The Reel Life of Real Life

Rating: PG Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy Directed By: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise Written By: Gary Trousdale, Joss Whedon, Kirk Wise, Tab Murphy, Bruce Zabel, Jackie Zabel In Theatres: Oct 19 th , 2001 Runtime: 95 minutes Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Summary: An inexperienced young adventurer becomes the key to unravelling an ancient mystery when he joins up with a group of daredevil explorers to find the legendary lost empire of Atlantis. A naive-but-determined museum cartographer Milo Thatch (Michael J. Fox), dreams of completing the quest begun by his late grandfather, a famous explorer. When a journal surfaces, an eccentric billionaire funds an expedition and the action shifts to high gear. Review: This seems to be a seriously underrated Disney film. I don’t understand why. It seems to hold its own against all the other more popular ones. The plot might not be the most eye opening one in the world, but it’s the colle...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Romance Directed By: Garry Marshall Written By: Katherine Fugate Released: December 8 th , 2011 Runtime: 117 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Summary: Intertwining stories promise love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and more for a number of New Yorkers on the celebrated night. A rock star (Jon Bon Jovi) and his ex-lover (Katherine Heigl) clash at an exclusive party; a singer (Lea Michele) becomes stranded with a killjoy (Ashton Kutcher) on the way to a New Year's gig; a nurse (Halle Berry) stays with a dying patient (Robert De Niro) as he tries to hang on long enough to see the ball drop in Times Square one last time. Review: It’s New Year’s Eve today so I thought I’d give this a go just because of the name. Give it a go, they said. It will be fun, they said. And I went along with this. I mean, we’ve got Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Katherine Heigl, Sarah Paulson, Halle Berry – among many, m...

Rating: R:15 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance Directed By: Michel Gondry Written By: Charlie Kaufman Released: April 30th, 2004 Runtime: 108 minutes Studio: Focus Features Summary: After a painful breakup, Clementine (Kate Winslet) undergoes a procedure to erase memories of her former boyfriend Joel (Jim Carrey) from her mind. When Joel discovers that Clementine is going to extremes to forget their relationship, he undergoes the same procedure and slowly begins to forget the woman that he loved. Directed by former music video director Michel Gondry, the visually arresting film explores the intricacy of relationships and the pain of loss. Review: Well first word of advice – ignore the trailer for this film! From word of mouth, I was anticipating something of a serious tale of love, far from the happy-go-lucky impression the trailer gives off. It is nothing like the trailer leads you to believe, that is for sure. And I’m ...

Rating: PG Genre: Kids & Family Directed By: George Miller, Warren Coleman, Judy Morris Written By: George Miller, John Collee, Warren Coleman, Judy Morris In Theatres: Dec 8 th , 2006  Runtime: 109 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Summary: Mumble (Elijah Wood), a young emperor penguin, lives in Antarctica. Like others of his kind, he needs to be able to sing to attract a mate, but he has a terrible voice. Instead, Mumble must express himself, and lure a female through his amazing talent for tap-dancing. Review: This came on the TV the other day and I ended up watching it by accident. I never watched it before. Heard a lot about it, and I know a lot of my friends have seen it and say it’s a nice film.  It’s a good film, there’s something in it for the whole family. Good tunes, a colourful array of characters, and a subtle sense of humour with a good heart. We’ve got the sweet little Mumble, his Elvis-like father, and gentle un...

Rating: G Genre: Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy Directed By: Dianne Jackson, Jimmy T. Murakami Written By: Raymond Briggs Released: December 26, 1982 Runtime: 26 minutes Studio: Sony Pictures Summary: After a young boy makes a snowman on Christmas Eve, it comes to life to take him on an adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. Based on a popular wordless book by Raymond Briggs that told the story through a series of pictures. Review: This is the ultimate Christmas film. Short, sweet and simple but packed with all the essentials. It wouldn’t be Christmas without a showing, or hearing the infamous chorus of “Walking In The Air”.  Peter Auty sang the version of the song featured in the film. The song was released three years later in 1985 sung by Aled Jones. The reason for him singing it was because the song had been re-recorded for an advertisement for an English toy shop’s Christmas campaign which also featured another animation....

Rating: G Genre: Animation, Drama, Kids & Family Directed By: Robert Zemeckis Written By: Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles In Theatres: Dec 10 th , 2004 Runtime: 100 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Summary: Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis reunite for "The Polar Express," an adventure based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.  Review: This movie is fine…I watched it a few times as a kid but I was never particularly enthralled with it. I think it drags a bit too much and there are a lot of moments and issues raised that I have to question. For example, the idea that each child gets on this train with no questions asked. – Not exactly the best advice for kids to be picking up, now is it? I know it’s a fantasy and obviously...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld Written By: Larry Wilson, Caroline Thompson, Paul Rudnick Released: November 22 nd , 1991 Runtime: 99 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Summary: When a man (Christopher Lloyd) claiming to be Fester, the missing brother of Gomez Addams (Raul Julia), arrives at the Addams' home, the family is thrilled. However, Morticia (Anjelica Huston) begins to suspect the man is a fraud, since he cannot recall details of Fester's life. With the help of lawyer Tully Alford (Dan Hedaya), Fester manages to get the Addams clan evicted from their home. Gomez realizes the two men are conspiring to swindle the Addams fortune and that he must challenge Fester. Review: I watched this a year ago for the first time at the recommendation of my roommate, and really loved it! But who couldn’t? The Addams Family is one of a kind!  I watched this again recently an...

Rating: R:15 (for sexuality, nudity and language) Genre: Comedy, Romance Directed By: Richard Curtis Written By: Richard Curtis In Theatres: Nov 21 st , 2003 Runtime: 135 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Summary: Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer ( Martine McCutcheon ), Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary. Review: I’m not sure what to say to this film. On one hand, I don’t like it. I think there are too many characters, too many stories, and too much sentimentality. Yet on the other hand…well, it has its own little charm that sort of wins you over without you realising it.  The name is so...

Rating: PG Genre: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Romance Directed By: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins Written By: Ernest Lehman Released: Oct 18 th , 1961 Runtime: 151 minutes Studio: United Artists Films Summary: A musical in which a modern day Romeo and Juliet are involved in New York street gangs. On the harsh streets of the upper west side, two gangs battle for control of the turf. The situation becomes complicated when a gang members falls in love with a rival's sister. Review: I remember watching the beginning of this and thinking, “you know what, this could go either way”. I’m not the biggest fan of musicals but the story attracted me to this one in particular. I’ve heard many references towards it in TV Shows etc so it’s been on my list for a while now. And the verdict? This is a smashing movie!   I didn’t know what to think watching the first scene. It’s not quite like anything I’ve seen before. It’s a group of men lookin...

Rating: G Genre: Animation, Kids & Family Directed By: Sam Armstrong, Jack Kinney, Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Bill Roberts, Ben Sharpsteen, Samuel Armstrong Written By: Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Joe Rinaldi, Webb Smith, Otto Englander, Aurelius Battaglia, Bill Peet In Theatres: Oct 23 rd , 1941  Runtime: 64 minutes Studio: Walt Disney Productions Summary: A young circus elephant is born with comically large ears and given the cruel nickname Dumbo. One day at a show, he is taunted by a group of kids, inciting his mother into a rage that gets her locked up. After Dumbo's ears cause an accident that injures many of the other elephants, he is made to dress like a clown and perform dangerous stunts. Everything changes when Dumbo discovers that his enormous ears actually allow him to fly, and he astounds everyone at the circus with his new talent. Review: Oh, my Lord… I was putting from me (actually I’d been putting from me for years) watch...