Come Fly With Captain Abu Raed

21  Captain Abu Raed

Arabic, English subtitles

1002 Minutes, 2009

5 Stars

Too bad The Hedgehog couldn't have been done like this! Abu Raed is a widower with no children other than his books. He works as a janitor at the Amman airport who finds a Captain's hat in the trash. He brushes it off, and wears it. One of the neighborhood boys sees it, and insists Abu Raed is a pilot, even though he says otherwise. The next morning, several children are at his door to hear his adventures; and so begins a delightful story. Of course, there is some sadness to be expected, but the beauty of the story far outweighs it. This is a movie the whole family can enjoy. And I understand the children were locals. My only complaint is the DVD is so far out of my price range I can't afford it.

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Hedgehogs Are Cute -- The Movie Not So Much

20  The Hedgehog

French, English subtitles

98 minutes, 2009

3 Stars

SPOILER ALERT

5 Stars for the acting, 1 Star for the story and ending. This could have been a story of real growth for the young girl, but her epiphany came at great expense, and, well, one Awshit wipes out 1000 Attaboys. The last 5 minutes of this movie was a big Awshit in my opinion. I had considered reading the book, but now think it a waste of my time. An 11-year-old girl, rich, spoiled, jaded, decides to suicide on her birthday and the last day of school. She forms a rather unlikely bond with the concierge of the building, an older woman, widowed, alone and a bit curmudgeonly. The woman blossoms, finds friendship beyond her books and is killed. When she dies, the girl comes to her senses. Watch Captain Abu Raed instead. Much better!

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Jet Li's Fearless

Jet Li's Fearless

Mandarin, English subtitles

104 minutes, 1006

5 Stars

It stars Jet Li, that alone makes it worth watching in my humble opinion. I was not disappointed. Jet Li plays the legendary Huo Yuanjia, a world-class martial artist who dreams to continue his father's legacy. The choreography and costuming are magnificent The story is based on fact; however, some of the descendants have asked for at least apologies from Jet Li and the film writers for the gross misrepresentations here and there. If you want to read about Mr. Huo, there's a lot of information on the web. I am sorry the writers felt it necessary to take such liberties as they apparently did. They could have just added more good fight scenes. I understand the use of poetic license in story telling, but think the history can and should remain intact.

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Not All Demons Are Evil

The Sorcerer and the White Snake

Mandarin, English Subtitles

95 minutes, 2011

PG-13

5 Stars

Okay, I admit it. I'm a sucker for Jet Li, and I loved him as the demon-chasing priest. The blurb on Netflix says that the herbalist Xu Xian is trying to escape his new wife, who is a the demon White Snake. No, he isn't. He's really in love with her, and wants to save her. This is a great love story, some surprisingly good acting, and not a bunch of fights loosely held together with story. It's a story, with humor, love, devotion, and a few fights. Not all demons are evil, something the priest and others must learn. Oh, and did I mention it has Jet Li?

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Frida

English

122 minutes, 2002

16 and over

5 Stars

Oh. My. God! Even in English instead of Spanish, this is a Must See Film. Salma Hayak, Alfred Molina, the whole cast, were superb. There is sex in the film, and it can be pretty graphic, but not pornographic, but it is also required. Julie Taymor, the director, did a fantastic job. The special effects were, well, fantastic, and the music...ah, the music! The classical guitar got to me early on, and the tears were never far after that. Intellectually, I know I watched a movie, but emotionally, I was in it. It's a love story, but not a romance. It's an adult film by, for, and about adults. It will captivate you, draw you in, whether or not you believe in her politics or the openness of her marriage.

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