Movie Review: "Lars and the Real Girl"

"Lars and the Real Girl". Ryan Gosling
Rating: Keeper. (This movie is long out of the theaters).
I like this film a lot. This movie had the opportunity to off in the wrong direction. but didn't. It is the story of how a small town helps an emotionally damaged young man begin to recover - and it all revolves around a full-size rubber sex doll. The movie is sweet, and he is helped because they all care about him. A comedy with bitter-sweet moments, and well as an occasional guffaw.

Movie Review: "The International"

"The International". Clive Owen, Naomi Watts.
Rating: Rental
The movie premise: a Big Bank is evil. It is funding Bad People so they can sell arms to nations - really Bad Nations, like Iran, and dictators of African countries. Other really Bad Nations, like China and the U.S., make the weapons to be sold!
One Good guy (Clive) and one Good woman (Naomi) are trying to stop the evil Bank. But every one they talk to dies. This is a "chase" movie, similar to "Bourne Identity" (well, the Good guy knows who he is, and who the really Bad guys are) - lots of shooting, some chase scenes, assassinations. Generally a "Blowem up, real good" movie.
The ending is kind of unsatisfying (for you Democrats - George Bush did not do it, it's not his fault.)

Movie Review: "Appaloosa"

"Appaloosa"; Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen
Rating: Rental
Based the western novel by Robert B. Parker. The movie is fairly faithful to the novel. Like many of Parker's books, the main characters have a set of rules they live by. The rules may seem harsh, even arbitrary, but are faithfully followed.
Whereas the book is a good read, the movie tends to be a bit slow. Long periods with little action, followed by an intense scene.
Two men are lawmen for hire to clean up towns. They come to Appaloosa, a town cowering because of a rancher and his hands. Cole (Harris) and Hitch (Mortensen) agree to bring law to the town. Inevitable conflict! The evil rancher (Jeremy Irons) is arrested, convicted and then broken free. The hunt is complicated because Cole's girlfriend is hostage.
I liked the movie, but it's not "Open Range", or "Unforgiven". It dragged a little, and I don't care for Renee Zellwegger - the girl friend.

Movie Reviews: my ratings

These are the ratings given to movies:
Full Price
Matinee Price
Rental
TV
Don't waste your time (even on TV)
Keeper.
* * *
These come from our family discussions, based on what you would be willing to pay to see the movie. Is it worth going to a full price ticket? Do you wait for it to come out in DVD, or to be released to cable? Keeper - buy it for your own collection.
Examples:
"Once Upon a Time in the West" - Keeper.
"Bourne Identity" - Full Price
"Appaloosa" - Renter
"August Rush" - Don't waste... (this movie has its own special category 'Run Away. Flee!')

Movie Review: "Expelled"

"Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed"; Ben Stein
Rating: Renter
This documentary takes a somber look at the breakdown of common sense in the science community. Ben starts out by stating that Freedom is one of the reasons our nation has made such great strides in science and prosperity.
In today's climate, the freedom to explore all possibilities is being abridged. In the academic world, especially in the sciences, if you don't toe the official doctrine, your ability to practice science will be cut off. Ben interviews several scientists who had been well respected. In each instance, the scientist was either fired from their position, or had their funding and grants terminated.
What caused this: they each said that perhaps intelligent design might not be the province of crazies.
Ben travels the world, talks to famous scientists such as Dawkins. Ben asks probing questions about Darwinism and Intelligent Design. He does NOT talk creationism.
It is startling to see the arrogance of these elite scientists.

This is a interesting movie.