Angels and Demons

Expectations are always high with sequels. Sometimes you get let down... not so with Dan Brown's stories on screen. Angels and Demons holds it's own after the DaVinci Code. Tom Hanks is still great as Langdon, Ron Howard is always flawless, and the story is intriguing. If you haven't already been caught up in the Professor Robert Langdon stories, this may do it.
Check it out...Read Dan Brown's novels from the library (F BRO), also available on Audio Book. His next "Robert Langdon" book is due out in September, "The Lost Symbol". Or catch The DaVinci Code on DVD (DVD DAV).

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Star Trek

I think Gene Roddenberry would have been proud to have inspired J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III director and Alias creator) to direct this latest in a long line of Star Trek offerings (there's 11 feature films, 6 television series, dozens of computer and video games, hundreds of novels and instances of fan fiction, several fan-created video productions, as well as a themed attraction in Las Vegas Wikipedia).
Star Trek has everything you expect and more. The storyline makes sense, even including Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Young Spock, played by Zachary Quinto (from the TV series, Heroes), Chris Pine as Kirk, Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Anton Yelchin as Pavel Checkov, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, John Cho as Kikaru Sulu, and the new protagonist Nero played by Eric Bana, are all so Trekkie that you just have to love it! Special effects have certainly changed since Scotty first beamed up Captain Kirk on TV, as have we all since 1966. I think everyone will enjoy this film, from the convention-going, card-carrying, costume-wearing Trekkies to middle-aged, hair-graying, "I remember when" folks like me. Buy a ticket, it's worth it.
Check it out...for more Star Trek movie insight read Star Trek Movie Memories by William Shatner with Chris Kreski (791.43)

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Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Chick-Flick alert! You would think that with Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, and Michael Douglas this flick, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (a take off on "A Christmas Carol"), would be a slam dunk. Unfortunately Garner and McConaughey never seem to connect. Douglas is, as always, enjoyable and believable as the lecherous, politically incorrect uncle who taught McConaughey all his bad habits. Michael seems to be as proliferate as his dad, Kirk Douglas. Kirk worked well into his 80's, last seen in Illusion (2004) and It Runs in the Family (2003). I hope that it does "run in the family" and that we will see Michael, now 65, again. Although a slightly entertaining film I say "Rent It".
Check it out...See Michael Douglas in American President, Chorus Line, Traffic and as Jack Colton in Jewel of the Nile and Romancing the Stone all on DVD. Or check out his dad, Kirk, in Gunfight at the O. K. Corral, The Man From Snowy River, Paths of Glory, Spartus, and The Vikings also on DVD.

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X-Men Origins: Wolverine

I always try to remember when I go to see a movie based on a comic book that comic book stories are by nature "fantastic". Having said that, I now say, sometimes you get more than you expect. X-Men Origins : Wolverine was well acted. Both Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber were in character. Jackman is always great to watch, but I'm really looking forward to the next Schreiber flick...remember him in Defiance? Surprisingly there is some beautiful footage of the Canadian Rockies and the Visual Effects by Tippett Studio were great. The ending was predictable, since this was a prequel, but the last minute addition of several other mutants was clearly just a "lead in" for the next mutant "Origin" movie. I enjoyed watching this so much I forgot to look for Stan Lee doing his "Alfred Hitchcock" by showing up as an extra in the Marvel movies. Or is that just an urban legend?
Check it out...For more information on Marvel Comics the Nesmith Library has "The Marvel Comics encyclopedia : a complete guide to the characters of the Marvel universe" edited by Julia March. 741.5 MAR

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The Soloist

Kudos to director Joe Wright and screenwriter Suzannah Grant for making The Soloist one of the finest movies I've had the pleasure to see in a very long time. I have admired Robert Downey Jr. as an actor... well... forever. Jamie Foxx's performances, especially in Ray, are always right on. The third actor in this extraordinary film is the music. Wright even gives "the music" scenes of its own. Which, I suppose, is why the genre of this film is "Drama/Musical". This true and moving story literally soars. Steve Lopez (Downey) finds Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx) on a LA street playing a violin with only 2 strings. Lopez, a journalist, is discontented with his work and his life. Although he has no real connection in any of his relationships he becomes interested in Ayers. He discovers that Ayers, now mentally ill, was once a musical prodigy studying at Julliard. Despite the obvious "disconnections" these men have with their own lives, they form a bond, one that demands the better part of themselves. SEE THIS MOVIE. Be prepared to be moved.
Check it out...Go to Wikipedia for more information about Nathaniel Ayers, including the foundation bearing his name that was started in 2008 with an aim to support artistically gifted people with mental illness. "The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music", by Steve Lopez, was based on his relationship with Ayers. See Robert Downey Jr. in Good Night and Good Luck, Air America, Only You, and Zodiac, all available to borrow at the Nesmith Library. Or check out Any Given Sunday, Dream Girls, Collateral, Ray, or Toys with Jamie Foxx.

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State of Play

Kathleen Murphy, Special to MSN Movies, calls State of Play 'Sex, Lies and Newsprint'. I couldn't agree more. Helen Mirren is impressive as forthright newspaper editor Cameron, driven to keep her paper relative in an age of blogs, IM, and other instantaneous media. Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is her lead reporter, and a very good friend of U.S. Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck). Complicating this friendship is Collins' wife (Robin Wright Penn). She and McAffrey slept together in college and now she can't seem to decide if she wants to stay with Collins or take up with McAffrey. McAffrey's big story: Collins' mistress has just been found murdered. To make sure McAffrey keeps his personal relationships from tainting the story Cameron also assigns a junior reporter and blogger Della (Rachel McAdams) to the story. Della is a very young and attractive Monk to McAffrey's sage and tossled Columbo. Keep a sharp eye out for Jeff Daniels as a senior legislator, his portrayal of a sage politician using any situation to his own advantage is perfect. Ben Affleck has matured nicely and is very believable as the clean-cut “rising star” legislator, who is not without faults and secrets. This flick has lots of great actors, but Crowe gives the story momentum and depth as a reporter caught in this untenable situation. P.S. I found it interesting to learn from Ms. Murphy, after I saw this movie, that it is based on a 2003 BBC miniseries.
Check it out...To search the Nesmith Library catalog for movies with your favorite actors : From the library website choose the "Library Catalog" then type "last name, first" then click on "author". You'll find 6 each of Ben Affleck's, Russell Crowe's, and Robin Wright Penn's movies, 1 with Rachel McAdams, and 10 Helen Mirren flicks.

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Double Feature!! Duplicity & The Haunting in Connecticut

Ahhhh! I've missed my trips the movies the past couple of weeks due to a touch of vertigo. I just didn't think it would be a good idea to sit in a dark room with huge pictures flashing in front of my eyes. Gratefully my return was met with two great flix! Clive Owens and Julia Roberts are a quirky couple in Duplicity. Both have trust issues, understandably so. Claire Stenwick (Roberts), retired CIA and Ray Koval (Owen) retired MI6 have crossed paths before. Now drawn together by mutual attraction and the desire to retire "comfortably" they begin working for multinational corporations. Just try to keep up with the various plots and misdirections to find out who's using who.

I don't usually take in "scary" movies, but decided that I needed something I wouldn't fall asleep watching. The movie, inspired by the frightening true-life tale of a family that moved into a converted funeral home, Haunting in Connecticut definitely kept my eyes open and made me jump more than once. Not too gory, but very disturbing... The oldest son has cancer and is undergoing some experimental treatments and living through a supernatural attack from the home's previous tenants. This is a good story that ends well, despite the extreme premise and loud noises.