Immigration Tango (2010); Safety Not Guaranteed (2012); No Eres Tú, Soy Yo (2010); The Heart Specialist (2006); Groundhog Day (1993); Hope Springs (2012); Ted (2012); La Flor de Mi Secreto (1995); Carne Trémula (1997); Peepli (Live) (2010); Kaboom (2010); Paranorman (2012); Pardes (1997); Holy Motors (2012); Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012);

Immigration Tango (2010)

Director:

David Burton Morris

Writers:

Martin L. Kelley (screenplay), Martin L. Kelley (story), and 4 more credits »

Stars:

Elika Portnoy, McCaleb Burnett and Carlos Leon | See full cast and crew

This film was pretty contrived. There were loopholes. I wasn't convinced by the characters. I liked the idea, but some of the characters were too stiff to believe in the actions they took. Fun idea though.

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 Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Writer:

Derek Connolly

Stars:

Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass and Jake Johnson | See full cast and crew

I enjoyed this film. I like all of the actors and it was an interesting premise that kept you guessing until the end. My main reason for seeing this movie was Jake Johnson because I love the show New Girl. This was a fun movie.

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No Eres Tú, Soy Yo (2010)

Director:

Alejandro Springall

Writers:

Alejandro Springall, Luis Aura, and 2 more credits »

Stars:

Eugenio Derbez, Martina García and Alejandra Barros | See full cast and crew

This was a fun movie to watch. I liked the characters and the situations. While searching for a trailer, I discovered there is a 2004 Argentinian film of the same premise... "No Sos Vos, Soy Yo"

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The Heart Specialist (2006)

Director:

Dennis Cooper

Writer:

Dennis Cooper

Stars:

Wood Harris, Zoe Saldana and Brian White | See full cast and crew

This was a very nice film. It was well-written, well-cast and a pleasure to watch. It was a very inspiring piece of work that rises above the generic 'black movies' that are doled out. This movie is an intelligent film with heart for any (adult) audience. I loved it and what it aspired to be. I was very interested in the characters and the storyline. There were a few changes I might have made but they were minor and didn't detract much from the overall experience. I would LOVE to see more films like this one! Kudos to those involved.

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 Groundhog Day (1993)

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers:

Danny Rubin (screenplay), Harold Ramis (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott | See full cast and crew

How I made it this long without seeing the full movie, I'll never know. Bill Murray has always been one of my favorite actors. Enjoyable movie for sure. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. I know I was!

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 Hope Springs (2012)

Director:

David Frankel

Writer:

Vanessa Taylor

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell | See full cast and crew

I kept getting the title confused with the similarly named Hope Floats. This was a nice film. Not as silly as I thought it would be, but more sentimental. It's not just for an older crowd, but is relatable for the rest of us. Supposedly, part of it was based in my hometown, but I know they didn't shoot it here, just hired a taxi. It was a nice, truthful film. The characters were sweetly played.

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 Ted (2012)

Director:

Seth MacFarlane

Writers:

Seth MacFarlane (story), Seth MacFarlane (screenplay), and 2 more credits »

Stars:

Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane | See full cast and crew

Ridiculous, fun, raunchy, everything you've heard. It was a fun look at an imaginative idea and I loved the cameos.

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  La Flor de mi Secreto (1995)

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writer:

Pedro Almodóvar, and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Marisa Paredes, Juan Echanove and Carme Elias | See full cast and crew

I studied Almodóvar in school so I may have already seen this film. I wasn't too surprised by what I saw, so I think I may have seen it before. I like his films. Not super raunchy or kitschy like some of his earlier work. But a nice part of his collection. Oh, and I loved the reference to the later work Volver! Proves that Almo is quite the auteur!

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 Carne Trémula (1997)

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar, Jorge Guerricaechevarría, and 2 more credits »

Stars:

Liberto Rabal, Francesca Neri and Javier Bardem | See full cast and crew

YES! This is the Almodóvar I'm used to! Twisted and sensual and dramatic. Very much liked this movie because you never knew who to root for and you felt for all of the characters.

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  Peepli (Live) (2010)

Directors:

Anusha Rizvi, Mahmood Farooqui

Writers:

Sanjeev Sharma (lyrics), Swanand Kirkire (lyrics), and 4 more credits »

Stars:

Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuvir Yadav and Shalini Vatsa | See full cast and crew

This was a very nice movie and it was produced by a Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. This was not a typical Bollywood film but a more political look at government and media and rural life in India. Very nice film.

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  Kaboom (2010)

Director:

Gregg Araki

Writer:

Gregg Araki (screenplay)

Stars:

Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett and Chris Zylka | See full cast and crew

Short Version: Disappointing
SPOILER ALERT: This film was marketed as a gay Donnie Darko but it was quite a letdown. ALL of the action led to a big fat disappointment at the end. In the last 10 minutes, all of the backstory was rattled off AND the main character didn't even have an opportunity to do anything about it. So it was all useless. Why did I waste time learning and caring for the characters only to have them all end in the way it did? And if that one gal knew so much, how did she not piece things together and figure out she was related to a deeper level? I'm disappointed in this movie. Boo.

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Paranorman (2012)

Directors:

Chris Butler, Sam Fell

Writer:

Chris Butler

Stars:

Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick and Christopher Mintz-Plasse | See full cast and crew

I'm always up for a spooky-cute movie and there were fun parts to this film for sure. But it was a bit lacking. It used a lot of white flashes which was distracting because it was an overused feature. And the conclusions/actions were a little weak, ie how the main character used his ability in the end. Not very strong. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

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 Pardes (1997)

Director:

Subhash Ghai

Writers:

Subhash Ghai (screenplay), Subhash Ghai (story), and 2 more credits »

Stars:

Shah Rukh Khan, Amrish Puri and Mahima Chaudhry | See full cast and crew

Talk about epic. It's 3 hours long which is typical old school Bollywood. And it deals with themes of Motherland India vs America, upholding Indian traditions of propriety, and honoring parents. It has my dear Shah Rukh Khan in it and he is always swoonworthy. This is one of the films I bought in the Indian equivalent of a Sam Goody store at the mall. I bought it soley based off the fact that SRK is in it... and that he was holding a violin, since I play. The violin was not a prominent feature in the film, but thankfully SRK was.

WATCH FULL FILM ONLINE BELOW!

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 Holy Motors (2012)

Director:

Leos Carax

Writer:

Leos Carax (screenplay)

Stars:

Denis Lavant, Edith Scob and Eva Mendes | See full cast and crew

Ugh. Disappointing. Trailer promised more. But the best part of the film was a gang of accordion players. The film had potential but was mostly just weird without satisfaction.

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Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)

Director:

Yash Chopra

Writers:

Devika Bhagat (screenplay), Aditya Chopra (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma | See full cast and crew

I enjoyed this film, but I'm incredibly biased for anything with Shah Rukh Khan in it. The music was done by AR Rahman, so hooray. I was glad I was the only one in the theater because I was behaving like a maniac... laughing, giggling, dancing and exclaiming at everything. I like how SRK still plays the leading man/young hero even though he is nearly 50. Keep going! You will always be my hero! Meow! P.S. The film title means Until My Last Breath and was the final film from legend Yash Chopra. He died three weeks before its release :(

 

"Potiche" (2010); "Hollywood, je t'aime" (2009); "Regresa" (2010); "Letters to Juliet" (2010); "Just Go With It" (2011); "500 Days of Summer" (2009); "Por Si No Te Vuelvo a Ver" (1997)

Potiche (Trophy Wife) (2010)

Director:

François Ozon

Writers:

François Ozon (scenario) (adaptation) (dialogue), Pierre Barillet (play), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu and Fabrice Luchini | See full cast and crew

I definitely enjoyed this one. It was sassy and a nice social commentary. I would recommend it. I want to say it's got a strong message and is feminist, but I don't want to turn off some people... but then again, if they can't handle women with power, they can bugger off! ;) Enjoyable film.

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Hollywood, je t'aime (2009)

Director:

Jason Bushman

Writer:

Jason Bushman

Stars:

Eric Debets, Chad Allen and Jonathan Blanc | See full cast and crew

I was expecting something a bit raunchier (not that I wanted it, but the summary suggested it would be, so I was wary) but am glad with what I got. The writer/director seems to be very familiar with Hollywood culture, but also French culture/cinema. I found the time frame to be a bit frightening on a personal level, as in the character was very brave to have done what he did. He seemed a little naïve but we saw he could hold his own. I liked the attachment issue because it gave the character depth. We like the protagonist.This is a good flick for those of you interested in/comfortable with gay cinema. If not, well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you twice.

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  Regresa (2010)

Director:

Alejandro González Padilla

Writers:

Alejandro González Padilla, Monica Abin

Stars:

Jaime Camil, Blanca Soto and Javier Tolosa | See full cast and crew

It was a nice cast of characters, an interesting premise and an okay watch. I half-expected a different outcome and was happy that didn't happen. Did I like the actual outcome? A little contrived, but if you are looking for a romance, it's nice, I suppose. Would I recommend it? Sure? I know that doesn't sound very enthusiastic, but if you have time to kill and the impulse, go for it. I liked the attention paid to dying languages. That's an important theme/interest for me.

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Letters to Juliet (2010) 

Director:

Gary Winick

Writers:

Jose Rivera, Tim Sullivan

Stars:

Amanda Seyfried, Gael García Bernal and Vanessa Redgrave | See full cast and crew

Yes, I know. Gag me, right? But every once in a while, a fluffy movie is nice. And this is fluff. Complete and utter fluff. And yes it's contrived and predictable to the maximum. And corny and on the nose. But sometimes that's what a person is looking for. Some escapism. The idea of the fairy tale. For everything to work out like in the movies. But the creators knew it was supposed to be that and it fit into its slot with perfection. So, there are no surprises in this movie. It wasn't terrible. I mean, yeah, you may have rolled your eyes and predicted all the events, but the story or the characters or the desire to see it finished... that kept me in until the end. So, if you want a fluffy, feel good movie, this one will do. P.S. I don't even want to watch the trailer again. I've see it too many times before. Oh and I hate that Taylor Swift song. Gag. But I want to go back to Italy!

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Just Go With It (2011)

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Allan Loeb (screenplay), Timothy Dowling (screenplay), and 4 more credits »

Stars:

Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker | See full cast and crew

Another predictable movie. Apparently based on a stage play. BUT, I really liked it. It was a comedy of errors and we KNEW what was going to happen. I was intrigued by the pairing of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. I liked it. It was weird but I liked it. Some of the cameos/roles were bizarre! Dave Matthews, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Nealon, Rachel Dratch. But I think that totally made the movie lots of fun. That and the extra tidbits of comedy provided for the viewer.They know the genre of comedy well and delivered a fun movie. I would watch it again. Cute, predictable, but a fun ride.

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500 Days of Summer (2009)

Director:

Marc Webb

Writers:

Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Stars:

Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Geoffrey Arend | See full cast and crew

Lots of people had recommended this movie to movie and I was wary about it for sure. Too many recommendations means a lot of hype and that often leads to disappointment. But I survived okay. I wasn't blown away, but I was okay with the film. I've often leaned towards the idea that we see too many love stories and get disillusioned and think that every relationship is gonna be "it", or that every movie will always show the couple getting together. So I was glad to see a movie that followed through on showing a relationship that didn't make it, because that will be the majority of relationships that a person goes through in their lifetime. The format was a clever enough take on it. It did a pretty good job of keeping the story interesting, letting us know where we were going, helping us to experience the story in a more entertaining way than from start to finish. It's not a favorite movie now, but it was bearable. I probably wouldn't see it again. I like Zooey a LOT and JGL is yummy. I had been afraid it was gonna be a lot of dance sequences and stuff which I'm okay with. I think I had seen that in a movie preview or behind the scenes sneak peak, but maybe that was something they shot for a music video? Anyway, only one dance sequence and it fits into the feel of that scene. I suppose if you haven't seen this movie and are okay with seeing a non-relationship movie, give this one a go. Oh, and the ending... kinda predictable/on the nose/cliché. Hope I didn't ruin it for you ;) too bad if I did. There's nothing you can do about it now! HA! P.S. I don't like the vocalization of the song in the trailer. Hope it's not Zooey. boo.

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Por Si No Te Vuelvo a Ver (If I Never See You Again) (1997)

Director:

Juan Pablo Villaseñor

Writer:

Juan Pablo Villaseñor

Stars:

Alfredo Alfonso, Óscar Castañeda and Aurora Cortés | See full cast and crew

There's something adorable about geriatric musicians. You just want to hug them and squeeze them and take care of them. So when they find themselves in predicaments, you want to protect them. This applies to non-musical geriatrics too, I suppose ;) I enjoyed this movie. It gets to you and pulls at your heart strings. You want to reach out and grab the characters. You will definitely have a favorite.  Mine was the one with the crazy beard (and bug-out eyes). I think movies with geriatrics always get at me. WAY more than any baby movie EVER could. There is something so frail about age that returns us to helpless children. Sure, we have the impulse to coddle both, but you never really know the history of an older person. This made most of the men seem harmless and safe and maybe too overly naïve as if they didn't know about the terrible things of the world. I found that hard to believe. But maybe senility was supposed to be the answer to that? Anyway, this was probably the best of the bunch that I watched. That and Potiche. Go figure the foreign movies win. Although the other movies were more or less fluff. Sadly, I'm not able to find a trailer for the film, but have discovered that the IMDB page incorrectly states 2000 when it's actually 1997, so says this. I'm not able to find a trailer of it, but here is a clip. Beware. lol P.S. I got the movie from my library and it says it was remastered from the original 35mm film. Woo!

"Bernie" (2011); "Throw Momma from the Train" (1987); "All Over Town" (1937); "Solo con tu Pareja/Love in the Time of Hysteria" (1991); "Hotel Transylvania" (2012); "Life in a Day" (2011)

Bernie (2011)

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writers:

Richard Linklater (screenplay), Skip Hollandsworth (based on the article in Texas Monthly by), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey | See full cast and crew

This movie was a lot of fun to watch. Even though it said it was Based on a True Story, that somehow seemed to slip past me. Most of the commentary in the movie is actual people talking about the real situation, so that takes you for a spin.

I first heard about this movie from my local Film Festival because one of the organizers of the festival was a stand-in for Jack Black. The crew liked him so much, they put him on a scene. We were pleased to see he is in the DVD menu!

That aside, it's a fun watch. Done slightly documentary style, slightly story-telling. Definitely can be labeled as a dark comedy. I thought it was well done and would watch it again.

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Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writer:

Stu Silver

Stars:

Danny DeVito, Billy Crystal and Kim Greist | See full cast and crew

If you dislike Danny or Billy stay away. If you want to relive the glory days of Danny and Billy, hop on board! It was a fun re-visit to the 80s and a silly story. I love Anne Ramsey. Listen up close to her lines because they are hilarious! They show it on tv every now and again. Fun character study. Remember: A writer writes always. ;)

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All Over Town (1937)

Director:

James W. Horne

Writers:

Jerome Chodorov (screenplay), Richard English (story), and 2 more credits »

Stars:

Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson and Mary Howard | See full cast and crew

Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson are not as well known as Laurel and Hardy or the Three Stooges, but they appeared together a few times as a comedy duo. I'm not sure why the movie carries this name. If you like a bit of a screwball comedy, this one would be a-okay. At the beginning you see the end of vaudeville has really affected performers so these two guys take their pet seal to a haunted theater and try to put on a show. It was a quick enough movie to watch. Loved it nor hated it.

WATCH FULL MOVIE BELOW!

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Solo con tu Pareja or Love in the Time of Hysteria (1991) 

Director:

Alfonso Cuarón

Writers:

Alfonso Cuarón (screenplay), Carlos Cuarón (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniel Giménez Cacho, Claudia Ramírez and Luis de Icaza | See full cast and crew

I really enjoyed this movie! It was one of those ensemble comedies and the characters and situations were spot-on. You cared for the characters and the outcome. Some of you will recognize the Writer/Director for his involvement with Y Tu Mamá También (2001) and Children of Men (2006). I really recommend this movie if you like comedy and Spanish-language humor. Great example of over the top, fun comedy.

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 Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Director:

Genndy Tartakovsky

Writers:

Peter Baynham (screenplay), Robert Smigel (screenplay), and 3 more credits »

Stars:

Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Andy Samberg | See full cast and crew

This movie was cute and fun. Anyone who likes a bit of cute with their spooky will enjoy this movie. It was fun and imaginative. I wasn't in love with it after seeing it, but I enjoyed it and would watch it again.

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Life in a Day (2011)

Directors:

Kevin Macdonald, Natalia Andreadis, and 17 more credits »

Stars:

Cindy Baer, Caryn Waechter and Moica | See full cast and crew

Tagline from IMDB: What do you get when you ask the people of the world to chronicle a single day in their lives? You get 80,000 submissions, 4500 hours of footage, from 192 countries. Kevin Macdonald has taken this raw material, all shot on July 24, 2010, and created a 90-minute paean to what it means to be human in the world today.

That pretty much sums it up. It was done in correlation with National Geographic, YouTube and the Scott brothers. As we remember, Tony Scott recently ended his life, so that made the beginning credits a bit interesting for me.

I can only imagine how they dealt with so much footage! I thought it was poignant, playful, and hard-hitting. Be aware of birthing scenes and animal killings. This movie really makes a person want to explore the world. There are so many ways to live, but the film does a great job of showing how similar our pains and joys really are. I did enjoy this movie quite a bit. It just makes you feel.

WATCH FULL MOVIE HERE!!!!!!!

"The Wolfman" (2010); "Big Miracle" (2012); "Little Ashes" (2008); "Simply Irresistible" (1999); "Rumor Has It" (2005)

The Wolfman (2010)

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers:

Andrew Kevin Walker (screenplay), David Self (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt | See full cast and crew

This was the wrong movie to watch so closely to bedtime, but pausing and walking away for a while helped to prevent me from having terrible dreams, so that's nice. I love Emily Blunt, but Benicio Del Toro doesn't really have a range of facial emotions. It seems like his face is set in stone, sometimes. The movie was okay.

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 Big Miracle (2012)

Director:

Ken Kwapis

Writers:

Jack Amiel (screenplay), Michael Begler (screenplay), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski and John Pingayak | See full cast and crew

Even though I watched this movie in a crowded room of noisy youth, and missed some of the dialogue, I was still touched by this film. I loved that during the credits they showed the real people. I'd be interested to watch it again, in a quieter environment.

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Little Ashes (2008)

Director:

Paul Morrison

Writer:

Philippa Goslett

Stars:

Robert Pattinson, Javier Beltrán and Matthew McNulty | See full cast and crew

Don't let Pattinson fool you... he is quite the opposite of a vampire. I was very interested to see him in this film since I'm a Spanish minor and have studied these writers and painters throughout the years. I found the film intriguing and was surprised by the ending. I must not have been paying attention in school! Good film, if the artists/era is something you enjoy.

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 Simply Irresistible (1999)

Director:

Mark Tarlov

Writer:

Judith Roberts

Stars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Patrick Flanery and Patricia Clarkson | See full cast and crew

Not one of my favorites, since I'm not a fan of rom-com, generally speaking. In fact, quite cheesy and requires suspension of disbelief. There were some loose ends that weren't tied up and plot points that were pretty vague. I was surprised to see Sean Patrick Flanery in the film. I'm more familiar with him in The Boondock Saints (1999) (apparently released in the same year... crazy!). and Patricia Clarkson is always a fun addition to any film. :)

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Rumor Has It (2005)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writer:

Ted Griffin

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo and Shirley MacLaine | See full cast and crew

I actually liked this film. It seems to only have 5.5 stars out of 10 on imdb, but I liked the concept/tie in to The Graduate (1967) and thought it was a fun watch. Sure, it was a tiny far-fetched, but I could live with it. I like the actors too, so it was fun. You either like or dislike Jen Aniston, and I must like her because I see her movies and like them and her performances. I mean, she has a certain performance delivery, but I'm okay with it. I thought this movie wasn't as bad as the rating seems to make it. It wasn't amazing, but definitely enjoyable characters/concept.

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Five movies in a month's time... not my usual rate. But I've been quite busy, so this is all I could manager. I know I didn't explore the movies in depth, but you've got the trailers and a general opinion, so I think you're able to make a decision. I figured I'd get this blog kicked out. I'm gonna be MIA for the next two weeks, so you're just gonna have to review the blog for movie suggestions. ;) Happy viewing!

"Moonrise Kingdom"(2012); "The 'Burbs" (1989); "Woman on the Beach" (2006); "Better Off Dead" (1985); "Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure" (2011); "Playing for Keeps" (1986); "The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo" (2005); "Juan of the Dead" (2011);

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Director:

Wes Anderson

Writers:

Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Stars:

Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward and Bruce Willis | See full cast and crew

I knew I would like this movie when I saw the trailer because I happen to be a fan of Wes Anderson films. I like his sense of humor and the often-reoccurring cast members he employs. If you agree, I probably don't have to convince you to see this movie. If you have seen his films and dislike the style, you probably won't find this one any different. I liked the throwback/homage style for the decade but did find that much of the theme was based on how creepy childhood can be. The kids that wore masks were unnerving. And there was a lot of it. Maybe that's to indicate how many bizarre things kids are expected to do and how it's supposed to be considered 'cute'. But Anderson had a way of portraying it that put me on edge. You knew that the blank animal mask you were seeing was only a facade and there was a child lurking underneath. Of course the premise of the movie was unlikely and the children's characters were a little unbelievable as far as realistic-ness goes, but it played into the charm of the movie. I think part of the fun is the cast that Anderson uses: people we enjoy in general, but enjoy even more together.

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 The 'Burbs (1989)

Director:

Joe Dante

Writer:

Dana Olsen

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern and Carrie Fisher | See full cast and crew

I last reviewed this movie in Sept 2010 and I don't really like to talk about movies more than once. But it's been 2 years and this time I watched it with my 13 year old nephew and he really liked it. It says a lot for a film to hold up and get approval from newer generations. It probably helps that my nephew is familiar with Corey Feldman from The Goonies and it was funny to see his surprise at seeing a younger Tom Hanks, even though my nephew has seen him in Big as well. (Oh, and of course he knew Carrie Fisher from Star Wars.) This movie will always be one of my favorites. The array of characters and the situations they encounter are great and you do see the hero rise at the call to action (that's screenwriting jargon for taking on the task in front of him, finally accepting it). I think this shows that sometimes ensemble casts/movies are even better than just rooting for one character. It allows everyone the chance to connect with a character on screen in one way or another and enjoy everyone's contribution to the story. I also showed my nephew the alternate ending on the DVD to show him how much the proper ending to a story can really make it or break it.

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Woman on the Beach (2006)

Director:

Sang-soo Hong

Writer:

Sang-soo Hong

Stars:

Seung-woo Kim, Hyun-jung Go and Seon-mi Song | See full cast and crew

It's great that I see the poster to know that the film is supposed to be a comedy, but I felt it was painful to watch. Usually Korean movies are supposed to be overly dramatic and tear-inducing; a close neighbor to Indian Bollywood movies that twist and turn your emotions while providing escapism at its finest. But I found this an atypical Korean love story and instead disliked the characters and the plot. I couldn't root for any of the characters and found them all people that I would hate to associate with. I don't know if I'm missing something or if the movie really was a bomb by Korean standards as well. If someone more knowledgeable could intervene, that would be great.

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Better Off Dead (1985)

Director:

Savage Steve Holland

Writer:

Savage Steve Holland

Stars:

John Cusack, David Ogden Stiers and Kim Darby | See full cast and crew

My friend said this is one of her favorite movies, swore I would enjoy it and bought it for my birthday in April. I finally got around to watching it. It's silly, that's for sure. It's kind of an out there movie, but it was the mid-80's, so I guess it was normal for the teens then. It had some odd sequences, definite suspension of disbelief throughout all of it and was a little predictable for plot points. If you are looking for something campy and a throwback, this would be one of them.

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Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure (2011)

Director:

Matthew Bate

Writer:

Matthew Bate

Stars:

Ivan Brunetti, Daniel Clowes and Mitch Deprey | See full cast and crew

I read about this documentary somewhere. Apparently in the 80's in San Fran, these two young guys lived next to these two old guys who used to get drunk and scream at each other. Well, the young guys started to record the audio, which became somewhat of a cult. Through most of the movie, I found the profanities pretty funny, but felt bad for the old guys that had that as their life. SPOILER: Once the film progressed and you saw how the young guys grew up and, along with others, were trying to capitalize on the old men, I started to feel sick about it. I started to feel it was insensitive that these guys started trying to find the old men and give them booze and a hundred dollars and were pestering them about those days back in the 80s. These old men were living on welfare and the young guys were taking advantage of it. I had to watch another movie directly after because this film left a sour taste in my mouth.

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Playing For Keeps (1986)

Directors:

Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein

Writers:

Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Daniel Jordano, Matthew Penn and Leon W. Grant | See full cast and crew

Something tells me that Marisa Tomei was added as the main icon on the cover when the DVD was released to draw people. It made me purchase the DVD for cheap at the grocery store, so I guess it worked. This movie was one of those 'teen spirit trumps the odds and win'. I thought it was cool they were fixing up a house, but I thought the ultimate purpose for it was a little short-sighted. And far-fetched. But this is the 80's. It was an okay to watch once movie. And it might be an okay background movie.

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The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo (2005)

Director:

Amy Stechler

Writer:

Amy Stechler

Stars:

Lila Downs, Rita Moreno and Diego Rivera | See full cast and crew

Since I was a Spanish student, I'd heard of Frida Kahlo and her art early on. I was surprised that my parents hadn't, but maybe I shouldn't have been because they were only about a year old when she died and they weren't art or Spanish students. If I would have elaborated or shown them a picture, I'm sure it would have rang a few bells. You don't son forget the art of Frida. After watching this documentary, I took a nap and had a dream I was in Mexico and had just finished watching the documentary there and didn't want to return to the States, so was disappointed when I woke from my nap. ;) I liked the documentary. I thought it covered well her life and her art and her relations. I LOVE that Lila Downs voiced Frida's journal entries. I know her best from her songs on 2002 Frida soundtrack. LOVE it. I can't tell you how many times I've played that CD or have belted out her songs in general. Anyway, this documentary is great for anyone that would like to learn a little bit about Mexican art, in a very cool way. The art of Frida is very striking and you've probably seen it somewhere before. What I love is that her art almost seems to overshadow that of Diego Rivera. I also find it interesting how many other famous and political people of the time they were familiar with, so it's always cool to learn more about that.
I don't have a trailer for this film, but I highly recommend checking your local library or movie rental program. I got it from Facets Multimedia.

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Juan of the Dead (2011) 

Director:

Alejandro Brugués

Writer:

Alejandro Brugués

Stars:

Alexis Díaz de Villegas, Jorge Molina and Andrea Duro | See full cast and crew

I've been waiting for a very long time to see this movie. A Colombian friend told me about in January, so I've been following it via social media until I was able to pre-order it this past week and bask in the joy of a very professional-looking Cuban zombie movie. It was everything I hoped for and more. The story was great, the Cuban twist was interesting and informative and insightful. I have too many good things to say about this movie, but I think the trailer helps a lot. I love the characters and the creative ways to kill zombies. Some might say that zombies are overdone, but this is one zombie movie that should not be passed over.