The Help

I see this movie for what it was- an excellent performance by Emma Stone, Viola Davis, & Allison Janney (who was discovered by Paul Newman BTW). I did not like Bryce Howard as an actress as she played Hilda Hollbrock. (Bryce is Ron Howards daugher)

I held off watching this movie for the same reason I haven't seen Kings Speech yet. I have a hard time enjoying movies that are over hyped.

I felt that given the time period the director chose (1960 & 61) it would have been a better movie to focus on some other elements that come from racial tension and hierarchy. I felt the movie shifted to focus on humor and getting revenge on the elite upper crust of white people (eating the crap cake).

With that being said the script was great and I give this movie 3 solid stars.

Being Elmo (2011)

I have always enjoyed the Muppet characters, and have admired how they are portrayed by the puppeteers. I have not gone as far as the puppeteer in this documentary, but Kevin Clash (Elmo) exemplifies what it means to have a dream and to obtain it. This is a wonderful documentary that will lighten your day and put a smile on your face.  4 stars

Big Miracle (2012)

As we were walking out of the theater I mentioned to my wife how strange it was to see a story from my youth being dramatized for the big screen.  I remember the newscasts of the three stranded whales up in Alaska back in 1988.  I can vividly remember the indigenous tribes digging holes in the ice to lead the whales to the ocean, and how the Russian ice breakers had to come and break down ice walls to help.

The was a family friendly movie, with some longer dialogues that might not entertain the young ones, but it is a fun story to share with them.  /My wife and I both agreed that Drew Barrymore was out least favorite actor in this show; she felt as though she was over-playing her role and it became distracting to us as viewers.

This is a feel good movie worth 3 1/2 stars; watch at the end of the show when they show real footage and images from the actual event. (Oh, and by the way, I am deathy affraid of whales :) )

Savannah Smiles - 1982

I love this movie and I had to show it to my kids so I borrowed it from someone at work. Sad that the main actress (the little girl) grows up to be a druggie and overdoses at age 21. I love the movie for many reasons but probably #1 is that it was shot entirely in Utah and I love to see the different parts of SL and Utah County in the movie. 4 stars for me.

Kansas City Confidential - 1952

IMDB summarizes this movie as follows- "A down-on-his-luck ex-GI finds himself framed for an armored car robbery. When he's finally released for lack of evidence--after having been beaten up and tortured by the police--he sets out to discover who set him up, and why. The trail leads him into Mexico and a web of hired killers and corrupt cops."

The only thing I would add to that is the film noir movie has a great script but for some reasons runs really slow. There are a few recognizable B actors from that time that do an okay job in this one, but I wouldn't waste my time. 2.5 stars. Not really a heist movie, more of a revenge movie.

Star Wars - The Phantom Menace 3-D (2012)

This show was not worth the 3-D conversion...for me it made the graphics look too cartoonish.  My boys loved it, but for me it was lame.

Magic Town (1947)

Rip Smith (James Stewart) is a statistician in New York that is looking for a magic town that will represent all of the opinions of the United States.  He wants to do this so that he can take on more surveys and earn more money.  Coincidentally he stumble upon Grandview that is statistically of the opinion of the entire US.  Upon setting up his ploy in this town he comes across the local know-it-all citizen Mary Peterman (Jane Wyman).  Soon the romantic frustration begins, but not long after that Rip begins to fit into the town, even becoming the boys basketball coach.  Well, his cover gets blown, and now everyone in America wants to come and live in Grandview.  To make the story short, this becomes a bad experience, but in the end it all works out and everyone lives happily ever after...I am not sure if you can tell that I lost interest in this movie about half way through.  The first half of this show was promising and entertaining, but then it becomes too predictable.  It is an OK watch but only worth about 2 stars.  I cannot find a trailer, but you can watch the whole show on youtube.com