Fostering a new renaissance through creativity, authenticity, spirituality, and art
I saw the movie Leap Year last night and really liked it. I give it fives stars. Her choice of simple authenticity over money and prestige is a timeless theme I’ll never tire of. I would have liked to have seen this movie all over again right when it was done. (Our audience applauded at … Read more
This is one of Masterpiece Theater’s best, and I heartily give it five stars. We had seen it in 2007, but re-watched it in three installments (concluding last night) in preparation for it’s sequel (Cranford Returns) to be aired this January (Sunday evenings January 10th and 17th.) You can read the synopsis (by clicking here) … Read more
I really liked this film and give it four stars. It is sweet, picturesque, pure, and slow moving. It begins with a flashback that makes it take a while to get into the story, but the story itself is compelling, and at the end, you appreciate the flashback as well. And it is wonderful to … Read more
This website and daily blog have been going for a year! Thank you so much for your continued readership. It is fun journeying with you and I appreciate all your ongoing comments. Keep them coming! It seems appropriate to review some of the best posts from my blog of 2009, as we look forward to … Read more
We really enjoyed this new movie about the young Queen Victoria and give it five stars. It beautifully portrays her rise to the throne at 18, and her early challenges in that role, but mostly this is about her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. This young queen has hutzpah along with a frolicking warmth … Read more
the question of what makes life meaningful, as well as a study in the universal language of music. I give it 4.5 stars. Walter is a tuned out widowed professor that is “pretending” to live his life. He is disconnected and numb, just going through the usual paces, marking time. He is required to go … Read more
The assignment to the seventh grade social studies class is to have an idea that will change the world and then to put it into action. Trevor in that class has the idea for “Pay It Forward.” He will help three people out in a big way and then instead of paying him back, they’ll … Read more
I loved this movie. I give not only the film an enthusiastic five stars but give them to Nelson Mandela as well. This is definitely a feel good movie with a large message. And I am the farthest thing from a rugby fan. This is the story of the South African rugby team the year … Read more
I didn’t see this movie when it came out back in 2003 because of the premise: women disrobing for a cause. But since then, I’ve heard repeatedly from many friends that they loved it. When looking for a video to watch Thanksgiving weekend, I remembered that, and we reluctantly gave it a shot. To my … Read more
This Steven Spielberg film of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning book is wonderful, and wins five stars from me. The excellent cast includes Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg (her debut), and Oprah Winfrey (who back then was not even listed on the front cover.) I had never read the book nor seen the movie before, so … Read more
It has been a long time since I’ve seen a film with subtitles. This one left me melancholy, wishing for a success story not so tinged with disappointment. It is for this reason more than any other that I award this film only three stars. However, given the the face value of the unalterable storyline, … Read more
I bought this video at a summer library sale because I remember it being acclaimed at the time (it was the Sundance Film Festival winner of 1996) and I knew is was about a female inmate trying to find her way back into the world after a prison stint. This topic was pertinent to us … Read more
Are you ever wanting a good movie without sex, violence or swearing? This is a film the whole family can enjoy. It is about Beatrix Potter, and her journey to become the best selling children’s book author of all time. (You know, the creator of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-duck and Jeremy Fisher…) Her … Read more
I had read and enjoyed the book The Secret Life of Bees. Since I was dubious how to get the incredible richness of the written language as well as the complexity of the bee metaphor into the movie, I did not go and see the film in the theater. After several friends and blog readers … Read more
I saw this movie on opening night here, as we had been anticipating it for a while. I had read the book by Julia Powell, Julie & Julia, describing her year long blogging adventure of cooking all of the recipe’s in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. My friend had read Julia Child’s … Read more
I give the movie UP four stars. It was unexpectedly sweet with the courtship and relationship between Carl and Ellie. Ellie continually helps Carl along, like putting her hand print on the mail box on purpose right after he accidentally does. She is always affirming and encouraging him, enlivening him. Another dear scene is where … Read more
I wanted to like this film. After all, it had Colin Firth, English aristocratic country homes, and a tango scene; all that made it seem rather compelling. But knowing it was based on a Noel Coward play, I should have had my guard up more about the story-line. I found the whole film a disappointment … Read more