Cabin Fever -- R
A very gory movie about a virus that infects some kids enjoying some time off from school in a cabin in the mountains. The R rating was for lots of gore, lots of vulgar language and lots of nudity. The ending was catchy, and the story was fun, although not a horror film in the true mode of horror.
Calendar Girls -- PG-13
Based on a true story, this movie is about a group of women from Yorkshire, England who are members of a Woman's Institue club. They get together and discuss things like flower arrangements, baking, etc. When one of their husbands is diagnosed with leukemia and several of the women go to visit, they discover the hospital has a shabby couch for vistors. They decide to do a calendar in the nude, to raise funds for replacing the couch. The story touches the heart of the world as the women even appaer on Ophrah. Suggestive poses and mild language account for the 13 in the PG-13 rating.
Capote – R
This fascinating examination of Truman Capote’s writing of In Cold Blood is so good it’s a shame. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, one of the top 10 character actors of all times, gives an Oscar© worthy performance as the effeminate writer investigating a murder in a small Mid-western town.
Cars -- G
A much awaited Pixar/Disney flix. This family oriented animated feature stars off slowly (kind of ironic with it being about racing cars), then it picks up and gets good. The best part about the movie is the realization that Larry the Cable Guy and Paul Newman are in the same movie – and they are both perfect for their parts!
Casino Royale -- PG-13
A very good action movie, and the opening sequence is worth the price of admission alone. People worrying about a blonde James Bond fitting in have nothing to worry about. This is the second best Bond of all times. In case ladies were feeling left out, this Bond takes his shirt off more times in this first movie than all of the other Bonds in all of the other movies. I felt it was questionable about the PG-13 rating with the violent torture near the end of the movie.
Catch That Kid -- PG
I imagined, from the previews, this movie would be a Spy Kids take-off. However -- and there's always a however in life -- it turns out this movie is about telling kids that lying, stealing, tricking your friends and using lust to get your way is ok, if it's for a good cause. The story has a young girl (11 0r 12) robbing a high tech bank to get $250,000 for an operation for her father. Although her father realizes the girl and her mother are struggling and suffering to try to come up with the money, he does not discourage their efforts or suffering. The little girl not only tries to rob a bank, she also lies to her best friends (two young boys) about loving each of them if they don't tell the other. All she really wants is for them to help her rob the bank. I have a problem with that. The PG should be for thematic issues.
Catch a Fire -- PG-13
Derek Luke’s performance is outstanding in this difficult to watch movie, about the treatment of Africans prior to the ending of apartheid. Tim Hutton is equally good as an enforcer, and true believer, of apartheid.
Catwoman -- PG-13
Halle Berry’s starring action movie. A very bad movie that had nothing in common with the Batman Catwoman except the title. This Catwoman became who she was in a silly, strange way, and the story line was hokey and boring. Halle was sensual, rather than sexual, though. Overall, the movie was not worth the money paid to see it.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- PG
Johnny Depp is simply outstanding in this truer to the novel adaptation of the story. The visuals are fantastic, the story is great and poignant and the acting is superior. I did like the original Ompaa Lumpaahs better, though.
Charlie's Angels -- PG-13
The plot makes no sense. The stunts were unbelievable. The acting was "hammish" and over the top. However -- and there's always a however in life -- this was the most "fun" movie I've seen in a while. It's the type of movie you go to the drive-in to see, so that you and your friends can talk to the screen. Although it's rated PG -13, there is a lot of sexual innuendoes, vulgar language, mild violence and scantily clad women. There is a lot of cameo roles in the movie that added to the fun, but did nothing to explain the plot.
Charlie Wilson's War -- PG-13
A story based on the true events where a playboy Congressman (Tom Hanks), a disgruntled CIA agent (Phillip Seymore Hoffman) and a Southern socialite (Julie Roberts) helped the Afghanistan rebels defeat the Soviet Union. PG-13 is an appropriate rating for this politically charged story nominated for a Golden Globe award.
Charlotte's Web – G
One of the most beloved children's books is made into a live action movie. The choice of Dakota Fanning as the little girl was a homerun, as was the other choices of Cedric the Entertainer, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Buscemi, Robert Redford, Kathy Bates, and the others. Must see movie for children ages 5 until 15. A should see movie for the rest of us.
Chasing Liberty -- PG-13
Mandy Moore has once again proved she can act. In this movie, she plays the daughter of the President of the United States, who only wants to date like a normal girl. No security guards, no extra prying eyes -- just normal privacy. When that proves impossible, she runs away. She thinks! Brief nudity and a drug reference gives this the 13 of the PG-13 rating.
Cheaper by the Dozen -- PG
Heart felt and funny, this movie about balancing families and careers will reach even the most cynical. Steve Martin and the rest of the cast were perfect for this film. All of them!
Chicago -- PG-13
Musical about a woman who wants to make it big on stage in Chicago in the Roaring 20's. She kills her boyfriend and ends up in a prison being represented by a nefarious lawyer. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zwellinger at the tap dancing best, Queen Latifah singing strongly and even Richard Gere performing well, the fact they were in prison for murder and other crimes, sexual suggestiveness and mild vulgar language earned them the 13.
Chicken Little -- G
This movie, although it’s an animated feature, is one of the ten best movies out this year. (So far) It is the story of a familiar fairy tale, told with a twist. This movie has action, romance, a good moral feature and is about relationships. It seems as if Disney was saying to Pixar that they were great before there was a Pixar, and they will be great afterwards.
Christmas with the Kranks -- PG
Tim Allen is a father whose daughter leaves home for the Peace Corps during the holidays. Since Christmas won’t be the same without her, he decides to take the money he would normally spend on Christmas ($6,000.00) and spend it on a Caribbean cruise for himself and his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis). Since they have always been so involved in Christmas the years before, the neighbors, led by Dan Aykrold, try to convince them to keep things as they have always been. Allen refuses, but his daughter surprises him on Christmas eve withy the news of her returning home for Christmas. Now, he must get the neighbors to help him create a Christmas miracle.
The Chronicle of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe -- PG
This movie adaptation of C.S. Lewis' classic book turns out to be a family film that is true to the original story. Every viewer will bring something different to the discussion table after seeing it. Some will latch on to the religious significance of the characters. Some will see European history in those same characters. Yet others will see World War II reenacted. Whatever you see, the entire family will enjoy this movie. Although the rating is PG, and there is no letting of blood in the movie, the amount of fighting (there is a war going on after all) would seem to me to make this PG-13.
Chronicles of Riddick -- PG-13
This is the newest Vin Diesel action vehicle. It has wall to wall stunts and action. I totally enjoyed the movie the entire time I watched it. However -- and there's always a however in life -- when I finished watching it, I was left unfulfilled. It was as if it had no point and I didn't care about any of the characters. The movie is about Riddick, the character from the original Pitch Black movie, being forced to save the universe from a violent, domineering, religious race of zealots. The violence is the reason for the 13 of the PG-13 rating.
The Chronological Donald (Volume One) -- unrated
This 2 disc set has numerous short animated films on Donald Duck, plus a feature on the legendary first "voice" of Donald, Clarence "Ducky" Nash. All introduced by Leonard Maltin.
Chump Change -- R
Very unfunny comedy about a man from Wisconsin who goes to Hollywood to be an actor. He returns home a year later to find his mother rented out their home and is vacationing in Iceland. He tells the houseguest -- a woman -- about being sued by Merv Griffin for making a movie about things he went through on Wheel of Fortune and the ensuing bidding war for his services as a movie writer. Sexual situations and strong language gives this movie an R rating.
Cinderella Man -- PG-13
A film that looks into the life of Jim Braddock, the Depression era heavyweight champion. This is an inspirational movie about second chances and overcoming hardships. It’s also about believing in yourself and the one you love. The realistic boxing violence is the reason for the 13 of the PG-13 rating.
A Cinderella Story -- PG
A modern retelling of the Cinderella story. Only this time, the only magic is love. Children 15 and under will love this movie -- especially girls. The parents that have to take them will not mind it, either.
Click -- PG-13
A touching, fantasy picture that asks the question : What would you do if you had a universal remote for your life? This movie is funny and poignant. A very difficult combination. Great for the family EXCEPT it has a running joke of dogs humping a stuffed duck. One time, it might have been funny. Four times, it is just disgusting and distracting and inappropriate for children.
Filmed in the hand held camera fashion of Blair Witch Project, this movie shows the attack in New York by a monster for some unknown reason. Worth seeing, but difficult to view because of the camera techniques. There is a thin line between art and crap. The shaky camera techniques crosses that line into the crap area.
Coach Carter – PG-13
Based on the true story of a basketball coach of an inner city school in California, this story feels like the remake of Lean On Me. Extremely inspirational and thought provoking, some of the themes (sexual in nature) and drug references earned the 13 of the PG -13. Still, a very good movie for older children and parents!
Codename: The Cleaner – PG-13
Cedric the Entertainer wakes up in a hotel room next to a dead FBI agent with $250,000 in a briefcase, having Lucy Lui as a girlfriend and no memory of who he is or why these things are. During brief flashes of memory, he remembers leading a special unit operations squad, and someone calling him "Colonel", but nothing more. Who is he? Why is his memory gone? How do you forget Lucy Lui as a girlfriend? Very funny movie.
Cold Mountain -- R
Civil War draama about a Confederate soldier going AWOL from his unit and trying to make it home to his woman and home on Cold Mountain. War violence, sex and language makes this R rated movie earned.
Collateral -- R
Tom Cruise is an assassin that travels from hit to hit in a taxi cab, then he kills the unsuspecting cab driver. That is, until he goes to a city and hires Jamie Foxx to be his driver. On his first hit, the victim falls out of the window and lands on top of the taxi. The driver is no longer unsuspecting. On top of that, the victim was under police surveillance. That sends the police after the taxi also. R rated for language as well as violence, it features fine performances by Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx and Jada Smith.
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen -- PG
What do you do when you're the new kid in a school and town? You make up things to become more interesting. But you also make some friends. A very good movie about a high school girl who does just that.
Connie and Carla -- PG-13
Two women accidently witness the murder of minor criminal (alla Some Like it Hot) and run away to Los Angeles to hide. They hide by pretending to be men in drag singing cabaret songs. (Just like Victor-Victoria) Thematic situations give the 13 for PG-13 rating.
Consantine – R
You may have heard that this movie is bad. If so, it was because people feel they have to criticize Keanu Reeves. The young man is a very good actor (The Gift, The Watcher and others) but he has a deadpan delivery. In this movie, he plays a paranormal detective who can see angels and demons as they roam the earth. His job is sending demons back to hell. When the twin sister of a "normal" detective (Rachel Weisz) commits suicide, he is asked to help the detective prove it wasn’t suicide. I loved this movie, but it did earn its R rating.
The Constant Gardner – R
This movie is one of the more boring movies out. Ralph Finnes stars as a midlevel British diplomat that investigates the murder of his wife.
The Cooler -- R
William H. Macy plays a loser who infects everyone around him with "bad luck", so the casino in Vegas hires him to "cool" the good luck of the gamblers. Explict sex and language helped this movie earn it's R rating, but it will be remembered at Academy time.
Corpse Bride – PG
Tim Burton’s sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas. When a groom (Johnny Depp) practices his wedding vows in the forest and accidentally puts his wedding ring on the finger of a corpse (Helena Bohnam Carter) , he finds it difficult to "divorce" her. Fun for the kids over 13 even though it’s rating is PG.
Coyote Ugly -- PG-13
This DVD release is actually better than I remember the original. It's a romantic comedy about a young girl going to NYC to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter by becoming a waitress in an all female bar. Sensuality causes the 13 of the PG -13 rating.
Crash – R
This movie is possibly one of the best movies of the past several years. With an outstanding cast led by Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Lorenz Tate, Terrance Howard, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe, Thandie Newton, Loretta Devine, Ludacris and so many others, this movie examines the prejudices that we all have. Some of us have racial prejudices. Some of us have ethnic or cultural prejudices. Some of us have economic prejudices. Whatever the case may be, we all have prejudices of some nature. In this movie, none of the characters are black and white -- they are all grey. No one is truly good or truly evil; however -- and there's always a however in life -- all the characters are good and evil. The realistic violence, language and sexual situations earned the movie it's R rating, but if you miss it because of the rating, you will have missed a great piece of film making. Surprisingly fresh, this movie brings you to tears and joy within the space of minutes. If you watch this movie and do not talk with someone about it, something is terribly wrong with the relationships you have. Too intense for children, this movie is most definitely a collectible.
Curious George – G
Although this movie is mainly for 4 to 9 years old, I loved the fact that a z2 dimensional movie was made. This reminded me of the graphics when I was a kid. No jokes in this one that are supposed to go over the children's head and reach the parents, this movie will have mostly mothers taking their smaller children to see it.
Cursed – PG-13
Let me first say that I love horror movies – even the bad ones – with the exception of House of 1000 Deaths. With that being said, I enjoyed this movie about a werewolf running loose in Los Angeles. It was originally an R rated movie that got trimmed and changed to PG-13. Some of the original cast was dropped from the movie. People like Skeet Ulrich, Omar Epps, Lance Bass and Corey Feldman. It still had Christina Ricci, Portia de Rossi, Mya and Shannon Elizabeth.
