Cinthia's Movie Corner

"Under the Greenwood Tree" (2006) - Romance

(NR - Not Rated)

Starring: Keeley Hawes, James Murray, Steve Pemberton.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Based on the novel by Thomas Hardy, this excellent BBC production will transport you back in time to a bucolic English village where Fancy Day (played beautifully by Keeley Hawes) arrives to become the new schoolteacher and to take care of her ailing father. Three potential suitors soon emerge to try and court her, and Fancy must discover by herself that true love is more than material riches, social status, or family obligations: love is something that comes from the realm of the heart. This movie is a joy to watch and it plays to the senses like a carefully and lovingly written lullaby. It bears the unmistakable high quality of all BBC productions. I definitely recommend you watch this film especially after a particularly hard day - let the sublimely peaceful shadow of the greenwood tree tug at your heart strings and awaken the romantic in you.

Coming next: "The Hunted"

"Charlotte's Web" (2006) - Children & Family

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Essie Davis, Gary Basaraba. And the voices of: Julia Roberts, Dominic Scott Kay, Steve Buscemi.

Rating: G

Rating: 5 Stars

Yes, I'm a sucker for children's movies, but I'm also a tough critic when it comes to flicks for the little people. I usually look for message, quality, entertaining and educational value and the overall seriousness of the people involved in making the movie. Just because it's a movie for children, doesn't mean corners can be cut and the audience should leave the theater short changed. E.B. White's timeless tale about the importance and beauty of friendship comes alive masterfully in this first non-animated version of "Charlotte's Web". Dakota Fanning proves yet again what an accomplished actress she is and I dearly hope she stays with us on the silver screen for a long, long time. I only mentioned above three of the famous actors who lent their voices for this great project, but there's a whole galaxy of other stars who provided the voice for all the animals in the barn: Ophrah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, John Cleese, Kathy Bates, Reba MacIntire, Robert Redford, Thomas Hayden Church, Andre Benjamin. Julia Roberts infuses the kind and yes, adorable (they manage to make a spider adorable!) Charlotte with a melodious voice that speaks of promises kept and enduring love (and yes, I did cry when Charlotte passes away: I dare you not to!). Dominic Scott Kay as the voice of Wilbur the pig is just brilliant and you want to take him home with you. The movie is entertaining and beautifully made. The filmmakers' dedication for this project comes through as you watch a tale about ordinary creatures transformed by the extraordinary power of love. Make sure you watch all the segments in the "Special Features" portion of the disc to see how they created Fern's farm, used real and digital animals, and how much fun was for the actors who performed the creatures' voices.

Next movie: "Under the Greenwood Tree".

Greetings!

Here's another edition of "Cinthia's Movie Reviews". I just finished watching "Deja Vu" and here's the scoop:

"Deja Vu" (2006) - PG-13, Action Adventure

Starring: Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer and Paula Patton

Rating: 5 stars

I was anxious to watch this one because I had a really good feeling about it - plus the fact that I adore Denzel Washington - and not only it didn't disappoint me, it was a stunner. The story is totally surprising and I cannot reveal anything about it so as not to ruin it for you guys. The performances are great (Denzel is always amazing) especially by stunning leading lady Paula Patton (a dead ringer for Halle Berry). This thriller - directed by edge-of-your-seat director Tony Scott - keeps you guessing until the end: a refreshing thing in a time where plot predictability makes us all think we might be endowed with a degree of psychic powers. You'll be hanging on for dear life as Mr. Scott takes you on a wild ride featuring raw and edgy camera angles and gripping cinematography.

Hugs,
Cinthia :)

I had an idea that was inspired by my brothers. In my family we’re all hard core movie fanatics (as most of you already know), and we all worship at the altar of Netflix. :) My brother Andre and I often exchange reviews of the movies we've seen, and also recommend titles to each other; the same also happens with my other brother Henry. So I thought it would be nice to review the movies I'm watching through Netflix and share this with you guys. I LOVE to talk, write about movies, so I know it'll be very therapeutic for me. So, you can count on me for an additional service other than your much cherished (right??!) "quote-of-the-week". "Cinthia's Movie Reviews" start right now! The ratings go as follow:

1 star: "hated it"

2 stars: "didn't like it"

3 stars: "liked it"

4 stars: "really liked it"

5 stars: "loved it"

The last two movies I watched were (and you'll get a chuckle): "Possessed" and "Saved!" - yes, in that order! :)

"Possessed" (1947) - Classics

Joan Crawford, Van Heflin, Raymond Massey

Rating: 3 stars

This drama/mystery was quite entertaining and Joan Crawford delivered a great performance - as usual. After all, "Mommy Dearest" can play a disturbed woman second to none - perhaps only to Bette Davis. Van Heflin is also very good as her no good, detached love interest (more like obsession interest, actually). In a way this was a mild precursor to the "Fatal Attraction" movies of today. Entertaining and interesting, but don't expect Hitchcokian thrills.

"Saved!" (2004) - Comedy

Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin

Rating: 5 stars

I thought this was a delightful and super intelligent comedy that pokes fun at religious fanaticism, and at the same time offers an accurate and disturbing portrait of how some people get so entangled in misconceptions of their faith, that the sublime becomes ridiculous, and the spiritual becomes an excuse for prejudice and intolerance. The movie has a great cast of established young actors (and Mary Louise Parker is great playing Jena Malone's mother); Macaulay Culkin gives a wonderful performance showing that he should pursue - or be given - more opportunities in other movies. This is the type of movie that makes you laugh and also is provocative in the way that it shows how disturbing close mindedness can be.

Hope you enjoy these reviews. More to come! Feel free to ask me about any movies you might be thinking of watching, if you would like a recommendation. I currently have rated more than 3,000 titles at Netflix. Until next time!

Hugs,

Cinthia :)