Life of Pi (2:07) 2012

Think Tom Hanks, Wilson, the volleyball and the beach. Now morf these images so they become an Indian teenager, a Bengal tiger and a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. Pi, excellently portrayed by Suraj Sharma, battles the elements, the tiger and loneliness as he tries to survive adrift for many days with limited supplies. The scenery and the background music add so much to the film. The Bengal tiger is absolutely beautiful. I recommend this film with the caution that the first several days at sea are hard to watch as a zebra with a broken leg and a hyena land in the small boat with Pi and the tiger. I predict Life of Pi will land multiple Oscar nominations.

Skyfall (2:25) 2012

James Bond is back and looking very young, dashing and rugged for his 50th anniversary. Skyfall is a blend of classic Bond - a casino scene, two international destinations, while chasing and evading the "bad guys". M16, the London headquarters, is the target of a bombing. M, played by Judi Dench, escapes unharmed and 007 has to learn the identity of this villain, seen as an inside job. Q is back as a young computer genius so the gadgets we all loved to see unveiled are gone. Skyfall is a definite transition Bond film. Bond fans will love it for the memories. My daughter, who is not a Bond fan, also enjoyed it. This is a film that will serve as a break from the holiday stress and pressure. See it.

Flight (2:18) 2012

Flight is not an easy movie to write a review. The strengths of the film is the cast - Denzel Washington as Whip Whitaker, a heroic pilot, Don Cheadle as the airline's attorney, and Bruce Greenwood as the pilots' union representative. John Goodman has a smaller role as Whip's friend and drug supplier. Don't worry, nothing is being revealed that isn't in the first fifteen minutes of the movie. Whip is a hero after he lands a plane carrying 102 passengers after flying through extreme turbulance and dealing with a mechanical failure. Whip lands in the hospital with several injuries - eye and leg and awakens to learn that six souls on board have died and his co-pilot has serious injuries. The pilot's union rep informs him that a toxicology report has been taken - not good news for Whip but the airline's attorney will work to suppress the report. Hmmm, the audience is now thinking, I'm not flying again and not because of the weather and the crash landing. Flight is a hard movie to watch but it is worth viewing.

Taken 2 (1:30) 2012

Taken 2 could very well be subtitled Taken For the price of admission. Liam Neeson is his excellent self as Bryan Mills, a retired CIA agent on a security assignment in Istanbul. He is surprised by his teenage daughter, Kim and his ex-wife, Lenore who has recently split from her second husband. Kim has recovered from being taken and almost sold as a sex slave. Bryan and Lenore are the ones, as part of a revenge plot, taken this time. Fortunately, Bryan keeps a small cell phone in his sock so he is able to phone Kim. Kim evades her captors and is able to do all kinds of spy stuff - set off grenades, drive on a speed chase through the crowded streets of the city. Enough said - just rent it. Special note - the scenery of the city is absolutely beautiful on the big screen.