Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Directed by Wayne Wang, IDG China Media & Fox Searchlight Productions, 2011. Starring Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun and Hugh Jackman.

Genre: Drama, History

Question: Do you share a lifelong friendship with someone - a friendship that makes your life better, helps you through the dark times and shares the good times? Beaches showed a lifelong bond between two women and it told a nice tale, however, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan just wiped Beaches away with one flick of the fan. This may have been one of the greatest friendships stories I have ever witnessed on film. Lovely, just lovely.

We have all had friendships when we were little, some even lasting into our early adulthood or beyond. You are lucky if you find a friendship like that. I had a friend when I was young and I loved her like a sister. Unfortunately, that friendship ended.. A few years later I tried again with another when I got to high school. In fact, I even saw Beaches with my "best friend", which is what you did when it came out in 1988. We laughed together and we cried together and said "That was so us." However, she ended the friendship a few years later and I have had difficulty ever since trusting others.

So, I am always leery to see anything about a strong friendship between two women, but I am trying to expand my movie genres and decided upon Snow Flower and the Secret Fan since it was a foreign film. I hadn't reviewed a foreign film yet. I am happy to say I am glad I put my personal concerns aside.

There are two stories told within this movie about a friendship between two women: one in modern-day China and one in 19th century China. Each story mirrors the other when trying to describe the love these two women had for each other. Both stories used the same actresses to tell the tales: Lily/Nina, (Bingbing Li)and Snow Flower/Sophia (Gianna Jun).

In modern-day China, the girls are school friends. One helps the other learn better mandarin since she is Korean. They are inseparable despite the disapproval of Sophia's stepmother. However, her aunt knows of their strong friendship and tells them the story of the laotong girls or "old sames". This is an ancient way of how girls were bound together for eternity in friendship. These friendships were necessary due to the horrific obligatory life they had with men. It was an ultimate support system.

Something happens to one of the modern girls and then the ancient story starts about Snow Flower and Lily - another pair of laotong girls. Their story paralleled the modern one and wove in and out seamlessly.

Their story started in 19th century China as little girls (age 7) both had their feet bound on the same day. Yes, this was something they used to do to make sure their feet wouldn't grow. Their feet were not supposed get bigger than a few inches - in their world that was "perfection". This was to insure them worthy enough for a man. There were a few scenes about this torturous method that were very hard to watch.

However, the young girls were then made to live together and then sworn to each other as laotong girls. This made them very happy. Then they learned a secret language to help them communicate where men could not see. This would be written on fans and passed back and forth as they grew up, married off and tried to have sons - since they weren't considered fit wives or decent women if they had only girls.

I will admit the ancient story of the bound feet, the abuse they had to endure, the control men had over women, and something that everyone went along with, had me sick to my stomach. There was even one scene, although most of it was only heard, had me in tears with certain amount of anger only because I know things like that happened and still can happen today. However, the next scene was between Snow Flower and Lily and I think I cried even harder. Not a word spoken by either of them but the love, the kindness, the friendship portrayed was breathtaking.

I have not revealed much of the plot with this review - just a few facts and some parts that made a powerful impact on me. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was a beautiful movie about a friendship that will last 10,000 years. To witness something like that on film was a gift. I hope you get a chance to see this film; and I hope you are fortunate to see it with your best friend.

My favorite thing: The scene I mentioned earlier with Snow Flower and Lily.

My least favorite thing: Witnessing the control and abuse women had to endure.

Rating: PG-13
Length: 120 minutes

Review: 9 out of 10

The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Lisa See.

Winnie the Pooh

Directed by Stephen J. Anderson & Don Hall, Walt Disney Studios, 2011. Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson and John Cleese.

Genre: Animation, Family

Question: Do you ever get those days, weeks maybe, when nothing seems to cheer you up much? Life as adult isn't easy sometimes with thoughts of responsibilities and more that can overwhelm you. Do you dream of a simpler time when such worries were like the following: hoping twilight would last longer so you can catch more fireflies; figuring out how to hide most of the lima beans in your napkin or under the mashed potatoes; or begging on bent knee to stay up to see Tatoo yell "Da plane! Da Plane!" Yep, me too.

Well, I am here to tell you I magically transported back to my youth today when I took my kids to see the latest Winnie the Pooh movie.... Okay, I admit I really wanted to see it and I dragged my kids so I didn't seem like a crazy middle-aged lady seeing a kid's movie by herself.  I needed a movie like this. No superheros, no people falling in or out of love, and no mystery/thriller would have made me happy. (The fact that my son didn't beg me on bent knee to see Captain America still shocks me though.)

We walked into the theater and my kids were the oldest children, by far, and I may have even been the oldest Winnie the Pooh fan there but I didn't care. I was ready to forget about the outside world for the next hour or so.

Previews came and went and then in traditional Walt Disney fashion there was a short: The Ballad of Nessie. A sweet Scottish tale of how Nessie came to live in the Loch. Billy Connolly narrated the poem and the screen had tartan patterns popping up everywhere. A little cliche but I loved it. Its animation was just like the cartoons I grew up watching. I was content for the first time in weeks.

The short ended and the main attraction started. Again, the animation was a throw back to my youth and I couldn't have been happier. John Cleese started the film with his narration with waking or trying to wake up Pooh and soon the adventure started. All the cast of characters were there: Pooh, Tigger, Roo, Kanga, Owl, Christopher Robin, Rabbit and my favorite, Piglet. Oh, and Eeyore, how can I forget him? Sorry, Eeyore.

Now there was nothing spectacular with the story or the art but it was a pure Winnie the Pooh tale. It was perfect. The lovable bear just wanted to find some honey while he and his friends got into some misunderstanding/adventure in the 100 acre wood. I was grinning ear-to-ear from beginning to end.

The band of friends showed that no one had to do something wrong to another to tell an interesting story. They worked together to help a friend and in the most sincere way. All anyone wanted to do was be a friend. So simple but so powerful. This is a tale I want my children to witness time and time again.

This was a musical - of sorts with some quirky but toe-tapping tunes only Disney can compose. But what got me grinning was that I felt like a kid again. You could see the hand-drawn animation with no one trying to convince me to wear 3D glasses or sit in the larger IMAX screen just so the studios could make a few extra.

To me, this may have been someone's idea that simple is good and nostalgia is what sells because nothing beats harking back to the days when you skinned your knee and a mother's kiss fixes it all. There is nothing wrong with that. Not one thing.

Grab your kids, grand-kids or even a date. This is a sweet movie that delivers and will shake those blues that hover over you.

My favorite thing: Piglet. Oh, and Tigger, too.

My least favorite thing: That is wasn't longer but I am not sure my cheeks could have handled smiling for more.

Rating: G
Length: 69 minutes

Review: 9 out of 10

Super 8

Directed (and written by) J.J. Abrams, Amblin Entertainment, 2011. Starring Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler.

Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller.

Question: How many times have you seen a movie with your parents and your children together? I will say it is not that often for me. However, I just watched Super 8 with my parents, my husband, and both my children. Although the reviews are not all the same everyone enjoyed the film. I, however, loved it!

It is very rare to see a movie, today, that receives so much hype and it turns out as good as or better than expected. When we have expectations of films or film-makers somehow, someway something always seems to fall short. Well, not with Super 8.

The trailer is the first place that they got it right. Previews didn't show too much and there wasn't an actor hired for the movie to help draw in the crowds. You may recognize a few of the actors but right this second I can't recall one name except Elle Fanning. (Her sister is rather famous and I type in the actors names after I write my reviews unless I know it.  Okay, most of the time I know it but this time -- nope.)

Second, there is a story in Super 8 that has a moral but not thrown in your face or preachy. I wish I could divulge what it is but, again, I don't want to spoil this one for you. There are several films that Super 8 reminded me of - at least four from my youth. I can't tell you which ones or it will give it away. But trust me -- the storytelling is exceptional and Super 8  is worth the months of waiting.

However, I will say regarding the similar movies, I was lucky enough to have grown up during the '70's and '80's when some of these classic films were first released. These movies were for my generation. They didn't talk down to us or make us the seen and not heard type of kids. Super 8 does the same thing for this generation of kids.

Children today, in many television series and movies, represent a bratty, bored or unintelligent lot -- and sometimes all three. Yes, I know I am exaggerating here, but hopefully you see my point. Super 8 takes a group of middle-school aged children, who all have a goal in mind, each struggling with their own issues, but all discover that listening to their instinct is a good thing.

Now I am not going to tell you anything about the movie in specifics, like most of my reviews.  But I will tell you this is a great story by a great storyteller, J.J. Abrams. Yes, I wouldn't take young children to see this mainly because of the language and the scare-factor. My 9 year-old was a little scared but she is tough. Once she got through to the end and really thought about the movie -- it wasn't so scary to her.

I so imagine J.J. Abrams is clearly represented in this movie as one of the children, and feel he told this tale to pay homage to other great film-makers/storytellers, who will remain nameless, but you will figure it out. Trust me.

Regarding the storyline, Super 8 has a group of children making a movie on super 8 film in the late '70's. That much I can tell you. And if any of you out there love movies half as much as I do you will enjoy this film immensely. These kids go on an adventure while making the movie that is something that I think every young film-maker dreamt of.

For you special effects lovers out there, this one delivered. Plus, don't get up and walk-out at the end of the movie. Stay through the credits.

Now what did my family think of Super 8? I will list the three generations from youngest to oldest.

Daughter - 9 out of 10
Son - 10 out of 10
Husband - 7 out of 10
Mother - 7 out of 10
Father - 6 out of 10

My favorite thing: That it lived up to all the hype. Plus, the humor.

My least favorite thing: That the story has already been told but it didn't bother me all that much.

Rating: PG-13
Length: 113 minutes

Review: 9 out of 10

Let Me In

Directed (and screenplay) by Matt Reeves, Overture Films, 2010. Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins and Elias Koteas.

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery.

Question: Are you tired of movies with vampires - or maybe you are just sick of vampires stories about teen-angst romance and you want to see some horror mixed in? 

Well, you are in luck. The movie I just watched is a fantastic, scary and unique vampire story. "Let Me In" is where the vampires don't look or act like Edward Cullen one bit. "Let Me In" finally goes back to the heart and soul of what these monsters are - but all dressed up in a 12 year old girl.

This is actually a remake and I saw that one too ("Let the Right One In"). Oh, that one was good as well. They are based on the novel: "Låt den rätte komma in" written by John Ajvide Lindquist.

"Let the Right One In" is a foreign film - and, yes, I said I don't usually watch them but it was a vampire movie! Plus, it was dubbed.  "Let Me In" stars the girl from "Kick-Ass" (another great movie, by the way) and she was fantastic in the film. Plus, I knew whoever saw the original would have to make a good remake for us Americans. And they did.

It is creepy, bloody, and it has a great angle on the vampire story, which I won't divulge. I will say there is a theme in the movie that relates to some modern day issues kids have to deal with today. But just because the story surrounds a couple of 12 year-olds doesn't mean they can watch it. 

It is not for the faint-at-heart or for someone who thinks they are going to watch a couple of young kids befriend each other in a sweet way either. There are some sweet moments, and it is not a fast paced movie, which one might assume, but when you tell a story about a real monster, like a vampire, you have to tell the retched side too. Many vampire movies, these days, forget that part and have overly-romanticized it and that's why vampires are everywhere.

So, if you have been missed seeing a great vampire story in film then rent "Let Me In" and "Let the Right One In". 

My favorite part: The story.

My least favorite part: Can't really think of anything right now.

Possibility of a sequel? I think it could be open to one.

Did the previews show too much? Nope.

Rating: R

Length: 116 minutes

Review: 9 out of 10

DVDs and novel:


COMING UP: Never Let Me Go

The Fighter

Directed by David O. Russell, Closest to the Hole Productions, 2010. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.

Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport.

Question: What’s keeping you from seeing The Fighter? Maybe you think of Rocky and worry it will be a similar story, so why bother? I am here to tell you that they are not the same - at all!

Boxing is probably my least favorite sport. I just don't care to watch two people that beat each other to a bloody pulp. It's probably a girl thing but I just don't like it. That is why I avoided The Fighter until now. I decided to go yesterday since I am reviewing Oscar nominated (past and present) movies this week and kept hearing about the unbelievable acting jobs by some members of the cast. I had to see for myself and I am so glad I did.

The Fighter is not about boxing, per se. It is about a man (Micky) who is forced to put up a fight against the people he loves. He fights to be heard and fights to make his own decisions, etc… That is The Fighter - the boxing is secondary in the story. So if you had the same preconceived notions that I did, wipe them away and go see it.

Mark Walhberg plays Micky Ward, the boxer, and does a wonderful job but the other three leads in the cast outshine some of the best acting I have ever seen:

1.      Melissa Leo, who I am not very familiar with, plays Micky's mother and after seeing her in real life I now understand why she is up for all these awards. Fantastic!

2.      Amy Adams surely goes against type with playing Micky's girlfriend and does so well I couldn't even relate her to this same person who played Giselle in Enchanted. Wonderful performance!

3.      But the shining star in this movie is Christian Bale. WOW! What a transformation. He played Dicky, Micky's older brother, who is addicted to crack and his brother's trainer. As I was watching the movie, I couldn't even imagine that the same actor standing there was Batman a couple of years ago. He really deserves all the accolades - really!!

Go see The Fighter - it is worth it!

My favorite thing: Christian Bale

My least favorite: Boxing scenes - but that is just me. I just don't like seeing people getting hit even though it is make believe. But don't let that stop you.

Sequel Possibility? No

Did the previews show too much? Maybe a tiny bit. A few of the important lines I had already seen but it didn't ruin it for me.

Rating: R
Length: 115 minutes

Review: 9 out of 10

The Fighter - DVD Pre-order

Slumdog Millionaire

Directed by Danny Boyle, Celador Films, 2008. Starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto,  Irrfan Khan and Anil Kapoor.

Genre: Drama, Romance

Question: Do you ever have those days that everything seems to go wrong? It's draining, right? Well, I had one of those days yesterday. All I am going to say is that I hate hackers!! Anyway, what do you do to unwind or let go of those bad days? My remedy: watch a movie and yesterday I chose the right one to counteract the crappy day I had: Slumdog Millionaire.

I may be one of only a handful of people who did not see the movie when it first came out even after all the accolades and awards. Sometimes, I avoid a movie once it starts getting too much good press. An odd reaction, I know, but it happens. So, after the day I had I looked at my DVR movie list and saw that one, which I had recorded over a year ago, and my husband was shocked I hadn't seen it. He told me to watch it because he loved it!

Let me tell you that it was the perfect antidote to my bad day. After watching the first fifteen minutes I realized I have it pretty good and shouldn't complain.  My worries just melted away because Slumdog Millionaire shows you that even after having a horrific upbringing you can still get what you want. No complaining, no whining, no giving-up.

If you haven't seen it yet - rent it, download it, or even buy it to watch again when you need a reminder that giving up is not an option.

I apologize if this isn't my typical review. Movies are my passion and when a movie helps me out of a funk or exposes me to something that helps me get over my bad mood, I find it important to share so anyone can get the same relief from their rotten days. This is why I love movies - they can either put a mirror up to your face or help you escape your reality for a while and doesn't everyone needs that from time to time?

My favorite thing: realizing I shouldn't complain about one bad day.

My least favorite: Some scenes were a little tough to watch when they were young children.

Sequel possibility?Nno - perfect complete story.

Did the previews ruin it by showing too much? Not one bit.

Rating: R
Length: 120 minutes

Review: 9 out of 10

Q & A, the novel - the book Slumdog Millionaire was based on.
Slumdog Millionaire - DVD & Instant Video

The Escapist

Directed (and written) by Rupert Wyatt. Picture Farm, 2008. Starring Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Damian Lewis and Dominic Cooper.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Question: Have you ever wanted to write a screenplay? Well, the first thing you should learn how to do is to "show" not "tell" the story - which is very hard to do. If want to research how this is done very well then watch The Escapist.

I haven't enjoyed a stumbling upon a film this much since Once. It was such a shock to start the movie and get sucked in right away. There is very little dialogue in The Escapist but the story is so compelling because the film makers “showed” us the story rather than lengthy monologues and back and forth debates.

Yes, we have all seen dozens upon dozens of prison escape stories, but this one is by far one of my favorites now. You many not recognize many of the actors names but you should recognize their faces. This is a British film and, at times, the dialogue was a bit difficult to understand (for us Yanks) but it didn't bother me one bit. It wasn't about what they said but how their expressions and actions told the story. Brilliant!

The acting was superb! The cinematography was beautiful! Crisp and clear, not something I would have expected for such a gritty story. And the way it was told was indicative of Quentin Tarantino or Guy Richie which is very hard to pull off successfully, but they did it! Rent this, download this - do whatever you have to do - but see this film!

My favorite thing: Watching the faces of the characters - great acting!

My least favorite: Yeah, I missed a few words here and there due to the accent but that's about it.

Possibility of a sequel? No

Did the previews ruin it or show too much? I never saw a preview - just saw it on cable at 3:00am and recorded. What a find!

Rating: NR
Length: 102 minutes

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Escapist - DVD

Videos on Demand

Black Swan

Happy New Year everyone!!

I am finally reviewing a current movie that is in the theatres now: Black Swan


Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2010. Starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kinus and Vincent Cassel.

Genre: Drama, Thriller.


Before I say anything else I must tell you to see this movie in the theatre. The story lends itself to being viewed in a large dark space with a huge white screen staring back at you so you are transported out of your world.  


Natalie Portman gives a wonderful performance – as she usually does but this time the character, Nina, was one she was born to play. I don’t want to say much us else as this is a thriller and must be viewed with little or no knowledge of the story.


The previews didn't ruin it too much for me but I recommend changing the channel as they sometimes start to show more the longer the movie has been in the theatre.


Review: 9 out of 10


Rating: R
Length: 108 minutes