Incident at Loch Ness (2004)

Netflix Synopsis: The quiet town of Loch Ness is invaded by a gaggle of off-kilter filmmakers in this clever mockumentary. Funded by producer Zak Penn, eccentric German director Werner Herzog heads to Scotland to shoot a documentary about Loch Ness Monster lore. John Bailey also arrives to shoot a film that reveals Herzog’s creative process. Meanwhile, it becomes apparent that Penn had ulterior motives in his casting choices, and both films begin to fall apart.

Review: A mockumentary of the film production process in general, acclaimed director Werner Herzog (Fitzcarraldo; Aguirre) goes to Scotland to film a documentary about Nessie, but little does he know that he’s about to get “punk’ed” himself. From the jerkwad producer who thinks he knows everything but knows nothing, to the stooge crypto-zoologist to the Playboy model hired to be the sonar operator (remember, this is supposed to be a documentary!), to members of the crew that flee the production 2 days into the shoot, this film isn’t as blatant as Christopher Guest’s great mockumentaries, but is every bit as funny and engrossing. When I was watching the credits and special features, I still couldn’t tell if Herzog was in on the joke. Very smart, very funny.

Submitted by: Audrey 10/30/06

Yasujiro Ozu’s Good Morning (1959)

Netflix Synopsis: Depicting suburban Tokyo in the 1950s and the ordered social structure of Japanese culture, this film tells the story of two Japanese boys who beg their parents for a television set, nagging incessantly until they’re ordered to be quiet. The children take the command literally and refuse to speak — at all. Their disobedience and bad manners begin to take a toll on their family as well as the community in which they live.

Review: Light-hearted look into Japanese 1950s culture with deeper meanings on how the wheels of social stricture are lubricated by the oils of necessary banalities like “good morning, how are you, fine weather isn’t it?” (thus, the title of the movie) But all wrapped up in a nice 90 minute flatulence joke - yep, you heard me! The main story revolves around the two brothers who want a TV and keep complaining to their parents about buying one - the parents finally have enough and tell their kids to be quiet - so the kids essentially go on a “silence strike” and refuse to say anything at all. (The younger brother, Isamu, is the cutest!!) I completely fell in love with this film and can’t wait to see Ozu’s other works.

Submitted by: Audrey 10/30/06

Monster House (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Monsters under the bed are bad enough, but what happens when an entire house is out to get you? In this animated adventure-thriller produced by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, three teens go up against a decrepit neighboring home and unlock its frightening secrets. The all-star voice cast includes Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jon Heder, Jason Lee, Catherine O’Hara, Kathleen Turner and Fred Willard.

Review: Monster House is great! I am 33 years old and it spooked me, I can’t believe my 4 year old didn’t lose his mind and freak out watching this movie!! He did get very wide-eyed and quiet a few times though! Monster House has a few laughs and takes a couple of stabs at “over the kids head” adult humor but overall this is a great edge of the seat animated thriller for most of the family. Monster House is suitable for most older kids but don’t be fooled by the animation angle..young ones may not be able to handle it. I would seriously consider your kids age & maturity before they watch this because Monster House really does have some intense and scary moments. There are some plot points that could be considered sensitive as well. Lying, stealing, drinking beer (not the small kids, an older teen/young adult) and dangerous/unsafe choices being made by the main characters at times. Definitely a movie to watch WITH your kids instead of them watching it alone.

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Submitted by: Brandy 10/29/06

An American Haunting (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek star as tormented heads of household in this haunting period drama, based on the only documented case in U.S. history in which a spirit caused a man’s death. Enduring the supernatural acts of a cruel ghost known as “Old Kate,” John and Lucy Bell (Sutherland and Spacek) do their best to protect their daughter (played by British actress Rachel Hurd-Wood, who’s a dead ringer for an adolescent Spacek).

Review: Taken on the surface with no prior knowledge of the Bell Witch legend, An American Haunting delivers a a mediocre scare despite the overuse and abuse of what I refer to as “jump scenes” - where a scary image or a loud noise causes one to jump in their seat. Too many of those and the distracted viewer loses the focus on the plot because they are too busy anticipating the next “jump”. Most of the movie moves along and follows the basics of the legend until the end of the movie where there is a spin on the haunting that I didn’t see coming and I was very disappointed. I am a purist and I feel like an events based movie should stick to it’s roots and not deviate from well-documented, well known “facts” especially when the events are as well studied and known as the Bell Witch Haunting. I couldn’t even mentally make the connection between the haunting and the twist at the end until I watched the deleted scenes in the DVD Special Features because they edited the explanation. So, my opinion is if you want a mildly scary movie and don’t care about the real legend behind the film, this is a passably entertaining movie. If you are a purist like me, don’t waste your time because the ending will really irritate you.

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Submitted by: Brandy 10/29/06

Misery (1990)

Netflix Synopsis: Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) rescues romance novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) when a backwoods smashup traps the gravely injured author in his car. Annie — Sheldon’s biggest fan — seizes the chance to nurse him back to health. But she morphs from nurturing rescuer to sadistic jailer upon discovering that the writer plans to kill off her heroine, Misery, in his next volume. Bates’ disturbing performance netted her a Best Actress Oscar.

Review: Just watched Misery last night; the one based on the Stephen King novel. Good movie, very suspenseful, but no blood or guts. It was more of a thriller, rather than horror. I don’t know why it took me so long to see it (over 15 years); it came out in 1990, when I was still in college and easily had the time to see movies at the show or even the campus cinema, where the price was even cheaper. I can see why Kathy Bates was up for an Oscar nomination; her acting was superb; did she win?

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Submitted by: Kathryn 10/28/06

Nacho Libre (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: After spending his childhood in a Mexican monastery, Ignacio (Jack Black) decides to remain there and work as a cook, mostly to be close to beautiful Sister Encarnación (Ana de la Reguera). So it’s natural that when he learns the orphanage is in financial trouble, he pitches in to help — by disguising himself and joining the professional wrestling circuit as a luchador named Nacho. But there will be hell to pay if the church elders find out!

Review: Dismally boring! I usually like Jack Black, loved him in School of Rock and King Kong especially. I thought I was going to LOVE Nacho Libre and was surprised when it fell flat for me. Nacho Libre literally put me to sleep so I can’t really write a review based on the entire movie, only the first 40 minutes or so. I have a young teen who loves these kinds of movies, fart jokes included, but both he AND my husband fell asleep watching this as well. I could tell when I was “supposed” to laugh but I just didn’t see the humor and the sight gags were entirely too predictable. I don’t understand the comparisons to Hess’ excellent Napoleon Dynamite… ND was stupidly brilliant, Nacho Libre is just stupid. I read the reviews that called Nacho Libre “hilarious” ..WHEN was it hilarious?? Had to be the last 40 minutes I missed or did I get a freak edited version that no one else got?

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Submitted by: Brandy 10/28/06

Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)

Netflix Synopsis: For as long as Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) can remember, he’s had a passion for playing soccer, a pastime his father wishes he’d give up. But when British scout Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane) spies Santiago playing in an amateur match, Foy persuades him to come to England — and the world soon takes notice. Some of the hottest stars from the world of football, including David Beckham and Zinédine Zidane, make cameos in this action-packed romp.

Review: Even though I’m not much of a sports fan, I really enjoyed this movie. Seems I’ve enjoyed a lot of sports based movies lately. It’s so nice to watch a movie with (unknown to me) actors about something real - a dream. Santiago is a wonderful character, as is his Grandmother. Even an early scene with a group of illegals crossing the border had me feeling for them. The ending was good too. And you gotta love British accents
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Submitted by: Mel 10/27/06

The Magic of Flight: IMAX (1996)

Netflix Synopsis: From the Wright brothers’ first rudimentary experiments at Kitty Hawk to the rigorous training of today’s U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, this mind-boggling documentary deftly navigates the history of aviation. Cameras mounted on planes’ bellies, noses and cockpits provide an up-close view of what the amazing flying machines are capable of as well as the camerawork necessary to capture it on film. Tom Selleck narrates.

Review: It’s another IMAX movie and this is a MUST see for you Navy wives. It has a lot of coverage on the Blue Angels, only the best precision flying team in the world (imo). They do cover some other stuff but of course the Blue Angels were the primary focus. Funny, I watched this during the time they were here in San Diego and didn’t even realize that was what this show was about.

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Submitted by: Bear 10/26/06

American Dreamz (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Politics meets showbiz and 21st century pop culture in director Paul Weitz’s mordant comedy. For the first time in four years, President Staton (Dennis Quaid) picks up a newspaper and soon becomes a virtual hermit as he begins questioning his narrow worldview. Unnerved by the president’s behavior — and to get him back in the limelight — his chief of staff (Willem Dafoe) books him as a guest judge on the hit talent show “American Dreamz.”

Review: American Dreamz is an irreverent and campy attempt at satire that comes close but just can’t seem to pull it off with finesse. Although there were a few amusing scenes, I didn’t really find the movie to be all that funny. Many of the spoof jokes are racially/ethnically/socially driven and they fall flat, I often felt awkward and uncomfortable. It’s one thing to be able to laugh at our societal differences, stereotypes and the world situation but it’s quite another to lampoon them in a way that comes across as insolent and intolerant and American Dreamz toes that line…especially with the Soldier story line. It’s just in very bad taste to mock an injured war veteran, I was not amused. The actors were great, I just couldn’t enjoy the plot of the movie.

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Submitted by: Brandy 10/23/06

The Omen 666 (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Grieving American ambassador Robert Thorn (Liev Schreiber) brings home another baby to soften the blow when his wife, Katherine (Julia Stiles), loses their first child during labor. But as young Damien (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) grows up, horrific things begin to happen as his devilish lineage asserts itself. Mia Farrow, David Thewlis and Pete Postlethwaite round out the cast in this chilling remake of the 1976 horror classic.

Review: Not scary, not frightening, not chilling, not a great remake. The chemistry between the actors was non-existent. I usually like Julia Stiles but her performance in this movie was wooden and unemotional. The little boy playing Damien looked more like a petulant, spoiled child with his bottom lip sticking out as he sulked and glared rather than the spawn of Satan set to take over the world during Armageddon. Just thinking about the events of Revelations is enough to make my hair stand on end usually so the fact that I yawned all the way through The Omen 666 is very telling. The DVD Extra documentary about the 666 phenomenon was much more interesting than the actual movie, watch it instead!

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Submitted by: Brandy 10/23/06