Threshold: The Complete Series (2005)

Threshold feels like The Andromeda Strain meets Odyssey Five. From executive producer Brannon Braga of the Star Trek franchise, Threshold is a smart and snappy sci-fi series about a mysterious alien invasion of Earth. Carla Gugino shines as Molly Ann Caffery, a crisis-management consultant to the government who is called in to activate and head her alien-invasion and mass-contagion scenarios. (She reminds me of Nicole Kidman in The Peacemaker.) Also drafted into government service and secrecy "for reasons of national security" are the unctuous Dr. Nigel Fenway (Brent Spiner), nebbishy data analyst Lucas Pegg (Rob Benedict), and worldly math and language expert Arthur Ramsey (Peter Dinklage). (Houston-born Spiner, who played Data, Lore, and Noonien Soong in Star Trek: The Next Generation, approximates Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park but Dinklage makes his role his own.) Supervising and helping them solve the gargantuan mystery that now faces the human race is the cool and collected J.T. Baylock (Charles Dutton) and Sean Cavvenaugh (Brian Van Holt) is more than a musclebound bodyguard. The team runs itself ragged to inspect crime and infection sites, perform forensics on hard drives and dead bodies, and chase or fight humans that are being transformed into aliens. How far the contagion has or will spread is anyone's guess but the mode of infection and extent its transmission is gradually revealed to be more fantastic and more serious than anticipated. Humanity has the fight of (and for) its life on its hands! The story progresses well with a script that is intelligent and makes sense scientifically. Disc 1, episodes 1-2: Trees Made of Glass, Parts 1-2 (A transdimensional alien weapon attacks a ship, with bizarre results), episode 3: Blood of the Children (The infection spreads to a military academy), episode 4: The Burning (An escaped mental patient's dreams deepen the mystery). [This review will be updated.] 4 stars.

Hurricane on the Bayou (2006)

You will almost certainly enjoy Hurricane on the Bayou if you appreciate Louisiana, New Orleans, cajun culture, jazz, blues, zydeco, or the environment (esp. wetlands preservation). Our story begins three months before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Cajun musicians Tab Benoit, a lifelong bayou dweller, and Amanda Shaw, a fiddle prodigy, verbally and physically express their love of music as they practice and perform together. They also express their love of the wetlands as they explore this verdant Louisiana habitat of alligators and other creatures. Tab tells how he has seen the wetlands shrink significantly since the creation of river levies, which slough tons of soil into the ocean that formerly built up the coastal cushion formed by the wetlands, and intracoastal waterways, which kill untold acres of wetlands by the introduction of salt water. Then Hurricane Katrina descends on New Orleans with scant warning; we see its devastation both during the storm and afterward. The human toll is hard to fathom unless you live on the Gulf coast. However, the movie's message is that Katrina would have been much worse without the coastal buffer of the wetlands; conversely, it would have been greatly ameliorated if so much of the wetlands had not been lost. On a positive note, Tab shows how alligators, which were an endangered species when he was a boy, have since become plentiful. He says we already know how to help preserve a species or a habitat; we just have to do it -- and reap the benefits through our current and future generations. 4.5 stars.

Speed: IMAX (1984)

Speed: IMAX is a whimsical look at the history of the human discovery and experience of speed. At just 30 minutes (short even for IMAX), it's a broad-brush treatment but an entertaining one. A quick check of IMDB confirms that Speed: IMAX is from 1984 not 2004, which one would expect given portions of its soundtrack and special effects. While the strictly '80s stuff is dated (esp. the extended "wormhole" transit that is beneath Kubrick's 2001 in technique and appeal), the rest of the soundtrack is actually quite impressive (I would buy every one of the individual tracks). The broad-brush treatment moves rapidly through five chapters (ground-based muscle power, ground-based engine power, air and space flight, faster than humans, and "we have just begun to crawl," which is a good wrap-up of the relative pleasures and future prospects for speed). The film surveys the gamut from running to cycling to driving to racing to air and jet flight and beyond. We see Chuck Yeager's X-1 flight but a few hypersonic flight records (X-17 and Apollo 10) are glossed over with just captions. The whimsical touch appears often as a Cro-Magnon man chases a deer and flees a tiger, a couple hits the road in a Stanley Steamer, and as 1950s racer Bill Vukovich hot-rods cross-country to the consternation of his girlfriend and the local constable. You may be best impressed by the jet-engine-powered cars and Blue Angels flight formations. Speed is a good IMAX film and, at 30 minutes in length, certainly no skin off anyone's nose. 4 stars.

Texas (James A. Michener's Texas) (1994)

As a sweeping dramatic treatment of the founding of the Republic of Texas, Michener's novel is of course the gold standard to live up to. This movie tries, and often resembles the novel, though it's a further stretch to say it resembles a good dramatic movie -- melodramatic is more like it. OK, it gets downright hokey at times, esp. during the battle of San Jacinto when Sam Houston (Stacy Keach) is repeatedly riding in slow-motion as the fog of war flutters by and the Mexican front line just ten feet away ignores him. Another distraction is the out-of-sync dubbing -- you'll think you're watching a foreign film. My favorite characters were Benito Garza (Benjamin Bratt), Mattie (Chelsea Field), and Capt. Sam Garner (Randy Travis) because they best brought the pathos of their struggles to the screen (even if at times in stoic ways). Every other actor had something good to bring to their role; I just wished for more. Complaints of "sex scenes" are overblown: Several florid talking and kissing scenes between Benito and the two women he loved in his life -- clothed or well-wrapped in separate sheets in a dimly lit bedroom -- are not "sex" in any sense of the word, nor are two brief scenes of a woman's bare breasts (one frontal, one from the side) or the freshly bathed buns of Otto McNab (Rick Schroder), nor are three women's faces peering out from Santa Ana's tent on two occasions. (R-rating, my eye!) Incidentally, my 12-year-old son did not go blind (though he did cry "Gross!") at the frontal flash during a morning battle scene. More vital to talk a child through should be the many scenes of battle or outright slaughter -- what I might consider splatter porn from the projectile spluts that almost everyone suffers or dies from (one scene even reminded me of Gallagher). War is always hell and that's a lesson that kids will learn (and cry through, esp. if sweet and Texan) a bit too graphically in this movie. We watched it because we're attending the annual battle re-enactment at San Jacinto tomorrow. 3 stars.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends: Thomas' Snowy Surprise (2004)

Thomas the Tank Engine shows are a sweet nostalgic treat. I discovered Thomas and his friends, along with Arthur and Reading Rainbow on PBS, when I had tykes. Soon afterwards, I bought a compilation of the Thomas stories by Rev. A. Awdry from the train store in either Bandana Square or the Mall of America. The TV series hones closely to the spirit and style of the books, showing all of the characters and a mildly impressive range of landscapes and weather conditions through which the trains travel -- with a similar range of emotions and adventures. The gray fixed-expression faces with their shifting oogly eyes are a little ooky but basically innocent and fun -- think of Thomas and his friends as a retro 1950s story arc in stopmotion. Each of the 6 episodes on this disc is about 5 minutes long for a total, with opening and closing credits, of 34 minutes. Sadly, the instant watching version does not provide access to the singalongs or DVD games. 3.5 stars.

The Secret of Kells (2009)

The Secret of Kells is a delightful work of animation all in the style of Celtic manuscript illumination. In short, it is a work of illustrated animation and animated illustration. (Look up the Book of Kells to see the exquisite calligraphy, illustrations, and gold-leaf filigree and embellishment work dating back more than 1,000 years.) The movie's story loosely follows the history of the famous gospel manuscript and remains faithful in spirit to the monastic life (though Mick Lally as Brother Aidan reminds me of Willie Nelson, Brendan Gleeson as Abbot Cellach reminds me of Liam Neeson, and Evan McGuire as the young Brendan and Michael McGrath as the adult Brendan remind me of Ewan McGregor as a young Obi-Wan). The voicework is excellent and I esp. love Christen Mooney as the wood nymph Aisling (pronounced Ashley). The illustration is stylized and folkloric and, while often reminiscent of Watership Down and Ponyo, it is all Celtic; those who love said culture and music will wriggle with delight during this movie from opening to closing credits. The story could be stronger if judged by modern standards but that's like saying the Lord of the Rings lacks car chases. The Secret of Kells is a creative re-imagining of tradition and folklore. It's beautiful. What else did you want? My youngest son agrees that we must own it on DVD. 5 stars.

Hubble 3D: IMAX (2010)

Hubble 3D is now showing at the IMAX theater of the Museum of Natural Science in Houston, home of the Johnson Space Center (location of NASA's humongous zero-gravity training pool, which is featured for about 5 minutes of the film). Perhaps two-thirds of this movie is about the third Hubble repair mission astronauts' training and in-space repair work. This is all well and good esp. for fans of space exploration and those who appreciate the phenomenal contributions the Hubble space telescope has made towards our understanding of the universe and its origins. However, much of the repair footage is grainy and contrasty. The best material from the mission itself comes in the astronauts' own words when they say something spontaneous, intuitive, and funny about what it's like to live and work in space. (Don't miss the depiction of zero-g tortilla construction.) So come to see the astronauts but stay and go "Wo-o-ow!" for the astrophysics. The words "out of this world" apply to this film more than any other because Hubble 3D shows not only star and nebula formations that are billions of miles away but we cruise through the gaseous wombs where stars are being born, then through oceans of galaxies and even to the boundaries of the visible universe some 10 billion light years distant. Hubble 3D's photography is more than stellar -- it is unparalleled and even (some would say) spiritual. It is Anselm Adams in space. Don't just remember Carl Sagan's "billions and billions of stars" -- come see them. Hubble 3D's photography is awesome and "far out" -- for real. 4.5 stars.

City Lights (1931)

Charlie Chaplin was a comic genius esp. for the Silent Era though for all ages also. He wrote, directed, starred in, and even composed the music for City Lights, his final film. His physical comedy is spot-on perfect; his mugging is sublime (as much as mugging can be); and while half his pratfalls are predictable -- hm, a cat sitting on an open windowsill next to a potted plant directly above the stairwell, I wonder what's going to happen fairly soon? -- half are a hoot and will surprise you. Don't be so postmodern and stuck up that you can't step into the Wayback Machine and appreciate the sentimentality of early cinema for what it is. City Lights and all such Chaplinalia are meant to portray and simpler and more innocent time, yes, but Chaplin the Tramp is also Everyman -- his plight could be anyone's. So if we remember that "there but for the grace of God" (and an iPhone) "go I" the Silent Era can still speak to us -- and City Lights perhaps best of all. 4 stars.

Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991)

Truly Madly Deeply is Anthony Minghella's first movie and an early Alan Rickman venue. Rickman plays cellist Jamie, who has recently died of a sudden illness, and Juliet Stevenson is wonderfully moving as Nina, an interpreter whose love for Jamie remains so profound that she can't let go. Suddenly, Jamie appears in the flesh to keep her company. He doesn't remember what death was like because he was under sedation but he seems exactly the same (except he's susceptible to chills). Her friends become even more worried about her as she withdraws from work and society for as long as a week to spend time with him. (Sex in their prior or current relationship is never mentioned or involved.) You really get a feel for Nina's inner life as she goes to work, visits her sister and her therapist, and encounters repairmen and would-be suitors. Truly Madly Deeply is implicitly poetic, romantic, and full of the sweet joys and sorrows surrounding life and death and love. Set in London, I would call it Ghost meets Last Chance Harvey (sort of). I finally obtained this long-term Save title from a competing service (see my growing B--ckbuster list for more titles). However you obtain a copy, don't miss it! Enjoy! 4 stars. (12-21-09 posted 4-7-10)

High School Musical: The Concert (2007)

If you loved High School Musical then see this concert (filmed live in Houston). Deprived of the movie's dramatic settings for each song, this hour-long concert isn't as much fun as the movie. However, Disney provides a smattering of context with a large-screen backdrop and prerecorded portions of the soundtrack -- and together with the vocals and choreography, that's about all you need for a fairly rousing rendition of "Head in the Game" and a number of other tunes. Being Disney, they had to fit in a few songs from several artists' debut albums and most of these are good. The concert has a lot of energy as a rule but ebbs lowest when Drew and Vanessa are trying to command the huge stage by themselves (while the band sounds like it's phoning in their accompaniment). Granted, the choreography is not perfect -- hence Disney is very selective about its camera shots -- but what's to love about High School Musical is how strong the vocals and choreography are compared to what's been done previously. In any case, the concert is all about the movie's legions of preteen fans -- about nostalgia, reliving the experience, and singing along. 3.5 stars.

High School Musical (2006)

High School Musical is a fun, dippy, sweet, charmer of a movie about, well, a high school musical. First of all, you must realize that High School Musical is no Gone With the Wind or Phantom of the Opera, OK? Second of all, you can see all the scene and vocal setups coming a mile away. (The star insists he's "basketball guy" and has no idea how to sing, then finds himself on the stage as if it were an accident -- and launches into executing intricate pop harmonies, moon walks, and so on. Ri-i-ight.) Third and best of all, most of the roles are caricatures of the Jock, the Nerd, the Drama Teacher, the Drama Queen, and so on. I grinned over Mrs. Darbus (Alyson Reed) -- her every Drama Teacher mannerism is a hoot! Troy (Zac Efron) is the talented Wildcats basketball team captain with a dad and coach who is a former team champ. The school goes all out with team spirit (and choreography) and everyone counts on Zac to "keep his head in the game." Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) is a math/science whiz who ends up transferring to his school (from San Diego to Albuquerque) shortly after they were thrown together and shared a magical karaoke duet during a resort's New Year's Eve party. Sharpay (Ashley Tinsdale) does great as the control-freak drama queen who has to fight for the first time in 16 years (or just ratchet up the manipulation, actually) to command and star in the school's musical production with her schmaltzy stage partner and brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel). I sincerely appreciate the anti-peer-pressure, just-be-yourself message of the movie and you've gotta love the vocal arrangements and performances in nearly every song. See this one if you're 17 or under or just love musicals -- it'll stick with you and hold up under repeat viewing! 4 stars. (2-6-10 posted 4-7-10)