The Grey (1:57) 2012

Ottway (Liam Neeson) is on a plane departing from an Alaskan oil rig. The plane crashes into the tundra with Ottway and six other rig workers surviving. The group begins to walk towards to the treeline to their chances of survival. They are in agreement if they stay with the charred plane they will freeze or run out of food as rescue is unlikely. The most imminent danger to the group's survive is a pack of wolves, very big wolves. The pack is not afraid of the humans; quite the opposite, the wolves wait until an individual has walked away from the group and then attack. As Ottway and the others walk, the members are picked off one by one. Sometimes death comes  from a wolf, sometimes illness and accidents. The Grey is a man's action/survival thriller. Although it comes with blood and gore, I do admit that I did like this movie. I found that the movie held my interest, the survival activities in the Alaskan wilderness seemed realistic. Of course, my wilderness experience is limited to reading Gentle Ben and Brian's Winter with my sixth graders.

We Are Marshall (2:11) 2006

In 1970, The Marshall University football team, coaches and staff were returning home from a North Carolina game when the plane crashed killing seventy five members. The University experienced profound grief and shock at the huge loss. The University officials considered discontinuing the football program realizing how difficult a task this would be. In West Virginia, football is a way of life so the rebuilding began with the hiring of the new coach  Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey). Lengyel knew this was going to be a difficult uphill task. Using rookies and second string players, Lengyel and his assistant coach, who had  decided to drive home instead of being on the plane, field a team of proud and fierce competitors. Through hard work, the team shows they have the right stuff both on the field and off as they lead the university and town to healing. The movie received mediocre reviews from the critics but was an audience pleaser. Filmed at Marshall University, one of the most powerful scenes I've experienced still moves me to tears. As the university officials are meeting to decide the fate of the football program, the student body gathers outside their office and shout "We Are Marshall". Have tissues ready. Go Herd!

The Tracker (1:42) 2010

Set in 1902 New Zealand, Kereama is wrongly accused of murdering a British soldier. Knowing that will not receive a fair trial because is a Maori, Kereama escapes a runs towards the island's interior. A small troop of soldiers chase after him. Knowing that he is a native of the island,  the a British Army major hires an immigrant Afrikaner veteran of the Boer War as a tracker. When the Afrikaner captures Kereama, the pair heads back to headquarters. As time goes on, the Afrikaner realizes that Kereama is really innocent is a victim of racism. The Afrikaner lost his wife and daughters in the Boer War and rightfully blames the British for their deaths. If the Afrikaner releases his captive, he will lose the bounty he needs to begin again. If he brings Kereama in, the bounty is collected by he has condemned a man to death. Will he help the British army, the army that is responsible for his fanilies' death? I wish I had been able to see this movie on the big screen, the New Zealand scenery, especially the the waterfalls are breathtaking. Of course, being of Irish descent, I, too, have a poor opinion of past British government policies. This is a very interesting movie.

Remember the Titans (1:53) 2000

In 2000, after arriving at the Middle School to teach, it was my good fortune to chaperone the eighth grade class to the local theater to see Remember the Titans. Denzel Washington was the newly hired coach of a Virgina high school football team. This true story took place in 1971 and integration in the Southern States was just taking place. The football team had a difficult time accepting the members of the other race. The assistant coach was disappointed that he was passed over when the new coach was hired. Over time, the team begins to form friendships and close working relationships. As the team begins to win games, a few parents began to make problems for the coach. Besides the parental problems, the teams run into racism from other teams and the referees. In spite of overwhelming odds, the team posts winning a winning record and are headed to the state championships. Will they take home the title? I've seen this movie many times. I love the characters, the storyline and the soundtrack. I highly recommend this family movie containing the positive social themes of acceptance, tolerance, and determination.

Superbowl Sunday Nears

One a year, the National Football League champions face off against the American League champions in the Superbowl. This year, the New England Patriots will play the New York Giants for the Superbowl Title. Many people will have parties, eat and drink too much, place bets or enter pools to be part of this annual event. This is especially true on the East Coast this year. Of course, the people who do follow football will be at the movies. On Sunday, the theaters will be full of woman as the movie industry claims they do well with their click flicks. I am a Patriots fan and do like the Giants so I will watch the game. But I intend to be a the matinee on Sunday. In order to help celebrate a great American sport, three highly rated movies will be reviewed this weekend.

Groundhog Day (1:42) 1993

A long standing American tradition is the annual celebration of Groundhog Day on February 2. Each year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the town residents watch for Phil, the groundhog to come out of his burrow. If Phil sees his shadow, as he did today, there will be six weeks more of winter.  Ten years ago, Bill Murray starred in a movie titled Groundhog Day. Murray is Phil, a TV weatherman sent to Punxsutawney to cover the Groundhog Day festivities, an assignment he dislikes. His crew consists of a producer and cameraman which he treats them poorly. Bill has become bitter, he  believes he should be on national television. The day after Groundhog Day, Phil wakes up and quickly realizes that he is stuck in February 2nd. He repeats the events of the day already knowing the outcome. He goes to bed and wakes up again to find it is Groundhog Day. He tries to break the loop with crazy antics without success. He finally realizes that he has to change his approach and treat people with respect. Will the new Phil make time move on. This is a highly successful and popular comedy which I watch periodically. If you come across it today, take the time to watch and enjoy this movie.

Mooz-lum (1:39) 2010

Tariq Mahdi has gone off to college. He has a roommate who is also Muslimbut Tariq is not very friendly and rejects his offer to join the Muslim club at the University. Tariq, or T, as he prefers to be called is distant with his father. T has a loving, but distance, relationship with his mother and sister. Tariq's sister is close in age and does visit him on campus. The reason for his anger and confusion about his religion is told in flashbacks. We learn of his experience with a teacher at a Muslim boarding school he attended when he was a teenager. While his sister is visiting him, the WTC is attacked, turning the spotlight on the Muslim students and they blacklash they experienced. I found this to be a gem of an independent film as it looks at a family under stress. The movie's theme is that of peace and reconciliation. The cast is small but excellent in their roles. The background music is beautifully haunting.