April Morning (:33) 1988

Based on a novel by Harold Fast, the "shot heard around the world" and the first day of fighting between the "lobsterbacks" and the rebels is the focus of this Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. The beginning of the war is seen through the eyes of Adam Cooper, the 15 year old farmer's son. On April 19, 1775, the militia receives word that the British are coming when Paul Revere rides through the town of Lexington. The 79 member militia stand up to the British but with the intention of not engaging the enemy in battle. A shot is fired by a rebel causing the British to charge at the crowd. Adam sees his father shot through the chest and sees other neighbors bayoneted. This begins a day of guerrilla warfare with the outnumbered militia shooting at the marching British troops. The Revolutionary War is taught in fifth and grade history. This is a very good film for students to watch to understand both the start of the war but also the horrors of men dying on the battlefield. There is bloodshed but it is shown in a way that is not gory. Also shown is how fighting and killing the enemy is hard on the combatants especially for the young men. I recommend this movie for history fans and for students studying that period in time.

Coming Attractions

On July 4th, Americans celebrate the birth of our nation. This happened when the colonies declared our independence from Great Britain. After the Revolutionary War, the colonies became The United States of America. During the next four days, movies and documentaries about the War and the people of that time will be highlighted.
To all Americans, have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend.

Shrek Forever After (1:33) 2010

The final chapter in the Shrek's series is the ogre's version of It's a Wonderful Life. Shrek is married with three children and has become very domesticated. Missing his previous life as an ogre who frightens everyone in his path, Shrek signs a contract with Rumpelstiltskin which allows him to go back in time before he met Fiona, Puss and Donkey. The message of this animation is be careful for what you wish for. Shrek realizes that he has made a mistake and has 24 hours to correct it. Will he be able to have Fiona fall in love with him as a kiss will restore him back to the present? This is a cute movie for Shrek fans. It is also time for the Shrek movies to come to an end.

The Least Among You (1:37) 2009

During the Watts riots in 1965, Richard Kelly is arrested for assaulting a police officer. The young African American male is given an alternative to prison. He can attend a seminary for two semesters that his mother applied to in his name and he will receive probation. Kelly opts for the seminary. Kelly is a college graduate and had an employment in his field before his arrest, so the seminary attendance is something to do for a year. When he gets to the seminary, he finds out that he is the only African American student there. The president of the seminary, Alan Beckett, calls on Kelly to be a leader and bring change to the seminary. Kelly faces prejudice when he begins a petition to change the seminary by-laws so that more African Americans will be enrolled and hired as faculty. Kelly also faces the challenges of his home life - his mother is very ill and needs money for dialysis, money the family does not have. The movie is pretty interesting because it is based on the true story of the Rev. Dr. Kelly. Lou Gossett, Jr. plays the part of Sam, the caretaker of the seminary who befriends and supports Richard during the tough times. The weakness of the film is in the fact that little of Richard persuading his peers to sign the petition is shown. All in all, this is an incredible story of how one's path in life can quickly and unexpectedly change.

Page One: Inside the New York Times (1:28) 2011

Newspapers like the Baltimore Sun are going out of business due to a drop of advertising revenue. The popularity of the Internet and sites like Twitter and WikiLeaks is changing the way people are accessing the news. The Atlantic Monthly  in an editorial posed the question of what would happen if The New York Times went under. This documentary deals with that issue by taking an inside look at the newspaper. The staff including the Editor-in-Chief are interviewed. David Carr, a reporter that writes about the changing media, is shown in the process of researching a story about The Tribune. One hundred staff were given a buyout or laid off as a cost cutting measure and scenes of staff on their last day are highlighted. I thought this was a very interesting documentary which posed very interesting questions or put forth interesting topics. Where will the reputable print newspapers fit in today's world. Will The New York Times adjust and incorporate Twitter and blogs? How will we access dependable, unbiased, reliable news?

Tron Legacy (2:07) 2010

Tron Legacy picks up with the story of Kevin Flynn, missing for almost 25 years, sending a signal to his partner, Alan Bradley. Sam, Kevin's son and heir, activates something and is transported to a new world. The new world is inside a computer program or Tron worlds, I think. Sam and Kevin are reunited after Sam survives a motorcycle race. The special effects of the race are very impressive. I honestly didn't understand the storyline expect that Sam, like Dorothy, is trying battle his way home. Frankly, as much as I like science fiction movies, I had no idea what was going on. And I really didn't care that I didn't know what was going on. I do have to say that I watched the Visualizing Tron which is a bonus feature on the DVD. I have a better understanding of the movie and might suggest that this bonus feature before seeing the main feature. Or skip the entire movie altogether!

Sixty Six (1:34) 2006

Sixty Six refers to the year 1966. Bernie is a 12 year old Jewish boy preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. Bernie is looking forward to the party and the gifts and is spending endless hours planning the party. Besides being the center of attention on the big day, he wants to have a party as nice or nicer than his older brother's. His parents can afford the party of his dreams, his father and uncle own a grocery store in London and are doing well. As the day draws nearer, plans start falling apart. A chain grocery store moves two doors down from the family business and draws away the customers. Bernie realizes that England's soccer team will be in the World Cup with the finals on the day of his party. English soccer fans are having World Cup fever and the guests start canceling with various odd reasons. Bernie's father is depressed and Bernie is having difficulty seeing his dreams set asunder. This is a sweet movie, although it is a comedy, viewers feel for Bernie as he struggles with disappointment after disappointment.  A coming-of-age movie that families will enjoy.

The Infidel (1:45) 2009

The Infidel is a British comedy about a Muslim family man that discovers he was adopted by his deceased parents when he was two weeks old. As he is coming to terms with the news of his adoption, Mahmud learns that he was given up for adoption by his Jewish birth parents. Mahmud, played by stand-up comedian Omid Djalili, is caught between two worlds. To further complicate matters, his son Tariq is engaged to marry the step-daughter of a radical Muslim. Mahmud locates his birth father at a local Jewish home for the aged and is prevented from visiting him by the rabbi. This is meant to be a comedy and there are some fun moments as Mahmud attends a bar mitzvah with his newly made friend, Lenny. There are some very serious moments when Mahmud reveals his true heritage on local television. His wife leaves him, not because he is Jewish, but he hid the truth from her. This is a movie filled with funny one-liners while dealing with a very serious subject. The Infidel is an engaging film while dealing with the issues of tolerance, prejudice and acceptance in a inoffensive manner. It's worth a look.

The Power of Forgiveness (1:17) 2007

The Power of Forgiveness is a documentary made for South Carolina's public television. The director, Martin Doblmeier, examines the power of forgiveness. The act of forgiveness could be either forgiving those who have wronged you or the act of forgiving yourself. Doblmeier highlights people in North Ireland, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, and the Amish community after the October 2006 school shooting. The efforts to establish a Forgiveness Garden at Ground Zero is also discussed. Psychologists,  university professors and clinicians are interviewed and focus on the process and outcomes of forgiveness. I found this gem on Netflix, the documentary was labeled a Top Rated film. I would like to echo that rating. This is a documentary that is well worth viewing. One speaker mentioned that forgiveness and compassion is high frequency and revenge and anger are low frequency. Maybe it is well past time that we,both  in an individual and global way,  reframe our thinking.

Monogamy (1:34) 2010

Theo is a photographer who is engaged to be married. He is bored with his job photographing weddings but does enjoy being hired by clients to take candid photos. The photos are so candid that his clients don't know exactly when they are being taken. His wedding to Nat and his career on are on track until he is hired by subgirl (her screenname) to take candid photos. Theo discovers that subgirl wants pictures which are sexual, either alone or with a man. Theo is riveted to subgirl as he shoots her during his assigned times. His preoccupation with his client starts to interfere with his relationship with his fiancee Nat. With Theo and Nat's wedding just three months away, they both have second thoughts. Will the wedding go forward? Monogamy is an American Spirit Award nominated independent film. It really wasn't my cup of tea. There were scenes that kept my interest, but over all, just didn't hit the mark.

Bad Teacher (1:31) 2011

Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz) and I have one thing in common - we both teach at a Middle School. And that's where the similarities end. Elizabeth spends a year teaching  and planning her wedding to her very rich finance. On the last day of school, she returns home to have her finance tell her the wedding is off. She returns to school with one goal - raise $10,000 for a good cause - her breast enlargement surgery. She believes that this enhancement will attraction the new substitute teacher,  an heir to a watch fortune. Elizabeth embarks on making extra money by helping with the car wash and trying to earn the prize money for most improved school scores. Oh, Elizabeth drinks, smokes pot, skims money and cheats. That is the other big difference between Elizabeth and me! It was a fun film after a tough ending school year. I didn't like seeing the teachers smoke pot especially on school grounds. The crude language wasn't my cup of tea either.  I did recognize some characteristics in her colleagues and in some of the students but I took this for what it is worth - a mindless summer romp. And yes, in my fantasy world, I would like to be Cameron Diaz in the car wash scene.

Kill the Irishman (1:46) 2011

Based on the life of Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman tells the story of the war between the Irish mob and the Italian mafia in the 1970s. Set in Cleveland, Danny grows up in a rough Italian neighborhood after the death of his mother following his birth. He works on the docks and using his native intelligence and Irish charm becomes the union leader. Following his arrest and conviction, Danny faces a lifetime ban from the union and turns to organized crime. This eventually leads him to battle the mafia. In 1976, thirty six bombs were used to assassinate members of both crime families. This ultimately led to the downfall of the Italian crime families in Cleveland. This is a good movie for the its type. There are shooting, stabbings, car and house bombings but it is a retelling of actual events. Ray Stevenson is wonderful as the charismatic, intelligent Danny, a man who strives to be a Celtic warrior but ends up as a thug.

Ingredients (1:06) 2011

Ingredients is a real gem of a documentary. Buying food from local farms is highlighted with organic farms in Oregon, Ohio and New York being featured. There are many scenes of crops being harvested and sent to nearby local restaurants and farm markets. Several chefs are interviewed as they explain the reasons they have made the shift from large food vendors to farmers with whom they have a personal connection. This is an excellent documentary which lead me to reexamine both my buying and eating habits. The documentary is divided into four sections, one section for each season. After viewing Ingredients, I'm actually looking forward to winter for the seasonal foods but not for the weather. My suggestion is that Ingredients belongs high on the queue as it gives a lot of food for thought. As Julia Childs would say "Bon Appetit."

Midnight in Paris (!:34) 2011

Owen Wilson is Gil, a screenwriter who is visiting Paris with his fiancee. He would like to live in Paris and finish his novel but Inez wants to settle in Malibu. When Inez goes with her friends dancing, Gil begs off saying he wants to walk the city. At the stroke of midnight, an antique car pulls up and the party goers offer him a ride. When they enter a nightclub, Gil meets Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Cole Porter and a host of famous people. Gil realizes he has been transported back to the 1920s which he considers the golden age of Paris. During the day he returns to the hotel and his life with Inez. Each night he returns to the 1920s and continues to party with Hemingway, Dali and other famous artists and writers of that time. Gil also falls for Adriana, played by Marion Cotillard. Gil must comes to terms with living in the present or living in the past. Midnight in Paris is a typical Woody Allen movie, and Allen at his best. The film contains many shots in and around Paris, both during the day and at night. The soundtrack adds to the movie experience. To great delight, Wilson delivers lines in a typical Woody Allen fashion. This was a treat. If you are a fan of Allen's movie and/or enjoy a clever romantic comedy, transport yourself to the nearest theater.

Tangled (1:40) 2010

Last year's Tangled was a hit with critics and children alike. And deservedly so. Tangled is Disney's animated story of Rapunzel, the long golden hair young princess locked in a tower.  Flynn, a handsome thief running away from the king's men, encounters Rapunzel in the tower. The two escape the tower so that Rapunzel can see the firework display put on by the king and queen. Rapzunel does not realize that the royal couple are her real parents. Rapzunel's mother, the woman she believes to be her mother, is chasing after the couple. Hot on Flynn's trail are the king's men and Flynn's partners in crime. As Rapunzel and Flynn are avoiding the people that will pull them apart, they find true love. This is a wonderfully delightful animation based on one of my favorite children's story. Let down your hair, stretch out and watch Tangled.

3 Idiots (2:40) 2009

I detest this movie title but really enjoyed this Bollywood film. The style of this film is hard to explain. It's serious, it's slapstick, it's a romance with song and dance. Three friends, Rancho, Raju and Farhan are studying engineering at an Indian engineering university. Rancho has a devil-may-care attitude and revolts against the high pressure of the school. Rancho is there to learn for the joy of learning. The trio try to outwit their nemesis, Virus, a rigid no nonsense college dean. Rancho, the leader of the group, falls for the daughter of the dean making the situation even more complicated. Although some of the antics remind me of Animal House, the serious subject of suicide is dealt with. One student, buckling under the pressure, attempts suicide by jumping out the third floor, another hangs himself as he doesn't want to enter the field and does so only to please his father. This is an interesting look at a very different culture but one that highly values learning. It was also interesting to see how adult men and women abide by the father's wishes. Watching the movie was a little bit of a culture shock, it took me about a half an hour to get accustomed to the style but I really did grow to like the main characters.

X-Men: First Class (2:13) 2011

X-Men: First Class is the prequel to the X-Men movies starring Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman. The newest version takes us back to the beginning showing Magneto as a young boy whose parents are victims of the Holocaust and Charles Xavier as a young professor. The story is mostly set in the time of the Cuban missile crisis as the insane Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) tries to start a nuclear war so Shaw can take control of the world. Xavier and Magneto, who begin as friends, train the young mutants. There is a showdown of good vs and evil with Xavier and Magneto the finale of the friends parting ways. I saw this movie with my daughter and my two nephews. This is a fun summer movie packed with action and special effects. If you are a fan of X-Men, see this movie!

Bride Flight (2:10) 2008

Bride Flight is a film from the Netherlands. Three women, Ada, Esther, Marjorie and Frank leave for New Zealand as part of  the Last Great Air Race from London to Christchurch in October 1953. They are all wanting to build  new lives while escaping post World War II Europe. The four meet on the plane ride and become friends. And friends with benefits. The women are joining their finance, or husband or starting a business. Frank's ambition is to become a farmer. Relationships are formed, romances develop, and life moves on as these four lives become intertwined. The film begins in 2008 with the death of Frank and told in flashbacks. This was a very good movie. Both my daughter and I enjoyed it very much. The characters were likable and believable. The New Zealand scenery was absolutely marvelous. At times, the movie had a soap opera feel but it was a guilty pleasure. Hooray for this Dutch chick flick.

The Kennedys TV Miniseries (0:44 each episode) 2011

All of my family are from Massachusetts. I was the first member of my family on both sides, not to be born in Massachusetts since probably the 1850s. I grew up hearing all about the Kennedys - the good, the bad and the ugly. The Kennedys is a Canadian production made for The History Channel. Receiving pressure from Caroline Kennedy and Maria Shriver, The History Channel pulled the miniseries from its programming. The eight part miniseries found a home on ReelzChannel in the US. I watched it when it became available on Netflix. My first impression is that it is historically accurate - The Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the fight over integration of the Mississippi college by Meridith are as I remember them, especially with actual news footage being used. The miniseries deals with some of the scandals were have heard about one being JFK's involvement with Marilyn Monroe. The president's father, Joe Kennedy, is in the first several episodes and his involvement in buying the election for Jack is clearly shown. Tom Wilkerson is probably the best of the cast. The other actors are good but not great. There is something missing - not sure what it is however. The miniseries certainly held my interest with the last two episodes were the best. I think The History Channel made the correct choice, The Kennedys is a better fit for Lifetime.

Super 8 (1:51) 2011

In the summer of 1979, Joe and Charlie are spending summer vacation filming a zombie movie for a Super 8 film contest for teenagers. As they are filming a scene by the railroad station of their small Ohio town, the passing freight train derails. The derailment is deliberately caused by their science teacher driving into the engine.  Soon after the derailment, the military arrives to investigate the crash. Quickly, the residents find that their microwaves, engines, and other metal items are missing. The town's dogs have run away to later be found in a neighboring county. What is the cause of these mysterious events? What is the military covering up?  This is a fun summer movie which reminded me of the movie The Goonies but this time with a science fiction theme. The kids are cute, funny and quirky. The special effects are impressive and enhance to the quickly paced story. See it!

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (2:01) 2010

Why Did I Get Married Too? is a sequel to Why Did I Get Married? a movie that I missed. In reading reviews and write ups, the cast of characteristics remained the same. Four African-American couples take a yearly vacation together, this time in Bermuda. The movie is about their marriages and woven together by friendships between the women and the men. One couple is struggling financially, one couple has lost a young child, infidelity and suspected infidelity, and the return of an ex-husband are all story lines. Janet Jackson does an excellent job of playing the wife stoically grieving over the loss of her son as she shuts out her husband. The movie was entertaining in the same way as most made for television movies. The characters are likable but I wasn't invested in any of them either individually or as couples.

The Winning Season (1:44) 2009

Sam Rockwell stars as Bill, the newly appointed coach of a high school's girls basketball team. Bill is divorced with a teenage daughter and their relationship is rocky. The girls on the team have some talent but have never really trained as a team. Bill rather coach boys basketball and takes the job halfheartedly. The girls sense this and give him attitude. During the course of the season, Bill gets to know the girls and develops an appropriate coach-player with each of the girls. The team, very predictably, start winning games. Just as life is getting better, Bill is pulled over for DUI. The principalh fires him and bars him from attending the games. Bill and the assistant coach look for ways that Bill can still coach. Will the girls win  the sectionals?
Sam Rockwell gives a great performance as the struggling underachiever who responds to the girls caring about him. The girls, in return, look to their coach to become the best players they can be. This movie is predictable and I didn't care for the language from both the coach and the girls, it was crude and vulgar. I did enjoy the developing relationship that was warm and caring.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (1:30) 2010

In 1994, three scientists were checking out air currents looking for hidden caves. The trio came across the a cave in France. After gathering the proper equipment, the threesome squeezed through a narrow shaft and discovered  the Chauvet Cave. Much to their surprise and delight, the walls contained  art work that was determined to be 30,000 years old. Happily, the airtight cave kept the art in pristine condition. Werner Herzog received permission to film inside the cave and the resulting documentary shows the paintings of animals of that time in different chambers. This was a fascinating documentary but the narration is aimed towards adults. I didn't have the opportunity to see the film in 3D and I suspect that this is one documentary that would be worth the extra dollars. If you are interested in this topic the following link will lead you to the Chauvet Cave web site:
http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/chauvet/en/index.html.

Generation RX (1:21) 2008

Generation RX is a documentary that examines the issue of psychotropic drugs being prescribed for children and teenagers. Make no mistake about it, this documentary does not attempt to provide a balanced discussion. Generation RX takes the position that anti-depressants like Paxil and Zoloft should not prescribed for children. There is a God. I've saying this for years, As a special education teacher of 25 years, I have been very concerned about the growing use of prescription drugs for students with learning and/or mental health issues When I first started teaching, a student here or there may be taking Ritalin. Within the last 10 years, I have seen more and more young teenagers on Zoloft, Paxil, and Respirdal and sometimes in combination. I often think what will the consequences be for these students twenty years from now. I'll get off my soap box now. Please parents, think long and hard about this issue. Actually, after viewing this documentary, I don't think a parent will have to think very long.

In Therapy - Diva (1:29) 2010

This Brazilian romantic comedy revolves around Mercedes, a forty year old married women with two teenage sons. Mercedes decides to see a psychoanalyst to discuss her life. The scenes with her therapist are always monologues, we see the back of his head and he makes no comments. During the course of three years, Mercedes divorces Gustavo, her husband of twenty years. Mercedes has affairs with two men, Theo and a nineteen year old. Mercedes has a best friend from high school, Monica, who shares all the ups and downs. This is a lighthearted film with one seriously touching emotional scene. My reaction to In Therapy at first was tentative but the movie grew on me, the characters are all  likable. Lilia Cabral is excellent as Mercedes, a loving and caring woman, who keeps searching for the meaning of life. I truly enjoyed this movie.

Princess Kaiulani (1:37) 2009

Princess Kaiulani was the niece of the last ruling king of Hawaii. Princess Kaiulani was also known as Victoria Cleghorn as she was the daughter of a Scot. The movie begins with Princess Kaiulani as a teenager. Her mother has died years earlier a decision is made for Princess Kaiulani to be educated in England. She is saddened to leave Hawaii but does as the king and her father plan.  She lives in England for several years and falls in love with Clive, a young Englishman. She receives news that her uncle has died but his wife will be queen. The news that is kept from her is that Hawaii as a nation will no longer exist, it is to become a territory of the United States. When she finally learns of the impending annexation, she leaves for Hawaii believing her people need her. Upon her arrival in Hawaii, Princess Kaiulani becomes the voice of the native people so that will be given voting rights.
Princess Kaiulani received poor reviews when it was released. It is an important story of the native Hawaiian people and the movie seems to be historically accurate. It is the first movie ever to be filmed in Honolulu's Iolani Palace. The acting is good but the script is lacking, it has the feeling of a television movie.

And Baby Will Fall (2:00) 2011 A Lifetime Channel Movie

I was just flipping through channels and happen to come across And Baby Will Fall, a Lifetime movie. Honestly, I quickly got sucked into this movie. Ivy and David are married and expecting. They are excited because because Ivy has had several miscarriages. The couple are having a garage sale and a high school classmate of  David's stops by. Soon after, Melinda is reported missing. As the police are investigating, they find Melinda's bloody clothes in the couple's trash can and later a bloody knife is found at David's place of business. Quickly, David becomes the prime suspect. As the police build their case, Ivy decides to prove that David has been set up and begins her own investigation. Although I can't say this is a good movie, it really held my attention because at times, David seemed innocent and other times he seemed guilty.

Burma VJ: Reporter i et lukket land (1:24) 2008

Thirty video cameramen using hand held cameras recorded the 2007 Burma protests against their repressive military government. These brave men used the Internet and couriers to smuggle tape out of the country. These recordings were sent to Norway to be broadcast to the world by CNN. Burma, also known as Myanmar, has  Buddhist monks and nuns, joined by students, leading protests in the streets of Rangoon. Monks were arrested, beaten and some disappeared. The courage of the monks and protesters is inspiring. Other scenes are frightening as people are being film while being shot, shot at and teargassed. There are a few reenactments and some shaking camerawork but this is a very important story that the world needs to see. In America, we take our freedoms for granted. In Burma, possessing a  video camera could lead to the owner's arrests. This is a documentary for anyone interested in human rights issues. This is definitely a film for world history and political science students.

The Eclipse (1:26) 2009

A shop teacher in an Irish seaside town is adjusting to life without his wife who died several years earlier. Michael has two children and a father-in-law in a local nursing home. The town of Cobh is having a literary festival and Michael is a volunteer. He is assigned to drive Lena, one of the authors, to and from the festival. Michael is intrigued when he hears Lena, as Lena has written a book of ghosts. Michael is hearing strange noises in the house, having vivid dreams and has a vision of his father-in-law, in a decaying form, one night as he is driving home. Michael and Lena get to know each other but Nicholas, another visiting writer, keeps intruding as he had a fling with Lena in the past. Nicholas has a drinking problem and lets Lena know of his resentment of her attention to Michael. How will this trio resolve all their issues?  The Eclipse is a movie that is part drama, romance, and horror. There were a couple of brief scenes that gave me the creeps but this was balanced with quiet and sweet scenes between Michael and Lena. I am not of fan of any type of horror but this had a different quality. It is a straight forward movie, no razzle-dazzle, just good old fashion acting with a decent and unusual plot.

12 (2:39) 2007

12 is the critically acclaimed Russian version of  Twelve Angry Men. In this adapted version, twelve men from all walks of life serve on a jury deciding the fate of  a young Chechen man accused on murdering his foster father, a Russian soldier. The jury quickly takes a vote as they initally view this as an open and shut case. Eleven vote guilty, one man votes not guilty. As they begin to discuss the case, one by one, the jurors switch their vote because they each have reasonable doubt. As the deliberations wear on, each juror reveals an event from his own life intertwined with flashbacks of the accused's early life. 12 shows the Russian system of justice with its similarities and differences to our system. 12 is a very good movie and it is good and long. I had to take a break after two hours, 12 definitely could have been shortened. The ending of the movie, when I finally got to it, was very powerful. If  long Russian novels are your thing, knock yourself out on some long winter's night.