Movie Review: Bella

This movie is better in retrospect (four stars), than it was during the viewing (three stars.) It is about the choice adoption over abortion, and also about making peace and restitution with the past. These are difficult topics to portray and this movie does it in an interesting way.

Movie Review: Buck

This evening I saw the documentary Buck, which won the Sundance film festival this year. It is about the real life horse whisperer that the movie with Robert Redford by that name was modeled after. This is about parenting as much as horses, leading with respect and love, and never anger. Gently let expectations be … Read more

Movie Review: Cave of Forgotten Dreams

In 1994, the Chauvet Cave in France was discovered with remarkable prehistoric cave paintings in it dating back 40,000 years. This treasure is being strictly protected by the French government, so the advent of them allowing a film crew in to see these masterpieces is unprecedented. This documentary not only shows incredible artwork but also … Read more

Dislecksia the Movie

I went to a preview screening of this documentary last night. It was just rough clips of an independent film in the making, interspersed with commentary, and concluded with a panel discussion. I can’t therefore review and rate this as a movie yet, but I’ll share what I learned, as well as some of my … Read more

Movie Review: Rango

This new film by Nickelodeon was refreshing in several ways. I liked how it is was mostly animated with real photography mixed in. I liked the fact that they intentionally used good vocabulary, making it more witty and intelligent, while still understandable in context. All the creatures were fascinatingly depicted, the artwork excellently done. Johnny … Read more

Movie Review: Like Stars on Earth

I really enjoyed this movie set in India about a child struggling with dyslexia and the art teacher who helped him overcome it with understanding, kindness, and compassion. Regardless of it’s slow pace, the subtitles, and long song interludes, I give it five stars. I was very touched by both what the boy went through … Read more

Movie Review: The Illusionist

This is the most unusual film I’ve seen in quite a while. Animated for adults, in detailed but subdued watercolors, this intentionally slow paced, sweet, movie is totally NOT from Disney! Created by Europeans and Asians, with incredibly little dialogue, the artwork in this is remarkable, the caricatures are interesting and varied, while the story … Read more

Movie Review: Possession

Despite being dubious of the title and abhorring “forbidden affairs” (i.e. adultery), I ended up liking this movie and give it four stars. It is about a present day American fellow at the British Museum and a young professor at Oxford who are both experts in respective poets and who discover a connection between their … Read more

Movie Review: Faith Like Potatoes

I enjoyed this touching Christian film and give it four stars. It has the feel of a good Christian revival: a temperamental white South African farmer’s life is turned around when he is led to accept Jesus and acquires a Bible. He sees proof of God listening to his prayers, and his Zulu workers do … Read more

Movie Review: Tangled

Well, I liked this more than most animated films. Maybe it’s because I’m a healer with hair down to my knees? I give it four stars. I loved the incredible horse (Max) and the enchanting airborne birthday lanterns the best. Both were wonderful. The character’s eyes would have been better less exaggerated in size, in … Read more