While not quite as quiet as October was, November promises to be easy on my pocketbook when it comes to movies. I see five or six that might draw me away from my books. So without further ado, here we go. Again, I’m listing a number that sound interesting; well, interesting for some people, anyway.

The Box  : Starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella, The Box looks more than a little creepy. And what is with all the scary movies these days? Anyway, this one has Diaz and Marsden as an unhappy couple who are faced with a dilemma: open the box and gain a million bucks while killing someone they don’t know. What to do? Rated PG-13, The Box opens November 6.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol : In the animated style of Polar Express and Beowulf (and adapted for the screen and directed by Robert Zemeckis), this retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic features the voice talents of Jim Carrey (as just about everyone), Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Bob Hoskins and Robin Wright Penn. Rated PG, Disney’s A Christmas Carol opens November 6. 

The Fourth Kind : While I love supernatural tales, I may have to wait for The Fourth Kind to come out on DVD. That way I can stop it if I get too scared; I don’t particularly like screaming or jumping out of my seat when I’m in a crowded movie theater. This supposedly-based-on-a-true-story movie stars Milla Jovovich as a psychologist in Nome, Alaska, who treats traumatized patients only to discover they’ve all had close encounters of the fourth kind (abduction). Rated PG-13, The Fourth Kind opens November 6.

The Men Who Stare at Goats : Starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey, this movie looks like it might be fun. McGregor is Bob Wilton, a reporter who chances upon the story of a U.S. military program that uses ESP during missions. Clooney is Lyn Cassaday, who claims to be a former member of the First Earth Battalion and a man who can kill with his mind. Rated R, The Men Who Stare at Goats opens in limited release November 6. 

Precious : With Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry combining efforts to promote this film, along with numerous awards, Precious looks to be on the fast track to success. It’s the heart-wrenching tale of a Harlem teen – abused, overweight, illiterate and pregnant – who learns her life can go in a different direction when she enrolls in an alternative school, Precious will undoubtedly be difficult to watch. I hear, though, that the performances are outstanding, the story grabs your attention, and you’ll continue to think about this movie long after the final credits. Rated R, Precious opens November 6 in limited release.  

2012 : Don’t let the hype overwhelm you. This is an end-of-the-world view from Roland Emmerich, who has given us such films as Independence Day, 10,000 B.C. and The Day After Tomorrow. John Cusak leads the cast of survivors, and we’ll see a tsunami throwing a battle cruiser into the White House. Rated PG-13, 2012 opens November 13. 

Pirate Radio : Released in April in the United Kingdom as The Boat That Rocked, Pirate Radio tells the tale of how England attempted to outlaw rock ‘n’ roll in the 1960s, only to be thwarted by ingenious disc jockeys spreading the word via a floating radio station. Expect a fun time with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh. Rated R, Pirate Radio opens November 13.

The Messenger : With the war in Iraq as the backdrop, The Messenger follows a U.S. soldier, who on his return home becomes involved with the widow of a fallen comrade. Reviews say it’s a powerful story, and, while it’s slow paced, the performances from Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson are exceptional. The move also stars Samantha Morton, Steve Buscemi, Eamonn Walker and Jena Malone. Rated R, The Messenger opens November 13.

The Blind Side : Michael Oher is a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens. The Blind Side tells his story, from his broken-home roots to his life with the Touhys, a well-to-do white family. Starring Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates, The Blind Side looks promising as an inspirational tale, and it may just require a box of tissues. Also, let’s hope this is better than some of Bullock’s latest work. Rated PG-13, The Blind Side opens November 20.

Planet 51 : This movie has been on my radar for a while. An animated view of aliens, Planet 51 looks hilarious, with an underlying important message. What happens when a planet’s inhabitants are faced with a visitor from outer space? And what happens when that visitor is from Earth and the inhabitants are the green beings of Planet 51? Lots of laughs, in my opinion. Voices provided by Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, Seann William Scott and John Cleese. Rated PG, Planet 51 opens November 20.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon : A confession is in order: I read the first book and saw the first movie, and I’m now working on New Moon the book. Yes, I adore tales of the supernatural, but …. I’m a bit ambivalent on this series. I’m also a bit leery of movies with two titles. Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles as Edward, Bella and Jacob, as the saga continues. Rated PG-13, New Moon opens November 20. 

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans : Again with the extra title. This is a retelling/reimagining of the original 1992 Bad Lieutenant starred Harvey Keitel. The movie follows Nicolas Cage as a detective who is more interested in drugs and placing bets than the case of five dead immigrants. Not yet rated, Bad Lieutenant also stars Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Shawn Hatosy, Xzibit and Jennifer Coolidge and opens November 20. 

Old Dogs : Robin Williams and John Travolta (who reunites with his Wild Hogs director Walt Becker) star as friends and business partners forced to take some time off when 7-year-old twins appear on the scene. While it might be a bit over-the-top with the humor, Old Dogs looks like it’s full of laughs. And Seth Green may just steal the film from Williams and Travolta. Also starring Matt Dillon and Justin Long, Old Dogs is rated PG and opens November 25. 

The Princess and the Frog : A different twist on the traditional Frog Prince fairy tale, this animated Disney flick takes place during the Jazz Age in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Voices provided by Anika Noni Rose (as Princess Tiana), John Goodman, Keith David, Terrence Howard, Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey and Jim Cummings. Not yet rated, The Princess and the Frog opens in limited release November 25 and in wide release December 11. 

The Road : Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Cormac McCarthy, The Road follows a father and son as they travel across the country after an unknown disaster has left the world in ruins. Lots of buzz around this one, although it’s release date has changed several times. Viggo Mortensen stars as the father and Kodi Smit-McPhee as the son. Charlize Theron, Garret Dillahunt, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce also star. Rated R, The Road opens November 25.

Me and Orson Welles : Taking a piece of history and adding an unknown character or two to the mix makes for some interesting storytelling, as far as I’m concerned. Richard Samuels is a teen intent on making it big on Broadway. A chance meeting with Orson Welles as the director prepares his 1937 Broadway adaptation of Julius Caesar leads to a role for Richard, as well as a mess of complications. Zac Efron stars as Richard, Christian McKay as Welles, and Claire Danes as aspiring actress Sonja. Rated PG-13, Me and Orson Welles opens November 25. 

I have on my radar The Men Who Stare at Goats, Pirate Radio, The Blind Side, Planet 51 and The Road. Whatta think? Anything that I absolutely need to catch at the local cineplex?

See ya at the movies!

It’s been too long since we talked movies (or television, for that matter, an omission I will try to rectify in the near future). So how about a list of a few movies in September that I’m looking forward to seeing?

Oh, I saw District 9. A good, low-budget, sci-fi romp, albeit a bit more bloody and gruesome than I’d expected. I still have yet to see The Time Traveler’s Wife or Julie & Julia. And Taking Woodstock opens this weekend in my town. Sigh, too many movies, too little time.

What does September hold?

All About Steve : A romp for Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper, this comedy looks good in the trailers. A blind date between puzzle constructor Mary (Bullock) and hunky news cameraman Steve (Cooper) leads to a lopsided relationship, with Mary as the stalker. I’m a little leery of a movie in which someone makes such an utter fool of herself, as I don’t find stupidity all that funny. But I love both Bullock and Cooper (since his Alias days!), so I may make the effort to see this one. If only to see how it ends, because I don’t really see a happily-ever-after ending for this one. Do you? Rated PG-13, All About Steve also stars Thomas Haden Church and opens September 4.

Extract : Another comedy, this one stars Jason Bateman as the owner of a flower extract plant (a hilarious concept itself) who has to deal with a range of work, home and marriage issues. On paper, it doesn’t sound so funny, but the trailers were enough to make me laugh, and I do like Bateman. Rated R, Extract opens September 4.

Gamer : While I’m still a bit unclear as to the plot, Gamer is science fiction, which puts it fairly high on my to-see list, even with the mixed (read, mainly bad) reviews this one is getting. I’m a fan of Gerard Butler, who leads the cast in this movie about gaming. A reclusive billionaire has created an online game in which players are able to act out their secret fantasies through first-person games. Butler portrays Kable, controlled by Simon (young Logan Lerman) in a shooter game. Gamer also stars Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), is rated R and opens September 4.

9 : Directed by Shane Acker, and adapted from his animated short, 9 follows the lives (?) of several doll-like creatures in the not-so-distant future. The world has ended, and the only living creatures in a post-apocalyptic world are 9 and a small group of similar refugees. Machines roam the earth intent on extinguishing any signs of life. The animation looks terrific, although another post-apocalyptic tale may be too much. Voices include Elijah Woods, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover, Martin Landau and Christopher Plummer. 9 is rated PG-13 and opens, appropriately enough, on 9/9/09.

Whiteout : Ah, a mystery! Set in Antarctica, no less. Kate Beckinsale is the only law enforcement officer on hand to investigate a shocking murder. Her task is made more difficult by the timing – winter is only three days away, which will plunge the continent into total darkness – and by blinding snow, and her investigation opens up a deeper mystery. I love a good mystery. Whiteout also stars Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, Tom Skerrit and Alex O’Loughlin, is rated R, and opens September 11.

Love Happens : A romantic comedy, Love Happens stars Aaron Eckhart as a self-help author in need of help. Enter Jennifer Aniston as the one person who might be able to provide that help. Yep, it hopefully will translate better on film than on paper. I’m in the mood for a good rom-com, so I’m looking forward to this one. Love Happens is rated PG-13 and opens September 18.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs : Just the title is enough to make me smile, so I’m sure this animated comedy will make me laugh. Based on the popular children’s book by Judi Barrett (published in 1982), Cloudy follows inventor Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) who comes up with a way to feed the world – making food fall like rain. Sam Sparks (voiced by Anna Faris) is a weather girl covering the phenomenon, Tim Lockwood (James Caan) is Flint’s technophobic father, and Bruce Campbell voices Mayor Shelbourne who knows Flint’s invention will put the town – and the mayor – in the national spotlight. Rated PG, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs opens September 18.

The Informant!  Starring Matt Damon as real-life whistle-blower Mark Whitacre, The Informant! chronicles Whitacre’s work with the FBI to uncover the price-fixing scandal at Archer Daniels Midland (an agribusiness Fortune 500 company) in the early 1990s, as well as Whitacre’s struggles with a severe bipolar disorder. The Informant! also stars Melanie Lynskey, Patton Oswalt, Clancy Brown and Scott Bakula. Rated R, The Informant! opens September 18.

Fame : I loved the 1980 musical and the 1982 television series, so I suspect I’ll like this updated version. The movie follows talented students at Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (formerly the New York City High School for the Performing Arts) and their instructors. Starring Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Charles S. Dutton and Debbie Allen, Fame also spotlights a number of up-and-coming performers. Rated PG, Fame opens September 25.

Pandorum : While listed as a science fiction movie, Pandorum may be more horror thriller than anything else, which puts it somewhat further down on my to-see list. But it also stars Dennis Quaid, a fact that may move it up a notch or two on that list. The tagline – Don’t fear the end of the world. Fear what happens next. – may say it all, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle this one in the theater. A pair of crew members (Quaid and Ben Foster) wake up on a spaceship with no memory of who they are or what they’re doing there. Horror ensues. Rated R, Pandorum opens September 25.

Surrogates : Perhaps a combination of genres, Surrogates seems to be mainly science fiction, and since it stars Bruce Willis, I’m there. People stay in the safety of their homes, living their lives remotely through robotic surrogates, in a world without crime or fear. Then a murder occurs, the first in years, and an FBI agent (Willis) leaves his home and surrogate behind to track down the killer. Rated PG-13, Surrogates opens September 25.

There you have it, my list of possible movies for this month. Oh, and more than a few have terrific websites, just so you know. Let me know what you think of these movies, and what other titles you’ve seen that you’ve enjoyed. I’m always on the lookout for new movies to watch.

See ya at the theater!

From my list of July movies, it looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time at the theater. And considering the current heat and humidity, I doubt if I complain much.

So many movies, so little time! Here’s my list for July:

Public Enemies : Living large was what John Dillinger did best – oh, and rob banks. Johnny Depp portrays the nation’s first Public Enemy No. 1 in this Michael Mann helmed film. During the Great Depression, the recently created Bureau of Investigation turned its efforts, lead by top agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), on apprehending the charming and daring bank robber. The film also stars Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff and Stephen Lang. Rated R, Public Enemies opens July 1.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs : The franchise’s third film, Dawn finds Manny and Ellie (the mammoths voiced by Ray Romano and Queen Latifah), along with Diego the Saber-Toothed Tiger (Denis Leary), Scrat and the rest of the gang, heading underground to help Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo). Faced with dinosaurs and more, the gang also must fend off the new bad guy – Buck (Simon Pegg), a dinosaur-hunting weasel. Rated PG, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs opens July 1.

I Hate Valentine’s Day : Reuniting Nia Vardalos and John Corbett (after their success with My Big Fat Greek Wedding) might be just what the doctor ordered. If, that is, this lightweight romance works. Genevieve (Vardalos) won’t take a relationship (if one can call it that) past five dates, until she meets the new restaurant owner in the neighborhood (Corbett). Vardalos pulls off a hat trick with this one: she also wrote the story and screenplay, and she directs. Too much for one person? We’ll see. Rated PG-13, I Hate Valentine’s Day opens in limited release July 3.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince : Following the young wizards into their sixth year at Hogwarts, Half-Blood Prince is the darkest (so far) of the J.K. Rowling’s series. The Death Eaters take their fight through the magical world into the world of Muggles as Dumbledore attempts to prepare Harry for the final battle against Lord Voldemort. Oh, and love is in the air as Hogwarts becomes a romantic battleground. Jim Broadbent and Helen McCrory join the cast. Rated PG, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens July 15. 

(500) Days of Summer : More than a love story, Days follows forever-romantic Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as he pursues the cynical Summer (Zoey Deschanel) in a roller coaster ride of life and love. For me, this looks to be a great quirky romance with laughter and tears overlaying a well-written, well-acted, independent film. Hopefully. Rated PG-13, (500) Days of Summer opens in limited release July 17.

The Ugly Truth : On the opposite end of the moviemaking spectrum from (500) Days of Summer, The Ugly Truth stars Katherine Heigl as a television producer forced to deal with a difficult show host (Gerard Butler), who attempts to help her with her romantic pursuits. We all know how this will go (and end), but it might be a fun ride. Besides, Gerard Butler! I swear, I’d watch the man read the phone book. Rated R, The Ugly Truth opens July 24.

The Answer Man : Another romance, The Answer Man throws a dash of spirituality into the mix. Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels) wrote the defining book on spirituality 20 years ago. His reclusive life suddenly collides with single mom Elizabeth (Lauren Graham) and Kris (Taylor Pucci), a young man just out of rehab. Everyone wants Arlen to have all the answers to life, but he’s a clueless as everyone else. Rated R, The Answer Man opens July 24.

Adam : In another quirky indie release, we meet Adam (Hugh Dancy) after his father has passed away. Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into the same apartment building, and a friendship ensues, despite Adam’s awkward behavior. Is it possible for Adam, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, and Beth, with her past relationship baggage, to make a go of it? Stay tuned. Also starring Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving and Mark Linn-Baker, Adam is rated PG-13 and opens in limited release July 29.

Funny People : While Adam Sandler is not one of my favorite actors, he’s captured my attention in the trailers for this film. When diagnosed with a terminal illness, funny man George Simmons (Sandler) takes a newcomer (Seth Rogen) under his wing as his opening act. Directed by Judd Apatow, the film also stars Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA, Jonah Hill and Aubrey Plaza. Rated R, Funny People opens July 31.

July’s a busy month for moviegoers. Any other films on your radar? I’m a bit behind on my June watching too, so see ya at the movies!

While studios brought out a lot of the big names in today’s movies last month, June isn’t going to be an empty month.

May brought Star Trek (excellent; I added the poster above just because the movie and the poster are so awesome!), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (so-so), Angels & Demons (so-so), and Termination Salvation (a bit of a disappointment) to the big screens, and June has one or two tricks up its sleeve as well. So here goes:

My Life in Ruins: Nia Vardalos returns to the big screen as a hapless tour guide looking for her dream job, her kefi (Greek for “mojo”) and her true love. The beauty of her native Greece creates the perfect backdrop for the tourists to find an exotic land and for Georgia (Vardalos) to find herself. I enjoyed Vardalos’ My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and I hope she has a hit here as well. Rated PG-13, My Life in Ruins opens June 5.

The Taking of Pelham 123: This action flick (a remake of a 1974 film starring Walter Mathau; and a TV version was produced in 1998) stars Denzel Washington as the NYC subway dispatcher caught in a hostage situation masterminded by John Travolta. The trailers for this film look great, and it will probably be worth it just to see Travolta as another bad guy. Rated R (violence and language), The Taking of Pelham 123 opens June 12.

Moon: On the far side of the moon, miner/astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is nearing the end of his three-year stint at mining Helium 3, a resource helping Earth fight its energy crisis. Alone except for a talking computer, Sam finds himself in trouble with no one to turn to. Science fiction is my favorite genre, so this caught my attention, and Rockwell is usually great to watch. I’m hearing some rumblings of a disjointed storyline, though, so I’m not sure Moon will remain on my to-see list. Rated R (language), Moon opens in limited release June 12.

The Proposal: About time Sandra Bullock had another hit, and she’s usually terrific in romantic comedies. In The Proposal, she’s a hard-headed and hard-hearted executive who finds herself threatened with deportation. She pounces on a solution that involves her unfortunate assistant (Ryan Reynolds) and a wedding. The trailers look funny, and while the plot sounds more than a mite preposterous, it might be worth a trip to the theater just to laugh. Rated PG-13, The Proposal opens June 19.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: OK, I have confession to make. While I liked the first Transformers movie, I have no clue as to who or what a Transformer really is, and I can’t identify a Transformer, in whatever form it might be in at any given moment. I did enjoy the action of the first film, and this one promises more of the same. I like Shia LaBeouf and Josh Duhamel, special effects and great fight scenes, so I’m in. Oh, you want a plot? Well, it appears Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) has discovered the truth of the Transformers’ origins, and a second epic battle ensues to save the planet and the universe. Rated PG-13, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen opens June 24.

My Sister’s Keeper: Don’t forget the tissues, as this one promises to be a tearjerker. Based on Jodi Picoult’s novel of the same name, My Sister’s Keeper follows young Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) as she seeks emancipation from her parents and the role she’s played since birth – the hope of her terminally ill sister. Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric take on the roles of Anna’s conflicted parents, and Sofia Vassilieva (from TV’s Medium) portrays the sister. I know people who scoop up Picoult’s books, so this might be worth a look. Do you suppose I’ll need an entire tissue box? Rated PG-13, My Sister’s Keeper opens June 26.

Three other movies caught my attention. The stop-action claymation $9.99 opens June 19, and two others open in limited release: The Hurt Locker and Surveillance.

$9.99 focuses on the meaning of life with the voices of Geoffrey Rush and Anthony LaPaglia leading the way.

The Hurt Locker is set in Iraq amid the chaos facing an elite American Army bomb squad with only a few weeks before they ship home. Rated R, The Hurt Locker opens in limited release June 26.  

Surveillance (rated R) also opens in limited release June 26, and then its DVD release is set for August 18. A cop drama, starring Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond, Surveillance tracks a serial killer as three possible victims tell the FBI agents (Pullman and Ormond) very different stories.

So there you go. Movies to while away the summer. Oh, and before I forget: July 1 brings Public Enemies to the big screen. Starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent who tracked him down, and Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover, Public Enemies looks to be one of those movies that will knock your socks off – I’ll be at the theater, what about you?

The month of May has yet to begin, and I’m already in trouble when it comes to the movies. Travel has kept me from the local theater for a few weeks now, and the next couple of weeks will be more of the same. That to-rent list is growing by leaps and bounds!

Releases for May have me salivating to spend a lot of time at the theater, so maybe it’s a good thing I won’t be able to get there as frequently as I’d like. Time and money saved, so to speak. While I’m exiled from watching the big screen, you aren’t (I hope), so here are a few films to watch out for this month.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine: The highly anticipated fourth installment in the X-Men franchise, this one spotlights Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and how Logan became Wolverine. We’ll see Wolverine make the choice that changes his life – the bonding of his skeleton with the indestructible metal adamantium. Also starring Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth, Will.i.Am as Wraith, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, and Taylor Kitsch as Gambit, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is rated PG-13 and opens May 1.

Battle for Terra: This animated sci-fi dramedy looks to appeal to audiences of all ages. The Earth is gone, and humanity needs a new home. Lightyears from home, mankind finds a planet already inhabited by a peace-loving race, setting the stage for an all-out war for control of the planet. It’s up to a rebellious Terrian named Mala (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood) and an injured human pilot (Luke Wilson) to find a way for the races to co-exist. Other voices: Brian Cox, James Garner, Chris Evans, David Cross, Justin Long and Dennis Quaid. Battle for Terra is rated G and opens May 1.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner star in this romantic comedy in the vein of A Christmas Carol. Connor Mead (McConaughey) has played the romance game fast and loose for quite some time, and his actions are coming back to haunt him. Jenny Perotti (Garner) is the girl he won and lost and still loves. Will true love triumph? Michael Douglas stars as the ghostly Uncle Wayne. The trailers look fun, although I’ve been seeing some negative press. Ghosts is rated PG-13 and opens May 1.

Star Trek: At last! J.J. Abrams’ reboot takes a look at the lives of the classic series’ beloved characters before the original series. Chris Pine takes on James T. Kirk, while Zachary Quinto becomes Spock and Karl Urban declares “I’m a doctor, not a ---,” as Leonard McCoy. Being a Trekkie/Trekker from the early days, I am eagerly looking forward to this one. And it’s gaining momentum and great buzz as the release date nears. Star Trek is rated PG-13 and opens May 8. Check out the graphics on the website!

Management: You all know I’m not a huge fan of comedy. So this addition to my list has a few question marks. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn, Management follows Mike (Zahn) as he pursues Sue (Aniston) across the country. Zahn is among my favorite actors, and Aniston has appeal. However, this film may have too many stalker elements for my taste. Time will tell. Management is rated R and opens May 15.

Angels & Demons: The second offering from author Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series, this film is set before The Da Vinci Code. The Vatican requests the assistance of Langdon (Tom Hanks, with a better haircut) to battle a threat from the secretive Illuminati. Again directed by Ron Howard, the film also stars Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard and Armin Mueller-Stahl. I enjoyed Da Vinci Code (both the film and the book); I didn’t enjoy the book Angels & Demons as much, so I’m not sure about the film version. I’ll see it, though. Rated PG-13, Angels & Demons opens May 15.

 The Brothers Bloom: Starring Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz and Rinko Kikuchi, this film focuses on a brother team of swindlers (Ruffalo and Brody) who set sights on an eccentric heiress (Weisz) as their last and greatest con. Kikuchi portrays Bang Bang, an explosives expert who teams with the brothers. While billed as a comedy, The Brothers Bloom promises a lot of pathos along with the laughter. Rated PG-13, The Brothers Bloom opens in New York and L.A. on May 15, in select cities May 22 and nationwide May 29.

Terminator Salvation: Another highly anticipated release, the fourth in the franchise finds John Connor (Christian Bale) struggling with his certain belief that humans will win out against the machines after the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). New strategies by Skynet force the human resistance to change tactics, and Connor and Wright team to take on the enemy. Rated PG-13, Terminator Salvation opens May 21. Great poster, eh? A great website, too.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: Following up his success in Night at the Musuem, Ben Stiller reprises his role as museum guard Larry Daley, who has made his way to the Smithsonian to rescue Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Octavius (Steve Coogan). The trailers look like fun, and I enjoyed the first film, although I’m not a Stiller fan. Rated PG, Battle of the Smithsonian opens May 22.

Up: It would appear that Disney Pixar again has a winner. Up follows the adventures of 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) as he ties thousands of ballons to his house in an effort to fly to South America. It’s the vacation he’d promised his late wife. A stowaway, the optimistic and much younger Russell (Jordan Nagai), causes Carl to change plans. Other voices are provided by Christopher Plummer, Paul Eiding, Delroy Lindo, Bob Peterson and John Ratzenberger. Rated PG, Up opens May 29.

With one thing and another, I still haven’t seen State of Play or The Soloist, so it would appear that I could spend every weekend in May at the theater. Which I just might do.

Any other May titles I should add to my list? Any rental recommendations?

See ya at the movies!

I really don’t recall what turned us onto the topic, but one day here in the editorial office at GRIT, Publisher Bryan Welch, my colleagues and I breeched the topic of selective breeding and the adaptability of livestock. I think we were working on a breed guide at the time, maybe hunting down photos of goat breeds and were overheard. This brought to Bryan’s mind an old Western, The Rare Breed (1966), which I had never seen. A couple of days later our movie, television and books buff, Senior Associate Editor Jean Teller, placed the DVD on my desk. Recently I had the chance to watch it.

I generally do like Westerns, both older – aside from this one, I also recently watched McLintock – and newer – I count Tombstone and Open Range among my favorites. This must be because I grew up watching the likes of Josie Wales, Gus from Lonesome Dove and, from my mom’s favorite television show Gunsmoke, Marshall Matt Dillon when I was a kid. I then would imitate these lifestyles, from cattle herder to sheriff to outlaw, while I roamed the farm on horseback and ran (too much, whatever the amount) fat off the cows on our farm.

Those were some of the best – and worst, from my perspective – chewings my mom ever gave. I say best because they always seemed fierce and well-deserved, although I don’t recall Momma ever giving an undeserving chewin’. With three boys, she never lacked for justification.

Anyway, The Rare Breed features James Stewart as a protagonist, and a mother-daughter duo (Maureen O’Hara and Juliet Mills, respectively) and their Hereford bull, aptly named Vindicator.

Mom and daughter are forced to sell the bull, and what results is relocation to a Texas Longhorn ranch, where Vindicator will hopefully substantiate the claim (Juliet Mills’ claim) that he can survive and procreate. James Stewart leads the bull on the drive, while O’Hara and Mills tag along to ensure Vindicator doesn’t just end up on a dinner table.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Vindicator, along with several of the Longhorn bulls, perishes in a harsh Texas winter (I expected the heat to be more of a problem), but in the spring several Hereford calves, several baby-white faces, are discovered.

It’s more of the tamed variety of Western movies you’ll find in my opinion – at one point Stewart and the antagonist seemingly play chicken on their horses, the horses collide and one cowboy dies – and there are few to no gunfights, an aspect of the American Western that appeals to me, hence my affinity for Open Range, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Lonesome Dove and others.

What does it for you? What aspect of the American Western movie appeals to you most, and what are the types you like the best? Also, what memories do you have as a child watching Westerns like I do?

Recent trips to the movies garnered a few new trailers to look forward to. I mentioned a few of the last few movies I’ve seen in my last post: Bolt, Australia and Seven Pounds. Since Thanksgiving, I’ve also seen Transporter 3 (good fight scenes and Jason Statham), and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (and I forgot to write down the trailers before Button – darn!). Button was excellent, although a mite long. It’s a quiet study of a man living his life as best he can in unusual and stressful circumstances. Brad Pitt is excellent as Benjamin, and Cate Blanchett as his one true love. If nothing else, see it for the special makeup effects; it’s pretty amazing what they can do these days.

Here are a few of the January releases that I’m looking forward to.

Defiance : A World War II tale, based on a true story, of three brothers saving other Jews from the Holocaust. Starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell, this film has my historical side more than a little curious and interested. Opens January 16.

Inkheart : Anything starring Brendan Fraser is worth a look, in my opinion, and Inkheart has the added advantage of being a fantasy about books. Bookworms, unite! Opens January 23.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans : OK, I confess, I liked the first Underworld (Underworld: Evolution, not so much). Rise of the Lycans takes the franchise back to the beginning, to when the war between vampires and werewolves began and the love story of Lucian (Michael Sheen) and Sonja (Rhona Mitra) takes place. Opens January 23.

Taken : Looks interesting and Liam Neeson is always good. I read about this just yesterday, as I was researching the movies on the way in 2009, and then I saw a trailer on television last night. Excellent timing, I’d say. It seems this movie was released quite a while ago in Europe and Asia; so, no spoilers, please! Opens January 30.

New in Town : Hopefully, this romantic comedy will be a win for Renee Zellwegger. It co-stars Harry Connick Jr. and Nathan Fillion as the romantic interests, and features a lot of Minnesota snow (at least in the trailers). Opens January 30.

A few of the interesting trailers I’ve noted include Last Chance Harvey with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson (opens January 16), The Ugly Truth with Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler (opens April 3), The International with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts opens February 13, and, drumroll please, Star Trek! I may barely survive until the J.J. Abrams’ helmed Star Trek arrives in theaters May 8.

By the way, these official movie sites are awesome!

These days, I’ve found an excellent way to keep track of current and upcoming movies: blogs. I visit, daily, The Movie Blog, critic Roger Ebert’s review page and blog and Cinematical. For what’s to be released down the road, I like to visit Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Movies, Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Any other suggestions?

So what do you think of these films, folks? And what do you say I make this a regular feature? Every month I’ll list the movies I’m looking forward to in the next few weeks, and then I’ll review one or two of them. I’d love to hear what you think of the movies I didn’t get to see; love those comments!

See ya at the movies!

Everywhere you turn this time of year you find a Top 10 list or a Best of ... list or some such ranking of someone’s favorite this or that. Guess what? Here’s mine!

My at-a-glance calendar is filled with work deadlines, personal appointments, trip plans and notations for this and that. I also try to write down the movies I see in the theater or those I rent. This year, I’m sad to say, I did not see as many movies as I have in the past. (Or maybe I just forgot to write a bunch down?) Anyway, here are my favorites, in the order they appeared in my calendar:

Juno : Starring Ellen Page and Michael Cera, this bittersweet comedy was nominated for four Oscars, and won for Best Writing/Original Screenplay. While it’s rated PG-13, the movie carries some strong, adult themes and a heavy message. I liked the performances, and the writing is excellent. I’m just not sure I could watch it again.

 Vantage Point : Using one of the most unique methods of storytelling I’ve seen in a long time, this movie carries a tag line that says it all: “8 Strangers. 8 Points of View. 1 Truth.” The same 15 minutes or so are repeated six times from different people’s perspectives. Your patience will be rewarded, trust me. I found Vantage Point to be innovative, refreshing, thrilling and a joy to watch. Some great performances by Dennis Quaid, Saïd Taghmaoui, Sigourney Weaver, Eduardo Noriega and Matthew Fox. This one has already been added to the DVD collection.

Young@Heart : What a wonderful movie! A documentary, Young@Heart follows the Northampton, Massachusetts, chorus of the same name. It’s an unusual music group, comprised of singers whose average age is 81, and they cover rock music, such as the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated,” Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia” and “James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good).” Some heartbreaking turns happen in the life of this chorus (it’s been in existence for 25 years), so have a tissue box handy. I’ll probably add this to the collection one of these days.   Check out the chorus's website.

The Visitor : This quiet character study is another wonderful, heartbreaking film. Starring the underrated (and underappreciated) Richard Jenkins as a sad professor, The Visitor gives us a view into a lonely existence and how a chance encounter can change everything. The tag line for the film, “In a world of six billion people, it only takes one to change your life,” gives us hope, while the film’s outcome demonstrates how sad the world can be. Another future addition to my collection.

WALL-E : Rent this one, now! Left behind on a garbage-filled Earth, the robotic WALL-E displays an enviable work ethic and capacity for love. You’ll fall in love with the animated environmental engineer, and you’ll laugh, cry and cheer for WALL-E, the love of his life, Eve, and for the entire human race. It’s also one of the most gorgeous animated films you’ll see. OK, I’m going shopping for this DVD this weekend.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army : Perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love Red and his band of misfits. In The Golden Army, Hellboy and Co. are showcased in an action-filled sight fest, including Red scampering over rooftops, as he holds a tiny tot in his tail during a major fight with a forest god, and a visit to a bazaar filled with bizarre characters who make Hellboy look ordinary. I already own the first Hellboy; this one will follow.

Mamma Mia! : Just plain fun, Mamma Mia! is filled with ABBA tunes, great choreography, gorgeous cinematography and a light-hearted storyline. While there are obvious flaws (a few moments of cover-my-eyes embarrassment), this film kept me smiling the entire time, and that’s a plus in my book. My colleague Jenn says her parents love this film – check out the ABBA video on her latest blog post, then rent Mamma Mia! You won’t regret it. And yes, I'll undoubtedly sneak out of the video store with this one; it's a guilty pleasure for sure!

The Dark Knight : Dark, action and angst filled, The Dark Knight is a worthy successor to Batman Begins. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman reprise their roles, with the addition of Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal to make this film an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Of course, it will join Batman Begins in my collection, no doubt about it.

Swing Vote : Kevin Costner keeps getting better as an actor. In this comedy/drama, he portrays everyman Bud Johnson, struggling to make ends meet, and more, and to raise his precocious daughter Molly. If often seems as if Molly is the parent, though, and when Bud’s promise to vote in the presidential election goes unfulfilled, Molly takes matters in her own hands. The people who needed to see this movie about civic responsibility probably passed it by; for the rest of us, it’s in turn funny and frustrating. Definitely worth the rental; I may add it to the collection eventually.

Traitor : Starring Don Cheadle, Traitor examines the gray areas of today’s world, and proves once again that we can no longer look at events or our world in black and white (The Visitor visits this theme, as well). It also offers another wonderful performance by Saïd Taghmaoui (Vantage Point). Parts of this movie are difficult to watch, so I’m not sure I’ll add it to the DVD collection.

Bolt : Another animated delight, Bolt showcases the voice talents of John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman and Mark Walton. Super-dog Bolt lives a life of danger, at least while the cameras are rolling. Believing his role as a TV star is real, the canine finds himself out in the real world and all the adventure it offers, and all he wants is to get home to his human, Penny. It had me laughing so hard, I cried, and then I cried for real, so I’ll add it to the collection as soon as I can.

Australia : The critics have not been kind to Baz Luhrmann’s epic tale of his land down under, but I adore this visually stunning, action-packed love story starring Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and delightful newcomer Brandon Walters. Filled with images of a country I know little about, Australia also has a heart-wrenching story I’m still thinking about. This one will take a few viewings, so it will find its way into my collection.
 

Seven Pounds : The latest offering from Will Smith left me stunned and bit depressed, and it’s such an interesting film, I had to include it. Difficult to watch, Seven Pounds can be a confusing and chaotic mess, while it’s also a roller coaster ride of a man crippled by emotion and trying to make his life count for something. Wonderful performances by Smith and Rosario Dawson bring this film into sharp focus, and somehow make the chaos worth the ride. I’ll consider adding it to the collection, although I’m a bit leery of watching it again.

So that’s my two-cents worth on the movies of 2008. What films would you recommend I add to my to-rent list?

My local theater must be going broke about now – I haven’t been to many movies in recent months. Quite a change for this film fanatic who used to boast about going to at least four movies in a weekend. A favorite memory is the Saturday I managed to see four movies. Of course, I can’t remember what they were, and I’m sure my body would never let me accomplish that feat again.

According to my calendar, I’ve been to five movies since August 31, and rented four others. That’s a new record for me, folks. And I’m having a bit of difficulty wrapping my mind around the fact.

The problem in recent months is a dearth of decent flicks. The word ‘decent’ is relative, of course. I’ve been prattling on about all these trailers I’ve seen and how excited I was to see this or that film. And I don’t really have any excuse for not seeing those films. I’ve just decided not to go to the theater. Whether it was a critic’s poor review, something else planned for the weekend, a good book or plenty on the DVR, or simply a desire to stay home, my trips to the movies have become few and far between.

Ah, I hear a question. What were the five movies that managed to capture my attention? Traitor, Righteous Kill, Nights in Rodanthe, The Duchess and The Secret Life of Bees. I would recommend four of the five. (Skip Righteous Kill.) Take tissues for Rodanthe, The Duchess and Life of Bees.

I enjoyed the quiet and character-driven Secret Life of Bees. It stars Dakota Fanning, an excellent actress at any age, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo and Paul Bettany. The story, set in South Carolina in 1964, focuses on young Lily (Fanning), after she and Rosaleen (Hudson) run away from home. They end up on the doorstep of the Boatwright sisters. Eldest sister August (Latifah) manages a successful honey farm, cynical June (Keys) is a cellist and civil rights activist, and tender-hearted May (Okonedo, the heart of the film) tears up at the mention of anything sad. How these five women become a family, and what Lily learns about her mother, takes the moviegoer on a bittersweet journey of discovery and loss. The movie is well worth the viewing.

While I may not be going to many movies, a couple of blogs keep me up-to-date: The Movie Blog contains posts on upcoming releases, what’s going on in the industry and some reviews. Roger Ebert’s reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times are enlightening, as I tend to agree with him on most movies. Although, of course, he’s much more of an expert and a much better writer than I am. He also has a blog, Roger Ebert’s Journal, which I find extremely interesting and well written. Don’t skip reading the comments, too.

In Ebert’s words: “I started this blog in May, and it has enriched my life. I have been astonished by the high quality of the comments received. I have also been educated, amused, moved, corrected, encouraged.”

Talking movies is nearly as good as seeing one, in my opinion. Maybe reading about them has taken the place of viewing. I’ll let you know.

Recently, I read a blog post in which the blogger says something to the effect that this summer has been the best summer for movies in a long time. I’m not sure what multiplex this person attends, but I have to disagree with him, and it may be a case of my being much more picky as to what movies I spend my time and money on these days. This summer has found me renting or watching from my own collection more often than I’ve gone to the theater.

There have been exceptions, of course. Recently, Traitor was my movie of choice, and it was a good one. Starring Don Cheadle (who is genius on the screen, as far as I’m concerned), the movie examines the gray areas of today’s world, and proves once again that we can no longer look at events or our world in black and white.

Samir Horn (Cheadle) is on the FBI’s radar, as by-the-book Agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) looks into increasing terrorist activities. As Clayton and his partner Max Archer (Neal McDonough) close in, Horn becomes more involved with a terrorist cell, and the entire time, there are reactions and meetings that have the audience wondering what’s really going on. Is it Horn? Or the FBI agents? Or the people Horn works with?

In a delicate balance, director Jeffrey Nachmanoff (who wrote the screenplay from a story he co-wrote with Steve Martin; yes, that Steve Martin) goes from Clayton’s relentless hunt for the truth to Horn’s inexplicable dive into terrorism, and back, and the result keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Nothing is what it seems.

Traitor is an excellent example of how isolated we’ve become, and reinforces the need for communication, education and open minds.

Unfortunately, I can’t be as complimentary about Righteous Kill, starring Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. Despite the great cast, this cop flick falls short of expectations. I was sorely disappointed.

DeNiro and Pacino are great, but the story lets them down. Portraying long-time NYPD partners, the two are caught in a tangle of serial killings. From the opening scene, we think we know who the killer is, although there are definite clues along the way that point in another direction. Perhaps there were too many clues, because I figured it out about halfway through. Not a surprise ending, folks. It was, however, great to see DeNiro and Pacino together. That, in itself, is a reason to see the movie – but rent it.

From summer viewing, I would recommend the documentary Young@Heart, indie darling The Visitor, the animated WALL-E, the Batman sequel The Dark Knight, an election-year-must-see Swing Vote, and, of course, Hellboy II and Mamma Mia.

Future offerings appear to be much more appealing to my tastes. Recent trailers have me anticipating Appaloosa, with Ed Harris and Viggo Mortenson; Max Payne with Mark Wahlberg; Defiance, starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schrieber and Jamie Bell; Rachel Getting Married, an indie starring Anne Hathaway; Miracle at St. Anna, with Derek Luke; Nights in Rodanthe, with Richard Gere and Diane Lane; Changeling, with Angelina Jolie; and Twilight, the adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire novel. And I definitely will not miss The Day the Earth Stood Still.

See ya at the movies!

When I go to the movies, I’m usually looking for a couple hours of pure escapism. Whether I get lost in the plot or the action or the characterizations, I’m out of my mundane corner of the world for a bit.

Last weekend, it was a musical that took me away from it all. Mamma Mia! is a delight, filled with ABBA tunes, great choreography, gorgeous cinematography and a light-hearted storyline. About half way through, I realized my cheeks hurt; I hadn’t stopped smiling. And I didn’t stop smiling and laughing, even through the credits. (Yes, stay for the credits!) Though, to be honest, there were a few moments of cover-my-eyes embarrassment.

As you watch Mamma Mia! it’s extremely obvious that everyone is having a great time. If you can, pay attention to the extras. There’s one woman – she must be a grandmother several times over – who is having the time of her life (pun intended). There are two musical numbers with a large number of the cast, and one can’t help but notice the exuberance and sheer fun. Meryl Streep is wonderful as Donna, and her Dynamo cohorts, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, are a hoot. Amanda Seyfried is excellent as the bride-to-be Sophie, and Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellen Skarsgård look the parts as Donna’s former beaus. However, those moments of embarrassment I mentioned come at the lack of singing ability by at least one of the suitors.

Musicals are unique combinations of acting, singing and scenery. I adore musicals; not everyone does. But they do require more than the usual suspend-your-disbelief attitude from moviegoers. Mamma Mia! is worth the effort.

On a side note, the trailers before the movie were definitely intriguing. Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys might be worth seeing – it stars Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Cole Hauser and Sanaa Lathan. Henry Poole Is Here is Luke Wilson’s latest, and it looks like a heartwarmer and a tearjerker. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 continues the adventures of friends-for-life Alexix Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively and Amber Tamblyn. Flash of Genius, based on a true story, stars Greg Kinnear and Lauren Graham – another tearjerker, and I hope the little guy wins (won) against U.S. automakers. Ghost Town gives us another take on the “I see dead people” routine, though with Ricky Gervais heading the cast, I have a feeling this one contains a few more laughs than previous incarnations of the theme. The Express, another based-on-a-true-story potential blockbuster, tells the story of Ernie Davis (portrayed by Rob Brown, Finding Forrester), the first African-American football player to win the Heisman Trophy.

I, quite frankly, would be hard pressed to say “I will definitely not be going to that movie” for any of these releases. It looks like I will continue to spend my money at the movies!

And on books. I’m about three-quarters of the way through White Night, the latest paperback in The Dresden Files. Whew, what a ride! I’m already anticipating the need to read the next installments – Small Favor, now in hardcover, and Turn Coat, expected in early 2009 – right now!

Hellboy II: The Golden Army  is now on my list of to-buy DVDs. I only add movies I enjoyed to my collection, by the way.

While I do prefer the first Hellboy, the sequel has a few pluses – the fight scenes are excellent with choreography that boggles the mind; the special effects are fantastic, not surprising considering director/writer Guillermo del Toro’s last hit, Pan’s Labyrinth, which one three Oscars including one for Best Makeup; a great baddie (or is he?) in Prince Nuada (Luke Goss, a British actor you might remember from Blade II, also directed by del Toro); Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) coming out of his shell; and, of course, Ron Perlman in all his red glory as Hellboy himself. (For a glimpse at the comic book goodness that is Hellboy, visit www.Hellboy.com.)

I did miss the extensive Red quirkiness I remember from the first Hellboy. It appears that many of the great one-liners we might expect were sacrificed for action in the sequel. Though I may be remembering the first movie with more quirky fondness than is fair; might be time to pull out the Hellboy DVD.

However, I do have to say there are at least two major scenes focused on Red’s unique view of life – you will adore the Red-and-Abe singalong with Barry Manilow, and I enjoyed Red’s scamper over rooftops, as he holds a tiny tot in his tail during a major fight with a forest god. OK, the second one you just have to see – and hear – to appreciate.

This outing for Red and company is also a bit of a heartbreaker, as Red, Liz (the fiery Selma Blair) and Abe, and their new cohort, Johann Krauss, struggle with finding a way to fit into a world filled with people who dislike anyone different. “They’re afraid of me,” Red says. A visit to a troll market, overflowing with otherworldly beauty, prompts Red to tell Liz she’d love the place: No one is staring at him.

The ending leaves us with the hope of a third installment of Red and Friends. I just hope del Toro adds more Red one-liners the next go around.

This weekend: Mamma Mia! and possibly The Dark Knight, though I’m not sure I’m willing to brave opening-day crowds, even for Batman and Alfred.

So what’s on your movie calendar? Let me know what’s got you salivating for theater popcorn, and let’s talk movies – one of my favorite topics.

And, book lovers, I’m on Blood Rites: Book Six of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. More on that later!