The Adventures of Ociee Nash – G

Ociee Nash is a nine year old tomboy, that likes nothing better than to be with her brothers and faithful four-legged companion Woofer, in the rural countryside in 1898. A run-in with a mysterious gypsy, however – and there’s always a however in life – and her father is convinced that she should move in with her aunt to learn how to be a lady, since her mother died years previous. Along the way, Ociee meets President McKinley, Nellie Bly and a host of others that help her to express how she really needs to be.


Aeon Flux -- PG-13

This movie is based on an MTV and comic book character. By making it PG-13, the producers diluted the entire point of the character. As far as this particular movie standing alone, it really is amazing to see how many Academy Award winning actresses go on to make less than stellar comic book characters. This is one more in a long line of such movies.


After The Sunset -- PG-13

Two thieves (Brosnan and Hayek) retire to a Caribbean paradise after a successful heist of the 2nd of 3 Napoleonic diamonds. While in retirement, and FBI agent that has chased them for eight years (Harrison) shows up to make sure they are really retired, and not just on "vacation". A local gangster (Cheadle) tries to convince Brosnan to steal the third Napoleonic diamond for him. There are some sexual scenes that make you wonder about the PG-13 rating.


Against the Ropes -- PG-13

Fictionalized story of a true person -- Jackie Kallen -- the best known female boxing manager. Meg Ryan is outstanding and Omar Epps is excellent. Directorial debut of Charles Dutton in a feature film, and he does an excellent job. The 13 of the PG-13 is for drug usuage and sexual innuendoes and violence.


Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London -- PG

This is a fun sequel to the family hit movie, Agent Cody Banks. This one is oriented more to the 12-15 year old girl and the 9 - 16 year old boy. It has more spy equipment than the first movie, and more silliness. Movie martial arts violence is the reason for the rating.


Akeelah and the Bee -- PG

This is one of the better movies out. Most kids have a tendency to downplay their intelligence; especially girls. Boys aren’t known for liking smart girls, and other girls are mean to them. Laurence Fishburne (who also produced this gem) spots her intelligence and brings it out for a national spelling bee. A "must" see for families with children, and a should see for families without.


The Alamo -- PG-13

Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett has to be seen to be believed. He makes this movie good! Jason Patric plays a somber and depressing Jim Bowie, while Dennis Quad (whom I love) is horrible as Sam Houston. The violence is the reason for the 13 of the PG-13 rating.


Alex and Emma -- PG-13

Romantic comedy (read "chick flick") that men will like. A writer is being pressured into completing a novel in 30 days to pay off gambling debts -- or else. He hires a court stenographer so he can dictate the novel, and constantly has to listen to her critique as the story develops. The 13 of the PG-13 rating is due to sexually suggestive scenes.


Alexander -- R

This movie is a three hour long, boring, historically inaccurate, philosophical tirade for the nobility of male on male sex. The questionable technique of using hand-held cameras to record battles worked fine in Saving Private Ryan, but it just makes you dizzy in this movie. Angelina Jolie plays the mother of Alexander (Colin Farrell), and Rosalina Dawson plays his feral wife. Those are the only performances worth paying to see with this movie. The questionable homosexuality theme of the film earned it it’s R rating, but I think it’s added just for the controversy. At least people are talking and going to see it to see if it’s true.


Alfie -- R

A modernized remake of the Michael Cain classic of the 60’s. During an age of sexually transmitted diseases, this movie of a shallow, foul mouth, pot smoling womanizer wonders why no one is going to see it. The song from the original, sung by Dionne Warwick sums this movie up. "What’s it all about, Alfie?" No one knows or cares.

Alice in Wonderland -- G

This double DVD set is a very good production of a Disney classic. The picture and audio work were reproduced to perfection, the interactive game is fun for all and several other features will delight the entire family.

Alone in the Dark – R

Based on a video game, a paranormal detective (Christian Slater) investigates a mystery of a long forgotten race of people. Aided by an archeologist (Tara Reid – plyed convincingly because she wore glasses) he confronts evil demons. Rated R (r’able) for violence and vulgar language.


Along Came Polly -- PG-13

A risk assessor who plans every phase of his life finds that the best laid plans can go asunder. His perfect wife cheats on his honeymoon and he returns home to find the riskiest woman alive -- Jennifer Anistan! I guess sexual situations are being considered "hip" for the 13 year old crowd, because this is rated only PG-13 also.


Alvin and the Chipmunks -- PG

I loved this movie! It explained where the chipmunks came from and how they got started in show business. Their handler, Dave (Jason Lee) is a songwriter without a hook or gimmick. He writes good songs, but no one wants them. No one, that is, until he has three singing chipmunks perform his songs. The songs and dance routines are family friendly fun and the movie is a delight.

American Gangster - - R

Denzel Washington is convincing and ominous as the real life gangster and Harlem
drug dealer, Frank Lucas. Co-starring Ruby Dee, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh
Brolin, Common, TI, Cuba Goodging Jr., Idris Elba, Clarence Williams III and, of course,
President Richard Nixon, this movie was a well acted movie, based on a true story, about
a ruthless drug dealer that fooled society into thinking him a gentleman.

American Splendor -- R

This is a documentary about a man who worked as a file clerk at the VA, and decided to portray his life as a comic book. A friend, Robert Crumb, was one of the artist of this comic book and it recieved cult status. He married a woman and appeared several times on the Letterman Show, just to be made fun of. His life was pathetic and booring, and crowds felt that was "art". The R rating is for very vulgar language throughout the movie.


American Wedding -- R

Third in the American Pie series, and quite possibly the best of the three. Raunchy, on a more mature level -- even though that sounds like a contradiction -- sexually explicit and extremely funny, this movie, hopefully ends the series. The nudity, vulgar language and sexual content earned this movie an R rating, just barely avoiding the NC - 17 label.


The Amityville Horror -- R

The most famous of all American hauntings, this movie adaptation of the story stars Ryan Reynolds as George Lutz, the man who moved into the house a year after the murder of six people. He previously starred in Van Wilder and Blade Trinity, and he brings something from both of those movies to this one. Whether the story is true or not, the special effects by ILM will make you scream. A great website for the discussion of truth is www.Ghostvillage.com. This movie earned it's R rating for vilence, drug use and very disturbing images. Not for children, but I loved it.


Anchorman -- PG-13

How this movie received a PG-13 rating, I'll never know. It has cursing throughout the movie, overt sexual situations, it shows a man's erection through his pants and makes a point - no pun intended - of drawing attention to it, violence (slapstick, comic violence as well as other), animal cruelty, etc. This is one of the worst movies I have seen this year. The only funny parts were a cameo by Jack Black and the role of the weatherman. This movie should have been rated R, for run away.


Anger Management -- PG-13

A hilarious story of a young, repressed ad writer (Adam Sadler) who is placed in an anger management class due to a court order. The head of the class (Jack Nickolson) moves in with him to give him intensive one on one therapy. Female homosexual situations and moderate violence earned the rating.

Animatrix -- R

Based on the R rated movies, this is a must for all Matrix and Matrix Reloaded fans. This collection of nine mini stories tell the backdrop to the movies. Animatrix tells how the war between the machines and humans got it's start, how some of the characters in the second movie got there and it answers questions every viewer of the films have been asking.

There is strong violence and snippets of sexually suggestive scenes.


Annapolis -- PG-13

A remake of An Officer and a Gentleman, without the romance. This time around, the emphasis is more on the internal battles than the external romance.


The Aristocrat -- Unrated

This is a documentary of 100 comedians telling the same dirty joke. They also philosophize about the techniques of joke telling. The joke, in itself, isn't funny. What is funny, however, is the execution of the joke telling. Each comedian tries to disgust other entertainers with the telling of the joke. No one uses the joke in a regular routine. The movie is unrated, rather than receive the NC-17 that it would have gotten for the vile language and sexual situations that it describes. NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!!


Are We There Yet? -- PG

Ice Cube in a family friendly film? Who would have thought! Not only that, but this film about a slick, single, business man trying to date a single mother brings out what women go through a lot today. Constant questions about working with school kids, dating and wondering if the man likes your kids, trusting others to help you with your kids, etc. All of these questions are answered in a hilarious way. For any family that has taken a drive with kids!


Around the World in 80 Days -- PG

Movie is loosely based on the Jules Verne novel. Hopefully, it will get kids to read Jules Verne novels like the Harry Potter movies got kids to read. Jackie Chan plays a man who steal a jade Buddha from the Bank of England. He travels with the Phineas T. Fogg around the world as a way to get back to China free. The transition graphics are outstanding and the movie is fun for kids.


The Assassination of Richard Nixon –R

Sean Penn is an outstanding actor. Now that that is out the way, let me tell you about this movie. It’s the story of the "everyman" who is forced to lie on his job to get ahead, elect politicians who only lie to get elected (and we all know they all only lie to get elected), and must witness countless acts of biased treatment against our fellowman. In other words, it’s a political claptrap. This movie is about a man who runs from responsibility and seeks to blame everyone and everything else for his failures, rather than look at himself. Just like so many of us really do today. Rated R for language and violence, this movie is loosely based on a true story.


Assault on Precinct 13 – PG-13

This is a remake of a 1976 John Carpenter movie that I classified as on of my Top 25 Action Films of all times. The changes in this movie shows what Holly-weird thinks of authority, because they made the villains a group of rogue policemen. (Now days, policemen and soldiers are either corrupt or idiots, according to Hollywood. Maybe because none of them have ever served; you think?) Vulgar language, strong violence and drug references give this movie a deserved 13 of PG-13.


ATL -- PG-13

Finally, a movie with a rapper who sets a good example, rather than as a drug dealer. The only other movie like that is Roll, Bounce with Bow Wow. In fact, this movie also has a roller skating competition, just like Roll, Bounce. And a big brother, little brother relationship, and hhhhhhmmmmmmmm.


Atonement -- R

Story of the daughter (Keira Knightley) of rich parents who falls in love with the son (James McAvoy) of a servant. Briony, her sister, lies on the young man because she cares for him also, and spends her life trying to atone for her mistake.

August Rush – PG

Freddie Highmore gets to highlight his young talent in this inspirational movie about a
boy given up for adoption at birth by his maternal grandfather. His mother thinks he died
at childbirth. While his mother is a classically trained celloist, his father is a grunge
guitar player. The grandfather doesn't want them together, so he gives the baby away at
birth. The boy grows up to “feel” music and gets with Robin Williams, who uses street
urchins to beg for money. Very good movie that is difficult to describe without giving
away too much of the plot. Loved it.

Avalon -- R

A sci-fi epic about how in the near future, people risk their lives and futures to play the video game "Avalon" -- an illegal and potentially lethal virtual war game where the players earn points and real money. A female is one of the best of the best players, but her search for the supposed stage "Class Real" will either lead to a higher level of existence, or brain death! The special effects violence earns this babvy an R rating. In Japanese with English and French subtitles.

Aviator -- PG-13

The movie begins with a young Howard Hughes working on the 1930 production of the classic movie Hell’s Angels, and ends with the 1947 test flight of the massive plane, the Blue Spruce. In between, Howard Hughes (Leonardo DeCaprio) turned the Hughes Tool Co. into one of America’s great, early fortune, dates Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and turns Jean Harlow (Gwen Sefani) into a star. The movie shos his troubles with a Congressional committee, his formation of America’s first great international airlines, how he started a movie studio – all while setting flight records, creating airplane innovations and his failures. Loved it!

Awake -- R

This psychological thriller starring Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Terrance
Howard and Christopher McDonald takes the viewer on a ride through the world of
“anesthetic awareness”; a condition where during surgery, the patient receives enough
anesthesia to paralyze them, but not enough to completely knock them out. While this
particular patient is in this state, he can “hear” his doctors talking about killing him, yet
he can do nothing to prevent it.