Movie: Speak

Heavy teen drama about rape and openness. Pretty well done and viscerally satisfying, but probably not what you're looking for when picking a movie. Unless that's your thing.

Movie: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

OK, what is it about modern British action dramas that are really slow on the action part? and really dreary on the drama part? I can't say this tale of a gent finding his brother's murderer is, well, er, bad exactly, but c'mon - an awful lot of time is spent mulling over awful, mundane truths. Maybe, on reflection, it is actually quite realistic & believable ... which isn't necessarily what paying audiences are looking for.

Movie: One Night with the King

The Biblical story of Esther brought to life. Well done, well told.

Few movies are good enough for me to see more than once. This I did, in short order.

Movie: How to Make an American Quilt

This "American quilt" is the mixed pieces of old ladies' love stories, blended into a romantic quilt for a young woman seeking her own story. Gentle, sweet, very deeply a chick flick.

Movie: Kingdom of Heaven

Big bold epic about the Crusades and control of Jerusalem. Director Ridley Scott pulls off another fantastic grand film on the vast scale of Gladiator, Blade Runner, and Alien. Does an excellent job of fairly balancing the competing cultures.

Not for a light amusing evening's viewing.

Movie: Open Season

Hysterical animated tale of a domesticated bear's return to the wild. ...and the wild's difficulty in coping therewith. From story to animation details, all was done surprisingly well.

The river run scene ended with me falling off the couch from sheer overwhelming laughter. It's been a long time since I laughed that hard...

Movie: Out of Africa

Marvelous grown-up love story about a woman who finds herself running a coffee farm in Africa, and the professional hunter who she falls for. Great acting, spectacular photography. A chick flick that guys will appreciate (safaris and struggles in the Veldt).