DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971)

This was the last James Bond film starring Sean Connery (until he'd come back for Never Say Never Again twelve years later) - and, to me, by far the weakest of his part of the series.  Here Bond is first sent to Holland, when the trail of a major diamond smuggling operation points toward a more sinister purpose involving Bond's arch-enemy Ernst Blofeld (Charles Gray). Jill St. John and Lana Wood provide Bond babe moments, but the film comes off more like a parody than an actual Bond movie; the chase/fight/action scenes are weak, special effects cheap (sometimes outright laughable), and with this film Bond starts in with his little quips and puns - some of which, here, are surprisingly suggestive for the time, yet come off dated.  Even with the addition of two very colorful "Bond-like" sadistic killers, Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (who are obviously a gay couple), sadly the best adjective I can think of to describe this entry in the series is - gasp! - "boring."  Shirley Bassey aside, even the opening theme is dull as dishwater. (not rated)  C

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER trailer

WHIPLASH (2014)

An intense dynamo of a film thanks to its two leads, Whiplash is the story of jazz drummer Andrew Niemann (an incredible Miles Teller), who's just gotten into the prestigious Shaffer School for Music.  Niemann's passion for being one of the great jazz drummers ever - up there with Buddy Rich or Charlie Parker - turns into obsession when he gains the attention of the most notorious, highly-regarded teacher in the school, Dr. Terence Fletcher (JK Simmons).  Fletcher, foul-mouthed and hot-tempered (to say the least) runs his studio band like a marine sergeant, belittling his players and breaking them down, and the ensuing relationship between Fletcher and Niemann seems destined to drive Andrew over the brink, into either genius or madness.  The performances, as said, are mesmerizing; Simmons, Oscar-nominated, is a barely-controlled maniac as Fletcher, in what (with a lesser actor) could have come off as caricature, but here is both horrifying and riveting.  A must-see film, with a tremendous jazz score background for a draining, emotional story. (rated R)  A

WHIPLASH trailer

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR (2014)

Most know them by their regular names: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and the rookie Private.  But those in the know, know them as an elite team of penguin operatives who, despite all odds, get the job done to save lives and country.  But when all four of them are kidnapped by the evil Dr. Octavius Brine, the four penguin comrades - just prior to their escape - learn of his hideous, evil plan to rid the world of its cuteness, and are forced to team up with undercover spy organization North Wind (whose ace team is comprised of a polar bear, a white owl, an arctic seal, and their gray wolf leader, only known as "Classified") in order to thwart Brine's plans. Not having seen the Madagascar films, I found Penguins to be terrific from beginning to end; great animation, funny as heck, and with characters (especially the four penguins) I absolutely loved from jump.  A wonderful film for all ages; the kind that only gets better, even funnier, with repeat viewings.  Now to get my hands on a bag of Cheezy Dibbles ... (rated PG)  A

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR trailer

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (2004)

Anime is often fascinating to watch - never more so than in the hands of the master, Hayao Miyazaki.  Spirited Away is one of the most brilliant, visually wondrous films ever made, and in Howl's Moving Castle Miyazaki's jaw-dropping style and strokes of color and imagination spring just as vividly to life.  The story - of a young girl named Sofi, cursed by a witch into the body of a 90-year-old woman to spite the demon Hauru (Howl), who'd previously helped Sofi out of trouble - is a great premise, as Sofi makes her way to the huge moving castle that Howl resides in, in the wilds, where she finds herself caught up in magic and in the beginning stages of a raging war, all while trying to break her curse as her fascination with the magical Howl grows.  Again, though beautiful and compelling in scope, the film's latter half gets bogged down in a convoluted storyline that proves frustrating to keep track of.  Try to see it in the original Japanese, if you can, as I did; the dubbed-English version, supposedly, doesn't do justice in matching the actors' voices to the characters. (rated PG)  C+

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE trailer (dubbed-English version)

MR. IDOL (2011)

With K-Pop (Korean pop music) growing to manic popularity worldwide, Mr. Idol is the story of boy band Mr. Children, who fell from grace three years earlier when the lead singer committed suicide - on stage, no less - over a broken heart.  Now, the former female music executive who worked with the group originally goes against her old company to bring the remaining members back together; to right the wrongs she feels were originally done to three talented young men who still deserve their shot.  Finding a handsome new lead singer with an attitude, she puts the boys through some grueling training, trying to get them back on top even as new scandals await to potentially derail them.  A good drama depicting the hard work needed to reach for your dreams even after defeat, Mr. Idol also has touches of comedy and romance that - along with some great music - make for an entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the international phenomenon that is K-Pop. (not rated)  A-

MR. IDOL trailer

LOVE IS STRANGE (2014)

A bittersweet love story with outstanding performances all-around, Love is Strange is the story of Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina), together for nearly forty years, who finally decide to tie the knot thanks to the new laws in New York City that legalize gay marriage.  Soon after, however, George is fired from his job and the couple find themselves having to sell the lower Manhattan apartment they can no longer afford.  The housing market being what it is in New York, the two men are forced to split up, each staying with mutual friends while they try to find another place together, and while the strains put on them both never weaken their love for each other, their less-than-ideal living situations and struggles to find a new place give the film a melancholy tone that - even with a terrific cast - I found just too much of a downer (realistic as it is) to fully enjoy, despite a few lyrical, almost beautiful moments. (rated R)  B-

LOVE IS STRANGE trailer

ACE ATTORNEY (2012)

Based on the "second and fourth cases" of the popular videogame "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney", this stylish, fun, lighthearted mystery is set in a futuristic Japan, where the justice system is so overloaded all court cases are now decided within three days.  Phoenix Wright is a young, inexperienced attorney going up against a former friend-turned-rival, prosecutor Miles Edgeworth (who has yet to lose a case), in defending the sister of his mentor, Mia Fey, when Mia is murdered.  After that case gets Phoenix some fame, his next garners national attention when Phoenix finds himself defending none other than Miles, now accused of murder, against the most revered prosecutor in the country - Manfred von Karma - who has yet to lose in his entire 40-year career.  The mystery is complex, the film much like a videogame come to life as Phoenix traces the case back to an old case of Mia's that may have gotten her killed.  Intriguing, fun - and I want Phoenix's hair! (not rated)  A-

ACE ATTORNEY trailer

THE VOICES (2014)

Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) is an upbeat, easygoing, likable guy in Michigan who works for a company that makes bathtubs sinks, and fixtures.  He's quirky, a bit of a loner who keeps to himself, and only his boss and shrink know anything about the darker side of his past.  Then there are his pets - dog Bosco and cat Mr. Whiskers.  They are Jerry's real friends, who spend quality time at home with him after work; Bosco a big, loving doofus who constantly reminds Jerry he's a good guy, while Mr. Whiskers derides and rides Jerry about everything from not getting laid to committing murder.  THIS is where the "dark comedy" of the film comes in, as Jerry's first date with the office hottie goes very bad, VERY fast, and before long Jerry is the nicest, most affable and friendly serial killer you'd ever be likely to know.  The film is ... odd, to say the least, very heavy on the "dark" of "dark comedy" - but honestly, Ryan Reynolds is so terrific in it, so endearing (even providing the voices of Jerry's pets), I found it a weird but worthy watch - as well as one of Reynolds' best performances ever. (rated R)  B+

THE VOICES trailer

MISS GRANNY (2014)

Oh Mal-soon is a grumpy Korean grandma of 70+, living with her son and his family, who's come to feel she is little more than a burden to them.  One night, at a bus stop, she spies a small photo studio across the street and decides to get her portrait taken, the photographer promising to make her look "fifty years younger."  Assuming he's just flirting, Oh Mal gets her photo done and leaves the studio - not realizing, until she's on a bus and openly hit on by some young guys, that somehow she's reverted back to the age of 20!  She rushes back to the studio in a panic, but it's no longer there ... so with no other choice, Oh Mal not only finds herself embracing the idea of being young again (no aches and pains!  no false teeth!), fate also sends her on the path of a long-ago dream she'd never fulfilled in her youth.  The film is funny, sweet, and quite touching, as granny gets a second chance to both learn and teach how to embrace life while you have it.  A wonderful, uplifting film. (not rated)  A

MISS GRANNY trailer

THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (2013)

Another entry the 2015 Oscars, this animated film is based on a 10th-century Japanese folk tale about a poor bamboo cutter who discovers one day - in a shining stalk of bamboo - the tiny figure of a girl.  sure she is a gift from heaven, the man takes her home to his wife, where she transforms into a newborn baby, and the childless couple decide to raise her as their own.  The little girl grows fast, too fast by normal human standards, and is already a young girl when her father also finds fine robes and garments in the bamboo forest, as well as many pieces of gold, and believes this is heaven's way of telling him to move to the capital so he can raise his daughter like the real princess she must be.  There, renamed Kaguya, the girl - growing quickly to young womanhood - excels in her learning and artistic skills, as well as charms everyone around her.  But a dark secret awaits, as Kaguya's fate - and her past - come to light.  A lyrical, bittersweet, beautifully-rendered film, hand-drawn and looking like a series of watercolors come to life. (rated PG)  B+

THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA trailer

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (2014)

That rare commodity - a sequel even better than it's predecessor - How to Train Your Dragon 2 opens five years later, in the land of Berk, where dragons and humans now live in harmony, races and games of skill adding to the camaraderie.  Hiccup, son of village chief Stoick, has been exploring the boundaries of his land with his Night Fury Toothless, when the two inadvertently uncover a band of dragon thieves, ruled by the evil Drago Bludvist, a dragon master who plans forming a dragon army to rule all.  When Hiccup and his pals try to find Drago, to barter peace instead of war, Hiccup instead finds himself and Toothless taken by a mysterious figure wearing a mask ... his friends soon in the clutches of Drago himself.  Again, the animation here is mesmerizing, but beyond that this story of friendship, working together, forgiveness after loss, and finding your true spirit inside is funny, thrilling, touching, and completely deserving of its Oscar nomination - if not the win. (rated PG)  A

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 teaser trailer (spoiler-free)
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 trailer (has spoiler!)

THE GIFTED HANDS (2013)

Yang Choon-dong (Kim Kang-woo) is a police detective in Seoul known for a weak record of arrests. When a little girl goes missing and Yang is the only one who thinks it's a possible kidnapping (instead of the girl just running off), he talks his way into being the lead investigator on the case.  When the little girl is found dead, Yang's reputation is further damaged - a situation made worse when he realizes the crime scene's been depicted in an alley wall mural, done by a graffiti artist way before the girl had been found, but no one on the force will believe him.  Yang sets out to find the graffiti artist, and discovers a young man named Jun (Kim Bum) with the gift of psychometry - the ability to see a person's past just by touching their hands.  But as another little girl goes missing, a disgraced Yang finds himself also fighting to save the reclusive Jun - who the police now think is the killer - as the two race against time to find a child killer in one of the best, most emotionally engaging thrillers (films, period) I've seen in some time. (not rated)  A+

THE GIFTED HANDS trailer

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (2014)

Set in 1981 - one of the most violent years in New York City's history - A Most Violent Year is about a poor, hardworking immigrant named Abel (the brilliant Oscar Isaac) who has worked for years to build up his heating oil distribution business, determined not to take the easy way in an industry rampant with organized crime members.  Determined to keep things as honest as possible (tax evasion and juggling the books, maybe - but violence or ANY kind of felonies, no way) for his family - even with his wife, Anna (Jessica Chastain, also amazing here) being the daughter of a low-level crime boss in Brooklyn - when Abel overextends himself to buy a piece of land that would considerably expand his business, he also finds his drivers falling victim to a pair of thugs who beat them, then steal their trucks - and the precious oil that's the lifeblood of Abel's business.  A serious, not exactly uplifting drama, the film is a terrific, realistic chronicle of the life of one man, struggling to find the American dream for his family on the rightest path possible. (rated R)  A-

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR trailer