RV (2006)

RV wasn't as bad as I expected (given what I'd inferred from the trailers and the buzz). In fact, it was OK. Sure, it has a few tired cliches (sight gags, potty humor, and adversity-pulls-embattled-family-together scenes) but these are nearly balanced by the charming quirkiness of the trailer park family that cannot be escaped (for good or for ill). Our story begins as Robin Williams' abusive beverage-magnate boss forces him to cancel his family's greatly anticipated trip to Hawaii in order to make an iffy pitch to a prospective buyout in Colorado. Hawaii was to be his family's last hurrah before the daughter enrolls at Stanford and his dotty (even doting) wife has even promised him some one-on-one time together ("good naps"). Determined to keep his job but not disappoint (much less tell) his family, he talks them into taking an RV road trip to Colorado (so he can try to write his proposal in the wee hours and send it to his boss). I can definitely empathize with his struggles to find privacy, power, a perch for his laptop, a phone line, and a cellular signal in the hinterlands. His challenges are legion but the absolute worst is the toilet system blowout. (At least Patrick Warburton wasn't in this movie to say "Eww! Your mouth was open!" -- though I think it was.) Nevertheless, just like when movie couples who antagonize each other magically fall in love when a romantic song rises to the fore, this family's tensions inexplicably give way to affection and warmth as we approach the feel-good ending. Because it's ultimately about family and family values, most families will enjoy this family movie. 3 stars.

Welcome to Mars: Nova (2005)

Nova's Mars: Dead or Alive -- the story of the design, construction, and space flight of the twin Mars rovers -- is the prequel to Nova's Welcome to Mars -- the story of the rovers' explorations of the Martian surface. Welcome to Mars is a pretty straightforward telling of the rovers' on-planet challenges, frustrations, and amazing successes -- from the perspective of a bunch of rocket scientists (whose favorite comfort food when under career-crunching emotional stress seems to be ice cream novelties). You get to see space-science doctorates stressing out, whooping it up, and giving bear hugs. (It's NASA's way of letting us know rocket scientists are people too and also of impressing on us landlubbers the incredible consequences for humanity's future that is potentially at stake with the Mars mission.) Whether the Mars rovers' operational hiccups, terrain obstacles, or ultimate demise constitute a technological who-done-it or thriller fare for you, anyone with a mind for science and its implications should follow Spirit's and Opportunity's progressive analysis and discovery of the prior existence of water -- and hence possibly life -- on the surface of Mars (some several billion years ago). Simply superb photos and closeups of the surface of Mars! 4 stars.

Imagine That (2009)

If my reaction is any indication, Imagine That may be offensive to those with concerns for racial stereotypes and child abuse. (At various times and to my 11-year-old viewing companion, I was growling or murmuring "This is so wrong...") However, everything tidily works out in the last five minutes in a sugar-coated happy ending -- so that makes it all OK ... doesn't it? Eddie Murphy in Imagine That is Michael Douglas in Wall Street meets Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories. (Are you worried yet?) Stock trading is a high-octane, dog-eat-dog world; Murphy is high-octane and can buff it up with the best -- but can the man who once played Dr. Doolittle put the bicuspids to a canine (even metaphorically)? He's just too nice -- OK, smarmy. He's also daddy to a wonderful little girl. (OK, now get ready to be afraid.) Yara Shahidi is the true star of Imagine That; she is pitch-perfect in every scene. However, the script has this 6-year-old dependent on her bedroom blanket (her "goo-gah"), screaming shrilly when separated from it, and speaking to four imaginary friends and a dragon -- who of course give her stock investment tips! (OK, now be very afraid.) Thomas Haden Church plays a Native American stockbroker who's gone native; his unorthodox boardroom style is all chants and drumming and vision-quest gibberish that wins over clients by sheer momentum of his alpha-male posturing (or, as he puts it, "It's just a thing"). (OK, now be extremely afraid.) Murphy goes over the top to regain his boardroom equilibrium by performing outright minstrelsy -- bug-eyed shuck-and-jive. I suppose if anyone can do it today, Murphy can -- but it is appalling esp. since there is no point. (OK, now experience shock and awe.) In the feeding frenzy of a do-or-die competition to not just keep their jobs but to inherit control of the investment firm, each man perpetrates indignities upon their children that border on child abuse: Church cranks his kid up on Red Bull while Murphy breaks into a house, creeps into a room full of sleeping little girls, and steals their blankets (before inducing a confrontational scene that's traumatic for all and wildly screaming "I want my goo-gah!"). You wouldn't think there's any excuse for such pap and circumstance but the script half-redeems itself by means of any scene with a mature adult named Martin Sheen in it, followed by a sugar-sweet family-time finale. By compromise, just barely 3 stars.

The Garden (2008)

The Garden is a documentary about the hopes and losses of the simple urban poor as they face the capriciousness of the rich and politically devious. Conceived as a peaceful initiative following the Rodney King race riots, a Los Angeles nonprofit operated the largest community garden in the country for 12 years, giving plots of land to 372 mostly Latino families to grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables. Comments from a variety of these salt-of-the-earth types belies how much their subsistence and welfare depended on the small plots of land they nurtured to a healthy harvest. Suddenly and inexplicably, their grassroots nirvana is to be taken away. They organize themselves, seek an injunction, and begin to learn how to dig up a different kind of dirt and wage a community-based appeal. The challenge is daunting yet their efforts are ultimately successful. This is a detective story with riveting twists and turns, indications of secret collusion, and evidence of confounding duplicity between two passive-aggressive county officials and the former owner. I don't want to give away the ending but if you care for the protagonists in this story (whom the antagonists brand as provocateurs for daring to challenge their will and to call on the rule of law), you will be left with gritty questions to chew as you ponder the essence of democracy, fairness, and justice. I caught it on the first night of a weekend run at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. 4 stars.

Mission to Mir: IMAX (1997)

Mission to MIR is a fine documentary -- that's documentary as in education, not entertainment, so if your brain hits the snooze button when it comes to rocket science, go watch Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This IMAX movie relates what it's like for the American astronauts who train with the Russian cosmonauts at Star City, 32 km NE of cold snowy Moscow, and launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world's largest rocket complex in Kazakhstan, for their months-long assignments in the MIR module of the International Space Station. Being an astronaut floating weightless above the Earth is way cool no matter from which of the six degrees of freedom you look at it, despite the challenges of material and societal isolation and physical atrophy that must be faced. Shannon Lucid is the primary lens through whom more than half of this documentary is presented, and her infectious laughter and enthusiasm makes a visible difference in the morale of her fellow astronauts. These astronauts are not only the best of our best but they study Russian for three years before training and working and living in space for months while speaking only Russian -- so take a nap on your own time and learn about something cosmically cool with this DVD. Spaceflight is much too enlightening to make me ever snooze. It's true that an IMAX film loses some of its impact in the translation from a 52-by-72-foot screen (average size) to a computer or TV screen that's 2-4 percent of that size but the soundtrack (voice and music) was in perfect shape on my copy of the disc. I give it less than 4 stars only because it's less exciting than other IMAX space documentaries I've enjoyed. 3.5 stars.

Make Way for Ducklings and More Robert McCloskey Stories (2004)

Make Way for Ducklings was the first library book I read as a child. This Scholastic DVD is a nice presentation of this storybook and four others by Robert McCloskey that were published from the 1940s to the 1960s. In "Make Way for Ducklings" (1941, Caldecott Medal winner), a mallard family takes up residence in Boston's Public Garden (4 stars). In "Blueberries for Sal" (1948, Caldecott Honors winner), Little Sal and Little Bear mix up their mothers while picking and eating blueberries (3.5 stars). "Time of Wonder" (1957, Caldecott Medal winner) describes the beauty of a summer (including a passing hurricane) on the Maine seacoast (4 stars). "Burt Dow: Deep Water Man" (1963) is sort of Popeye meets Jonah inside a whale (3 stars) and in "Lentil" (1940), a small-town boy's harmonica playing helps greet a returning war hero and civic leader (3.5 stars). Read-along features and a Spanish version of Make Way for Ducklings are included. Overall 3.5 stars.

The Fifth Element (1997)

Bruce Willis and the rest of the ensemble cast are superb in The Fifth Element, an exceptional science-fiction movie of vision and creativity from director Luc Besson. Formerly a top military asset, Korben Dallas (Willis) now leads a shattered civilian life and drives a battered hovercab -- until he is caught up in several intrigues (from the forces of good, the forces of evil, and the government) that intersect and work at cross purposes to each other throughout the movie to suspenseful if often comic effect. Gary Oldman is droll though vile as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, a megacorporate tycoon who dispenses weapons and death as easily as he flicks away a spent cigarette. Ian Holm is Father Vito Cornelius, a nervous priest entrusted with a mission from God. And Milla Jovovich is perfect as Leeloo (short for Leeloo Minai Lekarariba Laminai-Tchai Ekbat De Sebat in the Divine Language), the avatar/warrior long promised to save the Universe from destruction -- but she will need help in her darkest hour. I also love every actor in this movie -- from Major Iceborg to the mugger -- and the costumes, my Lord, the costumes! Also don't miss Chris Tucker, who is hilarious as the shock VJ Ruby Rhod (think Prince meets Little Richard). The script is excellent and full of memorable and comic lines, however, the music is simply unforgettable, most notably Plavalaguna's concert before all mayhem breaks loose at the resort. (The soundtrack was electronically engineered to showcase the alien Diva's superhuman vocal coloraturas.) Does Bruce Willis save the day and get the girl? (What do you think?) But it's the panache with which he does so that's totally entertaining! I had to own this movie and will watch it anytime at the drop of a hat. If you like science fiction, you just may too. The thing is, though, even if you have never liked science fiction, you'll surely like this -- The Fifth Element is that good! It should appeal to a broad audience from geeks to fashion models, from action fans to true romantics. 5 stars.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Baz Luhrmann's genius oeuvre, Moulin Rouge, is a tour-de-force of musical synergy and whimsy. It conveys power and delight through original arrangements of anachronistic pop hits -- all wrapped around a musical package called (as the story within the story) Spectacular Spectacular. Not only does Moulin Rouge turn every narrative convention you'd expect on its ear, it's incredibly fun -- and who knew Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor could sing like that? (Their secret lovers' song "Come What May" is soaringly and unforgettably romantic.) Our story begins (as McGregor's Christian narrates his own tale) when a "penniless writer" in turn-of-the-century Montmarte aspires to lyrically celebrate "the Bohemian values of freedom, truth, and love" (a phrase I now cannot think of without hearing John Leguizamo's Toulouse-Lautrec pronouncing it as "fweedom, twooth, and lwuv"). Through a comedy of errors, Christian happens upon a Bohemian acting troupe that needs a writer. He is introduced to the courteMoviettesan Satine (Kidman) while she expects to shower her favors on a rich investor in the Moulin Rouge and her career. The pair falls in love and, under the pretext of preparing the musical production, hides their secret dalliance from the slimy investor (Richard Roxburgh). Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent), the unctuous stage manager, puts the kibosh on Satine's romance before the investor discovers the truth and sets his thug in motion. Will love endure? Will the show go on? Moulin Rouge is as wild as a menagerie (or a menage-a-trois) and its song-and-dance numbers are numerous and awesome, paying layered tribute to every vocal tradition and musical genre, from opera to rap, most notably with riffs on Mario Lanza, the Beatles, Bollywood, Elton John, Sting, Madonna, and Lady Marmalade. Here is a great musical production within a musical production, irreverent as well as eclectic, and so much fun you'll probably say after it ends "Now *that* was different!" or "Let's watch it again!" (or both). 5 stars.

Enemy of the State (1998)

I love a good technothriller and that word describes Enemy of the State to a tee. In my opinion, only the recent Eagle Eye tops it for a technothriller based on spy-satellite technology. Will Smith is excellent in everything he does -- as is Gene Hackman -- and the high-speed surveillance vignettes between scenes really make the movie for me -- conveying a sense of pressing pursuit by the Powers That Be and evading pursuit by Smith and Hackman. (I also recommend seeing Harrison Ford in Patriot Games and Hackman with Ford in The Conversation.) Sure, most of the tropes have been used before -- clothes planted at a murder scene to frame the targeted whistleblower, clothes laced with surveillance bugs and global-position transponders, evil government conspiracies -- but Enemy of the State marshals it all together quite masterfully. It even crosses all that with a subplot involving an FBI stakeout of a mafia operation that results in a major ballistic brouhaha. I'll watch this one any time and I'd like to own it. 4.5 stars. (5-4-09 posted 6-24-09)

Gone with the Wind: Collector's Edition (1939)

I've finally seen Gone With the Wind, so now (according to some) I can officially be considered cultured -- although I suspect those who claim Gone With the Wind is the best movie ever made are all women in the south. (Men from the north or the south tend to claim either The Godfather or The Deerhunter as the best movie ever made.) In retrospect, I have two words: Four hours! Is this America's answer to War and Peace? Is Scarlett our Anna Karenina? Is a pouty drama queen our best claim to cinematic royalty? True, after the war she drops the "drama princess" mien of a protected southern debutante, faces reality, and toughens her outlook: "As God as my witness, I will do whatever it takes ... I will never be hungry again!" She never surrenders her means of manipulation, however, and in fact only sharpens such skills. It's worthwhile to note that, despite her initially childish motives for choosing and pursuing two will-o'-the-wisp men, neither of these men were strong enough to stand up to her. Perhaps she intuitively chose them precisely so that she could continue to get what she wanted (a strategy that didn't work so well with her first marriage). Only Rhett was man (and clear-eyed realist) (and selfish) enough to stand up to her and to tell her No when she needed it -- or to show her the rejection she had visited upon others when playing by her rules of vested self-interest. Gone With the Wind is a southern diorama of pre- and post-Civil War society seen through the personal ambitions and frustrations of Kate Scarlett O'Hara Kennedy (Vivian Leigh). It's a moral play that is most interesting to me when the (mostly) amoral Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) dispenses his clear-eyed observations on Scarlett's misbegotten motives. The two ultimately forge a tacit if not mutual understanding for a time but Rhett abruptly cuts the anchor line, leading to Scarlett's most memorable query and his most notorious reply ("Frankly, Scarlett ..."). Scarlett always was and always will be a force of nature, a turbulent wake for all who knew her and for whom only the Civil War itself could be a greater firestorm. 5 stars. (5-11-09 posted 6-24-09)

The Human Face (2001)

Maybe it's the influence of a mugging Charlie Callas on me at age 14 but I've loved John Cleese since finding him in college, even forgiving his slightly dated bits (of comedy not countenance). In fact, I can never think of the word "DVD" without hearing Cleese say it. I caught the fourth episode of this BBC special on TV a while back and found it so enjoyable that I finally circumvented some queue time by picking up The Human Face at my public library. Disc 1 carries all four 50-minute episodes; Disc 2 has (not very) extended versions of several interviews and a puffery of other bits. That said, Cleese worked on The Human Face for a year and it shows. Amidst excellent production values, every part of it bears the man's touch -- his personable narration and dialog as well as his personable mug, sometimes in costume and drag. Elizabeth Hurley plays his tetchy sidekick, including an entire episode where her supine face is the stage for a miniaturized Cleese's shenanigans (and hers back at him). If you are a Cleese fan, you should be amused by his peripatetic palaver and whimsical vignettes; even though a few of his bits date back to vaudeville, this is Cleese after all and a thoroughly likeable fellow (in a dry British humor kind of way). In short, he has the candor and can-do to bring this sort of thing off. The set's four episodes are titled Face to Face, What Are You Looking At?, Beauty, and Fame. Discussion begins with human facial recognition (a skill to which perhaps a third of our brain is devoted). It then ranges through congenital and postcongenital defects in the human face and the ability to recognize faces. Finally, we observe the selection of the next "it girl" and sit in on the casting evaluations of three hopeful male actors. What's amazing is how one cosmetic surgeon has developed a facial map based on and validating the geometrical symmetry of what the vast majority of people consider to be beautiful in a face -- any face. As always, Cleese personably and intelligently interviews such a variety of people and weaves the whole into a sensible, urbane, and informative seminar on the importance of the human face amidst human society. 4.5 stars.

MARS Dead or Alive: Nova (2004)

Mars: Dead or Alive is an excellent Nova documentary that tracks the design, construction, and space launch of the twin Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Computer-based animations of the Mars launch, landing, and rover ground operations are top-notch -- almost photorealistic -- and video excerpts from the rovers' design, testing, and troubleshooting processes are highly illustrative -- esp. since half of the footage is interspersed with a half-dozen systems and program supervisors talking about their do-or-die efforts to remedy design flaws in the parachute and airbag delivery and other systems, in some cases right up to the day of the first rover's launch. (The footage was filmed during the design before any one of the program's 600 scientists and engineers knew whether their rovers would be finished by the launch window -- which only comes every two years -- much less survive the Mars landing.) If you love space flight, you will share the tenterhooks of suspense that the JPL and NASA team members felt before and during the rovers' launch and esp. during their landings. (Two-thirds of all flights previously sent to Mars have not survived.) And there's nothing like nerd exhilaration when a Mars landing succeeds. (Jump up and down and break out the grape Nehi?) Be sure to see the companion Nova documentary about the rovers' exploration of Mars itself. Also check out the extra features' candid interview with Donna Shirley (donnashirley.com), program co-head for the original Mars rover, Sojourner Truth. 4 stars.

Star Trek (2009)

Even the trailers make it clear that Chris Pine as a young and supremely confident Captain Kirk likes to fight and fly without a safety net. J.J. Abrams' reboot of the Star Trek franchise truly pulls out all the stops to "boldly go where no one has gone before" as it explores James Tiberius Kirk's traumatic birth, rebellious youth, and iconoclastic path from Star Fleet Academy to immediate field promotion as captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. This is not your father's Star Trek (Original Series)! While well-rooted in the characters, idiosyncrasies, and touchstones any lifelong fan would expect in such an ur-Trek movie, this super-reboot is completely fresh and filled to the brim with space debris and adrenaline. First we witness Kirk's birth in the midst of a decisive battle that will set the course for his life. Next we see how a young Kirk develops a knack for clawing his way back from the edge of a precipice -- a skill that will serve him well in battles to come. Later he picks up a Star Fleet gauntlet that holds the greater challenge and blazes a path to become the youngest Star Fleet captain ever. The action is pretty much nonstop and should thrill extreme-sports fans and Trekkies. Eric Bana plays a Romulan rebel who is intent on repeating history -- something to do with sins of the fathers or revenge or insanity or jealousy, who knows? Maybe it's just me but he's never convincingly angry or dangerous. I mean, just look at his tattooed male-pattern-baldness and try not to chuckle. The casting is generally good though esp. with Chris Pine as Kirk and Karl Urban as Bones. (He channels DeForest Kelley well and we learn the origin of his nickname and also perhaps his attitude as a frustrated romantic.) John Cho as the freshman helmsman Ikaru Sulu gets to have his swashbuckling way and we briefly get introduced to Simon Pegg as Scotty, the triumphant uberengineer. Bonus points: Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura is hotter and smarter than ever (and has a thing for one of the crew.) We even have Chekhov, Sarek, Amanda Grayson, and Christopher Pike -- but where's Janice Rand with her blonde beehive? Though less brash than Kirk, Zachary Quinto as freshman officer Spock is the best character in the movie. Leonard Nimoy even has an excellent cameo. It goes without saying that this Star Trek movie is better than the TV classic series and the first six movies for action and special effects but also for characterization and comedy if not always drama. Every Trek fan needs to see it but also any sci-fi or action fan. If you like the new Transformers or Battlestar Galactica then fly at warp speed to see this movie. 4.5 stars.

Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (2005)

If you love the space program, you will appreciate this paean to its past accomplishments and future potential. Boil down Tom Hanks' astoundingly excellent and inspiring five-DVD production From the Earth to the Moon into one 40-minute 3D IMAX documentary and you have Magnificent Desolation, a fitting touchstone to the lunar exploration program that justifiably and honorably commemorates what only twelve men (plus all those supporting these astronauts) have done and what humanity should inevitably do again: return to the moon, perhaps even with the present generation. (I won't give away the film's ending, which thrilled me from head to toe, but remember the name of of the young girl Victoria Lugo in the children's questions segment.) That said, I have to address the criticisms of those who bash this film out of shortsightedness and lack of imagination. The description clearly promises an "IMAX film" (universally seen by schoolchildren and families in science museums) with new "photographs, CGI renditions, and NASA footage." (I should add the IMAX edition would have been phenomenal in 3D; though the library edition I viewed to save a rental slot was not 3D, I plan to rent what this service pictures as a 3D edition and view it with 3D glasses.) Yet here is how many criticized this movie: "I expected mostly historical film footage yet got mostly 'fake' CGI footage. Geared to kids. Fluffy. Pro-NASA. Disappointing." Excuse me? There is plenty of archival footage but it doesn't predominate because this is not an archival disc. The CGI is completely top-notch and authentic (thanks to Lucasfilm) but most importantly, its large format and high resolution make the lunar missions come alive. (After all, you can barely discern Neil Armstrong's ghostly first step on the moon in the live and archival footage.) I also loved the humor Tom Hanks inserted into the rapid-fire moon vignettes (you have to be quick to catch all the historical and cultural references) and the childrens' quiz (reinforcing the point that our kids are not being taught about this greatest of humanity's technological achievements). Finally, no, they didn't pull together every astronaut to read his own quotes; actors (John Corbett, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, Colin Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, Paul Newman, Bill Paxton, Kevin Pollak, Gary Sinise, John Travolta, and others) did just fine. This documentary makes you feel as if you are on the moon! For similar offerings, click my avatar and see my 3D, IMAX, astronauts, and Planet Earth lists. 5 stars.

It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (2000)

It's true that It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown is not a "classic" Peanuts animated special like the first one (A Charlie Brown Christmas), made 35 years earlier with the Vince Guaraldi jazz score -- but that doesn't make it "noncanonical" as some have complained. So let's look at the facts. First, the drawings of Charlie and Lucy Brown and the others have cleaner, simpler lines -- they look more generic and less uniquely Schulzesque. (This disc was released in the same year of his passing after an illness made him unable to draw the strip himself.) Most importantly, this retelling of a fairy tale also breaks with tradition by depicting extensive scenes of the actions and dialog of adults -- always something previously avoided in the child-centric Peanuts universe -- however, the adults (two silent parents, six fussing maids, and eight singing and dancing town administrators) only appear within the body of the fairy tale itself! (Perhaps the Peanuts gang could have populated the entire program as they did in the Mayflower crossing and first Thanksgiving portrayals but I think rejecting this show on such grounds alone is making a mountain out of a molehill.) Lastly, however, the fairy tale is framed front and back by maybe 5 minutes of Peanuts gang animation. So I'd say while not exactly noncanonical, this disc is definitely non-Schulzical (and, some would say, nonsensical). If you agree, console yourself by watching the "exclusive" interview with Charles Schulz as he explains the origins and characters of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Pigpen, and Woodstock. You'll see that nonsense is entirely within the Schulzian realm! (Guaraldi's famous theme song is called Whimsy Salad after all.) Also important, I don't think the music and dance scenes drag on more than in any classic Peanuts animation (and I love the line-dancing, soccer-playing mice)! So in closing, if you ever visit St. Paul (Schulz's hometown and mine too) be sure to visit O'Gara's Grill, the former site of Sparky's dad's barber shop. Or be sure to visit Santa Rosa with the Charles Schulz skating rink, gallery, and museum across the street from Schulz's home! 3 stars.

Knuffle Bunny & More Great Childhood Adventure Stories (2007)

Knuffle Bunny etc. is a delightful compilation of six children's storybooks, each presented with original illustrations that are enhanced by transitional animation plus fine narrator and character voices. I wasn't previously acquainted with any of the stories in print form though I can understand how Knuffle Bunny is so popular and a Caldecott Honor book. (1) Knuffle Bunny, written and illustrated by Mo Willems, is voiced by the actual father, mother, and daughter of the authorial family. Cute as the dickens, Knuffle Bunny is a real charmer (esp. for tots and tykes)! 4.5 stars. (2) Written by Carl Best and illustrated by Giselle Potter, Shrinking Violet's illustrations have a quasi-Russian caricature style and their limited animation (gently bobbing heads, torsos, and limbs) gives them a bobblesque surrealism that fits well. Moreover, the story (narrated by Calista Flockhart) is a good one for children in primary to middle school because of the theme, which is how to deal with ridicule and self-consciousness. 3.5 stars. (3) Possum Magic, written and narrated by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas, has wonderfully drawn animal illustrations; every one looks as fuzzy as you'd expect, even the magically invisible baby Hush. Even better than the Australian author/narrator, the didgeridoo soundtrack is understated yet unforgettable. 4 stars. (4) Planting a Rainbow, written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, is a beautiful choral poem of bright colors and botanical variety. 4 stars. (5) Lindsay Crouse narrates Brave Irene, written and illustrated by William Steig, where a sick seamstress's daughter battles a snowstorm to deliver a fancy dress to the duchess. 3.5 stars. (6) David de Vries narrates Will I Have a Friend?, written by Miriam Cohen and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, where Jim ponders and finds a friend on his first day at kindergarten. 3 stars. This collection is a read-along DVD. Overall 3.5 stars.

The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941)

Playwright George S. Kaufman's and Moss Hart's brilliant script gets a good screenplay and some good screen play in the film adaptation of The Man Who Came to Dinner, a wicked light comedy reprising Monte Wooley as Sheridan Whiteside (a character deliberately modeled on the acerbic Alexander Woolcott after a similar overnight stay at Hart's own estate). I always love an intelligent, fast-paced, conversational script and this one rarely disappoints with its ripostes, bon mots, invectives, and satiric rips back and forth -- usually from the direction of Whiteside to anyone else in the room (or leaving it) but quite often from the reverse direction via his cousin and secretary of 10 years, Maggie Cutler (Bette Davis in an entirely satisfactory if uncharacteristic role). Whiteside is in his element when he's ordering everyone around, from the ball-bearing magnate homeowner and his midwestern socialite wife (who seems to be channeling a warbly Glinda the Good Witch) to their marriageable daughter and son to the long-suffering Nurse Preen (Mary Wickes, who gets the worst of his digs) and the homeowners' cook and maid (who come to love the lug). (At the end of the movie, Whiteside offers them jobs and they gladly accept. "They've been with me for 10 years!" laments the lady of the house. "I'll commute their sentence," Whiteside replies.) The handsome local newspaper editor (Richard Travis) plays a major role, causing Whiteside to simper gleefully at the mischief he conceives for his own purposes. A gold-digging actress (Ann Sheridan) plays her part in his trap until Whiteside gets a final glint in his eye as to what to do about it (and her). Whiteside's friend, an equally mischievous entertainer named Banjo (Jimmy Durante), never looked so young. Like other catty scripts from Kaufman in the 1930s and 1940s (such as The Marx Brothers), this production is conversationally spry and steadfastly sharp. It's entertaining and funny, however, it feels light as a trifle by the time it's through. I'd say it's too intelligent to be a popcorn muncher (or you'd miss the clever dialog) but too calorically (comedically) light to stick to one's mental or emotional ribs. It's better than adequate but I can't say I deeply like it (as much as others that I do), which leaves me at 3.5 stars.

Defiance (2008)

Defiance is a gripping and memorable portrayal of the true story of how the Bielski brothers ultimately sheltered 1,200 Polish Jews in the forests surrounding their former villages, preserving them from slaughter at the hands of German Nazis. Three Bielski brothers survived the Nazi invasion of their homeland during World War II to lead quiet lives in New York City; only after the death of Tuvia in 1983 did their story of exceptional leadership, heroism, and sacrifice come to light. Defiance is Fiddler on the Roof meets Miracle at St. Anna; scenes of battle and slaughter commingle with scenes of human pathos and hope (much of it universal yet mostly inimical to the persecution of Jews throughout history). The alternating rancor and detente between Tuvia (Daniel Craig) and his less circumspect brother Zus (Liev Schreiber) also contributes a polar cycle of pragmatism vs. altruism that connects gritty battle scenes to gritty stragglers' life in the woods. In the end, no one's hands are clean of blood -- all are guilty (through action or inaction as well as through outright misguided intent or good intent gone awry) and in need of forgiveness (of self and of others) even as most make courageous sacrifices (small or large, secret or heroic) to preserve each others' lives. Ultimately, implies the subtext, we are all human beings -- complex, conflicted, yet courageous. Defiance (and its Jewish encampment) is helmed by the icily-blue-eyed Daniel Craig as Tuvia, the compassionate and reluctant warrior who pronounces, "They may treat us like animals -- but we will not become animals." Defiance is a sustained, coherent tour-de-force of the triumph of the human spirit against the crushing will of genocidal monsters as well as the aggravating sins of selfishness and strife. Even though it's not as iconically powerful as The Killing Fields, it's more accessible, so I feel compelled to give it 5 stars.

Rudy (1993)

Rudy is an inspiring family-oriented film about finding the motivation to accomplish your dreams. Rudy is My Dog Skip meets Friday Night Lights minus the dog and replacing fanatical Texas high school football with dyed-in-the-wool Notre Dame college football. The movie is based on the true story of Rudy Ruettiger, played by Sean Astin (who, ten years later as Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings, would utter the words "Please, Mr. Frodo -- don't let him turn me into anything ... unnatural"). Sean's specialties seem to be dewy-eyed looks, curly brown locks, and indefatigable optimism. (He's as cute as a puppy dog, plays the role of the underdog to a tee, and takes a licking but keeps on ticking.) The way this youngest (and dyslexic) son takes knocks from his family and the townfolk greatly endears him to families who watch this movie -- but even more so how he clings to and intensely pursues his dream to apply to and attend the University of Notre Dame and to play football with the Fighting Irish. "I'll do anything, coach!" is his refrain off the field while "I can do it!" is his refrain on the field. Indeed, the coach ultimately wishes his players had half the heart that Rudy shows in spades. Families (esp. Catholic or football-loving ones) will love Rudy and enjoy it again and again. Personally, I can appreciate the story more than the pro forma script, directing and acting. Ned Beatty as Rudy's father feels like he's holding back and, in what should be the most emotional scene, we are turned away from Sean's face to view him from behind before we hear him burble a bit and walk away. Even one of Sean's trademark dewy-eyed looks and a few murmured words would have been closer to what anyone would consider to be acting in this scene. So to sum up, I love the story even though the movie didn't grab me as emotionally as I think it does for most people who read their feelings into the characters; I just prefer it when characters portray the feelings the script calls for. Rudy is the underdog to root for though, so be sure to see it with your family. I suspect your kids will love it even more than you do. 3.5 stars.

Bela Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart (2008)

Throw Down Your Heart presents a soulful encounter between the music of the American banjo and Africa, where it is believed the banjo originated. The bright tangy (and sometimes twangy) tones of the banjo are delightfully represented by banjo virtuoso and ad hoc musical ambassador Bela Fleck. You could not imagine a whiter guy than Bela as he wends his way across the continent befriending, jamming, and recording with tribal and village musicians in Uganda and Tanzania on Africa's east coast as well as international music icons in Gambia and Mali on Africa's west coast. We witness a village's construction of a hippo-sized wooden marimba that resonates so loudly it sounds (in Bela's words) like a rock band. We see the construction of native stringed instruments and learn what is known of the birth of the banjo. The title of this documentary comes from an oral history about the slave trade that reportedly led to the invention of the banjo; its dulcet tones with other remnants of Africa's musical heritage helped the slaves survive their harsh ocean transport and servitude in the New World. As one musician observes, Bela is not a talkative guy but he plays music that reaches the heart. So do the evocative souls he meets and befriends through music. Music is an international language and this production is proof of it, heart and soul. I saw this movie with an adult and a preteen on the first evening of a three-day run at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and we greatly enjoyed it. See the DVD when it arrives and listen to the CD too. 4 stars.

The Bronx Bunny Show (2007)

The Bronx Bunny Show is so deliberately rancid that it could be the brainchild of Adam Corolla or Seth Green on acid. Properly viewed, it will make you throw up a little in your mouth. However, you'll probably just laugh your fool head off if you're part of its target demographic: fans of Jackass, reality TV, women's wrestling, porn, and Star Trek. Filmed live from what is supposed to be a visibly spunk-stained sofa in a filthy apartment in east L.A., the Bronx Bunny is an ugly bug-eyed brown bunny from da Bronx. His sidekick, Teddie T, is an ugly bug-eyed panda with numerous addictions and illnesses that cause him to be phlegmatic (and not in a good way) with the guest stars. The Bronx Bunny Show is Jiminy Glick meets Crank Yankers in da hood: Every fifth word is a blistering vulgarity, every line involves busting each other's chops with sexual and scatological slams, it's not clear whether every guest star is clued in on the schtick (Jolene Blalock looks sincerely shocked), and almost every show excerpts an R-rated tongue-in-cheek (and not in the usual sense) porn video starring Teddie T. I watched 7 out of 10 episodes at 15 minutes each (including the schmoozing Steve Schirripa from The Sopranos and vain Kelly Carlson from Nip/Tuck, oozing Michael Rapaport from nothing important and so-o-o gay George Takei from Star Trek, conceited wrestler Chris Jericho and self-kidding Mark Hamill from Star Wars, posing rapper Method Man and disingenuous Tina Majorino from Napoleon Dynamite, health-conscious Howie Mandel in absolutely the wrong place, vapid lady wrestler Stacy Keibler, pandering Eric Roberts and sincere Robin Leach, straight-up if put-upon Richard Schiff from The West Wing, and sweet Jolene Blalock from Star Trek: Enterprise), but I couldn't justify sitting through Joely Fisher or the remaining no-name actors. These two are real characters -- just gritty and edgy ones. IW. 2 stars.

Bride and Prejudice (2004)

Since Moulin Rouge doesn't count, seeing Bride and Prejudice last night was my first Bollywood-style movie experience -- and I liked it a lot as far as the genre goes. The costumes, choreography, and musical numbers are impressive and fun to be sure. The main characters' acting is acceptable and every character is funny at some point -- though some (Lalita's parents and esp. Kholi) are throwaway caricatures. D'Arcy here was Balrai who seemed to be channeling Colin Firth quite a bit. The snarkiness against American capitalism followed by fawning to obtain its benefits -- pro-India arrogance vs. rank opportunism even to the point of abandoning one's proud heritage in the blink of an eye -- was always interesting. I considered drumming this movie down to 3.5 stars because of Kholi's overplayed oafish snorting (too much, methinks) but I suspect the goofy whimsy and exotic gestalt of this movie will only grow on me -- so I'll give it a straight 4 stars.

Arranged (2007)

A cinematic gem thanks to the authenticity of its actors, Arranged is a thoughtful and sensitive treatment of the "traditional" Muslim or Orthodox Jewish practice of arranged marriage, particularly as it occurs in America. Indeed, the movie's central premise looks precisely at what happens when two young women -- one Jewish and one Muslim -- teach at the same grade school in Brooklyn and become friends during their families' campaigns to find each woman a suitable husband. Think of Arranged as My Big Fat Muslim/Jewish Wedding but without all the wild drama -- just the domestic angst. Each woman's embedded anticipation of a carefully vetted yet compatible mate is compared with what passes for courtship in the modern world (which the school's principal, semi-channeling Steve Carell as Michael Scott in The Office, offensively asserts is a superior means of matchmaking) as well as each woman's internal struggle with the process. The crux comes as each woman wants to remain true to her faith and her family yet also to preserve her free will, exercise her intuition, and have a say in the selection of whom she would marry. All members of the cast (esp. our leading ladies) convey a marvelous on-screen chemistry; the story drew me in and held my attention from start to finish. For its laudably open and transparent presentation of a fundamental emotional dilemma, Arranged reminds me somewhat of Bella, Maria Full of Grace, or Paradise Now -- though, naturally, to a lesser degree than those (to me) 5-star movies. 4.5 stars.