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Movie Reviews

All movie reviews by fritz:

No Country for Old Men psychological action drama, R
fritz B	A rather violent and gory tale about murder and such. Plus points for dialog, scenery, memorable characters, and suspense, but a big minus for a rather weak and inconsistent plot, including some inexplicable bits that seemed just to fill time.
Illusionist, The animated drama, PG
fritz C	I was looking forward to this one, since I loved "Triplets of Belleville" so much, but I was disappointed. The animation was spectacular but the story was boring.
Super action comedy drama, R
fritz A	An average chump decides to make a difference in the world by becoming a superhero and righting the wrongs around him. Gritty and violent, but funny and charming in a strange way. I loved it, but not for everyone.
Buffalo '66 psychological drama, R
fritz B	A psycho drama about a rather socially maladjusted criminal, released from prison with nothing to do and nowhere to pee. Awkward and gritty, but very entertaining.
Catfish documentary drama, PG13
fritz B	I liked this one. It's a documentary, I think, about a guy who meets somebody on facebook and goes to find her in real life. Interesting.
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The comedy drama romance, PG13
fritz C	A drama with some humor, about a handful of old people who 'retire' to a hotel in India whose merits have been exaggerated, and how they all adjust to the lifestyle change. Some fun India bits, lots of heartwarming romantic content, rather weak on plot and believeability. But not at all unpleasant.
Frailty psychological action mystery suspense drama, R
fritz A	A mind-bender of religious zealotry and serial murder. Loved it, and will have to see again before I'll have it all figured out. A little harsh on the whole murder thing.
Surfwise documentary, R
fritz B	A documentary about a fellow who abandons a life of normalcy to become a beach bum, procreate wildly, and wander the world in a camper with his wife and 9 kids. Investigates their lives, and the long-term consequences of this unusual lifestyle choice. I found it very interesting and entertaining, but if you're too normal I suspect it would just be like watching psychos doing stupid things.
Mr. Bean's Holiday comedy, G
fritz C	The very silly and obliviously moronic Mr. Bean takes a further handicap by going where he doesn't understand the language or culture. It's a situation ripe with comedy, but it doesn't deliver much, and doesn't overcome the weak plotline. I bet kids would love this one, and it is all good fun.
Get Smart action comedy, PG13
fritz A	I thought this was really clever and funny. You don't need to be a fan of the classic show to get it, and there was even some action thrown in. Good fun. I don't recall any vices, older children will probably laugh too.
Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The war action drama, PG13
fritz C	This had the feel of a really good book that didn't translate very well to a movie. The characters never developed, and I didn't really buy any of it. Not exactly believable anyway - perhaps if they'd put a bit more time into it. The people I was with liked it better than I did. Adult thematic material involving the Holocaust and stuff.
Diner drama, R
fritz B	This is one of those movies with a lot of conversations, some of which were funny, some serious. The cast was really strong (including Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Steve Guttenberg, Paul Reiser - all in 1982!). Mostly about fun college-age friends embarking on different paths in life. Adult themes.
Simpsons Movie, The animated comedy drama, PG13
fritz C	I expected better. If you like the TV show, you'll like it, but I doubt you'll love it. There's nothing worth watching in the credits or DVD extras either.
Stardust drama romance, PG13
fritz B	A fun fantasy about a magical world of oddball witches and other magicalness. Funny, light, and entertaining, but a little risque.
Live Free or Die Hard action drama, PG13
fritz C	Plot full of holes, but who cares? Lots of car crashing and fighting, if you're into that sort of thing. Bruce Willis sure is cool though.
300 war action history drama, R
fritz B	In spite of the panning given by the critics, I enjoyed this one. It wasn't just a gore-fest (though there is more than a share of gore and violence and special effects), there were also historical and heroic angles that I found compelling, and a lot to look at.
Suture psychological mystery suspense drama, ?
fritz D	I shouldn't have suffered through this low-budget 1993 attempt at "film noir". The acting and dialog were terrible, and the plot never came to anything. The best it had going for it was a kind of Twilight Zone overnarrated feel that kept my hopes up that a brain twist was just around the corner. It wasn't.
Illusionist, The drama, PG13
fritz B	Intriguing story about a very clever illusionist in old-time Vienna, who falls in love with a princess, but their castes don't match. Mysterious and fun and tricky. One bed scene.
Little Miss Sunshine comedy drama, R
fritz B	A dysfunctional comedy about an average family taking a trip across the country to enter their average daughter in a beauty pageant. Very funny in a dark way, moving, and charming. Some swearing and drugs.
Inland Empire post-modern psychological comedy, R
fritz C	Don't expect to understand this latest from David Lynch. The cinematography was incredible, and the action engaging, but impossible to follow. Darts around between various unrealities and time zones and fantasies, I guess - I couldn't make any sense of it whatsoever. Rather long. Depends what you like, but I wouldn't spend the time again. Slight nudity, swearing, adult situations.
Cave of the Yellow Dog, The foreign documentary drama, G
fritz A	If you liked "The Weeping Camel", don't miss this one. A beautiful drama-documentary of a nomadic family living in the Mongolian steppes. Fascinating, charming, incredible. Some true-life dead animals are its only vice.
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World comedy, PG13
fritz D	Mostly trying to be funny by not being funny. Ironically, perhaps, it wasn't very funny, and the plot wasn't very believable: comedian gets hired by the government to figure out what makes Muslims laugh. Whatever...
Barnyard animated comedy, PG
fritz D	About two funny scenes. The jokes were tired, the characters uncompelling, the plot weak, and the bulls had udders. Animals die, and some sophomoric humor, but nothing too serious. Kids might like it.
Volver (Coming Back) comedy drama, R
fritz B	Another collection of strange characters in a twisted plot from Pedro Almodovar. Interesting but a little plodding - I wasn't sure I liked it until it was done and all the twists came out. Everybody else thought it was funnier than I did. Adult themes, Spanish subtitles.
Pirates of the Carribean 2: Dead Man's Chest action drama, PG13
fritz B	I didn't like this one as well as the first, although it recycled many of the same charms and effects. Nobody in my company could figure out the plot.
Over the Hedge animated comedy, PG
fritz A	I really enoyed this one. Fun characters, excellent animation, good plot, and funny. Some action too. Bear might be a little scary for the tiny tots, but mostly harmless.
Ley del Deseo, La (The Law of Desire) adult comedy drama, NC17
fritz B	More twistedness from Pedro Almodovar, this time a very gay (ever seen Antonio Banderas do that?) story about a psychotically jealous lover. Good though, suspenseful and with some twists. I appreciate that Pedro uses girls for his transvestites, which makes for a lot less inner turmoil, at least for me. Very adultish.
My Super Ex-Girlfriend action comedy, PG13
fritz C	Silly but kinda funny movie about a regular guy who has a relationship with a Super girl. But she (Uma Thurman) is also rather psycho, and when he breaks up with her, she goes Super Psycho on him. Middling, and should be harder than PG-13; no actual nudity but a little too blatant with the s-e-x.
Matador adult action drama, NC17
fritz B	Rather twisted tale from Pedro Almodovar about people for whom love and sex and death are all mixed up. Some nudity and sex and death and suspense. Spanish.
Monster House animated kids action horror drama, PG
fritz C	I would have found this much easier to enjoy if the dialog and characters weren't so shallowly, tritely annoying. I just hated every word and wanted to turn it off. But the computer animation was pretty good (though kids are the weak point of the technology, still), and the plot was eventually psychotically interesting. Whoa. Scary, in a cartoony way, but that's about it.
Prairie Home Companion, A comedy drama, PG13
fritz B	A very funny and charming movie, but probably much more so for those familiar with the popular radio show (which I am). It's hard to explain, kind of a randomly funny story-telling thing with random characters from all over the historical landscape. The vices are the kind you should teach your kids about anyway.
Syriana suspense drama, R
fritz C	I didn't get it. Just seemed to go on and on. I guess I have to see it again.
Benchwarmers, The comedy, PG13
fritz C	Don't expect much. It has a few jokes, not of the sophisticated variety, as one might expect from this crew. The plot doesn't half make sense. Swearing and general moronic crudeness earn its PG-13.
Pink Panther, The comedy, PG13
fritz C	I thought Steve Martin and Kevin Kline could do better. It just wasn't very funny, mostly just retarded, but with lame mock-French accents. Plus they cut the scene that made the plot make sense, so I didn't get it until I watched the DVD extras. If you do get it, watch the extras, because there's a scene on there that's very funny. No vices.
Bride and Prejudice musical music drama romance, PG13
fritz B	Pretty fun, I thought. It's somewhat Americanized Bollywood, with Indian music, flair, scenery and culture, fairly standard romance plot, and soaring music-and-dance numbers. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, though I still squirm when here I am believing somebody and then they suddenly break into song, badly lip-synced, no less. Also thick accents. But the visuals are stunning, the music excellent, the characters fun (if a little simple), and there are some very clever touches. Check it out! Little girls would like it too, I suspect, and it's quite morally sound.
Accidental Tourist, The drama, PG
fritz B	Rather slow, but a pretty interesting picture of a couple dealing with the unexpected death of their son. Kids will be bored, and so might some adults.
Madea's Family Reunion comedy drama romance, PG13
fritz C	I expected this to either be funny, or to try to be funny and fail. It did neither, actually being mostly a serious drama with two strange and surreal caricatures (Madea and her... brother?) in the middle. Mostly about domestic violence, with a good/family/Christian message. I'm out of the demographic. Too much personal violence for kids.
Annapolis drama romance, PG13
fritz D	I didn't bother to finish. The kid will do anything to finish military school. Or maybe he just wants to quit. Who knows? Who cares? Just let him in the boxing ring with the badass officer (everybody knows they do that in military school) and fall in love with another officer (a girl, btw) that he happened to meet in a bar the night before school started. If you need an example of lame hollywood trumped-up drama, don't miss it.
Failure to Launch comedy romance, PG13
fritz C	Nothing stood out about this situational romance. Yeah, right, his parents hire a slut to encourage him to leave the nest. She's totally in control, except love, and also him finding out! Who'da thunk it? Even Zooey Deschanel's usually charming dryness was overcooked. PG13 for sex.
Last Holiday comedy drama romance, PG13
fritz D	Not funny, and not convincing enough to earn its keep as romance or drama. As life-affirming as it tried to be, I just didn't buy it - the dialog was too trite and the characters too shallow. PG13 for some sexual references.
Big White, The comedy drama, R
fritz A	A brilliantly dark comedy about fraud, murder, and misapplied corpses starring Robin Williams. Good fun. Much swearing, but appropriate.
Producers, The comedy, PG13
fritz A	Really funny. Mel Brooks at his best, simultaneously lampooning and exploiting the medium of the Broadway Musical. But if you have low tolerance for silly you may find it unbearable, as the characters are rather comical and exaggerated. I almost hurt myself laughing. PG13 for goofy sex references.
New World, The history drama romance, PG13
fritz C	"Based on true events" tale about Pocahontas and John Smith. Heavy on the romance, and moves very slowly in parts, but extra credit for authenticity. Clean as a whistle except for the fighting, which is also pretty tame.
Boo horror, R
fritz D	Fairly amatuerish attempt at slasher gore and suspense. The special effects were good, but the plot and dialog were weak and stereotypical, and it didn't scare. R for supposedly scaring and some sex.
Da Vinci Code, The action history drama, PG13
fritz B	An fun ride through many layers of history and symbolism with a lot of action, a little mystery, and some compelling characters. As with any book adapted to a movie, it's a challenge to fit it all in, and the one weakness of the movie is that a few times the characters' only motives for saying what they said is that it was necessary to fill in that bit of the plot. I already read it, but I suspect for those that didn't, it would fly by very quickly and be hard to catch everything the first time, but it's all there - the movie is extremely full, and mentions some things very briefly. You'll want to see it again, or read it. Too much death for little kids, but unless you're offended by the conspiracy-theory-view of Christianity, you're very likely to enjoy it.
Prime comedy romance, PG13
fritz C	Not very enticing love story, wherein the nearly-40 divorcee (Uma Thurman) falls madly in love with a rather young man who happens, it turns out, to be her therapist's son. Lacklustre performance by Meryl Streep. Sex but not really enough nudity.
Family Stone, The comedy drama romance, PG13
fritz B	Pretty fun flick about a close-knit family united in distaste for one brother's very hateable girlfriend. Good performances, serious humor. Slight sex and drug references.
Tristan + Isolde action history drama romance, PG13
fritz A	Excellent dramatic story of love and politics and war, set in a period of history where England was deeply divided by tribes and ruled by the Irish. Very good, but not for those without a taste for epic, complicated plots. Adapted from an opera by Wagner. Rather violent, slight sex, no malls.
Flightplan psychological action drama, PG13
fritz C	Mediocre script, weak plot. A lot of drama from Jodie foster.
Me and You and Everyone We Know comedy drama, R
fritz F	I'm all good with a little perversion to help tell a story, but this one forgot about the story part. I didn't see the point, it just seemed like self-indulgent sickness. There's a slight subplot about the (author) simple girl's obsession with a psycho guy, but most of the rest is about children in sexual situations. Don't bother, and if you let your kids see it, there's something really wrong with you.
Must Love Dogs comedy romance, PG13
fritz D	Boring... I didn't finish it. Bad script, lame story, even Cusack couldn't redeem it. PG-13 for sex.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire action drama, PG13
fritz B	Not bad. I thought it was a click down from the last one - too long and complicated, I couldn't follow and didn't care. Redeems its plot a bit in the end, though I would still have preferred it simpler.
Skeleton Key, The psychological action horror suspense drama, PG13
fritz B	I thought it was pretty good. Scary, tense, mysterious, and twisty. And Kate Hudson looking pretty cute, to boot. Who can argue with that? PG13 mostly for voodoo, tense scary imagery. Not for kids.
Madagascar animated comedy, PG
fritz B	Good clean fun, cute and catchy. Fun characters and good humor, although a little pop-cultural. I enjoyed it a lot.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The drama romance, PG
fritz D	The premise sounded interesting, but that was about it. Most of the time I couldn't even keep track of where the stupid pants were. It was more about four girls and their various lives and romatic endeavors. Not in my demographic, but if you're more the chick type it might be a better flick for you. A little racy for youngsters.
Chicken Little animated comedy, G
fritz B	A really fun movie that anyone would enjoy. See the 3-D one if you can, it's underabused but very coherent and even more fun. The characters are charming and the humor generally strong. No vices.
Christmas with the Kranks comedy, PG
fritz C	Stock comedy with The Christmas Message. Of course you can't just skip Christmas - how selfish is that! Some funny moments. Not unpleasant, but not a standout. No vices, probably a good choice for the whole family.
Untergang, Der (Downfall) war drama, R
fritz B	A historical drama following Hitler and his inner circle during the last days of the war. Not a happy story, obviously, but an interesting one. Earns its R for gore and harsh scenes.
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit animated comedy, G
fritz A	Brilliant soon-to-be classic. All the best elements of Aardman's previous works come together in an excellent feature. Clever, funny, charming, and exciting. Good for all ages. Even grownups will be amused, and will notice a few things that will slip past the young ones. You won't be disappointed.
Robots animated action drama, PG
fritz B	Good fun with animated robots. Like "toy story", the choice of subjects helps to cover some of the weaknesses in the physics. The animation and scenery are fun and convincing. The humor is generally good, though I don't know why they can't keep it a little more highbrow, and the plot is pretty standard. Good for kids.
Bridge of San Luis Rey, The drama, PG
fritz D	Seemed like a promising story and a very strong cast, but it's long and boring, and never gets anywhere. My co-watchers gave up. One could like it for the costumes, scenery, and historical language, I suppose. Takes place among the royalty of 18th century Peru. Pretends to some deep religious conclusion about the meaning of life, but doesn't really have much to say. Kids would also find it boring.
Hotel Rwanda foreign history drama, PG13
fritz A	Harsh but excellent true-like story about a simple hotel manager who ends up in the position of protecting a whole host of refugees as the country breaks down into chaos and genocide. Disturbing, thought-provoking and entertaining. PG13 for the violence, not for kids.
Million Dollar Baby action drama, PG13
fritz C	Not worth all the hoopla. Mostly it's about boxing, and how interesting is that? Morgan Freeman's wrinkles and warts don't actually make his words any more wise. The plot is mostly a tired one, the scrapping underdog with the big spirit... but it takes a twist at the end and slightly redeems itself. So if you get halfway through, don't give up. It'll get better, but there are a lot better movies. PG13 for violent boxing.
Life Aquatic, The comedy, R
fritz D	I have a feeling that some people will love it, but I'm not one of them. The premise is amusing - the has-been Cousteau-like character goes back to hunt down and kill the mysterious shark that ate his partner - but the movie is boring. If it's funny, it's too deep for me (see right there - I'm funnier than that movie!). R for sex and drugs.
Motorcyle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta), The history drama, R
fritz B	The apparently historical story of Che Guevara (a South American revolutionary of some significance) going on a motorcyle trip with his buddy and apparently thereby finding the meaning to his life. Not very exciting, mostly, but some fun and a little deep. No appeal to kids. Subtitled, Spanish.
Monster-in-law comedy romance, PG13
fritz C	Pretty lame romantic comedy about a Mother-in-law who is pretty hard to like. And what? About two funny moments, other than that, a waste of time with the usual ending. PG-13 for some sex references or something.
Longest Yard, The action comedy drama, PG13
fritz D	Sure, yeah, the cons are going to play football against the guards. Senseless from the outset, and not even today's Hottest Comedy Stars can make it funny. Guess what happens in the end. Poo.
Super Size Me documentary comedy, PG
fritz B	Food horror documentary! The protagonist takes on the challenge of eating nothing but McDonalds' food for 30 days. Then he talks to a lot of McD's eaters, does some research... it's a real education, and a real horror. If you're looking to kick your fast food habit, look no further. I still feel ill about it. But don't miss the DVD extra about how long food can just sit in a jar...
Sideways comedy drama, R
fritz C	I was disappointed in this one, after it got such rave reviews. "Y Tu Mama Tambien" was the same except better in every way. Two best friends go on a trip together before one gets married, and they meet some girls, obsess on wine, and have some romantic adventures. But mostly it's not funny, nor very interesting, and the characters are exceptionally boring. Not for kids.
Pacifier, The action comedy drama, PG
fritz F	Vin Diesel stars as a navy SEAL who gets assigned a babysitting job. No, it doesn't make any more sense than that, and it's not any better than it sounds. If you think people falling down stairs or getting barfed on by babies is funny then it has its moments. If you're on an airplane, sleep through this one.
Be Cool action drama, PG13
fritz D	Trying to be Pulp Fiction and failing miserably. There wasn't anything about this movie that I liked - even the stars were put in lame, shallow roles.
Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, The documentary, G
fritz A	Very interesting documentary about a sort of misplaced man who makes a lifestyle out of his relationship with a flock of misplaced parrots who have settled in San Francisco. Gets pretty sad in the end - bring a tissue if you're the softish sort. Quite engrossing. Good for kids except the sad parts, but then, life is sad, get them started early.
Son of the Mask action comedy, PG
fritz D	Don't expect much from this sequel to a bad movie. I guess if you're really into cartoons some of the visual aspects may appear to you, but other than that, there's not much to say for it. I don't recall any vices.
Constantine psychological action drama, R
fritz B	Pretty fun extended allegory of traditional Christian theory, in a mostly-action movie. The guy can't go to heaven because he committed suicide, but then he lived, so he makes a life out of beating the very real demons to earn his way into heaven. Lots of other literalized dogma and familiar characters keep the action amusing. Probably no appeal to kids.
Racing Stripes comedy, PG
fritz C	The animal acting in this was incredible, and it's worth watching just for that. They talk, they gesture, they do everything brilliantly. But other than that, the plot is tired, the human characters weak, and the crude flies should have been swatted before the movie began. Kids will probably like it, though some juvenile humor will probably not amuse their parents.
Maria Full of Grace foreign drama, R
fritz A	A harsh tale about a young Colombian girl who gets drawn into the drug trade. Presumably realistic (though I haven't smuggled drugs that way myself), and brutally so. Not for kids due to violence and drugs. My favorite since "Monster".
Lot Like Love, A comedy romance, PG13
fritz B	I liked this more than expected. Shallow but fairly entertaining. I liked the character of the girl, and even Ashton was better than usual. Follows these two people's lives and relationships as they don't quite get it together with each other. Not for kids due to sexual stuff.
Crash action drama, R
fritz B	City drama involving the interactions of a number of characters around several car crashes. Lots of racial tension, very interesting characters, and social commentary. Not for kids due to everything.
I Heart Huckabee's psychological comedy, R
fritz C	Seemed to be trying to be deep comedy, but I found it dry and not very interesting.
March of the Penguins documentary, G
fritz A	Fascinating nature story about how these penguins breed their young in harsh, unforgiving Antartica. It's an amazingly dramatic and complex task, and one in which a slight mistake can be disastrous. A little harsh, as some of the babies don't make it. But overall a spectacular nature flick.
Weeping Camel, The foreign documentary, PG
fritz A	This is sort of like a classic nature film, where the cameras sneak around quietly filming animals in their native habitat, except it features a Mongolian desert family and their camels. Slow-moving, minimally subtitled, no narration, just footage. Visually superb and culturally fascinating. The slight plot is about an albino camel who is born, but the mother won't accept it, so a special ritual is required. PG for watching the difficult birth of a camel rather closely.
Meet the Fockers comedy, PG13
fritz B	This was surprisingly good, especially given the title, which I thought rather cheapened it. The script was a little tired, but the stars (De Niro, Hoffman, Streisand, Stiller) were what really made it shine. Amusing and charming. PG-13 for sexual topics, of which the movie was pretty much built.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The comedy, PG
fritz C	I may be giving credit more for the book than for the movie. It's a funny, psychotic, unpredictable tale of a hapless Brit sucked unexpectedly into space and on some very mind-bending and ironic adventures. The book was better, but you can't read it in two hours. No vices. later... Saw it again on video, and lowered my grade. The book was great, but the movie was really terrible. Probably even worse if you didn't read the book.
House of Flying Daggers (Shi Mian Mai Fu) action drama, PG13
fritz B	A star in its genre, that of oriental uber-zen-martial-arts, classical romance, and beautiful cinematography, ilk of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. The plot is timeless, the production impeccable, and the action sequences flawless. Moves a little slow in spots, and some may find the plot a little pre-modern. Subtitled.
Incredibles, The animated kids comedy drama, PG
fritz B	Excellent effects, with none of the spatial awkardness characteristic of its genre. The attention to detail and perfectionism are apparent even if the technological details escape most of us. Not the funniest, but makes up for it with charm, stlye, and lots of action. No vices. Skip "Shrek 2" and see this one twice.
Final Cut, The action drama, PG13
fritz C	Robin Williams plays a very serious, contemplative role as the guy who takes all your memories, stored with a high-tech implant, and edits them down to a movie about your life. Brushes lightly on some philosophical and moral issues thereabouts, but without much consequence. Some violence.
Closer romance, R
fritz B	Slightly twisted story about four characters and their love lives, which become sort of mixed up, and their mental games. The dialog is unrealistically clever but fun. I found it more intellectually interesting than emotionally involving. R for pervasive sexual content.
Dust To Glory action documentary, PG
fritz B	A slightly amateurish but well-done documentary on an exciting topic: the Baja 1000. I found it very engaging, tense, and exciting. Closer to the race than anything except being there.
Cellular action drama, PG13
fritz C	Could have been a good plot, but it went Hollywood. A kidnapped woman has only one chance at survival - an ongoing phone call with a random stranger, of the surfer type (such things only happen at Venice Beach). Can the phone call save her life, and those of her family? Some suspense and action. The dramatic performances were... uninspiring. PG13 for sort of police-against-bad-guy action violence and suspense.
Bridget Jones' Diary comedy drama romance, R
fritz B	A pretty enjoyable romantic comedy that has enough of the latter to make it worthwhile. It's the story of a socially inept thirtysomething city girl, and her love life. A good one to watch with your significant other, but without the kids.
Eulogy comedy drama, R
fritz B	Clever comedy about a fairly dysfunctional family, gathered to mark the death of their generally absent patriarch. Good characters and fun scenes. R for sex, drugs and some lesbianism.
Yes Men, The documentary, R
fritz B	Odd documentary about a group of pranksters who masquerade as representatives of the World Trade Organization and go about mocking them by caricaturing (or is it clarifying?) their message at official meetings. Good fun.
What the #$*! Do We Know!? post-modern documentary, ?
fritz B	Awkward but sort of interesting metaphysical documentary/fiction, pitching sort of 'new age' philosophy, backed by rather thin interpretation of modern sciences. I thought the message was good, being generally up my alley, but the presentation was strange, mixing a day in the life of an oddly familiar deaf girl with interviews from a few enlightened oddballs and some quirky animation. Definitely different, and I enjoyed it. Don't miss it, if that's what you're into. No vices, but kids would be bored.
Taxi action comedy, PG13
fritz C	I didn't expect much from Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah, but it was better than expected. It had some funny bits, and car-chasing and crashing action. No real vices that I recall.
Secret Window action suspense drama, PG13
fritz B	It won't make my top ten list, but I enjoyed it. Without Depp, it would have been just mediocre, but with him, it was very engaging. The plot was rather Stephen King - predictable in a few places, but successfully tense. Better than any other of his works I've seen put to film. Some violence, not for children.
Shark Tale animated comedy, PG
fritz B	It won't be a classic, but I found it enjoyable. The characters are fun, the humor fair, and there is some fun stuff to look at. But beware, it has an insidious message about "acceptance" of those who are "different"!
Saw horror, R
fritz C	A genius serial killer sets elaborate traps for his victims, forcing them to make difficult choices, but generally they die in the end. The plot is fair, the acting and dialog atrocious, and the imagery as disturbingly gruesome as they come.
We Don't Live Here Anymore adult drama romance, R
fritz B	A tense, dramatic story about two dysfunctional couples, close friends, who get a little mixed up with their closeness. Pretty deep about love and sex and stuff. Not for kids.
Man With One Red Shoe, The comedy drama, PG
fritz C	Fairly average comedy about a man who stumbles into suspicion by the CIA and unwittingly, unknowingly becomes entangled in their political games. I didn't really follow the political stuff, Tom Hanks' performance as the naive bystander was uninspiring, James Belushi's was ever worse, and I didn't really buy the whole thing. It did have a couple funny bits. Slightly racy for a PG, in terms of sexual implications and a leopard-print panty-clad Carrie Fisher. Come to think of it, it was pretty good.
Shaun of the Dead horror comedy, R
fritz A	Clever comedy slammed headlong into slasher horror. Very funny and rather gory. I loved it. Not for small kids. Also some swearing.
Door in the Floor, The drama, R
fritz A	A pretty deep and complex movie about a children's book writer and his wife, coping with the death of their two sons, and a young boy who spends the summer with them, although the married couple are technically separated. Relationships develop, and it gets pretty complicated. Dramatic, at points funny, slightly twisted, and all the characters are excellent. Not for kids due to sexual material.
Benny and Joon comedy drama, PG
fritz C	In spite of some obvious flaws, still some fun to watch. Two mentally ill people find each other and of course fall in love. I like Johnny Depp, but this was not his best role. Funny in a few spots.
Vanity Fair drama, PG13
fritz C	In 19th-century England, a pretty orphan girl seeks to rise above poverty and marry the man of her dreams and also climb the social ladder, but no respectable man wants her because she is a governess and zzzz.... I got bored and went to find something else to do. Natasha said it got a lot better after I left, like with war and stuff. I'm sure it's a gender thing.
Mystic River psychological action mystery drama, R
fritz B	Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon play estranged boyhood friends, connected by a dramatic experience, who end up later in various roles surrounding a grisly murder. Somewhat psychological, somewhat mysterious, rather dramatic. Kind of deep, in a slightly psychotic way. Great performances from the three stars. R mainly for the grizzle, some language.
Stella Street foreign comedy, R
fritz C	Rather silly, very British comedy about a quiet street in London that becomes the hideaway for a variety of American celebrities, and their minglings with the eccentric inhabitants. Most of the characters are caricature impressions of familiar figures, all played by three actors in many roles. Good, harmless amusement, some laughs.
Anchorman (The Legend of Ron Burgundy) comedy, PG13
fritz D	Will Ferrell plays a pretty typical role in this mediocre comedy. Mostly cheap humor and exaggerated characters better fit for Saturday Night Live skits. Don't bother.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind psychological mystery drama, R
fritz A	A mind-challenging psychological thriller that keeps you guessing, time-misaligned and half mental, and pleasingly deep. Jim Carrey sheds his 'silly' persona and plays very well. I loved it, and if you like the "Memento" type you will too. Slightly sexual and some swearing.
Elephant drama, R
fritz D	Did nothing for me. The subject matter and style could be interesting - taking an incident of mass murder and showing all the lives leading up to it, sort of as an interruption to life - but it is very poorly executed. The characters and dialog are totally amateurish and nearly unbearable, and the development is painfully slow. If you do watch it, look for clues about where it takes place. I guessed it from very interesting and subtle clues. Not for kids.
Napoleon Dynamite comedy, PG
fritz B	Don't miss this original, totally wacky independent film. The main characters are caricatures of arrested development and clueless anachronism that you might remember from high school. Sort of Peewee Herman meets Slacker, but a little more pathetic than either one. Pretty funny. No vices, but kids probably wouldn't get it.
Big Red One, The war action history drama, R
fritz B	Not a real plot, and weak character development, but a lot of real war and real war issues, as shown by someone who was really there. Follows a group of soldiers through numerous battles and other experiences. Pretty brutal, almost too realistic. But that's war. And it even gets a little philosophical. Not for kids or for the faint of heart.
Big Bounce, The mystery comedy drama, PG13
fritz C	Owen Wilson plays an easy-going amateur trickster in a world of underhanded tricksters. I'm not sure in the end I quite understood who was up to what, but I enjoyed the ride, and there were some funny moments. Some sexy implications, and some spectacular surfing shots (especially in the DVD extras) if you're into that.
Terminal, The comedy drama, PG13
fritz B	I enjoyed this one a lot. Tom Hanks stars as a gentle foreigner who speaks only a few words of English. Problems with his passport prevent him from leaving the airport. The authorities try everything to get rid of him, but his good nature and thin understanding keep him trapped. Lots of funny moments, fun characters, and heart. I think kids would enjoy it too. There is some language-mixup-swearing humor, but it's very mild.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story comedy, PG13
fritz D	Cheap comedy. If you like seeing people get hit with a rubber ball, to the clanging sound effect of hammer on metal, don't miss it. Other than that, you'll see about 2 funny moments that you already saw on the commercials. Ben Stiller's caricature character is somewhat amusing. I don't recall anything particularly offensive.
Kitchen Stories foreign comedy, PG
fritz B	Slow-moving but bizarrely funny Nowegian movie about a scientist whose job is to sit in a tall chair and observe a man's movements in the kitchen. Most of the humor is pretty subtle, and it's not for the short attention span, but overall a quite enjoyable movie. Swedish and Norwegian, subtitled. No vices, but kids would be bored.
American Wedding (American Pie 3) comedy, ?
fritz D	If you liked "American Pie"... well, here's some more, but not as good. Some of the same jokes rehashed, and the same juvenile humor throughout. Some funny bits. The "unrated" version is nothing special, it just shows boobs. We used to call that "R" rated. Not for kids.
Matchstick Men action comedy drama, PG13
fritz A	A must-see psychological thriller. Nicholas Cage stars as a totally neurotic con man, surprised by his teenage daughter arriving in his life. Very seriously funny with a gripping plot and good suspense. Totally entertaining. The only vice is a bit of violence, but it's not over the top.
Shrek 2 animated comedy drama, PG13
fritz D	Not much for plot, characters, or humor. Pretty much as expected for a sequel to the first. Apparently some interesting computer-generation technology, not much that is visible, but I did find it a little less visually awkward. Nothing to harm the kids.
Mighty Wind, A musical comedy, PG13
fritz B	I also loved this musical mockumentary, but like most of its ilk, not very fast-moving, and the humor is subtle. More like story-telling than joke-telling, but very entertaining.
Best In Show documentary comedy, PG13
fritz B	An excellent mockumentary of the ilk of "Spinal Tap" and "A Mighty Wind", but this time, it's about dog shows. Sort of slow, simple, realistic humor, and no particular plot, but very entertaining. Vague sexual references, probably not dangerous, but likely too slow and subtle for children to enjoy.
Elf comedy, PG
fritz C	A silly comedy about a human raised as one of Santa's elves going to New York city to find his real dad. Wow, that's quite a culture shock, I tell you what. This guy just doesn't get it. But it does have some amusing scenes, and of course in the end we all get a dose of Christmas spirit (aww...). I'm sure kids will love it, and for adults it's tolerable. Nothing bad to worry about.
Machinist, The action drama, R
fritz A	An excellent, mindtwisting drama about a guy who hasn't slept properly in a year, is being pursued and taunted by a mysterious stranger, and can never seem to figure out what's real and what is going on (along with the rest of us). Full of surprises and action. Not for kids due to violence, disturbing images, and some nudity.
Jersey Girl comedy drama, PG13
fritz C	Written and directed by Kevin Smith, but don't expect another 'Clerks'. He's growing up and tackling serious adult themes, in this case, a father who needs to make difficult choices between his career and his child. Pretty mediocre, and not very funny, although I enjoyed Liv Tyler's character. PG-13 for sexual issues.
Stepford Wives, The comedy, PG13
fritz C	This one didn't do much for me, in spite of a good concept and an all-star cast. It never developed any characters or suspense, just kind of plodded along.
Day Without a Mexican, A comedy drama, R
fritz F	In this lame "comedy", all the Mexicans suddenly disappear from California. It never even halfway explains why, but I was too bored to care anyway. It can't decide if it's mockumentary, comedy, or social drama with a positive intercultural message, but in the end it's not good at any of them. Don't bother.
Raising Helen drama, PG13
fritz D	Kate Hudson stars as a hip New York single who suddenly ends up with her sister's three children, after the sister dies in a car accident. But it's mostly about the other relationships in the family. I suppose it sounds funny and touching, but it wasn't. Not even Joan Cusack had a character. It just didn't work for me. PG-13 for no reason that I can remember.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 R
fritz A	Excellent. I thought the first one really sucked until I saw this one, and it made it all make sense, in a Tarantino way of making sense. Deep plot, interesting characters, lots of suspense, surprise, and action. I loved it. The two movies really should be perceived as a whole - the first one is necessary to set you up for the second. But together, they're really good.
Second Hand Lions kids, PG13
fritz B	Better for kids than adults, but not bad. Robert Duvall and Michael Caine are wonderful as the old uncles. Most of the other characters are pretty thin. Giraffe and Pig had only bit parts.
Saved! comedy drama, PG13
fritz D	A not very funny "comedy" about modern Christianity, and some teenagers' struggles therein. I'm not sure who would like it - it's no "Dogma", probably not deep or sarcastic enough for non-Christians (although a somewhat accurate portrayal of some Christian circles), but probably questions Christian belief too much for Christians to enjoy. From the looks of the extra scenes, they tamed it down a lot. Anyway, I don't think you'll like it. PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.
Equilibrium action, R
fritz C	In the future world, all feelings are outlawed, and that means only outlaws can have feelings. In a world without feelings, guess what happens to violators. Only slightly philosophical (and slightly paradoxical), mostly Matrix-style action violence. Not a bad mix, though. Not for kids due to violence, including animals. Damn those cruel, heartless future soldiers!
Monster drama, R
fritz A	Not for everyone, but an excellent movie for the right audience. A rather gritty tale, based on the true story of Aileen Wuornos, a hopelessly abused woman who falls in love with a young girl and ends up sort of serially murdering as a result. It all makes sense, on its own strange terms. A very interesting portrayal of a strange and twisted side of human nature, and Charlize Theron's portrayal of the protagonist is amazing. Earns its R, not for kids.
Capturing the Friedmans psychological documentary drama, ?
fritz B	I also thought this was an excellent documentary, although after reading Steve's review, I expected more home movies. Still a very engaging portrait of a family going through the process of being accused of rather hideous crimes, possibly falsely. Interesting picture of our legal system and society.
Garfield kids comedy, PG
fritz D	This movie has nothing going for it unless you think the strange, synthetic robo-cat it has for a main character is cute. Which I didn't. Lame plot, very little charm, even for someone who likes animal movies. Kids might like it.
Mean Girls comedy, PG13
fritz B	Tina Fey's clever script really makes the difference between this movie and your average teen/high school flick. The humor is more for adults than teens, but no particularly dangerous themes. I expect all misfits to enjoy it. Kind of like 'Heathers', perhaps a bit tamer.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 action, R
fritz B	Come on, guys. It was like Rambo meets... well, Quentin Tarantino. It had about two good parts (such as the tiny daughter walking in on her mom involved in a vicious life-or-death catfight) and other than that it was a waste of time. No plot worth mentioning, and totally unbelievable. Just silly violence. I'm not sure I'll even bother to see the sequel. PS: After I saw the second one, I appreciated this one a lot more, and upped my grade. This one didn't make much sense to me alone, but the two should really be appreciated as a whole, in which case they shine.
Big Fish psychological drama, PG13
fritz B	We've all seen the one where the father is dying and the estranged kid learns to love him. But we've never seen Tim Burton do it, with the full force of his psycho visual wit. A seriously strange and somewhat awkward movie that I never quite believed, and wasn't sure I liked until afterward. But it's not the usual stuff, folks, and well worth a look. Totally unique.
Hidalgo action drama, PG13
fritz C	I was very disappointed with this one. It had everything - an exciting true story, memorable characters, top-notch actors, and international culture. But it fell totally flat, a complete Hollywood victim. I didn't buy any of it, it was just thin and shallow. The cinematography was good, but not enough to redeem the poor execution. Rated PG13 for no reason worth worrying about.
13 going on 30 kids drama, PG13
fritz D	The thirteen-year-old girl wants to be 30. Suddenly, she is (magic dust was the culprit, I'm pretty sure) - except she can't remember the time in between. Of course she learns her lesson in the end. Might be good if you're 13.
Intolerable Cruelty drama, PG13
fritz C	Love and tricks, tricky loves and lovey tricks, prenups and passion set the stage for this psuedo-legal battle-of-the-sexes drama. Lawyers wouldn't tolerate the shoddy law, but the rest of us will be entertained if we don't expect too much. Nothing too surprising, but a bit of good humor and slight intrigue. PG-13 for marital situations.
50 First Dates comedy drama, PG13
fritz B	Better than expected. Unbelievable but amusing tale about a girl who forgets everything every day (a terrible accident, you know...) and the guy who falls in love with her and has to rekindle their feelings every day. Worth a look on a day you're not feeling too serious. PG-13 for some juvenile humor and people going to bed together.
Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl action drama, PG13
fritz B	Don't expect anything too meaningful, but have a swashbucklin' good time. Good fun and action, Johnny Depp delivers a knockout performance as the lovable anti-hero, and some fun references to the memorable Disneyland ride. Nothing to harm the kiddies except scary ghouls.
Love Actually comedy drama romance, R
fritz B	I'm sure this movie will find itself quite comfortably wedged between "A Christmas Story" and "Princess Bride" on the family video shelf. It's a quite funny, touching, and clever tale of a dozen or so interconnected people involved in some love situations. Anyone not completely heartless will enjoy it, have a laugh, and maybe learn something about love, if they don't know everything about it already. However, it earns its R in nudity and adult situations, and isn't appropriate for children or young teens.
Spellbound documentary comedy drama, G
fritz D	I heard a lot of good things about this spelling bee documentary. It features interviews with the contestants and their families before the bee, and then follows the... um... action. There are a few funny moments (mostly the rather strange real characters involved), but the rest is totally slow and pointless.
Bukowski: Born into This documentary, R
fritz A	A must-see for anyone with any interest in Charles Bukowski, a very original and influential 20th-century writer. For you non-fans, it might be a little less compulsory, but it's a great documentary and a very entertaining movie nonetheless. A great picture of his life and character, with lots of personal footage, and like Bukowski, painfully honest. I don't think it's rated, but would probably be R for strong language and coarse conversation.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban kids drama, PG
fritz B	I didn't expect much from this movie, and I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a lot better than the first two. It suffers from some of the same weaknesses - swiss cheese plot and cardboard cutout characters - but a little less so. A few inventions are fun, and the visual effects are world-class. PG13 for intensity and scariness, might be too scary for the little ones.
School of Rock kids comedy, PG13
fritz D	An absurd movie about a no-good wanna-be Rocker who happens into a substitute teaching gig at a high-falutin' preparatory school, happens upon immensely talented kids, and finds his calling in teaching them how to Rock. Of course everybody freaks out until they see the show, and then of course they Rock too. The one shining point was Joan Cusak's performance as the wound-up-tight principal. I think the kids might enjoy it, and there's nothing there to harm them, but for adults, it's a complete waste of time.
New York Minute kids comedy drama, PG13
fritz D	Once again, Mary-Kate and Ashley Oleson prove that they are the twin talents of our time. In this stunning and poignant tale, they wrestle with some of the deepest philosophical issues involved in being the twin daughters of Loveline's Doctor Drew. I laughed, I cried, somehow I stayed through the whole thing. Might be good for the intended audience. Safe for the young ones.
Rat Race action comedy, PG13
fritz C	Very mediocre comedy about a handful of people randomly chosen to participate in a race across the country to win a lot of money. Extremely silly and cheap humor, although if you've never seen a whole cross-country bus full of Lucille Ball lookalikes simultanously whine in signature fashion, don't miss it. PG-13 for mild sex references and juvenile humor.
Adam's Rib foreign drama, PG
fritz B	A surprisingly entertaining story about a 'family' of Russians, consisting of about three generations of women. About their lives and troubles in Russian culture, their crowded apartment, and mostly their men. I didn't think I would like it, but I found it compelling, and a bit tense. Very well composed, and with some awkward humorous bits. In Russian with English subtitles. No vices except adult situations.
Touching the Void action documentary drama, PG
fritz B	This movie stopped just short of being really awesome. It is a sort of docu-drama (a true story, mixing interviews of the actual people with dramatizations of their stories) about two guys involved in a near-death mountain-climbing accident. Is had everything it needs - an excellent and very dramatic story, well enacted - but lacks a little something in developing the characters and making the story tense.
Sinbad animated kids drama, PG
fritz C	Pretty much stock-in-trade of Disney animation talent. Not very compelling plot or characters. Even the dog was disappointing. Animation is all it has going for it, although the backdrops were pretty spectacular and I particularly enjoyed the shifting sands scene. I was glad I didn't have to hear Phil Collins or Bryan Adams.
Freaky Friday comedy drama, PG
fritz C	Hasn't this been done before? The girl and the mom don't understand each other, so a miracle forces them to switch bodies. Then they have to play each other's roles for a while. I'd like to say it has its moments, but I really didn't notice any. Might be fun for teens. PG for teenage romance and marriage innuendo, nothing to worry about.
Modern Times classic comedy, ?
fritz B	Classic Charlie Chaplin semi-silent movie from 1936. Charlie is a factory worker in a sarcastically high-paced assembly-line setting where he can't help but getting himself in all sorts of trouble. Later he meets the pretty heroine and they try to make a dignified life together (fat chance). Really funny and quite charming. No reason for rating.
Pianist, The war history drama, R
fritz B	I agree that is was overrated (I'm hesitant to give it a B). And that's coming from a fan of both war movies and pianists. Still better than average, and has something to say, but lacking some depth to put it over the top.
Real Women Have Curves drama, PG13
fritz C	A sort of coming-of age drama about a slightly pudgy girl growing up in the Spanish-speaking Los Angeles Latino subculture. She struggles with issues of attractiveness, weight, education, factory work, family. I didn't like it, but perhaps it's just my gender that's wrong. PG-13 for showing women in rather large bras and sexual situations.
Y Tu Mama Tambien foreign psychological drama, R
fritz A	A strange, sexual, psychological, morally ambiguous, and surprisingly deep Mexican story about two older-teenage boys who happen into a trip to the beach with an attractive woman who goes with them to get away from her now-estranged, cheating husband. Very adult themes, although not in a crass way, and surprises all the way along. Spanish, subtitled. IMDB
Baraka art documentary, ?
fritz B	Sort of a still-life documentary, a few hours of really cool things to look at. Big, small, sped up, slowed down, caught in action. Things you never thought you'd see. Interwoven themes of compare and contrast. I did find some points striking, but it seems mostly due to my own interpretations of the subject matter. No words, some sound from the scenes, but mostly sort of ambient music. If you're not too easily bored, I think you will see some things that will interest you. IMDB No need for rating.
Lord of the Rings:The Return of the King, The action drama, PG13
fritz A	What needs to be said? It's the standard by which all future movies will be judged.
Triplets of Belleville, The foreign animated comedy, ?
fritz A	A very bizarre and fun cartoon. Classic cartooning where everything is exaggerated and anything can happen (of course a dog can double as a spare tire - why not?). It's in French, but translation isn't necessary since there's almost no dialog. But it doesn't need words to be funny. It follows the story of this old woman and her bicycling son, who is kidnapped for some reason and she must find him. She is aided by their faithful dog and some aging triplet lounge singers. But what about the square-shouldered (and I mean it) mob guys? It's a riot. If you have any soft spot for funny cartoons, don't miss it. It's not rated, but it would be PG or so for treating frogs roughly. No other vices.
Est-Ouest (East-West) foreign drama, ?
fritz B	An excellent and very dramatic mixed-culture story about a Russian man and his French wife who return to Russia after WW2. They are promised amnesty and opportunity, but treated as traitors on their arrival, unexpectedly only a hair's breadth from execution or imprisonment for treason. They want to escape to the Western world, especially the French woman, but can hardly think the thought without being betrayed. If you can tolerate subtitles you won't be disappointed.
Anger Management comedy, PG13
fritz C	A somewhat funny movie about a guy (Adam Sandler) who fumbles his way into being accused of having an anger problem, which must be treated in a most unusual way by Jack Nicholson, who all along appears to have serious anger issues. Not a classic, but I was amused, especially by the situations in which pathologically passive Sandler manages to get himself into anger trouble. Stretches believability somewhat, and attempts to resolve it in the end without particular success. Rated PG-13 for adult situations.
About Schmidt drama, R
fritz C	Not my type. A very serious movie about a man going through a sort of near-end-of-life crisis and rediscovery. Of course Nicholson gives a stellar performance as the old guy. But it's just sort of sad and pointless. R for showing Kathy Bates topless, which seems appropriate.
Matrix Revolutions action drama, R
fritz B	This movie could only be regarded as mediocre in reference to the first two groundbreaking Matrix movies. I thought it was excellent - very exciting and suspenseful, and lots of very fun things to look at. Thousands upon thousands of robots and huge machines. Even the ending was good, although it was arguably necessary to suspend believability long ago. Rated R for some reason I'm not sure. Perhaps profanity, a little violence.
Bowling for Columbine documentary comedy, PG13
fritz A	Award-winning documentary from favorite corporate rabble-rouser Michael Moore. In his own inimitable way, Michael explores American guns, gun ownership, and gun violence. His way is slightly bumbling, curious, honest, fearless, and always entertaining. A must-see, regardless of your position on guns or gun laws. Whether he makes any real point remains in question, but that's not his objective. It's a great movie. I own it on DVD.
Run Lola Run foreign art action drama, R
fritz B	A German film that explores how slight changes in a situation affect the outcome. Rather head-twisting and very dramatic. Very cool techno soundtrack. Rated R for excessive running, I guess, or maybe a little violence. I own it on DVD.
Memento art action mystery drama, R
fritz A	One of my favorite movies of all time, mainly for its clever assembly. It follows the story of a man who can't make new memories, so he never remembers what just happened. The story is told in reverse, much in the same way as he fails to remember it. Lots of drama, and it certainly keeps you guessing until the end. R for violence, language. I own it on DVD.
Three Kings action comedy drama, R
fritz A	An excellent movie. Dramatic, exciting, serious, and yet very cunningly and ironically funny, from the very first scene. It takes place in the end of the first Iraq war, and follows a handful of soldiers who set out on a mission to find some lost Iraqi gold. Rated R for one crude sex situation, war violence, gratuitous swearing. Stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube. I own it on DVD if you want to borrow it.

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