NINE

Official website: "Nine is a vibrant and provocative musical that follows the life of world famous film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he reaches a creative and personal crisis of epic proportion, while balancing the numerous women in his life including  his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Stacy Ferguson) and his mother (Sophia Loren)."


This was fun to watch and experience on the big screen. Though matinee-worthy, stepping into the fantasy world of the Maestro was a complete throwback to '60s period films. I still plan on watching "8 1/2", on which this musical feature is based. 

Funniest line: "I'll be waiting for you here . . . with my legs open!" (Penelope Cruz)

500 Days of Summer on DVD

Jacket: "In this quirky romantic comedy about love and fate, a young greeting card writer (Joseph-Gordon Levitt) is hopelessly, helplessly searching for the girl of his dreams ... and his new co-worker, Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), may just be "the one." But the 500 days of their offbeat relationship reveal (in no particular order) that the road to happiness can be unpredictable, uncontrollable - and unbelievably funny!"

For those of you who are single, this film will make you laugh, sigh and come just short of slitting your wrists. Only because you can associate with Tom on some level. Been there, done that. You feel his angst. You feel his aggravation. Don't worry, it'll leave you with a measure of hope at the end.

District 9 Now on DVD

One of the best films of the year! 

Buy it! Rent it! See it!

Jacket: "From producer Peter Jackson and director Neil Blomkamp comes a startlingly original science-fiction thriller that "soars on the imagination of its creators".  With stunning special effects and gritty realism, the film plunges us into a world where the aliens have landed ... only to be exiled to a slum on the fringes of Johannesburg. Now, one lone human discovers the mysterious secret of the extraterrestial weapon technology. Hunted and hounded through the bizarre back alleys of an alien shantytown, he will discover what it means to be the ultimate outsider on your own planet."

The Cove on DVD

A phenomenal and daring documentary. In Taiji, Japan, 23,000 dolphins are slaughtered every year. Rick Barry, Simon Hutchins and associates go in guerrila-warfare style to collect live evidence for the first time and expose Japan's dirty, little secret.

Activist Rick Barry is a rock star! You feel the weight of his guilt, having introduced the world to "Flipper", but also the strength of his conviction to save dolphins.

I may never go to Sea World or a dolphin park ever again. Did you know they feed them Maalox and antacids to them because they have ulcers from all the stress of captivity?

Warning: It will be gut-wrenching to watch them trapped and attacked and to see the cove become a blanket of red.

"The Taiji dolphin slaughter is scheduled to resume every September. Unless we stop it."


Maybe Douglas Adams had it right and we'll not know of our short-sightedness until we hear their parting words as they flee our puny planet.

"So long, and thanks for all the fish."

http://www.TakePart.com/TheCove

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on DVD

Jacket: "As Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven. Harry suspects perils may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague Horace Slughorn, who he believes holds crucial information. Even as the decisive showdown looms, romance blossoms for Harry, Ron, Hermione and their classmates. Love is in the air, but danger lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again."

The adventure continues!

In the Loop on DVD

Jacket: "Peter Capaldi stars as the foul-mouthed British government spokesman who must act quickly when a mid-level minister (Tom Hollander) tells an interviewer that U.S. war in the Middle East is "unforeseeable."  But when they are both summoned to Washington D.C.. the hapless politico quickly becomes a pawn of the bureaucrats, spin doctors and military advisors, including a hard-nosed General (James Gandolfini)."

This was hilarious! Capaldi is a riot and makes swearing an art form! I needed a funny film after just seeing a snoozer and this hit the mark.

G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra on DVD

I blame being trapped on a plane for 9 hours and having seen all the other films showing for subjugating my eyes to this. Why did it have to be soooooo cheesy?!