We could all use a little Spice in our dreams....

Paprika

I had to recommend this one for all of you anime fans out there. Actually, you don't have to be a fan of anime at all to enjoy this one.
The director Satoshi Kon continues in his wonderful style of blending science fiction and reality. This one is based on a science fiction novel by noted Japanese author Yasutaka Tsutui. When a program that allows individuals to explore their own dreams is pirated, the results are mind blowing.
If you liked the Matrix, you will appreciate this one. It is Rated R, however, for one particularly unsettling death scene, so don't watch it with the little ones..

Wouldn't it be Great to be a Career Criminal?

Ocean's 13

Rating: 7.0

If you enjoyed Ocean's 11 and Ocean's 12, you'll surely enjoy this one, although in my opinion, it is slightly less enjoyable than the first two. Maybe it's because the surprise of all the celebrity cameos has turned into more of an expectation. You know how that goes.

In this one, Al Pacino plays a casino owner who stiffs one of Ocean's men big-time, thus upsetting him into a heart attack. Ocean, of course, must get back at the guy, who considers himself untouchable. I guess everyone in the casino business has criminal ties, because Pacino used to be one, and so did Andy Garcia, who pops up as his rival. Ocean tries to use Garcia, as well as all of his contacts, to ruin the opening night of Pacino's biggest, most expensive casino for high rollers (or, "whales") only.

The best best best part of this movie is Ellen Barkin, who at 53 and change, looks as good as any cougar could. She plays Pacino's next in charge, and spends most of the movie following him around like a puppy dog in a tight dress and Victoria Beckham bob.

Clooney plays the same, slick, lovable Ocean, who, despite being extremely adept at ripping people off, still has a heart of gold. I do not understand why people find this man so sexy. But, to each their own.

This one does drag on a bit too long (122 mins), but, then, so did the other two. In my opinion, any movie that lasts past the 120 min. mark should be definitely worth the time it took to view it. This one didn't reach that high in my opinion.

-Victoria Vogel

Cuteness + Science Fiction = Great Movie

The Last Mimzy Rating 8.0

Far into the future a scientist has made several attempts to save the world. This is his last try.

He sends Mimzy into the past to a couple of young 'uns, because only the innocence of children can save us. When a brother and sister find a strange paper weight type thingie on the beach, they break it open to find several objects, one of which is a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy.

The rabbit can speak only to the girl through beeps and chirps. SHe is able to understand Mimzy, and realizes why Mimzy is here. Mimzy is able to communicate to her and her brother, and soon they are freaking out their parents with the special abilities with which they have been endowed.

Rainn Wilson from the Office plays a science teacher at the boy's elementary school who is drawn into their world with his hippy wife. Soon the FBI catch on the Mimzy, and steal the rabbit to figure out exactly what makes it tick.

The movie is very entertaining. Children younger than 8, however, will most likely be bored. The story is somewhat complicated. But, this is a great movie for parents and their older pre-teen, and even teen children to watch together. The story is engrossing, and the rabbit is so very very CUTE!

Science fiction and mathematics buffs will also appreciate this movie greatly. The movie is based on a children's novel, and parrallels Alice in Wonderland somewhat.

The movie reminded me a lot of ET, because of it's cuteness factor, and because the boy looks freakishly simlar to Elliott from the popular 1981 movie.

If You Drink This Much, You Will Die

Beerfest

Rating: 5.5

"If you drink this much, you will die." This is actually a disclaimer that appears at the opening of the movie. Now, is that a sign that this movie is not for younger audiences, or what?

Beerfest is the story of two brothers who decide to train to win the annual Beerfest in their dead grandfather's name. Beerfest is sort of a secret "fight club" competition that the brothers stumble across when they travel to Oktoberfest. Dear old grandpapa loved his beer, and took the recipe of some master brew to his grave. The boys discover the recipe, and use it to create their family's favorite beer in order to help them train. Training consists of, you guessed it, drinking. A lot. Very quickly. Which leads to all sorts of escapades.

The movie great for learning new drinking games, and for watching whilst drinking with your fraternity brothers. It isn't good for much else.

Babel

Babel

Rating 9.0

This is an important movie that should be seen. Four stories from different cultures with common elements interweave throughout the film.

The first story revolves around two Moroccan boys who wind up shooting a wealthy American tourist while trying out his new rifle. The tourist is played by Cate Blanchett. Her husband is Brad Pitt. They are on a tour bus in the middle of nowhere when it happens. Blanchett is taken to the nearest village where she suffers while Pitt tries to get the US Embassy to help them out. The shooting is believed to be a terrorist attack, and the boys are hunted down.

Meanwhile, Pitt calls their Mexican immigrant housekeeper, who is watching their children at home. He informs her that she must stay with the children and miss her nephew's wedding. Torn, she agrees, and winds up shuttling the children across the Mexican border with disastrous consequences.

The rifle that was used to shoot Blanchett is connected to a Japanese businessman. His daughter Chieko is the subject of his story. She is deaf mute, and unable to voice the intense pain she suffers from her mother's death. Rinko Kikuchi plays Chieko. She does an amazing job, and it is obvious to see why she was nominated for an Academy Award. Her story is so moving, it is almost painful to watch.

Babel reminded me of Crash in the way it compared struggles across cultures and backgrounds. All of the characters are similar in their pain and misunderstanding of each other. For some it results in pain and anguish. For others, there is resolution and understanding.

I loved this film because of how well it portrayed the emotions of the characters. There is intense tragedy in each of their lives, and it is that element that connects them. There is no understanding that unites them. They do not even meet. But to the audience, it is as if they do.

It is a complex movie, but I found myself glued to the screen until the end. I highly recommend it.

The Blonde Ditzo and the Cute Funny Guy

Employee of the Month
Rating: 4.5

All I have to say about this movie is...Jessica Simpson.

Do you think she's pretty and talented? Then you'll most likely find this movie mildy entertaining. Those of us who are like me, and are revolted about the amazing popularity she receives just for being blonde, pretty, and having big boobs, will find this movie incredibly annoying.

Andy Dick and Dane Cook are mildly funny. Personally, I think Andy Dick's potential is wasted on this film, but that's just me.

Basically, Dane Cook works at a Wal Mart sort of place. His job is unloading and loading merchandise. Dax Shepard is the cashier who wins employee of the month all the time, and acts like a jerk with everyone. Jessica Simpson is the new cashier who has a history of "getting with" the employee of the month. So, Dane Cook decides to do his darndest to win that honor, even if it means taking his job seriously.

That's it. Guess how it ends.

Beyond the Quik Stop...

Clerks II
Rating: 6.0

In case you wondered what happened to the slackers in the first Clerks, wonder no more. In Clerks II the Quick Stop burns down, leaving Dante and Randall looking for employment. They wind up at Mooby's which is kind of like McDonalds, only with every detail turned into a joke. The door "moos" when opened. Dante is about to get married, if you can imagine that. Ironically, his fiance is Kevin Smith's wife in real life. It's hard to imagine her with either of them. She's tall, blonde, bitchy-looking, and anorexically skinny.

She would have been better suited playing the role of Dante's boss, and the manager of Mooby's, which is played by Rosario Dawson. Of course, Dante has a "thing" for his boss and vice versa. She has the same raunchy sense of humor and no nonsense way of behaving, so it's obvious they are meant to be together. But, she doesn't want to get married. Why Dante does is a mystery.

When Randall and friends decide to throw Dante a bachlor party to end all bachelor parties, everything you could possibly imagine happens, and, well, you can probably guess the ending.

The plot is formulaic. The jokes are the same. So, if you like that stuff, you won't be disappointed.