Noein

Noein

Blue snow hearkens the arrival of of dimensional visitors from this beautifully drawn anime. We meet a group of 12-year-old children just as they are leaving for their summer holiday. They greet us with typical large round eyes and flowing wind blown hair.

As I've said many times, I can't do subtitles, so we watched the English version. Though the songs at the beginning and end of each episode are both in Japanese. They may be the same song, I don't have an ear keen enough to tell. They set a nice mood for the series.

The dimensional travelers wear long flowing cloaks and more than one let their hair flow over their eyes. It seems strange to me that Japanese obsess on Anglo features, but clearly show the culture of japan. I guess Caucasian people have more variety in hair and eye color.

Two of the kids live near each other and have been friends for a long time. It's clear the girl cares for the boy but they are a bit too young for "romantic" love. The boy wants to run away and tries to get the girl to go with him. The dimensional beings interfere with their plans. One of the beings believes the girl is what he calls a "Dragon Torque."

As the series progresses they talk about quantum physics and the theories on how alternative dimensions work, which is all accurate from my understanding of the topic. Don't worry, it's way more action and intrigue than it sounds.

Head on out to Coos Bay Library for this stunning film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0872308/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Now Voyager

Now Voyager 

Dowdy spinster daughter Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) keeps to herself. Her mother rules over her and keeps her chubby and unattractive. All her siblings are older, but her sister-in-law wants to help. She brings a nice doctor in to interview her. He finds her charming and creative and invites her to his clinic to "treat" her. Really he just wants to teach her how to be an independent person with hopes and dreams of her own. 

She's set to leave the sanitarium when her sister-in-law has the idea, with the doctors approval, of sending the now beautiful young lady on a sea voyage. While on the boat she meets a nice older man and they become very close. Unfortunately, he's married, so they part and she goes back to her mother. 

Because Charlotte has changed, she reacts to her mother as an adult and acts as she wishes. She's charming and poised and has learned to make friends easily. Her mother threatens to cut her off, but she just smiles and tells her she will just have to find work. 

I've never been so charmed by Davis before. She's usually so tough and strong in the characters she plays. She positively blossomed on screen. The plot goes on, but I wont spoil it for you. I liked how it went directions I didn't expect. Well worth the viewing. 

Look for nice performances by Paul Henreid, Claude Rains and Gladys Cooper. North Bend Library has the only copy of this DVD. 

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035140/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Source Code

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

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

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

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!

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

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

Cutting Back

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.

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

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

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

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

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