Week 14

Comedy: Hairspray (2007)
A remake of the 1988 film about a young girl's quest to get a spot on a local dance show and ends up creating change. This is a pretty good musical but the best part of the movie are the jokes. You have to pay attention because most of the funny jokes are underneath a layer of the happy musical.

Romance: Romeo and Juliet (1996)
Director Baz Lurhman brings his wild and crazy, acidic style to the classic Shakespearean story about a young couple who meet, fall in love, and take their lives (in three days). I'm a big Shakespeare fan, and I think that Lurhman does an amazing job of taking this classic and putting it in our own time without losing any of it's poetry, passion, or intensity.
NOTE: The language of the film is the Shakespearean language, so it will take some time getting used to it while watching th film (and it was intentional to make the language seem kind of comedic and over the top).

Kid Appropriate: Thunderbirds (2004)
A film based off an old TV show about a man who has trained his many sons in operating special machines called Thunderbirds which they use to save the world. But when dad and his older brothers are in trouble, it's up to Alan and his friends to save the family and save the world. It's cute and colorful and kids will enjoy it but I got a real kick out of Sophia Myles' character, Lady Penelope. (She was my favorite part).

Guy Appropriate: Top Gun (1986)
A film about two friends who enter into a highly competitive program in the navy. It's a pretty good movie; there's action, romance, and entertainment and it was made back in the day before Tom Cruise went crazy!
NOTE: Yes, it's kind of cheesy but it's the 80's; if nobofy can put Baby in a corner, then we can feel the need for speed!

Must See...MOM MOVIE: The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005)
A film based on the true story about one mother using her ability with words to win contests to help provide for her ten children. I love movies about big families but this one is special; it's not really about the big family, it'a about a mother providing for her children. It's sweet, sad, and is a great story.
NOTE: Evelyn Ryan, the mother, could teach us all something about attitude, be on the lookout for it while watching.

Coming Soon: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Released: August 6, 2008
The four friends who share special pair of jeans are back in this sequel to the first film and book. Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen are back and from the preview it looks as if the film is largerly based off of the adventures in the fourth book, after the girls have completed their first year in college. I love this friendship story and of the four books the fourth is my favorite so I am really looking forward to this film.
http://sisterhoodofthetravelingpants2.warnerbros.com/

Don't Bother: Freedomland (2006)
This film is about a woman who's son is missing and the search causes tensions in a racially charged neighborhood. This looked like an interesting film, but it turned out to be awful. The story's not very good and the ending is not real satisfactory.