Oregon Coast Movies

Source Code

2011-06-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I'm going to be massively out of practice writing this. It's been months since I worked on this blog and I feel guilty for abandoning it. I haven't been in the library to renew my card yet this year. But I did come across a film I thought was worth oiling up my rusty writing joints for.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays a soldier sent into the past to find information about a bomb on a train. He tries desperately to change the past but each time his handlers tell him he has no control and his only assignment is to prevent a future bomb.

This film kept me guessing and hoping that something would work out for the desperate confused young man. I wanted him to find his way out of the mixed up world he found himself in. Though we see a scene repeat itself over, each time they change the experience just enough to keep our attention.

I didn't get this from the library but I bet it will be there soon.

Dog Review: Felis the Cat

2010-04-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

Felix the Cat
Woos whoopee

Sometimes older stuff holds some little interesting cultural lifestyle golden nugget of entertainment. Sadly, not in this case. These cartoons may appeal to someone studying the artform or a true classic lover, but generally, they're rather mundane and dull.

I barely could sit through five before I got super tired of them. Nice in a passing kind of way, but I'd just avoid them. Dora and Coos Bay have a copy of this DVD for the dedicated fans out there.

Here's the IMDB for director Otto Mesmer who did many of the cartoons: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582250/

Amazon: Felix the Cat Woos Whoopee

Soso Review: School of Rock

2010-04-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

School of Rock

Jack Black stars as a musician mooching off his buddy who works as a substitute teacher. When his Buddy's girlfriend, Sarah Silverman, gets on his case to get a job, he pretends to be his buddy to get a teaching gig.

He doesn't care about the kids until he hears them play music, then he decides to make them a rock band. This unlikely scenario flourishes into a full blown love story dedicated to Black's first and only desire, to be in battle of the bands.

I think I'm bowing to relationship pressure by reviewing this as watchable. I mean I suppose it was OK. My mate kept saying how great Jack Black in this role. So I just changed my mind. I didn't like this film much and I don't like the idea that someone can behave so irresponsibly around kids.

Sure it's a bad scene for parents to try and force their kids to be little automatons, but this kind of defiance left me grouchy. And all is forgiven eventually. Like no, he'd be in JAIL.

OK, rant over, watch it if you like. But a great film like Dead Poets Society rules and School of Rock drools. Look in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Myrtle Point and North Bend library branches for a copy of this DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332379/

Buy it on Amazon: School of Rock (Widescreen Edition)

Gem Review: The Fighting Kentuckian

2010-03-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Fighting Kentuckian

John Wayne stars as a Kentucky soldier who falls in love with a pretty French girl living in America with her exiled general father. The soldier and his buddy, Oliver Hardy help the French exiles fight for their land.

The girl's father rejects him as a suitable husband because the girl is already betrothed to a wealthy land owner. Ever the dutiful daughter, the girl also rejects Wayne's advances. Tables get turned when he finds out her wealthy suitor is behind the plot to reject the French land claims.

Do look for the enjoyable antics of Oliver Hardy in this rare role without Stan Laurel. He and Wayne make the film fun and lighten up all the fighting scenes. I found this black and white classic well worth my time.

Bandon has both a VHS and a DVD copy of this film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041361/

Buy this film from Amazon: The Fighting Kentuckian

I think I can start posting again!

2010-03-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

I will post a review tomorrow, I just wanted to let everyone know I am half back. The posts will come on the weekends and maybe one or two during the week. I need to get my library card renewed so I can check out new stuff too.

Thanks for your patience while my husband and I started our business. Things are going pretty well over there. I don't have internet though. That would be a bit easier if I did.

Type soon.

Still Suuuuper Busy

2010-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Hey, sorry for not posting any movie reviews yet this year. I expected things to calm down by now. Yeah right famous last words!

Please feel free to read through the reviews, there are over 600 to choose from and 200 good or gem selections. I'm sure you can find something to watch.

Kudos to Coos County Library System for letting you hold any movie from any branch. Also they extended the check out to a week. No more scrambling to get a film back to Coos Bay or North Bend.

For Your Gift Giving Pleasure

2009-12-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

Cutting Back

2009-12-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

I was soooo tired last night I went to bed at 7pm and didn't get up until 11: 30 and then was only up a short time.

My husband and I started a business and it's going fine, just going to take a short break from the blog for December 2009. I"ll post when I get the chance, but it wont be 5 days a week this month. Hopefully I can get some rhythm down and get back soon.

In the mean time, please read through my lists of Gem and Good films. I'm sure you'll find something you like. Happy Holidays for all those who celebrate.

Thanks.

2009-12-01T18:20:00.000-08:00

The Far Pavilions

I wanted to like this Ben Cross and Amy Irving saga of a British boy raised among locals in India. After his parents die, his life is saved by his nursemaid until she dies and he returns to the British.

We meet, Ash, again all grown up and in the military. He's returning to India to the same area he lived as a boy. Assigned with taking a spoiled woman and her sister to be married off, he falls in love with the sister who is actually his long lost childhood love.

Things get complicated and she decides to marry in order to protect her sister. He leaves her there and goes off to Afghanistan to spy for the British. They ignore his advice and find themselves garrisoned without support and rebels break into the compound and kill many. He helps some escape.

His lady love gets him a message that she's being mistreated and he goes to rescue her. The old man they are married to dies and her sister intends to die on the funeral pyre with him and she's left orders that her sister must watch then be killed.

I thought all the cultural ins and outs were fascinating but honestly, it went on way too long, had too many plots and subplots and seemed far fetched. Amy Irving does an excellent job, but many of the other actors played the scenes far too melodramatic for my taste.

Bandon has the DVD and there's a VHS copy in Lakeside.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086711/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: The Far Pavilions

Good Review: A Few Good Men

2009-11-30T20:04:00.000-08:00

A Few Good Men

Lets get the thing that bugged me out of the way first. Writer Aaron Sorkin has a problem treating women in his films as though they are three dimensional. He completely threw Demi Moore under a very fast moving bus and then backed over her.

The rest of the film stood out so much that I just have to push past the obvious sexism and call this a good film.

Playboy Navy lawyer, Tom Cruise, defends two young men accused of killing a fellow soldier. When his team, Moore and Kevin Pollak find out there's a chance that the boys were participating in a hazing type ritual ordered by the base commander, they attempt to investigate.

Col. Nathan R. Jessep, Jack Nicholson, thwarts their inquiries and treats the legal team like buffoons. When his second in command comes to them and tells them that his boss ordered the hazing, calling it a code red, they think they're set. But he kills himself before testifying against his beloved superior.

Look for outstanding performances by Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland and Noah Wyle. Their supporting roles pushed the story to its thrilling conclusions.

Please pick up this fine film at these library branches: VHS; Coos Bay, Coquille and Myrtle Point. DVD; Bandon, Myrtle Point and North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104257/

Buy this fine film from Amazon:A Few Good Men (Special Edition)

Happy Holidays

2009-11-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

My husband and I met thanksgiving day 1999. We knew each other online from a science fiction themed chat room for about four years. He kept asking me for coffee, but I was kind of distracted and we didn't meet.

I never "dated" online, I always wanted to meet someone in person first, then if they seemed nice, maybe go out. In 1995, I broke up with my man friend and when I found myself without anywhere to go for thanksgiving, my now husband asked if I would like to come to his house. I declined.

In 1997, we were talking again and he told me about his plans to go to Mexico and celebrate turkey day there. As a joke, he invited again. I laughed at him and again said no. Someone online told me that my now husband was "weird," and that kind of put me off meeting him.

The summer of 1998, a mutual friend from online told me that my Murry was "Cool to hang out with. He's just a guy and not weird." So when turkey day rolled around and a bunch of online friends were heading to his house, I got yet another invitation. I almost went that year, but it just didn't happen.

I spent the spring of 1999 out of the country at college. When I got back, my now out of work roommate went off to stay with his parents for the month of July and it became clear we weren't quite getting along. So November rolled around and I saw Murry online and asked "aren't you going to invite me for thanksgiving?" He laughed at me and invited and we have hardly been apart since.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Watchable Week: Science Fiction Day

2009-11-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet star in this fascinating tale of memory, angst and love. Winslet's Clementine decides she doesn't want to be involved with Carrey's Joel anymore so she has him erased from her memory and life. The service includes having all her friends refrain from reminding her of what she's lost.

Joel tries to get her back and then has his own erasing, but the whole thing goes weird. The people do the erasing use the clients and then erase their memories as well as some thoughts leak through and the clients sometimes find themselves in a state of confused flashing and gaps.

Interesting study about the nature of who we are.

Library: Bandon, Coos Bay, North Bend & SWOCC

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/

Amazon: Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Widescreen Edition)

Fahrenheit 451

François Truffaut brings to screen Ray Bradbury's classic novel about a future where firemen burn books instead of prevent fires. Julie Christie and Oskar Werner star as the fireman and his wife. Christie also plays the girl the fireman becomes fascinated by. I didn't realize this until just now reading it off the Movie Database.

Montag, the fireman, finds himself dissatisfied with life and he meets a young woman with a whole new philosophy. She wants to read and know about books and society wants them burned and any independent thought stomped out.

Do watch the special features where Bradbury talks about his novel as it relates to the film. He tells some behind the scenes stories about how the idea came to him and how the film-maker adapted changing elements.

Library: VHS; Coos Bay & Coquille. DVD; Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060390/

Amazon: Fahrenheit 451

The Family Man

Nicolas Cage gets a glimpse into his alternative life with Téa Leoni. At first he HATES it but eventually he likes the different man he becomes. The path he took originally turned him into jerk of the year who makes his employees work the holidays.

In his alternative world he learns the value of family and love and tries to hold on tight to that place. It's quite Scroogesque in its contrasts. Pop some popcorn and have a nice watch. Well worth the couple hours.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218967/

Amazon: The Family Man

Watchable Week

2009-11-23T21:25:00.000-08:00

Empire Records

Anthony LaPaglia stars in this teen comedy ala The Breakfast Club where a bunch of quirky record store employees sort out where their lives are going. They're trying to save the store from turning into a homogenized conglomerate.

One clerk attempts to steal to make a point to his boss, another hopes to lose her virginity to an aging rock star and everyone generally has a fun musical time.

This boiler plate party film might not appeal to its intended teen audience, but it made me chuckle at the whimsical antics.

Library: Coquille.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112950/

Amazon: Empire Records

An Evening with Kevin Smith

ADULTS ONLY, this film has a lot of sexual language. I paired these together because the director of Clerks and Mallrats displays a lot of teen angst in his earlier work. Though he had nothing to do with the above film.

This film features Smith himself over two nights discussing every aspect of his process and elements of his regular life. Jason Mewes who plays Jay to Smith's Silent Bob speaks for a few minutes on both DVDs.

They discuss their work with Ben Affleck and even cover a little about Matt Damon. They do not mention much about Jason Lee. At least I don't recall much mention of him.

I found it quite interesting but Smith really has a raunchy sense of humor. Some may find that off putting if not down right offensive. I squirmed a bit during some commentary.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346952/

Amazon: An Evening with Kevin Smith

Busy Blogger

2009-11-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

I'm one busy blogger and haven't had a chance to watch any films this last week. Hopefully I'l have time this weekend to bang out a bunch and get back on track. Happy Holidays everybody!

2009-11-19T17:58:00.000-08:00

DVD Title Fatal Force:

Death Merchants c. 1973,

Deadly Recruits

These two bad boring films really didn't impress me. Lets start with the poor quality of the DVD and the fact that they failed to connect the two films.

Death Merchants involves Israel and Palestinian intrigue where the wrong man is lured into a trap by a beautiful woman. Terrorism = bad mmkay? Though we do have Jason Robards. Pity he didn't add any class to this film.

Deadly Recruits had something to do with murder and cults in the UK, but for the life of me I could not figure out what was going on. Just leave the disk on the shelf.

Library: Bandon & Coos Bay.

IMDB:
Death Merchants: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070812/
Deadly Recruits: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340655/

Amazon: The Death Merchants
Deadly Recruits

Eulogy

Death comedies really need something in order to be good. This didn't have "it." I do like Hank Azaria, but to call these people dysfunctional would insult the term. Everyone seems to fight over past resentments and all the stress makes the matriarch and new widow want to kill herself. I strongly suggest you avoid this lame duck.

Library: Bandon & Lakeside.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349416/

Amazon: Eulogy

The Agency

An advertising agency puts subliminal messages in advertising for an election winning a victory for their client. When his best friend dies, executive Lee Majors, finds out what's going on and tries to stop his boss. Robert Mitchum and Valerie Perrine also star.

Not only was the plot, script and acting poor, but the quality of the sound and images detracted from the film. With more than a grade school effort, the film makers could have explored the topic in an interesting way. Instead, they seemed to mock the concept of subliminal advertising with their stupid ads and ridiculous plot.

I watched this film before and I may have posted a review. It somehow got lost off my list though. If you see it, leave a comment with the URL.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081989/

Amazon: Agency

Soso Tuesday

2009-11-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

Eraser

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a US Marshal in charge of protecting witness Vanessa Williams. When he gets accused of killing off other witnesses, he goes out on his own to clear his name. He hides Williams until she can testify.

Poor acting and convoluted plot made this pretty boring to watch. Arnold delivers some of the worst puns when fighting off some hungry alligators. I sat there rooting for the reptiles.

Library: VHS; Bandon, Coos bay, Coquille, Dora & North Bend. DVD; Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116213/

Amazon: Eraser

Executive Decision

Lots of alpha males in this film. I think something went terribly wrong during the production because Steven Seagal gets top billing but isn't much in the film.

Terrorists hijack a 747 and place a bomb on board with enough nerve toxin to kill millions. Kurt Russell and John Leguizamo sneak aboard the plane midair and attempt to defuse the bomb without the hijackers finding out. Look for Halle Berry as the resourceful stewardess.

This was almost watchable but so unrealistic that it distracts from the enjoyment of the film. If you like the actors involved, have a watch. Otherwise, find something better.

Library: VHS; Lakeside. DVD; Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116253/

Amazon: Executive Decision

Everyday People

I wanted to find these people interesting but it just never happened. A group of interconnected stories about people who work for a long time community gathering spot in a racially diverse and improving Brooklyn, New York neighborhood.

We learn about the Jewish owner's plans to sell the place upsetting their employees. White executives talk openly about their plans to "improve" the neighborhood with bringing in upscale shops and pushing out the "riffraff."

The stories and emotions did seem real so they were well acted, but they didn't move me to CARE. Plus they left the story open ended. I prefer conclusions. I say avoid this one.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365020/

Amazon: Everyday People

Everything is Illuminated

This very strange film stars Elijah Wood as a young man traveling to the Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather from a Nazi death squad. Honestly, I didn't understand much because it's part subtitled and I didn't watch it with my husband.

We get an interesting view of life inside a former Soviet Union run country. The struggles of the people as they try and figure out the story of this strange American show how long it takes to rebuild a country after completely changing political systems.

Though I am giving this a Soso rating, I do think it's worth watching. It's so different as to make for something worth commenting on. Tell me what you think.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404030/

Amazon: Everything Is Illuminated

Gem Review: Fahrenheit 9/11

2009-11-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

Fahrenheit 9/11

Yep, ole Michael Moore has an agenda. He likes to poke fun at huge corporations and is especially hard on those that stomp on the little guy. He took a point of view that big oil, namely Saudi Arabia got treated with kid gloves after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

He points out how many Saudis participated in the attacks and yet members of their government got special protections and special access within the George W. Bush Whitehouse. Average Americans were forced to find alternative transportation where Saudi government officials were allowed to fly.

This film isn't supposed to be a Frontline report and make no mistake about his intentions. He draws connections that are tenuous at best. Most of the people involved in terrorism are radicals within their own country, but Moore's arguments are so fascinating.

Ironically, these documentaries attacking the rich and privileged have made him one of them. Watch and enjoy this intriguing film.

Weird, Bandon has three copies of the DVD. Coos Bay, Coquille, Lakeside, Myrtle Point and North Bend all have one too. Lakeside also has a VHS copy.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361596/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Fahrenheit 9/11

SWOCC Gem List

2009-11-13T20:25:00.000-08:00

Odd little anomaly about getting films from the college. You only have three days just like from Coos Bay or North bend, but you can place holds. It's a good thing. If you need more time, you can renew online and get it for an additional three days. Not many DVDs form the college, but check out these fine films.

Affluenza Have you considered the impact of what you buy on the world around you? Watch this and you will start.

A Class Divided Old but highly relevant documentary about prejudice.

The Color Purple Amazing family drama, adult themes.

Juno Pregnant teen sorts out her quirky life.

Smoke Signals (VHS ONLY) Modern Native American travel adventure. Charming and funny.

Watchable Dramas

2009-11-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

Exiled

Fong Juk

My husband had a neat name for this film. He called it a spaghetti eastern. You know how they have western films made in Italy in the 70s, well this film has a feel like those. Very Asian with an interesting dub job. If you can do subtitles, have a watch that way. It may prove even more interesting.

Members of a mob chase down a a man trying to start a new life with his wife and child. There's a firefight but the man survives and the assassins fix up the place and leave with him. I'm not quite sure how this happened, but seeing them repair the bullet holes and stuff was very surreal.

Have a look at this inventive creation. If you can figure out what's going on, write me and enlighten me. ;) Do read the Amazon page with other people's reviews. They give a more complete picture of the film that I can.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796212/

Amazon: Exiled

Empire of the Wolves
L'empire des loups

Now THIS film felt like live action Anime. A married woman tries to get her memory back and figures out she's being held prisoner by her "husband." Turns out she's a kick ass chick trying to defy being turned into a drug mule. She finds herself being manipulated by the government.

It goes so many twisted unexpected directions it held a ton of edge of your seat action. Who can she trust and who will betray her? Are we ever sure?

Check out the French dialog but the dub job worked well for me.

Library: Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402158/

Amazon: Empire of the Wolves

Empire Falls

This mini-series stars Ed Harris as a put upon everyman just trying to take care of his family. He works for the matriarch "owner" of the town played by veteran actress Joanne Woodward. Her real life husband, Paul Newman gets in on the act as Ed's troublemaker father.

We see Philip Seymour Hoffman in flashbacks as the wealthy husband of Woodward. He supposedly ran off with his secretary. Helen Hunt, Aidan Quinn and Robin Wright Penn round out the cast. Marriages, divorces and unexpected turns make this a very interesting HBO series to watch.

Library: Bandon & Coos Bay.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376591/

Amazon: Empire Falls

The Emperor's Club

Kevin Kline stars as an outstanding professor who teaches wealthy young men. Every year he has a contest where one boy wins special recognition. A new student comes along and he tries valiantly to teach him but ultimately the boy cheats and disappoints his mentor.

Cut to years later and the now men have a rematch for the contest. The cheater vows that he was influenced by his obnoxious pushy father into misbehaving and tells Kline he'll prove himself worthy. Do leopards change their spots and grow into wise honorable lions? Check it out and find out.

Library: Coquille, Lakeside & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283530/

Amazon: The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition)

Good Review Fat: What No One Is Telling You

2009-11-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

Fat:
What No One Is Telling You

I knew most people who lose weight gain it back and I knew some of the details of this very interesting documentary before I sat down to watch. I even know a bit more than they talk about, but this gives a nice overview of the science behind weight loss.

One young man talks with a doctor about gastric bypass and ends up deciding to go that route. Another woman exercises hours a day in order to maintain her figure. Doctors talk about the bodies resistance to letting go of weight and how they're having serious problems finding solutions to the complex multi-system disease.

A few months back I reviewed Who Killed the Electric Car? and they had a list of causes for the death of the EV-1. This film explores the mainly medical aspects but with a few environmental factors figured in. One of the doctors believes the gut acts like a brain of sorts. He found out it has millions of nerve endings and researches how these play a role in obesity.

They talk about how large portions and use of sugary drinks helped increase our waistlines. How processed foods and convenience items deny our bodies nutrients so it wants MORE in order to get the minor amounts it needs. Creating a cycle of fat strage and starvation. Bet you never thought about a large person starving to death.

Pick up this fine film from SWOCC and North Bend and find all out about this fascinating topic.

IMDB:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1007001/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Fat - What No One Is Telling You

Soso Tuesday

2009-11-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

Three of these are based on fact and the fourth, while fiction, just seemed to fit with the others. They're all on the cusp of being watchable, but just left something out that I need to find them entertaining. Your results may vary. ;)

Exodus

The allies didn't know what to do with the Jewish refuges after they were liberated from concentration camps so the Jews took it upon themselves to commandeer a boat and set sale for Palestine. They called this expedition "Exodus" after Moses' freeing the slaves.

Despite my nickname, I'm not Jewish and though I did know of this story, I didn't know the details. I would prefer a documentary to this film for anyone trying to learn history. Sadly, the film does not stand on it's own.

Paul Newman stars as the leader manipulating the system and fighting for the re-establishment of Israel. I wish they'd kept their focus or at least explained better what was going on. First the group is on the boat and then they're within a settlement running from some radical Muslims who are trying to kill them.

Toss in an American woman trying to adopt a girl and we're quite confused. Is this about Eva Marie Saint learning about Judaism, the refugee boat or the Jewish Muslim conflict. I can't tell. Interesting, but not enough to recommend.

Library: VHS; Bandon. DVD; Myrtle Point

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053804/

Amazon: Exodus

Faith of My Fathers

Some may accuse me of being influenced by politics in my review of this film, but I do try and make my judgements based on what I see, rather than how I vote. I wanted to understand the story of what happened to John McCain in a Vietnam Prison Camp.

Perhaps the book included details that would make this film make sense, but I haven't read it. I can't figure out what faith of fathers had to do with any of it? War sucks and none of us wants to be captured and I get that seeing that reminds us to be very careful with how we treat people, I don't understand the relevance.

What do military academy flash backs have to do with torture? How does it relate to faith of fathers or anyone else for that matter? I'm sorry this happened to Mr. McCain. I cannot recommend seeing this film. The special features didn't even reveal anything interesting.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444626/

Amazon: Faith of My Fathers

Evita

Madonna stars as Argentine first lady Eva Perón and sings her way through the whole film. Antonio Banderas sings the narration. There's a lot going on here that may or may not have anything to do with the real person and her story.

Again, I don't know much about her real life and this musical didn't really enlighten me. I found the song story a bit annoying after a while. I prefer a musical with some speaking to it.

I wonder if Ms. Perón would appreciate the legacy this version gives her. I wouldn't. They make her seem like a scheming whore and I am not at all sure that's fair. It comes off sexist to my eyes.

Library: VHS; Coos Bay, Lakeside & North Bend. DVD; Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116250/

Amazon: Evita

Eye of the Needle

I wonder what Donald Sutherland has against the British. He keeps playing World War II German spies. This time he finds out about D-Day invasion plans and tries to get them to his buddies by escaping by boat. A sudden storm sets him aground on a lonely island inhabited by a couple, their boy and an old caretaker.

Spy guy romances the unhappy wife and still tries to get his information to the Germans while the Brits try and stop him. Lots of intrigue, but ultimately unfocused. Nothing about this film made it remarkable.

Library: Bandon & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082351/

Amazon: Eye of the Needle

Mixed Up Week Watchable Monday

2009-11-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

Since I folled around and didn't get reviews done last week, I'm just gonna mix it up this week! My list is FULL TO THE BRIM of watchables so I am going to just review a bunch of them today.

Elizabeth, the Golden Age

Cate Blanchett lords over this dramatic interpretation of real events where plots upon plots show how uneasy rests the head that wears the crown. The Spanish armada attempts to attack England and finds them thwarted by the sea and Sir Walter Raleigh. Look for Clive Owen in that role. He also makes eyes at the queen.

The costuming pushed it into being a better film than I think the acting and writing made it. The color, texture and sounds of the dresses were enough to make a designer fall in love.

They should have stuck to a more clearly defined aspect of the monarch without all the convoluted extras. Make references to the attempts on her life but keep us in the exciting bits. Save the other stuff for a sequel or something. I got bored. I shouldn't get bored watching a film about one of the greatest monarchs ever to live. Oh, wait, this IS a sequel. UGH.

Library: Bandon, Coos Bay, North Bend & SWOCC.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414055/

Amazon: Elizabeth - The Golden Age (Widescreen Edition)

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill
But Came Down a Mountain

Hugh Grant went to the 'be yourself only not' school of acting and nothing about this film changed that, but it's quite a nice little two hours of quirk. A pair of surveyors go into a little village and determine that a local mountain sits just a few short feat below that designation.

When the townsfolk hear of the findings they get together and decide to "add" to the mound and make it a mountain again. Grant falls in love with a girl and the community and helps and stays to resurvey. Truly a story of the little town that could. It'll inspire you to make a mountain.

Library: VHS; Bandon & North Bend. DVD; Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112966/

Amazon: The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain

Fairy Tale: A True Story

Two precocious little girl cousins take photographs of fairies in order to cheer up their parents. Buoyed by the images, the adults consult with people interested in the occult and the images make their way to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle played by Peter O'Toole. He shows them to his friend magician Harry Houdini (Harvey Keitel) who tries to disprove the story but in this film does not.

I read that Doyle considered himself duped by the photograph, but the story isn't really about them. They even seem an afterthought. The family dynamics dominate the film. It's quite sweet and intended to ask us all about the nature of belief.

I once saw four different rainbows during a trip to Scotland. How can I NOT believe in fairies!

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119095/

Amazon: Fairy Tale - A True Story

Distracted this week

2009-11-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

I'll do a ton of make up posts soon. I'm just too distracted this week.

Good Review: Seven Pounds

2009-11-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Seven Pounds

A friend recommended this tearjerker and I thought I'd pick it up. Though you wont "love" this film it WILL make you think. Will Smith draws us in wondering what kind of an asshole he's playing. We see him badger a blind man, Woody Harrelson, for no good reason. Then he calls on a sick man running a nursing home.

As the story unfolds, it's clear there's some kind of memory of something gone terribly wrong with his life. Flash backs of a woman, wealth and workaholic aerospace entrepreneur show a vastly different more confident nicer human. Why would such a man turn into a jerk IRS agent.

When he starts investigating beautiful Rosario Dawson who needs a heart transplant, we start to get a creepy feeling this is going somewhere weird. They begin flirting and she shows him the intimacies of her business. One of her old printing machines needs repair and he sneaks in and fixes it while she's asleep.

What would you do for love? What would you do to appease your guilt? Though painful to watch, I found the story riveting.

Check this DVD out from Bandon, Coquille, Dora, Lakeside, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Powers and SWOCC. I guess Coos Bay needs to get a copy too.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814314/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Seven Pounds

Powers Gem List

2009-10-31T10:54:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have a fondness for this library though we've only been in it once and it wasn't to check out books or DVDs. When we called around to be married the only person available on short notice was a municipal judge for Powers. Our plan was to just stand outside and do the ceremenoy, but I had a bad head cold that day and rather than bugging the person with the key to the courthouse we all went into the library.

My husband and I met in a science fiction themed chat room in the mid 90s so appropriately we took our vows in that section. Though that was mere happenstance.

Enjoy these handful of Gems.

The Bucket List Dying old men explore the world together.

Collateral Strange twists and turns with a cabby and criminal battling each other.

Definitely, Maybe Sweet romantic comedy.

Enter the Lone Ranger The first few episodes of the original black and white film serials.

Eragon Family friendly fantasy.

Juno Pregnant teen sorts out her quirky life.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Cute teen girl flick about a pair of magical pants that fits all four girls.

Spanglish Though Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni get top billing the story is truly stars Paz Vega.

Dog Thursday

2009-10-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Europeans

This felt like a lame and slow Jane Austin novel. Some relatives of an American family arrive and insinuate themselves into the local society. We're never sure if they are conning the family or if they're real. I had to catch myself before I nodded off. Leave it on the library shelf.

Library: Bandon & Powers.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079123/

Amazon: The Europeans (The Merchant Ivory Collection)

Far and Away

Completely forgettable Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman stinker had them feigning Irish accents. Ron Howard directed this who cares epic about a couple moving to America and trying to start a new life. Yawn.

Library: VHS; Dora & Powers. DVD; Bandon, Dora & Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104231/

Amazon: Far and Away

Fanny & Alexander

This tale of a family filled with drama lost me from the start. The poor translations and sound dubbing distracted, but I don't understand why it's titled for the children, or who's point of view I'm supposed to focus on.

Famed director Ingmar Bergman made this toward the end of his life. For huge fans of foreign language and or the director, view it in the original language and leave a comment. I'd like to understand what all the praise is about.

Library: Bandon & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083922/

Amazon: Fanny and Alexander (The Theatrical Version) - Criterion Collection

Watchable Wednesday

2009-10-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

Joss Whedon's Dollhouse

This futuristic tale of a company that enslaves people without them realizing they're enslaved. They sign contracts to give up their bodies for a period of years. Their minds are supposedly stored inside a computer hard drive like device.

Creator Joss Whedon likes to use actors and actresses from his previous series. Eliza Dushku stars as Echo, the most popular "doll." She worked for him in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" vampire themed series.

The series still runs on Fox, but I suspect it's struggling with the final episode on the DVD appearing a series closer. I doubt it aired. The stories feed into conspiracy and serialized plot lines that pique our interest, but ultimately let us down when they end rather conventionally. Watchable none the less.

Library: North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135300/

Amazon: Dollhouse: Season One

The library has several seasons of this award winning series about a Cook County Emergency Room. For a few years the plots and trauma tended a bit on the unusual side and held my interest.

George Clooney honed his acting skills, Noah Wyle and Julianna Margulies started their carreers and many of us grew very fond of Anthony Edwards character Dr. Mark Greene. I started losing interest in the show when they started torturing the poor doctors. From HIV to brain tumors and beyond, it got rediculous.

Then they changed staff and started all over again with a new batch to torture.
Anthony Edwards played a doctor everyone loved to hate, adorable Goran Visnjic used his tall, dark, handsome and foreign wiles to make the nurses swoon and Maura Tierney went from beloved nurse to doctor.

With 15 seasons, I'm leaving out many people. Look over the IMDB for your favorites and feel free to leave a comment. The library appears to only have the first few seasons.

Library: Coquille & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108757/

Amazon: ER - The Complete First Season
ER - The Complete Second Season
ER - The Complete Third Season

Duane Hopwood

David Schwimmer plays an alcoholic divorced father just tries to keep his life together. Normally I don't like watching people who drink, but this guy does try and make his life work. Janeane Garofalo shows up as his ex-wife.

It's not for everyone, it's quite dark but well acted by all those involved. It felt "real" to me and the attempt at sorting out life and just failing miserably left me feeling so sorry for this guy.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398982/

Amazon: Duane Hopwood

Eclectic Shorts

Eric Leiser creates a series of image filled films that mesmerize and enchant. Though I have no idea what was going on, the sounds and images just look neat. Not something to gather all your buddies around to watch, but quite interesting to see once.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0829159/

Amazon: Eclectic Shorts by Eric Leiser

Documentary Soso List

2009-10-27T19:46:00.001-07:00

Really Wild Animals
Farmyard Friends
National Geographic Society

Dudley Moore voices the narration on this quite boring comparison to farm animals and their free living cousins. The producers think that lots of flashing from topic to topic will hold the interest of modern children. I think they totally miss how amazing the world really is. This video IS for kids, they might find some of it interesting.

Library: VHS; Coquille. DVD; Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482421/

Amazon: National Geographic Really Wild Animals Farmyard Friends

Eyewitness Ocean

This DVD explores the myths and legends related to the oceans. Quite boring and forgettable. I couldn't find additional information on the Internet Movie Database. I even looked under narrator Martin Sheen, no luck. Use the Amazon link to find out more.

Library: Myrtle Point & North Bend.

IMDB: NO INFO

Amazon: Eyewitness: Ocean

Expo
Magic of the White City

Gene Wilder narrates this film all about the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893. Truly fascinating subject, but I felt told very badly. I understand very little survived from the amazing event, but the focus jumped all over the place. I didn't like the stock current shots juxtaposed with drawings and sparse photography.

It went on much too long. If you're in the library, pick up a book on the topic. Then you can just scan through the interesting bits without having to sit through this dull bit of fluff.

Library: Bandon & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455940/

Amazon: EXPO - Magic of the White City DVD

The Endurance:
Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic expedition

This film tells the story of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who tries to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent. He and his crew of 27 fail miserably, but remarkably they all survive. Interesting video and photography and an intriguing tale, just again, told badly.

I find it truly surprising that these people didn't die from the poor planning and lack of leadership. Pick up a book on the topic, why waste a couple of hours on a film?

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264578/

Amazon: The Endurance - Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition

Repost of Old Gem: The Closer

2009-10-26T20:45:00.001-07:00

The Closer

Today I'm doing a bit of a recap on this series. I noticed two more seasons came up on the list and wanted to alert you to their availability. I like that in seasons three and four the main character, Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, begins to mature. She starts to stand up for herself with her overbearing father and becomes engaged to her long time boyfriend.

Lots of times series fail to let characters have a real life fearing that it will interfere with the story telling. I think it enhances things to make things more "normal." I am adding links to the old message found by clicking the title at the top of the page. Happy watching!

Myrtle Point Gem List

2009-10-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

Enjoy these 25 great films from Myrtle Point. Remember, it's easy to place a hold on films either in person or from the library website. Log on to: Coos County Library System and search for any one of these charmers.

About a Boy Sweet story about a grown up boy who meets a boy who's grown up too fast.

Amazing Adventure A spoiled rich man makes a bet with his doctor to live in poverty an entire year. Early Cary Grant SWOON!

The Apartment A young hard working office executive wanna-be trades evenings at his apartment for the hope of work advancement. Won the Oscar for Best Picture and should have won Best Actor Jack Lemmon and Best Actress Shirley MacLaine.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Silly cult classic that's so bad it's funny.

Because of Winn-Dixie Family friendly dog tale about an uprooted little girl and the dog she befriends.

Broken Trail Nice un-western western with Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church.

The Bucket List Dying old men explore the world together.

Capote Another bio pic this time of the author interviewed the killers for his book, In Cold Blood.

Chisum Rugged western starring John Wayne as a rancher who runs a vast New Mexico spread where he raises cattle. He protects himself and other ranchers from rustlers and tries to keep the land accessible to other less fortunate cattlemen.

Das Boot Gripping tale of a u-boat and its crew in the waning years of World War II.

A Day at the R aces Marx Brothers mayhem. Family funny.

Doctor Who Twenty-first century version of the long running British TV program.

Dreamgirls Fictionalized account of the rise of a girl group from Motown.

Duma Delightful family friendly story of a boy and his pet cheetah.

Ever After Spunky Cinderella story starring Drew Barrymore.

Juno Pregnant teen sorts out her quirky life.

Last King of Scotland Scary bio pic of the life of Ugandan leader Idi Amin.

Little Miss Sunshine Very much an adult film, despite the name and the outstanding kid actress. I laughed until tears poured down my face.

Pan's Labyrinth Spanish language fantasy.

Serenity Movie finale to the science fiction series Firefly about a ship full of ragamuffins.

Sicko Michael Moore documentary about health care. Interesting no matter what side you find yourself on.

South Park, Bigger, Longer & Uncut Very ADULT animated long version of the Comedy Central series about four fourth grade boys. Lots of humor they couldn't put in the TV series.

Spanglish Though Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni get top billing the story is truly stars Paz Vega.

Stardust Fallen celestial fantasy.

The World's Fastest Indian Outstanding film about one man's perseverance.

2009-10-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

13 Dead Men

So bad I chose not to watch more than the first five minutes. Send a comment if you want to write a review. I can't believe I checked it out twice. If I reviewed this before, I can't find it on the site. Look for Lorenzo Lamas if you want to see it.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367136/

Amazon: 13 Dead Men

The Enforcer
Family Enforcer
The Death Collector

I can't believe this badly made flick has more than one copy at the library. I've made no bones about disliking cheaters and mobsters and here we have both. This character works for the mob when he wants, but he's always up in people's face about what's right and it's no surprise he hardly gets anywhere in the organization. He cheats on his girl too.

This features very early Joe Pesci work and I figure someone thought he was worth watching. The main character collects debts for his mobster overlords, but we're not sure why they put up with his attitude. Avoid.

Library: Bandon & Coos Bay (maybe)

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072855/

Amazon: Family Enforcer

Epicenter

Chalk this one up as a badly titled film. The quake had little do do with the plot, I guess they just wanted to capitalize on the idea. An undercover cop, Traci Lords, gets pulled off an assignment to transport a mobster and finds out she's being set up.

Lots of explosions and special effects wasted on this crappy plot. Lords can do a good job, but they didn't give her anything decent to say.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0233656/

Amazon: Epicenter

Watchable Review: 8MM

2009-10-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

8MM

Glorified violence turns my stomach. This film explores that kind of exploitation with its own brutality, but I believe to the purpose of good. I don't want to see this ever again, yet the compelling well acted story kept me at the edge of my seat.

A wealthy widow finds a pornographic film depicting the brutal death of a young woman. She assigns an investigator to discreetly research the film and he goes on a dance with the devils involved.

Nicolas Cage broadens his acting range in this role as vengeful protector of the innocent voiceless murdered girl. We see opportunistic porn producers glorify the worst deviant human behavior as Cage struggles to keep himself on the trail.

He meets up with a decent but slightly twisted young man, Joaquin Phoenix, who helps him explore the underbelly of the pornography world. I believe there are people that use the young and vulnerable without regard to their welfare, but thankfully I don't think there are very many who go this far. At least I don't want to know if this world exists as portrayed.

Myrtle Point has the DVD and look for VHS copies in Coquille and Powers.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134273/

Amazon: 8MM

Agatha Christie Soso List

2009-10-21T04:03:00.000-07:00

Agatha Christie: A Life in Pictures.

They told this dramatic semi-bio pic in the style of one of her mysteries and while that might have worked with a better script and director, this fell on its face. Flashing forward and backward in time leaves one with a sense of disorientation that could entertain if there were some purpose to it. Here it only leaves the viewer confused.

Christie herself creates a media frenzy after she disappears and claims amnesia. The filmmakers seem to imply a true breakdown and there were lots of reasons that might be true, but it could just as easily have been a publicity stunt.

I'm sure fans of the author would enjoy this snippet of her character, but the casual viewer might find it a bit convoluted and dull. I felt they revealed nothing of her character in later life and I don't know why they even included that. Plus her whole second marriage story seemed a rushed afterthought.

Hmm, the library website tells me the film with this title has only a VHS copy in Bandon, but I know it's DVD format.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426394/

Amazon: Agatha Christie - A Life in Pictures

Agatha Christie Marple series 2
BBC Series

These films all rate about the same, I felt high end of Soso or a little better for a true fan. Geraldine McEwan plays a sweet dotery Miss Marple in each episode. Perhaps the complicated plots that detract from my enjoyment may just be the nature of Agatha Christie's original stories. These play frequently on PBS so you may not need to go to the library to see them. Look for the collection at the Myrtle Point branch. I will not review any further DVDs in this series. I find they all run about the same level of quality. Find an Amazon link at the bottom of the post.

Marple: Sleeping Murder

Energetic young Gwenda Halliday finds a house she wants to live in after she marries only to discover a vision of murder in her hallway. After Miss Marple is brought in to investigate they find this isn't Gwenda's first stay in the house.

Her father died along the cliffs there just after his wife to be leaves him. Plots and sub plots lead to finding the fiance murdered along with a maid asked to recount her recollections. Suspects include the comedy troop the wife to be worked in before meeting her man, the man himself and her older brother.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472135/

Marple: By the Pricking of My Thumbs

Tuppence Beresford and Miss Jane Marple set out to investigate the disappearance a guest at a retirement home after Beresford aunt dies suddenly. They have a strange painting and set out to find the house depicted in it's design.

A false trail of witches distract the pair from finding the old woman and the cottage. But eventually the sleuths ferret out the truth about the murder of the aunt and a village child.

IMDB; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489227/

Marple: The Moving Finger

Poison pen letters drive an acquaintance of Miss Jane Marple's to suicide and while she's there for the funeral others die as a result of the accusatory letters. Brother and sister Jerry and Joanna Burton help sleuth out the suspects from the village elite.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479955/

Marple: The Sittaford Mystery

I didn't expect Timothy Dalton to show up in a BBC mystery series and his ward looks a lot like the blond Bond guy, but it's not him. He plays a possible future prime minister candidate who gets murdered at a snow bound hotel near his home.

We learn all about his sordid past and all the people who want him dead. It seems when people die in these series they deserve it. Boy did this guy. He murdered an archaeologist years before and stole riches from a tomb in Egypt.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491050/

Amazon: Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 2

Blog Blues

2009-10-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Well, not really. I live a pretty positive happy life and I keep the blues away on purpose. I spent a lot of my life being unhappy and now I just refuse to be that way without a darn good reason.

I've been reading a book on marketing and the writer, Seth Godin, talks about doing something "remarkable" so that your customers tell their friends about what your business is doing. I thought, I'm not remarkable. Well, *I* am, but the blog isn't. That's OK, honest. I just thought, hmm what can I do to change that. How could I possibly make writing this thing something you want to tell your friends to read.

Tons of folks write reviews. I thought maybe it would be a fun niche to focus on the library. I STILL love it, suprising considering I tend to be flakey and quit doing things after a while.

It's still just so much fun popping a film in and finding something different and going WOW. So I keep getting the DVDs and keep picking through the dogs in order to celebrate the gems.

I plan to stretching myself to write more remarkable posts. I realized that I can do that with bad as well as good ones. Ok, so now I have a solid beat the blog blues plan. Feel free to comment on posts. I want to hear from you.

I'll try and hit a double post tomorrow. I just wanted to share something different today.

Good Review: Fallen Angel

2009-10-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

Fallen Angel

I find it rare to see a story told out of order work so well. This BBC mini series tells the tale in three distinct parts, starting with the most recent events and going to the oldest.

We see the life of a young woman unravel to the point where she kidnaps a little girl, but her motives stem from her own childhood resentments. As the tale goes on, we see more how the older members of her family failed to get her the mental help she needed.

Emilia Fox plays the title role as Rosie 'Angel' Byfield. She manipulates a pedophile into helping her kidnap little girls and finally plots to take the daughter of her rival. In the second episode, we see her as a young woman struggling with a new stepmother and a mysterious drug using boyfriend. Finally, we see her childhood where her mother kills herself after being suspected of stabbing senile grandpa.

We need all three episodes for a complete picture of who this girl becomes. Each tale shines a light on a different corner of her mind, but leaves enough up in the air to draw us to the next part. It explores side plots of working mothers, relationship dynamics and faith without ever pushing any topic in your face.

Check out this intriguing drama from Coquille.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0939235/

Buy it from Amazon: Fallen Angel

Bandon Gem List

2009-10-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Bandon has the most DVD Gems by far with 65. As with all my posts I encourage you to post any comments good or bad. Also, I have only you to help me catch errors I've made, so feel free to bring those to my attention too. Enjoy!

10 Items or Less Fictional story about an actor researching a role at a convenience
store. Morgan Freeman and Paz Vega star.

13 Rue Madeleine Very entertaining Word War II spy story.

3:10 to Yuma Old west sheriff tries to take a bad guy to the train. Very well acted.

1000 Journals Documentary about an intriguing worldwide art project.

About a Boy Sweet story about a grown up boy who meets a boy who's grown up too fast.

Aeon Flux Charlize Theron stars in this weird mix between the Matrix and the Sixth Day. It surpassed both in story quality, acting and look.

Airplane! Spoof on flying related disaster films from the 60s and 70s.

All the Kings Men Fictionalized account of legendary politician Huey Long's life, Sean Penn transforms himself from a humble mayor into a man of the people.

The American President Andrew Shepherd lost his wife before his first election and now during his second, he meets a lovely lobbyist. Their relationship causes him some political trouble. Funny and touching.

American Splendor Odd character, Harvey Pekar, bumbles along in his real life and creates a popular comic book.

Baadasssss! True story of filmmaker Melvin Van Peeble self promoted and distributed film about life in the African-American community.

Babe Sweet tale of a sheep herding pig and the farmer who believes in him.

Bagdad Cafe Quirky story of strange goings on at a California desert truck stop.

Beautiful Thing and Better Than Chocolate Two separate sweet stories of gay romance.

Blue Collar Comedy Tour I don't care where yall be from these guys is FUNNY. (Bad English intentional. )

Blue Vinyl Environmental concerns over PVC drive a daughter to replace her parent's siding.

Broken Trail Nice un-western western with Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church.

The Bucket List Dying old men explore the world together.

Bullitt Old school cop thriller staring Steve McQueen.

Capote Another bio pic this time of the author interviewed the killers for his book, In Cold Blood.

Chestnut: Hero of Central Park Sweet family friendly tale of two little orphan girl's love for their found dog.

Chocolate Rather strange woman opens a sweets shop in a small French town. She has a sixth sense about people and their favorite tastes.

Chuck Jones: Extremes & In-betweens, a Life in Animation Lovely documentary of the legendary animator.

The Closer Cable series about a lady cop who manipulates defendants to confess.

Code 46 Weird controlled future where travel restrictions prevent people from going wherever they want. Tim Robbins falls for the wrong girl and pays the price.

Collateral Strange twists and turns with a cabby and criminal battling each other.

The Color Purple Amazing family drama, adult themes.

The Commitments An Irish lad forms a rock band and they hit it big until the inevitable infighting breaks them apart.

Dave Comedy about the president of the United States getting replaced with an impersonator. Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver star.

Deadwood Western series, adult only, season one and two.

A Decade Under the Influence This series of programs speaks with actors, directors and producers on the topic of film in the 1970s.

Definitely, Maybe Sweet romantic comedy.

Dexter Creepy serial killer of serial killers, very adult themes.

The Dick Van Dyke Show Black and white, comedy writing dad situation comedy from
the 60's.

Dirty Pretty Things This outstanding UK drama tells the story of the lengths immigrants go to in order to survive.

D.L. Hughley Unapologetic Showtime comedy special.

Doctor Who Twenty-first century version of the long running British TV program.

Dreamgirls Fictionalized account of the rise of a girl group from Motown.

Dumbo! Disney classic animated children's film about a flying elephant.

Eagle vs Shark Quirky romantic comedy about a outcasts who find each other.

Eagles: Hell Freezes Over The classic rock band reunites after decades apart.

Eddie Izzard: Circle Cross dressing comic stands up for his views of the world.

The Emperor's New Clothes Napoleon tries to regain is throne and finds joy in the simpler things in life.

Enter the Lone Ranger The first few episodes of the original black and white film serials.

Eragon Family friendly fantasy.

Fail-safe Compelling and well acted 60s era nuclear war drama.

The Fifth Element Futuristic stunning romantic "dramedy" staring Bruce Willis as a former military cab driving maniac who's enlisted to save the world. A pretty girl falls into his cab and he falls for her doe eyed good looks.

Forbidden Planet Mad scientist, Walter Pidgeon, and his daughter live alone on an amazing alien planet until Leslie Nielsen flies down in his space ship to check out the place. Scary monsters and robots make for interesting interactions.

Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life George Baily finds out he's worthwhile after all. Holiday Classic.

Galaxy Quest Mmm spacey. A group of science fiction actors get caught up in a real live space opera. Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman star.

The Incredibles A family of animated super heroes fight an evil genius. Suitable for the entire brood.

Juno Pregnant teen sorts out her quirky life.

Last King of Scotland Scary bio pic of the life of Ugandan leader Idi Amin.

Little Miss Sunshine Very much an adult film, despite the name and the outstanding kid actress. I laughed until tears poured down my face.

My Fellow Americans Two former presidents uncover a plot to kill them and they go on the run. Preposterously funny.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Based on Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, directors Joel Coen and his brother Ethan Coen, send us on a wild tale set in the depression era.

Pan's Labyrinth Spanish language fantasy.

Plesantville A teen boy and his sister get drawn into a 50s era TV show and learn the value of color and genuine passion.

Sicko Michael Moore documentary about health care. Interesting no matter what side you find yourself on.

South Park, Bigger, Longer & Uncut Very ADULT animated long version of the Comedy Central series about four fourth grade boys. Lots of humor they couldn't put in the TV series.

Spanglish Though Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni get top billing the story is truly stars Paz Vega.

Stardust Fallen celestial fantasy.

The Visitor Love a great character driven drama? This is for you.

Working Girl Secretary makes a big business deal while her boss is away. Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford star.

The World's Fastest Indian Outstanding film about one man's perseverance.

Dog Review: The Dark Knight

2009-10-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

The Dark Knight

Yep, this is me calling Batman a dog. Yep, I know Heath Ledger won the Oscar for his performance. I think it's just guilt for overlooking him for Brokeback Mountain. I liked Christian Bale in many things before, but he just got over dark and broody in this film.

Here's what I miss: a plot with a purpose. If you are just a bad man like say The Joker, you have to have some motivation for being so violent. I need to see some childhood trauma, some industrial accident or just some therapy session gone terribly wrong.

OK, I'm not dumb, I get that this is a comic book film. I just expect a LITTLE depth. Why protect people if you do it in ways that risks them as much as the bad guys?

It looks like every branch except Lakeside has a copy. Look for the DVD in Bandon, Coos bay, Coquille, Dora, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Powers and SWOCC.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/

Amazon: The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)

Funny Watchables.

2009-10-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

Ace Ventura, Pet Detective

Someone steals the Miami Dolphin's mascot and they hire the title character to find the animal. Jim Carrey slides on the scene with his hilarity and investigates what happens.

To call this character and film weird would be an understatement. Toilet humor and making funny faces tend to be Carrey's stock and trade so to expect anything less would be to be in denial about him as an actor. Still, it has a lot of laughs and twists you wont expect.

Library: VHS; Coquille & Powers. DVD; Coos Bay.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109040/

Amazon: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Get Smart

Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway charm as Control agents 86 and 99 in this remake of the classic TV show. It worked even if you either didn't see or weren't a big fan of the original series.

They took an approach of paying homage to the original while making a serious plot film with funny circumstances and dialog. The bits made sense and weren't just shoved in to be funny.

Fans will love the cameo with Bernie Kopell who played Siegfried a KAOS agent on the original series. Watch Careful for his appearance, it comes and goes quick.

Library: Bandon, Coos Bay, Dora & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425061/

Amazon: Get Smart (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Ellen Degeneres : Here and Now

I like her comedy style, just with this one, I felt it was everything I've heard her do before. If you're a fan and don't mind seeing the jokes she did on Carson or Letterman again, grab it and enjoy. It's good, I just want something new and fresh.

Library: Bandon & North Bend

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365156/

Amazon: Ellen DeGeneres - Here and Now

Soso Tuesday

2009-10-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

1st and Ten

This HBO series form the mid 80s shows us the story of the California Bulls, a fictitious football team owned by Delta Burke. The male owners try and dominate and manipulate her into doing their dirty work like getting the players to agree to random drug testing.

Generally the plot involves contrasts between players misbehaving in goodhearted fun or vicious abusive team destroying ways. Very little gave me any insight into behind the scenes. It attempted a "dramedy" air and didn't quite pull it off.

I laughed some and almost put this in a higher category. At the same time, other scenes just made me cringe. The first season (which I happened to watch second) had some female frontal nakedness and just seemed exploitative. The second season featured O.J. Simpson. Kind of sad that his was one of the better acting jobs.

I only watched the first disk of the three available. If you have seen the other seasons, please comment and let me know what you thought.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086660/

Amazon: 1st and Ten - Complete Collection

Against All Odds

Disgruntled football star Jeff Bridges gets involved in a scheme to find the girlfriend of his mobster buddy James Woods. We're not exactly sure why Bridges gets sent or why the girl and he get together but they do.

Rachel Ward plays the daughter of a wealthy woman real estate developer. Bribery, intrigue and murder follow. My beef comes from not having any heroes. It seems everyone craps on everyone else. Powerful people bribe politicos, mobsters manipulate their "friends" with blackmail and women betray their lovers.

I'd just take a pass and find something else to watch. Try The Last Boy Scout with Bruce Willis. Much better film and has a similar feel.

Library: VHS; Bandon. DVD; Bandon & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086859/

Amazon: Against All Odds (Special Edition)

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls - I just found out this is no longer available in DVD format so I'm going to not review it.

Good Review:

2009-10-12T18:47:00.000-07:00

Fast Food My Way
with Jacques Pépin

Normally, I leave off the how to DVDs, but I wasn't sure what this film was about so I selected and THEN found out it was Jacques Pepin. He's a funny very French chef that's been around cooking shows for ages.

He's friendly and encourages us to try new and interesting dishes. Though I haven't tried any of the dishes from this program, I did try once to make stuffed chicken breast with plum sauce. I could have done better, but no one got sick. Yay me.

North Bend and SWOCC have copies of what might be the same program, but they have different data so I can't tell for sure. Then there's a book that would probably be the most helpful for cooking. Pick that up from Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475912/

Buy this fine cooking DVD from Amazon: Jacques Pepin Fast Food My Way

Coquille Gem List

2009-10-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

Last week I did a single film review. This week I've gone back to the lists of great films from a particular branch. I hope you will enjoy these 11 films as much as I did.

About a Boy Sweet story about a grown up boy who meets a boy who's grown up too fast.

Because of Winn-Dixie Family friendly dog tale about an uprooted little girl and the dog she befriends.

The Closer Cable series about a lady cop who manipulates defendants to confess.

Dreamgirls Fictionalized account of the rise of a girl group from Motown.

Enter the Lone Ranger The first few episodes of the original black and white film serials.

Eragon Family friendly fantasy.

The Incredibles A family of animated super heroes fight an evil genius. Suitable for the entire brood.

The Razor's Edge VHS ONLY. A tale of a man trying to find himself after he experiences World War I as an ambulance driver.

Serenity Movie finale to the science fiction series Firefly about a ship full of ragamuffins.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Cute teen girl flick about a pair of magical pants that fits all four girls.

The Visitor Love a great character driven drama? This is for you.

Thursday Dog Pile

2009-10-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

Because I missed last week's Dog post I am tacking on a couple extras. You will NOT enjoy these films.

Against All Hope

I know I've seen this film before, but I haven't review it and I don't know why not. A drunk starts to talk to a preacher who tells him that God will make everything better. Terrible production values mixed with stupid plot just made this confusing and AWFUL.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235166/

Amazon: Against All Hope

Even Money

Good people don't always make a good film. This follows the lives of a bunch of degenerate gamblers and how they get themselves in over their heads. Lots of death and mayhem.

Here's a part list of who's in it: Danny DeVito, Forest Whitaker, Kim Basinger, Kelsey Grammer and Ray Liotta. Some of them use their talents well in this film, but they couldn't begin to make it entertaining. If you want to see something interesting about gambling, watch The Cooler.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404163/

Amazon: Even Money : Widescreen Edition

Evil's City

I've seen better acting in a high school play. Just don't even bother. This is what the library entry says: Two reporters from a college newspaper track down a forgotten California town, only to find it inhabited by murderous zombies. Maybe I need to invent a "Dead Dog" category just for crap like this.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400329/

Amazon: Evil's City

Factotum

I cannot begin to tell you how deeply this film offended me. Matt Dillon plays a man who supposedly wants to write, but along the way he screws over employers, women and friends. He drinks and gambles too much and hits his degenerate drunk girlfriend. Marisa Tomei needs to find another decent part someday. AVOID.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417658/

Amazon: Factotum

Fair Game

Memo: if they say "that was impossible," after a big stunt, turn off the film. Cindy Crawford and William Baldwin star in this clunker about a Russian mobster trying to kill a pretty lawyer. She stumbled upon the existence of an asset for a client, a boat the mafia guy was using to make a heist, and nearly dies for her efficiency.

Baldwin plays a cop who tries to protect her. Look for a cameo of Salma Hayek as his hot tempered Latina girlfriend. Or better yet, don't. Even the stunts don't save this poorly written and acted mess.

Library: Bandon & Coos Bay.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113010/

Amazon: Fair Game

Falling Down

Michael Douglas can act and he does convince me he's this guy, but I just couldn't grasp the point of the film. We're really not given an idea of what his stress points are that make him so crazy as to go on a rampage after being stuck in traffic. It just seemed all random and erratic. I want a setup and then an evaluation by a cop or counselor or someone.

Library: VHS; Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille & Dora. DVD; Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106856/

Amazon: Falling Down

Watchable Wednesday

2009-10-07T21:08:00.001-07:00

Absent Minded Professor

Fred MacMurray stars in this silly tale of an inventor who creates some amazing rubber like substance that bounces super high. He coats the basketball team's sneakers and they begin winning.

In typical Disney form, a corrupt business man tries to steal the formula. This is a nice family friendly film from 1961. It's in black and white, but your kids will still like it.

Library: VHS; Bandon, Coos Bay, Myrtle Point & Powers. DVD; Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054594/

Amazon: The Absent-Minded Professor (Widescreen Edition)

Dragnet

Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks pay homage to the classic TV series with this madcap comedy film. A straight laced detective, Sgt. Joe Friday, tries to break up a mysterious cult looking for a virgin to sacrifice.

He and his scroungy partner find the girl, but the cult captures her. Sure they took a drama and made a comedy out of it, but that's alright. No one is really as stuff as the original Joe Friday.

The library system has several copies of the original series. They're quite watchable too. Look for the film at the branch below.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092925/

Amazon: Dragnet

Elf

Not really a huge Will Ferrell fan, but I LOVE Bob Newhart. Buddy finds out he's not a true elf and he goes to find his real father. How far wrong can you go watching Ferrell sit on Newhart's lap.

In general the cast just makes for a laugh party. Look for Edward Asner as Santa and James Caan, Mary Steenburgen and Zooey Deschanel will charm you with their comedy antics.

Library: VHS; Powers. DVD; Bandon, Dora & North Bend

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/

Amazon: Elf : Widescreen Edition

Wallace & Gromit. The Curse of the Were-rabbit

Quite an entertaining pun filled romp about a pair of kindly exterminators who take all the animals and put them on the farm of their lady friend. One of them pair gets exposed to a Were-rabbit (like a were-wolf only in bunny form.) He then goes around terrorizing the town until his partner figures out it's him.

It might take a couple of watches to catch all the pun goodness. Many of them go by so fast. Husband Murry liked it more than I did, but I laughed enough to give this the watchable rank.

Library: Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Myrtle Point and Powers.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312004/

Amazon:Wallace & Gromit - The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Widescreen Edition)

2009-10-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

The 300 Spartans

This film depicts a more accurate and less mystical version of Spartan King Leonidas efforts to fight off a Persian invasion of thousands with just 300 of his own men. He did have some untrained fighters from other Greek states, but they were quite ineffective.

Made in 1962, this film looked old and worn. it lacked as much entertainment value as 300, but told the tale well enough. I think a good documentary with reenactments would be better.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055719/

Amazon: The 300 Spartans

Anchorman the Legend of Ron Burgundy

This 70s era comedy depicts a male dominated newsroom where a fresh faced new gal comes on the scene threatening the lead anchorman. Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate star.

Yes, there are laughs here and I'm sure fans of Farrell will love it, but I don't like when films just think stupid equals funny. Seems lazy and boring to me. Oh and not suitable for younger viewers.

Library: Bandon & North Bend

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357413/

Amazon: Anchorman - The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Keanu Reeves stars as alien Klaatu sent to decide the fate of the Earth. As much as I loved the original, this one disappointed a lot. The filmmakers failed to realize the subtle message of the original that gave humanity a chance to change.

In this version the alien is dispassionate for the most part. Then he changes, but we're not really sure why. We also don't know why the woman helps him. Why destroy mankind when they have such powers. Why not just create a new planet and save species there.

It really seemed like an excuse to do a bunch of special effects. Get the original and avoid this one.

Library: Bandon & Coos Bay

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970416/

Amazon: The Day the Earth Stood Still (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Donnie Brasco

Al Pacino and Johnny Depp do a good job, I just find mob flicks generally boring. An undercover FBI agent feels more at home with his mob buddies than his regular civilian life. You'll have to decide for yourself if these actors will inspire you to see this based on a true story flick. I forgot the plot and to me that's a bad sign.

Library: VHS; Lakeside. DVD; Coos Bay & Dora.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119008/

Amazon: Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)

Gem Review: Fail-safe

2009-10-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

Fail-safe

For as much as I didn't like Dr. Strangelove, I loved this serious version of the same topic. A bomber group gets mixed up signals and begins an attack on Russia. President, Henry Fonda, has to attempt to thwart his own soldiers from setting off a nuclear bomb over Moscow.

First, we're twisted with serious "get them before they get us" rhetoric from Walter Matthau as a military consultant. Once the emergency starts, he urges the president and military to devastate the enemy while they're trying to figure out what's happening.

Strangely, the military personnel urge caution and cooperation. One general wonders aloud about the need for live bombs and the safety of systems set up to prevent errors.

Look for a very young Larry Hagman has the Russian translator helping the president and Dom DeLuise as a computer tech. All these comedic icons in serious rules, just shows the huge talent they can bring to great projects like this.

Though the nuclear threat no longer lingers in the same way, your pulse will race. The way the filmmaters foreshadow climatctic events, the sight of Henry Fonda shouldering the fate of the world from a desolate bunker setting and the tension created from acting proowess instead of wiz bang special effects all consipre to set us on the edge of our seat.

I sometimes overlook the special features, but have a look at these. It talks about how it compares to Dr. Strangelove and how George Clooney loved this screenplay so much he remade it in 2000.

Run don't walk to the library for this fantastic film. Look in Bandon for the DVD and Coquille has a copy of the VHS.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058083/

Head to Amazon to buy this amazing film: Fail-safe (Special Edition)

Unrelated Watch List

2009-10-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

Bridget Jones's Dairy

A Brit girl flirts with her boss and lands him only to find out he's a philandering jerk. Renée Zellweger stars as Bridget with Hugh Grant as the boss man.

Eventually she comes to her senses and takes up with Colin Firth, but things go a bit wrong and they have a disagreement.

Lots of funny scenes of a single girl trying to manage a modern career. Bits of it smack of desperation, but that's funny I guess. I find it sad. Still worth a watch.

Library: VHS; Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille & Powers. DVD; Coquille & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243155/

Amazon: Bridget Jones's Diary (Collector's Edition)

Chicago

This musical features folks you don't immediately associate with singing. Ambitious singer/dancers Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones find themselves on death row together. They team up to try and make their cases go away with the help of lawyer Richard Gere.

Look for an outstanding performance from Queen Latifah as the prison matron. A lot of times when they take a successful play to film, they lose something. I think they managed to keep this Oscar winner just as entertaining as the stage version.

Library: Bandon, Dora, Coos Bay, Coquille, Dora & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299658/

Amazon: Chicago (Widescreen Edition)

A Doll's house

This classic Henrik Ibsen tale features Anthony Hopkins as Torvald Helmer a controlling husband who's wife Nora borrows money from a scurrilous character to save her husband's life. We see the couple now doing well and stable and Torvald wanting to fire the lender for being of low character. Nora, Claire Bloom, pleads with him to give the man his job back, but control freak Torvald refuses.

The money lender writes a letter threatening to expose Nora's borrowing and Torvald over reacts and hits her. He tells her she's unfit to be a mother. The money lender takes pity on her after a friend of hers asks him to and suddenly Torvald loves her again.

She realizes he's too erratic for her and packs her bags and she sets out ot find herself. She leaves her husband bewildered. I just love the strong confident woman she becomes.

Library: SWOCC

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069987/

Amazon:A Doll's House

Soso Rom Coms

2009-09-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Knocked Up

I cannot even begin to imagine that a tool like Seth Rogen could wash the CAR of Katherine Heigl. I don't care how much alcohol she pours down her throat, no way no how she'd give him the time of day. Biology keeps us within a couple degrees of hotness when picking our mate.

Then they try and work it out after they're pregnant? In what universe? The premise lost me but a few scenes charm with their sex humor. Rogen and his friends act like children but nothing about this film is suitable for kids.

I also laughed when raging hormones makes her toss him out of the car. He's forced to walk to the doctor's office. To his credit, he shows up still.

Many people loved this film. These are my opinions, you may think something different.

Library: Myrtle Point & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478311/

Amazon: Knocked Up (Widescreen Edition)

Edge of Seventeen

A confused young man explores his sexuality and figures out he's gay. There are so many better flicks that explore the coming of age scene, pick one of them. I'd start with A Beautiful Thing.

I'm kind of not keen on how the kid once he starts figuring out his orientation, he keeps leading the girl on. That's not cool to the girl.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138414/

Amazon: Edge of Seventeen

Employee of the Month

Slacker Dane Cook vies for model worker status in the hopes of winning the affections of hot new employee Jessica Simpson. His rival played by Dax Shepard normally wins the title moniker.

It's a nice sense of camaraderie between the slacker and his work buddies, until he messes that up over the girl. Very much cartoon acting. Especially with someone like Andy Dick in the cast.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424993/

Amazon: Employee of the Month

Good Review: Failure to Launch

2009-09-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

Failure to Launch

Parents Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw can't get Matthew McConaughey out of the house so they enlist fake girlfriend Sarah Jessica Parker to give him an incentive. The trouble is, she really falls for the goofy guy, and he still maintains his commitment issues.

I might have rated this higher, but the whole subplot about nature hating McConaughey's character turned me off. I didn't like the campy way animals kept biting him. Everything else made me laugh and feel for these parents and the childish guy friends.

Zooey Deschanel charms as Parker's quirky roommate. I just can't say how much I love Bates and she just proves how much she deserved Oscar notice. Watch out for Terry Bradshaw's naked behind though. This film isn't for kiddies. It's funny as hell and part of the plot, but I probably could have done without seeing naked old man butt.

Look in Bandon, Dora, Myrtle Point and North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Failure to Launch (Special Collector's Edition)

Kiddie Dogs

2009-09-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

Fairly Oddparents
the Movie

Definitely for kiddies, I hated this so much. Too much flash and fast speak to understand the words. Maybe little kids would like it but I don't know. A 10-year-old boy with working parents makes wishes and gets fairy godparents who take care of him. I got bored and switched it off after that.

Library: Coquille

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363600/

Amazon: The Fairly OddParents: Abra-catastrophe! The Movie

The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave

More like the extreme adventures of stupid Dave. Where Jim Varney's Ernest P. Worrell character charms with his ridiculous antics Super Dave Osborne bores me to tears.

I don't like how he crashes through everything and doesn't seem to suffer any consequences. One moment of almost funny when blind Ray Charles drives a bus through the streets of Las Vegas, but nothing can make up for all the terrible acting and dumb plot. Use your judgement, but I wouldn't let my kids or grandkids watch this.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144096/

Amazon: The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave

Watch List

2009-09-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Dreamer

In the world of horse racing one false move or one injury puts you out of the game. Second chances are rare. Ben Crane played by Kurt Russell doesn't believe in second chances anymore. Luckily for racehorse Dreamer, his daughter Cale, Dakota Fanning, still has hope.

Cale begs her father to let her keep the broken down horse to sire her to another champion, but they soon find she cannot reproduce. While exercising, the horse gets spooked and takes off running and Ben notices the injuries that put her to pasture have healed.

The family plots to get her entered into a high stakes race. Sometimes a little hope goes a long way.

I can't help but think there are much better horse films with much better plots, but this nice piece of family fluff is a sweet way to spend a couple hours.

Library: Dora, Lakeside, North Bend & Powers.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418647/

Amazon: Dreamer - Inspired By a True Story (Widescreen Edition)

Drumline

A talented, yet undisciplined young man goes to college on a band scholarship. When he gets there, he's convinced he's the greatest drummer in the universe and the band leader has to take him down a couple of pegs.

We've seen this plot played out in many films and it's nice to see music and choreography that isn't "like everything else." Pick it up from this fine library.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303933/

Amazon: Drumline (Special Edition)

Eight Below

Dog sled expert, Jerry Shepard, has better relationships with his canine friends than he does with people. He fails to see that his lady friend still loves him and he sometimes treats other men like misbehaving dogs. He fails to understand social interaction on a human level.

After helping a scientist out onto the snowy tundra, a huge storm forces him to leave his dogs behind for far longer than expected. When he finally does return, he expects to find them all dead. We see several break free from their chains and forage the frozen wasteland for food.

The dogs are cute and the story progresses nicely. Well worth a watch for dog lovers.

Library: Bandon, Myrtle Point & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397313/

Amazon:Eight Below (Full Screen Edition)

2009-09-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Japanese Title:
Koneko Monogatari

Cute little tale of a dog and kitty going on an adventure away from home. It's alright but I got bored. Might entertain a toddler for a couple of hours. Masanori Hata wrote and directed the film in Japanese, but they hired Dudley Moore to narrate the English version.

Library: VHS; Bandon & Coos Bay. DVD; Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point, North Bend & Powers

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097050/

Amazon: The Adventures of Milo and Otis

The Last Mimzy

This film tried real hard to be a kiddy science fiction flick, but came off too adult and too childish at the same time. They talked about dreams and the future and the past as if we're supposed to totally follow all the illogical logic.

While playing on the beach, two children find some rocks that spin and float. They hide them from their parents and take them back home. After some time passes and the rocks give the children mysterious powers and they build a weird device that blacks out half of Seattle.

Big bad government man, Michael Clarke Duncan, imprisons the kids for causing the black out but they escape and contact the boy's teacher, Rainn Wilson, to help them get back to the beach. Somehow the strange device opens a hole in time and nearly sucks the little girl into the future. Yeah, I'm confused and I saw it already.

Library: Dora, Myrtle Point & North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768212/

Good Review: Escape to Witch Mountain

2009-09-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

Escape to Witch Mountain

I dig this Disney classic for its weird alien kiddie plot. Tia and Tony exhibit telekinetic and other mental special powers as they traverse the countryside trying to make their way to get picked up by their space faring relatives.

They're being chased by a millionaire who noticed their powers and wants to use them for no good. Eddie Albert reluctantly helps them find their way to the mountain.

Yep, it's silly and campy and far fetched but for all these reasons I enjoyed it totally. Safe for the whole family. Bring back a memory from your own past and show your kids this cute little film DVD and VHS copies in Coos Bay and Myrtle Point. Never seen it yourself? All the more reason to pick it up.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072951/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Escape to Witch Mountain Special Edition

Lakeside Gem List

2009-09-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

Just these four DVDs from Lakeside at the moment. I'll update the lists as I view more gems.

Aeon Flux Charlize Theron stars in this weird mix between the Matrix and the Sixth Day. It surpassed both in story quality, acting and look.

American Splendor Odd character, Harvey Pekar, bumbles along in his real life and creates a popular comic book.

The Bucket List Dying old men explore the world together.

Dreamgirls Fictionalized account of the rise of a girl group from Motown.

A couple Soso cult classics.

2009-09-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

These two films hold cult standing among many folks. I prefer my science fiction with a more believable and purposeful plot. You may feel differently, please feel free to leave a comment.

Escape from New York

Meet former war hero Snake Plissken, now a super bad tattooed criminal send in to the prison that is New York to rescue the world's greatest leader. Gangs of thugs run the streets and Plissken, Kurt Russell, has to find the president and get him out fast.

To motivate him to get the job done officials promise a pardon and embed him with an explosive device set to explode in 24 hours. I'm pretty sure no one wants to live in writer/director John Carpenter's scary future.

Library: DVD; Myrtle Point. VHS; Coos Bay & Lakeside.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082340/

Amazon: Escape from New York

Escape from L.A.

This time the United States government sends Snake Plissken in to dismantle a doomsday device inside the bowels of the undesirable island of Los Angeles. I found it a little more entertaining than the first, mostly because I don't think Kurt Russel took his character too seriously the second time around. All the ridiculous plot elements just seemed to amuse him more.

Even so, it's virtually the same film with a different location. Unlike other soso films, I don't regret seeing these, I just don't think they're worth watching more than once.

Library: Bandon & Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116225/

Amazon: Escape from L.A.

Watchable Review: Duck

2009-09-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

Duck

Some might not appreciate this quirky modern morality tale. Philip Baker Hall stars as a displaced widower in his 70s living in a future where there are no more community parks. The government took away all kinds of services, like social security and medicare.

Our "hero" befriends a duck and raises it as his pet until the city of Los Angles drains its pond. The pair set out on a trip to try and move to near the ocean. It's a near future tale exploiting every liberal fear imaginable.

Well acted and unexpected. Have a look for this strange flick form Bandon or North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386421/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Duck

Dog Review: Escape Velocity

2009-09-15T18:49:00.001-07:00

Escape Velocity

Science fiction tends to get my attention, but sadly this lacked any redeeming value whatsoever. A notorious intergalactic prisoner escapes and ends up on a shp run by a pair of married scientists who have a rebellious teenage daughter with them.

They don't realize he's an escaped prisoner until he tries to take their ship. First he starts out by trying to manipulate the daughter, but when she wont hurt her mother for him, he gets angry and tries to attack her.

He manages to lock the family into a compartment, but the mom uses some military training to fight him off. Apparently his buddies were asleep on his ship and he wakes them up and try and help the bad guy leader kill the family.

We don't really understand who any of these people really are and what motivated them. We're given no set up for why the mom has all this magical training or why she's not getting along with her daughter.

Myrtle Point has the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0176700/

Find additional information on Amazon: Escape Velocity

Good Review: Equilibrium

2009-09-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

Equilibrium

This film kind of combines elements from 1984, The Matrix and even a little Fahrenheit 451 thrown in for good measure. Christian Bale stars as a kind of censorship cop who breaks up gangs of people who read and refuse to take their "stay calm meds" He trains to fight the bad guys and once he stop taking his own dose, he goes after the big brother style leader who tells everyone what to think.

Even though the concepts are old, they executed this film in ways that entertain throughout. It took turns I didn't expect. Sure it's on the low end of what I call good, but I enjoyed it. So would a teen I think.

Bandon has the only copy of this interesting DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238380/

Buy this film on DVD from Amazon: Equilibrium

Dora Library Gem List

2009-09-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Enjoy these delights from Dora.

3:10 to Yuma Old west sheriff tries to take a bad guy to the train. Very well acted.

Blast from the Past Sweet romantic comedy where naive sheltered (literally) man meets world wise girl and they learn about each others world.

Blue Collar Comedy Tour I don't care where yall be from these guys is FUNNY. (Bad English intentional. )

Broken Trail Nice un-western western with Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church.

The Bucket List Dying old men explore the world together.

Definitely, Maybe Sweet romantic comedy.

Dreamgirls Fictionalized account of the rise of a girl group from Motown.

Duma Delightful family friendly story of a boy and his pet cheetah.

Elizabethtown Quirky family drama that totally turned me around the last half.

Eragon Family friendly fantasy.

Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life George Baily finds out he's worthwhile after all. Holiday Classic.

Juno Pregnant teen sorts out her quirky life.

The Last Starfighter I'll admit this is a guilty pleasure, but if you like science fiction without too much worry over wiz bang special effects, this sweet family friendly story will charm your rockets off.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Cute teen girl flick about a pair of magical pants that fits all four girls.

Spanglish Though Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni get top billing the story is truly stars Paz Vega.

Random Unrelated Dogs

2009-09-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Best Men

They just jump right into this film without sharing with us the back story about these guys. We aren't taught to see them as interesting people so we don't know to cheer or boo at their misfortunes.

Dean Cain never was much of an actor, same with Andy Dick or Luke Wilson. I know Drew Barrymore has the ability to do a good job, but this script left her with nothing to do. Take a pass on this puppy.

Library: DVD; Coos Bay & Powers. VHS; Lakeside.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118702/

Amazon: Best Men

Edison Force

Oh, just pass by this film featuring a bunch of dirty cops doing their bad stuff. I really like Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman but alas they could do nothing to save us from the terrible acting of Justin Timberlake or LL Cool J.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389957/

Amazon: Edison Force

End of Days

Arnold Schwarzenegger reluctantly tries to save the world from the devil. Gabriel Byrne plays Satan with a mean face. Personally, I figure Lucifer will come to the world with more charm. Woo us to hell with his promises and then make us suffer later. I mean if I were gonna write the story. Since they didn't use any of my creative force, I unrecommend this film.

Library: DVD; Bandon. VHS; Coos Bay.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146675/

Amazon: End of Days

Enduring Love

While picnicking in a park with his girlfriend, a man sees a little boy float away in a balloon. Half a dozen folks try and hold the baloon and several of them fly away. One man dies when they all drop. One guy starts stalking the one at the picnic. It just got creepy and weird and I don't understand the point AT ALL.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375735/

Amazon: Love's Enduring Promise

Oldies Watch List

2009-09-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

and

Nancy Drew, Reporter

The first half of this DVD features Dick Tracy trying to solve a mysterious robbery where everyone blacks out. Made in black and white and filmed in 1947, it's still pretty entertaining. Plenty of melodramatic action, but nowhere near as campy the Warren Beatty film. There are a couple DVDs with this film alone.

Library: Combo DVD; Coquille. Alone; Bandon, Coos Bay & North Bend.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039320/
Amazon: Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Teenager Nancy Drew enters a reporting contest and ends up helping a young woman accused of poisoning. Nancy searches for a vital piece of evidence to clear her. Looking through my notes, I don't remember this film that well. That usually clues me in it wasn't as good as the Dick Tracy one. But it's on the same DVD so if you like these old black and white films, have a look. Coquille has the combo DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031709/
Amazon: Nancy Drew...Reporter

Duel in the Sun

Troubled Pearl Chavez comes to live with her father's long lost love and falls in love with both of her sons. This love triangle drives the men and young woman wild. She feels guilty for liking the bad boy best, but their fiery passion consumes them both. Gregory Peck stars as the good son with their father Lionel Barrymore and bad seed son, Joseph Cotten.

Library: DVD; Coquille. VHS; Coos Bay & North Bend.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038499/
Amazon: Duel in the Sun

Elmer Gantry

I don't really know what to make of this part huckster part preacher. Does he really love the woman or does he just lust after her, does he believe or just run a scam. Elmer, Burt Lancaster, hooks up with a revival encampment and preaches fiery sermons for them, bringing in loads of money.

He falls in love with the beautiful leader Sister Sharon Falconer played by Jean Simmons. Heck, we're not even sure if SHE believes or is just trying to pull a scam too. Who's who and what's what in this tale of faith and lust.

Library: DVD; Bandon. VHS; Coos Bay & North Bend.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053793/
Amazon: Elmer Gantry

Silly Soso List aboutr an Ernest Guy

2009-09-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

Ernest goes to Jail

Library: VHS & DVD in Coos Bay
Amazon: Ernest Goes to Jail

Ernest in the Army

Library: North Bend
Amazon: Ernest in the Army

Ernest saves Christmas

Library: Myrtle Point
Amazon: Ernest Saves Christmas

OK, these are going to be basically the same exact film with Jim Varney playing the none too bright Ernest P. Worrell. Certainly watch if you like a lot of physical comedy and they're funny maybe once, but seen one, seen them all. Our hapless friend gets into strange situations he has no business doing and still he maintains his can do attitude. In a way that's admirable and charming, but a little bit goes a long way.

Coos Bay Gem List

2009-09-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Some of these are repeats from the North Bend post I did last week. Wow, I thought I had more films on the list so I did my search in a different way. I need to redo the North Bend post so badly, but not tonight. Ah well. I think I have a good Coos Bay list now. I counted 35 and that's up to date as of this post date: September 4, 2009. Please comment if you spot errors.

Whole doing the DORA post I found three more Coos Bay films. I hope that's all. I decided to put these in alphabetical order to keep me from repeating things too.

13 Rue Madeleine Very entertaining Word War II spy story.

3:10 to Yuma Old west sheriff tries to take a bad guy to the train. Very well acted.

About a Boy Sweet story about a grown up boy who meets a boy who's grown up too fast.

American Beauty Oscar winner, midlife crisis gone very wrong. Adult themes.

American Splendor Odd character, Harvey Pekar, bumbles along in his real life and creates a popular comic book.

The Bucket List Dying old men explore the world together.

Capote Another bio pic this time of the author interviewed the killers for his book, In Cold Blood.

Casablanca Oscar winning delight with Bogart and Bergman.

Chocolate Rather strange woman opens a sweets shop in a small French town. She has a sixth sense about people and their favorite tastes.

Circle of Friends Irish girls grow up together. Adult themes, teen OK.

City Slickers Billy Crystal and a group of friends go on an adventure vacation and get more than they bargained for.

Collateral Strange twists and turns with a cabby and criminal battling each other.

Cowboy Bebop First two seasons, adult anime.

The Day the Earth Stood Still Spaceship lands in Washington DC, giant mysterious robot scares everyone. Morality flick, and really enjoyable. The original science fiction classic.

Deadwood Western series, adult only, season one.

Definitely, Maybe Sweet romantic comedy.

Dexter Creepy serial killer of serial killers, very adult themes.

The Dick Van Dyke Show Black and white, comedy writing dad situation comedy from the 60's.

Dreamgirls Fictionalized account of the rise of a girl group from Motown.

Duma Delightful family friendly story of a boy and his pet cheetah.

Eragon Family friendly fantasy.

Firefly & Serenity Short lived science fiction series about a ship full of ragamuffins.

Juno Pregnant teen sorts out her quirky life.

Last King of Scotland Scary bio pic of the life of Ugandan leader Idi Amin.

Lawrence of Arabia Oscar winning tale of culture classes and war.

Little Miss Sunshine Very much an adult film, despite the name and the outstanding kid actress. I laughed until tears poured down my face.

Mystery Men Unlikely super heroes, super funny, well acted.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Based on Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, directors Joel Coen and his brother Ethan Coen, send us on a wild tale set in the depression era.

Pan's Labyrinth Spanish language fantasy.

Shipping News Kevin Spacey finds himself after a series of tragedies. Somewhat of a downer but it picks up.

Shrek 1 2 and 3 Only Shrek 1 is the gem. Mixed up animated fairy tale.

Sicko Michael Moore documentary about health care. Interesting no matter what side you find yourself on.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Cute teen girl flick about a pair of magical pants that fits all four girls.

Smoke Signals Modern Native American travel adventure. Charming and funny.

Spanglish Though Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni get top billing the story is truly stars Paz Vega.

Stardust Fallen celestial fantasy.

Tortilla Soup Sweet cultural family film about a widowed father whos life changes after he can longer taste food well enough to be a chef. His adult daughters confound him. Yay for cultural diversity.

The Visitor Love a great character driven drama? This is for you.

The World's Fastest Indian Outstanding film about one man's perseverance.

Weird Dog Day

2009-09-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

9 Dead Gay Guys

On its face the title might clue in to its badness. We meet a couple of guys who don't like gayness but they're clearly into each other. One sells his services for pints of beer and money at a gay bar. The men they sell themselves to start showing up dead and they try and solved the plot. It tries too hard to be "funny" just comes off as stupid, creepy and offensive. Much better films about alternative lifestyles.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0336910/

Amazon: 9 Dead Gay Guys

Encino Man

A couple high school kids in the San Fernando Valley dig up a frozen caveman from their backyard. Hilarity supposedly ensues. Not for me. But whatever. Look for Brendan Fraser in an early role. Also crap actor Pauly Shore gives his best dumb performance. Pass.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104187/

Amazon: Encino Man

Eraserhead

Oh my GOD. What is going on in this film. Just too weird to try and explain. Somehow it's about a post apocalyptic world, a man and his girlfriend have a child thing and it just goes too weird. Supposedly it put David Lynch on the map, but I don't suggest anyone sit through this strangeness. Pick up The Elephant Man, it's way better.

Library: Bandon

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074486/

Amazon: Eraserhead

Action Watchable List

2009-09-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

Bandits

Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton star as con men who rob banks. They get it in their head to kidnap the bank manager the night before, hold their entire family until the next day. They steal the money, but are very polite to their victims. Cate Blanchett lives a loveless terrible marriage and happens upon the guys and ends up semi kidnapped semi working with them. She falls in love with both men.

Now I'm quite morally against bank robbery, but these characters charmed with their friendly way. They made a point not to hurt anyone and the stories of the love triangle took an interesting twist I didn't expect. Very funny and entertaining.

Library: DVD; Myrtle Point & Powers. VHS; Dora.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219965/

Amazon: Bandits

Double Jeopardy

A wealthy mom, Ashley Judd, gets convicted of murdering her husband and while in prison finds out her spouse isn't dead after all. She serves her time and gets out on parole and starts tracking hm and her son down. Her parole officer, Tommy Lee Jones, tells her he doesn't want any trouble from her when he finds a picture of her little boy. She promises she'll be no problem, but soon takes off to investigate the woman she asked to take care of the child.

Jones finds her and takes her back, but she escapes by dumping his car off the ferry. Later she tracks down her husband in another state and Jones barely misses catching up to her. She ends up finding her living mister in New Orleans and demands he give her son back to her.

Very dramatic and action packed. Though the legal aspects are suspect and it's too unlikely to be real. It's a real seat of your pants whole tub of popcorn kinda flick.

Library: DVD; Bandon, Coquille, Lakeside, Myrtle Point & North Bend. VHS; Dora & Powers.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150377/

Amazon: Double Jeopardy

Entrapment

Again another charming set of criminals. Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones team up to make the biggest heist in history. They become close and as a test, steal a mask from a very fancy well secured display and give it to a man who is supposed to help with gear for the big job.

We're never sure who's trying to screw who in this tale of honor and love among thieves. I'm not really sure about a relationship between these two and, well, they could have gone to a few more acting classes. But it works well enough. It must have come out when I was in Europe in 1099 because I hadn't heard a thing about it.

Library: DVD; Bandon, Coquille & North Bend. VHS; Coquille.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137494/

Amazon:Entrapment (Special Edition)

Soso Tuesday

2009-09-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

The English Patient

Yes, I know it won nine Oscars including best picture, I still didn't like it. Set during the close of World War II and told in flashback, a badly burned man on the brink of death tells his story. Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas start up an affair. When her husband finds out in his devastation he tries to kill them all.

I don't like cheating celebrated as "very romantic." Ok, fine, it might be an interesting film to look at, but I hated the main plot. The secondary plot did catch a little of my attention. His nurse, Juliette Binoche, hears his story as she tends his wounds. I wanted to know more about her and her life.

Libary: DVD; North Bend. VHS; Coos Bay, Dora, Lakeside & Myrtle Point

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116209/

Amazon: The English Patient (Miramax Collector's Edition)

Ernest Hemingway: The Snows of Kilimanjaro

An egotistical "great white hunter" macho man nearly dies while his wife and native people try to nurse him back to health. In his melancholy he laments his past relationships. Though I do love Gregory Peck I just couldn't get into this film. Even for 1952, the sets looked cheesy and the plot meandered like a drunken sailor. Best to avoid.

Library: DVD; Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille and North Bend. VHS; Coos Bay, Dora & Powers.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045162/

Amazon: The Snows of Kilimanjaro

The Last Time I Saw Paris

Dreary story of a man who can't seem to get his act together with his lovely wife. Set just after World War II, Van Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor hook up and get married and have a daughter. He tries his hand as a literary genius but fails miserably. It's not even Taylor's best work, best to find something else.

Library: DVD; Bandon & Coquille. VHS; Powers. Also inside 2 colelctions called Elzabeth Taylor in Bandon and North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047162/

Amazon: The Last Time I Saw Paris

Enchantment

Two generations fall in love inside one house during different World Wars. A wealthy man invites an orphaned young girl into his family. His daughter so resents her she tries to drives a wedge when both her brothers falls in love with the girl. We know neither hooked up because the old man telling the story deeply laments his experiences when his neice comes to visit.

She has her own love affair with the nephew of the girl. She nurses his hand after it's badly burned. I don't think the title fits the dreary sad film. Very little felt like a fairy tale. Not even charmer David Niven could save it.

Library: Bandon.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040321/

Amazon: Enchantment

The End of the Affair

It was unconscious on my part that most of these have a World War II setting. I guess I find war rather dull.

A married Deborah Kerr hooks up with Van Johnson when her husband neglects her. When they're caught in a bombing she thinks her lover is dead and promises god she'll stop cheating if only he'll let her beloved live. He's very confused when she breaks off their affair and he follows her around, even going so far as to hire a private investigator.

We see her vacillate between having faith that what she did saved his life and questioning all faith. Seems like a religious film couched in a love story. How about we don't cheat because it's just not fair to our spouse? Ah well, it did make me think a bit. Still, I'd suggest passing on a viewing.

Library: Bandon (there is another version with different actors that I haven't yet seen. )

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048034/

Amazon: The End of the Affair

Good Review: Extreme Alaska

2009-08-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

Extreme Alaska

I really enjoyed this enlightening documentary of the modern history of Alaska. It outlined stories about the great earthquake and tsunami of 1964 and the building of the Alaska oil pipeline and truck highway to service the oil fields. I'd never heard of the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands during World War II, but I did know intrepid bush pilots helped open the interior of the territory. Seeing their real stories brought me into thier history in a new way.

I loved the stories of the native people who helped oust the Japanese from Attu and Kiska islands. It goes to show that you want someone to do something, send someone who knows the terrain and how to survive. It saddened me to hear of so many soldiers dying not from battle but from poor weather gear. All the native guides and trappers survived.

I find many times the History Channel shows all tell stories of war. Though this has a little known segment of a war story, most of it talks about regular people's lives or the business of oil production. Pick up the DVD from Dora.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0827169/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Extreme Alaska DVD Set

North Bend Library Gem List

2009-08-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

I found more than 42 great films from North Bend Library This list holds but a small sample of all the system has to offer. I'm just finishing the letter E, though some may be out of order when I pulled a gem idea from my own collection. I encourage my readers to comment. These are just my feelings and different points of view are always welcome.

3:10 to Yuma Old west sheriff tries to take a bad guy to the train. Very well acted.

Affluenza Have you considered the impact of what you buy on the world around you? Watch this and you will start.

American Beauty Oscar winner, midlife crisis gone very wrong. Adult themes.

The American President Andrew Shepherd lost his wife before his first election and now during his second, he meets a lovely lobbyist. Their relationship causes him some political trouble. Funny and touching.

Audrey Hepburn Films Look for these fine titles: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday and Sabrina. Enjoy!

Babe Hero pig makes good, family entertainment.

Because of Winn-Dixie Family friendly dog tale about an uprooted little girl and the dog she befriends.

Capote Another bio pic this time of the author interviewed the killers for his book, In Cold Blood.

Casablanca Oscar winning delight with Bogart and Bergman.

Chocolate Rather strange woman opens a sweets shop in a small French town. She has a sixth sense about people and their favorite tastes.

Circle of Friends Irish girls grow up together. Adult themes, teen OK.

The Commitments An Irish lad forms a rock band and they hit it big until the inevitable infighting breaks them apart.

Cowboy Bebop Adult anime movie. Look in Coos Bay for the series.

The Color Purple Amazing family drama, adult themes.

A Day at the Races Marx Brothers mayhem. Family funny.

The Day the Earth Stood Still Spaceship lands in Washington DC, giant mysterious robot scares everyone. Morality flick, and really enjoyable. The original science fiction classic.

A Decade Under the Influence This series of programs speaks with actors, directors and producers on the topic of film in the 1970s

The Dick Van Dyke Show Black and white, comedy writing dad situation comedy from the 60's.

Elizabethtown Quirky family drama that totally turned me around the last half.

Eragon Family friendly fantasy.

Erin Brockovich Gritty grown up reality Oscar performance.

Firefly Short lived science fiction series about a ship full of ragamuffins.

Good Will Hunting Genius mathematician works as a janitor at Harvard and catches the eye of a snooty professor. Matt Damon stars and he and his buddy Ben Affleck garnered an Oscar for the touching script.

Jaws Big shark, little people SCARY!

Juno Pregnant teen sorts out her quirky life.

Lawrence of Arabia Oscar winning tale of culture classes and war.

Last King of Scotland Scary bio pic of the life of Ugandan leader Idi Amin.

Little Miss Sunshine Very much an adult film, despite the name and the outstanding kid actress. I laughed until tears poured down my face.

My Fellow Americans Two former presidents uncover a plot to kill them and they go on the run. Preposterously funny.

Muriel's Wedding Quirky Australian comedy about an under-appreciated young woman who leaves her family and has adventures in the big city. She answers an ad to marry a man who needs citizenship to swim in the Olympics.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? Based on Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, directors Joel Coen and his brother Ethan Coen, send us on a wild tale set in the depression era.

Pan's Labyrinth Spanish language fantasy.

Pretty Woman Hooker with a heart of gold teaches a rich businessman how to be happy.

Red Dwarf Funny science fiction situation comedy about a guy, a robot and a cat who evolved into a man are lost in space. Oh, then there's Rimmer..

Shipping News Kevin Spacey finds himself after a series of tragedies. Somewhat of a downer but it picks up.

Sicko Michael Moore documentary about health care. Interesting no matter what side you find yourself on.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Cute teen girl flick about a pair of magical pants that fits all four girls.

Spanglish Though Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni get top billing the story is truly stars Paz Vega.

Stardust Fallen celestial fantasy.

Tortilla Soup Sweet cultural family film about a widowed father whos life changes after he can longer taste food well enough to be a chef. His adult daughters confound him. Yay for cultural diversity.

The Visitor Love a great character driven drama? This is for you.

The World's Fastest Indian Outstanding film about one man's perseverance.

Watcabe Review: Enemy Below

2009-08-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Enemy Below

Robert Mitchum stars as a new captain of a World War II destroyer menaced by a German U-Boat. His crew doesn't know his capabilities and so frets over what he may do.

Regular fans of Star Trek the original series may recognize this plot in an episode where Kirk and the Enterprise crew fight the Romulans. Clearly someone saw this film and decided to use the same feel for the science fiction adventure.

We see the Germans plot and organize the destruction of the enemy using virtual identical tactics as his American counterpart. These well matched adversaries battle it out with stoic precision. First one has the upper hand then the other. Their crews learn their style and perform above and beyond their duty.

As this is typical of American made war films, "we" win in the end. But it's no hollow victory. Everyone's deeds contributed to a positive outcome. One sailor contributes his fingers to the cause. Still they go on fighting for their lives.

I'm no huge fan of war, but they made their case for honorable combat. It's worth a watch. Look in Myrtle Point for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050356/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: The Enemy Below

Soso Review: Enemy at the Door

2009-08-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Enemy at the Door

The British government decided the Channel islands were of no strategic value so when Germany decided to occupy them during the Second World War, no one lifted a finger to defend the land. These two miniseries depict the life of the Britain inhabitants that decided to remain in their homes.

Mostly we see the story of a doctor and his closest friends try and carry on under mainly German rule. Yes they have their own government, but it's highly ineffectual. They show a minor amount of resistance with painting V over the occupiers signs and printing news from the BBC in an underground newspaper.

While quite an interesting topic, I found the series generally dreary and depressing. I do understand that generally was the point, to show such an occupation realistically, but I think they could have done it with fewer stories.

They also showed the Germans as half sympathetic. I'm not sure it worked showing basically all the Brits being "good" and the German's only being half bad. We either needed less sympathy for the occupiers or more "bad" contrast within the native population. It felt lopsided.

Even though I do think most of you wont care for this, I'm glad I saw it. I like learning new bits of history. Find yourself curious about a topic not often covered in school? Take a look. Bandon has both series.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122818/

Buy the series from Amazon: Enemy at the Door Set 1
Enemy at the Door - Series 2

Good Review: Enemy at the Gates

2009-08-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

Enemy at the Gates

Jude Law finds himself on a Russian battlefield trying to take out a German commander from very far away. His comrade, Joseph Fiennes, whispers, "time your shot with the explosion. " Boom, one German officer down, BOOM another.

Though they barely had enough to eat and command sacrificed foot soldiers by the thousands, Russia held the city named for their leader. Sniper Vassili Zaitsev. Law's charcter, became their greatest asset. Germany sent in their best shooter to take him down.

Ed Harris comes to town as Major König and enlists the aid of a Russian boy to attempt to manipulate his sniper rival into a trap. But the boy plays both sides.

Add Rachel Weisz as a love interest for Law and we have a war movie like no other. And despite being under used Bob Hoskins shows up as Nikita Khrushchev. How far wrong can you go with that?

This felt more like a psychological thriller than just another film about World War II. I liked the different point of view and recalling a time when Russia was an ally.

Check it out from Bandon, Coquille and Myrtle Point on DVD and Myrtle Point and Dora on VHS.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215750/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Enemy at the Gates

Gem Review: Ever After

2009-08-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Ever After

I bought this film based on the advertising and just loved it from start to finish. Drew Barrymore will positively charm your socks off as she falls in love with her prince. Yes, it's a nice take on Cinderella, but with so much more spunk and pizazz.

Look for a sarcastic performance from Patrick Godfrey as Leonardo Da Vinci and Anjelica Huston makes an EXCELLENT evil step mother. The wicket stepsisters show up as one super mean the other just trying to get along.

In a battle of wits with some gypsies, our heroine bests them with logic and saves her prince from capture. Many many references that I honestly don't get but charm me none the less. They imply political and economic changes that I believe happened at different times in French history ,but I don't care. I laughed, cried and felt a part of it all.

Myrtle Point has the only DVD but you can find several VHS copies in Coos Bay, Coquille, Dora, Lakeside and North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120631/

Please rush out and buy this on DVD. It's a keeper: Ever After - A Cinderella Story

Dog Review: Eys Wide Shut

2009-08-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

Eyes Wide Shut

I've said time and again I'm not a fan of Stanley Kubrick and since this was his last film before he died, some people had huge hopes it would be great. I probably wouldn't have seen it at all save for a friend dragged me to the theater.

A man and his wife can't seem to quite get along so he kind of gets sucked into a decadent world of sex and drug experimentation. I think Kubrick missed the boat by pandering to get an R rating. I bet the shock value of making the sex more revealing might have pushed the envelope of convention and moved me.

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman displayed the last throws of their crumbling marriage on screen. I guess they just couldn't hide their contempt. The surreal plot keeps you guessing, but I walked away disliking Kubrick as much as before.

Love the director? Grab yourself a copy from Bandon and North Bend on DVD and in Coos Bay on VHS. This is an adults only film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120663/

Buy it from Amazon: Eyes Wide Shut (Unrated Two-Disc Special Edition)

Watchable Wednesday

2009-08-19T19:34:00.000-07:00

EdTV

Matthew McConaughey stars with Woody Harrelson as his jerk brother and Jenna Elfman as an eventual love interest. A cable station creates a 24 hour show following one guy's every move. When the show becomes wildly popular he finds it too intrusive and tries to get out of his contract.

Look for funny scenes with Ellen DeGeneres, Martin Landau and Rob Reiner. They almost steal the show.

I really like Elfman and think she's pretty good in almost anything I see her in. It's nice to see her as a different character which shows off her talent.

Pick up the DVD from Coquille and the VHS from Dora or Myrtle Point.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131369/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: EdTV (Collector's Edition)

Well I was going to do the Truman Show as a review but there are only VHS copies at the library so I think I'll forego. It's very similar to EdTV but with Jim Carrey and he doens't know he's being filmed until the end of the program. If you stil have a VCR, pick up a copy in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille or Dora.

Doctor Soso

2009-08-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Many call Stanley Kubrick a genius and while I get that his films are indeed super interesting, I'm not a fan. This film had some bits that were really funny but over all I just don't get why it's so popular. It's one of those you would study endlessly in film school. That's fine, if that's your thing, more power to ya. Study your little heart out.

It's about nuclear war and crazy military people and trying to stop it all from going to hell in a hand basket. ENJOY! heh

Library: VHS; Bandon & Coos Bay. DVD; Bandon, Myrtle Point, North Bend & Powers.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/

Amazon: Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

Lionel Barrymore and Lew Ayres star in this soap opera like medical drama from the 1940s. Young doctor Kildare helps a colleague treat a patient others believe untreatable and insane. If you like this kind of thing, have a watch. I found it so dated that I hardly remember even seeing it.

Library: Coquille.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032416/

Amazon: Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

I saw ths seris when it was on TV and while it's somewhat interesting I wasnt much into it. A lady becomes a fronteir doctor in a time most women didn't work or go to college. There may be women who managed this feat, but I'm not confident that it was realistic. If you're really into Jane Seymour, this will hold your interest.

Library: Series 1-5 on DVD in Coos Bay. VHS unspecified in Coquille.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103405/

Amazon:Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Series

Good Review: Iron Man

2009-08-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

Iron Man

I know Robert Downey Jr. has loads of talent but this boffo action extravaganza didn't tax his abilities too far. Jeff Bridges worked harder. No worries though, it all worked.

Weapons maker Tony Stark gets overconfident and thinks he rules the world when he finds himself captured by some non descript middle east terrorist group. Being a genius he naturally escapes by building himself first an energy generator, then an iron rocket powered suit. He enlists the assistance of a fellow captive medical doctor.

I felt the story and Downey's acting could have been better. With typical sexist comic book rules, his trusty personal assistant stands around and looks pretty. Oh she gets to scream at appropriate moments to towering effect, but Gwyneth Paltrow could have done this role in her sleep. Maybe she did. As long suffering Pepper Potts, of COURSE she's in love with her boss. Eyeroll.

Yes, this is a good film anyway. I liked the action and contrast between the character at the start of the film and how he began to modify his life by the end. Definately a good pop corn action flick. Check out Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point and SWOCC for copies of this wiz bang DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Iron Man (Two-Disc Special Collectors' Edition)

Computer Problems

2009-07-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm having some computer issues at the moment and I'll not post for a couple days. Please feel free to look back through my gems and other reviews and comment on whatever you like. I'll be back to posting soon. Thanks

Oi

Gem Review: Erin Brockovich

2009-07-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Erin Brockovich

Julia Roberts transformed herself into the main character who figures out the local power company knowingly poisoned the water supply for a small California desert town. Roberts so cleverly portrayed the brash Brockovich that the role garnered her an Oscar.

Based on a true story, it's clear Brockovich didn't start out to help people, but once she stumbled into the lawsuit, she never let go. She had to convince her boss, a personal injury attorney, to broaden the case and include hundreds of families. Then get 90 percent of them to agree to an all or nothing deal.

My favorite scene and what pushed me to call this film a gem, came when she met a whistle blower who worked for the power company. She tried to go to her car to call her boss and gets no signal. Swearing at the phone and tossing it aside she looks up and sees a phone booth. I just loved how matter of fact she plays it. Kind of like a cat that falls out of a tree and walks off like, "I meant to do that."

I hope you will enjoy this film as much as I did. Kids would be bored and this isn't for them anyway. North Bend has the DVD and look in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Dora, Lakeside and Myrtle Point for the VHS.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Erin Brockovich

Watchable Documentaries

2009-07-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

Edward Burtynsky:
Manufactured Landscapes

For sheer wow factor you can count on Edward Burtynsky. These stunning photographs and scenery expose the vivid beauty in sludge, pollution and modern production.

I've often noticed the rainbow shine in oil on the road, this guy takes us into the world where whole ecosystems have been compromised. In the pursuit of mining coal, manufacturing products or recycling electronics in China, companies create inriguing vistas of sight and sound. Smell too I'm sure.

This stunning film could have earned a much higher rating if they'd given me a heads up of what I was going to see. I understand that the point of it going on a long time was to show the vast factories, but I got bored and hit fast forward. I suppose that lessens the impact, but I am mad with the power! ;)

I think it might be really neat to see his photographs in a book, but alas there are none at the library. Look in Bandon for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832903/

Amazon: Manufactured Landscapes (US Edition)

Encounters at the End of the World

Meet the quirky types who end up traveling to Antarctica to do research or help those that do. Werner Herzog introduces us to these strange people with one on one interviews and clips of their daily frigid lifestyles.

We see some truly amazing photography of underwater exploration and discussions of how dangerous exploring can be. I like sciency stuff anyway, but this could have been on a special features DVD rather than it's own documentary. I'm not sure it stands on it's own that well.

Look in Bandon and Coquille and explore the lives and backgrounds of one of the rarer species in the coldest part of the world: humans.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093824/

Amazon: Encounters at the End of the World

Enron:
the Smartest Guys in the Room

I am no conspiracy theory nut, honest. That would be my husband. But when Ken Lay of Enron passed away while in jail, I thought, wow he was so rich, someone helped him fake his death. This film ENHANCED my crazy suspicions.

These guys did what the banks did. They bundled energy into instruments and sold their investors a lie. They asked for and received the right to call profit estimates real profits. That's like telling your credit card company that you make a million dollars a year because you had a really good day on January first.

THEN they took down power generation stations for no reason. This forced a shortage and they raised rates. Madness, cruelty and murderous. Ken Lay and his crowd buddied up to the Bush family and got them to pass sweeping deregulation.

I know this isn't a political blog, but OMG this just has to be said. DO NOT invest ALL of your 401k in the stock of the company you work for. PLEASE. Get sound INDEPENDENT advice.

Wanna be scared and enlightened? Pick up this DVD from Bandon or Coos Bay.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1016268/

Amazon: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
.

The End of Suburbia:
Oil Depletion and the
Collapse of the American Dream

I didn't rate this fascinating DVD higher because it's such a mega downer. They just told us what the world was going to be like, but didn't give any suggestions for what we might do as citizens of the planet to change. Without hope, sometimes people just throw up their hands and eat another bag of chips.

The title refers to how the suburbs will disappear after we run out of oil. They claim that the world hit it's peak a few years ago and now we'll go into a steep decline as a result of that. They say everything is dependent on oil and that no process can replace it.

They said that it's now harder and more expensive to get oil out of the ground. This will drive up costs to consumers and people simply wont be able to afford to live far away from work. Huge parking lots will give way to mixed use spaces and we'll see a come back to urban living for all.

I feel these pessimists don't take into consideration the ingenuity of human thought. More than anything we love a puzzle.

I do think that suburbs tend to isolate people and a more pedestrian friendly environment might make communities stronger. But this film just talked about all the problems that were for sure going to happen.

I'd be careful to take this as gospel. Feel free to watch though. Look in Bandon for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446320/

Amazon: The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream

An Animated Empire of Soso

2009-07-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

The Emperor's Treasure

Though I do like the idea of some South American fables coming to film, the execution of this animation didn't excite me. The crude drawings seemed amateurish and I wish they'd made the bad guys BAD, instead of oafish.

While exploring ancient Inca ruins with his father, a fare haired young man falls asleep inside a cave. A puma spirit mysteriously appears and transports him many years into the past. Once there, he discovers the Inca in all their glory.

Because of his blond hair he's mistaken for the sun god's son. In order to save a princess from a bad marriage he has to be her champion and of course he falls in love.

His opponent tries to cheat the contest, but of course our hero wins in the end.

It's not HARMFUL to little children to watch, but I think adults would be bored. Let them watch by themselves. It might spark some interest in a different ancient culture.

Bandon and Coquille each have a copy of this family friendly DVD.

IMDB: None for this film

Amazon: The Emperor's Treasure (Golden Films)

The Emperor's New Groove

Probably if they'd cast someone besides David Spade as the lead voice I might have liked this better, but I doubt it. Like the last film, I like that it's a story from a different cultural point of view. I do like John Goodman and Eartha Kitt so that's a plus.

An egotistically insensitive emperor abuses everyone and then expects them all to bow and scrape at his feet. When his adviser gets fired she turns him into a Llama. He tries to get help from Goodman's peasant character but can't stop his abusive ways.

Again, this would be fine and safe for little kids. Maybe make a double feature and pop them a nice bowl of popcorn. Pick up the VHS in Bandon along with a DVD copy. North Bend also has the disk.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120917/

Amazon: The Emperor's New Groove - The Ultimate Groove (2-Disc Collector's Edition)

Good Review: Who Killed the Electric Car?

2009-07-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Who Killed the Electric Car?

Starting in the mid 90's electric cars appeared on California roadways. One major modern effort began with auto conglomerate General Motors. They called their new no emission vehicles the EV-1.

Environmentalists praised them and heralded the age of no pollution vehicles. But when the California air quality board stopped requiring such stringent standards, GM decided to abandon the project.

This film asks if the car companies ever had any intentions of really producing them. Did GM and others have close ties to big oil? Was the battery technology just not there yet?

Why did they take them back from the lease holders and crush them and shred the data? I mean why would anyone want to just ignore research?

I remember seeing the EV-1 commercials and thinking, what are they selling here? They seemed like they were calling for the end of humanity. Eerie and surreal, yeah.. great marketing ploy there GM.

Have a watch and it'll make you wonder what was going on. I might have placed this in the Gem category, but I still had questions after it was over.

Look in Bandon, Coos Bay and North Bend for this fascinating DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489037/

Buy this intriguing DVD from Amazon: Who Killed the Electric Car?

Gem Review: Enter the Lone Ranger

2009-07-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Enter the Lone Ranger

Okay, so Clayton Moore's acting leaves something to be desired, but I found myself on the edge of my seat. If an old black and white TV series can do that, it deserves my kudos.

This encompasses the first three episodes of the series telling us of the Texas Rangers and how a group of six were betrayed by a dastardly villain. How one survived and makes a mask out of his dead brother's vest. He sets about righting the wrongs done tio him. We learn how he meets his Indian friend Tonto. Jay Silverheels shines as the faithful nondescript native American. He looked great fighting too.

Moore looked a little stiff all around, but I believed him anyway. It's amazing watching all the horse action too. We learn why the ranger decides to use silver bullets and where he finds his horse silver.

Maybe a bit violent for little little kids, but real decent all around. Maybe I'm just a big kid, but I had fun. Pop some popcorn and return to the glory days of the old west.

Look for DVDs under either "Enter the Lone Ranger" or just "Lone Ranger" in Bandon, Coquille or Powers. It's only a few episodes, so if you want to see more, check Netflix or some other source.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0635481/

Buy this fine DVD from Amazon: The Lone Ranger, 4 Full Length Episodes

Dog Review: A Dog's Tale

2009-07-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

A Dog's Tale

This lame fantasy film might charm a child, but I kind of doubt it. Gordon Jump tells a boy that if he wishes upon a super nova in the sky, he'll get his wish. He wishes for a pet dog and turns into one himself.

It's a Christmas time film but I don't think that element really matters. None of them are much for the acting talent and the scenery wouldn't inspire anyone. I'd say just all around avoid it.

Myrtle Point has the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331997/

Amazon: A Dog's Tale

Watchable Review: Ella Enchanted

2009-07-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Ella Enchanted

Sometimes the blessing of a fairy godmother can make your life miserable. Annoyed with her infant ways Ella's enchanted benefactor decides to give her the gift of doing whatever anyone tells her to do.

She has to hide her obedience from those around her to keep from being taken advantage of, but naturally someone with unfriendly intentions finds out and makes her do whatever they want. Ella tries to just take this all in stride and find ways to get along in her fanciful world.

Anne Hathaway positively charms the pants off the most grizzled cynic in this film. Look for nice performances by Minnie Driver and Vivica A. Fox too.

Since this follows a standard fantasy plot line, naturally the prince of the land falls in love with Ella. She tries desperately to avoid giving away her nature and he's confused but still loves her.

From the library summery, "In a bid to regain control of her life, Ella goes on a quest to free herself from this mysterious "gift". Ella must outwit a kingdom filled with ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, talking books and other various evil plots."

Look in Bandon and Coquille for this sweet DVD. Plenty of entertainment for the whole family.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327679/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Ella Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)

Soso Review: Dragonslayer

2009-07-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

Dragonslayer

I so don't understand those IMDB people. Though this had a similar plot to Eragon, it didn't even come close to the entertainment value yet they rated it much higher. Just too weird.

A sorcerer's apprentice tries to help a village kill a virgin eating dragon after his magical mentor dies. He meets a guy we found out is a girl and they fall for each other.

He thinks he managed to kill the dragon but he's wrong and his girlfriend goes into the lottery with every girl in the village. The king's daughter thinks she's been part of the lottery all along but finds out that's not true. She fills the lottery hat with all her name which upsets her farther.

The magician comes to life and helps his assistant slay the dragon for real. I do not agree that the effects hold up as someone on IMDB said. I do NOT agree that the acting was good. It's not as bad as I expected but it's not worth watching unless you're really REALLY into this kind of thing.

Look in Bandon and Myrtle Point for the DVD and North Bend for the VHS copy.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082288/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: Dragonslayer

Gem Review: Eragon

2009-07-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

Eragon

I always have a look at IMDB before I write a review. I'm looking for tidbits to add that might spark an idea or something I didn't realize. I found out many MANY fans of the novel were so disappointed they dropped the rating pretty low.

I went back and forth between calling this a good or gem. I chose gem because like a film a few months back, Stardust, it held my interest all the way through.

I LOVE science fiction but sword and sorcery runs a close second. We come upon the story of a kingdom where dragons and their riders used to be every day occurrences. But a power grabbing rider killed his fellow dragon riders and began ruling with an iron fist.

A farm boy finds a dragon's egg and it hatches into a blue dragon. He has to grow up fast as the evil king sends out his sorcerer to kill the boy and his dragon.

He hooks up with a strange fellow on town, Jeremy Irons, who helps him find the people who resist the king and hope to bring goodness back to the land.

It sure did seem like pieces were left out and from what I read, that's likely the case. I understand that a director has only so much he can do. If you're a fan of the novels, most likely you wont like the film. Lots of computer graphics effects of flying dragons and magic incantations.

I found it charming and mostly family friendly. It wouldn't appeal to young children, but if you let them see Harry Potter, they can see this too.

Look in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Dora, North Bend and Powers for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449010/

Buy it on Amazon: Eragon (Widescreen Edition)

Good Review: Fingersmith

2009-07-10T20:14:00.003-07:00

Fingersmith

A few months back someone suggested this was a better film than Affinity and they were right. Simply speaking, the filmograpy made for a lighter less dreary viewing. I wanted to be with them on the English countryside. I wanted to touch the beautiful gowns the women wore.

We view this in two parts. First we see a young pickpocket girl sent to dupe a young somewhat privileged girl of her fortune. A "gentleman" introduces the pickpocket to her as a maid.

These women become close friends and eventually intimate in what might be lovers if the one girl weren't trying to cheat the other. Tasteful lesbian scenes that made sense within the context. If you're looking for something pornographic, this wont suit.

The well to do young woman lives with her rather creepy uncle who deals in pornographic material. He's trained her as his secretary, so she has a truly warped view of the world. She has no idea that she would receive an income if she should marry.

Eventually she agrees to marry the "gentleman" and with her maid's help they go off to a cottage for their first night. The man and pickpocket/maid plot to drive his wife mad and put her in an insane asylum.

(SPOILER ALERT)

The doctors talk to both the maid and her mistress and encourage the man to bring his wife right away to spend some time getting "cured." As the carriage takes all three to the nut house the maid is captured and dragged inside while the lady sits calmly refusing to meet her gaze.

I liked that the first half they did NOT telegraph this AT ALL. It took me by surprise. In the second half of this fine film we see that the privileged young woman wanted to escape her degrading uncle and the "gentleman" proposed the whole replace her with the maid scenario.

Plots twist and turn and conspirators turn out to be family. The clever maid manages an escape of the asylum and envisions revenge on the man and woman. It seems everyone does these women a wrong turn.

I've already spoiled the major plot twist, I'll just leave the ending for a viewing. If you like Dickensian drama with intrigue and betrayal, this will hold your interest. The lesbian action is limited to a few scenes in the first half. It's quite tastefully done and romantic, rather than titillating. And you just have to love the play on words, Fingersmith?? Too funny.

Look in bandon for this fine DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423651/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Fingersmith

Dog Review: Election

2009-07-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

Election

I rather like Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon but this film flat out grosses me out. A teacher's best friend boinks his 16-year-old pupil and keeps giving details to Broderick's character. Who doesn't do a thing to stop it.

If that wasn't gross enough, after the big scandal the girl stays at the school and tries to become class president. Broderick hooks up with the wife of his friend and and then there's some election fraud shenanigans.

I can only imagine that someone thought this would be edgy and funny, but it just irritated me. Pick a better teen angst movie. Like Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Pleasantville. Much more going on in them.

SWOCC has the DVD and find a VHS copy in Lakeside or North Bend.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126886/

Amazon: Election

Watchable Review: Doctor Zhivago

2009-07-08T19:38:00.001-07:00

Doctor Zhivago

Since we're doing older films this week, I figured I'd go ahead with this one. First the music totally sets the mood as we see aristocratic Russia turn into the Soviet Union.

I know many people LOVED this film and it won several well deserved Oscars for Cinematography, costuming and score. These things made the film a beauty to behold. Sweeping scenes of fields of daffodils and snow covered tundra inspire the sense of vastness. Gem quality all.

I thought it just kind of went on a bit long. It teaches a romantic lesson of a country in transition. We see it through the eyes of basically three people. An aristocratic doctor, a woman he helps and the man she marries.

Because he has a valued skill Doctor Zhivago himself, Omar Sharif, finds himself accepted into the new Soviet Union. He and his wife try and cope with learning to live with other people surrounding them.

Before the revolution the doctor meets poor yet beautiful Lara played by Julie Christie. She goes on to marry political activist Pasha. All of Russia suffers in the severity of World War I and Lara inspires Zhivago's poetic heart.

Watch this for the beauty and music. Look in Coos Bay, Myrtle Point and SWOCC for the DVD. Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Dora, Lakeside, Myrtle Point and Powers have VHS copies.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059113/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Doctor Zhivago (Two-Disc Special Edition)

One DVD Three Soso Films

2009-07-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

Edward G. Robinson: Triple Feature Movie Marathon

Two copies of this DVD at the Library in Bandon.
Amazon: Edward G. Robinson Triple Feature

Scarlet Street

Married everyman Edward G. Robinson comes across a beautiful woman being accosted by a man on the street. He saves her and she flirts with him, talking him into taking her out.

He seems to want to do anything to escape his dull life. The woman thinks he has money and she can play him for a sucker. The man beating her up turns out to be her good-for-nothing boyfriend. They scheme to get him to pay for an apartment to keep the woman in, on the guise that Robinson's character can use it for a studio.

When the woman tries to sell his paintings, they find out he has talent. Her boyfriend passes her off as the artist and she gets Robinson to paint more for her. Happening upon her making love to her boyfriend the artist flies into a rage and stabs her.

He gets away with the murder but it haunts him. I guess maybe for the time this might have been a very intriguing film. So you might find it better than I did. It kind of slogged to an inevitable conclusion. Look in Lakeside for the VHS copy of this film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038057/

Amazon: Scarlet Street

The Red House

Crabby father figure Edward G. Robinson tries to keep strangers away from property next to his farm. When a boy starts getting deeply interested in his young ward, Meg, he tries to frighten the boy away from cutting through the woods.

The young teens fall in love and go exploring in defiance. The boy sees a strange house and then gets scared off by a woodsman we later find out the father figure paid to keep the kids clear of the spooky woods.

They make reference to some creepy backstories and we do find out the whole sad truth in the end, but I don't want to spoil it. Lets say it's the tale of another haunted man.

Lakeside also has a VHS copy of this film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039757/

Amazon: Red House

The Stranger

Though directed by Orson Welles, I only liked this one slightly more than the other two. Really, it's his movie, but Edward G. Robinson got top billing. I guess he's the hero.

They took a really long convoluted route to the plot. Made just after World War II, Robinson chases a Nazi sympathizer to a small town hoping to find a bigger fish. Welles kills the man out of Robinson's sight, but the investigator figured out he's the bad guy.

Now it gets tricky. He's engaged to the local university president's daughter and she can't believe anything bad about her man. She kind of helps him and he makes a plot to kill her. Robinson does everything he can to prevent this and ends up fighting with Welles up in the clockworks of a church tower.

I'd seen the film before and forgotten all but the last few minutes. I like a more linear clear plot and a well defined reason for people to do what they do.

There's a DVD called Classic Film Noir in Bandon with a copy of this film on it. Also, North Bend has a VHS tape.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038991/

Amazon: The Stranger

Good Review: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

2009-07-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

A young boy finds a strange little alien in this backyard and he hides it in his bedroom. Soon his siblings and he figure out the alien wants to fix his ship and go home. "E.T. phone home." became a huge catch phrase for the early 1980s.

The big bad military finds out about E. T. and want to dissect him, but the kid and his friends help him. In later copies director Steven Spielberg had the guns the military used digitally changed into walkie talkies. Some think it's a big deal, I really don't care. It's his film, he can do what he likes.

The boy and alien develop a friendship that can't help but charm all but the most hardened heart. Mostly safe for kiddies, but if you have any doubts, view it yourself first. There's a little funny juvenile language that you might not want them picking up.

Find the DVD in Coos Bay (though in mending), North Bend and SWOCC. So far I've seen VHS tapes in Bandon, Coos Bay, Coquille, Dora, Lakeside and North Bend. It's an old movie so don't depend on them being in good shape.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/

E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Widescreen Edition)

Happy 4th of JULY!

2009-07-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

No reviews today. Have a great weekend and enjoy all that Coos County has to offer.

Dog Review: Burn After Reading

2009-07-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

Burn After Reading

Some say these Coen brothers can do no wrong. I love a couple of films of theirs, but this isn't one of them. They love to confound us with weird plots that turn violent in what some call funny ways. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

A disgruntled numskull of a CIA agent goes off the rails and decides to write a memoir telling all kinds of secrets. While Mr. CIA is at the gym, an employee there, Brad Pitt, finds the disk of his story and tries to blackmail him with it.

John Malkovich plays Mr. CIA. His wife, Tilda Swinton screws around with George Clooney and they plot to run away together as soon as Clooney divorces his wife.

Throw in Frances McDormand as one of Pitt's cohorts and another Clooney lover and we're just wondering WHAT the HECK is going on here.

Honestly, I've had more entertainment value watching a bunch of clowns try and stuff themselves into a tiny car. And that's really who all these people are. A bunch of moronic clowns. We wouldn't have a whole brain if we combined all of them together.

I know many other people have different opinions of this film. I just didn't like it. Feel free to leave a comment and disagree.

Look in Bandon, Coquille, Coos Bay, Myrtle Point, North Bend and SWOCC

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887883/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: Burn After Reading

Movie Review: Danielle Steel's Zoya

2009-07-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

Danielle Steel's Zoya

As made for TV movies go this held my interest pretty well. Melissa Gilbert stars as a Russian aristocrat girl who escapes with her family to Paris. Her mother wants her to marry a much older man but she has her own ideas and plans.

She meets the love of her life played by Bruce Boxleitner. They have a lovely life until he dies leaving her and her children in poverty. She goes to work for a clothier and after years of hard work opens her own shop.

No, Gilbert shouldn't do accents, but at least she sounded a LITTLE Russian. The plot made romance novel sense. If that's your kinda thing, have a look see.

Bandon has the only DVD copy of this film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112796/

Buy the DVD from Amazon: Danielle Steel's Zoya - Parts 1 & 2

Soso Review: Fireproof

2009-06-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

Fireproof

The poor acting and convoluted plot would have pushed this into a dog category but one concept saved it. It's called the love dare.

A husband and wife live together inside separate angry lives. He yells and her and she at him. He's a firefighter and risks his life daily and cannot understand why his wife doesn't just bow at his feet.

Feeling desperate he decides to go and talk to his father about it. His father tells him how he saved his marriage with this thing called the love dare. The 40 day program urges you to do daily steps to take care of your relationship. Most of them are faith based and even though things like that may turn some people off, I liked the idea.

Finding a way to be kind to your spouse is an extremely laudable goal. There seemed to be a backstory with this character's mother that I would have enjoyed knowing. I also wanted to know how he and his wife got so far off the rails. They had no memory of what got them together in the first place.

I'd like to have heard more about the steps but the ones I did hear seemed pretty good and could be applied in a secular manner. Like do acts of kindness expecting nothing in return. Give up relationship destroying patterns like looking for affection from people outside your marriage. Instead of praying for your spouse, you could just wish them peace and happiness. Though faith wasn't the flaw for this film. Pray if you like.

Look in Coos Bay, Dora, Myrtle Point, North Bend and Powers for the DVD.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1129423/

Look for additional info on Amazon: Fireproof

Gem Review: The Emperor's New Clothes

2009-06-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

The Emperor's New Clothes

In a plot to restore Napoleon Bonaparte to his thrown, a replacement is secretly brought in to fool the Brits keeping him prisoner. Then Napoleon serves aboard a merchant ship that's supposed to sail to France where someone will meet him.

Alas, the captain decides to sail to a more profitable destination and no one meets the emperor. He finds his way into Paris but the man who might help him recapture his place have all grown old and died. One of them so recent as to be fresh in his coffin.

The man's widow lets Napoleon stay the night as he introduces himself as the identity of the man who replaced him. The conspirators hoped that the impostor would wait until the real emperor could rally people, then he'd announce he's not the man. But he started to enjoy the lavish lifestyle and soon refused to tell his captures of the emperor's escape.

The real Napoleon helps the window manage her business and they become lovers. He tries to make contact with some other men who fought with him at Waterloo, but he can't find anyone reliable.

His replacement writes a book filled with lies of his exploits. He becomes enraged and goes into a shop and gets a uniform for himself and starts to claim his place. His new lady thinks he's gone insane and asks a doctor friend to consider putting him in an asylum. While there, he realizes that no one is going to believe him so he climbs the walls and goes back to his woman.

He decides he's better off just living this simple life than trying to recapture his once glorious life.

The subtle charms of Ian Holm's emperor will make you believe this story. You'll start to wonder if it could be true. You'll also fall in love with the sweet woman with a kind heart.

Pop down to Bandon or place a hold on this delightful film.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282768/

Buy this DVD from Amazon: The Emperor's New Clothes

PS I bumped this up to a gem after I started out as a good. It grew on me more as I savored the memory of watching it.

Some Thoughts

2009-06-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

I decided to let today's review shine. I can't decide among the dogs I got on my list.

I was thinking about the library and its site. There's a steering committee that seems to have disappeared from use. No one monitors it and I'm the last post back from April. But there it sits, prominently on the front page of the library site.

I realize I'm narrowly focussed on the DVDs but the whole system has so many interesting things going on. I've wanted to read a book and they did or did not have it so I would request it. Found out the other day you can "hold" magazines. Just the old stuff, but that's pretty cool.

I'm still trying to get them to fix the Ed Wood Box Set. So someone can place a hold on any of the films in the collection. I'd also like them to allow patrons to hold older DVDs only in Coos Bay and North Bend. I mean a working person in Dora might like to see Children of a Lesser God, but as it stands, it's only in Coos Bay. I suppose it would make more work, they'd have to have two categories. One for new DVDs one for old.

I have an idea for doing flyers and permission to put them up in Coos Bay. Though I should check again. We got a new printer so I have a good chance to actually get it done.

OKAY, enough for now. Party on. If you have any questions about the library, I can try and find answers. Leave a comment.