Beautifully done (acting, music, and art), just like Hero. And also like Hero and many other Chinese flicks, it was rather sad. Not a very complex story, but the simplicity of the story adds to its beauty.
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 3
Mei held her love for the one that she was promised to, but in the end sacrificed that love for someone she had fallen for in a 3-day period.
[Spoiler Alert]
You can take the message two ways: one, as if the bond between Mei and Leo signified marriage and so marital fidelity is most important and she should have stuck by Leo; and two, that Mei wasn’t married and should have been free to make her own choice and Leo was at fault and couldn’t control his jealousy and pride.
Either way presents an interesting predicament and overall the show shows how sensitive emotions/passions are if they are not bridled. Read more ›
Kind of a cool story, a lot creepier than I had imagined. I recorded this show because of it’s notoriety, but was rather underwhelmed. If you’ve never seen it, it might be worth a view, but don’t expect much.
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 2
“In the few hours we had together we loved a lifetime’s worth.” What kind of a line is that? Read more ›
Good movie, but rather predictable (just like a lot of legal thrillers). It is a true story, so it’s not like they could change it up or embellish it too much. There was no fancy lawyer battle in the courtroom. I’m not sure why it was Rated-R, it was plenty similar to John Grisham stories and could have been targeted to a broader audience without any excessive language or sexual content.
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 2
The film comes off with a somewhat good message – that hard work pays off. But are we really supposed to applaud Erin for leaving her family for so long in the care of someone else? Sure people leave their kids at day cares plenty of times, but this made it seem as if she were virtually never home. She treated her boyfriend like a nanny, and yet at the end he was grinning ear to ear because of seeing the work he actually helped assist with. Her family should have been made top priority (very similar situation to Freedom Writers, where the teacher ends up getting a divorce because she spends more time with students than at home with her husband). Read more ›
Two kingdoms plan to unite when a daughter (Aurora) is born that can wed the son (Phillip) of the other kingdom. The plans are at risk when the evil Maleficent prophesies that on the girl’s 16th birthday she will die. The girls father, in an attempt to foil Maleficent’s plan, sends her to live with the fairies deep in the woods. Aurora is found and Phillip must fight the powers of Hell to save her.
Entertainment Value
Rating: A
This is probably one of my favorite Disney princess movies (right up there with Beauty and the Beast). Maleficent’s character particularly intrigues me (probably one of Disney’s most evil villains) and the prince’s fight against her at the end is pretty intense. The whole falling in love after dancing together isn’t much of a story, it’s kind of a side story to the battle between good and evil in the film. The musical score is excellent!
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 4
Love really is the thing that Satan cannot understand (in the movie Maleficent = Satan), particularly the love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ have for us. Just as Maleficent tried to ruin the life of the princess, Satan tried to ruin God’s plan, but Jesus Christ stepped in and put enmity between Satan and man (just as the fairies stepped in and blessed the child that she would not die, but sleep).
Maleficent is perhaps the most satanic of the Disney villains (she calls upon the powers of hell as she fights Prince Phillip.) Those who fight against her are made out to be very complementary (not complimentary) opposites. The main force of good that opposes Maleficent are the fairies, who give Prince Philip a sword and a shield that represent Truth and Virtue, principles that are used to fight against evil both in fairy tales and in real life.
The overall love story between Phillip and Aurora is weak, just as in Cinderella and Snow White – after 5 minutes of dancing with a stranger they fall in love and know they must marry? Is the kiss really “true love’s first kiss”? This quick romance is depicted in more than just Disney films, so Disney isn’t the only one at fault. So are these fanciful depictions of love harmful to young children? This type of love is non-existent, and if anything is mostly just lustful desires that people choose not to harness. Maybe it just provides a good teaching moment for kids, because I really like this film and feel that the message of Good prevailing over Evil is the strongest and most important message.
Society has made some important leaps in criminal technology. They have the means whereby they can detect a crime and stop it before it occurs. Those who are caught are imprisoned as if they had already committed the crime. It seems like a great solution until one of the top law enforcers is predicted to commit murder. He must try to prove his innocence and along the way make a decision as to whether this technology really is good for society.
Entertainment Value
Rating: A
From the previews we were expecting an action packed movie and also had some doubts that it could be as good as some of the critics have said. It was better than we expected! I even checked out the short story from the library in hopes of getting more of the same experience (I was rather disappointed, the movie was loads better.)
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 4
There was a strong theme of agency exhibited throughout the film seeing how it revolves around capturing and imprisoning people before they actually have a chance to commit their premeditated crime. Tom Cruise is presented with the opportunity to fulfill his fate (and actually commit the crime as foretold by the precogs) or make his own destiny by making the right choice.
The story mentions that sometimes we have to “go through darkness to get to light”. This is an important part of agency. There is an opposition to all things; we must endure some pain and misery in order to fully appreciate God’s love and the blessings he has to offer to his faithful sons and daughters. Read more ›
On the brink of having to make a very important decision, Alice escapes to Wonderland where she must discover who she really is so that she can more effectively make the life changing decisions that await her.
Entertainment Value
Rating: B
Visually stunning, as most Tim Burton films are. The music was great, as usual with Danny Elfman. However, the story was a little slow and I didn’t care for Alice’s character; and even though named after her, Johnny Depp really stole the show as the Mad Hatter. It’s worth seeing at least once. Read more ›
Dr. Parnassus has made several deals with Mr. Nick (the devil), one of which includes the forfeiture of his daughter on her 16 birthday. Fortunately Tony joins the traveling circus and appears to have what it takes to save Dr. Parnassus’s daughter.
Entertainment Value
Rating: C
This show was very interesting and very confusing. If it weren’t for Wikipedia’s candid explanation of why Terry Gilliam put this together and what he was thinking, I would have thought a lot less of this film (not understanding it’s purpose of existence). Because the story was so confusing, it was hard to enjoy; and as my wife stated, “if you want to see what it feels like to be high, you’ll get it by watching this show” (not that she would know what to compare it to).
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 4
The most intriguing part of the story happens within the Imaginarium, where peoples dreams become a reality. Read more ›
This review is coming only after one viewing of the movie, so I’m sure I’ll miss something. This is a show that has to be watched multiple times.
Synopsis
Cobb is an expert extractionist (stealing mentally kept secrets) who longs to return home to his children. He’s offered a chance to return if he can perform inception (implanting an idea) on the inheritor of a large energy business and get the inheritor to dissolve the company. Cobb is one of the few who knows inception can actually work, but he has some personal issues he must overcome for the plan to get pulled off.
Entertainment Value
Rating: A
This movie was amazing. This is what all directors should aspire to. Occasionally it is nice to be able to sit back and not have to think, but this is more than just a thinking movie; you get totally immersed in the film as if you were dreaming it yourself! Nolan has created a totally unique story so complex and deep that it begs for multiple views. Hans Zimmer does a wonderful job with the score as well. You have to see this in the theater.
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 5
I’ll try to avoid any spoilers, though there might be some minor ones (whether the movie ends happy or sad, so read on at your own risk).
The movie does a great job of illustrating a mindset that Elder David A. Bednar related in a youth fireside that was printed in the June 2010 Ensign entitled, “Things as They Really Are.” (You should read through this before you see the movie and it will really help it sink in). Basically Elder Bednar discusses his concern that we look more towards cyber experiences that distract us from real experiences; real life experiences that actually help us progress spiritually and emotionally far better than any online game or website can. In the movie we see people who choose to live their lives through dreams. Because their dreams become more interesting and exciting than their actual life, they get lost in multiple levels of subconscious dreaming, making them ultimately unable to tell what’s real life any more. Elder Bednar states,
“Sadly, some young men and young women in the Church today ignore ‘things as they really are’ and neglect eternal relationships for digital distractions, diversions, and detours that have no lasting value. My heart aches when a young couple—sealed together in the house of the Lord for time and for all eternity by the power of the holy priesthood—experiences marital difficulties because of the addicting effect of excessive video gaming or online socializing. A young man or woman may waste countless hours, postpone or forfeit vocational or academic achievement, and ultimately sacrifice cherished human relationships because of mind- and spirit-numbing video and online games. As the Lord declared, ‘Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment … : Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known’ (D&C 60:13).”
One of Cobb’s personal issues he is confronted with is a strong feeling of personal guilt for something he has done (revealed in the movie). He learns, through the help of a friend, that he has to forgive himself in order to move on. This forgiveness isn’t only important to Cobb’s personal progression, but for the well-being of those he’s working with. As he learns to confront his fears and realize what is real and what is a distraction, he’s able to continue on his mission with a brighter hope of being united with his children.
The love Cobb displays for his children (seen primarily through his dreams and discussion with others) is the love we should exhibit for our family at all times. It wouldn’t hurt to imagine yourself being in such a situation to realize how much you need your family and how much they need you.
The PG-13 rating is primarily for the intense scenes of action and violence (though nothing graphic is displayed). There are some profane references to deity, but little else. No sex or nudity.
Andy’s toys must try to avoid being thrown out before he goes off too college. When they end up donated to a day care, they then are faced with even more troubles from the head toys there. Through all their adventures and trials, Andy’s toys do everything to watch out for each other and stick together.
Entertainment Value
Rating: A
A lot of fun. As good or better than the other 2 movies. The music was good, especially the Gypsy King’s rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”, but was a little over done in some of the intense scenes (one of the scenes was intense enough, it didn’t need any further help from the music).
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate?
Rating: 5
[Spoiler Alert]
Constantly throughout the movie the toys refer to each other as family. Though the toys weren’t all related, they lived and worked together as a family should, and most importantly they never left anyone behind. Woody had the chance to move on with Andy and leave everyone else behind, but in the end, he just couldn’t leave them.
When Andy’s toys get to Sunnyside we see how leadership through fear (Lotso) makes life miserable for everyone and only really caters to the stronger and more selfish toys. Once Lotso was gone, the toys at the day care were able to work better together and be happier overall.
One of my favorite parts of the movie was seeing Andy give all his toys to a little girl down the street and watch him show her how special they were to him. I don’t know that I ever had any special affinity for any of my toys growing up, but it kind of draws a comparison to familial love again and how important making good memories is for families.
R. P. McMurphy gets thrown into a mental institution for being purely lazy and rebelling against authority. He tries to lighten the spirits of the mental patients by playing cards, basketball, sneaking out of the asylum, etc. His attempt at creating a more enjoyable experience inside the place is constantly repressed by head nurse Ratched.
Entertainment Value – B
This was an alright show (if you like Cool Hand Luke, there’s a chance you’ll like this one). I don’t know why this got all the acclaim it has received, I didn’t think it was outstanding (I’m going to guess it has something to do with the cinematography like Citizen Kane). Jack Nicholson’s character doesn’t seem to change from one movie to another, maybe he just gets casted well. If you want to see this because it is highly acclaimed (like I did), you might be a little disappointed.
Moral Value – Failure to Communicate? – 2
[Spoiler Alert]
I thought some of the themes were very similar to Cool Hand Luke: A man gets imprisoned for not caring much, gains the affection of his inmates, gets broken, ends tragically.
Not sure why nurse Ratched is one of the most popular screen villains. She is extremely indifferent and cold, but you’d have to be in order to keep your sanity working in a mental institution. Her handling Billy at the end was awful; knowing his suicidal tendancies and then threatening to report him to his mother was a deathly mistake.
McMurphy and the other patient’s pressure to get Billy to sleep with McMurphy’s friend was completely childish and stupid. There are glimpses of McMurphy’s “good” side throughout the film and you think that he might turn out to be a blessing to the place, but ends up just a curse.
Chief Bromden (not sure if Chief is his first name) should not have killed McMurphy at the end. I know it was supposedly a good act, maybe could be considered euthanasia of some sort (for those who think euthanasia can be good). Chief didn’t want to leave seeing McMurphy in his broken condition. To Chief, McMurphy was a type of hero, and he imagined them escaping the place together. Since that was no longer possible in McMurphy’s condition, this act of “liberation” was symbolic of the two of them leaving together – possibly meant to be poetic, but I thought it was kind of twisted.
The one good thing that came out of McMurphy ending up in the asylum was his attempt to get all the patients in the place to pretend like they weren’t there. Anytime the nurses reminded them of their condition/location, McMurphy would rebel and end up lifting the spirits of those around him (a classic scene is the baseball game). McMurphy eventually ended up getting carried away and realized too late that he had gone too far. There are responsibilities that must be taken in our lives, especially when we interact with others and most importantly when they hold us in high regard. We are a light on a hill whether we want to be or not. Others look up to us, and most importantly God has high hopes that we will realize and fulfill our great potential as part of the human family.
