The Day After (1983)

Netflix Synopsis: This stirring made-for-TV movie depicts the aftermath of nuclear disaster as it follows the lives of a handful of residents of Lawrence, Kan., including a professor (John Lithgow), a doctor (Jason Robards), a young woman (Lori Lethin) and a college student (Steve Guttenberg). Tension rises as radiation levels increase and Americans must find ways to survive against all odds — physically, mentally and emotionally.

Review: My 14 year old just did a big science presentation in Nuclear Energy and was interested enough to learn more about the affects of Nuclear power and bombs so he put this in his queue. I was 11 years old when it showed on TV for the first time and I remember being banned from watching it by my parents…the fear of a nuclear attack was a constant for my parents generation and mine, and they felt that it was better not to frighten me or my brother any more than we already were. I remember quite well the simmering-below-the-surface hysteria our country dealt with during the Cold War. I did eventually see it a few years later and I was horrified and petrified, this movie scared the bejeebies out of me….worse than any horror or thriller movie I have ever seen. I have seen it several times since and it still does. It’s definitely cheesy cinematography and acting by today’s standards but it was brilliant stuff as far as TV movies went in the 80’s so the focus today should be on the actual lesson the movie presents, it’s still a message that needs to be seen & heard again and again. A chilling movie that packs an emotional punch, one of the very best activist-for-a-cause movies ever made.

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Submitted by: Brandy 5/30/06

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Tom (Steve Martin) and Kate Baker (Bonnie Hunt) continue to juggle the demands of an extra-large brood in this sequel that has the family meeting its nemesis in the form of the equally gigantic Murtaugh clan. Led by an overly competitive patriarch (Eugene Levy) and his sexy new wife (Carmen Electra), the Murtaughs are hell-bent on wrecking the Bakers’ idyllic lake vacation in this supersized comedy co-starring Hillary Duff and Piper Perabo.

Review: Cute movie, I liked it well enough but could have lived without seeing it and not lost any sleep. The first one was much better. CBtD2 plays more on the family rivalry angle than the hilarity of raising 12 kids, like the first one did. This one just wasn’t as funny to me and the syrupy ending was a little too sweet and perfect.

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Submitted by: Brandy 5/30/06

Derailed (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Charles (Clive Owen), a successful ad exec and devoted family man, meets a sexy woman (Jennifer Aniston) on his morning commute. Their flirtatious, casual affair turns serious (but not in the way either expected) when a criminal pulls them into a dangerous plot. Now, with their lives thrown off-kilter, Charles and his paramour must turn the tables on the bad guys to save their families. Mikael Hafstrom directs.

Review: I saw the twist coming a half mile away but I was still interested enough to invest a couple of hours into letting this story unfold. The acting was great, both Clive and Jennifer were able to make you care about their characters even when you want to despise them…I was even able to NOT think of Jennifer as Rachel from Friends, which has been hard for me to do in her past movies, lol. Charles wife (played by Melissa George) is what my grandmother used to call “milk and water”, or insipid. Some of the choices made by Charles were unbelievable to me and throughout 95% of the movie, he is meek, weak, impotent and impuissant. Definitely not a hero movie but the ending finally rewards the viewer with some satisfaction/resolution.

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Submitted by: Brandy 5/30/06

Rumor Has It (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Jennifer Aniston leads an all-star cast in this romantic comedy from director Rob Reiner. Recently engaged, aspiring journalist Sarah Huttinger (Aniston) still isn’t sure what she wants from life. But on her way home to attend her sister’s wedding, Sarah meets an Internet billionaire (Kevin Costner) who reveals some long-buried secrets about Sarah’s family that put a whole new spin on her past — and may change the direction of her future.

Review: I really enjoyed this movie, it was another surprisingly well-turned performance from Kevin Costner. I found new respect for his acting abilities in The Upside of Anger and he continues his “A” game with Rumor Has it. This movie was able to take from the original story of The Graduate and build upon that foundation to continue the supposed “legacy” and to my surprise, it does manage to pull this off…honestly, I wasn’t expecting great things due to reading other reviews and assumed the whole plot would be a cheesy “Act 2″ that never should have been. Mark Ruffalo’s character was by far the best…what girl could not adore a man who can spontaneously give her father a comforting hug, a man he has known for mere minutes????? *dreamy sigh* Shirley McClaine steals every scene she is in though, what a riot!!

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Submitted by: Brandy 5/30/06

The Forgotten (2004)

Netflix Synopsis: A desperate mother tries to prove the existence of her missing son in this chilling psychological thriller. Unable to cope with the loss of her 8-year-old boy, Telly Paretta (Julianne Moore) seeks counsel from a psychiatrist (Gary Sinise), who tells her that her son was merely a figment of her imagination. After meeting another parent (Dominic West) with the same story, Telly sets out to uncover the truth. Also stars Alfre Woodard.

Review: Finally got to watch this! This is somewhat of a strange movie. Neither the actual theatrical ending or alternative ending was all that satisfying. I’m glad I did not spend the money and see this in the theater.

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Submitted by: Kathryn 5/30/06

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Two sheepherders — Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar (Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger) — meet and fall in love while working together near Wyoming’s Brokeback Mountain in 1963. Over the next 20 years, their lives take different courses: Jack becomes a rodeo cowboy while Ennis remains a ranch hand. Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid and Michelle Williams co-star. Ang Lee directs screenwriter Larry McMurtry’s adaptation of a short story by E. Annie Proulx.

Review: I was curious & wanted to see what all the fuss was about. And I was sorry I did. Didn’t know they would be so… graphic in the love scenes (ffwd isn’t fast enough on dvd). Not something I would ever watch again. Aside from the gay aspect, I think it was a poor movie.

SPOILER: All I could think afterwards was a) sorry I watched it, and b) that the relationship ruined both their lives, not to mention the families.

Submitted by: Mel 5/28/06

A Time for Dancing (2000)

Netflix Synopsis: Best friends since the age of six, high schoolers Sam (Shiri Appleby) and Jules (Larisa Oleynik) share the mutual dream of becoming professional dancers. But the girls face territory unknown when Jules is diagnosed with cancer. The pair must reevaluate their futures and the way they live their lives while struggling to maintain their friendship as they cope with uncertainty. A Time for Dancing also stars Amy Madigan and Peter Coyote.

Review: A Time For Dancing is about 2 teenage girls/best friends whose lives revolve around dancing & their friendship. One girl wants to audition for Julliard and needs a physical to do that. All is well & good until she is diagnosed with cancer. Then the choices begin. Good movie.

Submitted by: Mel 5/26/06

National Geographic: China’s Lost Girls (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Reporter Lisa Ling (previously of ABC’s “The View”), accompanied by her team from her travel show, “National Geographic’s Ultimate Explorer,” flies off to China with American parents set to adopt baby girls, the casualties of the country’s long-standing one-child policy. In hewing to this strict rule, families wind up aborting, abandoning or hiding their daughters, many of whom end up in the United States, brought by couples longing for children.

Review: This weekend I watched the documentary, China’s Lost Girls again. I saw it back in October and since we are planning to start the paperwork to adopt a baby girl from China. I rented it again for my mom. We told my parents we are definitely starting on this. My mom was so excited , she watched the DVD twice. It is with Lisa Ling, who I forget what news show she is from, but she followed 3 or 4 couples on their journey to China to adopt their daughters. I give it 4 stars, but after seeing for the 3rd time (twice this weekend.) I am most probably had my fill of this particular video.

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Submitted by: Kathryn 5/23/06

Deep Impact (1998)

Netflix Synopsis: A seven-mile-wide space rock is hurtling toward Earth, threatening to obliterate the planet. Now, it’s up to the president of the United States (Morgan Freeman) to save the world. He appoints a tough-as-nails veteran astronaut (Robert Duvall) to lead a joint American-Russian crew into space to destroy the comet before impact. Meanwhile, an enterprising reporter (Tea Leoni) uses her smarts to uncover the scoop of the century.

Review: I saw this movie years ago when it first came out but my “natural-disaster fascinated” son received it from his queue so we watched it with him. It’s an excellent disaster movie, a forerunner to such movies as Day After Tomorrow and Armageddon and the special effects are wonderful. If you like these kinds of movies, this one is a “must see”.

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Submitted by: Brandy 5/21/06

The Weather Man (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: Chicago weatherman Dave Spitz (Nicolas Cage) gets one step closer to fame and fortune when he’s invited to try out for a spot on a popular national morning show. All he has to do is pull himself together, but that proves increasingly difficult as his marriage spirals out of control and his father (Michael Caine) gets sicker. Dave soon learns that while he may be able to predict tomorrow’s weather, he can’t stop life from raining on his parade.

Review: Life isn’t always beautiful. I am actually shocked that I liked this movie. It was a rough start and I almost turned it off after about 40 minutes but it did get better. I felt so sorry for Dave Spitz. He tried so hard to be a good guy and especially a good father and it just seemed like Life had it in for him. I think we all have days where we feel life is just beating the snot out of us and this movie, if it does nothing else, makes you realize your life isn’t so bad. Could have done without the cussing and the sex scene but still gave it…..3 Stars

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Submitted by: Brandy 5/21/06