August Rush

Alright, so this movie is about sugary sweet and hopeful as they come. But that doesn't mean you should discredit August Rush, a musical urban fairy tale that gives a twist to the classic orphan-finding-his-parents fable. The orphan, Evan, "believes in music like some people believe in fairy tales." If he could only play it loud enough, maybe his parents could hear him. Its this young boy's undying belief in the power of music that sets the film apart and binds together the film's otherwise implausible plot points. The hypnotic melody of a street performer draws Evan's parents to the rooftop where they meet. Rock and classical overlap as characters thinking about each other play at separate venues. The sounds of the street inspire the ten year-old Evan to write a symphony that is played in Central Park. The music is the movie's core, and its what makes it such a beautiful film. Despite the syrup.

Stardust

This movie was "the one" I had been waiting for all summer. "Stardust" carries on the complicated but wonderful genre of "romantic fantasy action comedy" established by neo-classics such as "The Princess Bride" and "Lady Hawk." The film flollows the story of Tristan, an English shop boy who tries to catch a falling star to impress the snobby Victoria. The star is actually a girl named Yvaine, and immortal witches and bratty princes are after her as well. Newcomer Charlie Cox is wonderful as Tristan, and Robert DeNiro shows a side I'd definitely never seen before as the supposedly villainous Captain Shakespeare, a pirate who just wants to cut hair and wear feather boas. I could write more, but it might take a while...

The Philadelphia Story

What a brilliant comedy! This witty story about an irresistable socialite and the men who love her has some of the best dialogue I've ever heard in a film. It's sharp-witted, fast-paced, ironic and intelligent. Besides, I'll gaze at Cary Grant or James Stewart any day.

Ocean's 13

I love this movie! It's like James Bond sans the erotically named sluts plus a wicked sense of humor and lots of attractive men instead of just one. I can't imagine what it was like to film in the hotel they used in the movie...it was completely gorgeous, the people were completely gorgeous...everyone must have had a lot of fun at work.

Casino Royale

Normally I'm not an advocate of James Bond. As alluring as he can be, every single one of his films loses me once he starts rolling into bed with women named such things as Pussy Galore or Honey Ryder. But Casino Royale, despite it's flaws, is a stunning film. The cinematography is incredible....it's stark, yet rich, incorporating lots of high-exposure, light drenched shots in with the more moody settings you'd expect. When Bond is whiping the blood off of his face after killing a man, the frantic, shaking camera angles do as much to propel the story along as the acting. The movie opens in harsh black and white, more like moving, artistic mug shots than traditional black-and-white-films. But the scene that will stick with me the most was, in my opinion, sheer brilliance. Bond comes to check on his partner, Vesper Lynd, after they've just killed a man. He finds her sitting in the shower, still in her evening gown, silently crying over the thing she has just done. Bond simply sits in the shower with her and holds her. It was such a wonderful moment. It's moments like that that make great movies.

Sense and Sensibility

Many a person has ruined a Jane Austen adaptation. A lot of movies focus on the drama, and lose the witty, satirical edge. But this one...this one is prectically perfect. Emma Thompson's script is so subtly funny...I love the scene when Edward is proposing to Elinor as she cries hysterically. Here the poor guy is pouring out his heart, and all she can do is bawl and hiccup. Kate Winslet is also incredible as Marianne...very ethereal and wonderfully romantic. The guys were all perfect, too..Alan Rickman, Greg Wise, and Hugh Grant were all right-on. Okay, so enough of my praises. I love this movie! (Sans the ending.)

"Amazing" Film

I'll admit it: I was cynical about this film beore I saw it. A lot of Christian films float by on poor quality and aren't seen by anyone but Christians. This, I feel, defeats the point. Shouldn't Christians, armed with their relationship with the Greatest Storyteller and Creator, make the best films? Film is a visual media, and when Christians try to translate a wordy "altar call" into their pictures, they alienate themselves even more from the people you're trying to reach. Alright, so I'll step down from my soapbox now. The recent film Amazing Grace was incredibly refreshing. Here was a film that was infused throughout with a Christian worldview, yet didn't blatantly scream "JESUS LOVES YOU!" I think for the key to good Christian filmmaking you should look to how Christ told His stories: parables. Jesus didn't say "The Kingdom of Heaven is..." He said "The Kingdom of Heaven is like..."

What kind of movie would Jesus make?

Little Miss Sunshine

This movie is hilarious, especially if you've ever felt like your family is crazy (so everyone should like this film, no?) I'm not going to write you a comprehensive report on the whole thing...go to www.rottentomatoes.com to find that. But I will tell you that more movies like this should be made-subtle, circumstance comedies with a quirky, dark edge. (Want more? Rent My Man Godfrey, the original screwball comedy, and the first film to have actors nominated in all four acting categories at the Academy Awards. Also check out Expiration Date and The Truman Show...they're a lot of fun.)

Labyrinth (1986)

Alright, so this movie has been on my mind lately...maybe it's because as I prepare to make another film of my own, I start thinking about art direction, and that is the one thing that Labyrinth has...incredible, creative art direction. The movie's loose plot is about a girl that wishes her baby brother would just go away, but is distraught when she finds out that the goblin king (aka David Bowie) has taken him. (Who wouldn't be freaked out by that?) The crazy creatures she meets and wierd scenery she encounters are what make this movie fun. It's like a kid's imagination let loose. If you have older elementary age kids in your house (the movie is a bit wierd for younger ones,) rent this movie...it's worth it just to see David Bowie singing dressed as a rockstar-esque goblin king. Before you watch the film, though, go to www.rottentomatoes.com and read about all the mistakes they made in the film and make it a game to find them. Looking for visible puppeteers or microphones is half the fun!

Pan's Labyrinth

This is the best movie I have seen since The Lord of the Rings. (And that's saying a lot, since I was one of those people that lived and breathed LOTR.) Director Guillermo Del Toro is the mastermind responsible for Pan's Labyrinth, a haunting, terrifying fairy tale set during the Spanish Civil War. A young girl, Ofelia, finds herself in a living nightmare when her mother marries one of the Fascist leaders, Captain Vidal. They move to a remote outpost, where Ofelia discovers an ancient labyrinth and finds out from a sinister-looking faun that she is the lost princess of the Underworld. To prove that "her essence" is still intact, Ofelia must complete three tasks before the full moon, which includes killing a giant toad, facing a cannibal whose eye balls are in his hands, and other such adventures. Del Toro has thought out every detail, from the lush cinematography to the seamless special effects. I came out of the theatre in total awe. This movie will leave you spellbound. It's as simple as that.

Memoirs of a Geisha

I received a copy of this film for Christmas and was so in awe of it's ethereal beauty that I had to write about it. My parents met in Japan, so I have always had a fascination with the country that allowed me to exist. I also met the woman who designed the hair for the film this summer at film school...she even styled my hair like Sayuri's (cherry blossom combs and all!) Anyway, enough bragging. Rob Marshall, the director of Chicago, creates a gorgeous, lost world that we can never enter, the world of the geisha in the 1930's and 40's. I know this will sound really weird, but this movie has a wonderful "rhythm"-Marshall knows just when to end the scene, just when the actress should tip her head. It's like a dance. Ziyi Zhang is like an Asian Audrey Hepburn, but my favorite actresses in the picture are Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li. Yeoh has such a grace and poise, yet gives her character an inner strength, and Li, with her intense eyes and bold voice, controls the screen every time she enters it. This is a film not to be missed.

Film Flash: Corpse Bride

Tim Burton's visual style is so unique: you know instantly if you are watching a Burton film. I love the fairy-tale quality, stretched out proportions and subtly sarcastic nature of the movie (Danny Elfman's soundtrack doesn't hurt much either.) Stop-motion animation is a dying art form. Hopefully more people will get interested in it from watching this beautiful film.

Film Flash: Marie Antoinette

The new film Marie Antoinette, by Sofia Coppola, has recieved a lot of media attention, both good and bad. Though the acting midght be mediocre and the plot watered down, the costumes, stunning scenery and rock music soundtrack make it a great film to watch: it is almost like a moving painting. This is a film I would love to watch in pieces (all at once is a bit long) any time I feel the aristic side of my films is uninspired. The best scenes are the party scenes: it really humanizes the characters, and takes away some of stuffiness we tend to attribute to royals.

Film Flash: Rebel Without a Cause

I am completely in love with James Dean (please don't tell Marlon Brando or Johnny Depp.) So many teenagers nowadays think that life was easier growing up in the 1950's. This film brilliantly bridges that generational gap. The cast gives very real, raw performances: all you'd have to do is dress the teens in Old Navy and Hollister and you'd have a thoroughly modern piece. Human beings haven't really changed throughout the ages. We've just bought new outfits.

Film Flash: Lawrence of Arabia

I am not ashamed to admit the main reason why I love this film. It's not the breathtaking cinematography, the impressive special effects, or the intense acting: it's the camels. I can't watch this film without wanting to ride a camel across the desert. Does that make me shallow? Maybe. But if I'm ever an eccentric rich person with money to burn, I'll tell you what my first purchase will be. A camel. I'll name it Shaherazad (but I'll call it Zadi for short.)

Film Flash: Expiration Date

I recently saw this independent film at a film festival. It is about a guy named Charles Silvercloud III, whose father and grandfather were both killed by milktrucks on their 25th birthdays. As his birthday draws near, Charlie prepares to die, but a crazy dancer, Bessie, is determined to not let him rest in peace. This film has a fun, quirky sense of humor and awesome photography. The people don't feel like caricatures; I came out feeling like I might run into them on the street (not with a milktruck.) I haven't had that much fun at the movies in a long time.

Film Flash: Finding Neverland

Doesn't everyone want to be a pirate? Okay, maybe it's just me. I love the playfulness of this film. Just try watching it. Yes, the cinematography is stunning. Yes, the costumes are exquisite. Yes, the acting is brilliant. But I defy anyone who watches this film and doesn't want to fly away to Neverland. Or become a pirate.

Film Flash:Phantom of the Opera

Whether you think the actual film was any good or not, you have to admit that The Phantom of the Opera had incredible costumes. They were so ornate and rich: they perfectly represented the "over-done" mentality that was so prevalent during that time period. The film stars Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler

Film Flash: Pride and Prejudice

This is a still from the film Pride and Prejudice.The film uses light and shadow beautifully in a way many filmmakers today are forgetting. I love this shot because it's so organic-you can't make sunlight like that with a computer!