Avatar Sucks

No, really. It does.

OK, well, maybe it doesn't completely and all-encompassingly suck. (All-encompassingly is totally a word, right?) But I turned it on last night as background noise while I was falling asleep, and I realized something-when you're over the awesome effects and the guilty feeling you get for thinking Zoe Saldana is hot even when she's blue, the movie kinda sucks. Of course the effects are great and the production design is beautiful and blah blah blah, but let's be realistic-any reasonably intelligent person with half a billion dollars is capable of hiring incredibly talented people for obscene amounts of money to make their movie pretty. The plot itself? I think South Park got it right-it's Dances with Smurfs.

Moral of this post: if you want to see a story about high-tech outsiders coming in and taking over the natives' land but one of the outsiders learns that the way of the natives is better and decides to fight against his own people to defend their honor, rent Last of the Mohicans instead. The acting is better. (No offense meant to Zoe Saldana, of course.)

-Posted by Colleen

Oscar Predictions

As most of you know, the Oscars are upon us. That's right, folks-Feb 27 is the big day! In honor of this year's Oscars, here's my list of Oscar-winner predictions.

Please note these are only my predictions. I'll try to coerce Matt, the walking film encyclopedia and general manager of our wonderful store, to post his predictions later, which I can assure you will be much more accurate than mine.

Here goes! Looking into my crystal ball, I see that the winners are...

Best Picture
The Social Network, though I think every other film nominated deserves it a lot more. Seriously, what's the big to-do with this movie anyway?

Actor in a Leading Role
James Franco for 127 Hours, though Colin Firth may give him a run for his money.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech-though it would be nice if newcomer John Hawkes were to win for Winter's Bone, but that won't happen.

Actress in a Leading Role
Nathalie Portman for Black Swan. No contest.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Jackie Weaver in Animal Kingdom, though I could be wrong on this one.

Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3, without a doubt. This category was basically created for Pixar. (Oscar trivia-the year Toy Story came out, the Academy knew it deserved an Oscar, but there was no category that was suitable, so they created a "Special Achievement" Oscar. Since then, there has been an Animated Feature Film award.)

Art Direction
This is a tough one, and for me is a bit of a three-way-tie between Inception, Harry Potter, and Alic in Wonderland. But if I had to choose, I guess I'd go with Alice in Wonderland.

Cinematography
It will probably go to Inception, though I think Black Swan is equally deserving.

Costume Design
Alice in Wonderland. When in doubt, go with a Colleen Atwood design.

Directing
This one is REALLY tough, as I think all the directors nominated deserve it equally. But my guess is the award will go to David Fincher for The Social Network.

Documentary Feature
Proooooobably Restrepo, though I could be convinced otherwise.

Documentary Short Subject
Shamefully, I have seen non of these, so I therefore can't have an opinion. (Incidentally, the National Archives downtown is showing all the smaller Oscar-nominated films next week; Feb 23rd-27th is one feature-length documentary per evening; Feb 26th at noon they're showing the live-action short film nominees, Feb 26th at 3:30 they're showing the animated shorts, and Feb 27th at 11:30am they're showing the documentary shorts. I believe the events are free.

Film Editing
Black Swan

Foreign Languague Film
I haven't seen them yet, but going by the buzz, I'm say either Dogtooth or Biutiful.

Makeup
Wolfman

Music (Original Score)
Maybe The King's Speech? I don't have a strong opinion on this one.

Music (Original Song)
"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3. They always win everything.

Short Film (Animated)
I've only seen Night and Day, so I'm going to unfairly go with that one.

Short Film (Live Action)
I haven't seen them. Sorry.

Sound Editing
Definitely Tron: Legacy

Sound Mixing
Inception perhaps?

Visual Effects
Probably Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. They always seem to win that one.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
I'm holding out for Winter's Bone. The underdog should win something!

Writing (Original Screenplay)
Probably The King's Speech, though The Kids Are Alright could sneak up from behind and snatch it.

-Posted by Colleen

10 Movies You Should See In Order to Function in Society

Now, I know everyone has movies that they love. And not everyone loves the classic films that are cultural icons. But in order to be at least coherent in film circles, there are some movies you simply have to see. You don't have to love them, but you should at least be able to say, "Hey, I've seen that!" when someone starts snobbily talking about the final shot of Citizen Kane. So without further ado, here is a list of movies you should probably see in order to talk to film snobs.

1) The Godfather- You can probably skip part 3 if the crime genre isn't your thing, but definitely see The Godfather and The Godfather 2. That way when anyone says "Leave the gun, take the canoli" or talks about the bloody horse head, you'll understand what they're talking about.

2) Taxi Driver-Not only is this film cinematically important, but culturally as well. Remember the whole Jodie-Foster's-fan-tried-to-kill-Reagan-to-impress-her thing? That was because of this movie.

3) Citizen Kane-Now you'll know the secret and dirty meaning behind the term "Rosebuuuuuuuud".

4) The Graduate-I actually kind of hate The Graduate. It's not that it's a bad movie or anything. As movies about sex with your girlfriend's mother go, it's fine. I just don't understand why it's a cultural phenomenon. But, the fact that my professors in film school showed it every...single...semester...that probably means something. If for nothing else, watch it for the great soundtrack. Mrs. Robinson next door will never seem the same after that.

5) Chinatown-I haven't seen this yet. I've been reprimanded many times. Don't make my mistake.

6) Planet of the Apes-Not the crappy re-make with an ape Abraham Lincoln. The original, true-blue, Charleton Heston overly-acted dramafest. Know it, love it, and try not to look at the DVD cover if you don't know the ending yet, because it gives it away. (I guess that's proof that you should see this movie-so many people have seen it that they put the big reveal right on the cover!)

7) Back the the Future-And not just the first one. Watch all three.

8) Star Wars-I hate Star Wars. I know, I'm un-American. But you should watch it anyway so you can at least recognize the cultural references to it.

9) Psycho-Again, please do yourself a favor and don't watch the remake. It's painful. But the original Janet Leigh flick? Absolutely creeptastic. It's the grandaddy of all horror films, and in my opinion Alfred Hitchcock's greatest achievement (not to belittle his other wonderful films, of course).

10) I had a lot of trouble picking a classic film. Not because there aren't enough good ones, but because there are too many. So, instead of just one, here's a bonus list:
The Jazz Singer-this is the first full-length film with sound. Therefore, definitely a must-see.
Gone With the Wind-I hate Scarlett O'Hara with every fiber of my being, but at least she gets dumped in the end, which makes it worth watching.
The Wizard of Oz-this film was one of the first to use Technicolor in such a way. It's an outstanding technological achievement.
12 Angry Men-Based on a play of the same name, this film presents some of the greatest acting performances in the history of film.
The Apartment-I haven't seen this yet, but I'm told I should.
The Ten Commandments-As Charleton Heston's most iconic film, this one is a must-see.
Lawrence of Arabia-The sweeping cinematography make this one a huge leap forward in technology.

There! Now you can go schmooze with the token annoying film snob who randomly gets invited to dinner parties. And for those of you who rose to the challenge and want to go one step further, here's a quick list of the films you should watch next:

Indiana Jones trilogy
Any James Bond film
Halloween (the original, please)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Fantasia
Toy Story
Titanic
The Sound of Music
Casablanca
Shop Around the Corner
It's a Wonderful Life

Happy watching!

-Posted by Colleen

The Dreaded Day

I don't know about all of you, but I personally hate Valentine's Day. It's not that I'm a bitter single woman who got dumped for a sheep on some Valentine's Day in the past or anything. I'm in a happy relationship with no Valentine's Day-related heartbreak to speak of. But I can't help it. I still hate it. I don't know why. Therefore, instead of the list of happy-couple-movies you were probably expecting, here's a list of good movies to watch on Valentine's Day that have nothing to do with romantic love and everything to do with the other kinds of love in your life. So whether you're bitter and single, coupled and ambivalent, or forgot about Valentine's Day entirely, here's a list of movies to watch this holiday for those of us who aren't the sappy type.

Up
OK, this one starts with a love story, but that's not really what the movie is about. It's about finding relationships beyond romantic love and learning to live with loss. This is probably one of the funniest and most beautiful movies I've ever seen, and it's a great choice to watch with the kids. (Or by yourself-there's no shame in loving kids movies!)

Under the Tuscan Sun
This movie is by far the biggest reason I have a girl-crush on Diane Lane. A recently divorced writer, Fran (Lane) decides on an impulse to move to Tuscany. At first she is miserably lonely, but as she searches for love, she slowly begins to realize all the different kinds of love she already has in her life. The movie is a bit slow, but that hasn't stopped me from watching it about 3 dozen times!

Homeward Bound
What better way to comfort yourself on Valentine's Day than to watch puppies? Two dogs and a cat accidentally get lost, and travel together across mid-America to find their way home. The three would-be rivals grow closer as they learn to help each other and find their owners. Totally cheesy, and totally awesome.

Hachi
Another dog movie for those who prefer to snuggle with an animal rather than a person. Based on a true story, Hachi is about a dog who follows his owner to the train everyday, and comes to meet him every afternoon like clockwork. Suddenly, his master (Richard Gere) dies in an accident. But Hachi won't accept his loss, and goes to the train station to wait every day until the day he dies. This movie is so incredibly sappy, but it's really sweet. Just make sure you've got the tissues handy....

Grumpy Old Men
I know, I recommend this movie all the time. Deal with it.

Hook
The classic sequel to the Peter Pan story, this film stars Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Maggie Smith, and Bob Hoskins. Peter Banning (Williams) is a corporate exec who loves his job more than he loves his family. Or so he thinks, until his kids are kidnapped mysteriously in the night by Captain Hook (Hoffman). It's then that he finds out the mystery of his past-he is Peter Pan! He goes on a quest to save his kids from Neverland, tangling with Lost Boys, Tinkerbell (Roberts) and Smee (Hoskins) along the way. And of course, he learns a tender lesson about family in the end. Blah, blah blah. Whatever. It might be the greatest movie of my childhood.

And finally, one token sappy romantic comedy for those of you out there who aren't curmudgeons:

Bridget Jones' Diary
I know everyone on planet Earth has seen this one, but I picked this one because it's so real. I mean, OK, the chances of any of us having an affair with Hugh Grant and then meeting and falling in love with Colin Firth are slim-to-none. But Bridget (played by Renee Zellwegger) is a real woman. She's got curves, attitude, and is a complete klutz, as most of us are. Great feel-good movie for the awkward woman in all of us.

-Posted by Colleen

Best Actor Alternatives

As all of us who have stepped out into the world in the last 2 weeks know, the Oscar nominees are out! (See further down the blog for a complete list, including which films we carry.) And everyone who's anyone is trying to catch up on all their Oscar films. But sometimes, there just aren't enough films to go around. (Trying to get your mitts on a copy of Winter's Bone on a Friday night? Godspeed.) But that doesn't mean you can't catch up on some of the nominees' other work. So, here's a list of other great performances by the Best Actor and Actress nominees that we think you should watch while waiting for the million people who checked out The Social Network before you did to return their copy.

All of these films are available to rent at our MacArthur store.

Best Actor
Javier Bardem (nominated for Biutiful): Try checking out No Country For Old Men or See Inside for other examples of Bardem's work
Jeff Bridges (nominated for True Grit): If you're a year behind in your movies, check out Crazy Heart, which snagged Bridges an Oscar last year. Other options: Tron (the original; the new one is still in theaters) or Starman
Jesse Eisenberg (nominated for The Social Network): Eisenberg doesn't have a whole lot of movies under his belt, but Adventureland is one of them, and a good sample of his acting chops.
Colin Firth (nominated for The King's Speech): Honestly, what HASN'T this guy been in? It was hard to narrow it down, but here's a list of good picks: to see him perform totally against type, try A Single Man, Girl With the Pearl Earring, or Dorian Gray. For some good old cheesy fall-in-love-with-him-every-time romance, try Pride & Prejudice, Love Actually, or Bridget Jones' Diary
James Franco (nominated for 127 Hours): He may be busy getting a PhD, but Franco's had the time to churn out a few classics. Try Spiderman or Pineapple Express

Best Actress
Annette Bening (nominated for The Kids Are All Right): She's got a list of great performances as long as your arm, but here's a sample: Bugsy, American Beauty, Valmont, American President, Being Julia
Nicole Kidman (nominated for Rabbit Hole): For such a wonderful actress, she certainly has some garbage on her resume. (Australia, anyone?) Fortunately, she's got some classics, too. For a good sampling of her many talents, check out Moulin Rouge, The Others, Cold Mountain, or Eyes Wide Shut.
Jennifer Lawrence (nominated for Winter's Bone): As a Hollywood newcomer, Lawrence doesn't have a whole lot of roles under her belt. But you can see her in a supporting role in The Burning Plain.
Nathalie Portman (nominated for Black Swan): Like Bening and Kidman, Portman is a bit of a living legend; her list of great films goes on for days. But we picked a few favorites: Where the Heart Is, The Professional, V For Vendetta, and Closer
Michelle Williams (nominated for Blue Valentine): Remember her way back in Dawson's Creek? Fortunately, she's blossomed since then. For a sampling of her work, take a look at Brokeback Mountain, Wendy and Lucy, or Dick.

-Posted by Colleen

Movies I'm Ashamed to Love

Everyone has them-the guilty-pleasure movies they can't stop watching. And no one likes to admit what they are. I'm no exception-if you come up to me in the store and ask what my favorite movies are, I'll inevitably give you a list that includes The Shawshank Redemption, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, and Clerks. And these are great movies. They really, really are. I love them and will never turn down an opportunity to watch them. But let's be honest-those are only the favorites that I'm not ashamed of. The time has come to 'fess up. Here's my list of favorite movies that you won't find on AFI's Greatest Movies of All Time list.

Don't judge me.

Grumpy Old Men
Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau play next-door-neighbors whose life-long rivalry is only getting worse with age. Their fighting comes to a head when the new exotic neighbor Ariel (played by Ann-Margaret) moves in, and they both fall head over heels. But eventually they begin to realize that maybe they don't hate each other after all.

I love, love, LOVE this movie. I watch it in the store all the time. You've probably seen me at it-I'll quickly press "pause" or turn the volume down as soon as I see you coming so you won't be witness to my shame. But now I confess it to the world-this is my all-time, hands-down, no-holds-barred favorite movie. There. I said it. (Come on-you know you love watching Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau call each other names and throw dead fish in each other's cars.)

Bringing Down the House
Steve Martin plays an uppity divorced tax lawyer who is trying to find a way to bond with his kids, get his ex back, and have a successful career at the same time-and he's not doing a very good job. In walks Charlene (Queen Latifah) an ex-con who brings him both her case and her attitude, and teaches him a thing or two about life, falling in love with Steve Martin's law partner (Eugene Levy) in the meantime.

I can't decide if this film is racist or not. Furthermore, if it is, I can't tell if it's making fun of black people or white people. Maybe both. Maybe neither. Also, the script is bad. B-A-D bad. The plot is lame, the comedy is unworthy of the cast, and the soundtrack is so cliche it's laughable. But I love it anyway. So sue me.

The Mummy series
A quasi-remake of the old horror movie The Mummy, this series stars Brendan Frasier as Rick O'Connell, an American treasure-seeker who stumbles upon an ancient curse in Hamunaptra, a mythical Egyptian city. With the "help" of Yvie, a librarian and expert on ancient Egyptian lore (Rachel Weisz), he manages to free the mummy that haunts Hamunaptra, and endangers the whole world in doing so.

Everyone (Seriously. Everyone.) tells me this trilogy sucks. But I don't get it. I think it's awesome. Brendan Frasier is hot, I have a girl-crush on Rachel Weisz, and a soft spot for ancient mythology. I can't get enough of these movies. (Though you can skip the third one. Rachel Weisz dropped the franchise, so really, what's the point?)

Encino Man
Another Brendan Frasier catastrophe, this film also stars Paulie Shore and Sean Astin as two hapless teenagers who dig up a frozen caveman (Frasier) in their pool and unfreeze him with hairdryers. In their quest to be cool, they end up "dissing" their new caveman buddy and setting him adrift. But in the end, Link the Caveman teaches them things about life they were too busy to learn on their own.

Come on, it's Paulie Shore. What more is there to be said?

17 Again
Zac Efron stars in this not-at-all-original body-swap comedy. Mike (Efron/Matthew Perry) feels as if he has thrown his life away. But then, he gets a second chance when he wakes up 17 again! He befriends his high school children, and hilarity ensues.

There's nothing good about this movie. I love it anyway. I have no excuse.

Austin Powers in Goldmember
The third and inarguably worst installment in the Austin Powers trilogy, in this film Austin finds himself working alongside his estranged father (Michael Caine) to defeat the criminal mastermind Goldmember, who loves gold so much he had his genitals re-cast in gold after suffering from an "unfortunate smelting accident".

There's lots of Dr. Evil in this movie. Britney Spears' head explodes. And Mini-Me turns good. What's not to love about this terrible, horrible, no-good-very-bad film?

-Posted by Colleen

"Different" movies

So the other day I was in the store, and absent-mindedly turned on the new(ish) Bollywood film My Name Is Khan. I remember loving it when it first came out in late Summer 2010, but I forgot exactly how much until I watched it again. This got me thinking-there seems to be an entire sub-genre of drama films involving the mentally handicapped-and generally these films are thought-provoking and beautifully executed. Though it's a small sub-genre, I think it at least deserves a blog post. So, here's a list of some of my favorite movies that deal with mental handicaps. But beware-most (if not all) of these will leave you with tears in your eyes!

My Name is Khan
As this film was the inspiration for the blog post, I might as well start with it. Starring Bollywood superstars Kajol and Shahrukh Khan, this film is about Rizwan Khan, a Muslim man suffering from Asberger's Syndrome. He moves to San Francisco from India after the death of his mother, where he meets the beautiful and vivacious Mandira (Kajol). They fall in love, get married, and it seems as if they will have a happily ever after. But then 9/11 hits, and they must deal with the reality of bearing the name Khan in a post-9/11 America. Tragedy strikes their family, and Rizwan sets out on a journey to tell the President that he is, in his words, "not a terrorist". Along the way, he meets other Muslim couples struggling with their identity, as well as a small community in Georgia who are down on their luck. He gradually garners media attention, until finally the whole world is watching as he makes his way to see the President.

This film is not only entertaining, but beautifully performed and shot. It is for the most part subtitled, but you will get so caught up in the story you won't even notice. And I guarantee that by the end, you will find yourself in tears. I cannot recommend this movie enough.

Temple Grandin
I will come out and admit that I haven't seen this movie myself. Please don't think it's because I don't want to-it's actually because we only have one copy and people keep renting it. But I can tell you the basics-Claire Danes stars as Temple Grandin, a real-life hero for sufferers of Autism. An autistic herself, Grandin went on to do great things for the rights of the mentally handicapped. You may have seen her at the Emmys and Golden Globes cheering on Claire Danes. Danes won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe and received a Satellite and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for her performance. So although I admittedly haven't yet seen the film, it seems like a good bet, at the very least to witness Claire Danes' multi-award-winning performance.

Forrest Gump
Do I even need to give a summary of this one? Tom Hanks. Forrest Gump. Inspirational travels across America. Famous events in American History. It's awesome. If you haven't seen it, climb out from under your chosen boulder of residence and rent it immediately. That is all.
P.S. It also stars Sally Field, Gary Sinise, and Robin Wright. As if Tom Hanks wasn't enough.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in his breakout role as Arnie, the mentally handicapped younger brother of Gilbert Grape, played by a very young (and pretty) Johnny Depp. Gilbert is forced to take care of both Arnie and their obese mother, which gets in the way of his love life-until Becky (Juliette Lewis) steps into his life and shows him that maybe having Arnie for a brother isn't such a curse after all.

Definitely a great sappy family film-and who doesn't love watching Johnny Depp? Or Leo? (The movie also stars Mary Steenbergen and John C. Reilly, rounding out a fantastic cast of character actors.)

The Other Sister
This film is by far the sweetest on this list. Juliette Lewis stars as Carla Tate, a mentally handicapped teenager who wants to go to college, much to the chagrin and concern of her parents, played by Diane Keaton and Tom Skerritt. Carla convinces them to let her go, and she immediately falls in love and gets asked to a dance by a boy. Her parents are concerned that she is being taken advantage of, until they meet him and realize that he is mentally handicapped as well-and that together, Carla and Daniel (played by Giovanni Ribisi) prove that they can face the world better than their parents ever thought.

This is a beautiful movie, with outstanding performances. You will find yourself laughing through tears the whole way through. This is a perfect movie for a girls' night in!

-Posted by Colleen

February Movies!

That's right folks, it's February. (Well, almost.) It's cold. It's dreary. It's disgusting. There's an ice storm headed our way tonight. Basically, February sucks. So what better way to deal with the end-of-winter blues than to lock yourself inside with a movie about summer? If it can't be warm outside, at least it can be warm on your TV!

Here's a list of my 28 favorite warm-weather movies, one for each day in February, all available at our MacArthur store!

1) Journey to the Center of the Earth-Well, OK, the part in Iceland is cold, but once they get to the center of the Earth it's super hot.

2) Now and Then-Perfect for a girls' night in!

3) Field of Dreams

4) Addams Family Values

5) Stand By Me

6) American Pie 2

7) The Mummy series

8) Pirates of the Carribean series

9) Cairo Time

10) Accepted

11) The Goonies

12) 500 Days of Summer

13) Varsity Blues

14) Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series

15) What About Bob

16) A League of Their Own

17) Into the Blue

18) Top Gun

19) Footloose

20) Grease

21) Dirty Dancing

22) The Lost Boys

23) Hook

24) Blue Lagoon

25) Major League

26) The Fast and the Furious

27) Rambo

28) Predator

-Posted by Colleen

Thrillers!

Side note: I realize we haven't posted on here in forever. I have no good excuse. My bad.

Now that that's out of the way, it's time for a post about my favorite movie genre-thrillers! For those of you who are a fan of horror/mystery/thrillers, take a good look at the New Release wall-there are quite a few smaller movies up there that you might overlook that are definitely worth checking out (and some that aren't). Here's a guide to finding the perfect creepy movie for your Saturday date night!

Afterlife
Liam Neeson, Justin Long, Christina Ricci
I might as well start off with one you absolutely SHOUDLN'T watch. Christina Ricci plays a somewhat neurotic elementary school teacher who dies in a car accident after a fight with her boyfriend (Long). She wakes up in a morgue, only to find that she is dead and Liam Neeson is her mortician! He attempts to guide her "into the light", so to speak...but her boyfriend refuses to believe she's gone. Can he save her before she moves on?

Yes. It is as lame as it sounds. I have a crush on both Liam Neeson and Justin Long, and even that wasn't enough to keep me interested. Do yourself a favor and leave this one on the shelf.

Buried
Ryan Reynolds
I can't decide if I should recommend this one or not. The plot is interesting-Paul (Reynolds) wakes up in a coffin in the middle of the Iraqi desert. As his memory returns, he realizes that his whole company of truck drivers has been ambushed and killed, and he is the only one left alive-but not for long if he can't escape the coffin. He finds a bag with various light sources and a cell phone at his feet. He's got 90 minutes of oxygen and cell battery life left before he suffocates-will he find a way out in time?

This film is...stressful. It's definitely well done, and interestingly conveyed-the entire film takes place in the coffin. No flashbacks, no scenes of government agents trying to rescue him-nothing. Just a coffin. The only exposure you get to the outside world are the voices you hear him speaking to on the phone. I will say this-you won't be bored, and the films stays with you after it's over. But if you're at all claustrophobic, I'd stay away from this one. If tight spaces don't bother you, then definitely check it out-but be ready to come away from it slightly disturbed.

Case 39
Renee Zellwegger, Bradley Cooper
Renee Zellwegger plays a social worker who is given yet another case piled on top of her already-existing 38 active cases. As she investigates into the allegations of child abuse, she realizes that the case is nothing like it seems-and maybe she should have just stayed away.

This is actually a very entertaining film. The first half is full of surprises. However, the second half of the film is fairly predictable. Once the twist is revealed, the plot doesn't move forward a whole lot. But the performances are good, the deaths are gory, and the film is generally creep-tastic.

Devil
No Actors Anyone Has Ever Heard Of
The latest M. Night Shyamalan film*, Devil is about a group of strangers who get stuck in a high-rise elevator-only to discover that the devil himself is among them! One by one they start dying, and they only have until the next blackout to figure out who the culprit is.

This is a pretty good flick. It's creepy, but not too scary for those who aren't horror movie fanatics. It will keep you guessing until the end, and it's not too gory. Overall, it's a good, fun popcorn flick.

*Don't worry, he didn't actually make it-he just came up with the general idea. I promise it's better than anything he's done since Signs.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Also Nobody Famous
Alice Creed is the daughter of a millionaire who gets kidnapped for ransom money. Little does she know, not everything is as it seems, and her kidnappers might be out for more than just money.

This film is definitely worth watching, particularly for fans of crime drama. The beginning kidnapping scene is a little intense, but the film never crosses the line into disgusting or grotesque, at least not for my tastes. (There was a moment where I thought the movie might delve into rape or sexual abuse, but it doesn't, so don't avoid the film on that account.) The plot itself is very interesting-there is more than one "big reveal", and every plot twist is completely unexpected. Definitely worth checking out!

Exam
Once Again, No One Famous
A group of executives are put in a room and asked to take an exam as the final step in an interview process for one of the most powerful corporate jobs in the world. There is only one question they have to answer, and if they answer it wrong or break any of the rules, they are immediately disqualified and removed from the room. But there's just one problem-they don't know what the question is! Slowly the situation breaks down as it is revealed how desparate each one is to get the job.

This one is definitely a great thrill ride-it will keep you guessing, and has some great performances. The film is tense and fast-paced-with almost no violence, this is a good one for those who like mysteries, but don't like too much blood and gore.

The Last Exorcism
No One Famous, But The Lead Kinda Looks Like The Poor Man's Thomas Jane
Filmed in the documentary/mockumentary style, this film follows a hacky pastor who makes his living by cheating people out of their money. Eventually, he decides to quit swindling-after this one last exorcism. He goes through the ritual, including his hidden speakers with scary voices, buzzers hidden on the victim's bed to shock her, and sound effects-only to discover to his surprise that this exorcism might be real.

I really like this film, although I am the first to admit that I'm a bit biased-I love the exorcism genre. (The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose-I love 'em all!) But what appealed to me most about this film is that although it is shot in documentary style, this filmmakers appear to actually understand what documentaries are supposed to look like. (In case you're wondering, Paranormal Activity isn't it.) They appreciate that documentaries aren't shaky and poorly made, and execute this film much in the same way. Also, it's kind of creepy and weird without being too intense. Overall, a good film for a night in!

-Posted by Colleen

Belated Holiday Post

With less than one week to go until Christmas, we know what's on everyone's mind-CHRISTMAS MOVIES! That's right folks, it's that time of year again...time to snuggle up with some popcorn, a cup of hot chocolate, and your favorite Christmas movies. Here's a list of some of our favorites to keep you (and more importantly, the kids!) entertained over Christmas break!

1) It's A Wonderful Life
If you don't know this movie yet, you've obviously been living under a boulder for the last 50 years. See it now.

2) The Santa Clause
Tim Allen stars in this movie about a curmudgeonly divorcee who is shocked to find Santa Clause on his roof-and even more suprised when Santa disappears, leaving his suit behind! To appease his son, he tries on the suit, only to find that he's now officially the new Santa!

3) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Though the Jim Carrey version is certainly fun, it's nothing compared to the old-school cartoon. Do yourself a favor this Christmas and go back to basics!

4) Home Alone
What kid doesn't dream of having the run of his house? In this classic Christmas film starring Macauley Caulkin, that's exactly what happens. You and your kids will laugh and cheer as Kevin (Caulkin) learns about grocery shopping, after-shave, and home security.

5) A Charlie Brown Christmas
Who doesn't love the world's biggest Negative Nancy? This story about Charlie Brown and his loser-ish Christmas tree is a classic not to be missed!

6) Elf
OK, yes, we all agree-Will Ferrell can be kind of annoying. But he puts his annoying sense of humor to good use as Buddy, a human raised by Christmas elves who travels to New York to find his father. Only problem is, his father's on the naughty list! Although this film does has it's moments of extreme cheesiness, it's still good clean fun for the whole family!

7) A Muppet Christmas Carol
Michael Caine stars along Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzywig in this musical twist on Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story. You and the kids will both love this newer rendition of an old story. (And besides, who doesn't love watching Miss Piggy every chance they get???)

All these films and more are available at our McArthur store-stop by today and pick up your favorite, and get ready to be in the Christmas spirit!

-Posted by Colleen

Toy Story

As much as we like to say that the holidays are about family, love, giving, etc., ask any child in the nation what Christmas is about, and you'll inevitably get the same answer...TOYS!

That's right, folks...Toy Story 3 is officially available for rent! This final installment in the runaway hit series brings back all your old favorites-Woody, Buzz, Slink (now voiced by Blake Clarke, who does an admirable job of filling the late Jim Varney's extremely large shoes), Barbie, Jessie, the Potato Heads, Hamm, and Rex are all back, along with some new characters, including Lotso, the creepily strawberry-scented Losto Huggin Bear, and Ken, who sweeps Barbie off her feet and into his dreamhouse.

This movie takes the franchise to a whole new level, and lives up to the first two in hilarity, and even surpasses them in emotional depth. I'll be honest-I've seen it 4 times and still get choked up every time. Including the time last week I watched it at the store and got choked up while working. Sorry about that, folks.

Moral of the story: rent it today and have a great family night in with the kids and a movie you'll actually enjoy for a change!

-Posted by Colleen

Paradise Lost

Those of you who read this blog or pick up the Village Vidiot fairly regularly will know that I have recommended this before, but I feel it bears reiterating: everyone who isn't squemish should rent the documentary Paradise Lost.

Filmed in 1993, Paradise Lost follows the famous trial that is now known as the West Memphis Three, where 3 teenagers were convicted of the murder of three 8-year-old boys. Two of them were sentenced to life in prison, and another, Damien Echols, was given the death penalty.

Yesterday, there was a major breakthrough in the case, and after hearing a presentation of new DNA evidence which may indicate the innocence of the three convicts, the Arkansas State Supreme Court ruled for a new trial. (Those interested in reading more can either check out yesterday's Washington Post or go to http://www.wm3.org/.) This case and its history is quickly becoming front-page news nationwide, so go ahead and rent Paradise Lost today and decide for yourself-are they guilty, or innocent?

-Colleen

"Friendly" Films to Keep You Warm

To many, Thanksgiving is above all a time to celebrate having food by eating as much of it as possible. Secondarily, it's also a time to gather with friends and family and just have fun. And turkey. Lots of turkey.

In honor of Thanksgiving (my personal favorite holiday), here's a list of 30 films about friendship to cozy up to with twenty of your closest buds, one for each day in November!

1) Steel Magnolias-This one is definitely a tear-jerker, only to be watched with your best girls and a box of tissues!

2) Now and Then

3) Stand By Me-The ultimate "guy friend" movie, this one is probably the only acceptable film for guys to watch together and actually show emotion.

4) The Goonies

5) Grumpy Old Men-A funny flick for the whole family!

6) Circle of Friends

7) Empire Records

8) Thelma and Louise

9) The Fox and the Hound-Kid-friendly!

10) Superbad

11) Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

12) The Lord of the Rings trilogy

13) Up-Also kid-friendly, but have the tissues handy!

14) Toy Story trilogy (FYI, Toy Story 3 is now available on the Kids New Release wall!)-Great pick for a kids' sleepover!

15) Harry Potter series

16) Madagascar-Best for young children

17) When Harry Met Sally...

18) Casablanca

19) The Breakfast Club-Wonderful film, but with quite a bit of language-might want to save this for the over-15 set.

20) Mean Girls

21) Forrest Gump

22) Monsters, Inc.-Funny for all ages!

23) The Jungle Book

24) Shrek trilogy-Great one for the kids!

25) Star Wars series

26) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas-Although there is nothing specifically inappropriate in this film, it is thematically very heavy-watch this one after the kids are in bed and only if you want to go to bed depressed. But it's worth the Kleenex you'll go through!

27) Men in Black

28) Shaun of the Dead

29) South Park TV series

30) Friends TV series

-Posted by Colleen

Horror Movie Remakes That Shouldn't Have Been

We all know that remakes can be a grave mistake. As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Hence, I think it's high time for a list of the original classics that inspired the recent slew of horror movie remakes. If you're looking for a good movie to watch in honor of Halloween, take it from me-skip over the newer versions and reach for these instead. You'll definitely be happy you did!

1) Halloween (1978)
What, I repeat, WHAT, was Rob Zombie thinking when he remade this? No one could possibly be more bad-ass against Michael Myers than Jamie Lee Curtis. (It appears that Scout Taylor-Compton, the newest Laurie Strode incarnation, didn't even try.) The new Michael isn't even scary-what's scary about an abused child who breaks out of an institution in search for love and family and only kills when he's rejected? It almost makes him sympathetic. The original Michael was pure evil, plain and simple, with no rhyme or reason, which makes for a much creepier villain.

2) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Let's face it, Freddy was creepier when he had a sense of humor. The newest incarnation, with Freddy as the angry spirit of a child molestor, is just gross. Robert Englund as the original Freddy managed to scare the pants off the audience while at the same time getting laughs, and Jackie Earl Haley as the new Freddy just doesn't pack quite the same punch. Plus, no teenage Johnny Depp in the newest version. So really, why bother?

3) Friday the 13th (1980)
The original has Kevin Bacon. Getting stabbed through the throat. Enough said.

4) The Stepford Wives (1975)
It absolutely breaks my heart that when kids today think of The Stepford Wives, they think of a bad Nicole Kidman comedy. Maybe I'm just biased as this is the first horror movie I ever saw, but this one still gives me chills. What's creepier than seeing your best friend suddenly turn into a picture-perfect housewife robot? Other than Robert Englund, pretty much nothing. Do yourself and the kids a favor, and introduce them to the original creepfest before they're tainted by the less-than-stellar remake (and that description is beyond generous).

5) The Amityville Horror (1979)
Ok, fine. The special effects in this movie are, shall we say, less than perfect. But once you get into it, you'll find yourself screaming right along with the cast when you see Jody the imaginary pig's eyes peeking in the window. I feel less strongly about this remake than the others, but given the choice, I still highly recommend the original over the newer version.

6) Psycho (1960)
Why anyone decided to remake Psycho shot-for-shot but then change the iconic shower scene is beyond me. This is the ultimate example of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Hitchcock chose to shoot in black and white for a reason. It was a good one. And Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates? Not so much.

Moral of the story? Skip the remakes. The originals are iconic for a reason.

-Posted by Colleen

October Movies!!!

Ah, October. Cool, crisp weather, fashionable sweaters, and Halloween movies!!! Here's my list of the best movies to snuggle up with, one for each night in October!

1) The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Kids)

2) Trick 'r Treat (Horror)

3) Halloween (Horror)-do yourself a favor, rent the original. Even Rob Zombie can't improve on a Jamie Lee Curtis screamfest.

4) Ghostbusters (Comedy)

5) Casper the Movie (Kids)

6) Friday the 13th (Horror)-again, when in doubt, go for the original.

7) Nightmare on Elm Street (Horror)

8) The Nightmare Before Christmas (Kids)-though this one arguably doubles as a Christmas film, it's still good fun at Halloween.

9) Dead Snow (Horror)

10) The House on Haunted Hill (Horror)-once again, original original original. Remakes are a terrible idea.

11) Psycho (Horror)-need I repeat myself again?

12) The Stepford Wives (Mystery)-this time you should see the original for an even better reason than just that it's better-the remake was turned into a comedy, whereas the original is satisfyingly bone-chilling and extra-creepy.

13) The Amityville Horror (Horror)

14) Hocus Pocus (Kids)

15) The Mist-(Horror)

16) Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (Kids)

17) Goosebumps: Go Eat Worms (Kids)

18) The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (Classics)

19) Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit (Kids)

20) Haunted Mansion (Kids)

21) Scream (Horror)

22) Scary Movie (Comedy)

23) 1408 (Horror)

24) Rocky Horror Picture Show (Musicals)

25) The Shining (Horror)

26) Candyman (Horror)

27) Alien (Sci-Fi)

28) Beetlejuice (Comedy)

29) The Addams Family (Comedy)

30) Silence of the Lambs (Horror)

31) Carrie (Horror)

Have fun, and stay scared!!!!

-Posted by Colleen

Documentaries You Should Be Watching

I know, I know...you come to video stores to pick up your favorite action flick and zone out, not to learn. But by passing by the documentary section, you are missing out on some extremely interesting and, dare I say, awesome films. Here's a short list of my favorites that you shouldn't miss!

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg
Before Joanie loved Chachi and Lucy 'splained to Ricky, there was Mrs. Goldberg, leaning out her kitchen window to gossip with the neighbors. Released this August, this documentary by local filmmaker Aviva Kemper and featuring interviews with our very own Potomac Video customer Mindy Weisel is a biography of Gertrude Berg, the first powerhouse woman in television. Berg created the radio show The Goldberg's, which was a staple in American life during and after World War II. Upon the advent of television, she produced, wrote, and starred in the sitcom version of the radio show, which became the first true family sitcom. This touching documentary follows Berg's career, family life, and eventual anonomity as Lucille Ball took over as the first lady of television. Absolutely worth a look, and easy to find-it's still on the New Release wall!

Every Little Step
Broadway has some of the best dancers in the world. And you can watch them sweat, stress, and put their best foot forward in this documentary following the auditions for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. Following the auditions from the beginning preliminaries to final callbacks almost a year later, this film will make you laugh and touch your heart as you watch these dancers do everything they can to make the cut. Great pick for anyone who loves great dancing, real drama, and good old-fashioned reach-for-the-stars inspiration. This one is also a good one to watch with the kids!

Paradise Lost
This real-life courtroom drama follows the West Memphis Three, a trio of teenaged boys in West Memphis Arkansas convicted of the brutal murder of three children, through their trial and eventual encarceration. You will feel as if you're watching a top-rate John Grisham thriller-except this one is entirely real. And making this film even more nail-biting is the fact that Damien Echols, one of the convicts in this case, has his last appeal for a re-trial a week from today before the Arkansas Supreme Court, and will serve out his sentance on Death Row should his appeal be rejected. Are they guilty or are they not? Decide for yourself as you watch the court proceedings unfold, but watch it when the kids are in bed-crime scene photos are displayed without any editing or censorship.

Deliver Us From Evil
Another nail-biter, this documentary follows a Catholic priest convicted of sexual abuse as he attempts to reconnect with and apologize to all the children (now adults) that he hurt over his long career as a parish priest. You will find yourself crying along with the victims as they express their pain and face their demons. An absolutely incredible film, but it's not for the weak at heart-this film doesn't make any attempts to mask the victims' pain or sugar-coat the situation. Definitely one to watch after the kids are in bed.

Paperback Dreams
This documentary is about the downfall of the independent bookstore and it's effect on the literary world. Thoroughly depressing for lovers of indie bookstores, the film follows an independent chain as it is hit with the realities of the recession and bargain-book superstores. Fascinating and extremely relevant, this film will make you want to run right out to Second Story Books and buy out their stock!

-Posted by Colleen

Sidewalk Sale!

Need some new DVDs to add to your collection? Kids watched your copy of Scooby-Doo so often it looks like it got run over by a truck driven by zombies? Rented your favorite Steve Martin flick so many times you could have bought it twice and still spent less money on it? Then come on down to our Sidewalk Sale! This Saturday and Sunday, September 25-26, from 11-4, we will be selling our surplus inventory for uber-cheap out in front of the store! So take advantage of the ridiculously warm Fall we're having, and take a stroll down to our MacArthur store this weekend.

See you there!

-Posted by Colleen

Back to School Movies for September!

Back to school season...new pencils, new teachers, new books, tons of new clothes...September can be stressful for school-goers (and parents!) of all ages. So what better way to relax than to sit back and watch movies about other people stressing about school? Here's our list of 30 back-to-school films, one for each day in September!

1) Mean Girls- Comedy, PG-13
2) Clueless-Comedy, PG-13
3) Schoolhouse Rock: Earth-Kids, NR
4) Dead Poet's Society-Drama, PG
5) Diary of a Wimpy Kid-Kids New Release Wall, PG
6) Accepted-Comedy, PG-13
7) American Graffiti-Comedy, PG
8) Hairspray-Musical, PG
9) Grease-Musical, PG
10) Animal House-Comedy, R
11) Assassination of a High School President- Comedy, R
12) Back to School-Comedy, PG-13
13) The Breakfast Club-Drama, R
14) Bring It On-Comedy, PG-13
15) College-Comedy, R
16) Freaky Friday- Kids, G (1976 version)/PG (2003 version)
17) Princess Diaries-Kids, G
18) Legally Blonde-Comedy, PG-13
19) High School Musical-Kids, G
20) Harry Potter-Kids, PG (parts 1, 2, 3, & 6)/PG-13 (parts 4 & 5)
21) The Skulls-Mystery, PG-13
22) 17 Again-Comedy, PG-13
23) Cruel Intentions-Mystery, R
24) Buffy the Vampire Slayer-Comedy, PG (movie)/Television, NR (TV show)
25) The Faculty- Horror, R
26) 10 Things I Hate About You-Comedy, PG-13
27) Not Another Teen Movie- Comedy, R
28) Pleasantville-Comedy, PG-13
29) Good Will Hunting- Drama, R
30) Superbad-Comedy, R

Be sure to check out these titles and more, all available at our MacArthur store!

-Posted by Colleen

The Red Shoes

As you may or may not know, the all-time epitome of dance movies, The Red Shoes, has just recently been re-released, with new color enhancement. (And it's gorgeous!) In honor of this fantastic movie (located on our New Release wall), here is a list of what are (in my humble opinion) the all-time greatest dance movies, all available at our MacArthur store.

White Nights-Mikhail Barishnokov and Gregory Hines star in this political drama set in Russia in 1985. Barishnokov plays a dancer who defected from Russia and has the misfortune to be in a plane that crashes on Russian soil, leaving him trapped. He is housed in Siberia with Raymond (Hines), a Vietnam draft dodger who tap dances for his meager living. Together they manage to escape the Soviets and perform some great numbers along the way. Great pick for those who love dance movies but want something with a little more substance than say, Step Up 2 the Streets.

Dirty Dancing- Who doesn't love this classic dance flick? Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray star in this legendary film about upper-middle-class teenager Baby Houseman (Gray) who is swept off her feet (literally and figuratively) by the charming dance teacher Johnny (Swayze). You'll be singing and dancing along with them as they have the time of their life at a resort in the Catskills.

Center Stage-This film is the traditional classic dance movie personified. Jody Sawyer (Amanda Schull) is a dance hopeful who is admitted to the prestigious American Ballet Company training academy. She experiences failure, love, and heartbreak as she struggles to find her place in the dance world. With fantastic dance sequences and a strong supporting cast (including Zoe Saldana, Susan May Pratt, Peter Gallagher, and New York City Ballet star Ethan Stiefel), this is a film you should definitely check out!

Hairpsray-Not just a dance flick but a full-on musical, this re-make of the hit 80's movie is sure to warm your heart. Tracy Turnblad (played by Nikki Blonsky) has a big dream to dance on the Cornie Collins Show-a dream that's almost bigger than her. Eventually, she charms her way into the show and into the hearts of the citizens of Baltimore and becomes a local celebrity. But she's not done yet-she uses her fame to help fight for civil rights. With an all-star cast, including John Travolta (as Tracy's mother!), Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Michelle Pfieffer, Queen Latifah, and Zac Efron, this is a film you can watch over and over with the whole family.

Ziegfeld's Follies-Though not entirely a dance film, this collection of classic vignettes includes musical numbers, comedy sketches, and beautiful dance numbers. With some of early cinema's biggest stars, including Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Judy Garland, and Lena Horne, this film is a must-see for fans of movies musicals.

Holiday Inn-Starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, this classic family film about a hotel only open on holidays is sure to make you smile. With a soundtrack filled with well-known songs, such as "Easter Parade" and "White Christmas" and dance sequences featuring Fred Astaire and Marjorie Reynolds, this film is a great selection to watch with the family.

-Posted by Colleen

Trilogies!

Today's post will be an homage to trilogies. Now, I will be the first to admit that sequels are often a bad idea. (Can anyone say "Grease 2"?) Remakes are often even worse. (The recent Clash of the Titans debacle comes to mind.) However, trilogies are a separate entity that have shaped some of the greatest movie franchises in history. Below is my list of the top 5 all-time greatest trilogies, all available today at our MacArthur store!

1) Back to the Future - How could this one not be first? For those of you who have been living in a under a rock quarry or at the bottom of a garden pond for the past 25 years, this film is about charming high school slacker Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and his quirky awkwardly-too-old-to-be-his-friend pal, inventor Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Doc invents a time machine (out of a DeLorean) and takes Marty with him into the 1950's, where he befriends his high-school parents; into the year 2015 where he sees himself as a middle-aged man, and into the Old West, where he finds that the cowboy costumes sold in your local Halloween shop aren't exactly stylish. A wild ride from start to finish, this trilogy is fun for the whole family!

2) Star Wars - I suppose now this franchise counts as 2 trilogies (or possibly a set-of-six-ogy, but I don't know the actual word for that). Regardless, the Star Wars movies have managed to transcend generations, making geeks out of baby-boomers and ten-year-olds alike. With Hans Solo for the girls and Princess Leia for the guys, these movies are great entertainment for both Grandpa and little Suzie.

3) The Mummy - Now, I know that earlier I said that remakes can sometimes be a mistake. But these movies are so darn entertaining that I just couldn't leave them off the list. Brendan Fraser stars as Rick O'Connell, a swashbuckling adventurer in the deserts of Egypt who gets saddled with uptight librarian Yvie (Rachel Weisz). They accidentally unleash an evil mummy on the world, and fall in love in the process. Witty wordplay and great chemistry make this trilogy one you won't want to miss! (Although if you're going to miss any of it, skip out on part 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer. The franchise just isn't the same without Rachel Weisz as Yvie.)

4) Indiana Jones - For those of you who still want to see Harrison Ford shoot people but aren't so into the Star Wars thing, this is a perfect choice. We get to ride along as Indie negotiates ancient booby traps, gets in bar fights in Marakesh, and reunites with his father (the unforgettable Shawn Connery). But let it be known that this review refers to the original trilogy-the recent Kingdom of the Crystal Skull should probably be left on the shelf.

5) Toy Story - I'm the first to admit I may be a bit biased on this one. I loved Toy Story 3 so much that I saw it 3 times in the theater. What can I say, I just can't get enough of Ken and Barbie in their dreamhouse. Biased or not, this trilogy is funny, sweet, sad, heart-wrenching, and just all-around fun. Grown-ups will love seeing some of their favorite childhood toys come to life (Barrell of Monkeys, anyone?) and kids will love the goofy characters, bright colors, and adventure as the toys get replaced, broken, and ::gasp:: donated! Toy Story 3 is not yet available on DVD, but now is a perfect time to catch up on the first two, currently re-released and on our New Kids wall!

-Posted by Colleen