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Movies
So, we joined Netflix . It's pretty darned convenient- you pick the movies you want, they send them to you via USPS, you watch whenever you feel like it (no time limits, no late fees) and mail it back when you are done with it. Nice for folks (like us!) who can't seem to figure out how to get BACK to the video store! We usually remember where the mailbox is!
On to the movies-
Ray: (2004, Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King) The story of legendary blind pianist, Ray Charles. This was a decent film, even if it was a bit slow in spots. There are some insights into Charles' character that some people may not have known before the film: his drug addiction, the affairs on the road, and his rather ruthless business practices. It also gives a look at what black musicians faced when Charles was starting out. Foxx is outstanding as Ray Charles, and the real star of the movie is the music. Certainly worth watching.
DeJohnette, Hancock, Holland, Metheny: (Music, 1990) Four of jazz music's greats in concert at the Mellon Jazz Festival in Philadelphia in 1990. Jack DeJohnette (drums), Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Dave Holland (bass) and Pat Metheny (guitar) team up to play some really great music. If you like jazz or just want to hear and watch a quartet of the best perform, this is certainly worth viewing.
The Incredibles (2004, Animated, voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson) After a string of lawsuits force former superheroes into government witness protection programs, the former Mr. Incredible finds himself trying to adjust to life in suburbia. His wife, the former Elastigirl, wants nothing more than to live a normal, ordinary life. But Mr. Incredible finds the adjustment much harder, and when he is given the chance to secretly continue his former life, he takes it eagerly. But he soon finds himself trapped in the schemes of a former hero-worshipper whom he turned away years ago, and soon, his entire family (and a friend) must become their Super selves again to save him- and the world, of course!
This was a fun movie! The animation was great, and the characters were wonderful. It's one that the whole family can enjoy- no excessive violence or language or anything you wouldn't want the younger kids to see. It's funny, sweet, action-packed and just a great family movie. This one gets a definite thumbs up!
Invisible Invaiders (1959)/Journey to the Seventh Planet(1962) These two are a couple of those old, cheesy sci-fi movies we all love to laugh at now. The kind that they would use on MSTK 2000.... In the first one, invisible aliens who have been living on the moon contact a scientist on earth, telling him that they are planning on taking over the earth and will destroy all of humankind if we don't surrender. Luckily, these invisble aliens have the power to take over the bodies of the recently deceased so we can keep track of them as they come to kill us. The scientist, his daughter, an Army major and another scientist escape to a secret laboratory where they try to come up with a plan to defeat the aliens. In the second film, an expediton to the planet Uranus (the 7th planet) finds a world out of their own minds. The planet is ruled by a huge brain which is capable of reaching into their minds and creating a world from their best- and worst- memories. Okay, they weren't the greatest movies ever made, but, face it, the cheesy special effects (which were pretty decent for their day) are worth the rental!
X-Men (2000) and X2:X-Men United (2003): (Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen) Based on the Marvel comics of the same name, both these movies center around the X-Men, a band of mutants who possess superhuman powers. The X-Men are trained and protected by Charles Xavier aka Professor X at a private school that trains and educates mutant children. They are trying to fit into a society that distrusts their mutant powers and wants to impose a registry to keep track of the mutants living among "normal" humans. Magneto, another mutant leader, is determined to see mutants emerge as the ruling class. In the first movies, the X-Men must stop Magneto from using his newest weapon- one that will speed up the mutant X factor in the genetic make-up of humans. In the second, a rogue mutant stages an attack that relights the fire of hatred against mutants. Magneto and Professor X must join forces to stop the new threats.
Actually, these were pretty well done movie adaptations of the classic comics. A bit less angst-driven in the characterizations, which did not affect my enjoyment, even though I was a huge fan of the comics a long time ago. Decent plots, good action, cool special effects and a few funny lines (one that gives a great nod to the movie's comic origins) make these well worth watching.