“Word Wars”
Released: 2004
Rating: NR
Length: 77 minutes
Cast: Joe Edley, Matt Graham, Marlon Hill, “G.I.” Joel Sherman
Directors: Julian Petrillo, Eric Chaikin
Genre(s): Documentary
Reviews and recommendations of movies from my NetFlix queue.
“Word Wars”
Released: 2004
Rating: NR
Length: 77 minutes
Cast: Joe Edley, Matt Graham, Marlon Hill, “G.I.” Joel Sherman
Directors: Julian Petrillo, Eric Chaikin
Genre(s): Documentary
Hands down my favorite Amy Adams movie. In fact, she carries “Enchanted” with an unbelievably believable performance as a fairytale princess who finds herself stranded in the very unenchanted New York City. Once in the city, Giselle (Ms Adams) retains her pluck along with the rose-colored view of the world of someone who believes in happy endings. She’s rescued and reluctantly taken in by Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey), a jaded divorce attorney who has no reason to believe in happy endings. But, surprise! there is a happy ending. However, this modern twist on the classic Disney fairytale from Disney itself is a knowing, post-modern update. Prince Edward (James Marsden) is Giselle’s vacuous sword-wielding suitor, unable to decipher modern New York. The evil Queen’s (Susan Sarandon) henchman Nathaniel, (Timothy Spall) obediently does the Queen’s bidding but, according to a call he places to a talk-radio psychologist, he feels unappreciated. And when Giselle calls for the local critters to help with her cleaning chores, she’s greeted by New York’s own pigeons, cockroaches and sewer rats. This particular event leads to one of the film’s musical numbers and, critters aside, it’s the kind you’d expect from Disney. There are also plenty of references to other films in the Disney catalog for Disney-philes. But even if you’re not, there’s a lot to like in “Enchanted.” It may be a little “Shalit-esque,” but I found it enchanting. My tweet: Enchanted-When an evil stepmother strands her in New York City, Disney Princess Amy Adams makes it her own magic kingdom. 8.5 (out of 10)
Other Amy Adams movies worth a look: Julie & Julia, Doubt
“Enchanted”
Released: 2007
Rating: PG
Length: 108 minutes
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel
Director: Kevin Lima
Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, Adventure
“W.”
Released: 2008
Rating: PG-13
Length: 129 minutes
Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss
Director: Oliver Stone
Genre(s): Drama, Biopic, Satire
My tweet: X-Men 3: The Last Stand-While Bryan Singer is minding the Superman franchise, Magneto and Brett Ratner make a mess of things. 7 (out of 10) Brett Ratner, who took the helm while Brian Singer was directing “Superman Returns,” must be from the “too much of a good thing still isn’t enough” school of directing. Because in “X-men 3: The Last Stand” he piles it on. “The Last Stand” is bigger and louder than the first two X-men films, and has more characters than you can count. It also has two storylines: one involving a “cure” for mutants, derived from the DNA of a mutant boy and another about the resurrection of Jean Gray (Famke Janssen), who died at the end of the X-men 2. Needless to say, the mutants are split about the cure and Jean is now Phoenix with unimaginable, and uncontrollable, powers. These two stories collide in a effects-laden battle between the Brotherhood, led by Magneto (Ian McKellen) and the humans, with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry) and the X-men providing support. But it’s all pretty much expected by now. So while “The Last Stand” may surpass the prior installments in pyrotechnics, unfortunately it comes up short on satisfaction. I’d recommend either one of the first two.
“X-men 3: The Last Stand”
Released: 2006
Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn
Director: Brett Ratner
Genre(s): Adventure, Sequel, Action