Arthur Christmas (3D)

Arthur Christmas (3D) 

The animated movie Arthur Christmas (2011) takes a different view of who Santa Claus really is and how the north Pole is run in a more modern time.  It is directed by Sarah Smith who also wrote the screenplay with co-writer Peter Baynham.

Arthur (James McAvoy) is the very english son of Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent).  He is the youngest of two sons.  His older brother, Steve (Hugh Laurie) is the military mastermind who uses all new technology to aid in producing and delivering millions of toys each year to children all around the world.  Santa Claus pretty much leaves everything up to Steve and jumps into the new fangled "sleigh," more like a space ship, each year to deliver the toys to children on Christmas Eve.  Then he retires to his bed and puts his cell phone on voicemail, telling all he will return calls next year on Christmas Eve when he wakes again.

Arthur, our main character, is a wide eyed dreamer, who is clumsy.  He does not have a particularly important role in the family business.  Yet, Arthur sees his role as a reader and responder of letters from children to Santa as very important.  This job keeps him out of eveyrone's hair and satisfies Arthur's need to be part of the family business.  Yet, Arthur is made to feel he will never amount to more than a letter reader.  Steve is the next Santa in line for the job and he relishes the position.

When a mistake is made in what type of gift is sent to a little girl and Arthur catches the mistake, he jumps into action.  Seeing that his father and brother have not caught the mistake, nor care if it is corrected, he decides it will bring him closer to both of them, if he solves the issue.  

That is when we meet the grandfather, a former Santa himself, who longs for the old days without computers, cell phones and GPS.  He thinks paper maps, the old sleigh with reindeer and magic dust works just fine.  Arthur confides in him and he offers to help by revving up the old sleigh to take the correct gift to the little girl.

Along the way, they both fall into problems and issues, which mission control finds out about and tries to correct.  And all Arthur wanted to do was to make sure every child was happy.  Every child!

As I watched the movie, I noticed that children of all ages, including the adults, were transfixed to the movie.  The 3D action was decent and fun to watch.  There were moments in the film when children would cheer and clap.  It definitely took everyone on an adventurous sleigh ride across the world.  We were all right there with Arthur, wanting him to make sure every child, even just this one little girl, got what they wanted by Christmas morning.

I would highly recommend this movie for a family night out.  It is always fun to have 3D sleighs and reindeer flying at you.  We all enjoy the story of Santa and what Christmas means to a child.  This version definitely takes you on a new and exciting trip into the future of Christmas!

©2011 All Rights Reserved

Jack and Jill movie

Jack and Jill

The movie Jack and Jill (2011) is directed by Dennis Dugan, written by Adam Sandler, Steve Koren and story by Ben Zook.  The film walks us through a comedic look at the relationship between fraternal twin siblings, Jack (Adam Sandler) and Jill (Adam Sandler) Sadelstein.  This also marks the first time we see Adam Sandler dressed in drag.  Very funny!


Jack is a very successful advertising executive in Los Angeles.  He is married to Erin Sadelstein (Katie Holmes) and has two kids, his adopted son, Gary (Rhohand Chand) and his daughter, Sofia (Elodie Tougne).  They live a very comfortable and upscale life.  Each year at Thanksgiving, Jack's twin sister, Jill, comes to visit.  Jill is an embarrassment for Jack.  She is slightly masculine, loud, boisterous and has never married.  Jill has spent many of her years taking care of their parents, while Jack has pursued a career and life. 

This Thanksgiving is different from the past, since their mother has passed away, leaving Jill alone in The Bronx in New York City.  Once Jill arrives in L.A; things are not going well between her and Jack.  Jill decides she needs to stay as long as she has to in order to repair her relationship with her brother.  Jack is not happy about this, but goes along with it, since his kids love her so much and his wife reminds him she is alone now.


Jill meets the people Jack works with, the gardener who takes care of the family yard and goes to a L.A. Lakers basketball game with Jack.  Jack has been trying to get Al Pacino for a commercial idea he has, so he goes to speak with him in the exclusive front row that is famous at the Lakers games.  One look at Jill and Al Pacino falls in love.  He starts to pursue her.  And the hilarity begins!


Among the cast of characters are David Spade dressed in drag as an old school mate, Monica, Dana Carvey as a crazy Puppeteer, Tim Meadows and Nick Swardson as Jack's co-workers and Norm McDonald as Funbucket.  A real Saturday Night live old school reunion.

I thought the movie was a little goofy at parts, but overall, really funny.  There were actually some real moments of emotion and touching scenes about sibling relationships and how they can affect everyone involved, but particularly the relationship between twins.  For an Adam Sandler movie, that was a surprise.  At the beginning and end of the movie, we also get to see and hear from real life twins.  Also, pretty funny, but eye opening as well.

Believe it or not, Adam Sandler is believable enough dressed in drag as Jill.  Al Pacino is completely hilarious in this movie.  His appearance is enough to make it worth the price of the movie ticket.  My kid enjoyed the movie and I feel it is totally appropriate for kids to see.  Overall, I would recommend the movie for a family night out and lots of laughs.  Maybe even a few heartstrings will be pulled. :}

©2011 All Rights Reserved

Moneyball movie

Moneyball 

The movie Moneyball (2011) is a look inside the inner workings of America's favorite past time, baseball.  Directed by Bennett Miller, famous for the film Capote (2005).  Adapted from the book "Moneyball:The Art of Winning an Unfair Game" written by Michael Lewis, who also wrote "The Blind Side."  Then bring in big hitter Aaron Sorkin who co-wrote the screenplay with Steven Zaillian, with the story by Stan Chervin, and forgive the pun, you have a home run!

Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), general manager of the long time losing Oakland A’s baseball team, continually negotiates with his owner for more money to bring better players to the team.  He is told that he will have to work with the budget given and once again, like so many years before, bring in the players to try to become a winning team by the end of the year.  Beane hears critics on the radio and television everyday stating that he should be fired and another GM hired to bring the team where it needs to be.  He is taking the blame, but he is really not the problem.  Budget constraints are.

This has had a profound affect on Beane’s family life.  His wife, Sharon (Robin Wright), leaves Beane and marries a wealthier man.  His daughter, Casey Beane (Kerris Dorsey), is not able to see him as often, because his schedule demands he scout across the country for minor league and worn out major league players to keep his team a float.  Casey is left to watch her father struggle financially, professionally and see the emotional toll it takes on him. All of this from a one time major league baseball player who left the game, because of too many injuries.  Yet, Beane is committed to his team.

While out scouting at a competing teams office, he sees a young man whispering advice to a negotiator.  After the meeting is over, he confronts the young Ivy League college graduate, Peter Brand (Jonah Hill).  Beane wants to know what he was telling the negotiators.  Once coerced, the young man walks him to a parking garage and divulges his secret.  Billy likes what he hears and within the week, he makes a trade with this team and includes hiring Peter Brand in the trade.

Beane and Brand are taken through the ringer as they try to convince the coaches, scouts, owners and the critical public that their strategy is the way to win games.

Brad Pitt pulls off a convincing roll as Billy Beane, the hard luck general manager, who just wants to win one season with his team.  He lets us into a world that few understand and many criticize.  It gave me a new appreciation for what general managers go through to get a team to the top.  People are talking Oscar.  I would not doubt it.

Jonah Hill show us that he does have some acting chops and we truly believe he is a young up and comer in this world of baseball who knows exactly what he is talking about and we all should just shut up and listen.

I think this is a great movie for all ages to see.  It shows us what life can do to relationships, but also how going with your gut and chasing a dream can pay off in the end.  Also, how turning left, when you should have turned right, can affect all you do.  But in the end, it shows us that even when you think you failed, you really won.  Especially when someone realizes you were the one with the original idea, writes a book and then produces a movie about you!  Billy Beane and Peter Brand, you definitely changed the face of baseball for the better!  Thank you!

©2011 All Rights Reserved

Anonymous movie

Anonymous

"Anonymous" (2011), the movie, directed by Roland Emmerich and written by John Orloff, suggests the premise William Shakespeare (1564 -1616) never put pen to paper to write all the masterpieces we enjoy today. In fact, the movie claims Edward De Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford (1550 - 1604), actually wrote the plays, sonnets, etc. William Shakespeare was paid to take the credit. This is an Oxford Variant fringe theory, proposed 91 years ago questioning Shakespeare's legitimacy.

At this time in history, the Elizabethan age, a puritan view was very popular. Writing, considered an art, was seen as selfish and self-centered. It was frowned upon as a career or even a past time. Therefore, if the Earl was a talented writer of plays and sonnets, then he would need to hide behind a facade in order to make his works public.

Many scholars have researched and tried to prove this point. They claim William Shakespeare lacked the education and aristocratic sensibility or even the familiarity with the royal court that his writing displayed. I am not sure if that is a plausible argument, but it would change history, if true.

The movie also shows us the events of the time. We see Queen Elizabeth I, (1558 - 1603) struggling through the years with royal duties, who will succeed her and the many lovers and illegitimate children she is said to have bore.

During her younger years she meets Earl Edward De Vere and they fall in love. Unfortunately, the Earl is already married to another. They part ways.

Through the years, the Earl's works are put on the stage, supposedly by Shakespeare. The Queen recognizes the Earl's writings and supports the plays. Many plays during this time were shut down for the political views they exposed. The Earl was able to express his views, because of the Queen's love for him. His plays were allowed to continue even though they were causing discontent with the masses.

As the movie progresses, it takes us through a whirlwind of deceptions, both personally and politically. We are shown how and why the Earl felt he needed to employ Shakespeare as his "ghost writer" front. The trials and tribulations of all involved in this deception is exposed. We are shown what this can do to people's lives and how it can destroy relationships and careers.

In the beginning of the movie it uses flashbacks to show us the history of each character and how they are intertwine in their lives and deeds. It can be a bit confusing. The director and editor may have thought showing too much from the past would give the story away early on in the film. I think it would have flowed more to show the events as they happened through time. The beginning is a bit tedious, but hang on. It is well worth the story that unfolds.

The movie does put forward a credible argument for their doubts. I enjoyed the movie as well as my teen. This is a movie for 13 and over. If your teen is a bit more cerebral, they will enjoy the possibilities the film sets forth. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is open to a different view of what could have been in the life of William Shakespeare and the monarchy at that time. Watch it all the way through or you will miss pertinent information. It definitely holds your attention to the end!

©2011 All Rights Reserved