Annapolis (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: After dreaming about it for years, a blue-collar kid trained in the school of hard knocks (James Franco) is accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy, only to find that life in Annapolis is a pressure cooker. To prove himself in this cutthroat world, the struggling freshman enters a fiercely competitive boxing contest — but does he have what it takes to make it? Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster and Donnie Wahlberg co-star in this military drama.

Review: Annapolis is an okay movie, not great but not a total loss either. The inaccuracies as far as military policy, the Navy and the Academy were glaringly obvious and took away from the movie for me. I know it’s “Hollywood” but as a Navy wife, I expect accurate and realistic representation from a dramatic movie like this. The director/producers should have hired a better military advisor, especially since the Navy withdrew support on the film. I didn’t feel there was chemistry between the main character and the love interest (played by Brewster) so it’s probably a good thing that the romance story line never really developed completely. There was a definite sense of chemistry between the male characters though and that was the part of the movie I enjoyed the most. I wish the movie plot had focused more on the development of these characters, their interaction with each other and the transition from ‘individual’ to ‘team’ rather than the boxing angle. Great fight scenes but the boxing storyline was too cliche for me. Franco did well in his role and so did former New Kid, Wahlberg…I would have liked to have seen much more of him and his character in the movie. Vicellous Reon Shannon did a fantastic job in his role as well, I really felt for the character he played. Also, the relationship between father and son could have been explored more thoroughly and really improved the impact of Annapolis.

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Submitted by: Brandy 7/31/06

Grey’s Anatomy: Season 1 (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: An overwhelming critical and popular success, this Emmy-nominated medical drama stars Ellen Pompeo (leading an ensemble cast) as Meredith Grey, a first-year surgical intern at Seattle Grace Hospital. Guided by a skillful team of dedicated doctors, Meredith and her fellow interns struggle with life-and-death decisions, the pressures of a highly stressful career and the usual but no less significant complications of their personal lives.

Review: Finished watching this show. There were only 2 discs and 9 shows in all. I can’t wait until Season 2. I just wish it was further in advance of the start of the 3rd season. I really love this show. It’s from such a nice new perspective, the interns, instead of the patient’s.

Submitted by: Kathryn 7/31/06

The Benchwarmers (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Athletically challenged misfits Clark (Jon Heder), Gus (Rob Schneider) and Richie (David Spade) learn it’s never too late to go for the glory in this goofy sports comedy that proves every (under)dog has its day. Humiliated as children on the baseball field, the now-adult trio of losers forms a three-man team to take on the top Little League squads, becoming unlikely champions for every uncoordinated kid with dreams of being a home-run hero.

Review: I admit to not being a diehard fan of Rob Schneider, Adam Sandler or Happy Madison Productions. Their movies are often raunchier than I prefer but I was very pleasantly surprised by The Benchwarmers. Yes, the gross-out fart/booger jokes are there but surprisingly there are very few references to sex (more vague references than anything specific). Most of the offensiveness comes into play with the sterotypical “jocks” vs “nerds” and how the jocks treat the nerds but that’s part of the journey to the moral to the film…and yes, there is actually a very good moral theme in the movie. Bullying hurts, people have feelings, everyone deserves respect and it’s never too late for making things right. The last game and after party with all the kids were actually very touching scenes. Besides the moral lesson in the film, it is also a pretty hilarious comedy, we laughed almost the whole way through. Rob Schneider played a great “sensitive good guy” and Jon Heder reprises some of the deadpan comedy that made Napoleon Dynamite so hilarious, albeit a much grosser version of him. All in all, The Benchwarmers, with the moral lesson and the goofy comedy and sight gags, is a valuable movie that appeals to a wide audience. Much tamer than most Happy Madison movies but I enjoyed it so much more for that very reason.

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Submitted by: Brandy 7/30/06

Devil’s Playground (2002)

Netflix Synopsis: When Amish teens turn 16, they have the opportunity to venture out in the “Devil’s Playground” (the Amish’s term for the outside world) and indulge in 21st century vices such as drinking and smoking. At the end of this period, called “Rumspringa,” they can choose to commit to the church for good. Or not. This documentary tracks 18-year-old Faron’s struggle to reconcile his drug addiction with his deeply ingrained desire to live the Amish life.

Review: This was an intersting documentary. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with the Amish lifestyle. Maybe even envious of the simplicity and peacefulness of their existence, their unwavering faith and whole-hearted dedication to the Lord. I didn’t learn anything new about the Amish life from this documentary that I didn’t already know except that they face the same issues with their teens as anyone else…the sex, drugs and excess that’s rampant among our youth. I did have a change of opinion as a result of watching this documentary though. I used to think rumspringa was a great idea. Instead of fighting our children’s will to explore and experiment, let them sow their wild oats and get it out of their system. I thought that since Amish children had such a solid faithful upbringing in the church that they would not be as wild as other children and this documentary disproves that in a big way. In fact, it seems that since the children are deprived of so much of the outside world that when they are finally given permission to explore it, they don’t have the tools to deal with the “culture shock”. They are very poorly educated in the ways of the world and seemingly are not taught about STD’s, drugs and alcohol like the rest of America’s youth who are bombarded with campaign after campaign aimed at education and awareness. Despite this fact, the statistics astounded me….. 90% of Amish teens return to the faith and join the church after Rumspringa. But I still wonder, of the 10% who don’t return, how many are dead as a result of the lack of education? I still think the Amish faith is fascinating and a lifestyle that is appealing in it’s simplicity but I think that progress isn’t always a bad thing and educating youth about the perils of the world is an absolute must, whether Amish or English.

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Submitted by: Brandy 7/29/06

Celebrity News Reels: America’s Favorite Housewives (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: If you like “Desperate Housewives,” then you’ll love this unauthorized look at the stars who make the outrageous suburban drama come to life. Culled from hours of candid footage shot by well-known paparazzi photographer E.L. Woody, this installment of the Celebrity News Reels series captures actors Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Jesse Metcalfe, Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman, among others, in unguarded moments in their not-so-private lives.

Review: I love Desperate Housewives and was looking forward to a candid look at the lives of the actresses from the show but this is quite possibly the worst documentary I have ever seen. The narration was nothing more than a basic summary of each actress with very very very minimal detail…past roles, past relationships and how they became a Desperate Housewife. I did not expect nor want to see a sordid exploration of the actresses private lives but I did expect more access to their public lives such as on set footage and more detail as to what their life is like being a part of that cast.The footage is very bland shots, mostly of the actresses entering and leaving buildings and signing autographs. I guess I shouldn’t have expected much more than brief glimpses from a Paparazzo cameraman.

Rating:

Submitted by: Brandy 7/29/06

The Benchwarmers (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Athletically challenged misfits Clark (Jon Heder), Gus (Rob Schneider) and Richie (David Spade) learn it’s never too late to go for the glory in this goofy sports comedy that proves every (under)dog has its day. Humiliated as children on the baseball field, the now-adult trio of losers forms a three-man team to take on the top Little League squads, becoming unlikely champions for every uncoordinated kid with dreams of being a home-run hero.

Review: My kids and I got a kick out of this movie…especially my boys. There are quite a few funny parts, although there are also some parts that you just sit there and go, ummm, ok. Jon Heder was hysterical, even though this role was basically another Napoleon Dynamite. David Spader has a brother in the movie, and that character had me laughing hysterically.

Rating:

Submitted by: Lisa 7/29/06

Doris Day: It’s Magic (2000)

Netflix Synopsis: When the cameras rolled, Doris Day wore a happy face, never hinting at the pain she endured when the klieg lights were turned off. This documentary brings viewers close to the real Doris Day through the eyes of her friends and family members and with the help of film footage, newsreels and photographs. What surfaces is a complex picture of an equally complicated woman who faced problems far more formidable than her cinematic image revealed.

Review: This is a wonderful documentary, a definite “must-see” for any Doris Day fan. The documentary doesn’t sugar-coat the struggles that Doris Day had to surmount during her life but it is very much presented in a classy and respectable way, as befits the dignified actress. Doris Day was and is the epitome of good taste, decorum and respectibility with a twist of fun and lightheartedness. There are very few (if any) actresses who have her glow and radiance, her gorgeous voice and her easy charm and likeability. This documentary follows the path of a career spanning more then 5 decades, a career that made her a legend. A talented actress, an amazing vocalist, a beautiful person, an excellent role model…Doris Day is the quintessential “Girl Next Door” and truly America’s Sweetheart for all time.

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Submitted by: Brandy 7/25/06

When a Stranger Calls (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Simon West directs this 21st century remake of the chilling 1979 original, following the harrowing experiences of teenage babysitter Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle). After tucking in her charges, locking the door and setting the alarm, Jill begins receiving phone calls from an increasingly menacing prankster who insists she “check the children.” Trouble is, once she traces the calls, she discovers they’re coming from inside the house.

Review: Watched this yesterday with hubby, it was okay, glad I didn’t pay to see it at the movies. I prefer the original one better, but that’s just me!!!! This one was to cliche and so predictable!

Submitted by: Missy 7/25/06

Mean Girls (2004)

Netflix Synopsis: After growing up abroad, young teenager Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) moves to Chicago, where she quickly makes inroads into the most popular clique in high school — that is, until the ex-boyfriend of one of the clique members falls in love with Cady … then there’s hell to pay. Co-stars Tina Fey, Lizzy Caplan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Daniel Franzese, Tim Meadows, Jonathan Bennett, Wai Choy and Ana Gasteyer.

Review: I’ve wanted to see this movie for a while, but haven’t because I figured it would be a pretty lame teen movie. Being a 30-something, it was 20 years since I was in high school and felt I would no longer enjoy a movie such as this. I’m happy to say; I was wrong and really enjoyed this movie. Although, for me I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the 8 or 9 bucks to see it in a movie theater, seeing it on DVD was the way to go. I probsbly would not have enjoyed it as much in a theater, surrounded by teenagers, but in the privacy of my home, I was able to. It rings true as much today as it did 20+ years ago.

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Submitted by: Kathryn 7/23/06

The Transporter 2 (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: In this action-packed sequel, former Special Forces officer Frank Martin (Jason Statham) comes out of retirement to track down kidnappers who are part of a larger plot. Now a chauffer to a wealthy family, Martin has bonded with his employer’s son, Jack — so when Jack is abducted, Martin springs into action to save him. It doesn’t take long for Martin to realize he’ll need to use all his skills to stop the villains from carrying out a sinister master plan.

Review: Ok movie. Original was more entertaining. Frank had a nice relationship with little Jack. The villians are ugly & evil. Lots of fight scenes.

Submitted by: Mel 7/23/06