pan's labyrinth (2006)

indeed, a "fairy tale for adults." don't bring your kids to watch this; it's no labyrinth. this film has been touted as one of the best movies of the year and that's about right. i can't say i even had one complaint about it aside from maybe having more scenes in the fantasy realm. but it's hard to complain when everything works together so well. i made a special effort to make sure i saw this on the big screen and i'm delighted i caught it. watching it on a rinky dink television wouldn't have done it justice.

ghost rider (2007)

there was a time nicolas cage was in good movies right? (his acting was always suspect, like an older keanu reeves) at least he tanked this superhero movie instead of starring as superman like he wanted. this is about the worst, most illogical, comic book movie i've ever seen. no thrills, spills, chills, or sense. eva mendes matched old nic for acting ineptitude but looked much better doing it.

this is what wes bentley has done to his promising career post-american beauty? he's the least menacing comic book villain ever. sheesh.

bridge to terabithia (2007)

to be fair, i was movie hopping and only saw half the movie. i walked out before all the fun stuff really started but i'm not sure i missed much. the weird voice used by the female lead, annasophia robb (who looks just like a young keira knightley), bothered me too much. and i felt i was a bit too old for the story. but i've heard good things about the film; which is nothing like chronicles of narnia -- in a good way.

here's an interesting article from slate about the movie: what bridge to terabithia still teaches us.

life of david gale (2003)

kevin spacey is still best as a smarmy type of guy right? his attempts at other roles have usually failed but it's easy to forget how effective his face and voice were in se7en, the usual suspects, and american beauty. underrated voiceover prescence. the whole movie is underrated actually. maybe it's the subject matter but the movie is a must see that nobody's seen. superb acting all-around (laura linney and kate winslet both shine) and great plot to boot.

saved! (2004)

ten minutes into the movie, i thought we were heading into "classic" territory as saved! skewed the lifestyle of teen jesus lovers accurately and with great humor. any film that hinges on a virgin sleeping with her gay boyfriend in order to cure him sounds good to me. mandy moore is great, macaulay culkin is great, jena malone is pretty good. classic territory. then when the "message" starts to get in way of the satire, the movie goes downhill pretty quickly. but still worth viewing for the first hour or so.

because i said so (2007)

diane keaton must of had a field day "acting" in this movie. she's trying to be one of those over-bearing slightly loopy moms that have become almost commonplace. trouble is, we like diane better in more serious roles (see, family stone or something's gotta give). here she's thrust in situational/physical gags that don't quite work. oh right, and the movie sucks too. if not for the late hour and the lack of other options, i would have walked out around the 45 minute mark.

i swear i read a good review of this from my favorite movie critic, don't believe it.

the sound of music (1965)

i've been waiting to re-watch this guy forever. fabulous. great movie. nothing really to say about it. except "five things i now know about the sound of music." the 40th anniversay edition comes with all these extras i still need to watch. a must see and must buy.