Matchstick Men (2003)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This was a fun con movie. A little slow for the first 80% of the film, but the speed picks up at the end. A great role for Nicholas Cage.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

The content was a little iffy with one strip club scene (no nudity, but plenty of skin) and some language. The club scene added nothing to the movie, other than showing you the type of sleazy men these con-men often dealt with. The whole movie is based on people who think it’s OK to scam people out of their money. However, in the end we see Frank respond very well to being conned in his own game. Not only did he not get upset (or seek revenge), but he realized that his job as a con-man wasn’t making him happy. A family is what he needed to help him be at peace in his life and overcome some of his idiosyncrasies.

Blade Runner (1982)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This really wasn’t what I was expecting. It definitely was intense at moments, particularly the last fight/chase scene. I’d really have to say that the end of the movie is what made it a bit more enjoyable. I’m not sure why it’s hailed as one of the best. It’s like a hybrid of Terminator, 2001: Space Odyssey, and Minority Report (the last of which being the only one I enjoyed). Supposedly it’s the cinematography that made it great, and I have to agree, I didn’t feel like I was watching an 80’s movie, with exception to the soundtrack.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

80% of the way through the movie I was wondering what really was the purpose behind the show. I understood some of the science fiction elements that were presented, and particularly liked the fact that the genre can present situations with androids (sometimes aliens) that, though not human, are really quite central to human belief and experience.

Deckard’s realization at the end (something that he slowly comes to throughout the course of the movie) is rather poignant (especially since Deckard’s thinking it with regards to the android he was just trying to kill - and who was also trying to kill him):

“I don't know why he saved my life. Maybe in those last moments he loved life more than he ever had before. Not just his life - anybody's life; my life. All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got? All I could do was sit there and watch him die.”

How much do we really love life? With all the aches and pains, joy and happiness, we need to continually strive to find the answers of what it is we should be learning with every experience we gain in life.

The last line of the movie also makes a strong point:

“Gaff had been there, and let her live. Four years, he figured. He was wrong. Tyrell had told me Rachael was special. No termination date. I didn't know how long we had together... Who does?” (emphasis added)

We never know how long we will be with anyone. Friends come and go, loved ones pass on, the time we spend with everyone around us should be valued as if it were the last. It’s much easier said and understood than acted upon. Pride steps in and keeps us from sharing our emotions, robbing us of emotional bonds that could have enriched our lives. We need to live our lives, not as a dress-rehearsal, but as a final production where every choice and action we take affects our final destiny.

True Grit (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This movie was very faithful to the book, but I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I remember having enjoyed John Wayne’s True Grit (it’s been a while since I’ve seen it). Some movies can do a great job at being faithful to the book (e.g., To Kill a Mocking Bird), others aren’t so great at it. Though close to the book, I still enjoyed the book better. The language in the book was very awkward and they carried that awkwardness into this film - a time in our history when contractions hadn’t been taught yet (not sure if people ever really talked like that, or if it was meant to illustrate some sort of obfuscated point.) All in all, the film was entertaining.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Rooster Cogburn’s grit was a good quality some of the time, and resulted in over-confidence and stubborness in other situations - that ultimately ended in a lot of people’s deaths (albeit they were bad people and deserved it, according to the marshall). There were some scenes of graphic violence (not uncommon in a Cohen Bro’s film) and mild swearing, but with western’s rare now-a-days, this is a decent one to see.

Swingers (1996)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

Great music, ok story. Vince Vaughn really gets annoying here, plus the language is pretty coarse. If you can get past that, this really is a nice story dealing with friendship and romantic relationships.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Trent’s character is portrayed as the enviable one, with Mike being the lame, whiny friend who can’t get over his recent split-up with his girlfriend. Trent seems to be a valuable friend, in that he doesn’t abandon Mike, and frequently tells him how “money” he is, but Trent seems to miss what Mike really needs. Mike ends up finding out what he needs on his own through making his own mistakes and discoveries. Because he does this by himself, he ends up happier in spite of all the help his friends were trying to offer him. It’s a big plus that the climax romantic relationship in the film has nothing to do with sex (at least through the end of the movie), is not shallow, and brings genuine happiness to Mike.

Besides the language pulling the moral rating down quite a bit, the positive message of quality relationships shines through.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

Entertainment Rating: 2 of 5

Not great. Nothing more than a video game, but your thumbs don’t get sore because all the shooting is done for you. There isn’t more than shooting a bunch of robot/aliens. Not worth your time, unless what I described is your cup of tea. The filming might make you noxious as it’s basically someone running around with a camcorder, similar to Cloverfield in more than one way (but we actually enjoyed Cloverfield).

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

There’s a bit of an effort at telling an inspirational story about an officer that gains the love and respect of those he’s fighting with. He starts off as not a popular person, many thinking that because he was the only survivor of a previous unit that he didn’t care for the safety of those he was with and worried about preserving his own life. Through many trying circumstances during the invasion at hand, he proves he’s worth his salt.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2 (2011)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

We were underwhelmed and a little disappointed with the final Harry Potter film. It was needless to break this movie into two parts, a single 3 hour long film would have been more enjoyable. When Harry defeats Voldemort at the end, we expected some sort of triumphant ending, but nothing happens. There’s no celebrating or feel of victory at the end. Additionally, Harry’s last encounter with Dumbledore was much less inspiring than I think it should have been. If a movie is going to try to stay faithful to the book, get it right. Besides the ending, the rest of the movie was pretty intense and a fun experience.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

The importance of love is a very small message of Dumbledore’s time with Harry, when it should have been much greater. Otherwise, everything’s the same - good vs. evil, love vs. hate. Worth seeing if you’ve already seen the other 7 Harry Potter movies, and we’ll probably end up owning it just to have the entire set, since most of them are decent flicks.

The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

This along with The Ghost and Mr. Chicken are two of my favorite Don Knott’s movies. He does such a good job at playing a weenie. Check this one out with your family and you won’t be disappointed (it looks like you can watch the entire show on youtube.com in 10 minute increments).

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Maybe you could say that even weenie’s can do some good sometimes, so don’t underestimate them. Don’t always trust your preacher, he could be selling guns to the Indians. People in California have a great need for dentists, being out in the wild west and all. The word “wahtay” can be used to get yourself out of all kinds of trouble, even though it’s translation is something like “this baby needs a diaper change, you change it.”

The Great Buck Howard (2008)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This was a fun show, albeit a bit slow and not terribly interesting. Supposedly this show was based on the mentalist the Amazing Kreskin, who is one of the few magicians to have his own TV show for a while.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

The romance between Troy and Valerie was typical Hollywood rubbish. They flirt, sleep together, and then try to decide if they want the relationship to last.

Buck Howard, as quirky and weird as he is, has the strongest moral character. He doesn’t try to be someone else. He knows who he is and doesn’t care what others think of him. The audience could be numerous or pitifully small, but Buck gave it his all.

While not an amazing movie, it’s a nice easy going film that will make you smile.

Hereafter (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This was a very slow moving movie. More thought provoking than suspenseful, in case you thought this might be a thriller. Check it out, it’s worth seeing at least once.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

I liked the overall premise of wondering about life after death, and it was great that the film ended with the realization that there must be something good after this life. Clint Eastwood seems to put together a lot of thought provoking movies that help us contemplate the purpose of life. If only more movies did more to make us think, instead of being mindless entertainment.

This review is being written several months after we saw the movie, and so the following is only one thing that stood out that I remember, and is one worth commenting about (even if it is somewhat inconsequential to the overall review of the film.) One scene that was rather uncomfortable was when George invites the little kid who was following him to see if he could talk to his brother into his hotel room. I was just waiting for someone in the movie to take and twist that incident into something bad. Nothing ended up happening, but in this day and age we have to be ultra-careful about what we do and with whom we do it.

For example, as a married man its probably best not to ride in the car alone with a woman who isn’t my wife, nor should I take young kids for a ride that are not my own. This may sound ridiculous, and I’ve often got some strange reactions when I try to keep to this rule of mine, but it ends up being for the safety of everyone in a world that doesn’t bat an eye at bringing anybody down because of something that could seem inappropriate if twisted the right way.

The Gold Rush (1925)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This silent film frequently pops up as one of Charlie Chaplin’s best films, and one that kids love because there is no dialogue to have to follow. However, it is rather long. Most old comedies have some good routines during the film, but they try too hard to tie in a story around those routines. It’s much more enjoyable to fast-forward to the next fun scene. The scene in the trailer is one of the good ones, you might recognize Johnny Depp's imitation of it in Benny and Joon, another good show.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Like Marx Brothers, nothing here other than good wholesome entertainment for the entire family.

Thor (2011)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This was a fun movie. I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, since I didn’t know much about Thor to begin with. The little I’ve come into contact with him in the few Avengers graphic novels I’ve read hasn’t been deep enough for me to exert more time into learning about him. The movie told a good story when it took place in Asgard (Thor’s home planet) and Bifrost (planet inhabited by Asgard’s enemies). Even the part of the story when Thor is exiled to Earth and we see him change is decently depicted, until Natalie Portman enters the picture along with all the corny drama and romance that happen on Earth. There’s such a stark contrast in the story between Asgard and Earth that it makes the story less believable than if it had taken place entirely on Asgard and Bifrost. The movie might be worth checking out once, but expect much less than Spider-man, Batman Begins, and Iron Man.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Thor’s change of character is the strongest message in the film, even though it is a little too unbelievable. One of my friends commented that it was as if walking around without a shirt on and serving some earthlings some eggs, he became worthy of his hammer. Regardless of the process of the change, there was a marked difference between the naive and selfish Thor prior to his banishment and the Thor that returned to keep Asgard out of the hands of those who would destroy it. When our lives are devoted to helping others instead of satisfying our own selfishness, we are happier and we are able to be a much larger, positive influence in the lives of those around us.

My Sister's Keeper (2009)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

Because of the tugging and pulling of your emotions, I had a hard time “enjoying” this film. It made me think a lot about the different relationships portrayed and the effects of having someone close to you with a terminal illness. If you just need a good cry, this might be a good one to watch.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Though being a full-blown tear-jerker, we didn't experience the full force of it having broken it up into two segments. I think the writers/directors tried a little too hard to pull at your emotions. We learn the importance of parent child communication, and that no matter how much we want something for our kids, we (as parents) have to realize that they are their own selves. Our children need to learn to make decisions on their own (hopefully supported by the example of the parents) and be accountable for them. Our job as parents should be to listen intently and provide needed guidance where we can.

I didn't care too much for Kate's little rendezvous in the hospital after the dance. True or not, we don't need to show kids that premarital sex is adventurous and might be OK if you think you'll never get a chance to be married, or that it's just something all teenagers do.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

This movie was awesome. There is a bit of language, a lot of gay/lesbian jokes, and one scene of sensuality (no sex occurs), so an edited version might best suit some people (we kicked Clearplay in about three-quarters of the way into the movie). Scott Pilgirm reminded us a lot of Napoleon Dynamite, only Scott didn’t appear to be mentally handicapped, just very dweebish. There was a great mix of action, drama, and humor through out the movie; and the music was pretty good too, though possibly a little loud.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

For as funny as it was, it was also very well written and was more than just the sum of the jokes and action. In a very creative way we see that the amount of effort you put into a relationship determines your overall happiness and the amount of self respect you have.

For the first time in his life, Scott meets someone that he wants to be with and is OK, at first, with having to beat up a few of Ramona’s evil ex’s (not ex-boyfriends). But the evil ex’s get more difficult to face and Scott seems to doubt the worth of fighting for Ramona’s love.

Similarly in real-life relationships, everything is great during the honeymoon period, but when life starts to set in, the luster seems to get lost and the relationship isn’t new anymore. We tend to forget that love is only as good as the amount of effort we put into the relationship (providing the other person is also making an effort - Ramona had to fight her share of exes as well.) The ex’s in the film can easily be paralleled to “baggage” that we bring into relationships. We need to learn to accept the person for who they are and help each other put the past behind and work toward a better future together.

[Mild Spoiler Alert]
Another “deep-thinking” moment occurs when Scott uses his extra life to change his weapon at the end from love to self respect. While fighting for love sounds noble and is often a legitimate reason for fighting in many Romanticized tales, the greatest strength we can receive in combating evil or overcoming obstacles is the amount of respect or confidence we have in ourselves to overcome these trials. Self-respect and confidence don’t come by allowing ourselves to be overcome in thought by our love for someone else; it comes by knowing who we are, what our potential is, and what we want to do with our lives. This self-realization most assuredly comes with divine assistance and guidance, though this aspect of it wasn’t really shown in the movie (unless you consider the creators of the story the ones who bestowed these special powers on Scott, then it might be extrapolated).

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

The movie started off with some good potential. We enjoyed watching Dave learning about using his powers, but there ended up being way too much packed into the last half of the film. When a boy with a few days practice can defeat one of Merlin’s most powerful enemies, Morgana, when Merlin couldn’t (granted she was bodiless, so maybe weaker?) was a little too unbelievable. There was also little explanation as to all the other sorcerer’s imprisoned in the Grimhold.

While not a great movie, we had fun watching it. Don't forget to stay for the end of the credits as there's a secret scene that reveals something interesting.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

If you step up to the plate, you will be surprised what you can actually do. This doesn’t mean you will acquire super powers or unearth your hidden wizardry destiny, but taking steps in the dark to do something you know is for the ultimate progression of good is an important element of faith.

Despicable Me (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

This was not as fast paced of a movie as I was expecting. It was rather slow and easy going. The musical score was awesome, it fit the movie to a “T”. The humor was good, but I remember the movie more for Gru’s emotional development than for it’s humor.

Moral Rating: 3 of 5

Gru isn’t your typical heartless villain, and if heartlessness is a measure of villainy success this explains why he does not make a very good “villain.” His own mother doesn’t show her love to him until he’s put the villainy aside and made the effort to learn to love (and she admits she wasn’t as great of a parent as Gru has turned out to be). All in all, this is a fun show, worth sharing with your young kids.

When In Rome (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

A good romantic comedy, and for being PG-13 it had nothing compared to some other rom-com’s (sex-related humor, sleeping around, bad languange, etc.). I had a hard time liking many of the main characters in the film, with exception to Josh Duhamel (all the men chasing Beth around were hilarious, especially John Heder - Napoleon Dynamite). If you’re given the chance to watch it, it’s fun and worth it, but I wouldn’t go out of your way, unless you’d really like to see a brief reunion of Napoleon Dynamite (as a magician) and Pedro (as his filming assistant).

Ponyo (2009)

Racing the Tsunami
Ponyo at MOVIECLIPS.com

Entertainment Rating: 3/5

I remembered hearing the name of this movie quite a bit around Oscar season and had a small desire to see what it was all about. However, I’ve never really watched any anime films and the premise to this one didn’t sound terribly intriguing: a fish wants to become human (pretty much based on H.C. Andersen’s Little Mermaid). Our kids enjoyed the movie and I almost did. The musical score for the film was excellent and the story did turn out to be interesting enough, but it didn’t really conclude anything. We were left with more questions than answers. (Voices by Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Betty White, Frankie Jonas, Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus)

Orson Scott Card gives examples of some of these unanswered questions:

What did the ocean's attack on the shore accomplish? How did a little boy's promise resolve the conflict between humans and the life of the sea? Who are the little fish-girl's parents and what are they trying to accomplish? What are the rules of the magic in this imagined universe?

Moral Rating: 3/5

Sosuke is able to love Ponyo whether she remains human or is turned back into a fish. Sosuke’s family relationship also provides us with some important insights. Their life is not very easy without a father at home; Lisa, Sosuke’s mother, needs her husband’s help and support with taking care of the house and Sosuke; and Sosuke needs a father around to give him a role model to look up to while he’s growing up. The scene with them communicating via light signals was a particularly touching one, very realistic.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sums up the moral messages in the movie quite concisely:

...the underlying moral messages, such as the repeated admonition to judge by substance rather than appearance and a deftly delivered warning against environmental carelessness, are universal.

Superman Doomsday (2007)

Entertainment Rating: B

Not great, but pretty good. There was definitely a lot of action and a decent story line. The Doomsday alien seemed a bit odd, not a lot of history behind it, just some random, seemingly indestructible monster that almost kills Superman. The underlying story with Lex Luthor’s DNA research was a bit more intriguing and I enjoyed that bit of the show.

Moral Rating: 3

[Spoiler Alert] The moral dilemma’s presented in this show were well done, but did not have a strong presence throughout the film. We see how the ability to enforce the law goes beyond superhuman strength and power, it lies within the moral fiber of the enforcer. The Superman clones kill those who commit atrocious crimes, without any second thought to due process of the law. However, I don’t necessarily always trust the law to adequately punish criminals, but I wouldn’t want to be responsible otherwise for the abrupt ending of a person’s life or other such punishments. The true Superman has the ability to enforce justice, but also to extend mercy appropriately - very much a Christ-like figure.

We could have been spared the implication of an unmarried, intimate relationship between Lois and Superman. Several scenes with them in their bathrobes wasn’t necessary.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1 (2010)

Entertainment Rating: A

The show was great. If anything, I’d agree with Orson Scott Card that the movie is better than the book because it keeps a good pace and doesn’t linger on some of the lengthy details. There are quite a few “jump” scenes that I think help make it worth seeing the film in the theater, don’t wait for DVD.

Moral Rating: 3

The presentation of good and evil hits a climax in this last installment(s) of the Harry Potter series, and the film does a good job of displaying it. I can’t say that it really struck any chord with regards to making me want to become a better person. The friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione displayed some good examples of real-world conflicts that can arise and how we can overcome our own selfish behavior in light of a greater good (the friendship itself over our own immature feelings).

In particular, even though Ron and Hermione are “together”, because Harry’s the focus of everything we can understand how Ron might feel a little cheated for attention from Hermione. So when Ron leaves out of frustration, it’s not a real surprise. What is a surprise (even though it was the needed thing to be done, but required quite a bit of courage and humility) is to see Ron return and ready to try to overcome his silly teenage jealousy and practice being a true friend.

Regarding the supposed nude scene in the movie, I think Orson Scott Card addressed the matter quite well:

“You may have heard of the mini-firestorm (a candlestorm?) over the "nude scene." My first thought had been, Why would the producers add a nude scene to the story?

Then my daughter reminded me that the scene in question was in the book. It comes when Ron, under the evil influence of one of Voldemort's horcruxes, pictures Hermione, the love of his life, in the naked embrace of his best friend, Harry Potter.

Of course, naked in a book is not the same thing as naked in a movie. In the book, you can gloss over it as long as the writing is not explicit; but in a movie, the actors are really naked, and there they are on the screen, second after second.

Still, the filmmakers did a fairly tasteful job. There were no more body parts visible than you might see on primetime TV, and a lot less than in the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED swimsuit issue. There was nothing arousing about it -- the whole thing was just to show us why it was making Ron so crazy.

Could they have cut the scene or made it even less nude? Maybe, and if some viewers decided to stay away because it's there, I won't argue with them. But I was not offended or even made uncomfortable with it. No child is going to learn (or even guess!) the facts of life from the scene. But it's the parents' call.”

I can’t say that I was offended or uncomfortable because of the “nudity” but it was a bit odd seeing Harry and Hermione together. The dance scene was fun, but the end was a little too awkward, it just didn’t jive with me (whether it was the characters or the actors’ portrayal of them I’m not sure).

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Entertainment Rating: A

Nice thriller, though my wife said it was a bit lame because she guessed who Keyser Soze was half-way through the film, and so wasn't too impressed. We watched the T.V. version, and surprisingly it was pretty decent. They probably got rid of 80% of the language and left most of the violence in, but it was totally watchable - though still not for young kids.

Moral Rating: 3

The coolest line in the show is repeated twice, "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." At the end of the movie some people say they are even more scared than they were while watching it (maybe because you realize that "the Devil" has existed all along, but you let him reel you in to his story of pity). How often does Satan appeal to our emotions? Our emotions can be so strong that they often overshadow any good judgement we might receive from our conscience.

We are taught, with regards to the devil, "And behold, others [the devil] flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance." (2 Nephi 28:22) Though this is a great reference, the whole movie wasn’t that great of a moral lesson, other than to make sure you don’t get duped by Satan.