The Painted Veil (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Shunned by a husband (Edward Norton) who’s more interested in his research, the simpleminded Kitty Fane (Naomi Watts) embarks on a quest for life fulfillment. Along the way, she ignites a passionate affair with a dashing womanizer (Liev Schreiber) and travels with her husband to the Far East, where she turns her attention to fighting the cholera epidemic. Diana Rigg co-stars in this period drama based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham.

Review: The Painted Veil is one of those films that should have garnered multiple Oscar nominations. Both Norton and Watts are past Oscar nominees, as are the majority of the production crew, including screenplay, cinematography, film editing and costuming. Director John Curran is a relative newcomer to Hollywood with only one other film that might be recognizable by an American audience (We Don’t Live Here Anymore), but he has already received a lot of critical acclaim in his thus far short career.

Due to post-production delays, however, The Painted Veil received very little critical notice and was granted a very limited release. It received a Golden Globe for Best Original Score but was completely ignored by the Academy. Despite problems with the release in the United States, The Painted Veil managed to break even on world-wide box office receipts and will therefore be a financially successful film after DVD sales are tallied.

So the question is, did The Painted Veil deserve a better reception? I think it did. It’s a film for adults about preconceived notions and the challenge of having a truly honest relationship. It’s about isolation, petty behavior and personal redemption. And, of course, it is about growth and the meaning of true love and passion. It’s pretty rare to find films that are really about something anymore, so this movie is a pleasure. That pleasure is magnified by Stuart Dryburgh’s stunning cinematography, and by the strong acting by both Ms. Watts and Mr. Norton.

This is not a happy movie; in fact, I was surprised by just how dark the film turned out to be. But it is beautiful, it is meaningful, and it is very worthwhile.

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Submitted by: Lori 5/29/07

Rose Red (2002)

Netflix Synopsis:In Stephen King’s chilling tale, psychology professor Dr. Joyce Reardon (Nancy Travis) commissions a team of psychics and a gifted 15-year-old (Kimberly J. Brown) to wake up a supposedly dormant haunted mansion known as Rose Red. Their efforts unleash myriad spirits and uncover horrifying secrets of the generations who have lived and died in the mansion.

Review: I am a pretty big fan of Stephen King novels, but I have not yet read Rose Red or the companion diary. Maybe I would have liked the mini better if I had read the book. After all, I liked The Stand mini, despite all its flaws, because I loved the book and have read both versions more than once. I have visited the Winchester Mystery House, upon which the book is supposedly based, but I can’t claim to have a big interest in the supernatural.

So, going in with no preconceived ideas about the story, I was bored stiff and actually probably wouldn’t have bothered to finish the movie if it wasn’t the MOTM selection. The acting is cheesy, the CGI is unconvincing, and the portion of the novel that makes it to the big screen is a little on the silly side, IMO.

Honestly, it’s too bad that this book didn’t get Hollywood financing, because the story outline is certainly at least as good as Thirteen Ghosts or House on Haunted Hill. But the execution here ends up being amateur, and the end result just does not work.

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Submitted by: Lori 5/28/07

Rose Red (2002)

Netflix Synopsis:In Stephen King’s chilling tale, psychology professor Dr. Joyce Reardon (Nancy Travis) commissions a team of psychics and a gifted 15-year-old (Kimberly J. Brown) to wake up a supposedly dormant haunted mansion known as Rose Red. Their efforts unleash myriad spirits and uncover horrifying secrets of the generations who have lived and died in the mansion.

Review: As many of you may already know this house truly does exist. The true diary can be read as well “The Diary Of Ellen Rimbaugher” By Joyce Reardon (which might be worth reading BEFORE you see the movie). There is also a movie called The Diary of Ellen Rimbaugher as well but I think that to get a good start grab the book then the movies. Sooo add all that together plus Stephen King… you’ve got yourself a TRUE horror. One of my favorite films. I watch this one over and over and over again. The acting sometimes leaves something to be desired, but the storyline is so RICH and enticing that you hardly notice it most of the time. This is a MUST see movie for anyone who believe in the supernatural world. This is not a gory movie, just frighteningly real. It took me a while to go up dark stairways and halls… but I’m okay now lol. So to sum it up, if you’re okay with b-movies that are known for their mediocre acting but have a GREAT story check it out. It will be worth it!

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Submitted by: Lisa 5/28/07

Shrek the Third (2007)

Netflix Synopsis: Life in the swamp seems better than ever for Shrek and Fiona (voiced by Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz), until King Harold suddenly falls ill and the adorable ogre must find an acceptable heir or he’ll have to assume the throne. Joined by his faithful companions Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss-in-Boots (Antonio Banderas), Shrek tracks down Cousin Artie the future king as Fiona and Queen Lillian defend the kingdom from the insidious Prince Charming.

Review: Blessedly short (93 minutes) and mindlessly humorous, Shrek the Third does not pack the comedic punch of the first two films, but it is a fun diversion for a family matinee or date night out. There are enough adult-themed jokes to keep the adults in the crowd moderately entertained, and there are plenty of puke, poop and fart jokes to appease the youngsters, and the animation remains first-rate throughout.

Puss in Boots gets most of the really good lines in the film, and I hope this is the last in the series because it is starting to become a bit campy with all the one and two line cameos from various stars. Justin Timberlake is very strong as Artie, the only new character to get substantial screen time in this sequel, but all the regular characters pretty much just do their jobs without really breaking any new ground.

Overall, I think serious Shrek fans might be disappointed in this film. I liked the other two films, but I didn’t rate either of them as five stars, so maybe my expectations just weren’t all that high going in. I laughed, I didn’t fall asleep, and I went home from the theater in a good mood. That’s more than I can say for last summer’s big animated disappointment, Cars.

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Submitted by: Lori 5/21/07

Shrek the Third (2007)

Netflix Synopsis: Life in the swamp seems better than ever for Shrek and Fiona (voiced by Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz), until King Harold suddenly falls ill and the adorable ogre must find an acceptable heir or he’ll have to assume the throne. Joined by his faithful companions Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss-in-Boots (Antonio Banderas), Shrek tracks down Cousin Artie the future king as Fiona and Queen Lillian defend the kingdom from the insidious Prince Charming.

Review: I really liked this movie, even though it was more serious than the past ones. If you are looking for non-stop laughs you will be disappointed like many of the online reviewers. But if you are looking for a serious coming of age family story, with some of the funny edges of the fairy tale world, and very cute baby Dronkeys (Coco, Debbie, Peanut, Parfait, and Bananas) and baby monsters, it is wonderful. Snow White is so cool, and Prince Charming, for all his evilness (and jokes about his hair), is still very charming looking (Yes, my 24 year old fangirldom is showing) ..I felt sorry for him, really.

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Submitted by: Rebecca 5/21/07

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: In this fairy tale for adults, 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) stumbles on a decaying labyrinth guarded by Pan (Doug Jones), an ancient satyr who claims to know her destiny. With a new home, a new stepfather (Sergi Lopez) — a Fascist officer in the pro-Franco army — and a new sibling on the way, nothing is familiar to Ofelia in this multiple Oscar-nominated tale set in 1944 Spain from director Guillermo del Toro.

Review: Real or Fantasy? I choose fantasy. Although you can make a terrific point that Pan’s world was real and beneath the notice of jaded adults (as Rebecca did below) I think it was the little girl’s escape from the increasingly terrifying world around her. This seemed to be proven by her death in the end when she joined her dead parents.

Too violent? Certainly the violence prevented children from seeing this movie who might have otherwise enjoyed it. Was the violence necessary? Could director Guillermo Del Toro have gotten his point across in another way? I think he could have but it certainly would have changed the film quite a bit.

Spanish language — If this movie had been filmed in English, starring Andy Garcia and Catherine Zeta-Jones and maybe the little girl from the Narnia movie it probably would have done $150M at the box office. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the subtitles, but I wonder why Del Toro chose Spanish. I actually admire his bravery for doing so, because I’m pretty sure the studios would have preferred otherwise.

I’m gonna give this one four Netflix stars. I liked it a lot but it still lacked the impact for the full five stars (for this website I will probably give it 4.5 stars). It was also maybe too predictable in parts (could anyone NOT foresee that the mom was going to die in childbirth?).

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Submitted by: Randy 5/18/07

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: In this fairy tale for adults, 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) stumbles on a decaying labyrinth guarded by Pan (Doug Jones), an ancient satyr who claims to know her destiny. With a new home, a new stepfather (Sergi Lopez) — a Fascist officer in the pro-Franco army — and a new sibling on the way, nothing is familiar to Ofelia in this multiple Oscar-nominated tale set in 1944 Spain from director Guillermo del Toro.

Review: I was hoping for something akin to Labyrinth or Legend (the 80’s movies) and what I got was a tiny bit of fantasy in a mountain of a Schindler’s List like Spain. Maybe it is because someone in my family was in a war many years ago but I really dislike war movies. As a war movie I was glad the maker of the film did not make the little girl bitter as some writers love to do, she was still herself with all the war and death around her. But I have to say I think that many reviewers who say she just ‘escapes to a fantasy world’ are IMHO missing the point. I think that Pan and the whole background story of his world are real (so old that they are now ‘just’ a fairy tale to most) in the film and the adults are simply the ones too jaded around her to see it: things like the root being alive, the chalk making doors (after all, where would she get chalk in at war Spain? It really makes you wonder.), and lastly, Pan himself. While she does, to me, really leave the mortals for something better, making the ending a bit more happy, I do not rate this movie high for fantasy lovers. The effects are amazing, but you get so little of them (more of a summary than a full fairy tale ) and in place of it, so much blood (I wonder how much of the budget they spent on fake blood) that it had me pushing the fast forward button more than once.

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Submitted by: Rebecca 5/17/07

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: In this fairy tale for adults, 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) stumbles on a decaying labyrinth guarded by Pan (Doug Jones), an ancient satyr who claims to know her destiny. With a new home, a new stepfather (Sergi Lopez) — a Fascist officer in the pro-Franco army — and a new sibling on the way, nothing is familiar to Ofelia in this multiple Oscar-nominated tale set in 1944 Spain from director Guillermo del Toro.

Review: To start this movie is definitely NOT for kids. VERY gory at parts. I really enjoyed this movie even though it was not in English and you have to rely on subtitles throughout the whole thing. The story is suburb, the acting is VERY well done. The imagination surpasses that of Harry Potter in some parts. I kept thinking this is like a Brothers Grimm fairytale gone over to the dark side. There is even a moment where you think you might have stumbled into a character from Hellraiser… yeah it’s a little scary/nasty. The effects were pretty great too. If you have the urge to be a kid again then you should see this movie. Very impressive.

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Submitted by: Lisa 5/16/07

Dreamgirls (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Twenty-five years after its Broadway debut, the definitive girl-group musical, earning the most Oscar nods in 2007, finally makes its way to the screen with Bill Condon at the helm and a dream cast that includes Jamie Foxx and Beyoncé Knowles. A trio of women have high hopes for fame but end up paying a high price for it. Eddie Murphy plays James Early (in an Oscar-nominated role), and Jennifer Hudson took home the golden statuette for playing strong but slighted Effie.

Review: Okay, first off this movie is a musical. I didn’t realize that until I started watching it. The breaking out in song in the middle of dialog is almost foreign anymore, nobody does it. Now that is not a bad thing, just letting all of you know so that if you’re not into that then you can move past this one. As few people knew beforehand, Eddie Murphy can sing, this movie proves he can. He has an incredible voice.. BUT it doesn’t hold a CANDLE to Jennifer Hudson. Ladies & Gentlemen PREPARE for goosebumps on this one. Hudson’s performance throughout this movie is PHENOMENAL, moving, and just plain the best thing I have heard in a LONG time. No offense to Beyonce’ but Hudson surpasses her by miles. The story is very good, a little long at times with all the broken dialog and songs. The conclusion is bittersweet but satisfying. I would say that this one should be on your must see list..just because it’s so different and the talent is oozing out of this one.

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Submitted by: Lisa 5/12/07

Music and Lyrics (2006)

Netflix Synopsis: Has-been and former 1980s pop star Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) gets the comeback chance of a lifetime thanks to quirky lyricist Sophie (Drew Barrymore) in this romantic comedy. When teen singing sensation Cora Corman asks Alex to write a song and record the duet with her, Alex can’t refuse — but he also can’t write lyrics. Alex’s luck changes when he meets Sophie, and when the two sit down to write, the chemistry turns solid gold.

Review: This movie was cute, but I will tell you I was disappointed in it. I expected a lot more comedy from these two. Drew is pleasant and sweet as always and Hugh is his normal dorky cute self. The story line was different but the ending left something to be desired. Seeing Hugh as a 80’s pop star WAS a riot & Drew’s bubbly, babbling character was very real… i know a lot of people like here. HaHa. Not much else to write on this one. I would say this is a good movie to watch if you ran out of other ideas. Other than that, don’t bump it to number one.

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Submitted by: Lisa 5/12/07