Movie Review: The First Grader (2010)

This film is based on the true story of an 84 year-old Kenyan former freedom fighter named Kimani Maruge.  Maruge enrolls in primary school when he hears that the Kenyan is giving free education to all.  However, not everyone is happy that the overcrowded school is giving space and time to Maruge.  Despite resistance from locals, some of his schoolmates' parents, and politicians, Maruge is determined to learn to read and his teacher, Jane, is equally determined to help him succeed.

This film is well-done and simply inspiring to watch.  One can't help but root for Maruge on his quest for education and the strong-willed Jane determined to teach him.  I thought Naomie Harris played Jane brilliantly and the rest of the cast was very good as well.  I enjoyed the scenes where Maruge interacts with his first grade classmates.  There is some mild violence shown in flashbacks that explain Maruge's past abuse at the hands of the British when they tortured the freedom fighters for years in camps.  Overall, this is an inspiring film that shows the power of education, our obligation to remember the past, and the importance of perserverance - A.

Movie Review: W.E. (2011)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this film given that Madonna was co-writer and director but suprisingly I liked it.  The film follows two women: Wally, a woman in a loveless marriage in late 90's New York City played by Abbie Cornish and Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee who inspired King Edward III's abdication of the British throne played by Andrea Riseborough.  Wally, named for Wallis, longs for what she sees as a great love story like what Wallis experienced with her prince and she lives vicariously as she explores an exhibit at Sotheby's of the Windsor estate.  But was Wallis' story really the ultimate love story?  The focus is generally on what the king gave up to be with Wallis, but was he the only one who sacrificed for love?

The best part of this film has to be the costumes, makeup, and hair, which is breathtaking.  From the bonus feature (The Making of W.E.) I learned that the Wallis character had around 50 costume changes.  The acting in this film is also quite good, especially Riseborough as Wallis and I liked Abbie Cornish as well.  The domestic violence scenes are a bit much but overall I thought this movie was a treat.  It's especially interesting to viewers who have seen "The King's Speech" and remember the mention in that film of King Edward's abdication for Wallis Simpson and how this led to Bertie taking the throne.  I give this a solid B+ for beauty and an interesting storyline plus a nice job by Madonna.

Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

"On Stranger Tides" is the fourth installment of the Pirates franchise and hopefully the last.  This film dispenses with Orlando Bloom and Keira Knighley's charachters, who were in the first three films, and there's no explanation or reference to them at all rather this film focuses on Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow.  Also notable is that this film has none of the expansive fighting scenes between the ships.  Positive additions to this film are added scenes/lines to Geoffry Rush who plays Barbossa and the addition of Penelope Cruz as Angelica, Blackbeard's daughter.  The adventure in this film is the race to find the fabled Fountain of Youth, which both the Spanish and British want to find but Blackbeard needs to find it for a more personal reason.

I really liked seeing Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp spar with each other as their characters are semi-romantic interests.  Geoffry Rush is a treat but also look out for Keith Richards in a cameo early in the film.  Though there is good acting, overall there was a lot going on in this film and many storylines that were attempted to be resolved in a short period of time at the end.  I think that some of these storylines, like the missionary/mermaid one, didn't really add to the film.  The Jack/Angelica dynamic and the Blackbeard/Angelica dynamic were more interesting and could've been more fleshed out. 

The bottom line is that this film is better than the previous two in the franchise but still not as satisfying as the original.  Average but check it out if you're a fan of the franchise: C.

Movie Review: Straw Dogs (2011)

This film is apparently a remake of a 1971 film with the same name and I admit that I haven't seen the original but I pray it's better than the 2011 version.  The new version stars James Marsden as David who moves with his wife Amy (Kate Bosworth) to her hometown, a small town in Mississippi.  David is a Hollywood screenwriter and unfortunately he sticks out in the town where guys are more like Charlie (Alexander Skarsgard) and his friends.  Charlie is Amy's ex-boyfriend and leads his gang of good ol' boys hunting, drinking, and oh they also do roof repairs so David hires them to fix their barn (bad idea).  Apparently the moral of this awful film is that if you are not a small-town country guy then be sure you don't move to a small town in Mississippi because you're just asking for violence.

This movie is just such a disaster.  The writing is terrible and the cinematography is bad.  The result is a movie that spends the first half beating the viewer over the head with cliches and one-dimensional characters (look how rich/elitist/out of touch David is!) and then the other half in violence including the last 30 minutes or so when all hell breaks loose and an earlier violent rape scene.  It's like an amped-up Lifetime movie in terms of violence with famous people in it.  I felt relief and kind of awkward when it was finally over.  Take my advice and don't rent this one - D-.

Movie Review: Hugo (2011)

"Hugo" is a beautifully-made family film that anyone could watch.  The movie centers on Hugo (Asa Butterfield) who is a 12 year-old orphen living in a secret space within a Parisan train station and maintining the station's clocks.  Hugo often steals pastries and parts that he uses to work on a project he never got to complete with his late father: an automaton or mechanical man who can write.  He is caught stealing from a toy vendor (Ben Kingsly) names Papa Georges and later befriends Georges' goddaughter Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz).  Hugo is convinced that he will find a message from his late father if he can fix the automaton. 

This movie is shot in 3D but it's still beautiful to watch in 2D.  Martin Scorsese lovingly directed this film and the accolades for direction, cinematography, and art direction are well-deserved.  While the plot may not keep adults on the edge of their seats, this movie is perfect for the family and offers an entertaining tale for a broad audience.  I liked Sacha Baron Cohen in a supporting role as the station's security officer.  Solid B - rent this and watch with the family.

Movie Review: Dream House (2011)

Unfortunately "Dream House" has a great cast (Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, & Naomi Watts) but the script is terrible and the result is something like a well-cast Lifetime movie.   I labeled this film as "suspense" but the suspense was watered down when the publicity for the film gave away what should've been the twist.  The film centers on Daniel Craig as Peter Ward, whose family was murdered and while he was suspected he was institutionalized, declared unfit for trial, and released.  He returns to the family home and develops this fantasy world where he is Will Atenton and living in the home with his wife and two daughters, calling them by different names.  He starts to think that Peter Ward is stalking his family and investigates Ward.  Of course he finds out that he is Ward and this fantasy is to protect himself from the truth of the murders.  Naomi Watts is a neighbor/friend who attempts to help Peter figure out what happened to his family.

Like I said, the publicity for the film gave away the twist of Peter and Will being the same person so that really limits the suspense of the movie.  With such a good cast this movie could have been really something great but unfortunately it's just a mess.  Apparently the director, Craig, and Weisz were so disappointed with the final cut of the movie that they refused to promote it and I have to agree with them.  This film gets a D from me - don't rent it just wait for it to be on cable (or Lifetime).

Movie Review: We Bought a Zoo (2011)

I think "We Bought a Zoo" (2011) is one of those movies I would recommend for just about anyone.  It's a heart-warming tale of Benjamin (Matt Damon) recently widowed who seeks a fresh start for himself and his two kids by buying a home that includes a run-down zoo with Scarlett Johannson as its overworked zookeeper, Kelly.  They then embark on an adventure as they try to bring the zoo up to standard and reopen.  Along the way, Benjamin and family deal with their loss and try to move forward though not without strife between Benjamin and his rebellious teenaged son.

This film is a home-run as far as a family-friendly film.  Rated PG it's appropriate for a wide audience.  Yes it's a bit predictable as these movies go but it's well-acted by the main actors and a good supporting turn by Thomas Haden Church as Benjamin's brother.

The bottom-line: This movie won't change your life but it's a heart-warming and entertaining two hours that you can share with the family.  Solid B.