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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MILK

English

129 minutes

5 Stars

This is the inspiring and emotional biopic of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to office in the US. My only nit to pick is I don't believe they played the junk food enough for Dan White (his trial coined the expression, "The Twinkie Defense") or what really motivated his actions, though they were fairly apparent. The end of the movie shows photos of the real people, and tells a bit about what they were doing at the time of the filming. Very interesting. And the use of actual news footage inserted is very well done. There is some homosexual sex in the movie, so if you have kidlets, be sure to watch it with them and explain that love is love. Period. Keep the tissues close.

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