Reviews

"Sometimes Leaving Is The Only Way To Move On"

Frankly it comes down to this, Some Things That Stay was average film-making at best because, for me, it couldn't find the right balance of emotional material to keep me enthralled but at the same time not trying to drown me in it.

When I say drowned I mean that I was just so overwhelmed with emotional that at the end I felt emotionally exhausted, but not in a good way. I had the same experience with The Pursuit of Happiness, where all through the movie the emotion was just driving me down. However, The Pursuit of Happiness gave me a better sense of connection with the characters better than this movie did. It's not so much that this was a short movie, which it was, but it did have a lot to handle in that time period.

The characters were portrayed very well, considering the how amateur the film-making must have been, and I enjoyed, but most importantly believed how they were all presented. So I do give this movie that note. Though, I must admit that the character Rusty was nothing more than just a horny teenager, which is real, but kind of out of place.

I DO NOT regret watching this movie, nor am I ashamed. This movie has a lot going for it, and I truly understand why people would love this movie, and I truly understand why people don't like this movie. Consider me somewhere in the middle.

**1/2/**** Stars

Some Things That Stay (2004): Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some sexual content involving teens

"It's Not Where You're From. It's Where You're At."

Considering the fact that I haven't see the first one (nor do I want to) I really have nothing else to compare this movie too, and because of this it stands alone. Step Up 2 the Streets brings not only the best dancing I have ever seen on screen (aside from White Nights I guess), but what it does is it proves that even with a moderate script you can still present something remarkable with the right kind of characters and good pacing.

The whole concept about following you're heart is a load of bull and has been done many times before, but it was, however, never mentioned in the film, which I was very pleased about. To a reasonable extent, I enjoyed most of the characters and the talented actors that really developed their characters. I can imagine it being extremely difficult to finds actors that can not only act but have incredible dancing abilities. It's because of their talent that I can over look the fact that a lot of them look older than their character's age.

What I mean about good pacing is that because I watched this movie at three o'clock in the morning I never once felt that something felt out of place or that this was more dancing than story, or vice versa. I was kind of tired and if any film can keep me up long enough to watch the whole thing, then it will have my praise.

WARNING SPOILERS ( FROM ANOTHER MOVIE)

I remember the first time I watched Jeepers Creepers, which I watched around the same time as this film. I was about half way through when the monster was finally in the open, and it turned out to be some indestructible monster with wings. It was after that that I decided to stop the movie at wait until morning to finish the movie. I didn't have that problem with Step Up 2 the Streets.

I give it too the critics that the ending was it's weakest point and had the potential to conclude with a better punch, but that wasn't a big problem because I found that I didn't want the end too come because I was so in to the story of these characters and the fantastic variety of dancing.

I would just recommend to watch this movie with an open mind. Try not to right away hate or love anything about it until the movie ends, and then ask yourself, "was this movie worth watching?"

***/**** Stars

Step Up 2 the Streets (2008) Rated PG-13 for suggestive material and brief violence

"The Legend. The Battle. The First Hero."

Frankly, this movie could have been much worse, and there aren't many ways this film could have been better. Because to do that you would have to completely rewrite the script, but not only in the story line but also in the dialogue.

The story, as said by others, is too closely related to Apocalypto, which wasn't that great of a film, but not terrible. I don't know much about the history of the these tribes nor how their timeline is in anyway related to the pyramids and Wholly mammoths, and I don't really care to waste my time trying to find every little detail in how this film was historically incorrect. Not that it would be a big problem for me, because I believe with great care taken a film could be much better if the history was in some way twisted.

The dialogue was an issue for me, not as much as a lot of other people, because I was mostly expecting it. It's sad because after I saw The Day After Tomorrow I knew that the director has little potential to be great. Not to mention that if he doesn't screen his movies for critics that means in his mind he knows that this not good movie. It's hard to believe a director would think just things, but then again why else would he do it?

On one positive note, despite all the main characters speaking in English, the cast wasn't badly called. The main guy (Steven Strait) did a pretty good considering what character he was playing. The co-actors looked as though they belonged, but the girl (Camilla Belle) despite how beautiful she may be, had a harder time fitting in, but I really can't blame her for that.

**/**** Stars

10,000 BC (2008): Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action

*May Contain UnHarmful Spoilers*

"Hidden by darkness. Guarded by witches. Discovered by a boy. Stolen by a king. Whoever owns it will rule the world. Or destroy it."

The Black Cauldron was a well-attempted film full of excellent potential. Unfortunately, this film was a bomb, and it was disappointing to watch. The movie took seven years to make, that's a long time, even for animation. I can see every dollar was put into every frame, and I can tell that they believed money was not a problem. Disney certainly had the money, but they surely didn't want to throw it all away. The success was very little, and it wasn't that it was horrible horribly, it was a little too dark and it just missed something.

This was Disney's first animated PG movie, okay, it was violent, but not much more frightening than other Disney films in my opinion. The Great Mouse Detective was just as creepy and Beauty and the Beast was just a scary. But that's of little importance because they were much better films. The thing about The Black Cauldron is that it was shown to be dark and scary, but I think they could've have given the Horned King (John Hurt) a better portrayal evil.

I enjoyed the characters, mostly. Disney has always had its little annoying side characters to bring the comic relief, but as far as Gurgi… Taran (Grant Bardsley) is a young man who dreams of one day becoming a great warrior. All he has learned is to be the best pig keeper assistant, what a sad life. Taran lives his with uncle Dallben (Freddie Jones) at a little farm along with their precious piggy, named Hen Wen. Hen Wen is a special pig for he has powers to see the future. Ounce the Horned King of the dead discovers of Hen Wen's powers he immediately summons his soldiers from the underworld to capture the bacon. The Horned King desires the dark Black Cauldron that can conjure an army of infinite numbers. Taran gets to fulfill his life long dream, to be sent on a grand expedition full of danger and a promise to keep the pig away from evils hands. Daydreaming, Taran inevitable loses Hen Wen and is in fear of breaking his promise. He calls out for him, but instead of a pig he finds a, ummm, something named Gurgi (John Byner). Gurgi is a very annoying furry creature that plays the best friend act on Taran to get his juicy apple. He gets the apple, but loses his new best friend.

Hen Wen was captured and brought to the dark whereabouts of the Horned King. Taran sneaks in to get his pig, but ends up captured and thrown into the dungeon. I would like to point out that the attitude of the Horned King was unrealistic. They call him the definition of evil and the master of sin, yet he shows signs of kindness of sparing Taran's life to be locked up instead, and will only strangle his little troll sidekick for failure. For a Disney film this is acceptable, but I just don't like exaggerating a character. Anyway, when Taran is locked up he meets a young princess, named Eilonwy (Susan Sheridan), who has been captured before him because it was thought that her strange floating ball of light could tell the future. Pointlessly to say, I like the young teenage relationship, while their hormones is blooming and discovering attractiveness to the opposite sex. So they both argue time to time, but they like each other overall.

One thing I didn't understand was the significance of the magical sword of the long dead king that Taran finds. An ancient sword with magic to cut through metal, and it fights with a mind of its own. I would have thought that it would have more of a purpose to the plot other than it making Taran feel like a warrior, and a bargain trade for the cauldron. He really loved that sword, and felt invincible wielding it.

I'll leave the story at that, and let you decide the rest. The Black Cauldron was impressive for its looks, but disappointing for most everything else. The only characters that I cared for were Taran and Eilonwy, and the Horned King was pretty cool. Everybody else was just annoying and pointless. I've pointed out Gurgi, and there's Fflewddur Fflam (Nigel Hawthorne), weird name I know, who tags along with his very expressionist harp. I could see the film going on without these two characters, though on the other hand without having Gurgi… Though there is one thing that I find highly interesting, and that's all the sh*t this movie went through. Just count the dollars and the days this movie had in the process. It was expensive and it took several years to accomplish. However, the numbers were low for the movies prophet and it took more than a decade to come to video. Fascinating really, and despite this film being rated PG it went through some major editing. The new chairman of Disney, Jeffrey Katzenberg, had ordered the filmmakers to redo and edit the more intense and dark themes that would draw away a family audience. Here's the link if interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Cauldron_%28film%29

I really truly wanted to like this film, really. This film isn't horrible, and I would watch it again if I get the chance. Though I have to give this one the cold slip for a project failed.

**/**** Stars

The Black Cauldron (1985): Rated PG for some violent images

*This May Contain Some Unharmful Spoilers*

Broken Wings is right on the line of those dark and depression movies that deal with emotional themed matters. I like those kinds of movies, and this is one of the better ones. I think the best part about it is I like putting myself into one of the characters situations. Then I ask myself "What would I do?" if I was dealing with what they're dealing with. Several ideas run through my mind at the same time, and all are hard thoughts to think about. I hope that's just my preferable taste in movies instead of me being a depressed negative person.

A 17-year-old girl named Maya Ulman (Maya Maron) has written a song titled "Cartoon Lyrics", and dedicated it to her father, whose death was unfortunate unspeakably. Maybe one of the biggest events of Maya's life was turned around because of her mothers, Dafne Ulman (Orly Silbersatz Banai), random night shift at the hospital. Maya is so emotionally unstable because she blames herself for her father's death. She was with him, and she could've saved him. She and her mother can't get along seeing is that they are both emotionally unstable. Her mother works at the hospital, and when you have four kids to look after, night shifts can be rough. Maya is given the chance to record, by a phone call of some big time music producer, but after the recent hospitalization of her younger brother, and problems with her guy friend, she declines.

Maya's twin brother Yair (Nitai Gvirtz) is a mouse. Really, it's his job go to around handing out applications in a creepy mouse costume. After the fathers death Yair has dropped out of school and has since then lead a fatalist life neglecting his siblings, his mother, and his ex- girlfriend Iris (Dana Ivgy). Iris departed for a while for reasons I forgot, she is inattentive toward Yair when she returns. He did not write to her in her absence. Both Yair and Iris condition at school is the same because neither can come on campus unless medically and therapeutically treated.

Maya's youngest brother Ido (Daniel Magon) has depressed issues with his mother, and takes it out one himself. Maya's younger sister Bahr (Eliana Magon) feels as if she is always neglected, and that scares her. Ido has a peculiar take for dangerous stunts, and for his very nice camcorder. His stunts lead him to his 'down fall.' Maya is late for her first day of school because Bahr won't go the preschool without her mom, Ido skips school because it was either that or be beaten up by some cowards his age.

Broken wings means, I can only safely assume, the once stable family that soar, are now broken. Broken, but not permanently, this movie tells us so. Two brothers, two sisters, and a single mom, and an unforgotten father are there to tell us a story about a broken wing. You realize that it takes lots and lots of duck tape to fix a broken wing.

This movie was hard to write about. One, because it can only be explained nicely if you watch the movie, and second this movie has so much in it for a ninety-minute film. So it is difficult trying to get my opinion down gracefully. Simple and clean, Broken Wings is a very well done foreign film.

***1/2/**** Stars

Broken Wings (2002): Rated R for some language, brief nudity and drug use

***May Contain Possible Mild Spoilers***

"Poison in his veins. Vengeance in his heart."

Crank, a high powered, very violent action flick that keeps it's high adrenaline rush through the entire film.

Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is, or was going to be a, a long time retired hit-man. At the start of his new day, Chev was feeling real sh*ty. His eye site was all blurry, his heart was barley pumping, and he doesn't know what the hell is going on. He finds a DVD disc, which is labeled f ck u, that shows when he was poisoned with some Chinese stuff by Verona (Jose Pablo Cantillo). Verona is a real bad ass, he injects the poison only after Chev was unconscious, like a dirty rat. Chev learns that he only has a hour to live until his heart dies down. Unless he can keep his adrenaline going fast he's a dead man, and that takes a lot of Red Bulls.

Chev is the best hit-man in town, only until he let his previous nights target slip away in an effort to quit professional killing, and start a new life with his girlfriend Eve (Amy Smart). The hot, smoking, air-headed, blonde girlfriend has no awareness of Chev's business, and he intended to keep it that way. Continuing, it is vital that Chev keeps moving to save his life, and to get his well deserved revenge on the people who did this, and the people he hates. At the same time causing all kinds of havoc all over the town and won't let anyone get in his way. Through the drugs, the shootings, the beating, the high speed chases, the running around in a hospital gown will having an erection, Chev seems to know what he's doing.

I didn't know what was coming, for I did not know what Crank was about, but I was in the area, and Crank had the earliest showing. At first thought I was thinking the whole poison in his veins thing was only a warm up for the film before we get to the real stuff. So considering "the whole poison in his veins thing" was the bulk of the movie, it felt pretty short. Though in that time nothing was wasted, but some things were a little stupid/silly. You would to have to see the film to know what I mean, but I highly doubt Eve would be able to find Chev after leaving her in town. After their strangely sexy, public intercourse, but only to keep his adrenaline running of course.

I like Jason Statham, he's really cool, he's got this threatening, but sometimes sweet energy to him that makes him appealing. That's why I like him in Cellular, and I think he should play Agent 47 in the upcoming Hit-man movie, not Vin Diesel. Eve wasn't a roll I was expecting Amy Smart to play. I know she's better than that, so she kinda stuck in the film, not to much. Besides her, everyone was perfectly cast.

This film is one of the most ongoing action film I have seen, even if you might think it's a little silly or stupid, you won't be board. So I recommend Crank for just that reason.

***/**** stars

Crank (2006): Rated R for strong violence and language, some nudity, sexuality and drug use

El Día que me amen (When Somebody Loves Me) was put on my queue out of random, why? I forgot. Something attracted me to this foreign film, that only a selected few has heard of. So then, I got it in the mail; I didn't know what was to come. The only insight I had was what I got from its official site. I watched it, right, at first I kinda just sat there as the credits rolled on, then it started to dawn on me that this could be the film I was looking for. The film that I wasn't intentionally trying to look for. My intentions were to stray away from Hollywood's corrupted ways into the more independent path...from other countries and so on. Out of sure luck, the first film that came to me happened to be my inspiration to further continue on with this. Next thing you know I writing down a full list of foreign films that seemed appealing, and the only thing I had to do next was hit "add to queue".

What this film is about. Joaquin is a young man who continues living in the house of his father, locked up in his room. He suffers from deep depression that was cast on him by past events. It seemed at the time that nobody could help him to surpass this suicidal depression. Not even Balbis, the psychoanalyst, who Joaquin continues to see over the next two years. Mara, a talented actress, returns to Buenos Aires after living with her father, and after she disappeared with any word. She returns from her escape, but already nothing is like was it was when she left...her house, her mother, her childhood memories... Nevertheless, when she comes across her previous childhood friend Joaquin again, their lives give in to an unexpected turn. In ways of old and new times of friendship, past and current moments of romance, opposites attracting, giving one another what they need to survive in this dark world.

There's really no right or wrong way to put it, this film brought to me a different side of things relating movies and films alike, and understanding how much I and everybody else have missed out on. Why I'm off wasting my time and money on these only "so- so" movies, and then so then they can make even more? Hollywood is now a shame to us all, and this movie proves it! In past times before the era of Hollywood you would get the big EPIC films that brought new lightening to our imagination. Take a piece of paper and jot down the movies we could've lived without, and then the ones that had honorably part to us. I guarantee you that one is much higher than the other, typical Hollywood.

I may be a little out of line here, but in other words, I really loved this film. One of the best I have ever seen. In some ways it's because I can highly relate to Joaquin and his condition. The reasons to it may be different, but nevertheless, despite his high-headed stubbornness, I have a real soft heart for him. Mara can be a bit of an airhead/slut at times, but you can't blame because she doesn't mean to, and she doesn't do it to hurt others. That's what makes her all the more lovable to me, and whether any of this comes to her or not she still is a good person, and pretty too, really pretty.

****/**** stars

Two Thumbs WAY Up! Beautiful! Wonderful! A Blessing to Us All and Everything Above!

El Día Que Me Amen (2003): Rated R for some language and sexual content

"The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play... becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!"

Some may find me to be the one who hasn't got the mind or patience for old-time classics. You could say that I'm the kind who thinks above the surface, doesn't dig deeper, and likes it if there is a lot of explosions. You could say that I don't know what is good acting, maybe based on my voting history, maybe because I didn't like Casablanca, or maybe just because you don't like me. Let me just say that I don't care. I don't need your opinion to say out loud that this is the greatest classic movie there is.

Jim Stewart is on my list of the top ten actors in cinema history. His depth in character can't go any deeper than rock bottom, and it's not that his character (whatever that may be) is totally out there or different beyond all reasons. It's that by means of being a simple man with simple needs and loves everything and everyone around him, flows through him like he puts everything he's got into this individual. His characters name is Elwood P. Dowd, "a simple man with simple needs and loves everything and everyone around him." There something very special about this fine gentlemen, he's got one of the best friends anyone could ever hope possible. Someone who is there for him side by side every step of the way to see that there isn't a seconds time to his friend lonely. A friend who realizes that he is about the only friend that this man has. I don't mean to say that nobody likes Elwood P. Dowd, but because he is the only man who can literally "see" his best friend for what he really is. I don't have the answer to that, only Elwood P. Dowd does.

The name of this game is Harvey. About a man named Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart) who lives with his sister Veta Louise Simmons (Hull) and his niece Myrtle Mae Simmons (Horne). Elwood is known as a man with an animated imagination, they think it to be because of his alcohol problem. The alcohol may have gotten to him over his years, depriving him of a job and forcing him to home with his sister, but certainly has nothing to do with his independent mind. He says to have befriended a "someone" who goes by the name Harvey. If you don't have the eyes or the will Harvey can't be seen. He is invisible to the naked eye, one untrained to accept something that they can't witness for thyself. Elwood is the only one who really "sees" him, for what and who he really is. A living creature with tissue and feelings like everyone else. People call Elwood crazy, giving his sister Myrtle a difficult time socializing with the towns folk. He means absolutely no harm, and she sees that, but through her care (so she says) she has him sent to the wacko house. Chumleys Rest Sanatorium, a facility for the mentally ill. Oh, if only they knew.

From there on the story takes you through Elwood's life of dealing with all that the doctors and his sister throw at him. Not in the way some may take, Elwood is a very special man, and has the kind heart of a child. Something regular humans tend to grow out of. Wouldn't it be something if we could all keep our childhood state of mind, to be able to accept something for what it is? Instead of trying to see the reasoning behind it all? I guess it isn't possible. Which is why we have this movie to help us realize the kid inside all of us.

****/**** stars

The first one was overall a cute film, definitely a classic, but nothing to scream about, you know what I mean? Anyways, as a kid I would always take characters who would look cool in some big action powered flick with high drama and adventure. Having a real evil villain that threatens death, and kick the pace up a notch from the original movie.

My wish came true, The Rescuers Down Under was a high powered animated action flick with intense drama and heart-pounding emotion. Severely different from the original, which was about two little mice sent out on a mission to save a little girl held captive by a vile woman in search for a priceless diamond. This time, a young boy named Cody was kidnapped by a poacher named McLeach, who desperately wants to enormous eagle that was just saved from captivity. Despite the dangers, these two little mice named Bernard and Miss Bianca head out on probably the most daring rescue ever assigned to the R.A.S. (Rescue Aid Society). Without a moment to lose, they hop aboard the big bird named Wilbur to a nonstop flight to Australia. From then on its just keeps getting better, and the filmmakers weren't afraid how far they strayed from the kinder hearted tone of the original. That's a good thing.

This was easily put in my top animated films, behind Beauty and the Beast and the Prince of Egypt of course. It was a little shorter than I would have liked, which doesn't make this brilliant film absolutely spotless. None the less I recommend this to anyone looking for menacing fun.

Trust me, this is a brilliant film that may be a little too intense for the younglings, but still a family film which I think will be loved by adults and kids alike.

****/**** stars

The Rescuers Down Under (1990): Rated PG for intense moments

"Zoinks"

This was a horrible, HORRIBLE film that literally makes me ill just thinking about it. Raja Gosnell is all the way unworthy of being called a filmmaker, and ever since he took on the job of disrespecting the classic Your, Mine and Ours, which was a childhood favorite, he was personally put on my hit-man list. Scoobys poor animation only makes everything worse. The humor wasn't funny, It was crude, childish, immature, and far off from respect of the original cartoon. I wasn't a big fan of it from the beginning, but even I had more respect for the series than this movie did.

Anyone notice that throughout the film there's this certain chemistry between Fred and Velma. So I thought, that's weird, I always thought Fred and Daphne had a thing going for them. Then, without a second to spare, the whole romantic chemistry blew up in my face. At the end Fred went with Daphne, and Velma went to some loser that doesn't matter. OK, what's up with that, honestly?

That was my first biggest problem. My number one reason for despising this flick is a little pup named Scrappy. I've seen a couple of episodes with this son of a devil dog. I hated him, always have hated him, and always will HATE him! I thought surely they wouldn't be dumb enough to bring him into the story. Sure enough, they did, and from then on this became on of my most hated movies of all time.

The only credit I give to this film is that the leading actors did a good job with their characters, specially Shaggy.

1/2/**** stars

Scooby-Doo (2002): Rated PG for rude humor, some language and scary images

"A player until he got played"

I was almost sure I was going to like this movie, but not this much...

You take a journey through a man's hardest times of life, based on his selfish habit of seducing women without the word of commitment living in his dictionary. Without commitment, you crawl yourself into a hole of of messed up relationships, whether it be because your partner finds out what kind of prick you are, or you find yourself more than attracted to this certain someone.

Alfie, lives through these hard times, a good looking English man who women, to him, is his sex toy, whether he will admit it or not. He has on occasion experienced the natural side effects of relationships, something he doesn't wish explore further into. You could call it a bad thing, or a good thing. Alfie, believes it's not worth his time or interest

Though despite his efforts, he can't get the ones he thinks he cares about out of his mind, and finds it more difficult to imagine of how to let them go. What's a man to do, dump that bitch and goon to the next one. Start things over again and make things more difficult. Getting others he cares about into the problem without intentionally meaning to.

There's deep feelings of sorrow, grieve, anger, and a little pity going on as I watched this movie, and sometimes all at ounce. I highly recommend watching this movie for good reasons. The acting's great, the story's goods, the message is meaningful, and overall it's a good luck charm.

Last message. Lets say if a beautiful woman (refering to Nikki) who moves into your apartment. Paints, and rearranges the place, makes you dinner, and tells you she is willing to try and do better. Become a better person, and as a bonus walks around topless. That to me is a once in a life time moment, and you can bet your ass I would give her that chance. I will never forgive Alfie for letting her go.

***1/2/**** stars

Alfie (2004): Rated R for sexual situations, nudity, brief language and drug use

"Who loves me so much that he would forsake his own dear life... could it be you?"

This was and still is the most confusing, moving, and bone-chilling anime story that has left me a feeling that no other movie as done before...

Aside from Akira, this movie is highly disturbing and pretty bloody, not the movie best fit for those late night flicks. Nor is it for the naive minded who insist on pausing it every ten minutes asking what the hell is going on. Patience and an open mind are suggested, no, are essential to accept this film for what it is, and to see the inner beauty within it.

Never before in my life have I found a filmmaker who has an imagination so far from what is commonly known, even in anime standards. For I have seen films such as, Princess Mononoke (loved it), Spirited Away (o.k.), Nausicaä of the Valley of the Winds (enjoyed it), Akira (hated it), Metropolis (didn't like it), Millennium Actress (o.k.), Ghost in Shell (liked it), Cowbebop the movie (loved it), etc.

Trust me, I could ramble on for much longer, but I don't want to give away an spoilers. I was left completely blank of info about the film when I watched it, and I want to do the same favor for you. It was still an odd experience after watching it to have your head up in and your mouth open in confusion, and having you head stare directly strait with your teeth chattering all at the same time. Brilliant.

Note: all what I said is true, but through various reasons I will probably never see this film again, if not ever.

****/**** stars

Le Portrait de Petite Cossette (2005): Rated R for disturbing and violent images

"December 7, 1941 - A day that shall live in infamy"

This movie isn't the first and only that has steered away from the truth and replaced it with fictional characters and plot line (Titanic is the best example). As far as doing so you can't go wrong if you plot your course right and make both reality and fiction come together.

It's also the mixture of power and emotion brought to the screen that can make up for all the misplaced factual errors. Bay knows his stuff. He created a particular pace and time that had a great chemistry with it all in the final screening. The cheer vision is one that wasn't taking lightly. It surly wasn't dull and definitely was mistreated.

I'm finding it hard to fathom the critical comments on this movie where as a movie such as Titanic was highly appreciated. I myself didn't like Titanic, it misguided all what I have said and it turned out to be a real mess.

When it comes down to the acting, I'll come right out and say I think they all had great performances. We can't seem to pass the mixture of opinions when we talk about Ben Affleck's acting skills. I find him to have a natural talent for acting, not so much of a creative talent. That doesn't bother me in the least for this particular movie. Kate Beckansile is so gorgeous you can overlook her acting, Josh can be said the same way for the opposite sex. I'm not implying that their acting was out of line. I think their work was just fine.

All in all I'm am disappointed for all who don't take this movie for what it delivers, instead trying to learn the actual history. If that's what you're into there are plenty of documentaries out their for you.

****/**** stars

Pearl Harbor (2001): Rated PG-13 for sustained war violence and disturbing images of wounded, brief sensuality and language

"Collide With Destiny"

Story: Two fictional characters put in place of one of the most memorable stories. Cameroon failed to combine the Titanic's true story with the fairy tale relation of two characters. The actual ship was more of a back up character during the entire film, replaced by a sloppy love story that did not interest Cameroon. His passion was the ship, only, but he wasn't totally dumb. He had the smarts to know what would draw an audience.

Characters: Jack and Rose. Left in the mist of real character building to focus more toward the ship. Ironically, the main characters seemed to be placed in front when it came to the actual screening, instead of the focus on the ship itself. Creating a ugly mix/mash of fiction to reality.

Romance: Not a single true romantic moment went on during the course of their 24 hour relationship, aside from when they meet. All there was to it is a poor example of what we call true love. Jack and Rose go dancing under-deck, fine but not true romance. Jack gives Rose spitting lessons, gross and not romantic. Pose nude in front of one another, erotic and childish, so not romantic. The final hours of their short wasted relationship is spent by running around the ship and having sex, immature, childish, certainly not romantic. Finally after all they've been through he gives his life to save her. After all that there was not one memorable moment of their puppy love.

All in all this was a dumb film that took two poorly, separate stories and fit them into place with pieces in the wrong place and some missing from the entire picture.

Dicaprio and Winslet I can hardly blame, their performances were well acted. It was really all Cameroons fault. You disappoint me dude.

*1/2/**** stars

Titanic (1997): Rated R for some sexuality, violent images and brief language

"To achieve the incredible, you have to attempt the impossible"

This exhilarating film refreshes both the mind and soul. The emotional depiction of father and daughter is deeply moving and real. Honest at heart, lively and simply beautiful.

For true family films, it doesn't get much better than this. Here I am almost an adult and I still chock up during the end. The theme song "10,000 miles" delivers a perfect match for the mood and tone of the film. There isn't enough good things to say about it, strong performances by all the actors, great believable story, music at it's best, delivers a message you'll find hard to find in another of movie.

If you haven't guessed already, I loved this film. I don't have any bad things to say of it.

****/**** stars

Fly Away Home (1996): Rated PG for some language, thematic elements and emotional incidents