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Hurray for Hollywood! DVD Reviews We've watched so many DVD's lately that I'm going to show the covers and just give you snippits of some... Reviewed May 2008
Great! A+ ________
Love Carell, great movie, loved the characters and Steve was wonderful as always! A+ ___________
Really disappointing, we love both actors and it was a cute look at Hollywood acting but really failed to deliver. D _____________
Great Movie! The characters were great and they treated the subject of teenage pregnancy with respect while still giving you plenty to laugh at! A++ ________________
Great movie, parts were hard to watch, very graphic, but great story of love, betrayal and ultimate redemption. A++ _______
Wonderful! On so many levels. We even reviewed the plot, characters and structure in a writing class I was recently in! A+ _____
Big John Cusack fans! Another hit! Made me cry. (which isn't hard) A +
Only from the mind of King! I loved it. Stuck in a grocery store and surrounded by a menagerie of interesting characters and alien presence outside! A+ _______
We liked it better than we thought. I personally am NOT a big Hillary Swank fan but it was a better premise than first realized, could have been cheesy, but was good. B + _________
Interesting... Good western. Historically, who knows? B ______
Love it! Great Western and Crowe and Bale were great together! A+ __________ Reviewed Nov 21, 2007
A +++ Although I can't recommend parts to all family members, WE LOVE The Office! We have watched seasons 1, 2, 3 and the new episodes over and over. Once you get into the characters, they don't let go. Fact: Best guy crying scene - Jim and Pam Fact: Best TV kiss since Joyce Davenport laid one on Frank Furillo. - Jim and Pam Fact: Multiple best season finales. Question: Why haven't you purchased it yet?
Shia LeBeouf, Sarah Roemer Grade B An update of Rear Window but without the brilliance of Hitchcock or Jimmy Stewart. Had some moments and some intrigue. I liked the bracelett on the ankle twist.
Reign Over Me Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle A
A man (Sandler) who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate (Cheadle). Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief. Great acting by both Sandler and Cheadle. Moving, emotional and Sandler helped us to identify with the grief of those who lived through the nightmare of 9 11. Language issues, adult themes. Great movie.
License to Wed Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski Reviewed Oct 2007 Grade D
I did like the scene on the beach though. I found it formula and rather boring. We still love Jim on The Office. We Are Marshall A Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, David Strathairn Reviewed Oct 2007
When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach (McConaughey) and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive. Great story of determination, courage and stamina. Both Matthews do a wonderful job of portraying how a university unites behind two coaches to recover from a tragedy that no one should have to face. Great feel good story. Wonderful for the entire family.
Evan Almighty Reviewed October 2007 Grade A Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham
I found it enjoyable. I think we take ourselves too seriously. It's Hollywood's rendition of God, what do you expect? Good for all ages.
Reviewed Oct 2007 Annette Bening, Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes
Grade C- Young Augusten Burroughs (Cross) absorbs experiences that could make for a shocking memoir: the son of an alcoholic father (Baldwin) and an unstable mother (Bening), he's handed off to his mother's therapist, Dr. Finch (Cox), and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch's bizarre extended family. Interesting premise and the characters were interesting. Annette Bening did a great job as the unstable mom. Written well but definitely adult content. Not for every member of the family.
Reviewed March 2007 Anchor Man : The Legend of Ron Burgundy
2004 (yes, I just got around to seeing it) Grade C Wil Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd Ron Burgundy is San Diego's top rated newsman in the male dominated broadcasting of the 1970's, but that's all about to change when a new female employee with ambition to burn arrives in his office. Great all star cast. It had it's moments. I love Will Ferrell but a little too baudy for my taste. I did love the rumble between rival TV stations and how it captured the essence of the 70's.
Reviewed Feb 2007 Music and Lyrics
2007 Grade A The Plot: A washed-up singer (Grant) is given a couple days to compose a chart-topping hit for an admiring teen sensation. Though he's never written lyrics in his life, he sparks with an offbeat younger woman (Barrymore) with a flair for words. One of the things that I loved about this movie was the retro 80's stuff. Hugh pulled off the 80's pop star like no one else could have. You left the theater singing the 80's song and you won't know why. It was fun.
Freedom Writers 2007
Grade A Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn Based on the true story of Erin Gruwell who inspired her students to find their potential and accomplish it in gang ridden L.A. Great feel good movie. Yes, there are parts that make you cry. Bring some Kleenex and don't be ashamed to use them.
Blood Diamond Dec. 2006 Grade A
Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly Wow! The big question that you will ask after this movie is: "Are these conflict free diamonds?" Superb acting by Leo and Djimon. Leo is one of the greats that we have seen grow up on the screen and he doesn't disappoint in this one. A person has no idea at times the type of lifestyles that people outside the United States are forced to live in order to survive. We take so much for granted. This movie makes you stop and think about what really matters in life and what others have to go through to give us our bobbles. Intense and graffic, not for the younger set, but a must see.
A Prairie Home Companion
Grade: A Delightful romp through Garrison Keillor's live radio broadcasts reaching across the Midwest plains. An all star cast: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, Lindsay Lohan, Lily Tomlin, John C. Reilly and not to forget Kevin Kline who spins his character like a P.I. out of a Raymond Chandler novel. Quotes of note: Guy Noir/Kevin Kline "...but this was the Midwest and people thought that if they simply ignored bad news, it would sooner or later go away..." Guy Noir/Kevin Kline: "She had a Mount Rushmore T-shirt on, and those guys never looked so good. Especially Jefferson and Lincoln. Kind of bloated, but happy." Garrison Keillor/G.K. "We come from people who brought us up to believe that life is a struggle, and if you should feel really happy, be patient: this will pass."
The Lake House Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves 2006
Grade: A+ Great romance! Interesting twist of love through the time continuum. Sandra is in the present, Keanu is two years in the past; and they both live in the same house. Or did, or do? Wonderful movie. You won't be disappointed and Keanu is actually decent and articulates his lines. Have a box of Kleenex handy. It's on Jeanie's and my Christmas list.
Nacho Libre Jack Black and company 2006
Grade: A What can you say? Jack Black in a pair of tights aspiring to be a wrestler in Mexico to help feed the kids at the orphanage where he ministers! Always fun! Jack Black doesn't disappoint, from the makers of School of Rock; we don't have to worry about any crude humor. Great for the entire family, if you like Jack Black. And we do!
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Grade: A
Based on the series of books by Ann Brashares and directed by Delia Ephron, you can't go wrong. Staring Alexis Bledel from Gillmore Girls and America Ferrera from Ugly Betty (she wasn't from Ugly Betty until after the movie came out). One size fits all in this coming of age movie about the magical link that a single pair of pants hold for five girls. We loved it so much that on the way out of Blockbuster we paid the extra .72 that it would have cost to rent it and bought it! By the way, I think one of the girls "borrowed" it and never returned it? If you're reading this review, mom wants the movie back! What am I, Blockbuster?
United 93 Grade: A+ No Big Stars but All Stars
If you live in and care about America, you need to see this movie. American courage in action. A moving story of the ordinary people boarding a plane and not realizing they would be called on to do an extraordinary thing, sacrifice their lives in order to save thousands of others. An intense movie that will have you shaking your head on the edge of your seat. At the end, you will sit and stare at the black screen without saying a word.
Elf Grade: A+ Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel
What a great throwback to my childhood! In the tradition of such holiday classics like, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Miracle on 34th Street and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Will Ferrell brings an honest, pure character to life. Something that the entire family can enjoy without worry. I love the opening that transports me back to the 1960's when Rankin and Bass ruled! I realize my view of the 60's is smeared with the grease of nostalgia but for me it was a pure time of coming of age, when I only worried about Lego and G.I. Joes and ten speed bikes with ram's horn handlebars. Thanks to Will for letting me step back, if only for a moment.
A few of our favorite DVD's that we got this Christmas:
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The Office
Reviewed Sept 2007 
Reviewed Oct 2007 
We watched this initially because of John Krasinski (Jim from The Office) Mandy Moore, not a big fan. Robin Williams as the priest putting them through hell called marriage counseling. All I have to say, is that if a real priest pulled the things that Robin did in the movie, he'd be preaching during the free period in the prison yard.
2006
more to come...