Lilo & Stitch - 7 stars out of 10

Lilo & Stitch - 7 stars out of 10

“Lilo & Stitch” is a very unconventional Disney film.  It has all of the beauty of the Disney classics as the animators bring Hawaii to life through the unique appearance of the characters and the highlighting of Hawaiian culture; and yet, the main character is a fugitive alien who belches and develops an affinity for the music of Elvis Presley.  It is interesting to look back at the advertising campaign for this film, which focused on how Stitch is unlike any other Disney character.  Four teaser trailers placed him into different Disney films with mischievous results.  The theatrical trailer drew attention to him not fitting into the Disney stereotype.  Even the film poster focused solely on Stitch, showing all of the classic Disney characters looking at him with the headline “There’s one in every family.”  But I believe that Stitch has been completely misrepresented.  This film is drawn together by one important theme: Ohana.  “Ohana means family.  Family means nobody gets left behind.”  Both Lilo and Stitch act out because of their broken family situations but this film goes beyond their defiant actions.  We should remember the Stitch that cries out “I’m lost” when he reads The Ugly Duckling, not the one in the “Stitch’s Great Escape” ride at Disney World.  He isn’t any different than Simba when he runs away or Elsa when she isolates herself.  It’s true that the constant stream of jokes and mischief makes the story feel more like a Saturday morning cartoon than a Disney classic, but the tandem journey of the main characters to find themselves supersedes any of the slapstick comedy.  Like all of the entries in the Disney animated canon from 1999-2008, this film would have been better as a musical.  Several Elvis songs and another called “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” cannot compare to “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea.”  Alan Silvestri’s score captures the important emotional moments for the main characters, but it just doesn’t feel like Disney without those musical numbers.  In the end, you’ll love the jokes (especially anything involving mosquitoes), be amazed by the animation, and your heart will melt once Stitch calms down and reminds you of your favorite pet.  “Lilo & Stitch” may be completely unconventional on the surface but the heart of its story captures the Disney essence.

[Pictured: This is the Stitch that we should remember]

My Big Fat Greek Wedding - 8 stars out of 10

My Big Fat Greek Wedding - 8 stars out of 10

“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” is everything that you want from a comedy.  Goofy characters, situational irony, slapstick humor, and a loud, dysfunctional family punctuate the Oscar-nominated script written by Nia Vardalos.  Every joke in the script is delivered to perfection.  Since the script is based on Vardalos’ family and marriage to a non-Greek man, she was the obvious choice to play the lead and does so with absolute sincerity.  A good movie transports you into its setting, but a great movie convinces you that it is truth.  The jokes are fantastic from the main character’s perpetually Greek upbringing to the father’s excessive use of Windex as a household remedy.  Laughing out loud is not an option with this over-the-top cast.  Under the many layers of comedy, the film carries the important themes of embracing family (no matter how weird they are and being proud of where you came from.  I love the tribute to “That Thing You Do,” another film produced by Tom Hanks, by using and arrangement of the song “All My Only Dreams” for the first dance.  It is no surprise that “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” is one of the highest grossing romantic comedies of all time and should be approached with the expectation of “extreme giddiness.”

[Pictured: The timing and execution of the physical comedy is spot on]

The Last Stand (2013) - 8 stars out of 10

The Last Stand (2013) - 8 stars out of 10

After a 10-year hiatus, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return to the big screen was everything that we hoped it would be!  Action movies often focus on the explosions and leave us devoid of emotion, but “The Last Stand” puts the violence into the context of a situation that matter to us.  I was really impressed with this script.  The writers did a really great job of developing the characters so that I truly cared about the town of Sommerton Junction and its citizens.  Schwarzenegger plays the “High Noon”-esque lawman who decides to protect his town instead of yielding to the bad guys.  I never expected this to become one of my favorite of his roles.  The cast list is a bit deceptive, listing Forest Whitaker and Johnny Knoxville at the top even though their roles are much smaller than Jaimie Alexander, Luis Guzmán, and Eduardo Noriega.  The latter actors deserve more credit as they build our compassion toward the small town and distaste for the villain.  The action is spot on with over-the-top explosions and shootouts that don’t extend beyond reasonability.  The story has a bunch of twists, a great car chase, and the showdown that we all want.  There was actually probably only one thing that rubbed me the wrong way.  “This film was brought to you by Chevrolet…”  The product placement was a bit strong and took me out of the moment a few times even though I tried to ignore it.  Regardless, “The Last Stand” exceeds the level of acting and storyline that typifies the action genre and I will definitely be watching this one again.

[Pictured: Schwarzenegger proves that he isn't too old to be an action hero]

Nova: Meteor Strike - 8 stars out of 10

Nova: Meteor Strike - 8 stars out of 10

What is the difference between an asteroid, a meteor, and a meteorite?  This fascinating documentary will expand your knowledge of these giant rocks floating in space and the destructive powers they possess under the right circumstances.  In 2013, Russia was struck by the largest meteor since 1908.  This event was an enormous learning opportunity for the science community as the meteor was caught on video from many different angles.  The footage itself is stunning, but it is even more amazing once this event is put into a scientific context.  The destruction caused by the shockwave was brutal and we can only imagine the catastrophe that would have resulted had the meteor remained intact when it impacted Earth.  Even if you are not a science geek, you will get a lot out of this film because the 2013 event made it realistic.  I love the explanation of how the sound waves reverberated around the earth for an entire day after this impact.  “Meteor Strike” documentary plays out like a great disaster film, only we are now the ones at risk of being struck by a meteor.  Scientists did not see the meteor coming and who knows when our planet will spin into the trajectory of a meteor again.

[Pictured: The meteor flies over Russia - It's crazy that this was captured on film!]

The Apartment (1960) - 9 stars out of 10

The Apartment (1960) - 9 stars out of 10
1250th Review

“The Apartment” is one of those classics that soared at the box office, dominated the Oscars, and doesn’t really leave any room for criticism.  As Billy Wilder’s follow-up to “Some Like It Hot,” the film was destined for greatness with Jack Lemmon breathing life into its clever script.  I was a bit surprised at the content considering that this film came out in 1960; however, even though the film’s portrayal of adultery was controversial, let us remember that Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” premiered a day after “The Apartment’s” release.  This is one of the strangest love stories that I have ever seen, but that’s what makes it great.  It avoids predictability, goes to some very dark places, and the unconventional ending leaves us wanting more while creating a satisfying resolution.  Unlike many of our modern “dramedies” that combine comedy and drama into every scene, this film needs to be considered a “comedy and drama.”  The first act is pure comedy while the second act becomes a serious drama with a few moments of comic relief.  It doesn’t seem like it should work but the film seamlessly transitions from one to the other.  The glue that holds the story together is the chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.  Even before the love interest is introduced, you want them to end up together.  Their Oscar nominations were well deserved, as well as the Oscar wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best B&W Art Direction.  From the leads and strong supporting cast to the script and unexpected surprises, “The Apartment” is a well-rounded film that has stood the test of time and can still catch us by surprise today.

[Pictured: It's truly a joy to watch these two onscreen together]

Steel Magnolias (1989) - 5 stars out of 10

Steel Magnolias (1989) - 5 stars out of 10

“Steel Magnolias” was a decent chick flick but did not even come close to its reputation.  I have long heard that this was THE chick flick but lacked the great love story and comedy that I have come to expect.  I don’t want to discount Julia Roberts’ performance because she delivers a broad spectrum of emotions with veteran poise.  I was disappointed in Sally Field at first, but her subtle start gives her somewhere to grow until she reaches the amazing climax of her performance.  Unfortunately, the rest of the cast falls short.  Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis, and Shirley MacLaine were completely underutilized in the story, Daryl Hannah was pretty “eh…” and none of the men left much of an impression.  I do love the southern atmosphere that is captured on-screen.  The story was interesting but the ratio of comedy-to-drama was way too heavy on the drama side.  I am sure that I will really enjoy “Steel Magnolias” next time now that my expectation has been set so low, but I can think of dozens of chick flicks that I would rank higher than this one.

[Pictured: Dolly Parton and Olympia Dukakis have some great one-liners: "If you can't say something nice... sit by me!"]

Nature: Great Zebra Exodus - 6 stars out of 10

Nature: Great Zebra Exodus - 6 stars out of 10

PBS’s Nature series explores the nomadic life of zebras in this surprising documentary.  There are moments that will make zebras your new favorite animal as they play and run, but other moments that will make it hard to look at a zebra in the same way, like when the stallion realizes that one of the new foals is not his.  The documentary also gives some attention to the meerkats that live alongside the zebras in the saltpans of Botswana.  This installment in the Nature series is definitely not as good as “Raccoon Nation” or “My Life As A Turkey,” but it is still educational and contains some amazing shots of African wildlife.  I recommend “Great Zebra Exodus” to any fan of these striped creatures, but be prepared for one of the most brutal scenes that I have experienced in any movie.

[Pictured: As always, the Nature series captures incredible footage]