Melissa's Idea Garden

Well, we have been doing our date nights pretty regularly and I am enjoying the time we are spending together. Last week, it was a family event as it was my birthday. This week, just Daniel and I went out. We grabbed a bite to eat at Subway, then went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

I loved Planet of the Apes when I was a kid. And who can forget Charlton Heston ("Get your hands off me, you filthy ape!") And Roddy McDowell made an awesome ape scientist! And then the powerful moment at the end, when we realize that the astronauts have landed on a future earth...knock your socks off moment!

They did a remake of Planet of the Apes in 2001. The less said about that the better...

Today, we went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes. After all, we need to know how we got to that ending moment in the 1968 version (yes, I know there were four other movies that helped explain that, but let's forget that for now, okay). This movie is fantastic! The visual presentation is amazing, the story-line believable and interesting and we learn that even when we are trying to do something good, not so good consequences can result. Be sure to be on the lookout for Tom Felton. Be aware of type-casting Tom, could be bad for your career! You can watch this movie without having watched any other Planet of the Apes movies, but if you have seen the old ones...there will be some especially interesting tidbits/moments for you! I absolutely cannot wait to see the next one!

I highly recommend this movie and I give it 5 bananas!

We ended our night with a visit to Sweet Frog - now that is a hopping and yummy place! Ran into Todd and Lily Foster while we were there and saw the Harkins family leaving...

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:36 PM | Permalink

Spoilers ahead!!!!

We have been listening to the hype for months about Avatar. We respect James Cameron and he has done a lot of amazing cinematic events, so we were looking forward to seeing Avatar. Today, we used up one of our free 'baby sitting' coupons - more like crowd control, and went to see Avatar.

First I want to address the positive. Avatar is probably one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. I would love to walk on a planet where the flowers and plants light up when you touch them. A place where there were 10 feet tall graceful blue cat people who lived in harmony with the world around them. A place where people literally had a connection with all around them. The people of the planet, Pandora, were like super connected Native Americans. They had these 'tendrils' in their hair that could connect them to roots of trees, and to animals. It was amazing!

Other than the amazing cinematic magic, I found myself disappointed in the film. It was full of cliches. The overall story reminded me of Ferngully which came out in 1992. The pointy ears of the fairy people in Ferngully. The fact that the fairies were in touch with the magic of the forest. The surfing bulldozer guy who changes his mind and sees the beauty of the forest and falls in love with Ferngully. And then there is the flying bat...

I am tired of going to movies and being preached at and seeing cardboard cut-outs of human beings. I go to movies to be entertained, I really didn't find Avatar that entertaining. I found it had a lot of preachiness that would make a lot of extremes happy. Man raping the planet your particular thing? It's in there. All corporate guys evil and bad? It's in there. Crazy military types that are over the top in their actions? They're in there. Native people who have all the right answers...they're in there.

Please don't get me wrong. I think we need to take care of our planet and I would be morally opposed to us going to another planet and taking over becasue we had the firepower and they had a natural resource we wanted. But this story could have been so much better...so much more interesting...so much more meaningful!

When Sigourney Weaver's character hits on the fact that everything is connected on the planet, I envisioned an end that would somehow include the 'tendrils' of the planet reaching into the earthlings and helping them to understand and see how harmony could have been achieved. Not in a body-snatching way or puppeteer way, but in a 'let us teach you' kind of way. It would have been a better story if it had had a peaceful conclusion where both sides benefitted.

There was so much potential and had it been combined with a better story, this movie would be one to talk about through the ages. Instead, it is a cinematic wonder(visually), but beauty is not enough - the story has to be striking as well. Instead this one was full of holes and cliched characters.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 6:34 PM | Permalink

Okay, so it is no secret to those of you who come by fairly regularly that I am a big Johnny Depp fan. So today, when an afternoon appointment got rescheduled, I took advantage of having someone over to keep the kids company and I went to see Public Enemies. I do not know how accurate the depiction was and there was lots of killing going on. Can't have gang movies without that.

But I enjoyed the movie. Johnny Depp and Christian Bale each gave excellent performances. What a lawless time it was. I find it interesting that people so often romanticize or root for people like Robin Hood, John Dillinger, etc. John Dillinger robbed banks. He killed people. But he was also charismatic. When he robbed from the banks, he did not take money from the customers in line. He didn't want to be involved in kidnapping. He appeared to want to keep killing out of the equation. He was just after the money and the good life. But, this is wrong. A wrong against society. Not to be romanticized or encouraged. Dillinger was slippery and clever, and a criminal who in the end got what he deserved.

As to Johnny Depp, I continue to believe he is the best actor of my generation. He is talented beyond many that are out there today. It's not just his looks and charm. It is his ability to become the character he is playing. I find it interesting that he never watches his own movies. I love the fact that he plays such a wide variety of roles and does so with such skill. I hope he will continue to entertain us for years to come.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:48 PM | Permalink

Over the last week, we have watched several movies. Don't know why, just sometimes we go through spells. They are mostly older movies and some I may have even shared thoughts about before, but thought I would say a few words here about each.

My Bloody Valentine - okay, this was hubby's pick. Not my type of movie at all. Too much gore. Too many holes. Poor dialogue. Poor acting. I had my eyes closed a good part of the time. Nuff said.

Independence Day - I love Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum. I love this movie. It is a favorite and we watch it pretty much every 4th of July. There is great dialogue and the President's speech is stirring and who doesn't love Randy's performance and sacrifice! If you have never seen this movie, do yourself a favor and watch it.

War of the Worlds - Tom Cruise. First of all, I really don't like Tom Cruise. Second of all, I liked the original movie best. Third, the best part of this movie was Morgan Freeman's voice over at the beginning and end. Fourth, the gore is just unnecessary and there are too many moments that remind me too much of 9-11.

Signs - another favorite! I love Mel Gibson's performance and Joaquin Phoenix (too bad he seems to have gone off the deep end). This movie is just the right amount of scary.

The Searchers - John Wayne - this is a touching tale. There were a lot of things in it that wouldn't be allowed in a movie today (references, actions...none of which were PC), but it is an excellent story and I never tire of seeing John Wayne. Problems with it include the fact that I don't think any of the Native Americans were actually played by Native Americans. Good parts are the fact that blood and gore was not necessary to be shown for us to know that horrible things were happening.

Cloverfield - actually Daniel and Jack watched that. I saw it once, wasn't overly impressed and didn't want to watch it again.

King Arthur - 2004 version. I am watching it right now. Lots of high quality actors in it. Definitely a different look at King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I like it.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:35 PM | Permalink

Last week, Daniel and I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

What an unusual movie! It was the first thing that I have seen Brad Pitt in in awhile that I actually thought he gave a good performance. The story concerns a child who is born with the body of an old man. He looks like a baby in size, but his joints, his face...all resemble that of an 80 year old man. As he grows, he begins to get younger. His life is backwards.

This leads to all kinds of interesting conundrums. You know the saying that youth is often wasted on the young...well, this gives a bit of an idea of what it would be like if you were old first in mind, but then as you aged and grew more wise, your body would become young and vigorous.

I found this idea very different and that is hard to come by these days. I am still mulling over the movie and look forward to seeing it again. There were a couple of episodes that could have been left out (they were a bit long and didn't add to the overall story), but that is really the only criticism I have. My hubby didn't like it as much as I did and he felt the movie as a whole was too long.

So we give it 1 1/2 thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:27 PM | Permalink

I borrowed Fool's Gold from Netflix and it came this week. It's been in my queue for awhile. I didn't have very high expectations of it, but thought it would be a fun romance/adventure movie and I wasn't disappointed. It was actually better than I thought it would be (having low expectations can be a blessing). I can never get over how much Kate Hudson looks like her mother (Goldie Hawn).

At any rate, the story is pretty typical, but everyone seems to be having fun with it. What I enjoyed most watching were the diving scenes since we are taking SCUBA Diving lessons later this month and we have been studying our SCUBA diving manuals.

I give this movie 3 stars for being fun!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

First, this movie definitely deserves it's PG-13 movie rating and in my opinion, probably R. The things people say and that others think 13 years are okay to hear, just boggles my mind. But enough about that.

This movie is excellent! A real tear-jerker chick flick. But it would be great if you could get your hubby/significant other to watch it with you. It starts out with a fight scene between a young married couple, followed by them making up, followed by his death. It grabs your attention from the first moment, especially if you are part of a couple because you can relate to what is going on between these too. And the love they obviously have for one another in spite of the tensions is very apparent.

After her husband's death, Holly, played by Hillary Swank, goes into a tailspin of mourning until she receives a gift from her deceased husband. From there, she goes on to receive 10 letters that help her to grieve and to live again. It is a wonderful movie!

I give it 4.5 stars!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This past weekend we went to see Night in the Musuem: Battle of the Smithsonian. I hate sequels...they never quite capture the magic of the first. We enjoyed the movie, and I think the shouting Pharoah, the bobble-head Einsteins, and Amelia Earhart, were definitely wonderful characters. We laughed and we enjoyed the story, but it just didn't capture our hearts the way the first one did.

We give it three stars.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We went to see Race to Witch Mountain at the Dollar Movies this week. I liked the Witch Mountain movies that I watched as a child and so was looking forward to seeing this. This movie stands on its own. There were a couple of nods to the original movie (they ended up in a RV and Ike Eisenmann who played Tony in the original movies, played a sheriff in this one).

The movie was fast paced, fun and kept all of our interest throughout the film. If you take it for what it is...a fun, kid friendly movie, then your family should enjoy this Disney creation!

We gave it 4 stars.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:17 AM | Permalink

Back in the early 1970s, I rushed home every day after school so I could watch Star Trek reruns in the afternoon. I loved Star Trek! The handsome Captain Kirk, the witty Dr. McCoy, the logical Mr. Spock (whom my father would fret me by calling squirrel ears). The adventurous journeys, the exotic aliens, the witty comments, and the chemistry among the original cast all kept me mesmerized. The worst punishment I remember from my childhood was I wasn't allowed to watch Star Trek for a whole week because I didn't listen to my babysitter one day!

Little did I know that just an hour away, my future husband was just as aptly watching the show that would launch four decades of great science fiction. He liked the show so much that he asked his mother to take him to the ABC tv station so he could meet the crew. He was sure that the Enterprise was there at the studio and he could get on board if only his mom would take him there.

Over the years, we have watched all of the Star Trek movies and the Star Trek mutations. Our least favorite was The Next Generation series. Captain Picard was just too 'nice'. Probably our favorite was Deep Space Nine. Voyager was also good. We tried watching Enterprise, but at the time, the channel it was on didn't come in very well and we got tired of watching the snowy show, but what we saw of it did look good.

So on to yesterday. We had been waiting in anticipation to see the new Star Trek movie. Some of the early trailers had us concerned about how they were running the storyline and the changes that it looked like were being made, but we were still growing very excited seeing what J.J. Abrams came up with (after all, we love LOST).

We got tickets for us and for the kids and seated ourselves front and center. The next two hours flew by. The action, the characters, the laughs...J.J. Abrams has come up with a hit! Not only has he recreated the show so as to attract a whole new generation of fans, but there was so much about the movie that was put in to appeal to those of us who have followed these characters for years. And while the story centered on Kirk and Spock, the other characters were given much stronger roles than in the usual series. Sulu, the sword expert. Uhura, the communications expert, and Chekov...the whole reason he looked so young was because he was a genius! I loved this movie!

J.J. Abrams could not have done a better job than what he did. We are ready to go see the movie again!

We give this movie two thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I heard about this movie when it first came out but am only now getting ready to see it. I am sorry I didn't see it sooner, but so very glad that I saw it now.

The Kite Runner is based on a best selling novel by Khaled Hosseini. This is a wonderful story of two children. One who is fiercely loyal and one who, as many children will, abandons his friend in the worst kind of way. We are given some insight into life in Afghanistan. First with the invasion of the Soviet Union and then under the tight rule of the Taliban. One child and his father flee, the other child is left behind to make live as best as he can in a horrendous situation.

20 years pass and an opportunity for redemption of a childhood wrong appears. It is seized upon and we are reminded of the love and friendship of two young boys and their loyalty for one another.

I enjoyed learning more about Afghanistan, its people, and their traditions. I loved the story. It pulled me in at the beginning and held me through the very end. I give this movie 5 stars!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:05 AM | Permalink

Goodnight Mr. Tom is just one more example of why I love Netflix. Netflix suggested that based on other things I had enjoyed, I might enjoy this movie as well. And sure enough, I thought it was an excellent story! I had never heard of it and chances are I wouldn't have run across it if it hadn't been for Netflix. I would have missed out on a very touching story.

From Netflix:

A bitter old man is transformed when he takes in a war refugee in this moving Masterpiece Theatre adaptation of Michelle Magorian's World War II novel. When young Willie (Nick Robinson) is evacuated from London and sent to live in a small village, grumpy Tom (John Thaw) begrudgingly agrees to harbor the boy. Gradually, Tom manages to coax the distrustful lad from his shell, and when it's time for Willie to return to London, the two realize the depth of their bond.

This movie shows a side of the war that we see in movies such as one of the versions of Peter Pan and The Chronicles of Narnia. The backdrop for war hid many atrocities that might have otherwise been discovered. It was only through the stroke of fate which brough these two main characters together, that two lives were saved.

I give this movie 5 stars:)

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

When Peter Jackson's version of King Kong came out, Daniel went to see it, but I couldn't for some reason or another. Well, this weekend he came home with it for us to watch. I really, really enjoyed it. Just watching the scenery and 'monsters' were awesome. And what a love story! I think I saw the original version of King Kong years ago, but it didn't strike me so much as a love story. Watching Peter Jackson's vision of King Kong, it was apparent that the movie was an amazing love story.

It is long and there are upsetting scenes (after all, there are monsters), but I highly recommend this movie. Watch it and immerse yourself in it the way Peter Jackson meant. It gets 2 thumbs up and 5 stars.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:22 AM | Permalink

When I saw previews for The Changeling, my ears immediately perked up to listen because one of my favorite scary movies is The Changeling with George C. Scott. I thought at first this was to be a remake.

But, as I listened and watched, I realized that this was a different animal all together. It was based on a true story and directed by Clint Eastwood. So last night, Daniel and I sat down to watch it. If you enjoy true story movies, you will probably like this movie. Let me tell you that it is not for those weak in the stomach and if you absolutely cannot stand anything with violence to children, you may want to skip it.

The story starts out with a mom and her son and very soon the son is missing. Months later, the LAPD brings this woman another child who she says is not her son and despite the overwhelming physical evidence, the LAPD says she is mistaken. The way the system treats this woman is an appalling story. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the movie and we give it two thumbs up or five stars:)

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:38 AM | Permalink

Last night the kids and I watched an oldie but a goodie! They had never seen Bedknobs and Broomsticks, but it was a favorite of mine when I was growing up along with Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. So I had put this in my handy dandy Netflix queue and this week it arrived.

Angela Lansbury does a lovely job as always in this entertaining Walt Disney film where we are treated to a juxtaposition of animation and real life special effects. The story is an enjoyable one and the kids laughed at all the right spots (you worry about that sometimes with these older films). The movie is 2 hours and 19 minutes long, but the kids sat there, enraptured, through the whole thing.

So if your children haven't seen this age old film, I highly recommend it for your next family movie night!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Here is another treasure I found on Netflix. I really enjoyed this movie. I found it to be interesting and suspenseful. It is a long movie, clocking in at 172 minutes.

From the Netflix movie jacket:

Television Armand Mastroianni helms this faithful adaptation of Phillip M. Margolin's best-selling novel, co-startting Brooke Shields, Lou Diamond Phillips and Marilu Henner. When an Oregon woman disappears without a trace, the only clue is a withering black rose with a note that reads 'gone but not forgotten' Now it is up to a tough female attorney to follow the evidence, find a missing private eye and unravel the mystery.

I am not sure about the Oregon part since the story takes place in Sacramento and New York. This is a story of heinous crime, injustice, and how the past comes back to kick us in the butt. I also enjoyed seeing the way the lawyers and paralegals were at work, though I have no idea of how accurate that part was.

Not everyone likes the movie Gone But Not Forgotten, so you will have to check it out for yourself.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 5:27 PM | Permalink

Wow...sometimes, you just get lucky and manage to pull not one, not two, but three good movies in a row! This is what I did on Saturday! And I wanted to share some great movie titles with you in case you were looking for something wonderful to watch next weekend!

First off, I must say again how much I love Netflix! Without that awesome company and their easy to use website, there are so many movies I would never have watched and in all likelihood would never have even heard about! THANKS NETFLIX!!!! I wouldn't know what to do without you!

Okay....on to the good stuff!

Amazing Grace is a powerful, powerful movie! I know so much about the fight against slavery here in America, but knew very little about the fights fought elsewhere in the world. This story tells how the English turned the tide in their own country without falling into Civil War. From the cover: Based on a true story, this historical drama starring Ioan Gruffudd tells the story of William Wilberforce, an 18th-century English politician who fought for the abolition of slavery. Despite staunch opposition, Wilberforce waged an aggressive campaign using boycotts, petitions and slogans. This story will remind you of the power one determined person has (with help from the Almighty!) I give this movie five stars!

Continue reading "Movie Reviews: Amazing Grace, One Night with the King, The Andromeda Strain" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It seems like to me that as Daniel and I grow older, our tastes in movies have diverged. He is more into the shoot them up, blow them up, or deep philosophical movies. I, who didn't care much for romance (at least not the Harlequin variety) as a kid, find myself turning more to love stories, children's movies, light hearted family entertainment, and good mysteries and horror stories (without the gore).

But there are still movies that we can watch together and both say "Hey, that was really good". This weekend we watched Reign Over Me. Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle star in this movie. Other notables include Donald Sutherland and Liv Tyler and Jada Pinkett Smith.

When I saw Adam Sandler was in this movie, I was sure it was a comedy and I am not a huge Adam Sandler fan. But let me tell you, folks, Adam Sandler can act and his performance in this movie is simply outstanding!

This story will make you laugh, make you cry, and help to put life in its proper perspective. We all get so caught up in what we are supposed to do, how we are supposed to act and how we are supposed to react, that we forget how to live. We find ourselves so focused on the expectations of others, that we forget about the expectations we have for ourselves.

Have a box of tissues handy as you may need to dab at your eyes a time or two. Or better yet, just let the tears fall and realize that life is made up of many different feelings and that's what makes it so darn good (and bad).

We give this movie 2 thumbs up and five stars!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

With Halloween around the corner, scary movies are the ones we have been watching. We decided to go into the movie archives (our movie shelf) and pull out some movies that we hadn't seen in a lnog time...long enough that basically when we saw the DVD title, we couldn't remember what the movie was about. Allof them were good. Two out of three were very good and I would recommend them to you.

Tales from the Hood is a movie of stories. Much like Twilight Zone - The Movie, Cat's Eye, and Creepshow, there is an overall story that surrounds a few other stories. I liked the stories in Tales from the Hood. The language leaves a great deal to be desired and it has some bloody moments, but the stories are very good and if you can get your ways past that and the very bad language, you will enjoy the inventive scary tales!

Continue reading "Movie Reviews: Tales from the Hood, The Gathering, Blood Moon" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:34 AM | Permalink

My friend, Nikowa, recommended that I watch Gone, Baby, Gone so that she and I could talk about the moral dilemma presented in the movie.

This is not the kind of movie I normally watch, mainly because it is a movie that revolves around harm to children and that is just a topic that I prefer to stay away from. But I trusted Nikowa's recommendation and decided to watch it. A couple of my favorite actors are in this movie: Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris. They did a superb job.

This movie is rated R. There is a lot of bad language in it. There are horrifying scenes in it. But stick it out to the end, because at the end, you are going to be presented with a moral dilemma that will make you think and wonder what you would have done. And it will give you something to talk about around the water cooler until LOST comes back on in January!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This movie is 15 years old and Johnny Depp looks like a kid though he was in his mid 20s at the time. I picked out What's Eating Gilbert Grape because I went through Netflix one day clicking on Johnny Depp movies left and right. I have seen his recent movies, but not the older ones and I wanted to take a look see.

From the Netflix envelope:

Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) lives in a backwater Iowa town and is "man of the house" to his retarded brother, Arnie (Leonardo Dicaprio), a couple of sisters and his dangerously overweight mother. Despite all of the crushing responsibility, Gilbert perserveres. But will he ever be able to live his own life? Rated PG-13.

This family reminds me of one of those families, where it seem slike everything that can goes wrong does go wrong. I like the way the story shows how people can persevere inspite of incredible odds. To me, it was a depressing film and I wouldn't have been able to hang in there the way Gilbert did for as long as he did.

Johnny Depp's performance was very believable. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance should have won an award. He did an excellent job and couldn't have been very old at the time.

I gave this movie 3 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 6:06 AM | Permalink

Well, yesterday was movie day...not the best movie day we have ever had...in fact, we were barely batting 50% on this one. So here's the scoop of the Good, The Bad, The Ugly (but not necessarily in that order and some qualify for double awards).

28 Weeks Later - I hate Zombie movies. This was the sequel to 28 Days Later. I like end of the world kind of movies, but now zombie movies. They are some of the most grotesque films out there. Hubby loves zombie films....so every now and then as an act of a good wife, I will watch one with him (through veiled or averted eyes). This movie should never have left the cutting room floor...it should have been burned up. The characters were stupid, the story was stupid, and military people were stupid. The movie was stupid. Don't get this movie! Don't waste your time watching this movie... What an awful waste of ketchup and red jello or red cornsyrup or whatever they use!

We give this movie 2 thumbs down and 0 stars. Blech!!!!! It gets the bad and ugly award!

Continue reading "Movie Review Roundup: 21, Beowulf, The Curse of King Tut's Tomb and 28 Weeks Later" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:59 AM | Permalink

I just watched a wonderful movie from Netflix (there are so many great movies out there that I would never have known of without Netflix).

The Mighty was produced in 1998. It stars Kiernan Culkin ane Elden Henson. You will also see other wonderful performances by Gillian Anderson (X-files), Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands, and James Gandolfini (Sopranos) is some of the talent you will see in this movie.

The description from Netflix:

A rare physical affliction prevents Kevin, a near-genius sevent-grader who lives in the world of his imagination, from living a normal life. When Kevin crosses paths with the learning-disabled but extremely large and strong Max, he shares his fantasy world of knights and sorcerers with Max. Soon, the two outcasts combine their strengths at home and school to overcome their weaknesses.

Rated PG-13.

This movie will touch your heart and hopefully broaden your mind!

I give it five stars!!!!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:04 PM | Permalink

Today, after my appointment with Dr. Diminick, I met mom for lunch and to go see the movie Swing Vote. We ate yummy subs from Subway.

Swing Vote is a fun and hilarious movie that makes a wonderful statement! My mom and I (and the other patrons), laughed heartily throughout the movie. And there were moments where we were deeply moved. And if that was enough...we got to look at Kevin Costner too! Kelsey Grammar makes a wonderful President.

Warning, there is a fair amount of cursing in this movie.

We give this movie five stars and two thumbs up! Check it out!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yes folks, my hubby and I love movies. We don't often go see movies at the theater because that requires us both being in the same state and having someone to watch the kids. By the time you count the costs of driving to the theater(45 mins), the babysitter, the movie and snacks/drinks...it is cheaper to stay at home. But because this was what I wanted to do for my birthday and since we really wanted to go see these movies...away we went.

First we saw the Dark Knight which we expected to be the best movie of the day. However, we were surprised as we liked it the least. Now, before you start throwing things at me, hear me out and remember, we have a right to our personal opinion. The Dark Knight has gotten a lot of press. All Batman movies do, but this one did in particular because of Heath Ledger. Curiosity drove many (me included) to see this much talked about performance of the late actor.

Continue reading "Day at the Movies Review: Batman, The Mummy 3, and X-Files" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

One thing we have enjoyed about our time in Bloomington is having a little more cash on hand to do things with. Daniel has been very generous to us so that the kids wouldn't get bored just being in a small apartment all of the time. Today we went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth.

I love Brendan Frasier and I have always enjoyed the tale of Journey to the Center of the Earth. Though I am not a Vernian, I do love the works of Jules Verne. So, the movie called to me from the first time I saw a preview.

When watching previews, I saw that in some theaters the movie would be shown in 3D. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the theater today to find that we were going to be seeing the movie in 3D (though it meant spending an extra 6.00!). The glasses we were given were nice ones and we got to keep them. They were plastic instead of the cardboard ones that fall apart so easily.

The movie was great! Watching it in 3D was so much fun. It was non-stop adventure once the adventure got rolling (a bit of introduction at the beginning). We laughed, we jumped and we had fun!

The kids and I give this movie 3 thumbs up, or 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you want to go see a fun adventure movie that your whole family can enjoy (except for the very young with a couple of scary 'monster' moments), then go see this and if at all possible, try to catch it in 3D!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you enjoy a good ghost story and don't mind subtitles, you should check out The Orphanage This movie was given 4 stars by Roger Ebert and called a superior ghost story.

This movie is well produced, has a good story line with an ending that I wasn't anticipating. A young woman and her husband return to the orphanage she grew up in. They plan to manage a home for handicapped children there (the orphanage is no longer in operation), but before long, things are definitely out of whack. Their adopted son starts speaking to invisible friends and even leads his mother on a treasure hunt that the friends have designed... (though she believes he set it up). The bizarre fun quickly turns to horror when the boy disappears and can't be found.

I give this movie four out of five stars. I really enjoyed it and it was a fantastic ghost story.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 5:36 PM | Permalink

Today, I took the kids to see Wall-E. I love PIXAR and Wall-E is a cutie. But I was disturbed to watch yet another movie that is very thinly guised as a sermon for children. Wall-E is the only surviving robot on an Earth filled with junk and he is plugging along trying to accomplish his directive alone. His directive is 700 years old and it is to clean up the junk left behind by the humans.

There are signs everywhere that indicate a huge company that was leading people around by their nose telling them to buy, buy, buy. Then the company creates spaceships and sends humans off into space on a five year vacation while the Earth gets cleaned up. 700 years and generations later, what is left of the human race is fat, drinks their meals from a cup, and rides everywhere on hover seats. Wall-E and a Captain with hope in his heart lead the way to a better future for everyone.

Wall-E is cute. The story is an oversimplification that I am afraid children, who look at the world very literally, won't be able to sort out the fun from the unlikely.

I give the movie 2.5 out of 5 stars.

The kids liked it a lot though...so they give it two thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

First, the summary:

Simon (Ian Michael Smith) and Joe (Joseph Mazzello) are best friends, bound by broken families and their misfit status: Simon is a dwarf, and Joe is illegitimate. As Simon searches for a destiny bigger than his underdeveloped body and Joe hunts for his father, the boys face a devastating blow. Ashley Judd plays Joe's mother, and Jim Carrey narrates this film based loosely on John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Second, my thoughts:

This is an excellent story. Simon Birch is a movie that reminds us we all have a role to play in this world. It may be as small as a smile or as big as saving someone's life. And no matter what our size, our means, our social status, we have what we need to fulfill our role, if only we keep our eyes and our heart open and ready.

This movie is a tear jerker, so bring your tissues.

I give it 5 stars.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The kids and I just finished watching Underdog. When I was growing up, I loved watching the Underdog cartoons and when I saw they were making a movie of Underdog with a real dog, I was skeptical. But Jack put it on his Netflix list, so today we watched it. I have to say, I really liked it. It was cute, well done, and funny. Much like the 'real' Scooby Doo movies, the movie makers captured the essence of Underdog and moved it to the big screen.

Check it out, you and your kids will probably enjoy it!

The kids and I give this movie three thumbs up, or four out of five stars.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I just thought I would take a moment and talk about my movie and book reviews. I read a lot of books and watch a lot of movies. There are lots of books and movies out there. When I read things or see things I like (or don't like), I like to pass that along to maybe save you some time or maybe intrigue you into looking at something you wouldn't have otherwise.

My movie reviews are not designed to tell you exactly what is going on nor are my book reviews. I just want to give you a little bit of information to pique your interest, tell you why I liked it or didn't like it and move on. So my reviews are short and sweet. Plus, I figure with all of the information out there, you would probably like to have something short to read for a change!

And lastly, I always give a star or thumb rating or both. These are based on the movie and its particular genre. Just because I give Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a 5 and Gone With the Wind a five, it doesn't mean the movies are equal. It just means that for their genre, I think they are among the best.

Okay, now I will return you to your regularly scheducled program!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:47 PM | Permalink

The Eye with Jessica Alba is a good horror/thriller movie. This movie has similarities with The Sixth Sense, Stir of Echoes, and Final Destination. There are elements of the story that aren't new, but the way they are combined makes for a neat twist. Jessica Alba does a wonderful job as a woman who has been blind for 17 years, and now has a corneal transplant that will give her back her sight. With her new vision comes disturbing images that turn her world upside down. With the help of her vision therapist, she gets to the bottom of what is going on and life changes for many.

We give this movie 2 thumbs up, 4 stars out of 5.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:37 PM | Permalink

Drillbit Taylor is a fun movie with Owen Wilson. This is a comedy and should be enjoyed as such. It is a feel good movie about kids needing to learn to deal with school bullies. Owen Wilson is a homeless guy looking to make money for a trip to Canada. He ends up getting hired to be a bodyguard and helping the kids and helping himself.

This movie is full of laughs and if you like Owen Wilson, you are sure to enjoy it. Be warned, this movie is a meant for a teen audience, so you get some of that teen humor that isn't always appreciated by adults.

We give the movie 2 thumbs up, 4 stars out of 5.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:30 PM | Permalink

Sleepwalking received high praise from some, but Daniel and I don't agree. It is a movie about a mom who has some really messed up priorities (but is still an improvement from the person her own father is). It is a movie about an uncle who does the best he can by his abandoned niece and in so doing, ends up having to confront his own past and his father. In the middle is a young girl who vascillates between being difficult and being agreeable (pretty much a normal teenager). The movie just didn't do much for us.

You may enjoy it, but if you don't like 'real life drama' type movies, I would stay away from this one.

We give it two stars out of five.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:18 PM | Permalink

Yep, I know The Hustler is 47 years old, but it is very good. I had never seen it before, but Daniel picked it up a couple of weeks ago. He is a big Jackie Gleason fan.

You may not believe that a pool game can be exciting, but this movie will change your mind.

Add that drama to top notch performances by Jackie Gleason, Paul Newman, and George C. Scott. Then stir in real life drama and the excitement of the hustle, and you have a movie from the past that still is a great movie to watch today.

We give this movie two thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:12 PM | Permalink

Tonight, I was surfing through the 5 million channels and actually found a couple of movies that looked interesting. I chose The Invisible because it was listed as a suspense movie and it looked like it was a supernatural story. Reminiscent of Sixth Sense, Dragonfly, and Ghost, this story is about the thin line between life and death and our ability to walk it. This is a story about redemption, love, and understanding. I really enjoyed it and I recommend it to anyone who likes the movies I mentioned.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My most recent Netflix movie was The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn. In fact, it is finishing up while I am typing this...

The description from the Netflix envelope:

"Small-town farmer Noah Dearborn (Sidney Poitier) lives an uncomplicated existence till shady developer Christian Nelson (George Newbern) tries to usurp his family's land. Nelson will do anything to take Noah's property, including hiring a shrink (Mary-Louise Parker) to have him declared insane. What Nelson doesn't anticipate is Noah forming an unbreakable bond with the doctor that proves stronger than anything the land baron can dish out."

This is a story of how we think our modern way of life is best and how our 'meaningful helpfulness' can be very misguided. It is also a story of the corporation versus the 'little guy' and the 'little guy wins'. Sidney Poitier still does excellent work! If you want a movie that will warm your heart, I recommend this one.

This movie is PG and it is excellent. I give it 5 stars!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The Songcatcher was a movie that I picked to watch from Netflix. I picked it based on the Netflix description.

"During a visit to her sister in Appalachia, gifted musicologist Dr. Lily Penleric (Janet McTeer) stumbles upon a musical treasure trove -- dozens of Scots-Irish ballads that have been preserved for generations by the local populace and are unknown to the outside world. Intent on collecting the beautiful songs, Dr. Penleric comes to admire the locals, who live a tough, hardscrabble existence without complaint. "

I have an interest in stories about Appalachia and I have a friend who has written a book about a song-catcher, who did pretty much what Dr. Penleric was doing. But I was not impressed with this movie that seemed to be trying to use a real life situation to slide in their own political agenda.

Continue reading "Movie Review: The Songcatcher" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Great Debaters saved the day for us movie wise.

This movie is based on a true story of a man, Melvin Tolson played by Denzel Washington, who had a vision for a better tomorrow and who worked towards that vision one step at a time in the ways that were available to him. He creates an amazing Debate Team and that Team goes on to challenge the Harvard Debate Team in 1935.

The movie provides viewers with a look at the way things were in the 1930s and the obstacles that African Americans had to overcome.

This film is full of top notch performances. It is a moving story and one that will pluck at your heart strings.

We give this movie a two thumbs up.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yes, I know Surf's Up came out awhile ago. I refused to even take my kids to the dollar movie to see it. But, hubby, wanting to get something for the kids, picked it up this weekend. And Katrina wanted us all to watch it together, so I agreed.

We put the movie in. Within five minutes, Jack had left saying he really didn't want to watch it. About 20 minutes later, Daniel left to go read a book in another room, only to start snoring loudly shortly after. About the same time as the sounds of sleeping issued forth from the next room, Katrina announced that this movie wasn't what she thought it would be. But we watched it anyway...the blundering through watching a movie of people making a movie. The trite, trite, trite story line. At the end, we quietly put the DVD back into the box and sadly walked away.

If you saw Surf's Up and liked it...good for you! It does take all kinds of people to make the world go around. If you saw it and felt you got ripped off, then you and I are on the same page. If you haven't seen it, but are thinking about it, please don't! Watch March of the Penguins instead! And you can play Save the Egg at Nationa Geographic too! I managed to get to level 13 before my egg died.... I don't think I would make a good penguin Dad.

We gave Surf's Up 4 thumbs down....

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:24 AM | Permalink

Daniel and I have been eagerly anticipating the release of The Happening. We loved Sixth Sense and Signs. I was disappointed with Lady in the Water and with The Village. The Village reminded me of a Scooby Doo show for grown-ups (though I did think that the actors did a great job and I love Joaquin Phoenix). Lady in the Water was an interesting idea and I felt better about it overall than The Village, but these movies did not draw me in like Signs and Sixth Sense.

Daniel and I had seen the trailers for The Happening and we knew we wanted to see it, hoping that this time would return us to the genius of those earlier flicks. Beware, there are spoilers here...mainly because all the reviews I am reading tell the whole story...such as it is. And partially because I want you to not waste your money. Go see Kung Fu Panda instead. The kids said it was great!

I am sorry to say that M. Night Shyamalan may have been a two hit wonder. This story, much like the stories of Mothra and Godzilla, is a direct reflection of what is most on our minds these days - the destruction of our planet and the life on it. It is not uncommon throughout history that we go through decades of horror movie types. They allow us to face the worst case scenarios and breath a sigh of relief when the end comes and we know we are safe (and sometimes maybe a little wiser).

Continue reading "Movie Review: The Happening by M. Night Shyamalan" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We watched four movies yesterday. It was a 50/50 weekend. Half of them were really good and half were not.

First with the not so good (I always like to get the bad out of the way first).

I picked up a movie titled Thicker Than Water for 5.00 at Wal-mart. Now the reason I chose that movie was because Lindsey Wagner (Bionic Woman) and Melissa Gilbert (Laura on Little House on the Prairie) were in it. I have always admired both of these actresses. And when I was a child and the only Melissa I knew, Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson were my favorites...but I digress. This movie had a poorly written story. It went all over the place, was predictable and not all that captivating. All the good actors and actresses in the world could have made this a good movie. But it was at least tolerable to watch.

Knock Knock...a slasher movie picked up by Daniel, was horrible. Not only were the slasher scenes horrific (me with eyes closed or averted), the story was a dumb rip off of Nightmare on Elm Street. The characters were cardboard cut-outs who couldn't have delivered a compelling line if a gun had been held to their head. I wanted to take the disk out and break it up into little bitty pieces and send it back to the producer of this horrible movie, but Daniel said we had to keep it as a reminder of what makes a bad movie bad.

Now onto the much better movies....

Continue reading "Movies to Watch and Not To" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yesterday, Daniel, Jack, Katrina and I joined the multitude in seeing one of this summer's most anticipated blockbuster movies.

The kids give the movie two thumbs up and say it is their second favorite Indy movie (right behind The Last Crusade). Katrina did point out that she had seen some of the actions in previous movies (searching for the city of Gold and a tilting tablet - National Treasures 2) incredible sword fighting (POTC). We are already turning our kids into movie critics...oh dear.

Daniel and I thought it was a good movie. Daniel gives it a 3 and I give it a 3 1/2. It was neat having ends tied up from the past. The action scenes are awesome, though some do leave you shaking your head and wondering if those things could ever happen. Indiana is still his indestructible, intelligent and funny self. This movie had a lot going on it. I felt like the writers were trying to introduce Indiana to a new generation, tryng to tie up old lines for the long time fans, giving long time fans insight into what Indy had been up to, and trying to introduce a new character that can carry the stories forward. Plus there was the fact that they had to be searching for something. That is a lot to cram into a 2 hour movie!

I do want to say Kudos to Harrison Ford for doing such a good job and proving that being older doesn't mean you have to put your feet up on the front porch and sit in a rocking chair!

Be sure to check out the official Indiana Jones site for information, videos, wallpaper and more!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:23 AM | Permalink

I just finished watching the movie, Into the Wild

This movie is based on a true event that was written about in the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. The movie is directed by Sean Penn.

Continue reading "Movie Review: Into the Wild" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last night I watched a movie from 1969, Anne of the Thousand Days. I believe it was recommended to me by my friend, Sherry, over at Frugal Domestic Goddess.

At any rate, it is a fantastic movie and if you love historical movies, you will surely enjoy this. The costumes are fantastic. Richard Burton and Geneviève Bujold do a wonderful portrayl of King Henry and Anne Boleyn. There are other great actorsand actresses in this movie. Irene Papas, Anthony Quayle, and John Colicos to name a few.

I know very little about this period in history, but as I made connections of what I was seeing with what I knew, I was completely drawn into the tale. I couldn't believe what King Henry had done due to the desire of a woman and what he resorted to after that desire ran out.

I give this movie 5 stars out of 5!

Here is the trailer from the movie that I found on You Tube. This movie was rated PG on my Netflix movie folder. On this trialer, it is said to be rated M for Mature. There is a scene in this trailer that is probably one of the more intense moments and the worst language.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:40 PM | Permalink

An American Rhapsody is rated PG-13. This period piece follows a family fleeing Communist Hungary in fear of their lives. Three of the four members escape with the help of a gentleman who does not take babies because they cry. The fourth family member is an infant who is to be smuggled out another way, but as the woman smuggler talks about drugging the baby so it will sleep and putting it into a sack that makes her look like a large, fat woman, the grandmother of the child decides this is not to be. So she keeps Suzanne and the child is taken to a family in the country where she will be safe until she can reunite with her parents.

Continue reading "Movie Review: An American Rhapsody" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:34 AM | Permalink

This movie is an oldie, but a goodie. I don't recollect seeing The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit before and when I pointed out to the children that young Ronnie grows up to be the Dad in Sky High, they were amazed!

Dean Jones, a staple Disney actor back in the 60's and 70's, is the father who is trying to hold on to his job, fulfill the role of mother and father, and give his daughter the thing she most desires, a horse. This is a feel good movie with a relatively predictable ending, but the children and I enjoyed it. It was amazing how tense we got when Aspercel, the horse) was making his jumps in the competition. You find yourself wanting to leap with the horse over the high barriers. If your child loves horses they are bound to like this movie. And if you want a movie that you can let them watch without worrying where it is going, you will love this movie!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:16 AM | Permalink

Last night, I watched the movie Atonement. I wanted to see it because I mostly have seen Kiera Knightley in her POTC role as Elizabeth Swann, I wanted to see her in something else to get an idea of her depth as an actress. While I am not going to comment on Elizabeth's acting skills, she could certainly stand to put on a few pounds. She is way too thin.

Okay, on with the review. This is a period movie that mainly takes place during the years of 1935-1940. There are a couple of usages of flashback so you must watch closely. I got caught by the first one because I looked away at the wrong moment. While this is a period piece giving us a bit of insight into the times, it is a story of love and of innocent betrayal. It is a story of how the grown-up world can look in a child's eyes and when combined with her own 'heartbreak', this can lead to tragic events. I find myself still thinking about the complexities and injustices of this movie. But it is hard to place blame considering the circumstances. Do you blame a child who may have made an honest mistake, or may have seen a way at getting back at someone who hurt her? Life for the passionate couple would certainly have been different had this child not done what she did. And it brings up interesting questions regarding atonement.

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.

Just so you know, this is a very grown-up movie and is rated R for good reason.

Here is the trailer if you would like to get a glimpse.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This week, I borrowed the movie The Devil's Arithmetic from Netflix. This movie is an excellent way for you to help your children get their first exposure of the horrors of World War II.

This movie is based on a book written in 1988 by Jane Yolen. I have not read the book, but after reading the synopsis, the storyline is a bit different and of course more complete than the movie.

However, I think you will be pleased with either the movie or the book and you can choose based on what best suits the needs of your household.

The story sends a modern day Jewish girl back to live during World War II via a time travel type experience. Before she goes, she really doesn't understand or appreciate her Jewish heritage and she ignores her older family members when they try to enlighten her. Her experience in World War II, gives her new insight and understanding. In the movie you will see Jewish people put in cattle cars, but not the true extent of the horror of a four day trip of standing room only. You will see the Jewish people pushed, their hair cut, their valuables confiscated. You will see men be hanged after an escape attempt. And near the end, women will be herded together, told to undress (but you don't see any private parts), and walked into a building where gas pellets are dropped down on them and they die. I tell you this because I want you to have a good sense of what your child would see and whether or not you feel it would be appropriate for your family.

The most important message in this film and book is that we not forget our past.

I gave this movie five stars when I ranked it at Netflix.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 4:23 PM | Permalink

First of all, this is a big change from my recent movie watching of Sweeney Todd, I Am Legend and The Mist. I was in need of a change too and this movie is one of the most positive movies I have seen in a long time.

I realize I may be the last person on the planet to be aware of The Secret. But just in case there is someone reading my blog who has not seen the movie or read the book, I would like to encourage you to put it on your must have list (either as a purchase or as a Netflix rental). And, personally I would encourage you to purchase the book if you watch the movie first because you are going to want to refer to it often! And to take notes!

Here is the summary on my Netflix envelop:

Believed to have been in existence for thousands of years, The Secret is only now being shared to the world. It's supposedly what brought success to such greats as Plato, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein and Andrew Carnegie. In this video, The Secret is revealed and taught by over 50 teachers, including writers, philosophers, doctors and scientists, to empower viewers to achieve success in their careers, relationships and health.

I give this movie 8 fingers and 2 thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Friday, Daniel and I got to watch some movies. Three of them were movies that I had been wanting to see since last fall and one was a movie we have been looking for in stores for a month. Nothing like a day full of movies and crocheting!

First we watched Stargate: The Ark of Truth. If you are a Stargate fan and watched all 10 seasons, you are going to love this movie that ties up a major story line and shows these characters all at their best and bravest. It is action packed and the effects are fantastic! The Stargate lovers in our household give this movie a two thumbs up!

Second we watched I Am Legend with Will Smith. I have never read the book this story is based on, but I saw The Omega Man as a child and it frightened me senseless. I enjoyed the movie, but my husband tells me the book had a better ending. I have always been fascinated by end of the world type movies. It is so very hard to imagine what it would be like to be one of a handful of those left. The solitude. The obstacles to overcome. We give this movie 1 thumb up. It was good. I enjoyed watching it. But Daniel wasn't crazy about it. Mainly the way it ended.

Continue reading "Movie Reviews: Sweeney Todd, Ark of Truth, I Am Legend, and The Mist" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last night I watched a movie I had borrowed from Netflix. The title was The Painted Veil. This is a period story It is mostly set in 1920s China It is a historical love story The cholera epidemic plays a large role in this movie.

But the real story is between a man and a woman A marriage that comes 1/2 out of love and 1/2 out of a desire to escape family. Mistakes are made and a husband who has been wronged seeks to punish the wife that has hurt him. Trial and time work to heal the wounds and true love blossoms The end isn't the happy one we might wish for, but it is uplifiting and it offers us hope that redemption is possible.

I give it 2 thumbs up.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

When we were at the library this week, an interesting DVD caught my eye. The title: Mr. Krueger's Christmas. Now I know it isn't Christmas, but it has a plain beige cover and it says it stars Jimmy Stewart and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

I love Jimmy Stewart and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir produces beautiful music, so I brought it home. The story is lovely and if you get a chance, I advise you to try and see it. The story with Jimmy Stewart is only about 26 mintues long and it is excellent. Then there are other features which show the beginning of the Mormon faith, the Nativity and Christmas songs sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The movie has lots of heart and Jimmy Stewart does a fantastic job portraying a lonely man with a heart and imagination as big as all outdoors.

Guess what, I was looking for a picture of Jimmy Stewart in this role and I found the whole thing on YouTube!

Enjoy!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:22 PM | Permalink

Last night the children and I sat down and watched The Astronaut Farmer (better late than never, right?). I enjoyed the movie. It was a nice role for Billy Bob Thornton, and unusual as he doesn't often play a nice guy. It is a movie about having dreams and pursuing them. There is even a homeschooling moment (though I don't think he filled out the proper paperwork.) There was a moment that I was quite taken aback (and if you have already seen the movie, you probably know what I mean). I was expecting one thing to happen, and I was shocked by what happened instead.

This is an inspiring movie. A movie about having dreams and working to see them come true (no matter what others may say or the failures you may have to overcome). This is a movie about a family working together and believing in one another. You can't go wrong with watching it.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last week when I was at the library looking at the DVD selection and trying to decide what I would borrow, another lady was looking too. I picked up Apt Pupil and she mentioned what a good movie it was. I replied that I knew as I had seen it years ago. Then she pointed to another DVD called Jim Henson's The Storyteller.

I thought it looked delightful so I brought it home. There are two discs in the definitive collection. One disc has nine little known fairytales and one disc has four Greek myths. These are wonderful episodes with fantastical creatures that only Jim Henson can create. The Greek myths are advised for children ages 8 and up. Katrina, Jack and I have really been enjoying these tales.

The fairy tales are told by John Hurt who is the Storyteller (he also plays Mr. Ollivander in Harry Potter). The Greek Myths are told by Michael Gambon (the second Dumbledore).

We give this collection 3 thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 12:12 PM | Permalink

I watched a very good movie this weekend called Neverwas. Neverwas is full of star power! Nick Nolte, Ian McKellen, Aaron Eckhart, and William Hurt.

In this story a young man is trying to come to terms with a past he doesn't quite understand. And with guilt that comes from his feeling that he failed in the worst kind of way. As he tries to atone for his past by working in a psychiatric hospital and helping others, he soon finds himself treating a patient who knew his father. The patient has an insanity that is intricately entwined with the young doctor.

In the end the young doctor has to let go of his doubts and believe for both his patient and himself to find peace.

I gave this movie five stars on Netflix! It is one of those rare hidden gems that you may not have heard of and that you might overlook if you were browsing movies to watch. Let me assure you that it is well worth your time to see!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Today I watched the movie Mrs. Brown with Judi Dench and Billy Connolly. This movie is about the grieving widow, Queen Victoria, and a plain spoken manservent who brings her back to life from her deep sadness. This movie was very good. It was funny and interesting and the acting was fantastic! I know very little about that period in British history, so I have no idea of the accuracy of the movie, but if you like historic movies, you might want to check this one out! BTW, it is rated PG from 1997...however there is a scene where Billy Connolly and his brother are running naked into the surf. It is a side/behind shot, but beware because that is not what we expect to see in those PG rated movies!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I borrowed a movie called "In America" from the library and watched it today. It is an excellent story. A story of an Irish family coming to America illegally in search of the American Dream. I am not happy about the number of immigrants coming into our country illegally, but having said that, when you watch this story, it shows us how a family can be drawn by the dream for a better life for themselves. There are obstacles, there are happy times, there are sad times. This movie really touched my heart. You may wish to see it yourself.

From the back of the box:

From Academy Award nominee Jim Sheridan comes this deeply personal and poignant tale of a poor Irish family searching for better life in America. Through the eyes of their daughters, two anguished parents find hope and the ability to once again believe in love and magic...even amidst the dangers of New York's harrowing Hell's Kitchen. With mesmerizing performances by Samantha Morton and Djimon Hounsou, In America is "a classic" you will never forget.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 1:40 PM | Permalink

One of my most favorite books as a child was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodges. I love that story and have shared that love with my children. So I was interested when the recommendation popped ujp for me to borrow "Back to the Secret Gardne" when I was perusing Netflix.

I am always leary about sequels, especially ones written not based on a book. Who knows where this could go and what they would do with/to this magical place.

I want you to know that if you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it! This story takes place when Mary and Martha are grown women. Mistlethwait Manor is now a home for orphans. And The Secret Garden is not doing so well. It takes a girl from the other side of the pond to return the magic to the garden and she has to overcome obstacles to do it.

This is a wonderful story and Katrina and I really enjoyed watching it. We give it a two thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Are you wondering what I have been doing since I finished all of that wonderful baking this morning? Of course you are! You have nothing better to do than to sit around and wonder what I am up to...

Well, wonder no more! I have been busy putting together my Amazon store. This store has items listed that I like and recommend. So far I have gone through the movies. I can tell you that not every movie I like is listed, but there are plenty to look at. So if you are looking for a new movie to walk, you can go check out my store and see which movies I recommend. So far, I only have movies listed. I plan to add books and other items as I have time. And I will add movies as I watch them and books as I read them. It should be fine.

At any rate, if you go to my store and buy something there I will get a percentage of what you spend. So I would love for you to shop via my store. But even if you don't shop there, go by and visit. You can always find neat titles and borrow them from the Netflix or from the library.

So, without further ado, I now open Melissa's Amazon Garden. Let the browsing begin! I would love to hear what you think about it!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I have been very busy today...I have clicked, clicked and clicked some more (see previous post). I have actually made my way through all of the contests that were listed as of this evening. I repeat my kids are fed and the laundry is done and the homeschooling has been completed!

As I clicked, I also spent time watching movies and working on a baby blanket. I have gotten at least 15 more rows done on the baby blanket I am working on. I'll take a picture of it once it is done.

And I have seen three good movies!

The Education of Little Tree - this is an excellent movie about a Native American youngster growing up in the early 19th century. I highly recommend this film!

The Snow Walker - This is a fantastic movie. In the best stories the characters complete an arc. And in this movie, the main character completes an arc in a very believable way! I really enjoyed it and think you will too!

Now I am watching the Florida primary results. No big surprises there.

Hope all of you are well and their your fingers are doing well and your children are fed!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Katrina and I just finished watching the movie: The Angel Doll based on a book of the same name by Jerry Bledsoe. This story is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. It will take you back in time to a period when children had paper routes and camped out for fun and when the greatest gift in the world was a bicycle. This is the story of a child who grows up in poverty, but is rich in friends and rich in his persistence. His father has died and his mother has a hard time making ends meet. His little sister has polio and he does all he can to make her life as happy as he can.

His sister has a thing for angels and her favorite story is The Littlest Angel (which happens to be one of my favorite Christmas stories). He wants to get her an angel doll for Christmas and has to overcome some huge obstacles to do this. This movie will warm your heart, make you laugh, make you long for a simpler (even if more challenging) time and will fill you with love. There is the orginal book which has been made into a movie and then there is a sequel called A Gift of Angels. I am going to use a gift card I got for Christmas to add these books to our Christmas collection.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 2:17 PM | Permalink

Last night Daniel and I enjoyed watching one of his Christmas presents: The Reaping on DVD. I like a good scary movie, but good scary movies are hard to find. Modern day movie makers often seem to think that to be scary, a movie has to be gross and disgusting. So it is always with trepidation that I sit down to watch a 'scary movie'.

We dimmed the lights, sent the kids off to play in the playroom and settled in with fingers crossed. I can't tell you about the story, because I don't want to give away what is going on. But it involves the 10 plagues, a southern bayou, and God and evil. Give it a try. If you enjoy a good scary story, you will enjoy this one.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 1:45 PM | Permalink

It has been awhile since I have reviewed any movies. I just haven't seen any that I wanted to share and time has been hard to come by. Tonight I watched a really good movie that I gave 5 stars when I rated it on Netflix. I picked out the movie, The Last Sin Eater, without knowing much about it. The title intrigued me because I have read things about 'sin eaters' before and then I saw the movie had been directed by Michael Landon, Jr. and that cinched it for me. I have long been a fan of Michael Landon and his son. It was a shame when Michael Landon died at such an early age.

I wasn't exactly sure what this movie was going to be about and it is rated PG-13. I watched as the story of a ten-year-old girl unfolded. She was filled with guilt over something that wasn't really her fault. She lived in a community full of secrets and other guilty people. She tries to get the 'sin eater' of the community to help absolve her of her sins, but it doesn't change anything for her. She thinks that death is the only answer because the sin eater's job is to eat people's sins after they have passed on, and since he couldn't help her when she was alive, she was ready to end her life because she could no longer deal with her guilt. As she is ready to jump into a raging river, a stranger comes and saves her.

At first she runs from this man, but later, she goes to him and hears the Word of God. She learns that no man can absolve her of her sins, and that only Jesus has that power. Then we watch as she and another child change a community by spreading the Word of God to their elders. It is a powerful story and I highly recommend it. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by Francine River.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you haven't ever read the story of Pollyanna or seen the movie, I highly recommend both. We just read the story and what a wonderful story it is! I remember reading it over and over as a child and trying to play the glad game as it had such a postive effect on everyone.

I know times are busy now, but make time to borrow or buy this delightful movie or book in January. It is a story that changes lives! It doesn't get any better than that! Watch as a young orphan transforms the hearts of an entire town!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My next door neighbor knows that one of my favorite actors is Johnny Depp so she asked me if I had seen the movie Benny and Joon. I hadn't, so she promised to bring me the movie so I could watch it.

Last night we sat and watched it. This movie was made in 1993, It has an all star cast: Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Julianne Moore. Aidan Quinn, and William H. Macy. This is a wonderful film. It is about love, life, family, loyalty, and exploring new horizons. If you would like to see a sensitive movie that will make you laugh and will inspire you, you should definitely put this movie on your must see list! And Johnny Depp is soooo young looking! Despite his age, he does a wonderful job in this film!

Daniel and I give this movie two thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:58 AM | Permalink

Last night Daniel and I watched In Her Shoes with Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, and Shirley Maclaine. Even though nothing was blown up and no one was killed, Daniel really enjoyed the movie. And so did I.

The movie is mostly about two sisters who love one another and hate one another at the same time. They are like night and day on the surface, but deep down they are very alike. The movie starts out highlighting the differences between the sisters. One responsible, one not. But as we see the responsible one trying to control the other, we start to feel a bit sorry for the irresponsible sister. Until we see her do something like take the money of the responsible sister's boyfriend.

There is an explosion between the sister's and the responsible one kicks her sister out. Then the movie follows the two of them as they begin to find their way on their own. They both change by leaps and bounds when they are away from each other, but deep down, the changes and new happinesses are missing a major component.

This is a movie of love and growth and humanity. You will laugh, you will cry, you will gasp in shock and shake your head in dismay. Daniel and I give it two thumbs up!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:28 PM | Permalink

Daniel and I haven't been watching as many movies as we were there for awhile, as we have been too busy with life. But last night we watched the movie Alice, Sweet Alice which is a 1976 movie. It was the first movie that Brooke Shields was in and even though her role was really a small one, I found it interesting to discover that after her success in Pretty Baby and Blue Lagoon, this movie was re-released each time with different names. It originally was released with the title "Communion", then it was released after Pretty Baby with the title "Alice, Sweet Alice" and lastly, it was released after "Blue Lagoon" as "Holy Terror".

This was really one of the first, if not the first slasher films. It pre-dated "Halloween" by two years. It was filmed in a time when gore didn't have to cover the screen either for you to be scared. We watched it expecting it to be so-so, but the movie actually turned out to be pretty good. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like to see any actual killing or blood, but if you don't mind a little, the story is excellent. We were quite surprised with the way the story twisted and turned. Daniel and I have watched a lot of movies and we often know what's going to happen before it does, but this one took us completely by surprise and not just once! So if you like a thriller and want to see a unique story, check this one out.

And Brooke Shields was sooooo young!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 6:11 AM | Permalink

My husband is TiVO crazy. He goes through the channels looking for movies that peak his interest, then when we have time, we watch them. Many of them are movies we have never heard of and about 1/2 of the time, they actually turn out to be pretty good.

One such recent surprise good movie was Idiocracy. This satirical movie provides plenty of food for thought! It begins with an average guy and an average gal being involved in a program where they will be frozen for a year, then revived to see how it all comes out. They were picked because they were average, and they weren't contributing much to society.

At the beginning of the film you see the main character being fussed at by his superior officer about how when he is told to 'lead, follow or get out of the way,' he shouldn't always pick the get out of the way option!

Anyway, the experiment goes amuck and the two average people don't wake up for over 500 years! In the meantime the rest of the planet hasn't fared too well...The smart people waited to have children (wanted to be financially secure, wanted to feel like society was secure and wanted their relationship to be great) and often ended up not having children. The less intelligent bred like rabbits and passed on their less intelligent genes.

So when the two average people wake up five hundred years into their future, it turns out that they are the smartest people on the planet!!!!

This movie is rated R and it is based on stereotypes. But the possible future it points out for us is not pretty and one we might want to think about a little! Check it out and see what you think! I would love to hear from you.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This evening the children and I watched Summer of the Monkeys. We borrowed this fantastic movie from Netflix. If you haven't checked out Netflix I highly recommend it. Just this past month, they reduced my monthly fee by 2.00 a month, but I still get the same great service. I can borrow up to 3 movies at a time. They come in my mailbox. I send them back in nifty prepaid envelopes after we have watched them. There aren't any time limits. And the thing I like best is it is a great way for me to access family movies and documentaries that we would otherwise not be able to see. But enough of that.

Tonight we watched Summer of the Monkeys, a 1998 movie that is rated G and has Wilford Brimley in it. Summer of the Monkeys the movie, is based on a book by Wilson Rawls. This movie is set in the 1800's on the prairies of Canada. The circus train has a wreck and four monkeys run away when their trainer is hurt. Meanwhile a young boy is turning into a man and trying to find a way to come up with $75.00 to purchase a horse. This story is a cross between Little House on the Prarie: Christmas at Plum Creek and Where the Red Fern Grows. (Of course, Wilson Rawls is the writer of Where the Red Fern Grows, so perhaps that explains part of the similarity. In my research, I have come across reference that the book is much, much better than the movie. (Summer of the Monkeys)

In the course of this tale, we watch a young lad grow to be a man and we learn how perseverance can pay off. We also are reminded that we can only hold our children so tightly, they must spread their wings and fly. This was a great story and full of wonderful messages. I highly recommend it!

The Holiday is a romantic film by Nancy Myers and has a lot of big names in it: Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black. If you enjoy a heartwarming, romantic comedy, you will love this movie. If you have wondered what could happen if you just picked up and basically exchanged your life with a stranger, then you will also love this movie. It is definitely a 'chick flick'. My husband bemoaned the fact that no one was killed, there was nothing blown up, etc. I found the movie captivating and found myself smiling a lot as sweet moments occured.

This is a story of two women who are having love life and personal problems. They find one another through Home Exchange and within a day, they have left their troubles behind and journeyed to new lands. Kate Winslett, who has very little self-respect, finds a bushel! Her outgoing personality attracts those around her and while she is helping others, in the end she helps herself to become stronger.

Cameron Diaz is a powerful, wealthy woman who is emotionally blocked. Her journey into love finds her overcoming past sorrows and learning that loving and taking chances can be very rewarding.

Jack Black and Jude Law melted my heart with their smiles. They both did a fantastic job. I highly recommend this movie!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We don't go see a lot of movies when they first come out. One reason is that going to the movies is very expensive. Another reason is that we don't often have the opportunity to go out on a date night. Yesterday was my husband's birthday. We went to see Spiderman 3. We really liked the firs two Spiderman movies and in particular thought that number 2 was fantastic. This one left us both feeling let down. There are tons of special effects, though when you are having fights where people are zooming around in the air, it is a bit hard to follow.

Toby MaGuire and Kirsten Dunst seemed tired to us. In fact Toby seemed to be enjoying his role the most when he was in his 'bad spidey' mode. The rest of the time, his performance was a bit ho hum.. It was very reminiscent of the last movie where Spidey is once again trying to come to grips with his inner demons. That story was fantastic the first time, the second time around made it become trite. And there are no real bad guys in this movie. They all come off as simply being misunderstood and flawed human beings.

There is the Green Goblin Jr, who is also Spidey's best friend, but who wants to kill him because he mistakenly believes Spidey killed his dad. He spends a lot of anger trying to defend his dad who never really gave a hoot about him anyway. And when Spidey finally points this out, we are supposed to feel like Spidey should have kept his mouth shut, but I felt like saying, yep, the kid needs to know the truth.

At another part in the movie, Spidey turns in a photographer who faked a photo. Not only did the faked photo originally cost Peter Parker a steady job, but it also defamed Spidey. Again, it seems we are supposed to be angry with Parker, when in fact he did the right thing. And he does yell at his landlord in one scene about a door that sticks, the handle falls off, etc and again we are supposed to be shocked by Parker's behavior, but given the fact that this makes it almost impossible for him and others to get into the apartment, it doesn't seem all that out of place.

So the photographer becomes another bad guy, and he is the closest to being a real bad guy. But we are supposed to go...well, gee, Spidey cost him his job, took his girl...no wonder he turned to the dark side...

Then there is the Sandman. The person who really shot Peter's uncle. There is a whole lot there and I don't want to blow it for you, but again, we are to feel sympathy for this character.

The only truly 'bad' guy is the alien in the movie and he's just living the way he was designed to, so even here are shades of grey.

There were also things that don't make sense. Things that should kill people don't. Things that seem less harmful have them on the brink of death. Mary Jane's promising career that took off in Spiderman 2, hits a snag but it seems contrived just to make more problems. Can't have Spiderman too happy. Why is it that Spiderman, like Batman seems to always have to fight these internal personal issues?

If you like special effects, definitely go see this on the big screen. Though if you are lucky enough to live near a dollar movie, I would wait until it gets there. Otherwise, just so you know what happens with Spidey, you should wait and watch it at home.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:28 AM | Permalink

The Pursuit of Happyness stars Will Smith and is inspired by a true story. This is a film of love and sacrifice and persistence. It is the story of a man who finds one avenue of life isn't working, so he stretches beyond the odds and tackles another possibility. It costs him his wife, he ends up losing his home, but through it all, he and his son are together and they defeat the odds. This is a feel good story, but before you get to the feel good part, you are going to feel bad. You are going to find yourself unable to believe what a person can take and how they can pick themselves up and keep on going. You are going to find yourself maybe kicking yourself in the butt a little bit (or a lot) for not showing a tenth of the iniaitive in life as Chris Gardner(played by Will Smith) does in this movie.

If you haven't seen this spectacular film yet, don't wait anymore! Rent it or buy it or borrow it from a friend. This drama will touch your heart and give you a new understanding of Thomas Jefferson's words: "The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Posted by Melissa Markham at 6:25 AM | Permalink

Ah...to see through the eyes of a kid again!

This movie allows us to do that. Remember the dreams you had as a child...to be an astronaut, a movie star, something big and important? And how often these dreams are pushed aside as the practical side of the world takes hold of us. How we are changed due to events beyond our control as we grow up and how we are changed by decisions we make when we are children. We lose focus on what is important and instead run after things that seem important, while we lose ourselve in the process.

The Kid is a smart movie that uses a child version of a 'successful' almost 40 year old Bruce Willis to show him what is important. It is a heartwarming movie that will make you laugh and maybe cry a little. In the end, hopefully it will make you think and reevaluate. Dreams are what makes us unique. And we are never too grown up to revisit those dreams, but if we let them go, we become mere walking husks...zombies if you will. So watch the movie and live a little...no, I take that back, LIVE A LOT!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 2:27 PM | Permalink

Last night we watched Deja Vu with Denzel Washington. This is a Jerry Bruckheimer production and it is awesome! If you are intrigued by the possibilities of how time can be bent and how what we do may or may not be able to influence the past and the future, then you will enjoy this movie. Add in some fantastic performances by Denzel Washington Paula Patton Val Kilmer and others and you have a splendid evening of entertainment ahead of you. This movie is fast paced, intriguing and will leave you pondering what happened and the various possibilities.

Posted by Melissa Markham at 2:12 PM | Permalink

Some times you pick a great movie, a lot of times you pick a good movie and sometimes you pick a movie that turns your stomach and makes you determined never to do something again (in this time go to the hospital for a routine procedure).

On the back of this DVD box is a quote "Reminiscent of a really great Twilight Zone". Now I love The Twilight Zone and there were many great ones...this doesn't even come close, nor should it be counted in the same ballpark, it is an insult to Rod Serling. I politely suggest that Pete Hammond of Maxim go back and watch some Twilight Zones...

Continue reading "Review: Sublime Unrated" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:17 AM | Permalink

Last weekend my husband and I watched the movie "Crash" which received 3 Academy Awards in 2005, including Best Picture. At first I wasn't sure I wanted to watch it because the title made me think of drug usage and I hate watching that kind of movie. This movie is loaded with talent and while I still am contemplating the story and how I felt about it, I believe that the acting was superb and I was definitely involved in the movie.

Continue reading "Review: Crash" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:51 AM | Permalink

WOW! What a movie! If you like movies that are thoughtful, twisty and keep you thinking after the last credit rolls, then this is the movie for you. It is a movie that you can't say a lot about for fear of giving away the plot.

Continue reading "Review: The Prestige" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 8:21 AM | Permalink

Charlotte's Web is enchanting and will hold your attention from the beginning to the end. The writers stay true to the story on this one and this classic still ahs the ability to warm your heart and take you back to the first time you read the story of the profound friendship between Charlotte and Wilbur. My children, 10 and 6, were captivated throughout the movie. Dakota Fanning did an excellent job as always. I enjoyed the simpler tone of the movie and the story of how we can make a difference by using our talents. I recommend this movie for your viewing pleasure! It is one the whole family can watch and enjoy!

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:57 AM | Permalink

Two weeks ago, the kids and I went to see Happy Feet. I wanted to walk out about 5 minutes into the movie. The movie had several stories going on, and within the first five minutes, the audience was hit with penguins singing lusty songs lustily to one another. Time and again Hollywood works to trick us into watching cartoons that are better suited for adults. They could have used less suggestive songs and portrayed the same actions going on.

Continue reading "Review: Happy Feet" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Like The Sixth Sense, this is a movie you will want to see more than once to see what clues you missed the first time around.

The Night Listener is an eerie thriller based on true events. It received two thumbs up by Richard Roeper and Jay Leno. I was expecting a scarier movie, but it is more of a drama and a lesson of how those of us with a bit heart can be pulled into strange situations where we discover that people really do take what people say at face value. This is the best movie I have seen Robin Williams in in a long time.

Continue reading "A Review: The Night Listener" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:22 AM | Permalink

If you enjoy a good supernatural movie with moments where you will jump in your seat and where it is a while into the movie before you really know what is going on, you will love this movie! Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this shocking, non-stop supernatural thirller. It is a bit reminiscent of What Lies Beneath with Michelle Pfeiffer.

Continue reading "A Review: The Return" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 9:44 AM | Permalink

Last night my husband and I watched Stranger Than Fiction. This movie got two thumbs way up from Roeper and his guest critics and we concur!

Continue reading "Stranger Than Fiction" »

Posted by Melissa Markham at 10:22 AM | Permalink