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Which Peter Pan is the Best?

Charming is one word that we could apply to just about any Disney animated film, and even though 1953’s “Peter Pan” certainly is that, it’s devoid of charm when compared to the play/novel on which it was based. One of Walt Disney’s greatest strengths was his ability to take an older story and reinvent it for modern audiences. Doing so for “Peter Pan,” however, just replaces what is a wry and sweet sense of humor with silly slapstick, which seems cheap in comparison. A primary reason why Barrie’s book, and presumably his play, is so charming is its witty, very … Continue reading →

StoryCasting: For the Movie in Your Mind

Have you ever read a book and thought to yourself, “I can really see (insert actor’s name) playing this role if it’s ever made into a movie.” StoryCasting is a new website that lets you share your opinions on which actors should play which book characters. I just spent some time over there, and let me say, it was a lot of fun. First I created my account, by filling in a username and password. Then I chose an avatar to represent me—okay, they didn’t really have one that I felt looked like me, but the one I chose was … Continue reading →

August Rush (2007)

This is going to be a flip-floppy review. I did find a lot of good in the movie “August Rush,” but I can’t recommend it without including some reservations as well. Freddie Highmore stars as Evan Taylor, a little boy who was taken to an orphanage as an infant and has lived there ever since. He’s convinced that his parents will come back and find him someday, and this belief makes him the laughing stock at the boys’ home where he lives. He also has the uncanny ability to hear music in everything around him, and he believes this is … Continue reading →

The Holiday (2006)

In this delightful romantic comedy, Kate Winslet stars as Iris Simpkins, newspaper columnist, head over heels in love with a man she can’t have. Jasper Bloom (Rufus Sewell) is handsome, charming, and an absolute womanizer. He led her on, dumped her, and now uses her for his personal errands and as his shoulder to cry on, even though he’s engaged to someone else. She doesn’t want to be in this toxic relationship anymore, but she’s so in love with him, she can’t imagine telling him off. Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) is a career woman, owner of a highly successful company … Continue reading →

Arthur & The Invisibles (2007)

This little film is very forgettable for me, but for my six year old it gets three thumbs up – her words, not mine. What I didn’t know, originally, was that the film was directed by Luc Besson, the mastermind behind The 5th Element. That being said, Arthur & The Invisibles is a rather charming fairy tale that features a truly wonderful young actor named Freddy Highmore. (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory & Finding Neverland) The film mixes live action with CGI. The film opens with Arthur (Highmore) at his grandmother’s (Mia Farrow) farm. The year is 1960. Arthur’s grandfather … Continue reading →

5 Children and It (2003)

“5 Children and It” is a fanciful tale set during the first World War. It starts out very much like “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” Five children (instead of Lewis’s four) are sent to live with their uncle in the country while their father goes off to fight, and their mother goes to nurse the wounded. Upon arrival, they find that their uncle is eccentric, he has a housekeeper, and they are forbidden to enter a room. Sound familiar so far? However, then we branch off into differences. Robert, the middle boy (Freddie Highmore) is a spoiled child … Continue reading →

Benny and Joon (1993)

Benny (Aidan Quinn) is under a lot of pressure. He runs a mechanic shop and spends all day fixing cars, but he’s also the guardian of his sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) who has been diagnosed as mentally ill. Although extremely intelligent, she sometimes has outbursts that result in things getting broken, and in some cases, in trouble with the police. Benny feels that he has no time for a social life and certainly no chance of ever having a girl friend or getting married. His life is taking care of Joon. One night he takes Joon to a poker … Continue reading →

Peter Pan (1953)

In this classic film by Walt Disney, we meet the Darling children: Wendy, John, and Michael. Wendy is the oldest and at the age of eleven, her parents have decided that she’s too old to sleep in the nursery. It’s to be her last night there and tomorrow she will move to her own room. All three children are devastated by this; every night Wendy tells them stories about the sprite Peter Pan, and if she’s not in the nursery any more, they won’t get their stories. What they don’t know is that one more person will be upset if … Continue reading →

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I recently rented and watched this film and I have to say – it was nothing like I thought it would be. Of course, that begs the question of what I thought it would be and truthfully speaking, I’m not sure what it was I was thinking when I rented it. But let me tell you what I got and why it’s an appropriate topic point for the marriage blog. In the film, two strangers meet on a beach. They seem drawn to each other and they decide to spend the evening together. By the end of their first night, … Continue reading →