A SWEET BUT DEVILISH DOG!

Movie: Marley and Me
Jan's Rating: 7
Time: 2 hours 3 minutes

Jan's Opinion: I had read the book but I think those of us who haven't read the book know the storyline of this movie. John Grogan (Owen Wilson) and his wife (Jennifer Aniston) adopt a loveable Labrador Retriever named Marley, but Marley refused to be trained not to chew up the furniture and not to poop in the ocean where people swim. This is a true story and even though I knew Marley died in the end, I cried when she died. I do not usually cry in movies but this one got to me. Cousin Bonnie cried too but my grandson played "the man" and didn't cry. I have to say, I can't imagine anyone playing these parts better than Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. However, here is what is bothering me.......... What does Jennifer see in John (what's his face) that she has been dating??? He never smiles, is not particularly good looking, and has no personality. On the other hand, she and Owen make a darling couple and Owen is available! Someone needs to have a talk with her!!

JAMES BOND HAS ANOTHER HIT!

Title: Quantum of Solace
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 1 hour 46 minutes

Jan's Opinion: This time Daniel Craig plays James Bond and I have to admit, he's a very sexy guy! My favorite James Bond is Sean Connery but Daniel Craig held is own. I went with Dave, my hubby, and another couple and we all enjoyed it. In this movie, James Bond is out to avenge the death of Vasper Lynd, which is where "Casino Royale" left off, the last James Bond movie. There is lots of action is this one which will keep you riveted to your seats.

SORRY, JUST NOT VERY FUNNY....

Title: Yes Man
Jan's Rating: 4
Time: 1 hr. 44 minutes

Jan's Opinion: To begin with, I am not a Jim Carrey fan but my grandson wanted to see this movie so I took him and guess what........... I am still not a Jim Carrey fan! He wasn't as obnoxious in this movie but it certainly wasn't worth the $7.25 for each of us I paid for a matinee. My grandson said he liked it but I didn't hear him laugh too many times. Plus there were sexual references I would rather he not have heard, so shame on Grandma for taking him, but I didn't know they would be talking about the "size of dicks" or "masturbation" when it was rated PG-13. Unless you're a big Jim Carrey fan, save your money and don't go to this one.

HARVEY MILK IS QUITE A GUY

Title: Milk
Jan's Rating: 7
Time: 2 hrs. 8 mins.

Jan's opinion: Cousin Bonnie and I went to see "Milk" today and frankly it did not deserve the "A" rating the Cincinnati Enquirer gave it. Sean Penn does an Oscar-deserving performance as Harvey Milk, who becomes the first openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors who was assassinated 11 months later. The movie was a lot like a documentary and half of it was old news film coverage which was shot at the time of the riots when Harvey Milk was standing up for gay rights. It was okay, but not one I'd want to see again.

CUTE CHRISTMAS MOVIE

Title: FOUR CHRISTMASES
Jan's Rating: 7
Time: l hour 28 minutes

Jan's Opinion: I knew this wasn't going to be an Oscar winner and it was just what I expected, a light and funny Christmas movie. My friend Laura and I felt the same way and both enjoyed it. Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn are an adorable couple who go on vacation every Christmas instead of spending it with their families, which you can understand if you see the movie. However, this year the airport is fogged in and they get caught at the airport by a TV news reporter who interviews them, their parents see the interview, call them on their cell phones, and they are forced to stay home and spend Christmas with their families. It did give us a few laughs and we were happy we had gone to see it.

RACHEL DOES FINALLY GET MARRIED

Movie: Rachel Getting Married
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 114 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I had heard nothing about this movie except Anne Hathaway gives an excellent performance, so I thought it would be a fun-loving, happy, girl-gets-married movie. This was definitely not the case. My friend Laura and I were in Asheville, NC for the weekend, had a couple of hours to kill, so saw the movie Saturday afternoon. The acting in this movie was outstanding, especially by Anne Hathaway, so I expect to hear Oscar buzz next year. Anne plays the part of Kim, who has been in drug rehab for 9 months and gets out for the weekend to see her sister Rachel get married. This family is so dysfunctional that I'm surprised she made it through the weekend without drugs. I'm not an addict and I think I would have had to pop a pill to get through it. The theater was completely quiet because people were so engrossed in the story that no one was making a sound. We both enjoyed it and it is one of those movies that you think about after you leave the theater. I highly recommend it but take a couple of tissues.....

NICOLE KIDMAN IS A GOOD "SHIELA"

Movie: Australia
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 155 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Cousin Bonnie and I went to see Australia today and both agreed it was too long. Two hours would have been perfect. The first half of the movie kind of dragged along but the second half was more exciting and went faster. Nicole Kidman did an excellent job of acting, as always, and Hugh Jackman was better in the second half of the movie. You could certainly classify him as "eye candy"! Brandon Walters should definitely get an Oscar for his stellar performance. Nicole Kidman arrives in Australia (from England) as a very stuffy aristocrat but she soon becomes tamed by circumstances and the environment. It was a beautiful wartime love story, just a bit too long.

WHAT A SWEET DOG!

Movie: Bolt
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 96 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: "Bolt" is a TV super-hero dog in Hollywood who really believes he has magic powers until he accidentally gets shipped in a crate to New York. From there he makes friends with a cat and a hampster and together they find their way to California. The story is filled with excitement, funny parts, sad parts, and tenderness. What more could you ask for in a movie? I took my 10-year old grandson and his 9-year old friend and they both loved it.

GEORGE CLOONEY IS A HUNK!

Title: Leatherheads
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 1 hr. 54 mins.

Jan's Opinion: I didn't get to see this one when it was playing at the theaters so hubby Dave and I rented it last night and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. George Clooney is a charmer, off and on the screen. He plays Dodge Connelly, Captain of a struggling pro-football team in the Twenties, before there were "rules" on the football field. Renee Zellweger, one of my favorite actresses, plays a feisty reporter who is taken in by George's charm. Aren't we all? Loved it!

TAKE SOME TISSUES FOR THIS ONE!

Movie: The Changeling
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 140 Minutes

Jan's Rating: This true story, which takes place from 1928 to 1935, stars Angelina Jolie as a Mother whose 9-yr. old son goes missing while she is at work. The police are crooked and they need some good publicity for a change so they return a little boy and insist it is her missing son. She tells them it is not her son so they put her through pure Hell because she won't tell the public that the wonderful police department found her little boy. John Malkovich finally enters the picture as a minister of sorts on the radio. He knows the police department is corrupt and decides to help her. Though sad, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, as did cousin Bonnie, and we predict Angelina and John will be nominated for an Oscar for their acting in this movie.

THE "W" IS NOT FOR WISE

Movie: "W"
Jan's Rating: 7
Time: 129 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Cousin Bonnie and I saw this movie together and we both enjoyed it and learned something about George W. Bush, but it certainly wasn't the best movie we've seen. There was excellent acting by Josh Brolin as George W. Bush, and Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Chaney. The movie showed George in his younger wild days and how he became addicted to alcohol. After he met Laura, she of course had a good effect on him and he quit drinking and became a Born Again Christian. He certainly wasn't the smartest or wisest President we have had. What I learned in the movie is that his Dad is not such a nice guy after all. He always preferred his son Jeb, constantly praised him and bragged about him but always found fault with George. After seeing the movie, you can understand why George W. made some of the bad choices that he made. Too bad the country had to suffer because of it.

IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT THE BEES

Movie: Secret Life of Bees
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 110 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I saw this movie with Cousin Bonnie and we both loved it. She had already read the book and said she enjoyed both, the book and the movie. Dakota Fanning finds that she isn't loved by her Father and since her Mother is dead, she runs away from home, taking the black housekeeper with her (played by Jennifer Hudson). They move in with a black family who raises bees and sells the honey. Queen Latifah is the head of the house and her two sisters are played by Alicia Keyes and Sophie Okonedo (who gives an Oscar-worthy performance). You may want to take a hankie with you - I didn't cry but Cousin Bonnie did.

CHIHUAHUAS ARE PRETTY SMART

Movie: Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Jan's Rating: 6-1/2
Time: 91 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: If you liked the movie Homeward Bound, you will like Beverly Hills Chihuahua. I took my grandson and we both liked it and it did give us a few laughs. A very spoiled chihuahua who wears a diamond collar, ends up in Mexico and lost. Her name is Chloe and Drew Barrymore does the voice of Chloe. If you have kids, take them, they will enjoy it too.

RENDITION IS DEEP AND DARK

Movie: Rendition
Jan's Rating: 7
Time: 2 hrs.

Jan's Opinion: I didn't get to see this movie when it was at the theater so hubby and I finally rented it last night. For those of us who live normal uncomplicated lives, it is hard to believe that conditions like this really exist, that somewhere in the world, someone is being tortured right now. I don't even like knowing things like this go on so, though it was a good movie, it was an unsetting one to watch. Reese Witherspoon plays the wife of a man who mysteriously vanishes from an overseas flight. Meryl Streep plays the part of the CIA bitch who knows where Reese's husband is and knows that he is being tortured. Jake Gyllenhaal is a CIA novice who has seen Reese's husband being tortured and when he can't stand watching it anymore, he helps the man escape. At least it had a good ending. I probably wouldn't have told you this much but assume you have already seen it.

SLEEPING WITH RICHARD GERE.......

Movie: Nights in Rodanthe
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 97 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: OK, who wouldn't want to have an affair with Richard Gere? Yes, even I dream about it. He is looking pretty good for 59 years old. I saw this movie with my Sex in the City girlfriend and I had to give her the buttery napkins from my popcorn to wipe her eyes. Yes, it's a tear jerker, but would probably still be worth it to spend the weekend with Richard Gere. Of course the guys are probably saying they would like to spend the weekend with Richard Gere's co-star, Diane Lane, and I could understand that too. Nights in Rodanthe (North Carolina) is a beautiful love story. I don't want to tell you why Richard Gere checks into this hotel on the beach because it might ruin the story for you, so just go see it and tell me what you think.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE

Movie: The Lucky Ones
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 115 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Cousin Bonnie, my movie buddy, got free tickets to a sneak preview of the movie "The Lucky Ones", which we went to see last night. It stars Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Pena as three soldiers on a 30-day leave from Iraq who are thrown together by fate and are trying to get to their respective homes in the United States - Tim to his wife and son - Rachel to a dead soldier's family, and Michael to his fiance. What happens along the way is both sad and hilarious. Rachel McAdams' personality reminds me a lot of Ellen Page (Juno) and she is the one who makes this movie worth seeing. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

NOTHING BETTER THAN BEST FRIENDS!

Movie: The Women
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 114 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: How can a movie be bad when you have Meg Ryan, Annette Benning, Bette Midler, Debra Messing, Debi Mazar and Jada Pinkett Smith starring in a movie? My sassy Sex in the City girlfriend went with me to see this one and we loved it. We thought it was interesting that the theater was half-filled, all women, and one man by himself! We figured he was either a critic or a perp. Of course the Enquirer gave this movie a "C-" but then they never give chick flicks a good rating. Anyway, it's a must-see for women of all ages who have close girlfriends. Meg Ryan's wealthy husband has an affair with the "spritzer lady" at Sax, and thus ensues Meg's plan to get even (with the help of her friends). Oh yes, her Mother is played by Candace Bergen and her housekeeper is played by Cloris Leachman. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

SHOULD HAVE STOPPED WITH HAMLET 1

Movie: Hamlet 2
Jan's Rating: 3
Time: 92 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: ...........maybe I'm getting too old??? Maybe the younger artsy generation would enjoy this movie, but cousin Bonnie and I went to see it and we were both disappointed. We didn't think it was funny, and we mainly went to see it because Amy Poehler was in it and since she was so funny in "Baby Mama", we were looking forward to more of her humor. However, she has a small role in the movie which doesn't start until halfway through, and then she isn't funny, just vulgar. We were both sorry we wasted our money on this one. Good thing we enjoy each other's company.........and the popcorn was good. Yes daughter, I had the popcorn and I don't feel guilty!

LOVED THIS "G" RATED MOVIE!

Movie: Kit Kitridge, An American Girl
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 100 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Since I am a big Abigail Breslin fan, I went to this G-rated movie with cousin Bonnie and we both loved it. Julia Ormond plays Abigail's Mother and Chris O'Donnell plays her Father. The movie takes place during the depression era and you see what people went through to save their homes and just find money for food. The movie takes place in Cincinnati and Abigail wants to write articles for the Cincinnati Register and have them published. She doesn't give up her dream. Loved the movie!

GOOD MOVIE TO ENCOURAGE KIDS....

Movie: The Longshots
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 94 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: This is a true story of Jasmine Plummer who, at age 11, became the first female to play in a Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history. What a great story to encourage children that if they want to do something bad enough, it is possible. Ice Cube plays Jasmine's uncle, a has-been football player, who sees that Jasmine has a special talent and can really throw a football, so he starts working with her and encouraging her, and as an audience, you will be rooting for her also. Great movie. My grandson and I both loved it.

IF YOU LIKE AN EXCITING MOVIE.........

Movie: Journey to the Center of the Earth (in 3D)
Jan's Rating: 10
Time: 93 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I have to be honest......I really did not want to see this movie but my Grandson wanted to see it and I'm so glad he talked me into it! We both rated this movie a "10" for being scarey and exciting. I think that seeing the movie in 3D is what made it seem so real. I thought it would be a Star Wars type movie but it wasn't at all. It felt very real, and every time I screamed my Grandson would say "Grandma, it's just a movie". This movie is not for the faint of heart. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

YOU GOTTA LOVE CHIMPS!

Movie: Space Chimps
Jan's Rating: 7
Time: 81 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: My grandson and I both enjoyed the movie, though I gave it a rating of "6" and he gave it an "8", so I compromised and gave it a "7". Ham III is the grandson of the first chimp in space but he doesn't think he's smart enough to go into space so he joins a circus. However, he is recruited against his will to go into space and ends up a hero. It certainly had more action than the movie "Wall-E". Can you tell I really didn't like that movie?

GOTHAM CITY SAVED AGAIN BY BATMAN!

Movie: The Dark Knight
Jan's Rating: 9 (though my 10-year old grandson rated it a 10)
Time: 152 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: First of all I have to tell you that this is not a movie I would go see on my own but my grandson wanted to see it so I took him and thoroughly enjoyed it. Batman is in love and would like to give up his exciting life and just be Bruce Wayne, but the Joker has other plans for him. Honestly, the best part of the movie is the acting by the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. At first I scoffed at the idea that he should get an academy award for his role as the Joker just because he had died, but now that I've seen the movie, I agree that he definitely deserves it. What a performance! Hopefully, Heath is looking down from above and and smiling because everyone is enjoying his last performance.

MY VANTAGE POINT WAS BORING

Movie: Vantage Point
Jan's Rating: 4 (I'm having a good day)
Time: 90 Minutes (60 minutes too long)

Jan's Opinion: I guess you already got the hint that I didn't like this movie. It has great stars: Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and William Hirt, so I thought it would be good. Well, I was bored out of my mind! It starts with the President of the United States getting shot at a summit in Spain, only it was really a stand-in, not the real President. Of course 8 people saw this happen from a different "vantage point", so the movie showed each "vantage point" from each person. Consequently, you are seeing the same thing played over and over - boring, boring, boring! My advice is to not waste the $4.99 to rent it, it just isn't worth a good evening of your time. Watching a rerun of MASH would have been much more enjoyable.

ABBA Must be Very Proud

Movie: Mamma Mia!
Time: 108 Minutes
Jan's Rating: 10

Jan's Opinion: I LOVED this movie! The music just makes you feel good from beginning to end. Since I saw the play on Broadway when I went to New York in March, I was especially anxious to see the movie. And it shows once again just how important our close friends are. I don't understand why The Cincinnati Enquirer gave it a "C" rating and called it a "massive mess"! OK, Pierce Brosnan doesn't have a Broadway singing voice, I'll give you that, but he doesn't need one; any woman would be happy just watching him act. You could tell that Meryl Streep, my favorite actress, was having the time of her life in this movie and she deserves an Academy Award. I also love Christine Baranski and she was also great. A new face for me was Julie Walters, who played one of Meryl's best friends. I also loved her. She is the type person I would choose for a BFF. (I may be old but I know the lingo.....) As you can tell, I loved everything and everyone in the movie and hope to see it again.

NOTHING SMART ABOUT THIS MOVIE!

Movie: Get Smart
Jan's Rating: 3
Time: 111 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Some of you may remember a TV series called Get Smart from back in the 60's. Well, it wasn't very funny back then so why would anyone decide to bring the series back and make it into a movie?? Are writers that desperate for material? Steve Carell plays the role of Agent 86 (Don Adams' role on TV) and Anne Hathaway plays his partner, Agent 99, who was played by Barbara Feldon on TV. They both did a good job considering the material they had to work with. My advice to you is to save your money and skip this one.

THERE ARE INDIAN BIKES?

Movie: The World's Fastest Indian
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 127 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: We didn't see this movie when it was out in the theaters and our daughter Dyan kept telling us to rent it but I couldn't find it for a long time, then yesterday was at Block Busters and someone took the time to help me look and they had one copy so of course I rented it. This was such a sweet and wonderful movie that it just made you feel good. It is taken from a true story in the late 1960's in New Zealand. Anthony Hopkins plays the role of "Burt", who owns a classic Indian Scout Motorcycle that he has spent years perfecting. He wants to race it in the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and the story is about what it took for him to get there and then get in the race. Loved it!

BORING WALL-E

Movie: Wall-E
Jan's Rating: 3
Time: 97 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Wall-E is the last robot on earth. He finds Eve, another robot, and they fall in love. Bla bla bla. I'm sorry folks, but this is the most boring movie I've seen in a long time. I took my 10-year old grandson and he enjoyed it, as did his friend, but my friend and I kept dozing off. I don't know how it got an "A-" rating and I doubt that toddlers would even understand it. Sorry we didn't go see Get Smart, which got a bad rating from the critics. I'm sure it would have been more entertaining.

DON'T MAKE THE BIG GREEN GUY MAD!

Movie: The Incredible Hulk
Jan's Rating: 8
Time: 114 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: My grandson and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and glad to see the Incredible Hulk back again. Edward Norton (unknown to me) plays the hulk this time and does an outstanding job. Liv Tyler plays his girlfriend who understands his condition and tries to help him. William Hirt plays Liv's father. It's an exciting movie and we're sure you will like it too!

JERSEY BOYS - THE MUSICAL

Play: Jersey Boys
Location: Aronoff Center
Times: 2-1/2 hrs. with 15 minute intermission
Jan's Rating: 10

Jan's Opinion:

So far, this blog has been dedicated to movies only, but last weekend, my husband and I went to see Jersey Boys at the Aronoff Center and my husband thought it would be a good idea to add it to my blog. We both enjoyed this musical very much. It's the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, their low times and their triumphs. You would have to be dead not to enoy the music and the songs brought back a lot of memories for us. I think everyone, young and old, would enjoy this musical.

BEARS CAN DO MARTIAL-ARTS TOO

Movie: Kung Fu Panda
Jan's Rating: 6
Time: 88 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I took my grandson to see this movie and he gave it a "7" rating, I gave it a "6", but then it's not my kind of movie. Jack Black is the voice of the Panda who has to learn martial-arts and becomes a hero when he saves his mentor.

A FUN RACE CAR MOVIE

Movie: Speed Racer
Jan's Rating: 6
Time: 129 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Emile Hirsch plays the part of Speed Racer; yes, Racer is his family's last name. Speed's father is played by John Goodman and his Mother is played by Susan Sarandon. My grandson and I saw this movie today and we both liked it. It was funny and exciting, and we especially liked Speed's younger brother and the chimp that was part of their family. Speed Racer tries to salvage his family's good name by racing against the bad guys.

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT OUR GIRLFRIENDS?!

Movie: Sex and the City
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 142 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: First of all, I must say that I never watched this show when it was on TV, but I do like the actresses in the movie and figured if nothing else, I would enjoy the fashion show. To my pleasant surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie! It just reinforced my belief that girls need girlfriends to share their lives with, and these four certainly shared just about everything. There were some steamy sex scenes in the movie and I enjoyed those too! Sorry daughters. ;-)Sara Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall, and Kristin Davis each shine in their individual roles. This movie should be a "must see" for all gals who share secrets with their gal friends.

IF YOU LIKE HELEN HUNT, SEE THIS MOVIE....

Movie: Then She Found Me
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 100 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I really liked this movie but it ended very abruptly. It was like reading a really good book and someone rips out the last chapter, leaving just the ending on the last page. Another 10 minutes to this movie and it would have deserved a "10". Helen Hunt is closing in on 40 and wants a baby. Sound familiar? Another Baby Mama I wondered? However, this movie is a little different. Helen marries Matthew Broderick but that doesn't last long so they separate and she meets hunk Colin Firth. Your imagination can take it from there. Bette Midler plays an interesting role in the movie also. In fact, I felt the acting in each role was excellent.

AMY POEHLER IS A HOOT!

Movie: Baby Mama
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 96 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Tina Fey has a high corporate position, is 37 years old, not married, and decides she wants to have a baby but her doctor tells her her chances are one in a million, so she hires Amy Poehler to carry her baby. There are a lot of laughs in this movie, and Amy Poehler is the reason for most of them. Her expressions are priceless. Steve Martin plays Tina Fey's boss, and Greg Kineer (spelled wrong?) has a great role but I'll let you see the movie and find out what role he plays. Cousin Bonnie and I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

FORGETTING THIS MOVIE WILL BE EASY

Movie: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Jan's Rating: 5
Time: 111 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Sorry, but I was really disappointed in this movie - kind of cute but no real substance. Lots of sex including frontal male nudity. Jason Segal gets dumped by his girlfriend, does a lot of crying, goes to Hawaii to try to forget her and ends up at the same resort as she and her new boyfriend so he cries some more...... I will easily forget this movie.

THEY OWNED THE DAYTIME TOO.....

Movie: We Own the Night
Jan's Rating: 5
Time: 2 Hours

Jan's Opinion: Robert Duvall plays a police chief and he has 2 sons - Mark Wahlberg who is also a policeman, and Joaquin Phoenix who has a more "colorful" life. In short, Duvall and Wahlberg are after a big-time drug lord who hangs out in Phoenix's nightclub, and when they go to the club to arrest him, it gets very violent from there on. It wasn't one of my favorites but not one of the worst movies I've seen either. My husband seemed to like it OK and would probably give it a 6 rating.

SIMPLE BUT APPLICABLE TITLE

Movie: Smart People
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 90 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: The Enquirer did not give this movie a very good rating but I really liked it. It was light, funny, romantic, and didn't tax my brain, so what was there not to like? I don't know how disheveled Dennis Quaid attracted his knockout doctor, Sarah Jessica Parker, but when there is chemistry between two people, it just happens. Quaid's daughter, Ellen Page (from Juno) gives another outstanding performance. What a good little actress she is! Also, I especially liked the role of Quaid's "adopted brother". Though "Smart People" might not be worthy of an Oscar, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

LIVING ON AN ISLAND MIGHT BE FUN!

Movie: Nim's Island
Jan's Rating: 8-1/2
Time: 95 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I knew I would love this movie! With a cast like Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin, how could it be bad? Nim (played by Abigail Breslin) and her Dad live alone on an island and her only friends are a seal, an iguana and a pelican. Nim loves to read adventure books, especially by an author named Alex (Jodie Foster). When Nim's Dad doesn't come home from a 2-day outing, Nim contacts Alex via e-mail and when Alex hears that Nim is on the island alone and has a bad cut on her leg, she decides to go to the island to help. I continue to be in awe of Abigail Breslin's excellent acting ability for a young girl 11 years old. She is also growing up to be a very beautiful young lady.

I'VE SEEN A LOT FATTER!

Movie: Run Fat Boy Run
Jan's Rating: 6
Time: 100 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I don't know where this movie got its name because the guy was out of shape from no exercise but certainly not fat. Anyway, it was a cute movie but not a memorable one. Simon Pegg leaves his pregnant fiance at the altar only to realize 5 years later that he made a terrible mistake and really does love the woman (Thandie Newton), so he procedes to try to get her back by running in a marathon to prove to her that he can finish something that he has started.

...AND YOU THOUGHT THE MAFIA WAS BAD?

Movie: American Gangster
Jan's Rating: 6
Time: 2 Hrs. 57 Mins.

Jan's Opinion: I didn't get to see this movie when it was out in the theaters so my husband and I rented it last night. May I start out by saying this might have been a better movie done in 2 hours instead of 3 hours. Denzel Washington is having pure heroine and cocaine sent over from Asia and is selling it on the streets for less than the Mafia is selling their drugs which are not pure, but mixed, so of course this does not make the Mafia very happy. Russell Crowe plays an honest cop and when he finds out about Denzel, he makes it his mission to take him down. We enjoyed the movie but it certainly was not one of our favorites.

YOU CAN BE "OVERLY" PROTECTIVE......

Movie: College Road Trip
Jan's Rating: 6-1/2
Time: 83 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: The Enquirer gave this movie a rating of D-, but it was definitely better than that. I seldom agree with the critics anyway. Martin Lawrence is the overly-protective father who wants his daughter to go to college 40 miles from home, but of course she chooses one that is 700 miles away, so they set off on a road trip to check out Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Though it was a miserable trip for father and daughter, it gave the audience quite a few laughs. Then enters Donny Osmond who also plays a father taking his daughter to check out colleges, and I don't know who had the most obnoxious role, father or daughter. I took my grandson to see this movie and he rated it a "10" but I think that's stretching it a bit.

"NO COUNTRY....." A DISAPPOINTMENT

Movie: No Country for Old Men
Jan's Rating: 6
Time: 122 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: My husband and I went to see this movie yesterday and we're still trying to figure out why this movie got an Oscar for best movie of the year. Did we miss something? I assume there's going to be a sequel since the bad guy is still loose. I will give them an "A" for not using the "F" word in every sentence. The movie was very violent-----maybe that's what we give Oscars for these days. Javier Bardem (the bad guy) won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in this movie. I don't get that either because I didn't see the expression change on his face the whole movie. Josh Brolin had the best role and should have won Best Supporting Actor. At least he acted! Tommy Lee Jones had a good role as an aging Texas sheriff, but he was out of his realm chasing this bad guy. I probably would have enjoyed this movie if it hadn't won an Oscar because I kept looking for the reason why, and I never found it.

ABIGAIL BRESLIN CAPTURES MY HEART AGAIN

Movie: Definitely, Maybe
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 111 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I went to see this movie because Abigail Breslin is in it and I think she is a great little actress. Look for her to win an Oscar in the near future. Her Father and Mother are getting a divorce and he goes back to the beginning and tells her how they met, separated and got together again. Her class at school has just explained the facts of life to the children so she has a lot of questions which are difficult for her Father to explain. Starring in the movie, besides Abigail Breslin, are Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Banks and Rachel Weisz.

SPIDERWICK NOT SO SCAREY

Movie: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Rating: 9
Time: 97 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: The Enquirer said this was a scarey movie but I took my 9-year old grandson and though we enjoyed it very much, did not think it was very scarey. A newly separated Mother moves her daughter and twin sons (both boys played by Freddie Highmore of Finding Neverland) from the city to her aunt's house, which is a big run-down mansion in the country that looks haunted. The children discover there are good goblins living in the house and bad goblins who live outside and the bad goblins want a book that is inside the house. It's a fun fantasy movie that all ages should enjoy. Freddie Highmore did an excellent job of playing both twins!

THE SAVAGES ARE DYSFUNCTIONAL BUT GENTLE PEOPLE

Movie: The Savages
Rating: 10
Time: 113 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: I loved this movie, but for people my age, it was also depressing. (Please God, just let me go in my sleep.) Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney, and the man who plays their father, all deserve academy awards for their excellent performances. Philip and Laura play estranged brother and sister who come together to take care of their elderly father, who has dimentia. You will see heartbreak, love and humor in this story.

A Sad Love Affair

Movie: Atonement
Rating: 8
Time: 2 hrs. 10 mins.

Jan's Opinion: In short, Atonement was a beautiful love story but very sad. Although I was not familiar with any of the actors except Vanessa Redgrave, the acting was very good. This movie switched back and forth between the past and the future, and that was probably the only part of the movie I didn't like.

NICHOLSON & FREEMAN ARE GREAT TOGETHER

Movie: The Bucket List
Rating: 7
Time: 97 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are great in any movie and this one is no exception. The movie is half funny and half sad. Both men are diagnosed with cancer and have less than a year to live. Morgan Freemen is writing a Bucket List (things you want to do before you kick the bucket) and Jack Nicholson adds some things to the list, and since he is very wealthy, suggests they try to do all the things on the list before they die. The two men are great acting together, but the movie does give you pause to think about your own mortality, and that maybe you should do what they did, make up a Bucket List and start doing those things you have always wanted to do.

A MUST-SEE FILM FOR ALL YOU GALS

Movie: PS I Love You
Jan's Rating: 9
Time: 126 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: This movie didn't get very good ratings by the critics (who must be men) but I loved it and think most gals any age will enjoy it. Hillary Swank, an excellent actress in any role, loses her husband, and for a year after his death, he sends her letters telling her things to do, including a trip to Ireland, to help her through her grief. Kathy Bates plays Hillary's domineering Mother but will surprise you in the end. Definitely worth seeing!

JUNO IS A SPECIAL YOUNG LADY

Movie: Juno
Rating: 10
Minutes: 91 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: Ellen Page will certainly be up or an Oscar in her portrayal of "Juno", a 16-year old girl who has sex with her boyfriend one time and ends up pregnant. She decides she's too young to raise a child so goes in search of the perfect couple to adopt her baby. There she finds Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman who she thinks will fill the bill. This movie is funny and heartwarming and I loved every minute of it, including the music.

TOM HANKS NEVER STARS IN A BAD MOVIE

Movie: Charlie Wilson's War
Jan's Rating: 8
Minutes: 97 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: This was a great movie, and a true story. In the '80's, Charlie Wilson, a member of Congress, helped Afghanistan stop the Soviet Union from wiping out their country by providing them with weapons to fight the Russians. Charlie believed whole heartedly in this venture and nothing would stop him from helping Afghanistan. In Charlie's personal life, he was a bit more easy going, loved the women and had few ethics. The funny part of the movie was when he was asked to serve on the Ethics Committee in Washington, DC. Besides Tom Hanks, the movie also stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Julia Roberts so you know it can't be bad. My husband and I both enjoyed the movie and it moved right along, never got boring.

WILL SMITH IS THE LEGEND, NOT THE MOVIE

Movie: I Am Legend
Jan's Rating: 2
Time: 100 Minutes

Jan's Opinion: This movie definitely will not be a legend! Set in current time, Will Smith is a Scientist who stays behind in Manhatten after everyone else has evacuated because of a deadly virus, which Will is immune to. Determined to discover a cure for the virus from his own immune system, he tests virus-infected mutants. Meanwhile, Will and his virus-free dog, Sam, hunt for deer in an otherwise deserted Manhatten. Don't concern yourself with not being able to follow the story line - there isn't one. The best part of the movie is Will Smith's acting, which deserves a 9.