Week 3

Comedy: Man of the House (2005)
Five University of Texas cheerleaders witness a murder and are given an old Texas ranger to protect them until the murderer is caught. This movie is soooo funny, Tommy Lee Jones is the ranger sent to protect these clueless cheerleaders and he and the girls quarrel about everything! It is also pretty appropriate for kids (although it is rated PG-13) and even my brother laughed, so I think guys could stand watching it.
NOTE: There is an older movie called Man of the House with Chevy Chase which is not near as funny.

Romance: The Holiday (2006)
Two women, one in LA, one in England, who have been unlucky in love switch houses to try and get a break from all their guy trouble and end up finding love in unlikely places. This is a sweet movie; simple and beautifully played out it makes you smile as you watch.
NOTE: There is also some great music in this film.

Kid Appropriate: A Little Princess (1995)
After her father is killed in World War I, the little orphan girl at the girl's boarding school in New York teaches her friends that belief in magic and in yourself can help you get through anything. This movie is sooo beautiful! The whole thing gives of an air of magic while remaining grounded in the reality of one girl's misfortune in early 20th century New York.

Guy Appropriate: Troy (2004)
The epic story of the Illiad told from both sides of the battle; one man wants to be king of neighboring Troy, one wants to love the beautiful Helen at all costs, one wants to protect his home, and one cares nothing of kings and land but everything of glory. This was a really good movie in the style of Gladiator; the acting, sets, and story were all very good but beware it is a war film and is therefore bloody.

Must See...WESTERN: Open Range (2003)
A story about free grazer cattle ranchers who must defend themselves from a local rancher tyrant and his men in a small town. This is probably the most realistic and down to earth western I've ever seen. In this simple story, the stakes aren't outrageous and it shows both the humanity and the dark side of the hero and yet it still has that classic western theme of teaching a town to stand up for itself.
NOTE: I don't know a lot about gunplay in the west, but I've been told that the gun fight in this film is probably the closest to the true look of how it would have gone.

Coming Soon: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Released: May 16, 2008*
The second Disney adaptation of the CS Lewis books about the magical land of Narnia. In this story, the four children return to Narnia after one year in England to find that 1300 years have passed in Narnia and the magic and the creatures that were celebrated in their time have been hidden away and lost to the rule of men but one young boy who should be king has called them back for help in the battle to try and return the land to its former glory. This is my favorite type of movie and I love the CS Lewis books so I'm really exicted for it but I know that not everyone shares my love of this genre. I think that since Disney and Walden media are in charge of this film it should be well done and great for older kids however, it does look to have a darker tone than the first film.

Don't Bother: The Matrix 2 and 3 (2003)
The continued story of Neo and the other surviving humans who are fighting against the machine both within and outside of the Matrix. While the first one had a neat and original story and vision the second and third fall through on the expected power. They are long and boring and other than the special effects (which only interests a few) are not worth the time. I won't tell the ending for those who wish to discover it for themselves, but I thought even that was total crap!

*Information from http://www.comingsoon.net/