Crash (2005) - Patti

WOW! If you get a chance to see this movie before Oscar night, take it! This is a completely engrossing film about different people in Los Angeles. I could say "about different races in Los Angeles," but that seems to minimize the movie. It is so much more than just a "race" movie.

We meet a dozen or so characters whose lives will crisscross in some way. It is truly an ensemble film. I won't say much more about the plot, (I don't want to ruin the experience for you), other than it can get intricate at times. The story is multi-layered and the acting is exceptional. The scenes are funny one moment, then tense the next.

Without giving anything away, I have to tell you that the ending is powerful, thought-provoking, and above all...haunting. I wanted to watch it again the minute it ended. When was the last time you felt like that after a movie?

VERDICT

WHO FELL ASLEEP: Rob

WHO RECOMMENDS IT: both

BUY/RENT/SKIP: buy

The Chronicles of Narnia - Patti

We saw this movie back in December, but I've been too wrapped up in my day-to-day life to get this review done. My bad.

Even if you haven't read C.S. Lewis' enchanting series,this movie is a must-see! It's like a scaled-down version of LOTR. (If you don't know what that stands for, I feel for you.) The story follows four siblings who wander into a magical world through a mysterious wardrobe closet. It's an amazing fantasyland, and yes, there is a lot of hidden and not-so hidden symbolism.

My biggest criticism would be with some of the special effects. It seemed as though the FX dept. put all of their efforts into creating the lion, which was simply magnificent! However, other effects made me cringe with embarassment. Come on guys; you could do better than that.


VERDICT
WHO FELL ASLEEP: neither
WHO RECOMMENDS IT: both
BUY/RENT/SKIP: buy (if you have kids)

Million Dollar Baby - Patti

Okay, so maybe we were a little late to the dance, but we just got around to seeing this incredible film. Everything you've heard is true. If you were curious why it won four Academy Awards and haven't seen it yet, then ask no more. Just go rent it. This film is truly a masterpiece.

Clint Eastwood proves that he is a triple threat with this one. Not only does he do an outstanding job with his portrayal of Frankie Dunn, an oldtime boxing trainer, but he also directed and created the musical score. I have always been a fan of Clint's, but this movie finally made one out of Rob.

Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank round out the headlining cast. They completely embody their characters. Sometimes, they say nothing....but their eyes and stillness do the "talking." Everything, from the lighting to the incredible screenplay by Paul Haggis, plays a critical role in communicating the movie's feeling. Enjoy the highs and lows, keep the hanky nearby, and savor a finely crafted film.

VERDICT
WHO FELL ASLEEP: neither
WHO RECOMMENDS IT: both
BUY/RENT/SKIP: buy

Memoirs of a Geisha - Patti

I think that part of the reason this movie is receiving some flack is because people are going to it, expecting to see another Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, or Hero or House of Flying Daggers. Those were all excellent foreign films. Memoirs...is an American film. Sure, the cast is foreign, a mix of Japanese and Chinese actors. The story takes place in Japan, and we learn about Japanese culture (somewhat). But ultimatley, it's a very American movie.

This, however, doesn't make it a poor movie. The cinematography is amazing. The costumes and sets are breathtakingly lush. This has got to be one of the most beautiful films of 2005. The story follows a young Japanese girl (Chiyo/Sayuri) who was sold into slavery by her poor parents. Her beauty and very rare blue eyes are noticed early on, though, and she is eventually trained to become a geisha.

It's here that the story gets a little predictable for a time. After suffering through her lessons, Sayuri comes to realize that being a geisha might not be all that it is cracked up to be. We watch as she goes through adolescence, World War 2, and the internal struggles with her choices in life.

Still, something was missing. While I found the story engaging, I felt like I needed to understand the characters better. I wouldn't quite say it succeeded on the "epic scale" it was aiming for. But it was an enjoyable 2 and a half hours, nonetheless. You could probably just wait and rent this one.

VERDICT
WHO FELL ASLEEP: Rob, for about 10 minutes
WHO RECOMMENDS IT: Patti
BUY/RENT/SKIP: rent

The Ice Harvest - Patti

If you blink, you might miss this lil' gem of a film. We saw it a few weeks ago, but some of it's humor is still lingering with us. I can't wait to watch it again. It is a dark, dark, funny movie.

The story is this: John Cusack plays a mob lawyer who decides one Christmas Eve to steal from the hand that feeds him. He isn't alone in this endeavor, though, and that's where the twists and turns start to unfold. Billy Bob Thornton plays his partner in crime, and an equally sleazy mob laywer. Connie Nielsen plays the seductive temptress that you're just never quite sure you can trust. Oliver Platt is scene-stealing hilarious as Cuasck's constantly drunk best friend. Randy Quaid is the devil himself, the big bossman.

Directed by Harold Ramis, this one has everything that you would come to expect from a dark comedy, inlcuding a well-written script and a fabulous cast. Go see it while you can in the theater....but only if you find betrayal, murder, and deceit amusing. If language or blood offends you, maybe pass. But you would really be missing out on something.

Did I mention it was dark?

VERDICT
WHO FELL ASLEEP: neither
WHO RECOMMENDS IT: both
BUY/RENT/SKIP: rent

King Kong (2005) - Patti

Say what you want about this 3-hour remake of a remake, but this was one of the funnest movie-going experiences I have had in a long, long time! Peter Jackson captured the original film's magic and took it to a higher level, thanks, of course, to CGI.

Don't let the length of this movie scare you away...it never drags. My 9 and 10 year olds said it didn't feel like a 3 hour movie. The first act sets the stage for the necessary character and plot development. We meet Jack Black and Naomi Watts, who are completely engaging in their respective roles. Okay, Adrien Brody looks like he isn't really feeling "it," but that's the only criticism with the cast that I can think of.

Act two is when we arrive at Skull Island. I'm sure you've seen the trailer and know that this time, Kong is done right. He is simply breathtaking! As with his LOTR series, Jackson makes you believe that this is a place that actually exists. Sure, you may not want to visit, but a postcard from there would be cool!

By the final act, we are back in fabulous New York and the rest, as they say, is movie-making history. I felt like I was a kid again. I laughed. I screamed. I cried. What a blast! This one has got to be seen on the big screen. Kudos, Mr. Jackson!

VERDICT

WHO FELL ASLEEP: neither

WHO RECOMMENDS IT: both

BUY/RENT/SKIP: buy