Week 7

Comedy: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
Based off of the novels of Rebecca Wells, this film follows the life of one woman and her daughter and the mother’s three life long friends who have always been their to pick her up and put her back together again. I loved the book, but I liked the movie better because the film has a lot more focus on the Ya-Ya’s, were as in the book I felt like they almost became background characters.

Romance: Stardust (2007)
A film about a young man’s adventure to seek a fallen star and the journey that leads him to the discovery of his own strength. This film is very good; the acting is great, the scenes are beautiful, the cast is amazing (Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Claire Danes), the story is original and to top it all off, it is really funny!

Kid Appropriate: The Princess Diaries 1&2 (2001 & 2004)
These films are about a young woman who is in training to become the queen of her country and her adventures and mishaps along the way. Both films are great and very kid appropriate but the first, where she finds out she is a princess, is definitely better than the second, where she is trying to find her hansom prince. This was Anne Hathaway’s break out role and a great reintroduction to Julie Andrews; they both make you smile as you watch.

Guy Appropriate: 300 (2007)
This film is the latest adaptation of the legendary tale of the 300 Spartans who fought the entire Persian army to the death because they would not surrender. Everyone I talked to really liked this movie but I kept dragging my feet about seeing it. Finally I sat down and watched it and Oh My God!! It was awesome; the story was slick and it had the perfect combination of gritty, gruesome details with fantastical embellishments to create a great epic story.
NOTE: Fair warning, it is very violent and bloody!

Must See…KEIRA KNIGHTLEY FILM: Atonement (2007)
Based off the novel by Ian McEwan, this film follows the events of one hot day in the 30’s through the eyes of a dramatic young girl who then accuses her sister’s lover of a heinous crime. This movie was a perfect follow up film from director Joe Wright who last brought Pride and Prejudice to the big screen. I haven’t read the book, but I thought the sequence of the way events played out was interesting, the story was good, the acting was great, and the best part I thought was the music. The filmmakers took all the beats in the music from sounds of things in the background, my favorite being the beat of the typewriter keys in sync with the music.
NOTE: As with Pride and Prejudice, there is a really amazing scene in the film were there are no cuts for several minutes; it is the scene on the beach when the men are walking around while all these different things are going on.

Coming Soon: Be Kind Rewind
Released: February 22, 2008*
A comedy about two friends who decide to remake the films that they accidentally erased at their small rental shop. I’m not sure I’m going to like this movie, it looks funny but it also looks like it might be too stupid for my taste but I usually like Jack Black so I’ll give it a try.
http://www.bekindmovie.com/

Don’t Bother: Drop Dead Fred (1991)
A young woman already trying to deal with the problems in her life, now must also try and keep her crazy imaginary friend from childhood in line while he tries to cause trouble. Sounds bad I know, but a friend of mine recommended to me because she loved it and I’m sorry but I will not let other people suffer from ignorance. This was horrible! Bad story, bad acting, and worst of all it’s supposed to be a kid’s film; this is the most inappropriate, unintelligent children’s film I’ve ever seen.
*Information from http://www.comingsoon.net/