i don't remember exactly, rita. but what i do remember is it being an epic type of story, a mythic thing. i don't think it has anything in there that would be scarier than anything he hasn't already seen. i could be wrong. the scariest guy is darth vader, right? he's a dark character. i don't want to steer you wrong, but my memory says it would be good. action packed in some parts, yes.

Speaking of old movies, Lisa, I love them too. I borrowed State Fair from the library this week and had a couple hours of escapism into that fabulous time capsule that old movies offer. Thank goodness that they are saved and restored to watch for generations to come.

Rita, Emily (who is 8) is very sensitive and emotional and terrified of scary images. She has, however, seen Star Wars and has no issues with that. Carly, too, who is 6. 

I am not really sure how old I was when I saw the movie "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter". It was a movie based on a book written by Carson McCullers when she was only 23 years old. I think that I was about 12 years old when I saw it. At the time it meant 'something' to me but at 12 years old it was pretty hard for me to have any idea of it's significance and impact. I just knew that night when I walked out of the theatre in Calexico. California that I wasn't quite the same person who had wandered in. I knew that this movie held a message for me, I just wasn't quite sure what it was.

It took me years to go back to that movie...I tried reading the book and put it down. I don't know why I couldn't handle reading it.  When I found out that I could watch old movies on Netflix I immediately added it to my queue .As I watched it I realized that this must have been the first movie (for me) that had ever broached the subject of regret ... and opportunities missed. 

 The main character is Singer, who is a deaf mute. He is absolutely a beautiful person who cares so much for others that many times his own needs end up on the back burner. A 'pollyana' of sorts who keeps calm and peaceful and collected even in the midst of chaos. The movie taught me that still waters run deep and that even though we may conceive a person to be 'fine' or 'content' or 'adjusted' that we may never know the truth of their lives. It reminds us that 'in every case' the best option is to be kind. To live a life that is free from those feelings of regret, we need to be present. Should we fail, because it's likely that we will, the only option is to push forward with a new and rekindled purpose. But always...being kind. :-)

i saw two movies thusfar this weekend about which  i can share some thoughts. the first is one of my very favorite movies of all time. i haven't seen it often though. have you seen "the americanization of emily"? if not i highly recommend it. it's a black and white movie from what i believe would be the 60's. it's set in the weeks before d-day in england, and the stars are julie andrews and james garner. james garner plays the american navy man, and julie andrews is a british widow driver. she's noble, he's a bit of a scoundrel. at least that's how it seems. their romance is certainly a huge part of the story, but it's a satirical movie that makes statements about war, nationality, patriotism, human fragilities, and more. color was popular at the time of this movie,but the director wanted the mood in black and white. ...it's a very adult movie. there's nothing hidden about sex or the realities of life. it's great to see julie andrews making the first move on garner. this was her favorite movie she'd ever done, and james garner has said it's his favorite as well. it's written beautifully, and it covers so much about real people and real men and women. i have rarely seen a movie that gets some of the deeper  aspects of the relationship between a man and a woman as this one does. the pace is good, the story is great..it's funny as well as a drama. it's deep as well as silly at times. it's romantic but not sappy. treat yourself to this one with a great screenplay by paddy chayefsky!

i also saw "the kids are alright" with julianne moore and annette benning. you have probably seen this, but i hadn't. it's about a lesbian couple who have two almost-grown children, and the sperm donor comes back into the picture. i found this movie to be distracting in the stereotypes. the women were as unattractive as they could be on screen to make some kind of point that i didn't understand. there isn't a ton of story here either. i didn't hate it, but i can't think of a reason to recommend it. these are two fabulous actresses, but not here. not in my opinion. i thought the acting was over the top.

i saw "the rabbit hole" with nicole kidman. it's a tough subject matter for those of you who don't know what it is about. nicole plays a mother and wife, but the little boy is not in the movie because prior to the story beginning, he has been killed in a random car accident. a teenager in the neighborhood accidentally hit the boy when the dog chased a squirrel and the boy chased the dog. the story is about the couple's journey through the grief of their son. i had mixed feelings about the movie. the acting was good. the story was not particularly painful. and maybe that's part of my problem with it. it takes on some issues that arise in grief and in a couple's grief in particular. yet something feels like it's missing, because the movie does one of the things that i find horrible in life. it doesn't seem to want to really fall into the hole of grief. it seems to keep it fairly light and moves nicole's character through phases as though the writer read a book about grief rather than feel it themselves. i apologize to the writer if this isn't the case. perhaps it had to be made more user friendly for a mainstream audience. but i found this a little heavy where it didn't have to be and too light where it shouldn't be. nevertheless, i thought it was worth the time and it's far from a bad movie. i'd be interested to hear what others of you who have experienced grief feel about this movie.

thanks for that review, rita! i saw another oldie. i had never seen "there's a summer place" with deborah kerr , sandra dee, et al. recently i had written here about natalie wood in "splenor in the grass"...the theme is the same. teenage sex. the reviews on this were just awful. but i found some redeeming features in summer place. first of all, it was kind of a good story. slow, but a good story. but what i actually liked about it was the way it dealt with teenage sex back in the fifties or sixties and how society truly tortured people.i think nowadays we have no idea how rigid the rules were. and life was really quite a jail for women back then. and men, but women even more so. so i liked this movie from a sociological point of view. but i also liked the way it dealt with the angst of all that since the angst is never in the movies now. now they just have kids going at it by age 12 and deal with it like it has no emotions attached. these movies are more sensitive, and therefore bring up alot more humanity in them. i can't recommend it as a great movie by a long shot. but it was not a waste of time if you happen to catch it on tv.

thanks, ann marie...i loved that movie too. i was watching the philadelphia story with the rest of you last night. obviously katharine hepburn and jimmy stewart are such fantastic actors. but sometimes i forget what a truly great actor cary grant is. it showed in the philadelphia story and shows even more in the bishop's wife, i think. both excellent movies. i believe the philadelphia story to be the best screenplay ever.

matthew reviewed "the help" several months ago, but i just finally got to see it this weekend. i loved it so much that i'm going to add my opinion here too. it's a great movie! it's brilliantly acted. the story is fantastic. and it deeply moved me. what more can you ask from a movie? i haven't enjoyed a movie this much in a long time. ....

i particularly enjoy movies that stress the humanity in us and that show where we can overcome our weaknesses and shortcomings as individuals and as a society. this is a story about everyday people doing something extraordinary during the  civil rights era in the deep south. it showed me how simple and yet how heroic it is to make a huge change for the better. evil can be overcome. i was inspired. and also ashamed, because we all have either been part of schools or families or organizations that have treated "the other" in an ugly fashion, and we each have the choice to do something or do nothing. and my shame is personal and collective wishing we had all done so much more so much sooner. ..anyway, the move challenges you and yet makes you feel good to be a human. with a little effort, we can be a decent species after all.

now i want to read the book...i SO LOVED THIS!!!, rita, go get it right away and watch it. you'll be so thrilled you did!!

i can't wait to hear what you think!! i think you're going to be inspired!

the expressions in the faces were terrific and said so much, don't you think? so glad you saw it!

all reviews welcome and desired!

We saw "The Muppets" today!  Very cute, very sweet.  I don't feel it was as good as the original "Muppet Movie", but Muppet fans out there will have a ball!!  I fell in love with the Muppets from Sesame Street and later the Muppet Show, as did my daughter.  They continue to be fun and endearing!!  A few really good laughs and some nice musical numbers!  All in all, enjoyable family fare!! :-)

oh i love kermit and miss piggy!!!  thanks for the review, MR!

                                         Review for War Horse



For those of us who love animals, this movie will earn your respect and admiration. A glowing portrayal of the livelong bond between a boy and his horse, even when separated.

War Horse is directed by Steven Spielberg, so you know you’re in for one high adventure ride. It begins with the friendship between an amazing horse named Joey and the young boy, Albert, who trains and tames him. Albert is laughed at by the rural England farm community when he hooks the horse up to a plow to save their family farm, but Joey is none too proud to plow the land.

Your heart will break at Joey and Albert’s forceful separation when the horse is drafted into the First World War. Made to pull heavy machinery and exposed to every adverse condition, Joey manages to change the lives of all those he encounters: British cavalry, German soldiers, and the granddaughter of a French farmer.

We experience the First World War through the eyes and soul of a horse on the front lines. It is  dramatically raw, and emotional, yet full of hope as the shaken balance of  trust and friendship is restored.  

Highly recommend!

thanks so much, drainy! i'm going to feature this later in the day....what a great review!

Thank you, Dorraine!!  I so want to see this film!!  Amazing story!!

You won't be disappointed, ladies. Thanks and enjoy!