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28 Days Later Steven Krise   R/C Theater in Frederick   05 July 2003 Definitely not the Sandra Bullock sequel I thought upon first hearing the title. Edgy, gripping zombie thriller set in England from the director of "Shallow Grave" and "Trainspotting". Believe it or not, there isn't any dialogue for the first 20 minutes of the movie...well, other than "Hello?"

A Beautiful Mind Mike Gadd   borrowed video   05 March 2004 A most enjoyable story. Finely acted as well.

A Knight's Tale Julie Gephart   Mysteriously free HBO   11 March 2003 Horses, fighting, dancing - what could be better? Only a movie featuring TV's Best Husband Wash and, as my boss insisted much to my amusement, "Lisa Bonet."

A Man and a Woman Tony Pisarenkov   DVD at home   15 November 2003 Although to contemporary viewers it does look like a long music video at times, for me this is *the* way to do romance, and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this film. Beautiful in every respect, and for its time (1964) -- very innovative.

A MidSummer Night's Dream (1999) A Bennett   owned VHS   02 February 2003 Beautiful scenery. Beautiful soundtrack, and (this is going to sound quite silly) pitch perfectness where fairies and their magical world are concerned. [If you allow yourself, it can be] Like slipping into a perfect, operatic dream. Kevin Kline should = major award. *sigh* A two-hour vacation to sun-drenched Italy-that-never-was (and I will _always_ be up for that). Rupert Everett--you are, and will always be my muse. And Sam Rockwell? You bring down the house, even dressed as (possibly) the world's ugliest woman.

A Mighty Wind Kristin Schrock   Landmark Theater--Chicago   19 April 2003 Although not as good as Best In Show, it does have some very funny moments. It's probably not worth going to see in a theatre, but it's always a treat to see so many funny people together, obviously enjoying what they're doing. And, although they poke fun at folk music, the music isn't all that bad. I was also happy to see Nasedo of "Roswell" make a brief appearance.

A Scanner Darkly Steven Krise   You Need To Ask?   28 September 2007 Freck: That sure is some silencer. Barris: Yes, uh, what it did was augment the sound rather than dampen it. But I almost have it. I believe I have it in principle anyway.

About Schmidt Kristin Schrock   Theatre   26 January 2003 Because this was done by the Election guy, I was hoping it would be funnier. Schmidt has retired and sort of realizes that he's been a failure at life. I'm always going to be a fan of those kinds of movies. And I was happy to see the Mayor from Buffy make an appearance, even though he was not evil. Although it did take him a long time to get some beer. Hmmm.

Adaptation Mike Gadd   dvd rental   06 October 2003 I couldn't have enjoyed this movie any more. It picks up in the middle of the best scene from "Being John Malkovich" and continues with a nice mix of 'meta-ness' as Kristen puts it. Excellent camera work and too-lifelike car accidents. I tried explaining to a friend how the movie went and got lost in my story. Certainly not for everyone.

All About My Mother Steve Gadd   DVD   07 August 2005 We bailed out of "Clerks," the last recommendation I will trust from Yahoo, after 20 minutes. What's the matter with you internet people, rating this flimsy stuff so highly? Going from that affected, black-and-white, home video style non-acting to Almodóvar's wonderfully colorful scenes and characters was quite refreshing.

American Gangster Steve Gadd   DVD   30 March 2008 Good cop, bad guy.

American Splendor Kristin Schrock   DVD   27 March 2004 This was an interesting "bio" pic about an undergroud comic book writer, Harvey Pekar. Interesting in that it has meta elements, wherein Pekar narrated aspects, appeared on film intermitently, and commented on the action. From the movie, it seems that his comic books are very similar. Also, I love me some Hope Davis who plays his wife.

An Ideal Husband A Bennett   Owned DVD   28 March 2004 The razor sharp wit of this play-to-film earns it the classification of comedy, though the heart of the story is directed to play as dire. Sort of the most perfect Wilde adaptation to film I may have seen. A pleasure to watch, a delight to listen to characters whose very speech is play. A perennial favorite and frequent re-watch of mine.

Attila (TV) Julie Gephart   Basic cable   26 October 2003 I don’t care if it was historically accurate – any movie that gives me a chance to raise my sword and shout “TAKE THE VILLAGE!” is a winner in my book. Add a very attractive cast, bloody swordfights, and a Borg queen ruling Rome, and it’s an instant classic, well worth the four hour time investment. One pet peeve: why is it that eyes seem to be invisible to casting directors? A child with dark brown eyes is just not going to grow up into a man with light blue eyes, no matter how much you ask me to believe they’re the same person. Plus, a blue-eyed Hun? Ok, pet peeve over. TAKE THE VILLAGE!

Aviator Tony Pisarenkov   The Uptown Theatre, Washington, DC   04 February 2005 Impressive all around. If someone tells you that DiCaprio can act, they are not lying.

Bad Santa Jennifer Strang   Loews Tenleytown   20 December 2003 Billy Bob Thornton was brilliant in this un-pc satire on a total loser alcoholic santa. The kid in it is also great, as are Bernie Mac's scenes with a trash-talking midget. A must see for anyone with an off-sense of humor.

Basic Instinct Julie Gephart   DVD   28 November 2003 A Hitchcock movie with nudity – what more could you ask from a cinematic experience? This time I watched it with the director’s commentary track and got schooled on the finer points of lighting.

Batman Begins Mike Gadd   Martinsburg Regal (with the 2L size large coke)   19 June 2005 This is what a Batman movie should be like. No goofy comic book campiness. Very dark and human. Things get a little convoluted at the end but that's alright. Christian Bale makes a nice Batman even though it looks like the mask is a little too small for his head.

Behind Enemy Lines Mike Gadd   DVD rental   20 October 2002 Sure wish I had seen this on the big screen. Great action scenes and slow motion bombs and bullets flying.

Bourne Supremacy Kristin Schrock   Kenwood Theatre   21 August 2004 I posted this some time ago--but it was lost! For some reason, Matt Damon's Jason Bourne is incredibly compelling. I don't even like Matt Damon. But these movies are popcorn fun--despite the fact that the director was a little two keen on the hand-held camera. What's the point of having a beautifully choreographed fight scene if you can't see what's going on?

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Julie Gephart   Basic cable   22 November 2003 The plot was ok, the dialog was bad, but mainly this movie was a visual feast from beginning to end. I guess maybe there’s something to be said for famous directors after all.

Bride & Prejudice Kristin Schrock   Esquire Theatre   05 March 2005 An adaptation of Pride and Prejudice via Bollywood. It's difficult to review the movie outside the novel--that is, if you didn't know/love Pride and Prejudice would you like the movie? It was colorful and fun--even with singing. The biggest failing for me was Darcy. He's portrayed more as an American boob--rather than prideful. He stares vacantly rather than smolders. On the bright side--Sayid of Lost plays Mr. Bingley and my favorite mother, Marsha Mason shows up as Darcy's mother (playing the Lady Katherine role).

Brokeback Mountain Steve Gadd   Countryside Megaplex   11 February 2006 Beautifully filmed, affecting, and more than just an arbitrarily unconventional romance.

Bukowski: Born into This Tony Pisarenkov   Landmark E Street Theatre, Washington, DC   13 July 2004 A thoroughly researched and very enjoyable and human portrait of a fascinating man whose myth was much larger than his self. Befitting a good documentary, full of interesting footage and even more interesting characters, and especially impressive for a first feature-length work.

Bukowski: Born into This Jennifer Strang   Landmark E Street Theatre, Washington, DC   13 July 2004 If you enjoy documentaries about eccentric artists, this one's for you. The director does a nice job of mixing current interviews with past footage. Mr. Bukowski was truly a character - his essence is captured in this wonderful film.

Capote Tony Pisarenkov   Loews Cineplex Dupont Circle, Washington, DC   03 December 2005 Very impressive. I can only assume that Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of Truman Capote was reasonably true to life, which makes Capote the most un-human, if not quite inhuman, personality in the history of American letters. Highly recommended.

Central Station Steve Gadd   DVD   30 May 2005 An unloved retired teacher makes ends meet by writing letters for illiterate passers-by in Rio de Janeiro's train station. She connects with a bratty orphan, and the story of her trying to reconnect him to family is quite touching.

Chicago A Bennett   AMC Newport on the Levee   11 January 2003 This film was *everything* Moulin Rouge both should have been and wanted to be. I found myself grinning from ear to ear, and wanting to applaud after each number. Also (and I never would have in my life thought I would _ever_ say this), Richard Gere deserves a major award.

Chicago Kristin Schrock   Theatre   11 January 2003 I am not a big fan of the musical. But this one was fun with good dance numbers, and much better than Moulin Rouge. I kept waiting for the tap number which did not disappoint--even without jazz hands. And, Richard Gere, can belt it out.

Children of Men Steve Gadd   DVD   04 April 2007 An action flick that stood up pretty well to what I feared were exaggerated claims of "Blade Runner for this generation." I liked the intense action sequences (without action hero cliches), the dystopian futurism (without heavy-handed commentary), and layered story (without unduly cerebral connect-the-dots plot-twisting).

Chocolat Mike Gadd   borrowed dvd   11 April 2003 What a delightful movie. Filled with familiar faces to boot. Everyone from the 'bad dates' dude from Indiana Jones to Trinity from The Matrix. It didn't hurt that some Ben and Jerry's Whoopie Pie was being consumed at the time.

Cold Mountain Mike Gadd   Standard theater with 7 other people in it.   26 January 2004 It's hard for me to judge this as a movie. The book is my favorite so I've seen it play out in my head many times. It was interesting to see someone else's point of view. There could be major plot holes that I'm just not going to notice. Some things were done quite well (Ruby, Stobrod and Pangle, the scene with the widow girl and her baby). Others, not so well (Inman on the beach? when did that happen? Ada looking freshly made up after a full day of labor, Teague's character was too close to Ada...) Some of the dialogue I recognized straight from the pages. It remained true enough to the book, which I appreciated. This certainly could have been done a lot worse. Bonus feature- I saw a preview of the next M. Night movie. I'll be there.

Collateral Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   07 August 2004 Michael Mann plays to his strengths in this cool crime thriller. Count the trademarks: a steely, calculating bad guy (sprinting in a suit with gun in hand, but never breaking a sweat); cool blues and warm reds in handpicked art deco city scenes; a knack for setting the mood with music; great camera work. The story is little more than what you would expect from a good Miami Vice episode, but impressive star talent and the director's mature touch make this a masterpiece on the big screen.

Collateral Mike Gadd   dvd rental   05 January 2005 Michael Mann with another visual spectacle. A city drama done right. Nobody does it better. Tom Cruise didn't ruin it either, even with the goofy gray hair.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Kristin Schrock   DVD   13 September 2003 I love me some Sam Rockwell. Even his bum--which we get to see naked again and again. This movie loved Sam Rockwell's bum. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but still--there's a lot of naked Sam Rockwell in just a 2 hour movie.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Steve Gadd   DVD   17 September 2003 Not to be confused with "Dangerous Minds," this is an edgy blend of "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "Network." The cool camera work and saturated colors contrast with the dark theme: based on a possibly true story, a classic game show creator has a second life as a CIA hit man. Great performances all around.

Crash Steve Gadd   Regal Countryside   20 May 2005 Don't be put off by Sandra Bullock, she is just one of many mixed-up colorful characters whose stories cross one day in Los Angeles. Compare to "Dirty Pretty Things."

Crimson Gold Jaqi Ross   Visions Cinema   11 February 2004 "As much a warning about the dangers of self-containment as it is an expose of a dysfunctional society." -L.A. Daily News

Dear Frankie A Bennett   Overdue Hollywood Video DVD   04 August 2005 Solid and surprising, and probably Gerard Butler’s best on-screen performance to date. A Scottish film set in Scotland, about a deaf boy whose mother has been pretending to be his absentee father writing him letters from an imaginary sailing ship. Circumstances conspire, and one day, she must produce the actual man--or a reasonable facsimile thereof. Bittersweet hijinks and shocking revelations ensue.

Death in Gaza Jaqi Ross   Silver Spring AFI   19 June 2004 The story of three Palestinian children living in the Gaza strip. Ahmed is twelve years old. A great football fan, his life doesn’t differ from many other boys of the same age. But then, one day, a friend is shot dead by an Israeli sniper before his eyes and, all of a sudden, Ahmed is a changed boy. From this point on, he begins to take an interest in paramilitary groups operating in his neighbourhood. The film observes him become more and more radical. Mohammed is Ahmed’s best friend. His mother begs him to stay well away from the frontline of Israeli occupied territory. But, only a short time later, he and Ahmed are busy making Molotov cocktails intended to be thrown at Israeli tanks. Finally, 16-year-old Nailja lives close to the border, where the Israeli army are in the process of destroying Palestinian houses in order to create a buffer zone. DEATH IN GAZA describes a fragmented world in which to die a martyr is considered a great honour. The film also bears testimony to how deeply filmmaker James Miller was affected by these children’s stories. A cameraman and director who regularly reported from war zones for CNN and the BBC, James Miller was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier during the making of this film.

Deep Blue Sea Jeff Gadd     28 October 2002 Samuel L,Jackson and LL Cool J are the only actors in this movie I know. A great shark movie if you like the first Jaws movie. Out far in the ocean, using a undersea laboratory,they use the shark to cure brain disease.But one catch these sharks have been altered a little bit.They are much smarter than they look.And a big storm is coming.And so are the sharks,who is smarter Human or Beast? Very thrilling.

Deliver Us From Eva Kristin Schrock   DVD   12 July 2003 I am a sucker for any re-interpretation of Taming of the Shrew. And this one was probably more enjoyable than it should have been due to the luscious-don't-call-it-a-comback- L.L. Cool J who licks his lips like NO ONE else. My enjoyment was only hampered by a weak third act which made us say, "Wha?" and "Huh?"

Deliver Us From Eva A Bennett   Hollwood Video DVD   12 July 2003 Correction: Deliver me *TO* Eva. This film has to be the most pleasant surprise in home video that I've experienced this year (along w/ Happy Accidents and Charlotte Gray). Rumor has it that Ladies Love Cool James--and ladies, I hear ya. After watching this urban Taming of the Shrew, it's not hard to see why. Three brothers-in-law contract the ultimate playa (Mr. LL Cool J) to romance their complicated sister-in-law, and then to dump her--but only after convincing her to leave town and (by association) get out of their marital affairs. Eva is acted so well by Gabrielle Union of "Bring It On"--her sisters love her (a saving grace in such a character), and she manages to balance shrewishness perfectly along w/ letting viewers see that, truly, Eva is the best of the four ladies. Would have earned a "9" if not for the last three minutes.

Desk Set Julie Gephart   Basic cable   14 September 2003 It’s not that I plan for every movie that I watch for the rest of my life to be a Hepburn/Tracy film, but once you set TiVo on the case, there’s no going back. This one captured a delightful slice of time when business was just being introduced to the wonders of “electronic brains,” and workers were facing the astonishing notion that a machine could take their desk job away. I might give body parts for the chance to work in an office as fun as the one in this movie.

Die Another Day Tony Pisarenkov   Camelback Esplanade, Phoenix, AZ   07 January 2003 Well, if you want to _think_ about it, Halle Berry's character falls completely flat, and it is the first Bond film in which computer animation is blatantly obvious. But no one would actually want to _think_ about a Bond film, would they? On a more disturbing note, this is the first Bond film that had to resort to magic. Still, entertainment of a highest order, as usual. And hey, it caused the government of a real country (North Korea) to issue an official condemnation. That's got to be a first.

Diggstown Ray Hunley   Comcast On Demand   12 November 2005 A lovely little con flick that I never get tired of. Boxing hustlers James Woods, Louis Gossett Jr., and Oliver Platt go after the ill-gotten wealth of a small-town scumbag. Bruce Dern is creepy and weaselly as the foil.

Dirty Pretty Things Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   31 August 2003 Affecting story of London immigrants struggling to survive and solve the mystery of a stopped toilet.

Distant Tony Pisarenkov   Landmark E Street Theatre, Washington, DC   25 July 2004 A visually gorgeous Turkish film about estrangement -- on the part of two cousins from each other, but more generally from family, art, friends, lovers, life. Minimal dialogue, an almost exclusive reliance on ambient sounds (with only a faint strain of music here and there) and genius-level camera work makes the pervasive chill that much more powerful. Profound as much from what it leaves unsaid as what it says, this will quite possibly be the most memorable film of the year.

Elephant Man Tony Pisarenkov   VHS at home   09 June 2004 David Lynch's second feature, "Elephant Man" relates the true story of John Merrick, a man in Victorian England born with severe hydrocephalus who was a sideshow freak until he was discovered and rescued by a doctor at age 21. Very well made, with unmistakable Lynchian grotesqueries, and an excellent interpretation of the age-old "damned if you do, damned if you don't" conundrum -- even as Merrick gains respect and even admiration of society, it is only because he is seen as a freak.

Empire of Danger Scott   Sci-FI   07 June 2005 Empire of Danger is the sequel to Lost on Mars. Both of these movies are alot of fun to watch.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Jaqi Ross   Georgetown Loews   26 June 2004 Social commentary more than documentary. I just happen to agree with some of what he says.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Tony Pisarenkov   Some scary place in Fairfax   04 July 2004 Michael Moore has learned how to make films

Far From Heaven Kristin Schrock   DVD   04 May 2003 Despite being very stylish and outstanding performances by Dennis Quaid, Julianne Moore (when she cries she rips your insides out), and Dennis Haysbert, this movie wasn't as good as I was expecting. Of course, since most people I know billed it as the greatest thing since sliced bread, it was sure to disappoint. Sliced bread rocks!

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Steven Krise   My basement, on DVD   10 October 2004 Fairly faithful to the book. My favorite scene had to have been the slapstick where Dr Gonzo is trying to get off the carousel bar. Johnny Depp is the only actor who could have pulled off the role of Raoul Duke/HS Thompson.

Genghis Blues Steve Gadd   DVD   20 November 2003 Very cool documentary on Paul Pena, a San Francisco bluesman who discovered Tuvan throat-singing on shortwave radio. He taught himself the art and joined an expedition to Tannu Tuva, where he competed in a throat-singing contest. Thanks Ray for the loan.

Get Carter (1971) Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   28 March 2005 Second in the remake/original comparison series. Michael Caine plays Jack Carter with far more scoundrelly panache than does Sly Stallone in the remake. Carter's search for his brother's killer casts him alternately in the role of hero and villain, and the end winds up being bleak yet reasonably satisfying. Originals - 2, Remakes - 0

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Steve Gadd   DVD   16 June 2005 Dazzling, dreamlike animation steal the show in this episode, in which the main characters toy with Philip K. Dick ideas and toss out references to Milton, the Old Testament, and Descartes. I found myself watching the backgrounds most of the time. Beyond a moving car window you don't see a Warner Brothers loop but a rich cityscape passing by with true perspective and focus. Frequently there are short, quiet scenes of exquisite complexity and color which must have been wonderful in the theater.

Girlfight Julie Gephart   VHS Rental   09 November 2002 Shockingly, an Indie film that I really liked. More or less your classic boxing movie, so the "8" rating is all about my enjoyment rather than the script . Michelle Rodriguez is so cool she almost tempts me to see Blue Crush.

Hero Steven Krise   My Basement   22 September 2006 The lushly colorful cinematography and startingly poetic fight choreography more than made up for the fact that the movement of their lips didn't match the words they were saying. What the fuck? My fwfr: Nameless warrior stops war.

Hidden in Silence: A Lifetime Original Movie A Bennett   taped from Lifetime in 1996   28 March 2003 I hate the actress Kellie Martin. Usually, I would be able to move on from there, but she keeps playing characters in TV films that I want to see. So, the hatred is perpetuated with some resentment. Anyway, this film is one of few Holucaust accounts (and a true one) that ends well and happily for all involved. A fifteen-year-old girl begins taking in Jews from the Polish ghetto. By the end of the war, she is hiding more than 15 in her attic. If an inspirational film exists, this is probably it. If only I could find the book to read that it is based on. That's sure to be Kellie Martin-free, right?

High Noon Julie Gephart   Basic cable   19 July 2003 The cowboy part was great, but this had the strangest "romantic" non-chemistry that I've ever seen. Gary Cooper generally managed to give the impression that he had forgotten Grace Kelly was even in the room -- even while delivering dialog to her -- at their wedding.

Hopscotch (1980) A Bennett   TiVo'd from Television   12 May 2003 When the world's cleverest spy not only goes a little crazy, but also goes rogue, there's no telling which espionage agency in which country will be the last to suffer the consequences of both his exploits and his tell-all book. Former CIA agent Kendig makes his way gracefully across whole continents, displaying a skill and intellect far-beyond using guns or kung-fu. If you were in a jam, this is the "super-hero" you'd wish you could call. Also stars a young-ish Sam Waterson. A favorite of my brother's and mine since we were quite young.

Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil A Bennett   owned VHS   17 December 2003 "No, you are untrustworthy because you *lied*." - Hornblower to the unmasked actress Kitty Cobham, only recently masquerading as the Duchess of Wharfedale. Third in a series of eight. A Spanish prison, a faux Duchessa, secret dispatches for His Majesty hidden in a lady's drawers, a thought-lost crew member re-found. Mutiny. A prison break and solitary confinement in a hole in the ground, capped off with an heroic sea storm rescue, news of Hornblower's promotion to Lieutenant and his (and his men's) release from the prison solely on the merit of their exemplary conduct. ...and I didn't even mention the flirting or the well-filmed locales. Or the boats. The gorgeous boats.

Horatio Hornblower: The Duel A Bennett   owned VHS   17 December 2003 First film in the series (now of 8 total). Originally titled in the UK, "The Even Chance", after a chapter of the same name in the C. S. Forester novel, "Lieutenant Hornblower". This film covers a lot of ground and does it well. Filmed entirely onboard an actual ship, sailing on an actual sea, you can't beat the visuals and the feeling you are really there. Great cast.

Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ships A Bennett   owned VHS   18 December 2003 "I have seen it in Smyrna in '85, Mr. Hornblower. It is the Black Death--the Plague!"-Mr. Tapling, of His Majesty King George's Diplomatic Service. The time spent on the ensuing 'quarantined' Plague Ship, La Reve, as Hornblower becomes de facto captain (though only a Midshipman in point of fact) is among the best episodes in the series. I should like very much to go sailing. What gorgeous boats. Second of eight. Originally titled in the UK, "The Examination for Lieutenant". For some reason, we Americans needed to have it re-titled "The Fire Ships". (Well, I do love fire.) I will not speculate on the perceived need for re-naming it, nor what that says about us as a nation. Starring our old friend Wedge Antilles as a crazed over-zealous war hero captain that inevitably is unmasked as more a problem than an asset.

House of 1000 Corpses Steven Krise   My Basement (Tivo'd from IFC)   29 March 2006 The plaintext of the storyline is so horror-show conventional as to be a cliche, but Rob Zombie has managed to elevate this tired medium to produce a true piece of art. The cinematography was compelling making use of split screens, odd camera angles and numerous strange vignettes that were either tangential moodsetters or a clever mechanism to foreshadow. Of course, the soundtrack was kickass. According to fwfr, I'm alone in my praise for this flick, but I'll stand by my statements.

House of Flying Daggers Steve Gadd   Loews Georgetown 14   31 December 2004 A delicious piece of work that demands comparison to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and compares quite favorably.

Houseboat Julie Gephart   Basic cable   24 June 2003 This was a wonderful movie. I’m so glad I finally stumbled across one during my long trek through the barren land of basic cable. Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, three adorable children, and a fixer-upper houseboat – winners all the way. Unfortunately, I suppose it was a romantic comedy, but I don’t care – I liked it anyway. It was charming and witty and sensitive and everyone was beautiful, and that’s really all I could want from a movie. (Well, you know, at least all I could want if I’m taking a break from graphic bloodshed and jaw-dropping fight scenes.)

I Want to Marry Ryan Banks A Bennett   TiVo'd from ABC Family   19 January 2004 Probably due to Willage, Anya, and Brandon Walsh (and a script that constantly subverted my expectations) this film was half-again better than any romantic comedies I've seen in the theatre recently (or on DVD for that matter). Also, extra points for actually hot kisses--on ABC Family!

In July Steve Gadd   DVD   24 September 2005 Remember Manni, the hapless thug from Run Lola Run? Here he is a hapless physics teacher whose bedroom Einstein poster and planet models do nothing for his love life. He gets a break when a secret admirer invites him to a party, but he goes home with the wrong woman, then chases her on a road trip from Hamburg, through the Balkans, to Istanbul. Love conquers all, of course, and this film shows that nothing is as reliable as a classic formula. Also has lots of German swearing.

Insomnia Mike Gadd   dvd at home   27 April 2003 I don't know if Al Pacino got his facelift before or after the filming of this movie but he certainly needed something by the time it was over. Visually stunning and enjoyable throughout. Robin Williams still in his 'I can act serious' mode.

Intolerable Cruelty Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   14 October 2003 The brothers Coen score again with a clever comedy, spiced with the usual offbeat scenes. George Clooney carries the entire movie, not as well as Jeff Bridges carried The Big Lebowski, but well enough.

Iron Jawed Angels (2004) A Bennett   Pre-viewed VHS bought from Hollywood Video   22 March 2005 Despite an entirely unnecessary scene of autoeroticism between Hilary Swank and a claw-footed tub (done to make this film fit the HBO niche it occupies?), this film was entertaining and informative as it detailed the National Women's Party's attempt to gain universal sufferage. Its depiction of a variety of female characters greatfully steered clear of stereotyping and over-simplification. Also starring the lovely wonder known as Vera Farmiga.

It Should Happen to You (1954) Kristin Schrock   Turner Classic Movies (31 Days of Oscar)   20 February 2005 Gladys Glover (played by the excellent Judy Holliday) wants to make a name for herself. So she rents a billboard and puts her name on it. She then becomes famous for being famous--which seemed strangely pertinent to trends today. Pete (Jack Lemmon) tries to convince her that it's more important for your name to MEAN something, and doesn't understand her quest for fame. Entertaining, but I was a bit peeved. Pete wants to marry Gladys, but can't do that if she's concentrating on her "fame"--which translates into a career in advertising. I kept wanting to yell at him--she's a single woman in New York, she needs to support herself! But she decides to chuck it all to marry Pete and live happily ever after (naturally).

It's a Wonderful Life Julie Gephart   VHS   25 December 2003 Every year I dread the fact that my brother is going to make us watch this, and every year I end up enjoying it.

James Clavell's Shogun (1980) A Bennett   TiVo'd from Hallmark Channel   05 August 2003 Twelve hours long (nine without commercials). A surprising, early entry into the world of miniseries television--and very suited to the genre. May be the best miniseries I've ever watched, and I say that even knowing that 90% of the cast never utter a single word of English. Did little to stamp out my enjoyment of Richard Chamberlain. Unexpectedly found myself quite fond of the female lead, a woman who wants nothing of the world but to be allowed to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) from the first moment we meet her in hour three. My viewing would have been more enjoyable if Hallmark Channel had not continually over-ran each ep by, I'm guessing, two or three minutes. Not so entirely unforgiveable, until the end of the final chapter cut out early. Someone should write a paper about the similarities of the text with that of A Man Called Horse. I don't know what it means, I only know that echoes of inhumanity, torture, stranger-in-new-culture incidences abound.

Jaws Julie Gephart   Basic cable   20 March 2004 I thought I'd be laughing at this movie after 20 years, but I was wrong. It was still a really good and genuinely scary movie.

Jeepers Creepers Jeff Gadd   Video   07 March 2003 Not to Scary but gross what the creature does to people in the movie. I still trying to decide what it is, as a woman says it's a devil or a beast. Or both put together. Starts out as two kids trying to get home driving and allmost get run off the road with a truck.

Kill Bill Volume 2 Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   16 April 2004 Uma didn't quite get around to dispatching with Bill in the first volume, but he gets his due in part two, along with a number of minions.

Kill Bill: Vol 1 Kristin Schrock   AMC Theatre--Free Preview   07 October 2003 It was FREE! And the tag line is a quote from The Wrath of Khan. So, Quentin, you pretty much had me at hello. The wonderful thing, I think, about a Quentin Tarantino film is that it is obvious that he takes great joy from every scene. So, if nothing else, it is interesting, and takes you on a fun ride. Not meant for the faint of heart as there is A LOT of blood. But Uma acquits herself nicely and there are some groovy fight scenes. Lucy Liu, as always, ROCKS the free world. And, Uma, has some funky, funky feet. I look forward to Volume 2 where Michael Madsen will get a little screen time.

Kill Bill: Volume One Julie Gephart   DVD rental   07 July 2004 Once we got to Japan, this had to be the most beautiful violence I’ve ever seen. However, it was not one of my better ideas to watch during dinner.

Kingdom of Heaven Mike Gadd   Matinsburg Regal Cinema   13 May 2005 Ridley Scott knows how to do a good catapult scene, without a doubt. This movie took a little while to get a plot developed. Once it got going it was a nice ride. Despite the Crusades being the focus of the story there was a distinct absence of preaching. The main characters on both sides were quite sympathetic to the beliefs of the other. Like Gladiator the blood flowed and splashed in buckets. Thanks to Steve for the heads up on the ticket price change. Until we get a better theater in Winchester we’ll have to suck it up.

Kinsey Tony Pisarenkov   DVD at home   25 November 2005 A very good bio-pic of Alfred Kinsey, with both Liam Neeson and Laura Linney doing great jobs in the lead roles. Any complaints, though real, become infinitsemal in the face of the overall quality of the film. Highly recommended.

Kung Fu Hustle Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   14 September 2005 I was going to give it a 7 until I went back and re-listened to what Donut said just before he died. That bit of crazy-random homage was thrown in with the flair and glee of a virtuoso, and elevates the film beyond anything I expected from it. Kung Fu Hustle is a fond, occasionally farcical tribute to the Hong Kong kung fu film industry, and a sweet little story in its own right.

La Femme Musketeer (2003) A Bennett   TiVo'd from Hallmark Channel   09 July 2004 Written by a woman, and showcasing at a minimum of eight female characters that displayed depth and variation, I probably enjoyed this more than I should have. Michael York, forever Tybalt, reprised his 1970s role of D’Artangnan, and was miraculously married to a woman of his own peer group. The titular character, his daughter, fights and kicks and duels her way through the programme, saving the Spanish enfanta, escaping capture, killing her nemesis (a Hal Ketchum look-alike), and unmasking Cardinal Mazarain’s evil scheme to subjugate King Louis. Cleverly echoing the plot of Dumas’ original ‘Three Musketeers’ (who show up halfway through, wishing to join in another adventure, and finding themselves perhaps not quite up to the task), this Hallmark presentation had gorgeous vistas and locations to film at in Croatia, some famous faces (John Rhys-Davies, Gerard Depardieu), well-filmed and well-staged swordplay—at least six major battles—and delightful chemistry among its leads. An unexpected pleasure. Also, shockingly without any sort of love plot.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels Steve Gadd   DVD   24 July 2005 This was the first test of Yahoo's recommendations tool, which suggests titles based on your ratings of movies you have seen. This Guy Richie movie was on page two of the recommended comedies list, down below "Clerks" and "Trainspotting," and was still pretty good. Like "Snatch," it had a big cast, several stories converging together, and accents thick enough to make subtitles helpful.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Kristin Schrock   Showcase Cinemas Springdale   20 December 2003 It's hard to judge these pictures as I know that the theatrical release is not really the movie that Jackson wants us to see. Some scenes seem truncated and plot lines undeveloped. And, pretty-pretty Legolas seems to be relegated to the background. But, in light of other triologies, this movie didn't make me want to weep for all of the missed opportunities. My enjoyment levels were only hampered by a cell-phone talking patron two rows back and an announcement over the loudspeaker towards the end for an Amber Davis. I officially hate the Springdale theatre.

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Mike Gadd   Regal Cinema, Sterling   23 December 2002 Another visual spectacle. Total eye candy. Thoroughly enjoyable, despite sound problems at the theater. Not a chance though that my kids will see this movie before they're 15. Gollum and the Ents steal the show. Gollum is no Roger Rabbit. He's no Jar Jar Binks. He's no digital Yoda. An amazing display of seemless computer technology. True, the Ents looked like political cartoon caricatures...but still... you had to like the way they carried themselves. If trees were going to pick themselves up and march to war this is what it would look like. Decimating the Orc army one or two at a time by stomping, kicking, throwing boulders or smashing heads was delightful to watch. Cheers arose from the theater. The best part was the one Ent dousing his burning head in the water like a cartoon character with his pants on fire jumping in a bucket of water.

Lost in Translation Mike Gadd   DVD rental   19 June 2004 I'm still looking for someone I know who saw this movie and liked it as much as I did. 'Where was the plot?' and 'Nothing happened!' was their comments. They missed the point entirely. Bill Murray was wonderful here and the direction and writing were on target. The subtle, wry humor was right down my alley, too. Loved the scene in the hospital waiting room where Bill is trying to pass the time communicating with the tiny old person next to him and the two women sitting behind them are trying deperately not to burst out laughing as they eavedrop on the attempted conversation.

Lost on Mars Scott   Sci-Fi   03 June 2005 Best Mars mission movie, I have ever seen.

Love is Better Than Ever (1952) Kristin Schrock   Turner Classic Movies   14 November 2004 Elizabeth Taylor plays a small-town dance teacher. On a trip to New York she meets and falls in love with a fast talking agent. To save her reputation he has to pretend to be engaged! Which is always an AWESOME plot line. The Agent doesn't want to give up his single lifestyle, but who really can resist Elizabeth Taylor?

Man's Favorite Sport Kristin Schrock   VHS   01 February 2003 This is my favorite Rock Hudson movie, and I was so excited to hear that it was available at the Hollywood Video (since AMC has stopped playing classic movies, B*stards!). Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson) is a fishing expert who has never been fishing. Abigail (Paula Prentiss) is a PR exec who signs him up for a fishing contest. Wackiness ensues. No, really, it does. A romantic comedy that actually works (for me), but mostly because Rock Hudson spends most of the movie grumpy. Give me a grumpy man, and I'm yours.

March of the Penguins Tony Pisarenkov   AFI Silver Theatre, Silver Spring, MD   23 July 2005 A well-made documentary on what has to be one of the most bizzarre phenomena in the animal kingdom -- the breeding process of the Emperor Penguins. Morgan Freeman's voiceover, added for the English-language markets no doubt, is a little pompous for its own good, but doesn't ruin the film.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World A Bennett   Milford Giant Cineplex-my brother was late. Again.   15 November 2003 Greatly enjoyable. Oscar-calibur effects (so seamless they hardly seem like effects), costuming, and set dressing. Russell Crowe again proves how easily he can sway men to die for him and whichever cause he is representing in his current film. The script, rather than using the tried-and-true inverted checkmark of plot/action culminating in climax and denoument, instead hearkens back to "ye olde" cinema serials (and weekly dramatic television) where too much progression can hurt in the long runs for which they were/are destined. Characters neither learn, nor change, nor experience (or give viewers) catharsis. It is this stasis only that keeps the film from earning a higher rating. However, there is still satisfaction to be had in such a solid entry of characters you enjoy being around, and places you've never had the chance to visit, lives you'll never live. Obviously set up for a potential run of sequels (much like those same cinema serials of old), you'll not hear me complaning. There's always something to be said for B+-level papers handled so well instructors feel compelled to award them the full A. And let's not even get into what a relief it can be to find an entertaining film amongst the dren and flotsam drifting in the current climate.

Memento Steven Krise   My basement   20 September 2002 Ingenius film that helps the audience experience the protagonist's ailment by sequencing the vignettes in reverse chronological order. Joe Pantoliano shows up again as a slick manipulative morally ambiguous character. The question, though, is whether he's lying or not. This review does nothing to capture the essence of the movie.

Men in Black Julie Gephart   Basic cable   20 March 2004 I’d almost forgotten what a fun movie this was. Clunky in places, but really a clever idea.

Midnight Cowboy Tony Pisarenkov   DVD   18 January 2003 A brilliant early example of Dustin Hoffman's genius, but even beyond that, despite a relative absence of depth and a lack of concern (admittedly intentional) with truly timeless themes, the film manages to keep your interest, partly due to a successful effort to avoid the obvious. Oh, did I mention Dustin Hoffman is brilliant?

Minority Report Steve Gadd   DVD at home   25 February 2003 Cool movie, great effects, good story. If there is any Philip K. Dick material out there that has not yet been converted to film, let's have it!

Miracle Mike Gadd   $2 theater with the Jr. High   04 April 2004 One of the best sports movies I've seen. Simple story done well. I appreciated the realistic hockey action.

Monsoon Wedding Kristin Schrock   DVD   08 February 2003 I thought this was going to be a comedy. It wasn't. At all. The story of three people in India in the midst of wedding preparation of an arranged marriage. Some angst. Some marigold eating. Good music. Although the white subtitles were difficult to read at times.

Monster Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   23 April 2005 Charlize Theron is as good as advertised. Her Wuornos is made a little more sympathetic, I think, than the reality, but what a life to have had to live.

My Big Fat Greek Weeding Mike Gadd   Movie Theater   15 September 2002 Delightful movie. Held up to all expectations. The theater was packed for a 4:00 show. I've never seen that for a movie that's been out this long. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who'd consider it.

Naqoyqatsi Steve Gadd   Cineplex Odeon Inner Circle 3   16 November 2002 The conclusion to Godfrey Reggio's 'Qatsi' trilogy. This installment had very little of the arresting timelapse imagery of natural beauty and industrial activity that made 'Koyaanisqatsi' such a brilliant niche film. The Phillip Glass score was just as trance-inducing, however. The opening montage of beautifully decayed architecture was cool, as were the scenes of athletes in slo-mo, nuclear blasts, and x-ray video. There may be a message in there somewhere, too.

Nico Icon Tony Pisarenkov   DVD   14 March 2003 An excellent documentary on Nico (nee Krista Paffgen), the sometime lead singer of the Velvet Underground and an habituee of Andy Warhol's Factory in its heyday. She was perhaps the most underappreciated influence on the world of Goth and a relentless perpetuator of Left Bank bohemian ideals.

No Country For Old Men Steve Gadd   Fairfax Towne Center   30 November 2007

Old Boy Tony Pisarenkov   DVD at home   03 June 2006 One of the best treatments of revenge I've seen in a long time. Great story, and very well made to boot. Highly recommended.

One Against the Wind (1991) A Bennett   TiVo'd from Hallmark Channel   25 July 2003 Fascinating story (true, apparently) of one woman smuggling downed RAF out of Paris into Vichy and on to freedom during WWII. Played with incredible charisma by Judy Davis, whom I might feel led to follow to my death, so compelling a personage she is. Lastly, perhaps the only time you might encounter someone being sent to a death camp to *save* their life. (Prior to that, Davis' character spent nine--count 'em--nine months in solitary confinement--without going mad) Must find book source material to read.

Only Human Steve Gadd   DVD   20 October 2006 Funny variation on "Big Fat Greek Wedding" in Spanish.

Open Hearts Jaqi Ross   National Gallery of Art, D.C.   01 February 2004 A couple, looking forward to their wedding, suffers an accident that leaves one of them incapacitated. "But," claims critic Stephen Holden, "because Open Hearts follows the conventions of the Danish filmmaking collective Dogme 95, it purveys a documentary-style realism that dilutes any lingering soap opera gloss."

Orgazmo Steven Krise   In the kids' playhouse in my basement   24 January 2005 A Mormon turned action-adventure-porn star assumes his movie persona to become a real life superhero. A Trey Parker film.

Pat and Mike Julie Gephart   Basic cable   23 August 2003 My second outing with Hepburn and Tracy, and this time it was all about sports instead of politics. Hepburn plays a mean game of golf, but let’s be honest – nobody’s anxious to see a play-by-play of all 18 holes. Still, this movie earns some extra points for presenting a woman in a shockingly advanced light for that era.

Pi Steven Krise   eddie   06 November 2006 Nico Tavernise was the ant wrangler.

Pieces of April Kristin Schrock   DVD   03 April 2004 A surprisingly affective movie. Katie Holmes (the bad daughter) invites her family to one last thanksgiving (her mother is dying of cancer). Her stove breaks and she has to scatter to cook the turkey. A bit predictable, sometimes funny, and a surprisingly sad/bittersweet ending. Often times the family dynamics were too familiar to be funny. Keep the tissues handy for the ending. Patricia Clarkson, you are my hero.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl A Bennett   AMC 20 Newport-on-the-Levee I ordered a Dasani   12 July 2003 Sword fights. True love. Legolas in boots. Pirates. Treasure. Curses. Weirdly well-done special effects. Locations and sets that seem real. Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush proving that good (and in Depp's case, exciting) acting can elevate a script and make a film memorable. Oh, yes, and Johnny _Depp_. Some critics have panned his turn as Captain Jack Sparrow as indulgent and weird. And I say to those people; go home and read your new update to the tax code, or watch a rare German underground arthaus film and discuss it with the rest of your stuck-up cadre of elitists. *Whatever*. It's a _pirate_ movie. To be watched by people who want to have a good time. We can solve the existential crisis of Western Literature later. Right now, let us enjoy some adventure, some slippery characters, and some unironic humor and universal goodwill. And some handsome Johnny Depp in eyeliner--the fey-ist of the fey--who still, in old cinema style, gets the girls.

Prizzi's Honor Julie Gephart   Basic cable   31 March 2004 I don't as a rule enjoy mafia movies, but this one just kept showing up in TiVo's Award Winners list until I had to record it. I was delighted to find that I didn't have to take the mobsters seriously, as it turned out to be a dark comedy, and it kept me guessing about the outcome to the final moments.

Psycho Beach Party Kristin Schrock   DVD   21 September 2005 A spoof of 50/60's Beach movies, specifically Gidget. Much more entertaining and funny than it has any right to be--mostly due to the talents of the lead, Lauren Ambrose (of Six Feet Under fame).

Punch-Drunk Love Kristin Schrock   DVD   03 August 2003 I'm not exactly sure what to make of this. It's interesting. Adam Sandler actually portrays a believable character whose loneliness is almost too much to bear. Is it possible that he's actually an actor? There's a wonderful scene where Barry (that's Adam Sandler) is in the grocery store and he sort of begs the products, "Just tell me what I need," as though he could buy something to fill the void. And I love Phillip Seymour Hoffman who only gets a small role here that mostly involves a lot of yelling and swearing. However, despite the fact that Barry has some problems, the film wants us to believe that falling in love will make everything better.

Ray Steve Gadd   Cinema Arts Theatre   30 October 2004 We began the evening watching Vera Drake, which was like eating a stale scone without tea. After half an hour, we couldn't take any more, so we moved to the next screen. Just listening to the Ray Charles biography was fun, and Jaimie Foxx deserves all the praise he has gotten.

Roman Holiday Julie Gephart   Basic cable   03 July 2003 It was a charming movie, but my real fascination came from the fact that it starred what may be the most attractive movie couple of all time. Where have Gregory Peck and his pouty lips been hiding all of this time? It’s a whole new world, the cable with AMC.

Romper Stomper Tony Pisarenkov   AFI Silver Theatre, Silver Spring, MD   08 February 2004 A hyper-realistic, "take no prisoners" portrayal of a gang of skinheads in modern-day Melbourne, featuring a pre-Hollywood Russell Crowe in the lead. Recommended, but not for the faint of heart (or stomach).

Ron Howard's Cinderella Man A Bennett   Lexington Green, KY - I had nachos & hot dog   04 August 2005 Because it’s set in the Depression-era past, it really seems the best melding I’ve seen of Ron Howard’s ability/sensibility and material. So engaging you almost overlook its one major flaw (it took me three days to notice it): the main character HAS no flaws.

Santo vs. the Martian Invasion Jennifer Strang   Hirshorn Museum   08 July 2004 Using the "schlock" rating scale instead of the regular scale, this is a solid eight. It has everything you need in a good cheesy movie - ridiculous costumes, a plot involving evil martians, many truly boring moments, stock footage...I could go on and on. My only complaint is that there is WAY too much wrestling, but I'll put up with it for Santo!

Seabiscuit Mike Gadd   $2 theater with a loose 4 year old   26 October 2003 Excellent movie, though too long. The cinematography was fabulous. I might pay a little more attention at the next network broadcast of a horse race.

Shadow of the Vampire Julie Gephart   Mysteriously Free HBO   14 February 2003 Good times, good times. Brilliant silent film director makes a pact with an ancient vampire to star in his movie, and naturally things go wrong. Or maybe they go right. Who's to say?

Sherlock Holmes: A Case of Evil A Bennett   Taped off TV, USA Original Movie   04 November 2002 HIGHLY enjoyable, for all that it likely leaves Holmesian canon in its dust. Does not shy away from issues of the great detective's addiction. D'Onofrio's Professor Moriarty is one of the best nemeses to watch in recent memory. He doesn't want Holmes dead so much as destroyed. And in his pursuit of that he manages to hurt every main character in the film along the way. Oh yeah, and he invents heroin. Not too shabby.

Sin City Steve Gadd   Fairfax Town Center   15 April 2005 Sin City takes the best elements of a comic book -- sorry, graphic novel -- and a movie to create an edgy, atmospheric, and totally engrossing experience, far cooler than the A-Ha music video of days gone by.

Sin City Tony Pisarenkov   DVD at home   16 December 2005 In our endless search for authenticity in art and boundless disdain for anything ever remotely commercial, we forget that there is a lot to be said for first-rate entertainment.

Spiderman 2 Jennifer Strang   Uptown Theater - Washington, DC   31 July 2004 If you liked the first one, this is even better. There's more humor, several surprises, and even more over the top fight scenes. Plus, Toby is awfully cute.

Spiderman 2 Mike Gadd   $2 theater   22 October 2004 Why not see it again for 2 bucks?

Spring Forward Kristin Schrock   DVD   30 September 2002 I love Liev Schreiber. I don't love him enough to suffer through Jakob the Liar, so I do have standards. I don't think this indie ever got theatrical distribution. It's basically Liev and Ned Beatty talking in these lovely vignettes. It's beautifully filmed; it's surprising; and Liev is so very tall.

Spy Game Steve Gadd   DVD at home   28 August 2002 At least half of this movie takes place in a conference room, but it still manages to keep your interest. Some of the flashback scenes were a bit underdeveloped, but the complex storyline keeps you guessing.

Supersize Me Tony Pisarenkov   DVD at home   22 July 2005 Very entertaining and mildly eye-opening even for a food-obsessed viewer like myself. Shocking for some, no doubt. Highly recommended.

Syriana Tony Pisarenkov   Regal Cinemas Gallery Place, Washington, DC   24 December 2005 Made as it was by the creators of Traffic, it is not too surprising that this vaguely reality-based tale of international intrigue surrounding the quest for Middle Eastern oil delivers a rich variety of evils battling each other with just a token (and -- I'll ruin it for you -- ultimately unsuccessful) opposition from a lonely idealist hero. The politics lack nuance in a fundamental way, and the myriad subplots will have you twisted into a pretzel that requires repeated viewings to untangle, but exceptionally well made and enjoyable nevertheless.

Tattooed Tony Pisarenkov   AFI Silver Theatre, Silver Spring, MD   26 September 2006 A brooding but ultimately optimistic Argentine film about a teenage boy determined to find out the truth about his mother who left him and his father when he was three. Setless, scoreless and shot mostly hand-held, a sparse but poignant meditation on growing up, mutual acceptance and closure. Recommended if you can find it.

Team America: World Police Kristin Schrock   AMC Theatres: Newport on the Levee   09 October 2004 Not as fully realized as the South Park movie, but still a very funny spoof of blockbusters. As you might expect, it's incredibly crude in places but very funny. Also, marionettes!

The 6th Day Julie Gephart   Mysteriously Free HBO   08 March 2003 I love a good futuristic action movie, and I love Arnold Schwarzenegger no matter how old he gets. This movie was set in a near-future where cloning of humans was possible but banned under the "6th Day law" (from God creating man on the 6th day). They came down heavily on the side of cloning being evil, but they didn't do a very good job making their point since I was left going, "Cloning! Wow, that will be great!"

The Ambassador's Daughter Kristin Schrock   Turner Classic Movies   03 October 2004 Olivia De Haviland stars as the titular daughter in France. She sets out to prove to her father and a visiting Senator that American Soldiers behave respectably while on R&R. There's a wager, some wacky misunderstandings, and a pleasantly grumpy and charming John Forsythe. Thank you, Turner Classic Movies!

The Animation Show Tony Pisarenkov   AFI Silver Theatre, Silver Spring, MD   06 September 2003 Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeld's latest collection of animated shorts from around the world is once again a success. A little heavy on Hertzfeld's own work, which wears thin rather quickly, but on balance, a thoroughly enjoyable way to kill an hour and a half.

The Bourne Identity Steve Gadd   University Mall Theaters   02 September 2002 Nice adaptation of the Robert Ludlum series, even if it's not very faithful. The frenetic car chases through narrow European streets with tiny European cars was second only to those in "Ronin."

The Bourne Identity Kristin Schrock   50 cent Theatre (the Best thing about Columbus)   18 November 2002 I'm not a fan of Matt Damon, but I thoroughly enjoyed this spy caper. The story took itself seriously, and it therefore had some nice emotional heft. Good fights, too (with no quips thankfully). And it was nice to see Run Lola Run, Clive Owen, and Chris Cooper acquit themselves remarkably. Well worth the fifty cents.

The Bourne Identity Mike Gadd   dvd at home   23 July 2003 If someone had just told me that this movie has almost nothing to do with the book I would have seen it sooner. I had heard from enough people how good it was but none of them had read the book. I also remember how disappointed I was with the tv movie. Richard Chaimberlain is no Jason Bourne. Matt Damon... much better. He nailed the "I'm beating you up, but I don't know how or why I'm doing it" look on his face. The story was fine and I was only mildly distracted looking for Carlos the Jackel to come jumping out from behind a tree. The laser pointer bank code was a nice upgrade from the microfilm in the hip.

The China Syndrome (1979) Kristin Schrock   Turner Classic Movies (31 days of Oscar)   12 February 2005 This tight thriller has aged incredibly well--could it be that the failure of technology, corporate negligence towards safety, and the failure of government oversight in response to corporate pressure are timeless? Also, this movie reminded of a time when Michael Douglas was an ACTOR and not just some creepy old guy.

The City of Lost Children Tony Pisarenkov   DVD chez G&N, Ann Arbor, MI   03 October 2005 Jenet and Caro are in top form with their grotesque hijinx, although it's not quite as twisted as Delicatessen. The sets alone make it worth seeing, to say nothing of Jean-Louis Tritignant starring as a brain in an aquarium.

The Cooler Kristin Schrock   Esquire Theatre   07 February 2004 The Oaf (a.k.a Joey Fatone of 'nsync) makes his third movie appearance. This time he appears as a lounge singer in a sparkly suit in a Vegas Hotel. This movie also feature some William H. Macy nudity, which frankly I can't be in favor of. Despite that, a rather enjoyable Vegas movie which really wants to be about the passing of the old-school Vegas era.

The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara Jaqi Ross   Visions Cinema, Dupont Circle   11 March 2004 Difficult to watch; excellent film. Soundtrack by Philip Glass.

The Four Feathers A Bennett   Milford Gigantic Cineplex   21 September 2002 There were many parts to this film that I enjoyed. The scope, the visuals, Djimon Honsou, Heath Ledger. I was disappointed to come home and find that many a reviewer dogged the film for not being political, for not being more than it was. A film about a man branded a coward by those closest to him, whose response to such mistreatment is the opposite of that of The Count of Monte Cristo's. A big film: fighting, dying, hardship, supposed redemption.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Julie Gephart   Basic cable   06 July 2003 I grinned and chuckled my way through most of this, thinking it was shaping up to be the best classic movie I’d found so far, but then… wham! They went and turned it into a really sad movie, without a bit of my consent or approval. Still, really high marks all around – wonderful characters, perfect setting, great music. Not in the same vein of silliness as I remember the television series to be.

The Good Thief Ray Hunley   DVD   30 August 2003 Nolte at his rumpled best The first third of the movie seems to be one extended murky mumble, but once Bob Montagne (Nick Nolte) gets himself cleaned up, things snap into crisp focus. There's only nodding (but fond) concession to heist flick cliche, and the ending manages to be satisfying while thwarting expectations. Oh, and Montagne demonstrates his non-innumeracy without flaunting it - that's worth a full rating point right there. The relationship between Bob and Roger, the cop trying to head off his robbery, recalls that of Rick and Capt. Renault in Casablanca. Synchronicitously enough, the other film we watched this weekend, Adaption, made an explicit point of drawing comparisons between Casablanca and itself.

The Guru Kristin Schrock   VHS   06 July 2003 As I had no expectations--other than a pervasive dread that it was going to be a musical--I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Sure, there was some speechifying at the end that I could've done without, but I think the presence of Jimi Mistry, Heather Graham, and Marisa Tomei made up for it. Marisa Tomei doesn't get enough props for playing women who are a mess so well. See "In the Bedroom" and "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" if you have any doubt.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Steven Krise   Regal Cinemas, Martinsburg, WV   08 May 2005 The film is strongest when it doesn't stray from the original. The high moments coupled with Zaphod and Marvin make it worth sitting through the slower parts. FYI, the Martinsburg cinema has raised ticket prices to $7.00 effectively moving it out of the "low-cost theater" niche once cost of fuel and time to get there is factored in.

The Honeymoon Machine (1961) Kristin Schrock   Turner Classic Movies   13 March 2005 A romantic comedy with Steve McQueen and Jim Hutton. I love me some Steve McQueen--and he is in fine form playing a Navy Lieutenant who decides to use the ship's super computer to win at Roulette. But I spent most of the movie marveling how much the guy (who I later found out was Jim Hutton) looked and sounded like Timothy Hutton. In short, genetics are creepy.

The Hot Chick Kristin Schrock   DVD   13 August 2005 It was funny, okay? I laughed. Out loud. And often. Is that so wrong? Look, I don't have to justify myself to you people.

The Italian Job Mike Gadd   $2 theater   13 September 2003 Very good movie overall. Nothing really to complain about. Solid acting, good story, car chases with tiny cars. What more could you ask for?

The Italian Job Steve Gadd   DVD   26 October 2003 Very entertaining execution of the career-ending-heist-spoiled-by-turncoat-partner-sweet-revenge formula. Includes a one-hour and fifty minute commercial for the Mini Cooper.

The Jungle Book (1994) Julie Gephart   Mysteriously free HBO   18 February 2003 Quite possibly the perfect little movie, except for the writing and possibly the acting. Despite these minor flaws, it was full of adorable cuddly animals (that didn't die!) and precious large-eyed children, one of whom grew up into an absolutely stunning man. Also there were many majestic close-ups of a tiger, and you can't go wrong with that in my book.

The Machinist Steve Gadd   DVD   01 August 2005 With its gloomy lighting, odd angles, moody music, and plausibly disturbing premise, this movie is more effective at creating tension than anything I've seen from David Lynch. There are lots of clever touches in the dialog, backgrounds, even the title, and a story that evokes Dostoyevsky and Hitchcock.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   25 March 2005 Jimmy Stewart can do no wrong. This John Ford classic is eminently watchable, as Stewart teams up with John Wayne and Lee Marvin for a slight twist on the timeless good vs. evil storyline. Strangely enough, a search for "valance" on imdb turns up two films: this one, and that well-beloved film of our host, Koyaanisqatsi

The Manchurian Candidate Kristin Schrock   Kenwood Theatre   21 August 2004 What possessed Demme to remake this wonderful movie is beyond me--but I couldn't resist the lovely Liev Schreiber as Raymond Shaw. Beautifully filmed with wonderful performances--it's not often you see Denzel Washington crumpled. But there was an emptiness to the movie--maybe because the first one had some groovy psychadelic scenes to up the creepy factor. Also--the people behind us were from a Seinfeld bit --they were obnoxious, loud whisperers. "What's she doing? She's getting out of the car. Why? She's leaving him." I hate people.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   01 April 2005 Fourth in the "originals" series. A classic, of course, but it failed to grab me as I'd hoped. Angela Lansbury is eerie and creepy as the power-mad wife of a doltish senator, Henry Silva is just ridiculous as a Korean who betrays American troops to the Chicoms, and Frank Sinatra does his smooth thing.

The Mexican Julie Gephart   Mysteriously Free HBO   28 January 2003 Could it be... a Brad Pitt movie that I actually liked? This must mean all the regular Brad Pitt fans hated it, because it was actually sort of fun.

The Night of the Hunter Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   26 March 2005 "I know you don't mind the killin', 'cause there's plenty o' thet in your Good Book. But there are things you do hate, Lord. Perfume-smellin' things, lacy things, things with curly hair." Robert Mitchum's opening Deologue as he's driving along in search of his next victim sets the eerie tone for this classic. Unforgettable.

The Philadelphia Story Julie Gephart   Basic cable   17 July 2003 Excellent, delightful comedy full of witty repartee and a few really funny scenes. Jimmy Stewart won an Oscar for playing, as nearly as I could tell, George Bailey. I swear he even had some of the same lines. I learned an important secret when Katharine Hepburn's father explained, with nodding assent from her mother, that the reason he was having an affair was because KH had a realistic view of his faults rather than worshipping him as the ideal of male perfection. He revealed that aging men NEED! No choice! NEED! to be the center of some young woman's blind adoration, and if his daughter fails in her duty to worship him, then he simply has no other option than to go find another young woman to do it. He is the victim here, people! He has no choice! The sad thing was, I'm pretty sure that we, the audience, were supposed to be on his side during this conversation.

The Pianist A Bennett   Hollywood Video DVD   08 June 2003 A sentimentality-free two and a half-hours (a bargain at any price). Easy to dismiss as overrated and just as easy to canonize as a new classic and an “Important” film, _The _Pianist_ is perhaps a bit of both. Told with a starkness of dialogue and narrative line, as though the German occupation of Poland and ensuing extermination of its population (Jewish and other) robbed the story of embellishments as much as the times robbed the main character of his dignity, the film stands as remarkable on two points. Point One: It tells us not one single new thing about war, suffering, or survival—or even, specifically, about World War II in Europe. And in doing so it wastes none of our time (or its momentum) with lectures, indictments or revelations. Point Two: In giving us a main character of whom we know very little before the War, and whose anguish and privation consume his character (and viewers) so fully as the film goes forward that we end the film similarly dis-acquainted with this man, and how he might be in the post-War society, this film offers an incredible gift: the journey of a single man, specific, yet general; a man boiled down to basest parts--and yet a man whose nobility and larger humanity illustrate that such things cannot be stolen from us without our own complicity.

The Pirate Movie Kristin Schrock   AMC Theatre   12 July 2003 It's not a peace treaty, but a fun popcorn flick for the summer (which is not easy to come by). Johnny Depp, pretty, pretty, Orlando Bloom, and Geoffrey Rush all seem to be having fun with the swashbuckling with very few quips--which I'm always in favor of as most quips in movies these days are done so badly. Didn't people learn anything from early Buffy? But, ultimately, there seemed to be something missing from the movie--something that I can't quite put my finger on--which precludes me from giving it a higher rating. And, although I always appreciate a good homage to Harryhausen (and Sam Raimi), I missed the stop motion animation on the skeletons. So, unlike ABennett, I don't want to marry this movie.

The Prestige Steven Krise   Regal Cinemas in Fredneck   20 October 2006 Are you watching closely?

The Red Violin Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   20 July 2005 Sam Jackson covets violin; we learn about its history.

The Soviet Story Tony Pisarenkov   The Cato Institute, Washington, DC   02 November 2009 A documentary on the Soviet Union, its collusion with the Nazis in 1939-1940, and, following its joining the Allies, the West's continued reluctance to indict the Soviets fully for the horrors they perpetrated throughout the country's existence. Occasionally didactic in tone, but highly recommended nonetheless, for its chilling archival footage if nothing else.

The Station Agent Steve Gadd   DVD   24 March 2005 More evidence that you can make a good movie with the basic ingredients: a few interesting characters, a little bit of story, and some originality.

The Sunshine State Kristin Schrock   DVD   02 August 2003 Everybody is in this: Miguel Ferrer, Lt. Fancy from NYPD Blue, Edie Falco, and even the Blucas (Riley from Buffy) does an okay job as a golf pro. It has intertwining stories of the residents of a Florida beach community where developers are trying to buy up the property. The metaphors and speechifying are a bit much at times (otherwise it would've gotten a 9), but there's something about a John Sayles movie--you can tell he's confident in the story and he doesn't feel the need to rush anything. He just lets the words do the work. And it's always nice to see Timothy Hutton doing good work. And we learn that the important thing to remember is to smile, even when you're drowning.

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse Ray Hunley   Netflix DVD   10 July 2005 Otto Wernicke reprises his role from M as Kriminalkomissar Lohmann in this middle film of Fritz Lang's Dr. Mabuse (that's "mah-boo-zuh", not "may-byoos") trilogy. Watching a Lang picture reminds me of how, when I saw Casablanca for the first time, I had no idea that so many common pop culture sayings had come from the film. Similarly, Lang appears to be the source of many of the techniques and plot devices which now have become cliche.

The Triplets of Bellville Tony Pisarenkov   DVD chez G&N, Ann Arbor, MI   04 October 2005 French mafia kidnapping professional cyclists to use as slave labor in a bookie operation? It would be cool even if it wasn't animated.

The Visitor Steve Gadd   DVD   29 March 2009

There Will Be Blood Steve Gadd   Fairfax Towne Center   26 January 2008 Part of our annual rite of watching Oscar-nominated films. This one gets my vote for whatever it's nominated for.

Timeline Kristin Schrock   DVD   25 April 2004 Oh, man. This movie is SO bad it's wonderful. There's some time travel, some nifty circular time loop pot holes which are always fun, and Atilla the Hun (Gerard Butler) stealing the movie away from the pretty-plastic boy from the Fast and the Furious. Dopey, silly, and for the most part non-sensical with people in the Middle Ages having the WHITEST TEETH EVER. Fun times (but not as much fun as Congo, another Michael Crichton book-turned-movie).

Top Secret Tony Pisarenkov   DVD chez Charles and Shelby   22 July 2003 Still hysterically funny after all these years. A masterpiece of slapstick. So densely packed with non-sequitur gags that it keeps you on your toes the whole time. Just what I needed after a week in a Ryder truck.

Trekkies Jaqi Ross   Hollywood video rental   21 August 2004 A hilarious look at the universe's most fervent fans.

Two Weeks Notice A Bennett   Hollywood Video DVD   03 May 2003 Much funnier that it would ever have been without Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock. A higher functioning romantic comedy, lacking most of the mean-spiritedness most films currently made in this genre seem to suffer from. Possibly/Likely/Definitely Bullock's best film since her pre-Hope Floats era (though I did enjoy her in Forces of Nature). Did I mention it's funny? This film? Why is finding a funny, non-meanspirited, non-potty humor film so hard theses days? Why?

Two Weeks Notice Kristin Schrock   DVD (part of a movie-tastic weekend)   03 May 2003 Not as bad as I expected, this one is above par because of Hugh Grant, who talks so fast he's clearly channeling Cary Grant, and Sandra Bullock who is game for anything (although they want to convince us that she's not pretty, what's up with that?). This wants to be like His Girl Friday and it comes as close to any other modern rom-com. Also it gets props because the resolution didn't involve the humiliation of the woman.

Unbreakable Mike Gadd   borrowed video   31 December 2003 Not as good as Signs or Sixth Sense but a nice variation on the theme. The cinematography was too 'artsy' for some and it was slow at times, but I've been looking forward to seeing this for a second time for a couple of years. It was worth the wait.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona Steve Gadd   Regal Countryside Cinema   12 September 2008 A love-tetrahedron that is anything but Platonic. For my date, the most dramatic moment in the movie occurred early on, when the director's name appeared onscreen. I thought she was going to break down in tears. I was more optimistic -- after seeing "Match Point" I held out hope for another European story with Woody Allen behind the camera. We were both pleased in the end.

We Were Soliders Jeff Gadd     28 October 2002 A very well made movie of Vietnam,great action,great actors,and a very realistic movie.Worth seeing,if your into war movies.

Wedding Crashers Kristin Schrock   Brew 'n View: Chicago   11 November 2005 Owen Wilson is in fine form here (I'm tempted to take him back as my boyfriend) playing the straight man (!) to Vince Vaughn. Also stars Christopher Walken, who may just have the most eclectic resume in Hollywood.

Wet Hot American Summer A Bennett   TiVo'd from Comedy Central   15 June 2004 Entertainment Weekly warned me that, by watching on Comedy Central, I'd be getting a less wet, less hot--and possibly less American version of this film. I confess, it was totally daffy (particularly the second part when the 'errant piece of Skylab' plot popped up). Who knows what I would have thought of it had I not been viewing it alone. As it was, though, it was awfully funny. Including arguably the funniest on-screen kiss ever. Did I mention it was funny? Why aren't they making funny movies anymore? P.S. As the Gephart parents once said of the original Austin Powers: 'but it's just full of sex jokes'. And I think, maybe, that goes for this film, too. The only thing I can say in my defense? At least I'm not giving high ratings to excretory humor [I'm looking at you Adam Sandler. And you, Ben Stiller]. (Small consolation, I know)

Whale Rider Julie Gephart   Basic cable   01 March 2004 This was a lovely little movie, and as for the three people in the world who are not yet in love with New Zealand, well, I just can’t imagine why not. The little girl was both brilliant and beautiful, thus showing us that it is only adult actresses who have to ugly up for award consideration.

Whale Rider A Bennett   TiVo'd from Oxygen (and thank you, Oxygen!)   05 March 2004 I LOVE NEW ZEALAND! AND ITS PRIME MINISTER, HELEN CLARK! This film broke my heart (in a good way, I think). I felt real peril for Pai, the main character, emotionally and physically, and am willing to dismiss a nagging in the back of my mind that says her drive to be a leader had less to do with any idea she hatched on her own, than with a desire to please the men in her life and find acceptance/approval from them. I read a review that said Keisha Castle-Hughes did not deserve an Oscar nomination because she was a child who was only doing what the director told her. Well, if that's the case (and it so isn't), I wish all the Harry Potter kids and every other child in film could 'do what they're told' even a quarter as well as she did. ALSO, I LOVE THE MAORI!

When Trumpets Fade Jeff Gadd   Video   28 October 2002 A sad war movie of Hurtgen Forest in 1944. American soldiers are trapped and are ordered to secure a bridge flanked with tanks.They are also trapped in a mine field,that seems impossible to get out of.

Winged Migration Steve Gadd   Visions Cinema   28 November 2003 I got stuck on my way out of Hollywood Video when I noticed this film playing on the monitors. Despite the comparisons to Baraka and similar films, I had my doubts about paying cinema prices to see a movie entirely about migratory birds. But this documentary is done extraordinarily well. The recurrent image never wears thin: a flock of birds, the nearest one seemingly inches away from the camera, soaring above beautiful backgrounds from nature and cities around the world. Every few minutes there is a shot so perfect it must have taken weeks to capture. And you can't beat those penguins for goofy charm.

X-men 2 Kristin Schrock   Great Escape 14   03 May 2003 More cohesive than the first film, the sequel gets an above average rating (more like a 7.5, but I rounded up today because I'm feeling generous) for some nice Wolverine fight scenes. I'm waiting for the Wolverine movie because, let's be honest, he's the only cool character in the bunch (well, maybe Magneto can be in it, too). Wolverine also wears the grooviest clothes--snap shirts and big buckles. I do look forward to the third one when Wolverine will hopefully face off with his lady arch nemesis.

You Can Count on Me Kristin Schrock   VHS, Cassy's couch in Chicago   22 February 2003 A lovely indie pic about the relationship between a responsible sister and her screwy brother. And my new favorite southern redneck Josh Lucas (the husband from Sweet Home Alabama) shows up as a nasty, southern redneck. Go Josh! Nothing really gets resolved and its messy in that great independent movie way.

Zoolander Julie Gephart   Mysteriously free HBO   23 February 2003 I don't want to fight Kristin or anything, but I also feel some serious love for Owen Wilson. I don't usually like comedies, but I liked this one.

Zyklon Portrait Jaqi Ross   National Gallery of Art   21 February 2004 A poetic rendering of one family's Holocaust experiences mixes old instructional footage, snapshots, home movies, hand-painted imagery, and even underwater photography to "privilege the personal over any attempt at objectivity".