Wonderfully, powerful, enjoyable romantic drama about a couple torn about by the lie of the younger sister who struggles with her sin for the rest of her life. Set in the mid-late 1930’s in England, the film stars a plethora of talented actors and actresses from previous Focus Feature films as well as Kiera Knightley and James McAvoy as the young couple. Cecilia (Knightly) is the daughter of a wealthy woman and Robbie (McAvoy) is the hired hand’s son who went to Cambridge with her, where she avoided him because of his stature. But one night, they can avoid each other no longer, and are caught in an awkward position in the library by Cecilia’s younger sister Briony. When a ghastly crime is committed, young Briony (as children do) latches on to the idea that Robbie did it, leading to Robbie’s arrest and later conscription into World War 2, his … Continue reading →

What?  An inspirational sports movie that Jerry Bruckheimer DIDN’T produce?  What is the world coming to?  What’s next, a really crappy video game adaptation that doesn’t have Uwe Boll’s fingerprints all over it?  This is a really great film and the directorial debut of Denzel Washington which makes it all the more memorable.  Starring Denzel and Forrest Whittaker, the movie combines inspirational sports movies like Glory Road and Remember the Titans with inspirational teacher movies like Dead Poets Society and tells the fascinating story of the Wiley College debate team – the first African American debate team to compete with Harvard – the best in the league in 1935.  Not the same Marshall as We Are Marshall (that was Marshall University in West Virginia). 

The Golden Compass (Movie) DAMN IT! They pulled a Two Towers on me…they moved Shelob to the next movie…I guess I can accept that, but it’s still frustrating to be expecting one kind of ending and getting another ending (ala Sky Captain). As far as book adaptations go, this one does fairly well. Switches the 2nd and 3rd acts so that Hollywood can have it’s big battle as the movie finale…accelerates time acceptably (unlike Eragorn where Saphira grows exponentially in one instant) by adding characters and adjusting where information is divulged. Is more vague on the politics of the Magisterium and it’s interaction with the Church. VERY vague on what Dust is (a long time ago…our ancestors went against authority…yeesh*). The entire character of Fra Burber is merely there to accelerate the story and I can accept that. Little bits and pieces missing, but for my money, nothing I’m really … Continue reading →