Where the Wild Things Are

Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini -- A boy, a wolf-suit, and a friend named Carol. That was it. James Gandolfini was excellent! I rated it a 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG)

An Education

Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson -- The heroine (Carey Mulligan) is setting her sights on Oxford (a very hard school to get into). Along comes David (Peter Sarsgaard) and sweeps her off her feet (he is about 30). The only thing is I couldn't figure out the last 15 minutes (after she finds out that David is married). Why don't you watch it, and fill me in. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2008-PG-13)

Red Cliff

Fengyi Zhang, Chen Chang, Yong You -- A John Woo production that was five hours in length. It told the story, way back in the second century, of an evil prime minister. He waged war against two warlords. Part way through the first DVD, I gave up trying to keep up with the words, and let the story tell itself (it was an Mandarin) . I would rate it as 4 out of 5 stars. I watched it over two nights. (2008-R)

Pups

Burt Reynolds, Mischa Barton, Cameron Van Hoy -- Like "Dog Day Afternoon" but with kids. Burt Reynolds plays an FBI agent sent to negotiate. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (1999-R)

Brothers

Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman -- Jake Maguire has just got out of prison. Tobey Gyllenhaal is going to Afghanistan. They are brothers. One gets captured, the other consoles his wife. One gets released from the Taliban, the other becomes a man. Big deal. I, actually, would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans

Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, Eva Mendes, Fairuza Balk -- Pretty bad. A police sergeant has an accident gets hooked on the pain medication he is taking. He is promoted to the rank of lieutenant and must solve a murder. I liked "Bad Lieutenant" starring Harvey Keitel much better. I would rate it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Men Who Stare at Goats

George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey -- Pretty nonsensical story about..... I don't know what it was about. Something about the New Earth Army and goats. I thought "Big Fish" was much better. I would rate it 2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Princess and the Frog

John Goodman, Oprah Winfrey, Emeril Lagasse, Keith David -- A Walt Disney production, taking place in New Orleans. It was okay, but I thought "Up" was much better. 2 3/4 out of 5 stars. (2009-G)

Sir! No Sir!

Jane Fonda, Randy Rowland, Keith Mather -- The Army's position to the war in Vietnam, and the servicemen's opposition to the program. Very left-leaning. I would rate it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2005-NR)

Bandslam

Vanessa Hudgens, Lisa Kudrow, Gaelan Connell, Charlotte Banks -- The longest 35 minutes of a two hour movie I have ever seen. Awful! Their instruments weren't even plugged in. I would rate it a 1 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG)

Wonderful World

Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Kenneth Williams -- Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) and Ibou (Michael Kenneth Williams), a man from Senegal, are roommates. One day, Ibou goes in to a diabetic coma. His sister, Khadi (Sanaa Lathen), comes over from Africa to take care of him. Ben and Khadi fall in love. It is a really good movie. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Lovely Bones

Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon, Rachel Weisz -- Creepy. Stanley Tucci plays a serial killer. I would give it 3 3/4 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

Hachi: A Dog's Tale

Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Jason Alexander -- A man, a dog, and loyalty. A real tearjerker. I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-G)

Fix

Shawn Andrews, Olivia Wilde, Tao Ruspoli -- Filmed entirely with a hand-held camera. The premise is a brother and his girlfriend have to take the other brother to rehab. Actually, better than I expected. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (2008-R)

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin, Blake Lively, Keanu Reeves -- A woman is born. She lives. Her husband dies at the end. That's it. I would rate it 2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Messenger

Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Steve Buscemi -- The rather depressing story of a Casualty Notification Officer (Ben Foster) and his cohort (Woody Harrelson). They have to form the families of soldiers that have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along the way, Foster falls in love with the widow of one of his charges. Especially good acting from Woody Harrelson. I would give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

2012

John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Oliver Platt -- Just awful! I tried three times to watch this movie in its entirety. Obviously, the third time was the charm. The only time I was excited was when the plane took off the first time. I thought it was way too long, and bor-ing. I would give it a 1 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-PG-13)

Up in the Air

George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliot -- I saw it a few months ago in the movie theater, and I had to rent it on video. Purely and simply, I love this movie. Although I was sad to see what happened George's and Vera's characters' in the end. You should definitely rent the film! I still rate it 5 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)