Forbidden Planet (1956)

It's a sci-fi pilgrimage or epiphany to finally see the seminal film Forbidden Planet, starring (admit it) Robbie the Robot, not to mention a young (who knew?) Leslie Nielsen. I had to get this one from the public library since Netflix lists but doesn't stock it. Forbidden Planet is the fountain in the sci-fi sands from which sprang Star Trek, Lost in Space, Star Wars, and everything that came afterwards. It's more scientific, inventive, and psychological too. Don't critique its special effects against modern sci-fi offerings, since that is their forte while scientific accuracy and psychological drama is this film's. The scientific and creative bases for the sets and script are undisputably original and intelligent -- and after 51 years, they still beat any other movie that has since been made. (By the way, sci-fi movies universally favored flying saucers until Lost in Space in the mid-60s, after the Gemini, Mercury, and Apollo space programs taught us about rockets.) In short, I doubt we'd have had Star Trek, Lost in Space, Star Wars or any intelligent sci-fi (as opposed to monsters-in-space or monsters-from-space shoot-em-ups) without Forbidden Planet. Go, Robbie! 5 stars.

Broken Arrow (1996)

Broken Arrow is The Peacemaker with Christian Slater instead of George Clooney and John Travolta instead of Aleksandr Baluyev. This is after Pulp Fiction and before Swordfish and Be Cool -- John's become a bad boy with an attitude (and a nuclear weapon)! Christian is his former copilot, the boy scout who will fight to the end to stop him. He's assisted by Samantha Mathis instead of Nicole Kidman, but she'll scrap to get the upper hand too. Sure, the plot has holes big enough to drive a train or fighter jet through at times, but I think it's a sufficiently exciting suspension-of-disbelief movie (like Hollow Man or The Cliffhanger) that's always worth a watch. You've got to respect a baddie who has planned ahead for every contingency, just so he can be snide and/or lethal about getting what he wants! 3 stars.

The OH in Ohio (2006)

I like Parker Posey kinds of movies but not the fact that she smokes pot in every one I've seen so far. I wanted to like this movie more because it is a lighthearted attempt at a slice-of-life study of a woman whose lifelong frigidity finally ends in her sexual awakening -- though apart from her husband (not funny, because he was not the problem, though after 10 years he did give up first because she was too repressed to consider it important, even in therapy). Next, she slides into addiction, followed by promiscuous behavior (also not funny). Her blonde, arm-windmilling assistant pries her for every detail of her exploits, giggles in stereo, and considers her a sex goddess -- even though Parker nearly loses her new VP position. Her husband, meanwhile, has taken to bedding his star student, which also makes for some sticky situations. Liza Minelli briefly plays a New Age women's sexuality coach and Danny DeVito has an extended role as Wayne the Pool Guy, Parker's new love interest. (As always, Danny may be a fat hairy old gnome, but he's a lovable fat hairy old gnome.) Ultimately the movie explores too many situations irresponsibly or plays them for laughs before leaving them as loose ends. Even the ending feels tangential. Call this one Sex and the City (starring Charlotte turned Samantha) meets Living Out Loud. 3 stars.

Bicentennial Man (1999)

The Remains of the Day meets I, Robot in a sensitive exploration of what it means to be loyal, creative, free, loving, and a human being. Based on the seminal and prolific science-fiction writings of Isaac Asimov, who created worlds and cultures spanning thousands of years where robots (operating under the Three Laws of Robotics) gradually become indistinguishable from humans (and ultimately God), Bicentennial Man gives us Robin Williams as Andrew, a unique robot with the continual desire and capacity to grow and to better himself. Initially purchased as a household appliance (albeit a mobile and polite one) and treated as property, Andrew displays a sensitivity and an aspiration to continually learn that serves him well in his loyalty towards his family (esp. Sam Neill as Sir and Hallie Kate Eisenberg plus Embeth Davidtz as his beloved Little Miss and, later, her granddaughter Portia). He is emancipated by his first owner and begins a quest to gradually approximate humanity not only in his interior creative and emotional life but also in his exterior appearance (and, later, in his internal construction). The robotic design and capacity for facial and emotional expression in this movie are unparalleled and all other technology is well-designed too (with the possible exception of Andrew's cheeseball built-in head-mounted holographic projector). Robin Williams really makes this movie, and the ensemble cast does a warm job of their family dynamics esp. for a sci-fi movie. Robin gets to play the rapid-fire comedian briefly and he utters a number of low-key but funny one-liners as he learns to express his frustration with humans who share a certain gene pool. (Best line: "Does it involve a window?") Kiersten Warren refreshingly plays a ditzy female robot of no romantic interest to Andrew and Oliver Platt plays a sympathetic friend. This movie is similar to but not as long as A.I. and would make a good thinking-family film for children older than 10 (due to a four-letter foray and morning-after pillow talk). However, I was disappointed in the last two minutes, which proved perversely anticlimactic twice over -- and implied that the Hippocratic Oath will no longer exist in 2205. 4.5 stars.

A Wrinkle in Time (2003)

Disney owes us a big-screen redo of this subpar made-for-TV production of an exceptional piece of literature by Madeleine L'Engle. It's about as good as Star Trek in script, special effects, and acting when it should have been at least at good as The Chronicles of Narnia or Harry Potter. Hints of the novel's stellar brilliance leak through but Disney repeatedly drops the ball with weak results. The scene with A Happy Medium is a particular disappointment and the exposition often feels as mechanically induced as Bridge to Terabithia with the acting sometimes as leaden. The special effects are from the Smeared Colors School of Art and inadequately portray the tesseract, winged horse creature, etc. On the whole, David Dorfman is exceptional as the young and gifted Charles; to see him in the making-of featurette is a pleasure. Katie Stuart is believable as Meg and I like Gregory Smith as Calvin. Alfre Woodard as the spritely Mrs. Whatsit mainly does her usual best but occasionally strikes an off-note. Kate Nelligan is quite good as the imperious turned less-implacable Mrs. Which ("Meg, I have always prided myself in my wisdom, but you have taught me much"). I _love_ Alison Elliott as Mrs. Who! Kyle Secor as the Man with the Red Eyes does OK because, as in Commander-in-Chief, he can be a touch megalomaniacal in the number-two position of authority. The IT police would never catch anyone for all their impassively standing around in Raybans. The script does best when it quotes the book to convey the hope and mystery that love and providence can eternally bring to bear in the defeat of evil. Read the book, read the book, read the book! But if you can appreciate a movie about familial devotion enduring through the totalitarianism and mind games of an evil police state that one child alone must defeat through faith, hope, and love ... then see A Wrinkle in Time -- and don't miss the interview with Madeleine herself, one of our brightest stars in the authorial firmament. 4 stars.

Chicks, Man (1999)

I had to get this movie through Blockbuster since Netflix doesn't even list it. It's The Tao of Steve meets Sex and the City (esp. the first-season twentysomething episode) though with production values suggestive of Strangeheart. It's a low-budget independent production so the acting is sometimes stilted, the lighting muddy, and the camera angles awkward -- but the script is intelligent with more pith and vinegar than most big-budget productions, so I found myself growing increasingly affectionate of this indie offering. Granted, it's about the social and sexual antics of twentysomething college students, so the story is not always pretty, esp. when set in the two lead characters' bachelor pad (alien-head and beer-bottle decor, beer poured in cereal, etc.) and dealing with their whatever-it-takes-dude attitude towards getting sex. Nevertheless, the movie succeeds very well in its portrayal and juxtaposition of dialog between women, dialog between men, and dialog between women and men about romance and relationships. You have to see how good the women are at beguiling from them every detail about the men's relationships -- and (shudder) feelings! In a quirky touch suggestive of Ally McBeal, subtle sound effects impinge on certain scenes to build the ironic tension. In a classic scene that's an homage to the prisoner-of-war scene in The Deerhunter, the two lead male characters discuss how trapped they feel by the women prying into their lives. The two male and two female leads do well in their roles and I'd like to see more from them, but only two have later credits: Aaron Priest was in Mystery Men and Robia LaMorte has been a bit busy, including several episodes of C.S.I. Best of all, this show has more quotable lines than even The Tao of Steve! The most memorable line is "The last thing I want to do is have sex with someone I'm in love with." Yikes! 3.5 stars.

The Best of Mr. Peabody & Sherman: Vol. 1 (1961)

TV. A classic kids' cartoon from 1961 but seriously dated for adult viewers. Think Boris Badenov speaking with a mild German or French or Italian accent and you can peg every historical character that Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman visit through the Way Back time-travel machine (15 episodes on this disc). History is bent in service of the story, so Beethoven can hear our friends and converse with them. Cultural stereotypes of the 1950s are the biggest tin ear of the show (all Chinese eat chop suey, for example). Yes, the show parodies history, but like reading Dave Barry's history of America, you have to be an adult who knows history to laugh at the scallawaggery of the in-jokes. The characters of Peabody and Sherman are the real gems of the show and like any good cartoon, the parts that appeal to adults -- in this case, Peabody's pedantry and wry humor -- are what make it succeed and survive the generations. Be warned, though: The punch lines are far worse groaners than I remember (the best one is "crown Jules" as in Verne). Frankly, I think Jay Ward's shows explain how I developed my warped sense of humor. 4 stars.

High Noon (1952)

A psychological not an action-packed Western (till the end) that redefined the genre. Watch it if you enjoy a taut, tightly told story above adrenaline-soaked shoot-em-ups (till the end). Gary Cooper does a super job as the lone lawman surrounded by townspeople who fear to lift a finger on his or their own behalf. (Courage and cowardice always reveal themselves in the moment-by-moment speech and decisions that every person makes when setting their own destiny.) Grace Kelly is fine in her first role and Katy Jurado is smokin' with her fiery eyes and expressions. The cast of well-known names all do their roles proud -- such subtlety in every line and facial expression! The script is terse and the photography is lean -- everything is just right, without an ounce of fat on the cinematic menu. The movie's ever-present, understated theme song ("Do Not Forsake Me" sung by Tex Ritter) jump-started the trend for movies to have theme songs and sell the music or soundtrack too. High Noon is a technical masterpiece and a classic among classics but it does run like a train to its inevitable conclusion. Gotta love the ending! Here is a Western that even women can love. 4 stars.

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

At 87 minutes, the Simpsons movie is not as funny as any given 22-minute TV series episode -- but it's funnier than I expected from the previews and it succeeds much better than other animated series-turned-movies. Besides, you really have to see the mob scene -- and Homer riding like Ghost Rider in the Videodome -- on the big screen. 3 stars.

The Office Special (2001)

TV. A satisfactory epilogue to The Office series on BBC. Go Tim and Dawn! David Brent is going to die alone, isn't he? I absolutely love Steve Carell's Office series better -- Ricky Gervais's is a bit more dry while Steve's is just a train wreck, it not only makes me cringe but shudder! Don't miss seasons 1 and 2 of the original British series though, hey? 4 stars.

Strangeheart (2003)

This is a hard movie to get hold of! Finally got it though. If you love pubs or live in Dallas or are Scottish or English this is a must-see, of course, but if you revel in intentionally bad filmmaking or just incredibly lame spoofs of Braveheart, you're a smaller demographic but that'll do too. Basically this is Braveheart with a touch of A Knight's Tale, filmed in some park with a pack of 200 self-admitted "sexually deviant alcoholics." Note the staggered shifts in lighting and focus -- and beardedness of the lead character. The anachronisms and song-and-dance numbers make it jolly. The deleted scenes and outtakes are actually the most intelligent parts of the film, don't miss them. Strangeheart is not likely to catch on like the Rocky Horror Picture Show or even Hardware Wars, but any film that doesn't take itself seriously has something to hoot about and this one fills the bill. 2.5 stars.

The Misadventures of Margaret (1998)

I had to get this movie through Blockbuster since Netflix doesn't have it. Here is a playful literary romp through the life of an insecure first novelist (Parker Posey), with her devoted English professor husband (Jeremy Northam), pushy sister (Elizabeth McGovern), ditzy lesbian friend (Brooke Shields), and an assortment of real and fictional characters she encounters as she researches an 18th-century erotic diary that has inspired her second novel. It's always hard to follow up on a successful first novel, so she is constantly schwitzing about whether her career is over before it began while simultaneously experiencing the pangs of her libido as she closely studies the florid text of the erotic diary, even leaving her husband for an extended stay at the estate where the diary was written. Passages from the diary are enacted in scenes that interlace with her contact with the silent cloister of singing nuns that now inhabits the estate and the single male recording artist who is taping them. The movie feels a lot like Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn channeling Kate & Leopold, with glib and poetic dialog (including a higher than average number of quotable witticisms, such as "Save some insanity for menopause!"). The 18th-century "philosopher" who takes on a female "disciple" predictably uses the "explorations of the mind" as a pretext for the explorations of the flesh, but it's mostly talk with some male and female nudity. Parker Posey is exceptional as the poster child for ADHD and confused libido combined; Brooke Shields is a hoot as a ditzy airhead; and Jeremy Northam is romantic as her devoted husband. All the women's smoking is obnoxious though; it's so pointed that I imagine it's a retro film thing -- but why only the three women? 4.5 stars.

Pokemon: The First Movie (1999)

If you're an adult and can stay away from the Pokemon movies, do so at all costs. If, however, you are beholden to a child who has been infected by the Pokemon bug ... well, you're toast. A Pokemon movie is like a Simpsons movie or a Star Trek movie or a Star Wars movie: Fans cannot and will not stay away, no matter how lame the script; indeed, they will clamor and chatter about its intricacies for days (nay, years). The basic approach to write any Pokemon movie script is as follows. Ash: I'm going to be the greatest Pokemon master in the world! [All wannabe, no basis.] Brock and Misty: Yay! Every dang Pokemon in the script: [Endlessly repeat own species name over and over; for example] Pikachu! Pikachu! Pi-ka-chu-u! [for emotional complexity] Oh well, at least I got to sleep through this yawner. 1 star.

Pokemon Heroes: The Movie (2003)

If you're an adult and can stay away from the Pokemon movies, do so at all costs. If, however, you are beholden to a child who has been infected by the Pokemon bug ... well, you're toast. At least I got to sleep through the dang thing. 1 star.

Read or Die (2003)

I highly recommend this anime for the inventiveness of its characters, action, and plot. It shows a fresh take and a fighting spirit and is fun to watch. First I'm attracted to the idea of a scatterbrained young woman who is so taken by books that she can literally tune out a surrounding apocalypse when she's absorbed in reading; Paper works as a never-say-die special agent for British library operations and has the magical ability to mold paper to her will (for use as ninja stars, whip, parachute, etc.). Her fellow agents are Miss Deep, a martial arts expert and a buxom babe -- how does she keep that lowcut top on despite all those gymnastics? -- who has the magical ability to pass through matter at will, and Drake, a cut above Special Forces kinda guy. The bad guys are really bad, and so's their technology and plans for world domination; they know how to travel in style, they know how to fight, and they just can't be beaten. Several times our heroes seem to be down for the count. The whole story is gripping and the ending is satisfying too. 4 stars.

Parasite Dolls (2004)

Passable graphics and story line for a cybernoir cops-and-androids anime. The lead character looks like Keanu Reaves and talks like Charlie Sheen; he's an implacable plainclothes cop. He has a straight-up android partner he doesn't really trust because androids are going haywire on a regular basis. A live-wire female cop backs him up too; let's just say they all three have their hands full. The graphics are almost as good as Ghost in the Shell and the story was strong enough to hold my attention. A little android sex and a lot of bullet holes (word to the wise). 3 stars.

The Tick: The Entire Series (2001)

TV. Utterly droll, offbeat, and hilarious! David Warburton goes Adam West on The Tick -- but campier -- and his cohorts Arthur (The Moth), Captain Liberty, and Batmanuel can barely put up with him. (He's distracted by everything except his heroic patter: "Pass the syrup of righteousness for my pancakes of justice" and so on.) Fox killed The Tick and Family Guy so you have to wonder who earns the bacon over there, but thank the maker for The Tick on DVD! 4.5 stars.

Shark Tale (2004)

Very inventive scenery and characters by way of illustrations and a catchy, hip-hop-themed story line. Lots of pop culture references including spoofs of pop culture itself. Will Smith in the lead role can do no wrong and the whole supporting cast is good, from Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, and Peter Falk down to Missy Elliot and Christina Aguilera in the closing scenes. 4 stars.

A Mighty Wind (2003)

As understated and folksy a satire of the folk music world as folk music itself is understated. This movie is as affectionate as A Prairie Home Companion with some interesting character delineations, esp. Eugene Levy as a spaced-out 60-ish beatnik. Christopher Guest's ensemble improvisation techniques concoct a broth that's richer for all the actors' contributions. A Mighty Wind may be too sweet and laid-back for some with edgier tastes, but nuggets of edginess appear in the New Age couple and the bassist with a gender issue. The music is great! 4 stars.

Freedom Fries: And Other Stupidity We'll Have to Explain to Our Grandchildren (2005)

Documentary. A thought-provoking and (thanks to "Rev." Billy) gospelacious examination of what happens when would-be patriots promote cheap words and empty symbolism instead of courage, character, and meaningful sacrifice in an effort to bring about real change. Without taking political sides, this film starts by comparing the Freedom Fries brouhaha and other Bush administration pettiness with historic events of real social and political symbolism (Boston Tea Party, World War II victory gardens and industrialization, Rosa Parks bus boycott) and proposes what it would take to become truly oil independent. Instead, our society's version of living free has now become reckless and conspicuous consumerism: Shop, travel, spend, and buy gas-guzzling SUVs to adorn the bumper with a Support Our Troops bumper sticker. What ever happened to previous generations' version of living free: Save, invest, spend conservatively, buy locally? How about giving up gas-powered vehicles for a year like Rosa Parks and her compatriots gave up riding the bus for a year? Excellent food for thought. I really liked this documentary and its production values. It showed integrity in the accuracy of its presenting of the corporate side of things as well as a lot of inventiveness in its spoofs of corporate behemoths like Starbucks, Wal-Mart, etc. Almost one-third of the movie was filled with "Rev." Billy's preachin' an' a-prayin' -- some may think him a buffoon but he and his "congregation" at the Church of Stop Shopping have the evangelistic schtick down pat and I think their gospel music is great! Change-eluia! Don't miss the iPod ad parodies called iRaq during the closing credits. 4.5 stars.

His Last Words: Fulton Sheen (1979)

TV. This program presents the 1979 recording of Bishop Sheen delivering his 58th and final Good Friday homily from the pulpit of St. Agnes Church in New York City. It includes a couple bits of his trademark populist humor and provides a fine example of his style of homiletics. See this one if you want a good example of what the man was like when addressing his beloved flock, or anyone with an ear to hear. 3 stars.

Good Friday Special: Fulton Sheen (2006)

TV. This program was broadcast in 1965 and is quite a bit heavier than his Angels talk (which included humor) but with a more human touch towards the end. I say heavier in the sense that it is solemn (as one would expect for a Good Friday homily); as far as substance, all of Bishop Sheen's talks are imbued with "meat" that you can take away with you. Here he presents the cross of Christ as a figure for how humans approach God and each other: with apathy (indifference), antipathy (hate or opposition), or sympathy (love or support). 3 stars.

Angels: Fulton Sheen (2006)

TV. This program was broadcast before a live audience one year before I was born and 50 years before its release on DVD. Bishop Sheen's reputation as a great speaker and orator on spiritual matters is accurate, as I've finally just learned. He's funny, relevant, and deeply insightful even today. His concern is all humankind -- Christian, Jewish, Muslim, pagan -- man, woman, and child. I learned more about angels and drew inspiration from his 25-minute presentation and I suspect you will too. 3.5 stars.

Action Man: Space Wars (2005)

This show would have held my attention at age 10. Action Man is a combination live-action/animated cartoon series with a 1980s feel and some computer special effects. Some would say its acting and stuntwork stink but I prefer to think that it tries hard and mostly succeeds. Catch the educational snippets on recycling, bicycling, etc. at the end of each episode. 2.5 stars.

Film Geek (2005)

Napoleon Dynamite as film geek -- and he gets the girl. Destined to become a cult classic. 4 stars.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Boy, am I glad I didn't waste good money on this stinker in the theater. A tiny pearl of loving sentiment at the end lies awash in potty-mouthed bilge for the preceding 2-1/4 hours (3/4 hour too long). The sewer of words just never stops! I try to avoid trash-mouth movies but this is the worst I have seen since Born on the Fourth of July. There is a redeeming value in comparing the sweetness and innocence of Steve Carell's non-sex-fixated adult life (nerdy though it be) with the raging immaturity, vulgarity, and promiscuity of every other person around him (including a half-dozen who in the real world would be promptly fired or placed under arrest). Steve even stands up for his lifestyle choice despite constant public humiliation -- bravo! His dating relationship with Catherine Keener is a gem because it pays attention to true love and it waits for marriage. The Age of Aquarius reprise over the closing credits is entertaining because it includes every character but this movie is no There's Something About Mary. Still, I feel so dirty that I can only give it 2.5 stars.

Memron (2004)

A low-budget and initially understated yet increasingly manic and hilarious mockumentary about a post-Enron-like outplacement support group -- think of The Office with similar amounts of dysfunction but more casual production values. Every character has a significant amount of loserness to contribute and the ensemble cast's combination yields more than the sum of the individual parts. Don't miss the outtakes at the end, which form an epilogue. Warning: These people are all pathetic, because the point of satire is to skewer wrongheaded thinking and actions. The self-involved Memron executives continue to rip off those who are down on their luck like sharks in a pool full of chum. We all know people like these characters so with any luck, Memron might lead you to ask "How can anyone be that way?" 4.5 stars.

The Company: Inigo and His Jesuits (1992)

Documentary. A satisfactory and informative history of Inigo Lopez (St. Ignatius of Loyola) and the founding of the Jesuits. 3 stars.

K-PAX (2001)

A surprisingly intelligent treatment of the what-if-I-were-an-alien question, regrettably marred by the hypnosis-as-crystal-ball and psych-ward-patients-as- cheerleaders plot devices -- in other words, Star Man meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The quizzical vagrant Kevin Spacey meets uberpsych Jeff Bridges, the original Star Man (see Spacey's gait for kudos to Bridges) but here so dedicated to diagnosing Spacey that he turns his staff into a cold-case team and flies cross-country to investigate a lead. Every word of dialog is pivotal as Spacey asks the pithy questions and provides undeniable answers that all but prove he is an alien -- a point that no one is willing to concede, naturally. Fortunately, Bridges uncovers Spacey's back story, regrettably marred by the plot device of investigating a long-abandoned crime scene and gazing at a tattered tableau -- followed by the camera's convenient depiction of the crime scene's reenactment. (Don't let young children see this part.) No definitive conclusion can be made, however, and the truth could lie in either direction (or both) as the story reaches resolution. The lighting effects are pivotal and well-crafted throughout the movie, as is the music and soundtrack, down to the closing tones of Sheryl Crow's "Safe and Sound" arrangement that are reminiscent of radio telescope signals. 4 stars.

Joe Rogan: Live (2006)

TV. Joe Rogan does not travel in my preferred media circles (NPR, PBS, MSNBC) so I was vaguely aware that he hosts Fear Factor (which I do not watch). His 48-minute standup routine impressed me, though, because despite his pessimistic assessment of humanity ("We're here to f--- s--- up"), he can't believe people still watch Fear Factor. In fact, he seems to be all against human stupidity and all for being smarter than the next guy. Joe's comedic delivery is very physical, vocal, and, yes, raunchy -- but smarter than the average bear (say, Carlos Mencia, who clearly lifts Joe's style). Enron is what's scary for Joe: "These guys were ripping off accountants!" He admits men are stupid for women ("pussywhipped") while women are ten steps ahead of men on everything. He's cogent about the intellectual entropy we find ourselves in and the possible ramifications. His populist rants are not as glib as Dennis Miller but they begin to make sense as much as any Dilbertian societal analysis. 4 stars.

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town is a classic Christmas gem and a real nostalgic treat. If you grew up watching this show every Christmas season, you'll find an annual viewing still warms the cockles of your heart. The production values and stopmotion animation are quite excellent and hold up very well against digital techniques, in my opinion. Character design, continuity, and the original soundtrack are esp. noteworthy. You'll love all the voice talent, from Fred Astaire (Postman Narrator) and Mickey Rooney (Kris Kringle) to Keenan Wynn (Winter Warlock) to Paul Frees (Bergermeister Meisterberger and henchman Grimsby in the Teutonic helmet) to Robie Lester (Jessica). Key musical numbers are "It's A Difficult Responsibility" and "Put One Foot in Front of the Other." The original songs are all catchy and Jessica even has a solo number reminiscent of Julie Newmar. This short (48 min) but creative production does more to explain the origins of Kris Kringle -- from infancy to his first toy missions to Sombertown -- than Jim Carrey could do for the Grinch. As a bonus, The Little Drummer Boy (25 min) is also included but here the back story is a bit darker than in Pinocchio: Thieves murder Aaron's father (shown with a quick cutaway) so he "hates all people" (repeating this many times) and is quite the young tough (even in forced servitude) until his encounter with the Christ Child. For similar offerings, click my avatar and see my Christmas and Snow lists. 5 stars. (10-14-07 updated 12-18-08)

Hardware Wars (1977)

The first Star Wars parody but much tackier today than I remember on first seeing it 25 years ago. Several quality levels below Attack of the Killer Tomatoes but that's its charm (if you like chump charm). The funniest lines are weak at best. Unless you want the extra features (see mwp.com for details), save yourself a rental and visit YouTube to see the 13-minute video that is anything but "digitally enhanced" (blaster rays are literally scratched across the film)! 2 stars.

Best in Show (2000)

A finely humorous, intricately drawn, understated, character-driven improvisational comedy that is so tightly woven with subtle hilarities you'll want to see it again and again. If you like Monk more than Predator, you'll enjoy the quirks and interactions of this lovable ensemble of dog lovers and the affably dunderheaded commentator (Fred Willard) of the fictional Mayflower competition. Buy this disc! 4.5 stars.

Mission Hill: The Complete Series (1999)

TV. Slightly funnier than Gary & Mike (not yet available on DVD) and a hair short of the chuckle gradient of Undergrads. Andy French is a 24-year-old wannabe (hit and miss, unpublished) cartoonist whose life interests are drinking and sex and who "works" for a day job at a waterbed store owned by a burly, hairy Slav who patronizes strip clubs and briefly takes Andy under his sordid wing. Andy's roommates are the Lincolnesque Jim, the breathy New Age Posey, his geeky (and I do mean freaky-geeky) high-school-age brother Kevin, and their slightly crazed and unsanitary dog Stogie. Neighbors include an unlikely gay couple and a Latino-hyphenate het couple. Great fun is poked at science fiction conventions and fans, Ivy League enrollment angst, MTV reality shows, and much more. A must-see if you're interested in "adult animation" series beyond (edgier though not as funny as) The Simpsons, Futurama, King of the Hill, The Critic, Family Guy, and so on. 4 stars.

Quadrophenia (1979)

A mostly dated, thick, bosh (incomprehensible) tale of 1960s Brit biker angst and self-destruction. The Who rocks, of course, though the Mods (often in Sammy Davis Jr. attire) dance to da-doo-ron-ron tunes and mix it up with the rival Rockers (in black leather jackets). You'll have to work very hard to understand these cockney reprobates, even if you know the slang ("wankers," "nig-nogs from West India"). Biker beatings and riots ensue in Brighton and Phil Daniels (in a well-acted role) continues his delinquent slide downhill (with no help from his daft parents), though he presumably returns from the deep end. (Just going by the story without the available commentary, it looks like less than one-half of a male take on Thelma and Louise along the spectacular cliffs of Dover.) Sting is fashionably cool in his debut but even The Who couldn't make me care enough about these young turks to give Quadrophenia the same 3 stars I give The Dead Poets Society. 2.5 stars.

The Office: Season 3 (2006)

TV. This series continues to be supremely hilarious and has become my favorite program because of how it makes me belly-laugh and feel affection towards this incredible collection of corporate cretins. Steve Carell continues to be a train wreck of a manager whose missteps are as exasperating as they are endless. Every character in this series is well-developed and when dialog is short, the facial expressions are always priceless. (They are not blank stares but universally emotive if you are feeling the same things they are, in other words, if you watch intelligent TV with intelligence instead of a blank stare of your own.) Here is a community of commiserates to make anyone cringe -- and laugh. 5 stars.

Thank You for Smoking (2005)

A glib, acid-tinged study in the smarm and the schmooze of a take-no-prisoners spin doctor for the tobacco industry. Satirically funny as hell! Interestingly, the art design recreates cigarette package graphics as a storyboard device. Whether you prefer to view or avoid such things, be aware that this movie has several quick sex scenes. 4.5 stars.

Paradise Now (2005)

Paradise Now is Maria Full of Grace for the Palestinian suicide bomber. On a human level, this movie examines the political and emotional ramifications of what it is like to be selected and sent on a suicide bomber mission. From the squalor of Palestine to the love of a woman to the martyrs' vigil to the complications of a mission gone wrong, everything is presented just as it is, without bias or editorializing. As with Maria Full of Grace, you see how people are presented with choices at every turn and how simply some may be drawn into collaboration in heinous acts. The acting is so translucent as to let us see and feel what the two candidates for "martyrdom" are going through as each considers whether to quit or pull the trigger. (Sorry, political extremists, but it's not martyrdom when you are killing yourself and it's not sacrifice when you are killing others.) A riveting and challenging examination of how people make life-and-death choices in critical junctures. 5 stars.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

A well-done hoot: Bridget Jones meets Dawn of the Dead, but with cricket-bat zombie whacks instead of fisticuffs. Don't miss the superb visuals that make a silent social commentary about how zombie-like modern suburban life can be. There's a bit of The Tao of Steve here too with a nice soundtrack. Hilarious in a droll, British, off-your-chump sort of way! 5 stars.

The Discoverers: IMAX (1994)

Documentary. A superbly done movie worthy of the IMAX format and approach: excellent in production values and inspiring in subject matter and presentation. The cinematography, photography, audio, and storyline meet the usual IMAX standards -- tip-top -- while the film takes good advantage of the IMAX camera's strengths in presenting fisheye and panoramic views as well as swooping and sweeping flyovers. You'll see reenactments (narrated in English with actors speaking in their native Spanish) of Magellan's discovery of the Pacific passage and of Maria Sautuola's discovery of stone-age cave paintings in Spain and you'll witness the exciting work of scientists, from Newton's discovery of prismatic color to those who are mapping the surface of Venus in 3D to those who are discovering how dolphins can communicate with us through visual and even abstract language to those who are studying the Earth's magnetic field through the ballet of the Northern Lights. 5 stars.

The Feast of Love (2007)

While not as movingly written and acted as Crash or The Notebook, The Feast of Love is set, plausibly at the intersection of Love Actually and Places of the Heart, in a small college community in Oregon where nine lives intersect and overlap in love and loss while wrestling with the what-ifs and consequences of their personal choices. Morgan Freeman is the endearing centerpiece as a college professor on extended personal leave because of a great loss in his life, with Jane Alexander well-cast as his strong and supportive wife. Similar to the sensitive but wronged character he played in As Good As It Gets, Greg Kinnear is the idealistic husband of Selma Blair and later Radha Mitchell, as each flawed woman shows how bad girls don't want nice guys. Alexa Davalos and Toby Hemingway are a charming young couple facing challenges and finding help and support from the community clustered around Freeman and Kinnear. A handful of sex scenes and a handful of nude scenes transport this movie from the emotionally moving and tightly integrated neighborhood of Crash to the episodic red-light district of Closer, but because The Feast of Love runs from good to ever better in its connection to our universal human wants and needs, I ranged from giving it 3.5 stars to 4 stars to, by the end, 4.5 stars.