Boondocks Saints

**** This is one of the best action movies I've seen in a while.  I would've given it five stars if the Movie had not gotten a little bizarre towards the end.  This is the original Boondocks Saints, I haven't seen the more recent sequel.  William Defoe as the lead detective does a great job.  The action is detailed, choreographed and well filmed.  I was engaged from beginning to end and a few times I thought "that was cool."  If you like action, guns, and bloody vengeance, this movie is for you.  Recommended.

Alice in Wonderland

*** This Was an entertaining movie!  I love the Alice in Wonderland story, so see the remake and Tim Burton adaptation was enjoyable.  However, I can only give this movie three stars for the same reason that I really wanted to give it four stars.  The combination of Tim Burton's beautiful but sometimes disturbing imagery, with the insanity and beauty of the Alice in Wonderland story, made for a roller coaster of a ride movie experience.  Kind of like this review: chaotic and nonsensical, but also entertaining and fun at the same time.  Johnny Depp was able to fit into this dichotomy with relative ease, the other characters; Alice and the red Queen were also well cast.  I recommend it, especially if you enjoy the Alice in Wonderland story.

Greenberg

* This movie really missed the mark with me.  It was so boring.  It seemed self-indulgent and stupid.  I think we were supposed to somehow understand and sympathize with the main character being confused, mentally screwed up in his mid-40s.  It just never happened.  I just thought he was basically a good for nothing jerk and I felt no connection to him whatsoever.  Perhaps I'm a little more critical than most.  I wouldn't watch this movie unless you're a Ben Stiller fan.  Not recommended.

Shutter Island

**** Martin Scorsese creates a wonderful intertwining of reality and fantasy with this movie.  The story was very interesting and had a wonderful twist of plot at the end.  The blurry line between reality and insanity was palatable throughout the movie.  The characters, the sets and the photography moved the plot along wonderfully.  Leonardo DiCaprio did a great job, and he is not my favorite actor by far.  Some parts the movie were a little bit disturbing, but violent insanity is not supposed to be necessarily enjoyable to watch.  The connection to the Nazi concentration camps and the second world war seemed a little bit stretched, but still an integral part of the story.  I recommend this movie, for adults only.

Nine

**- I fell asleep in the middle of this movie and didn't even attempt to start it over.  Mineko fell asleep within the first five minutes.  The only thing that kept me watching until the middle were the beautiful women and the great production values.  That is also the only reason I gave it two stars. If you like musicals this might be your cup of tea.  I don't think it is the same caliber as the original "All That Jazz", an Italian version of self-indulgence.  Guido is the director and main character, it's all about Guido.  Guido, Guido, Guido and more Guido.  Not recommend.

August Rush

**** I'll start off my new attempt at blogging my DVD reviews with this great movie that everyone will enjoy.  If you'd like music, romance and a good family story, this is the movie for you.  The music was wonderful.  The acting and photography were splendid.  Mineko thinks I should give this movie five stars!  I give it four just because it is a little bit predictable and I think the scenes with Robin Williams could have been developed more. I did buy this movie (something I rarely do) for Mineko and we will probably watch it several times.  An excellent choice!  I recommend this one.