Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Herbie the Love Bug is back on track and ready for action in this update of the classic Disney film series. Still sporting the Number 53, the feisty Volkswagen bug is now owned by Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan). Free-wheeling Herbie and speed-demon Maggie meet with plenty of adventures — on the road and off — as they prepare to compete in the world-famous NASCAR races. Michael Keaton, Matt Dillon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. costar.

Review: Cute movie. Nothing outstanding or amazing about it.Just an entertainingly mindless family movie with a few stand-out funny moments, better for younger kids than older.My oldest sat through the movie saying “yeah, right, that’s impossible” over and over again and we kept having to remind him that it’s “Hollywood, anything is possible”, even cars that smile and wink, lol.

Submitted by: Brandy 10/31/05

House of Wax (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: A group of friends on their way to a college football game fall prey to two murderous brothers in an abandoned small town. They discover that the brothers have expanded upon the area’s main attraction — the House of Wax — and created an entire town filled with the wax-coated corpses of unlucky visitors. Now, the group must escape before they, too, become permanent exhibits. Stars Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray and, yes, Paris Hilton!

Review: I am NOT a huge fan of horror or slasher flicks normally but I had to watch this one. I wanted to see if Paris Hilton actually had any talent other than being rich and it doesn’t hurt that Chad Michael Murray is such a cutie! I was not surprised to see that Paris’ talent is minimal, at best. Good thing she has so few lines and little to do with the actual main plot of the movie. I do have to say I was surprised that I actually liked House of Wax.I was on the edge of my seat at all the appropriate times and (after a slow start) the movie kept me engaged. The special effects in the movie were pretty good, especially at the end with the wax melting scenes. I will never be able to go to a Wax Museum again without thinking of this movie though!

Submitted by: Brandy 10/31/2005

Bewitched (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Nora Ephron directs this comedy about a film production of the 1960s sitcom. Hoping to revive his career, washed-up actor Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) is convinced that Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman) is the perfect Samantha to his Darrin. Wyatt doesn’t know how right he is: Isabel actually is a witch. Isabel’s mettlesome father (Michael Caine) tries to derail the production, but gets sidetracked by the actress portraying Endora (Shirley MacLaine).

Review: Bewitched was cute. I really like Nicole Kidman. It was upbeat &funny. I remember watching Bewitched on tv & always liking it. It was neat to see some older actors in this movie also. I liked that it had a happy ending, all wrapped up neat like a package. Nothing serious, just fun & cute.

Submitted by: Mel 10/30/05

The Confession (1999)

Netflix Synopsis: Two 2004 Oscar nominees, Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin, are featured in this made-for-TV legal drama. A New York lawyer (Baldwin) with his eyes on the D.A.’s office has a crisis of conscience when he must defend a man (Kingsley) who killed three hospital workers who ignored his dying son. Problem is, the defendant actually wants to be convicted. Based on the novel Fertig by Sol Yurick.

Review: [This] was pretty good. Alec Baldwin was in this. I think it was a made for tv movie, but I don’t remember ever seeing it before. The ending wasn’t what I expected. Serious crime/lawyer drama type movie, without having to figure out who did it.

Submitted by: Mel 10/30/05

Sin City (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Murder, corruption and cover-ups are all part of Sin City’s daily routine in this dark film that weaves three tales from Frank Miller’s graphic novels. Marv (Mickey Rourke) is a psychotic outcast who seeks vengeance for Goldie’s (Jaime King) murder; Dwight (Clive Owen) kills a cop and must cover it up; and nearly retired cop Hartigan (Bruce Willis) is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Benicio Del Toro, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson costar.

Review: I was not expecting much from this film, and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the look and feel, I loved the stories and I loved the acting. It was a bit violent and over the top in spots, but in a sort of Tarantino kind of way. The cast included some greats like Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke and Benicio Del Toro. Even Jessica Alba’s character was well acted. It was engaging and interesting for sure. I liked it a lot. I recommend watching it at least once, if for no other reason, the visual style is captivating.

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Submitted by: Heather 10/16/05

Crash (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: A 36-hour period in the diverse metropolis of post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles is the theme of this unflinching drama that challenges viewers to confront their prejudices. Lives combust when a Brentwood housewife and her D.A. husband, a Persian shopkeeper, two cops, a pair of carjackers and a Korean couple all converge. Director Paul Haggis’s Best Picture Oscar winner stars Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and Jennifer Esposito.

Review: This movie is quite disturbing because it stays with you long after you are done watching. How many times do we catch ourselves thinking someone is a bad person because of their ethnic background, or because of the way society portrays their ethnic background? There were some amazing performances from Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle and Matt Dillon. We see the prejudices against a Mexican locksmith, a Persian shopkeeper, and a Korean couple just to name a few. Those who are doing wrong, those who are assumed to be doing wrong, and those who are doing right all cross paths in this absolutely amazing film. An definite must see movie.

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Submitted by: Heather 10/16/05

Dear Frankie (2004)

Netflix Synopsis: Faced with the prospect of raising her son, Frankie (Jack McElhone), with a good-for-nothing man, Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) spirits him away to Scotland and pretends the boy’s father is aboard the HMS Accra. After years of pretending, including sending Frankie fake letters detailing his dad’s adventures, the jig is up when Frankie learns the ship is docked by their home. Now, Lizzie must find a man to pose as Frankie’s father ¦ fast!

Review: This was a good movie about the love between a mother and her son. Frankie is deaf and his parents split up when he was very young. To help him have a male to bond with, his mother encourages him to write letters to his dad, which are actually delivered to her. She replies to him as if she were his father, which gives Frankie the hope that someday he might actually get to see his father. When the time comes, his mother has to find a man to play the part to protect Frankie’s fragile emotions. It is a beautiful story, with gorgeous scenery and is very well acted. I definitely recommend it.

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Submitted by: Heather 10/16/05

Hide and Seek (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: In this psychological thriller, widowed father David Callaway (Robert De Niro) desperately tries to prevent his disturbed, 9-year old daughter (Dakota Fanning) from slipping into insanity. Concerned by her inability to cope with her mother’s death, David discovers that his little girl is spending time with a creepy imaginary friend — who has vengeance on his mind. Famke Janssen, Elisabeth Shue, Dylan Baker and Amy Irving costar.

Review: Overall, the movie was decent, but I did have some issues. First of all, Robert De Niro is 62 years old, and Amy Irving is 52 years old… why on earth were they chosen to play the parents of a 9 or 10 year old girl, who was played by Dakota Fanning. This little girl was not supposed to be adopted or anything, and I know parents can have children later in life, but I had a hard time buying this part of the story. Dakota Fanning plays Emily, a little girl who is having a hard time adjusting to the suicide of her mother, or so we believe. To help her adjust and start over, her father decides they are moving somewhere very quiet. Everyone we meet in this town gives off creepy vibes. I know it was written that way to keep us guessing but it seemed like some sort of bad dream. Emily meets her invisible friend Charlie and total chaos ensues. Without giving anything away, I had a difficult time with Robert De Niro in the last 20-30 minutes of the movie. I think it might have been better with a different actor. De Niro is too established to play characters like this one. Overall, it might be worth watching on a rainy night, but it could just as easily be skipped without regret.

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Submitted by: Heather 10/16/05