Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Stomp -- 2009

Acoustic Stomp
(2009)

Steve Kaufman

My Rating: 5 Stars

Songs:
Interstate Rag
Mr. Bojangles
Maid Behind the Bar – Sligo Maid – The Rising Sun
The Chicken Cordon Blues
Dill Pickle Rag
The Lament for Lowrie O'Da Lea
I'm Goin' Fishin'
Laura's Theme
The Acoustic Stomp
Windy and Warm
The First Century Reel
Crazy Creek
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Blackberry Rag
Cold Frosty Morn – Rickett's Hornpipe – June Apple
So You Want To Play The Guitar?

Musicians:
Steve Kaufman – guitar
Rusty Holloway – bass

In my opinion, this is Steve Kaufman's best CD yet. He just keeps getting better! :-) There is such variety on this recording... he gets into it fast with songs like “Crazy Creek” and “Interstate Rag”. Then, he takes it down and swoops you away with something beautiful like “The Lament For Lowrie O'Da Lea” (which happens to be my favorite song on the CD). You also get to hear his rendition of the parody “So You Want to Play the Guitar” and the very fun song “The Chicken Cordon Blues”.

I was amazed at how different each song sounded, even though I was hearing the same instruments and musicians. My personal favorites on this recording are, “The Lament For Lowrie O'da Lea”, “Mr. Bojangles”, “Windy and Warm”, “First Century Reel” and “When I Grow Too Old To Dream”. But I like it as a whole because of how he arranged the songs. Btw, the rags rock. It beats me how they sound so good on a guitar. There is a reason Steve Kaufman's music is so well known and liked down in the States... and now it's up to some of us fans to spread his talent across Canada.

Make sure and check out the bass solo on “Blackberry Rag”.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring -- 2001

The Lord of the Rings:

The Fellowship of the Ring
(2001)

Rated PG-13 for frightening images and battle sequences
My Rating: 5 Stars

Elijah Wood
Ian McKellen
Sean Astin
Billy Boyd
Dominic Monaghan
Viggo Mortensen
Liv Tyler
Orlando Bloom
John Rhys-Davies
Sean Bean
Cate Blanchett
Craig Parker

“I wish The Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.”
“So do all who live in such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

I had wondered how to write reviews for LotR and finally decided there was only one way to do it: each film separately.

When LotR first came out, everyone was talking about them. I saw a clip or two of the Fellowship and didn't understand all the fuss! Little did I know that years later, this story would become something I greatly admire and use as a guide-stone in my writing. Of all films I have ever seen and the books I have read, none come even close to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is timeless. Elves, wicked rulers, hobbits, wraiths, fierce battles, true friendship, men, adventures, parties, love... It is a story of many values but told in such a way that you feel you have never heard them before. There is good and evil; good and bad characters, valiant and brave and those who surprise us in the end.

There is quite a controversy about whether the books or movies of LotR are better. I hold with neither group. I love each for their qualities and how they can stand alone or work together. I was glad I watched the films before reading the books. If I hadn't known the story, I don't think I would have been able to read them so easily.

As far as the films go, Peter Jackson and his crew put the story together very well. It runs smoothly. They picked all of the right actors for the characters they play. They went to endless effort to get each scene just right. I believe it has paid off.

Summary:
Long ago in a place called Middle Earth, a hobbit of the Shire named Bilbo Baggins celebrated his 111th birthday. He didn't look a day older than he had at the age of 50, as healthy and hearty as he always had been and the Shire rejoiced with a reason to celebrate. After a glorious party with fireworks, a sumptuous dinner, dancing, music, beer and an immense cake with 111 candles gracing it's top, Bilbo makes a speech. And a strange speech it is: “...this is the end.” With those words, he disappeared into thin air.

The old rascally hobbit had a secret. It had kept him well and young... and made him wealthy. But the gift that had blessed him for 60 years was becoming a burden of late. He felt spent and spread thin. He meant to leave the Shire and go visit the elves he had once known. But no one knew that he meant to not come back. He was leaving his possessions to his nephew Frodo: his inn and everything in it... including his ring.

Gandalf the Grey was an old friend of Bilbo's. He had arrived in time for the party and saw Bilbo's mysterious disappearance, deduced where he would go and met him at his hobbit hole. He suspected a magic ring but he didn't know what ring it was. It was only after he saw the power it held over his friend did he begin to wonder. And after carefully instructing Frodo to keep it hidden, he rode hard to the city of Gondor to read about it's secrets.

Horrified with his discoveries, he went back to The Shire and put the ring to a final test: fire.

“One ring to rule them all... One ring to find them... One ring to bring them all... and in the darkness bind them.”

There was not a doubt: Frodo had inherited the Ring of power. The One Ring that Sauron, evil spirit lord of Mordor, forged the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. The One Ring that Isildur King of Gondor had taken from the hand of Sauron and refused to destroy. The One Ring that had shaped the lives of so many and could change the course of the world.

For 2000 years it had lain quiet and almost forgotten. But no more. Evil has been stirring in Mordor. Frodo, Gandalf and any others whose lives are touched by The Ring are about to be changed forever. If Sauron is allowed to possess The Ring again, Middle Earth is doomed.

The Ring is taken to Rivendell and there it is decided that The Ring must be destroyed once and for all. But who will carry it? While the others raise their voices at each other, Frodo stands quiet, then speaks, “I will take it. I will take the ring to Mordor. Though... I do not know the way.” He had already nearly given his life for being a Ring-bearer and a wound he had received would never properly heal. This is why Gandalf's eyes were strangely wet when he turned to small hobbit and said, “I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins...”

Added to these two was the Ranger, Strider. “If by my life or death I will. You have my sword.”

Legolas, fair elf, “And my bow.”

The bearded outspoken dwarf, “And my ax”

Representative of Gondor, Boromir, son of the Steward. “You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done.”

Ever faithful Samwise Gamgee, “Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me.”

And lastly added were the other two companions of Frodo and Sam: Merry and Pippin. Impulsive, thoughtless but true friends indeed. “And anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of... mission. Quest. Thing.”
“Well that rules you out, Pip.”

I loved the entire movie but here are some of my favorite things:
1: Merry, after falling down the hill by Farmer Maggot's crops, “I think I broke something.” ::pulls out a carrot with the end snapped::
2: Pippin is probably my favorite character. I love Frodo but Pippin never fails to make me smile. ;-)
3: The gorgeous scenery.
4: The costumes.
5: Rivendell and the elves.
6: The battles in the mines of Moria. There is a lot of action but they somehow manage to make each move one in itself. You get carried away but not quite. :-)
7: Arwen. She is selfless and full of courage and love for Aragorn. And, of course, Liv Tyler is loveliness.
8: I appreciate the struggles Boromir went through and even though I had to resign myself to his death, it was good that he was able to regain his honor.
9: Lothlorien... and the dwelling of the King and Queen of the elves. It is so beautiful.
10: I'm not sure why, but Haldir's character really resonates with me.
11: The humor. They used it very effectively. There isn't a lot but the way they do use it, makes it very funny and keeps the viewer's spirits uplifted when there is a lot of tension in the air.
12: The score... very lovely
13: The scary scenes are really scary. The first time I watched this, I was watching for wraiths around every corner. Lol!

Things To Know:
1: There is magic.
2: The movie is very dark in some scenes.
3: It's rated PG-13 for a reason.

The only thing I didn't like:
The books are rich with detail about the elves, their dwellings, their food, their clothing, their dialect, etc, etc. I know that they did well in the film because I am left wanting a few more details but I wish... :-)

I highly recommend this film from all aspects. If you like adventure, it's all there. If you like elves and hobbits and things of a fairy tale nature, you'll have your fill. If you like sword fights and horse chases, get ready for some action! And if you like how righteousness and justice wins in the end, even if the odds are four to one, this is the movie for you. But if you like none of these things, you can watch it for excellence in production, acting, special effects...

Many people I talk to about LotR tell me they don't like how dark the films are. I can understand that but before you discount this story completely, try watching or reading it. You might be surprised. And even if you don't like the movies or books, I will still be your friend. :-) :-)

On a lighter note:
Apparently many girls think that Legolas (Orlando Bloom) is handsome enough to faint over. In my opinion, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Boromir (Sean Bean) and Haldir (Craig Parker) were all better looking. ;-)

Jonah -- VeggieTales Movie -- 2002

Jonah
a VeggieTales Movie
(2002)

Rated G
My Rating: 4 Stars

Phil Vischer
Mike Nawrocki
Tim Hodge
Lisa Vischer
Shelby Vischer
Dan Anderson
Kristin Blegen
Jim Poole
Ron Smith

“Compassion runs very deep in my family. But not that deep.”

Summary:
Bob the Tomato and his crew were on their way to a Twippo concert. Everyone in the back seats of the van were singing their hearts about “Billy McGruffrey” (a Twippo song) but the Bob isn't doing so well. He keeps getting almost hit with the guitar his 'navigator' is playing. When they finish the song, everyone exclaims how much they love Twippo songs and Laura Carrot pipes up about how she does too and not only that, she's the only one out of the entire group who gets to meet him because she won the Twippo Sweepstakes. She holds up her ticket gleefully and a sudden gust of air causes it to flutter from her grasp and out the window.

Just at this catastrophic moment, the guitar gets stuck in the steering wheel and a frantic Bob loses control of the vehicle. They end up with flat tires from a mama porcupine, get stuck in a clothesline and when that snaps, they smash into a stump. Everyone is fine (due to seatbelts and airbags) so they get out and look around. Just down the road is a restaurant and with hopes of finding a telephone and another ride, they all rush over.

While the grownups use the telephone, Laura starts bemoaning the loss of her ticket again. But Junior Asparagus tells her it's her own fault for flaunting it and she's only getting what she deserves. That's when the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything arrive on the screen... once again.

“We are the pirates who don't do anything

We just stay home and lie around...”

“You know, we call ourselves the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything but that's not entirely accurate.”
“Yeah, remember when we did that one thing with that one guy?”

It's from this one guy that The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything had learned a valuable lesson from and they were about to share that lesson with Junior... and anyone else who happened to show up... that compassion and mercy are for everyone.

“...our God is a God of second chances.”

What I Liked:
1: This is a Bible story told in a way that will appeal to many audiences.
2: The lesson was told in such a way that I was given a new perspective on a story I've known forever.
3: The humor.
4: The music... very cute.
5: Make sure and watch the bloopers on the Bonus Features... oh! And the Countertop extras.
6: How they ended on a sad note, just like the Bible story does.
7: Khalil. :-D “I'm a caterpillar. Well, that's only half the truth. My mother was a caterpillar and my father was a worm so that makes me...”

I do recommend this movie. :-) :-) :-) VeggieTales are so much fun.

Igor -- 2008

Igor
(2008)

Rated PG for violence and some innuendo
My Rating: 4 Stars

John Cussack
John Cleese

Molly Shannon
Eddie Izzard
Jennifer Coolidge
Steve Buscemi
Sean Hayes
Jay Leno

“Do not yell at me.”

Summary:
Once upon a time the land of Malaria had been a beautiful country of sunshine, mountains, bounteousness and wealthy people. But one day, the clouds came and covered the valley, destroying their crops and leaving the inhabitants destitute. Then, King Malbert had an idea: make evil inventions to blackmail the rest of the world with.

There are two classes of people in Malaria: the evil scientists who live in their castles rent free and Igors, their hunchbacked assistants who get their degrees in slurring and “Yes Master”-ing. They are taught to obey without question and not think.

But there is one Igor (John Cussack) who has always wanted to be an evil scientist. Because he was born with a hunch, anything besides being an Igor was out of the question but he dreams anyway and secretly invents. He has moderate success: a rabbit named Scamper (Steve Buscemi) whom he made immortal. And then there is Brain (Sean Hayes), who isn't one.

“Blind orphans get everything!”

Every year, there is an Evil Science Fair, in which all evil scientists enter their latest inventions. The invention that wins is used to blackmail the rest of the world. There is one evil scientist who has won every year: Dr. Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard). With his success came his popularity with the people of Malaria and King Malbert gets worried that he will be ousted from the throne.

“Ironically, at an inch tall, you still have the biggest mouth in Malaria.”

One day, Igor's master, Dr. Glickenstein, blows himself up, leaving Igor and his two inventions to themselves. Just moments after his untimely expiration, the King arrives to talk to him. Igor tries to tell the King what happened but suddenly realizes that this might be his ticket to showing the world what he can really do in the world of inventions. He tells King Malbert that Dr. Glickenstein's invention is life.

And so, Igor's biggest, most evil invention is begun. Will it be a success?

“May I suggest... looking behind you!!! ...... It was just a suggestion.”

What I Liked:
1: The quality of this movie. Well done!
2: The humor. It's hilarious.
3: The storyline.
4: The twists. Totally kept me on the edge of my seat. :-)
5: They kept it fairly clean.
6: There is an edge on which movie producers/directors can topple from... too little and too much. They only over stepped a couple of times.
7: The romance. ;-) It was so cute.
8: The score. It ranges from very fun with a fifties sound, to lovely and dramatic... old movie sound with LotR mixed in. :-)

What I Didn't Like:
1: Jennifer Coolidge's character (s) was fairly seductive.
2: A little bit of language.
3: There were a couple of scenes that were bordering on colorful.

This is another hilarious film that I want to watch again... and again! :-) It's so well acted and the storyline flows very smoothly. Other than a couple of things, I would have given it a full 5 stars. :-)

“Uh... Canadians.”

Ice Princess -- 2005

Ice Princess
(2005)

Rated G
My Rating: 4 Stars


Michelle Trachtenberg
Joan Cusack
Amy Stewart
Steve Ross
Hayden Panettiere
Kim Cattrall
Trevor Blumas
Kirsten Olson

“How do you know if you have a calling?”
“When you're brilliant teacher tells you so.”

Summary:
When Casey's math teacher told her she had a gift in physics and that she should work on a project with a personal touch to prove it, she had no idea what to do. Then, one night, fate stretched out it's hand as  she was watching figure skating with her best friend, Ann. Physics is in everything. So why not use something she enjoyed watching?

Off to the Harwood Skating Club she went. At first, it was just for her project... then she realized how dry and impersonal her project was sounding. Mr. Bast had been specific: the project had to be personal. So, Casey decided to try her formulas on herself. It didn't take long before she realized that she not only enjoyed watching figure skating, she loved it.

But there was a problem: lessons take money, something Casey and her mom didn't have a lot of. That was fixable... Casey simply spent a lot of time working a job. There was another problem: Casey's mom had her heart set on college, Harvard to be specific, and college doesn't exactly include a career in figure skating.

In spite of these obstacles, Casey's gift is apparent to anyone who watches her. She manages to enter in the Regional Championships. It's there that she finds out the other side to skating. It's not all glitter. Now, Casey must step back and take a look at her priorities... and her heart. Does she have the guts it takes for skating? Or for that matter, anything besides being a physics geek?

What I Liked:
1: I could really relate to this story. I have said the same things as the characters did and had to make some of same kinds of difficult decisions.
2: No language.
3: The story was well acted, directed and flowed so smoothly.
4: Some of the score is just lovely. They had some solo/duet instruments... guitar, violin. Nice.
5: The humor. I liked that white flour pancakes comment. Lol! For those of you not raised in a health food home, you might not understand. But believe me, that line is right on.
6: How they show that life isn't worth much if you're unhappy... and sometimes, you have to climb mountains to follow your heart.
7: The romance. It was sweet.

What I Didn't Like:
1: On occasion, Michelle Tratchenberg didn't quite pull off the physics geek. (But at the scene of the party, she did and it was great after that. :-))
2: There were some very unrealistic things about the movie. How quickly the children progressed through the levels of figure skating, etc.

Things to Know:
1: Figure skating costumes aren't the most modest in the world. But keep in mind that it's fake skin. ;-)
2: Some rock 'n roll.
3: Casey and Gen both stand up to their mothers and pursue their dreams.
4: A kiss at the end...
5: Men in general are either generalized or not so nice.

Yes, I did like this film. And girls will probably like it. But guys won't. And your moms might not either. :-)

Ghost Rider -- 2007

Ghost Rider
(2007)

Rated PG-13 for horror and frightening images
My Rating: 3 Stars

Nicholas Cage
Pete Fonda
Sam Elliot
Eva Mendes
Wes Bentley

I rented this film because it has Nicholas Cage on it. But I must say that the best thing about this movie was Sam Elliot. :-)

Summary:
Johnny Blaze (Matt Long/Nicholas Cage) and his father (Brett Cullen) were motorcycle stunt-men. They had been following and working in the carnival for years together, winning many awards for their stunts. Life was a one long adventure in one city after another; fiery hoops and glowing praise and  monotony. Then Johnny met Roxanne. She was the love of his life; there was no doubt.

The course of true love is rarely smooth: Roxy's father proclaimed that young motorcycle stuntman  wasn't good enough for his daughter and made plans to take her out of Johnny's life forever. But he didn't know his daughter's will. The couple made plans to elope and would have gone through with it... if something hadn't happened first.

Johnny discovers that his father, the invincible Barton Blaze, has cancer... in fact, is dying. Johnny realizes suddenly how much his father means to him and as he angrily works his grief out on his bike, he wishes with every ounce of his being that he could help his father.

With that wish, the devil shows up. Of course, Johnny doesn't realize that the middle-aged man using a cane is actually the man from hell, so when he offers to heal Barton Blaze using Johnny's soul as payment, Johnny agrees to the bargain. The next morning, Johnny's father is in perfect health. If it hadn't been for that, Johnny would have thought the last evening's proceedings a dream. A dream that turned into a nightmare: an accident that never should have happened; his father's still body; evil laughter filling the carnival tent. Hours later, Johnny meets the devil on the road and is told that nothing must come in between them and their contract: no family, no loved ones. He works for the devil now.

Just him, the devil... and a desire to die that is so strong it almost consumes him.

But little did either of them know... when someone gives up their soul for love instead of selfishness and greed, the curse becomes their power.

What I Liked:
1: The devil is shown to be almost as evil as he truly is. It makes the viewer realize that he is nothing to laugh at.
2: The acting was fairly well done.
3: Very little bad language.
4: There was some boy/girl stuff but they kept it clean. It was refreshing that way.
5: The legend/Sam Elliot. Nicely done... I enjoy both.
6: The humor. There are times that I actually snickered. “Call me old-fashioned, I'm funny that way. Human sacrifices make me uncomfortable.”
7: The score. I love the cowboy song and I really like how they use it with 'modern' music. The mix is great.
8: Some of the scary stuff was new to me. Kept me on my toes. :-)
9: The justice.

What I Didn't Like:
1: I kept getting the feeling like I wasn't getting all the details of the story.
2: There were a lot of 'givens'... several threads untied at the end of the film.
3: Some bad language.
4: Roxanne is under-dressed a couple of times. It does nothing to help the movie.
5: The way Johnny took care of two of the bad guys... I'm afraid I didn't quite catch the significance of his methods.
6: Theology was pretty bad. Lol. It was worse than Indiana Jones.

The reason I'm probably unfamiliar with Ghost Rider is due to the fact that I haven't read the comics or brushed up on my knowledge of legends. This film is definitely for people who know the story beforehand. If you're a Marvel comics fan, you'll probably love this movie. :-)

One of the funniest lines on this movie was when the woman is getting robbed and Johnny shows up, ablaze. Both she and her captor look at him for a long moment, then she grabs her purse and says, “Uh...thanks!”

Okay, you will have to watch it in order to find this amusing. :-)

Evelyn Cameron -- 1868 - 1928

Evelyn Cameron
(1868 - 1928)
Montana's Frontier Photographer

Why are some black and white photographs so fascinating to look at and study? Is it because the subjects shown in them are dressed for the times? Or is it because one realizes how much time and effort went into each photograph? Perhaps the reason I enjoy looking at old photographs so much is because of photographers like Evelyn Cameron.

Looking at her self portraits, a person would come to the conclusion that she was a sturdy, work hardened woman with a sense of humor. She was. But look again. Don't you see the music in her images? What about close touch of nature ... and the way she set up her subject(s)? It is art. There is a touch here that feels gentler than the wind swept buttes of Montana.

Evelyn Jephson Flower was born in Britain to a wealthy merchant family on August 26th, 1868. She grew up in a large, comfortable house with servants to accomplish every task... even brush her hair. I don't know much about her growing up years but I do know that at the age of 21 (1889), she married Ewen Cameron and traveled to the badlands of eastern Montana to study bird habit and habitat. Her family didn't approve.

Ewen Cameron was a Scottish aristocrat who lived in 'genteel poverty' while pursuing his great interests in birds. He was fourteen years in her senior, eccentric and in need of someone just like Evelyn to balance him out.

In the year of 1893, the Camerons moved to Montana to escape society and find their own way in life. It was a year later that Evelyn got her first camera. She first purchased the camera because she wanted to help record her husband's studies. But she soon realized that it could become a source of income... and amusement. Her pictures marched their way over the ocean to England and her poor prim family was properly horrified at her escapades. But people did pay to have their pictures taken: bachelors sending home pictures to their loved ones; families capturing their growing years forever; homesteaders proudly standing in their best clothes by their small houses, barns and cellars; children and their pets; weddings; funerals;
confirmation and school classes.



She charged 25 cents per photograph, $3.00 for twelve photos mounted in an album. Her favorite camera was Tourist Graflex, which she purchased for $255.58 in 1905. “It made 5 – inch – by – 7 – inch glass-plate negatives, weighed 9 pounds, and was bigger than a breadbox.” Evelyn never owned an automobile. She carried her camera and equipment on horseback... or walked.

I mentioned earlier about the 'feel' of Mrs. Cameron's photographs. I find her pictures unusually professional with a touch only the untamed frontier can give. For instance, the accordion player perched in a tree; a friend with a boxed coyote pup; the Northern Pacific Railroad section foreman in his fringed native costume... with his pipe and gun; Ewen with his goshawk sitting on his arm; the herd of sheep with the lone shepherd and his dog (keep in mind how hard it is to keep animals still enough so they didn't blur!); and the photograph that Evelyn had Ewen take of herself, sitting on a narrow natural stone bridge over a high canyon, reading (she won first place in a contest... the contest theme being the oddest place to be reading it's magazine).

I highly recommend you taking a look at Evelyn Cameron's work. She is one of the very best black and white photographers I have had the pleasure to study.



Here are some sources:
Evelyn Cameron – Montana's Frontier Photographer – Text by Kristi Hager (2007; Farcounty Press) $14.95 (US)
The Camerons: Evelyn and Ewen, Birding in Central Montana, 1912 –13 (Henry L. Armstrong, 2002)
Before Barbed Wire: L.A. Huffman, Photographer on Horseback (Mark H. Brown and William R. Felton, 1990)
Photographing Montana, 1894 – 1928: The Life and Work of Evelyn Cameron (Donna M. Lucey, 1990)
http://thebluekimono.blogspot.com/2009/07/photography-of-evelyn-cameron.html

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea -- 1997

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
(1997)

Richard Crenna
Ben Cross
Julie Cox
Paul Gross
Michael Jayston

“Metal... Hm. What species would this be, Professor?”

Summary:
Something has been terrorizing the Atlantic Ocean, sinking ships or injuring critically. People are suspecting a sea monster of some kind and who knows best about sea monsters but world renown marine biologist Professor Aronnax (Richard Crenna)?

He is asked to come aboard a navy ship who is going on an expedition to find and destroy the monster. As fate would have it, his daughter Sophie (Julie Cox) is visiting him at the time. She is a willful young lady with a mind of her own. But she isn't stupid. Her knowledge and common sense are invaluable to her father. Of course, she insists on going with him. Since the Navy won't have a woman on board, she goes as Professor Aronnax's assistant... male assistant.

On board the ship, Professor A. and Sophie (now known as Charlie Darwin) meet the crew, including the harpooner (“Ned” -- Paul Gross) that the Navy had hired for killing the whatever was terrorizing the seas. Their first night out, the monster appeared. In fact, it appeared alongside their ship. When the harpoon struck, it bounced off with a clang. Ned fell overboard and when the monster struck again, Sophie and Professor Aronnax were also thrown into the sea.

Morning arrived to show the trio (Sophie now known for who she was) clinging to wood debris from the ship, which was limping painfully homeward. With the dawn came the monster. Blowing steam like a whale, sunlight glistening from it's hull... a savior from the blistering sun and salt and sharks. But from death? What sort of human being would be the captain of this beast of destruction?

What I Liked:
1: For having a girl in it, she wasn't dressed terribly and the romance was limited to kissing and hugging.
2: The acting was fairly well done.
3: Beautiful shots of the sea, creatures and plants. I really enjoyed that part of it.
4: There was some detail of the ship and how they lived.
5: Ben Cross made a great villain.
6: The movie was pretty well done for when it was filmed and how much they changed the story.
7: When Professor Aronnax saw he was wrong, he admitted it and changed his ways.
8: Paul Gross has the most marvelous facial expressions. He kept us laughing throughout the entire film.
9: How clean it was.

What I Didn't Like:
Note: Please understand that I am not necessarily a purist.
1: The romance/girl. It didn't help the story at all.
2: They didn't show the pearl in the oyster. That was my favorite part in the book.
3: Nor did they show the part under the iceberg.
4: They changed or skipped many of the best adventures told in the book.
5: Evolution is strongly promoted.
6: There was not a lot of detail about the ship, how they ate, clothed themselves and all the treasures Captain Nemo had collected. In the book, he had another life than ramming ships and collecting treasures...
7: In the movie, Nemo is made out to be an irreversible evil but in the book, he is more eccentric than mad. However, in the book he is much more frightening...
8: Some language. But I hardly caught any of it.

That being said, there is such a thing as time constraints and the movie was enjoyable in spite of all the changes made to the story.

Things to Know:
1: Mentions of unfaithfulness are made... and there is some kissing. ;-)

The Princess Diaries 2 -- 2004

The Princess Diaries 2
(2004)

Rated G
My Rating: 5 Stars

Julie Andrews
Anne Hathaway
Heather Matarazzo
Callum Blue
John Rhys-Davies
Hector Elizondo
Chris Pine

Princess Mia (Anne Hathaway) has graduated from college and is on her way back to Genovia to prepare for her coronation. Under her Grandmother's (Julie Andrews) supervision, she begins to take her place in Genovia's society as their future ruler.

But complications arise when Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies) announces that he doesn't believe Princess Mia would make a good ruler of Genovia... and his nephew would be the right choice. Of course, he had not the power to dethrone Mia but he had found an old law of Genovia that stated a Queen must be married in order to be crowned.

Of course, Mia is horrified at the thought of an arranged marriage but the words her dead father came to her again: “Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment of something else more important than fear.” With this in mind, she agrees to the terms and becomes engaged to Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue).

With all philosophers, Queen Clarisse wishes to keep her enemies close by, so she invites the other candidate for the throne to stay in the palace. Lord Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine) has already decided that his uncle is quite right that Princess Mia should not take the throne. But as he starts to get to know her better, something happens that no one expected... least of all power hungry Viscount Marbrey!

“Now all I have to do is tell Mummy.”
“I have to tell everyone else.”
::together:: “Good luck!”

What I Liked:
1: There were a few twists to the story that were interesting...
2: The acting was marvelous.
3: Julie Andrews actually sung a song on this movie. I was so thrilled because she can't sing much anymore.
4: The relationship between Clarisse and Mia.
5: The courtship of Mia and Nicholas was great.
6: A lot of the aspects of royalty are shone. Not all good; not all bad.
7: It was clean.
8: There was some good kissing. Lol. :-)
9: The humor. It was pretty laughable.
10: Andrew believed the best of Mia.
11: 99% of the score was wonderful.
12: How Queen Clarisse finds love... at last!

What I Didn't Like:
1: Andrew made a better Prince Charming than Nicholas. ;-)
2: There were a few untied strings at the end (nothing much).

Things To Know:
1: Mia wears some strapless gowns.
2: If you don't like dancing, watch out.

I liked this film better than the first one. :-)

The Princess Diaries -- 2001

The Princess Diaries
(2001)

Rated G
My Rating 4 Stars

Julie Andrews
Anne Hathaway
Heather Matarazzo
Hector Elizondo
Mandy Moore
Caroline Goodall
Robert Schwartzman

Summary:
Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is the school geek that all the popular kids like to pick on... when she's not invisible. She lives with her mother, an artist, and her cat, Fat Louie, in a refurnished old fire station and goes to school five days a week riding her scooter.

Then, Grandmother (Julie Andrews) comes into town with news that Mia isn't just a Mia Thermopolis, clumsy school geek with a head of kinky curls, she's Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Princess of Genovia. And her Grandmother is Queen Clarisse of Genovia.

With this shocking discovery comes the news that unless Mia accepts her title of Princess, the crown will pass to another family in Genovia. Mia isn't thrilled at the prospect but her mother works out a deal that both Mia and her grandmother are willing to (begrudgingly) accept: Mia takes “Princess” lessons and attends the Genovian Ball. After the Ball, she will make her decision.

All of school buzzes with shock when Mia has a make-over. And the school buzzes even more when the news leaks out that the school freak is actually a real live Princess. Mia's status of  most unpopular girl suddenly changes to everyone wanting to be her best friend. But things get ugly when some of her jealous classmates decide to try for their moment of fame.

Mia is faced with the knowledge of what being a Princess means... and it's not all wonderful dinners, beautiful gowns and glittering tiaras. What decision will she make?

What I Liked:
1: Julie Andrews. I love Julie Andrews!
2: Anne Hathaway has such a sparkle to her that I haven't seen in anyone else.
3: The story. Who doesn't want to find out they are a real live princess?! But who understands everything that comes with the position? I appreciate how both positive and negatives sides are shown.
4: I liked the romance. Pretty clean.
5: Mia learns that handsome and popular doesn't always mean good.
6: The Queen took time off her duties to really get to know Mia... and she really did care about people.

What I Didn't Like:
1: I got the feeling that 'I've heard this story before' while watching it.

Things To Know:
1: Mia is shown in just a towel. You see nothing more than when she wears a strapless dress.
2: There is some kissing.

This is probably one of the nicer films I've seen in awhile. It's good for kids... nice, clean story. You'll fall in love with all the characters. :-)