Yeppers, I know someone who is/going to be famous. His name is Chris Bender and I worked with him at Frontier.

He is by far, the most intelligent man I've ever known, a genious. He helped me out so many times with HORRIBLE customers, he's a good guy. He liked coming to me to do vouchers, etc... because I didn't get flustered in typing while he was standing over me giving instructions.

Anyway, good luck to him! I'm hoping it's not rated R so I can go and see it.

Just saw Harry Potter! We were a little late in not getting to the premier like everyone else in the world.
I loved the movie. Albeit it's more of a love story than a Voldemort story. Some "snogging", lots of action. No Lord Voldemort scenes, pretty much it's how he came to be from Tom Riddle to Lord V. Lost of history as to why things are the way they are.
Would I see this again? Of course. Will I be buying it? Of Course.
Read the book too, it adds to the movie. The ending, a little disappointing if you haven't read the book. Yes, Hannah cried in the end. Best scene: When Harry drinks the Felix Felcias (sp?) potion that makes him lucky. This movie has it's funny parts, too. I cannot wait for the last movie!

Out of 5 Sleeping black kitties... I will give it a 5.

Night At The Museum, 2

Night at the museum, 2.....................WHAT A FUNNY FUNNY MOVIE! We went last week, and we are still doing one liners from it. That's a good movie in my book.

Ben Stiller, who is now a successful inventor / infommercial mogul goes back to the museum to see everything packed, and being put into the national storage unit (under the Smithsonian), Joe figured out that this is the same place where Indiana Jone's Arc of the Covenent would've been taken (not in the movie, Joe's own opinion). Ben goes to save his friends.... makes new ones on the way.

Ben Stiller's character is minor, compared with all the other characters. The egyptian king (shown) stole the show. The little men (the cowboy and Roman guard, Octavious) had important, FUNNY parts. The Jonas Brothers were in it, way way funny! The security guard, Brandon (pronouced BRUNDON), has a short part... should have been longer, he was too funny.
The heroine, Amelia Earhart... eh. Her character annoyed me, with all her 1930-ish lingo.

Lanuage? I couldn't remember any, nothing that impressed upon my memory.
Sexual content? Maybe one kiss, one fall on top of each other, and the Jonas brother are naked throughout the movie. OK, this is rated PG..... they are little cherub statues that fly around. GOTCHA.
Intensity? There were some parts that were intense, some very scary parts with an octopus that scared me. Would I let someone under 10 see it, yes if they can handle scary.
Would I see it again? And again? and again? YES! I"ll be buying this one. There are so many one liners that were so funny, that my girls and friends repeat (and Joe).

Out of 5 dirty chickie towels (these are things that I see on my computer table right now!) I would give it a 5.

UP! This is a 3D movie, which is also shown in 2D. This means, buy glasses / don't have to buy glasses. We saw it in 2D. To sum it all up in one word, DELIGHTFUL. Having said that, we hated it. Confused?

Disney/Pixar really know how to pull the heartstrings. I cried, sobbed 5 times. 5 separate times in this movie I said, "Why did we come to this horrible movie?" "We are NOT buying this!".

The whole story is about Mr. Frederickson trying to get to a place where his wife wants to go for her ultimate adventure. He takes along Russel, the scout, by mistake. Russel is trying to get his "assist the elderly" merit badge and he's relentless in trying to get it. Along the way they find Kevin (the bird), and dog (the dog) who has to wear the "Cone of Shame" (See picture above). Ed Asner is the voice for Mr. Frederickson, PERFECT!

I laughed out loud many times, MANY funny parts in this movie... anyone who has a scout or who has been a scout would like some of the scenes. It was intense at times, but not too intense that I couldn't handle it. Sad? Of course. No language, no sexual themes (well, except when the wife sees babies in every cloud and POOF, she's pregnant).

There is a cartoon short in the beginning of the movie. We think that should have been shown at the end so we could've left feeling better. The short was VERY VERY funny.

Would we see this again? Yes, if we rented it with one of Joe's FREE Red Box coupon's. Would I buy it? I'd have to see it again.

Out of 5 lip glosses; I'd give it a 4.8 - .2 off for all the kleenex I wished I had and had to use Hannah's shirt.

WOLVERINE!

Wolverine rated PG-13. I'll be honest, I didn't do my homework on this film before we went last night. We are all X-Men fans, so it didn't cross my mind to read up on it.

This was a pre-quill to the 3 X-men series, it gave some history as to how/why Wolverine, aka Logan, aka Hugh Jackman, was the way he was. It tied up some loose ends about his history. The film was action packed, violent-violent-violent, and there was nudity. All in the name of medical science, during Wolverine's transformation to a SUPER mutant. Didn't matter, he was nakey. Hannah took it as an Anatomy lesson I'm sure. There's language in it, did I mention violence? I know X-Men is an action packed film, but they really got into killing innocent people, maybe way too much for what the story needed.

Would I go again? No. Would I let my daughter's see it again, No. Would I rent it? No. Would I watch the watered down, television, edited version? In a heartbeat. If you do go, we stayed until all the credits were done and there is a scene at the very end.... we were all disappointed.

To rate the movie as a whole: Out of 5 McDonald's Soft Drink Cups, I'd give it a 3.5 . One off the the nakey scene, half off for the violence and half off for incorrectly referring to a drug and what it does (I picked that out right away, kind of ruined that scene for me). Good story line, good acting, good characters.

There are some pretty good movies coming out this summer! Can't wait to see UP!

Hannah Montana... the Movie

My girls went and saw this last weekend. Joe and I couldn't bring ourselves to go and see this movie. We don't really like Hannah Montana (well, I like her dad!).

Hannah and Emma LOVED the movie. I knew they would, but they said they even cried. There is a song in the movie that Miley Cyrus and BillyRay sing together that is really good. I'm sure that the song is on their IPOD's by now. It's good for all ages, I'm sure we will be buying this one. Maybe I'll see it someday.

Out of 5 IPODs, I'll give it a 4.... just because Hannah and Emma loved it, but I didn't see it.

On the laugh-o-meter, this movie gets a 10. This was a really funny movie. Maybe because alot of what we saw reminded us of Joe.

It has some watered down swearing, meaning the "H" and "A" word. No sexual type scenes, no blood and gore scenes. Lots of chase scenes on segways and scooters and skateboards. Lots of surprises though and one drinking-bar scene. It was intense at times, but I could handle it. I don't like intense.

As we left the theater, Joe made the comment that he has a new appreciation for Mall Cops and that he wants a segway now.

Would I let a 12 year old or under see it.... probably. The kids (ages 15-19) that we took laughed thru the whole thing, including Joe and I.

Out of 5 staplers, I would give it a 4. And we are probably going to buy this one.