Because of this and other similar actions, he’s summoned to Fairy Land, ruled by Julie Andrews, where he is sentenced to be an actual tooth fairy for a couple of weeks. There’s plenty of lame jokes, and special effects as he goes about trying to live his life and do his new “job”.

The main message of this film isn’t about how he goes about doing his job and making sure newly toothless kids find a dollar bill under their pillow but instead how he learns to realize the importance of dreaming, how letting go of your dreams and visions and imagination isn’t a good thing to be realistic, but it kills a part of your spirit. Learning how to say “what if” is very important in life.

And it is truly important! You have to believe in yourself, realize that you are just as good as anyone else, that if you have a dream you should try for it. Go ahead, take the risk and believe and do. And above all, don’t give up hope on your own dreams and for goodness sake, don’t destroy other people’s dreams. It’s really sad here to look at some of these kids in this movie and see how hurt and damaged they are when they dreams and fantasies are destroyed. And you have to ask yourself, was there someone who did that for you, ruined your dreams? Or was there someone who believed in you and encouraged you to continue to have faith in yourself that you can do and accomplish?

Things learned from this movie:

1. If you buy black-market fairy products they don’t work right.
2. Becoming invisible is a cool way to play tricks on people.
3. Fairies can live through being flushed.
4. Tutus make mens butts look big.
5. Tooth Fairies now days do not give coins, they give dollars right under your pillow!

Rated PG. 101 minutes (1 hour 41 minutes). Some sports violence, but that’s about it. It is rated PG, by the way.

As mentioned a moment ago, this is a film that revolves around The Great Parnasus, Christopher Plummer, but the show is stolen by Tony, Heath Ledger who died during filming without completing the film. Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrel stepped in and finished Heath’s part donating their fees to Ledger’s daughter, Matilda.

In a nutshell, you have Dr. Parnassus (or Parny as “Mr. Nick”, aka, the Devil calls him), who centuries ago made a deal with the devil for immortality. The condition of that deal, well, would give away a little of the enjoyment of the movie, so I’ll not reveal that snippet. Basically Dr. Parnassus’s theory is that people will always tell stories and have imagination but with modern society his road show is run down because of the lack of imagination and participation in stories (I disagree, but what weight does my opinion hold?). Dr. Parnassus and the Devil continue to engage in little side bets that Parnassus continues to win by just the skin of his teeth. In fact, when the Devil does win one, he says “Damn, I won.” So clearly the Devil is getting more out of the thrill of the bet than from the actual winnings/losing.

As they are moving along, they stumble upon Heath Ledger’s character, Tony, hung from under a bridge. He’s rescued by Parnassus’ daughter and stagehands. But, amazingly Tony is alive, saved from the noose by a sturdy metal whistle-thingy. He’s lost his memory but slowly its revealed who he really is. Tony was once a charity and funds manager but was accused of embezzling the money. He beings to help out with the road show and lures people into Parnassus’s mirror, which is active when he’s in a trance. The mirror, becomes a dreamworld into the imagination of the one who entered. What do they find? The world of their dreams which eventually leads them to a choice — what do they chose, and choosing right or wrong determines if they make it back to the land of the living or head off to the realm of the Devil.

The movie also has some hidden morals. You can see someone running from supposed danger who meets a long stair case, the 12 x 12 x 12 Step Program. The long hard climb back to a normal life. Or, a quick easy walk over to a pub where you “could use a drink”. Choosing wrong here, the pub exploded and the Devil has won. Or perhaps a crossroad, one arrow is the High Road, the other the Low Road. If only life’s choices were so easily laid out like they are here, or as easy as they may seem in our dreams. Why don’t things work so well? Is it our lack of faith? Why do we always chose the easy path when a path that while it may seem harder, it really isn’t much worse of a path and it yields far better results in life. Doing the right thing is important regardless what the options may indicate.

All in all, its a fun little movie. Visually captivating and entertaining to watch. Some people may not care for it, but if you enjoy things that are just a little strange, this one will fit you.

Things learned from this movie:

1. A metal flute can save your life if your being lynched.
2. The Devil doesn’t really understand Black Magic.
3. If your midget was to leave you, you would go and get another.
4. Can you put a price on dreams?
5. Stories must go on.
6. If you see someone weaker than you, you should bully them.
7. Are you a betting man?
8. The Devil always collects at midnight.

Rated PG-13. 123 minutes (1 hours 3 minutes). Very much a “tame” movie. Not too much violence or profanity (there’s some). Valentina sits supposedly nude as Eve in the garden, draped only by her long hair as you scrutinize to see if you can spot a nipple.

This movie isn’t laugh out loud funny, but it is full of clever little quips and situations that are funny. You’ll enjoy the zippy references to pop culture. James Gandolfini, Peter Capaldi, Tomm Hollander, Gina McKee all star in this film.

Rated Not Rated. 106 minutes (1 hour 46 minutes). This film would probably be rated ‘R’ due to the strings of profanity. I’d love to quote a few of the lines from the movie, but most of them are profanity ridden.

A band of local kids, led by the jr assistant manager of the planetarium (when he’s not in school) help reunite him with his spacecraft so he can return to Earth.

It’s fun, and funny – though arguably not as funny as Finding Nemo, or Toy Story. This one stars Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Justin Long, Jessica Biel, John Cleese, and Gary Oldman. Highly well done graphics, fun to watch, you’ll enjoy the evening just like you were one of the kids.

Watch for references to other pop-culture stuff, such as Back to the Future, 2001, E.T., etc. Look for the intresting things like floating food, well everything pretty much floats!

Good time to be had by anyone who lets themselves be taking away by this film.

Rated PG. 91 minutes (1 hour 31 minutes). Violence – cartoon violence with army weapons and threats of brains being eaten.

Basically it’s a story about America’s top executive to turn whistleblower. He beings working with the FBI about the price fixing going on at ADM. He works with them for over 2 1/2 years getting video and recordings of meetings, but in the end it begins to also appear that he’s embezzling and he gets prosecuted as well.

What’s not to enjoy about this film — the happy-go-lucky bouncy music set against a backdrop of big corporate deals, white collar crimes, FBI agents, and possible jail time, and the while Mark Whitacre goes merrily along seemingly uncaring about the lies he’s telling or when or if they’ll catch up with him. It’s neat to see him just invent (I think) something new when he realizes he’s being discovered and how most of it then checks out, at least for a while. I say “I think” here because he’s so full of stories that you have a hard time really realizing which one of them, if any, are factual. He suffers from bipolar disorder, even as the forged letter from his would-be psychologist states in very specific terms. He must be a brilliant guy to keep all this straight for as long as he did, and that 2 million, no 5 million, or is it 7.5 million? I think it was 9 million, that he embezzled. Maybe it was 11…

Entertaining film! You don’t really learn anything and the drama isn’t really there, its just downright entertaining. So, have an enjoyable evening.

For me, the most sobering thing (aside from the white collar crime, don’t do that) is that in 1992 people with desk jobs were making $100K. When do I get a raise? I’m way underpaid!

Also interesting is ADM’s statement about the movie you can see by clicking here.

Rated R. 108 minutes (1 hour 48 minutes). Why it’s rated R, I don’t know! There is some profanity. No blood, no nudity, no violence aside from the alleged hit in the head by a briefcase.

This is a movie that I would have loved to have been a cast or crew member on (heck, I’d like to be that on any movie), but this one, filmed in all sorts of exotic locales – French Polynesia, Bora Bora, Tahiti, etc imagine having to go to “work” there? But beyond the beautiful scenery, if you’ll listen to this movie and follow along with what is going on in these people’s lives, you’ll see people who truly want (or don’t) want to stay together and discover things about themselves. There are timeless truths here as people show how we never really communicate well that people who love each other overlook each other and forget to make sure to tell those around them that they love them and express those feelings. They overlook, they say hurtful things, etc. So listen to what is said, especially some of the things Vince Vaughn’s character says — it does good to hear them. Yes, that’s right, Vince Vaughn, typical funny  man has lots of wise things to say. He just got married recently too.

Also always good to see Jean Reno – except he didn’t hit anyone or blow anything up.

But the movie isn’t without humor. It is good for laughs as well with Vince’s usual witty remarks. Jon Favreau’s back. An epic Guitar Hero battle (or hustle). A therapist telling his patient that “you shouldn’t pull a theoretical gun on your therapist”. Vince Vaughn getting attacked by sharks and living to tell. You can enjoy the evening with humor and have a gently reinforced message that you should be more attuned to the people you love in life – treat them better, be open and responsive to them because they are the best thing in your life.

I didn’t do anything for Valentine’s really, so this is pretty much the closest thing. And it was nice. Now, just get someone to stay along for the ride!

Rated PG-13. 107 minutes (1 hour 47 minutes). Some language. Bunches of swim swear on very shapely females and one big guy’s butt.

When I put this in my NetFlix queue it had a higher rating and now it has a rating of 2.6 by 1,332 people. And I agree with them. Wholeheartedly!

First I didn’t know any of the cast. Second the story is kind of a “who cares” sort of deal. The fattest girl in high school calls up a few of her old buddies years later and wants them to meet her at a lodge in Montana for a long weekend and says that “time is running out”. Thinking she’s dying they all come.

She’s not fat anymore and wants them all to go hiking. The hike proceeds to self-destruct. On it truths are revealed about most of the group, including that she’s a virgin and just wants to get laid. Isn’t that the subject of many better done teenage sex comedies like American Pie and Fast Times at Ridgemont High? This one is rated R, but it is solely because of the profanity.

The opening credits was a cartoon, and did a neat transition from cartoon to real life character. That was honestly the most fascinating part of the film.

It isn’t without some redeeming qualities. The scenery is great. It underscores that people should find happiness within themselves instead of seeking a spouse or a career or a lifestyle to make them happy — that is, if you aren’t happy with who you are and with yourself, then you cannot be happy based on external factors. That change must truly come from within, your decision, not changing to be someone else based on societal pressures. And if who you are is who you are then be yourself, and enjoy life. And don’t judge others on stereotypes and first impressions, evaluate them on their merits. But these points may sound like a lot of redeeming points, but trust me, the sum of the parts doesn’t make an even better movie. You have to really pay attention and read between the lines to pick these things up.

Anyway… if you never ever see this, your life won’t have a big sucking void in it.

Also – this is supposedly a comedy. It gives comedy a bad name. Also supposedly an indie movie – also giving indies a bad name! I like indy films, this tempts me to swear off them!

Rated R. 109 minutes (1 hour 39 minutes). Profanity. Nudity – well, male figures are seen, but no body parts visible, thank god!

It becomes obvious that they are looking for something and while the movie unfolds it begins telling the back story of Stanley Yelnats’, Shia LaBeouf’s character, family and that of the townspeople of the lake. Not to try to give much away, but Stanley is from a family that has been cursed and is unlucky – part of why he’s in the camp to begin with, even if he is out of place.

The movie is just fun. It’s not an edge of your seat type of event, but a fun enjoyable way to spend the evening. Jon Voight is actually really entertaining as this wild-eyed guard at the camp munching on his sunflower seeds and always looking for the Yellow Spotted Lizards to shoot.

The movie is also full of great little lines, which the little kids will no doubt be repeating for you for days afterwards! It’s a great little feel good story. So stop thinking that you only should watch films for grown-ups, just enjoy it.

Rated PG. 117 minutes (1 hour 57 minutes).