The Inheritance

Years before writing Little Women, Louisa May Alcott penned this "lost novel" chronicling the life of orphan Edith Adelon (Cari Shayne), a girl who's taken in by a wealthy man (Tom Conti) and his wife (Meredith Baxter) to become their daughter's companion. Despite her low status in England's rigid class system, Edith's winsome qualities tend to shine through -- and she soon catches the eye of a handsome, wealthy suitor (Thomas Gibson).

This is a very nice film. A real chick flick, but a good one. Completely clean, and innocent and well acted. A must see for the ladies, and a should see for the guys. Everyone needs a little culture. -->Kimball****

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The Great Raid

Based on real-life events, The Great Raid brings to light a daring rescue mission launched by Lt. Colonel Henry Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) that will put him and the battalion he leads in grave danger. His goal? To liberate the Americans and Filipinos who've been captured by the Japanese and thrown into brutal POW camps located in the city of Cabanatuan in the Philippines. Co-stars Joseph Fiennes and James Franco. The Blu-Ray version of this film is unrated.

I was attracted to this film because of it's historical content. I had learned years ago about general Douglas MacArthur who's famous words "I shall return" have stayed in my mind ever since. General MacArthur was assigned to fight the Japanese in the Philipines until President Roosevelt ordered him off the island. Roosevelt decided to focus the US millitary on the war in Europe and left some 72,000 troops, Allied and Phillipino to be taken captive after a brutal and extended standoff on the Baatan. MacArthur protested but left under orders vowing to return. Three years later a daring mission was devised by a young Westpoint grad in which 511 POW soldiers were rescued by 120 Army Ranger and a handful of Fillipino gorillas against a force of some 1300 Japanese. Pay attention to the stats at the end of the film. This is a graphically violent film not good for children. -->Kimball****

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Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Hosted by Ben Stein, this controversial documentary examines how pro-intelligent design scholars and scientists are often chastised, fired or denied tenured positions by those who believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. Nathan Frankowski's film explores how scientists who believe in God are oppressed and how the acceptance of evolution may have played a role in the formation of organizations such as the Nazi regime and Planned Parenthood.

Ben Stein is a regular on Fox News and is one of Glen Beck's favorite guests. This is a great documentary exposing the unfounded and ridiculous defense of Darwinism, and the rise of Intelligent Design as the only logical explaination for everything. -->Kimball****

Netflix link to Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

The Spanish Prisoner

Never trust what you see. When a naïve inventor (Campbell Scott) develops "The Process," a top-secret program guaranteed to make billions for his company, the wolves come out -- to fleece him. David Mamet wrote and directed this twisty mystery with masterful sleight of hand. Powerful performances by Ben Gazarra and Steve Martin, plus plenty of surprises and stings, make The Spanish Prisoner the ultimate con flick.

This is a pretty good show as a backup. The acting by Campbell Scott and Steve Martin is good enough. Felicity Huffman's character is odd at first and it seems that she is a poor actress and too predictable, but, wait, is she, or is she acting? The mystery is good, and the clues are well laid out. Be patient, you may like this one after all. -->Kimball***

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Evan Almighty

In director Tom Shadyac's raucous follow-up to the 2003 comedy Bruce Almighty (also helmed by Shadyac), God (Morgan Freeman) summons narcissistic newscaster turned congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) to build an enormous ark in preparation for a devastating flood. Unfortunately, Evan's perplexed family interprets his latest hobby as a midlife crisis gone wrong rather than as a divine assignment from the man upstairs.

What can I say. Steve Carell is funny. Add to the mix Morgan Freeman and it just has to be good. This is a funny film with a great message. You might as well give in to God and do what you're told. Funny thing is, you end up doing good for others and yourself. Evan just wanted to be a good guy and change the world. His honest yet naive desire proved to win him the notice of God and the task of saving, and changing the world. A great film for everyone. -->Kimball****

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The Express

Rob Brown stars in the true story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win football's Heisman Trophy. Dubbed the "Elmira Express" for his relentless drive, Davis also lived up to the nickname off the field as he battled for racial equality. Dennis Quaid co-stars as Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder, who teaches Davis the game and in return learns much from his running back's bold civil rights achievements.

This is great film because Ernie Davis was really a great guy. Rob Brown is as good as he always is as is Dennis Quaid. I like seeing good people to great things and for the right reasons. This film may have a bit of a racial twist, but the story is fantanstic nonetheless. -->Kimball****

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Get Smart

When the identities of secret agents from Control are compromised, the Chief (Alan Arkin) promotes hapless but eager analyst Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) and teams him with stylish, capable Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), the only spy whose cover remains intact. Now, they must work together to thwart the evil plans of KAOS and its crafty operative Siegfried (Terence Stamp). Based on the classic television show, this comedy caper co-stars The Rock.

This is a classic. Steve Carell has won me over. He IS Mr. Funny. Supported by Anne Hathaway, The Rock and Alan Arkin he is the Maxwell Smart I remember from my childhood, only better. He has all the tools but just can't get right, and then.....he does get it right, but wait, did he get it right on purpose? or was it an accident? Who will ever know? This is a funny flick, but I've got to tell you, I almost have more fun watching my kids watch it. -->Kimball*****

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The Remains of the Day

Dutiful butler Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) dedicates himself wholly to tending Lord Darlington's (James Fox) house, turning a blind eye to Darlington's Nazi sympathies. When housekeeper Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson) tries to coax Stevens out of his staid shell, his reluctance may cost him dearly. He finally seeks out Miss Kenton later in life, but is it too late? This Merchant-Ivory period drama was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture.

Here you have very good actors doing a superb job in a slow film. This picture also has Hugh Grant, and Christopher Reeves. With so much star power you would expect more. Don't get me wrong, it is a good film, just a bit slow. Anthony Hopkins plays Stevens, the butler, who is so committed to his duties that he fails to see the things that are truly important. He loses his chance at love and misses the importance of the events unfolding around him. -->Kimball***

Netflix link to The Remains of the Day

Man on Fire

Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a former federal agent whose outlook on life is anything but sunny. While in Mexico City, he halfheartedly takes a job protecting the child (Dakota Fanning) of a couple whose lives have been threatened. The little girl begins to grow on Creasy, and the two form a bond that revives his trampled soul. But when she's kidnapped, Creasy's fury is unstoppable as he desperately tries to save her. Tony Scott directs.

What can I say...You've got Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, and Dakota Fanning. I love this show for several reasons. One, just because. Two, It's a great hero story involving the ultimate sacrifice for love, and it's a love developed unwillingly. But, who coldn't love Dakota? And, I think Christopher Walken is a great supporting actor every time. This film is graphically violent for which it get's its R rating. -->Kimball****

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Believe in Me

After accepting a job to coach high school basketball, Clay Driscoll (Jeffrey Donovan) is disappointed to discover he's been assigned to the girls' team. But the harder he works his female players, the more he sees that they're just as capable of greatness as boys are. Samantha Mathis and Bruce Dern co-star in this small-town sports drama based on the true story of an Oklahoma coach who led his team to the state championships in the 1960s.

This film is based a true story. Jeffrey Donovan is not a great actor in my opinion, but he does a fare job with this one. Bruce Dern in the same old bad guy you've come to love from his past films. The story is a good one and if you like sports shows you'll like this one. -->Kimball ****

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Slumdog Millionaire

After coming within one question of winning 20 million rupees on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" 18-year-old Mumbai "slumdog" Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is arrested on suspicion of cheating. While in custody, Jamal regales a jaded police inspector (Irfan Khan) with remarkable tales of his life on the streets, as well as the story of Latika (Freida Pinto), the woman he loved and lost. Danny Boyle's film won a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Picture.

This movie was hard to watch. It was a great story, and well directed, but I didn't really like the photography. Some of the sequences in the slums were difficult to watch as the poverty and violence of India's slums were portrayed without apology. Jamal's determination to rise above it all is inspiring but few will be able to relate to him. There is love story in the film, but the abuse of Jamal's girl is again, hard to relate to. The R rating is for the violence and the difficult slum scenes. I would not let younger children see this one. -->Kimball***

Netflix link to Slumdog Millionaire

The Man Who Knew Too Little

Iowa video-store clerk Wallace Ritchie (Bill Murray) opts to celebrate his birthday with younger brother James (Peter Gallagher). But James, an aggressive businessman, has an important dinner meeting planned. He gets rid of Wallace by giving him a ticket to the Theatre of Life, an audience-participation show where an unfortunate case of mistaken identity leads Wallace into -- among other things -- a web of espionage.

This is classic Bill Murray. If you like him, you'll like this one. This guy is as dumb as he can be and yet he foils a plot to start the Cold War up again. He's the perfect unintending hero. Lots of laughs. -->Kimball***

Netflix link to The Man Who Knew Too Little

Miracle at Midnight

A valiant Danish doctor (Sam Waterston) and his family struggle against Nazi oppression and try to help their Jewish countrymen survive the Holocaust by escaping across the Baltic Sea to neutral Sweden. Co-starring Mia Farrow, this taut and suspenseful movie originally aired on television's "The Wonderful World of Disney."

A great film. Intense and moving. I really liked the goodness of the characters. Very well acted, and wonderfully filmed. I wonder if there are people like this anymore. The doctor and his family risk all to save their Jewish friends and become in the end some of WWII's greatest heros. -->Kimball*****

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Bedtime Stories

Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) is a down-on-his-luck guy who's always telling bedtime stories to his niece and nephew, and whose life is turned upside down when these fantastical stories suddenly turn into reality. Now, all the outrageous characters and situations that Skeeter has ever imagined have morphed into actual people and events in his life. But can he manage his own unruly fantasies now that they've come true?

This was a fun movie. Lots of laughs and pretty innocent. It's a good family film for most ages. -->Kimball***

Netflix link toBedtime Stories

The Children of Huang Shi

In this sweeping historical drama, British correspondent George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) attempts to save 60 war orphans during Japan's occupation of China in the 1930s. With help from a guerilla fighter (Yun-Fat Chow) and a nurse (Radha Mitchell), Hogg leads the children across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain -- struggling to overcome one obstacle after another -- while falling in love and learning what courage truly means.

This was a loooooong movie. Interesting history, and a really good story but it just took too long to tell it. Our hero George, turns out to be an impressive figure and a great example of courage, and sacrifice. The R rating is for some disturbing war seens where the brutality of the Japanese is shown in graphic images. Again, what I liked about this film most was that it was a fact based story. -->Kimball ***

Netflix link toThe Children of Huang Shi

The Greatest Game Ever Played

With a pint-sized caddie (Joshua Flitter) at his side, amateur golfer Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) shocked the world at the 1913 U.S. Open when he outplayed defending British champ Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane). But Ouimet's rise to the top wasn't easy, with a hard-nosed father (Elias Koteas) and a hard-knock life to overcome. Actor Bill Paxton (in his third time out as a director) helms this inspiring true-life story based on actual events.

A good family drama for teens and adults. Well acted, and good story. I like films based on real events. This is a low key film, not any action to speak of, but it gave me reason to cheer for the underdog. -->Kimball ***

Netflix link to The Greatest Game Ever Played