PRINCE CASPIAN
#2 Narnia series
Rated PG
Reviewer Carolyn R Scheidies

Once PRINCE CASPIAN, the much looked for sequel to THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARROBE, was released we went to see it. The characterization and pageantry was everything I'd hoped for. Were there liberties with the story? Yes. Additions included the attack on the castle, the hint of romance between Susan and Prince Caspian, the cameo of the White Witch. There were changes in sequence of events, some events were compacted, others changed here and there, but these were done mostly due to the time factor of a movie and the medium itself. Overall, the movie caught the essence of C.S. Lewis's story as well as much of the plot itself.

I loved the movie. As promised, the non-human characters, especially Aslan, were much more realistic than in the first movie—and that was done very well. The movie had life, action, a solid story from which to build and humor. The book was filled with battle and lots of it and so is the movie. Some action scenes may be too graphic for the real young ones, though it is not gory or bloody. A good family movie for all but maybe 2nd grade and under.

Once it comes out on DVD, I want a copy.

AMAZING GRACE (DVD)
Rated PG
Reviewer Carolyn R Scheidies

With our politically correct culture and the attempt to erase all mention of Christianity from public schools, public debate and public knowledge, very real history is ignored. Wilberforce was a good enough politician for his time, but when God found him, everything changed. His faith forced him to see man's inhumanity to man and so began a long and tortuous journey to ban slavery in the British Empire. Along the way, we see how faith sustains this man who did so much for mankind and not just in the slavery issue. He also helped pass laws to protect children and animals.

This movie well captures the flavor of 18th-19thcentury England and the forces arrayed both for and against Wilberforce. The portrayal of John Newton seemed a bit odd, but by and large the movie does a good job of holding to the truth.

AUGUST RUSH
Rated PG
Reviewer Carolyn R Scheidies

Evan Taylor has lived in a children's home all of his life. Yet the music of the everyday fills his heart and mind. Despite the taunts of others, he knows he is different. He knows his parents are out there, listening to the music. He knows that the music will draw them together. One day the call of the music is too strong and Evan begins a perilous journey of discovery, wonder and danger. Will the music lead him to his heart's desire or destroy him?

It's all about the music. The universe is alive with sounds, with rhythm, with music. It is around us and in us. Music connects us and influences in ways we can't imagine. Music is the key to this movie. The characters, the story, the music and the whole way the movie comes together draws us, lives in us and leaves us with a sense of wonder and joy.

There are definite discussion points in this movie, beginning with Evan's conception in a one-night stand (nothing is shown) that has such a hold on the couple that it changes their lives forever. That would be a definite sticking point for parents. However, both God, prayer and church are given reverence and Evan's real help comes from a pastor.

The movie is moving. The actors say so much just through expression that gives depth to a story of love lost and found. It is a movie that stays with you. With the exception mentioned and a few rougher language expressions, AUTUMN RUSH is an enjoyable, uplifting movie.

BREACH

PG-13

We've all heard about Hannsen the FBI double agent. This movie takes the story and brings it to life. Something isn't right about Hanson and young, vulnerable would-be agent Eric O'Neill is given the job of earning his badge by becoming Hannsen's clerk. Only his real job is to spy on a man who has always had the highest of credibility in the organization.

At first, Eric comes under Hannsen's spell. But as inconsistencies surface and as Eric's wife feels threated, Eric finds himself reassessing everything he believes. As the truth surfaces, Eric finds his dreams coming true, but at what cost?

This is a movie that digs beneath the surface story, bringing us to care about a diverse cast of characters that played a part in discovering the duplicity of one FBI agent.

A good character study about one of most dangerous of American spy, this telling uses a slow build up, not the shoot 'em up 007 style to involve the viewer. For all that, there are a scenes of murder and violence, vulgar language and sexual content.

Teens on up as long as there is opportunity for discussion of the issues of faith, loyalty, etc. involved in the real-life story.

Not being a huge fan of "animal humor," I was a little skeptical of this movie. But being a fan of Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) and somewhat of Bruce Almighty, I ended up going to the theater to check it out. Imagine my surprise when not only was it an incredibly funny movie, but it was a wonderfully heartwarming family flick that eliminated the crude humor and sexual content that we endured throughout Bruce Almighty.

Although it is not the actual story of Noah, we get to enjoy a lot of the interesting parts of that story in a modern day age. The spiritual side of the story is also revered. God is seen as loving and omnipotent. (Spoiler alert) After Joan Baxter packs up her boys and leaves, thinking that Evan has gone crazy, God appears to her. He mentions how when people pray for something, such as having their family grow closer together, maybe he gives them the opportunity for that to happen rather than simply the "warm, fuzzy feelings." This reminds Joan of the importance of standing by her husband.

There is very little to complain about in this movie. The term "Oh my God" was used several times by Joan Baxter. Although some may have seen this as profanity, plain and simple, it seemed that the movie played this as stating her unbelief, and foreshadowing of her belief to come. In fact, I could not see this any other way and was surprised that others saw it differently. Very little sexual content abounds: the youngest boy mentions a sex organ on a certain species of duck and Evan unknowingly walks out of the door naked (nothing is seen).

All in all, I have to say that I have not seen a movie so clean and enjoyable in such a long time. I would recommend it for anyone.

DJ loved the spotlight and competition of the rough and tumble dancing even to challenging a rough team he shouldn't have challenged. After he and his guys were declared the win, they were attacked by the losers on the way home. His brother was killed and he was convicted for fighting. But he was given a new start with his aunt and uncle, who was the grounds keeper for Truth University, in the south.

It isn't long before his interest in a young woman and his challenge of the two competitive step dance fraternities on campus put him at odds even while he struggles with guilt from his past, his desire to shield the young woman from a boyfriend who didn't appreciate her but could offer her status and wealth, and a need to show his moves.

After a day of thinking about it, I still have mixed feelings about this movie. The concept of step dance was new to me and I enjoyed the energetic performances. The action sparkles and the dancing was enthusiastic.

There were many positives in the movie. DJ felt guilt and did seek to move on and better his life. He treats women and family with deep respect, even standing up for them. He is studious. He learns valuable lessons of friendship, teamwork, forgiveness and self-sacrifice as well as letting go of the past while holding onto what is good. He is not willing to knuckle under when threatened, but does not threaten or seek revenge in return. He learns accountability for his actions and shows a willingness to apologize.

There were negatives as well. One scenario is becoming prevalent and that is trying to help someone by saying something wasn't their fault. We feel guilt for a reason, most of the time. Better to acknowledge our part in something that did not turn out well, deal with it, grieve and move on. In this case, DJs brother died because he refused to back off during the dance competition—had to strut his stuff instead of taking what they'd already won, as his friends wanted to do, and leave.

During the dancing often the dancers clutch their genitals and the women are sometimes scantily clad. During the final dance segment the “bad” fraternity brothers quote the Lord's Prayer while the “good” brothers hiss like a snake, which is their mascot. Subtle, but there. There is some rough language. There is implied sex between DJ and his girlfriend. Alcohol is a staple for the characters.

For all that will put families off, this movie deals with honoring culture and each other with some great dancing as an integral part of the plot. For older teens and adults. Great discussion starter.

SPIDER-MAN 3

Rated PG-13

Peter Parker’s Spiderman is now the hero of the day and Peter’s head begins to swell. Meanwhile, Mary Jane’s career is on the skids and Peter is so caught up with himself he doesn’t see her pain. Furthermore, when his promotional antics bring him into contact with a hero-worshipping Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane turns to the one person she thinks she can count on.

Only Peter’s reign as a hero is about to crash as villains rise up. What about Harry who blames Spiderman for his father’s death, will he rise again as a villain? Worse is Peter’s own heart, which he discovers is not so altruistic after all. With lots of action and heart, Spider-man 3 delivers well-drawn characters, a fast-paced plot and an ending that makes it all worth while.

I do caution parents of young children. Some scenes may be too intense. The movie does deal with evil, problems, pain and forgiveness and makes a great starting point for discussion.

I was pleased with the movie.

AN UNFINISHED LIFE (DVD)

Rated PG-13

Reviewer Carolyn R Scheidies

Jean is fleeing an abusive boyfriend with her 11-year-old daughter Griff in tow to the only family she can claim, the father of her deceased husband and the daughter’s grandfather, Einar. Only he blames her for his son’s death and has lived in bitterness ever since. But his granddaughter begins to get through to him as she helps him on the ranch. As he comes to terms with his son’s death, other challenges emerge with the bear that mauled his partner and friend, Mitch who is the image of caring and thoughtfulness, the abusive boyfriend showing up and more. Each grows in acceptance and understanding.

On the surface, this appears to be a family movie. It isn’t. There is rough language, there is an in-your-face homosexual reference that comes out of nowhere and seems thrust into the script just for effect, and there is the character of the mother. She goes from abusive situation to abusive situation, yet claims her daughter comes first. She fled from the last situation not on her own, but at the instigation of her daughter. It is implied she sleeps with the sheriff for no good reason (nothing is shown), later explaining her penchant for abusive relationships, by saying she didn’t feel she deserved better. Why? (Spoiler) Because she was driving the night she and her husband had the accident that killed him. What does this say about what she thinks about the sheriff and what does this say about a man of the law taking advantage of a vulnerable woman?

Plot holes also bother me and this one had a biggie. (Spoiler) When the grandfather and Griff try to rescue the bear, mistakes happen that allow the bear to maul Einar. Griff drives him to the hospital, leaving everything at the Roadside Freak Show where the bear had been held after being captured. Einar lies about his injuries, but there is no mention of repercussions from the equipment left behind or releasing the bear. Another plot hole was Griff’s initial coldness to the sheriff she knows her mother likes. Toward the end of the movie, she is friendly with him with no threads to show how and why she changed her mind about him.

Spirituality is mocked.

There is self-sacrifice in the movie most but not completely in the person of Mitch (Nina, Jean’s co-worker is another positive), but they do not overcome the negatives. I have lots of problems with this movie. It could, however, be viewed with older family members and used as a discussion opener on lots of subjects.

STRANGER THAN FICTION - with Will Ferrell

Rated PG-13

Reviewer Gloria Geiselman

I am not a big fan of Will Ferrell movies because often the type of humor you see is off colored. But, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie and now believe Will is a very good actor who can do a variety of roles. There is humor and depth in this movie. 

He portrays a man named Harold Crick who audits people with the IRS. Not a very exciting or loved person by most. His life is very structured; he even brushes his teeth the exact amount of strokes each night. 

All of a sudden he begins to hear his life narrated in his head. Of course he thinks he is going mad, but the things the narrator says become reality. He seeks professional help, but finds all they want to give him is drugs. Instead, he looks up a well known literary professor and asks him (played by Dustin Hoffman) what he thinks.  

From here on, the story takes off as they try to find the author who is writing the story, as a friendship develops between him and one of the clients he is auditing (a girl who owns a bakery) and as he tries to stop the author from killing him off at the end of her story.  

This is a very clever story line, leaving you wondering how it will end. I think anyone who loves to see a good plot line with interesting characters will like this movie. Here’s a hopeful clue though, it does end well and you feel it was worth watching.

ERAGON (DRAGON RIDER)

Rated PG

Reviewer Gloria Geiselman

This movie may temp those who like fantasy and mystical creatures such as dragons, but in my opinion this story should have been left on the bookstore shelf rather than in a movie due to its dark nature. 

The young farm boy who hunts and practices his fighting skills with his cousin is portrayed as the new hero everyone in this oppressed kingdom is waiting for. Like the old Star War theme, people are waiting for the return of the dragon rider who will fight for them since all the old “Jedi” have been killed along with their dragons. 

Eragon is given the last dragon egg and, of course, it hatches and becomes his friend and a warrior with him to fight the evil. This theme doesn’t sound so bad at first, but the evil he fights is full of demons, hideous creatures and even a bad spirit dragon. The good people who fight with him are the typical elves and blended nation-looking types. But at times, I felt confused as to what they wanted or were trying to accomplish. 

If you love fantasy and can put it in the right context with all the other similar information on the topics of dragons and magical people, then you might enjoy this movie for that alone. They do set you up for a sequel or a belief that the story will go on from here.  

My recommendation is to find a better fantasy movie where the plot line and portrayal of good is more obvious.

THE ULTIMATE GIFT

Rated PG

Reviewer Cassie Scheidies

Jason Stevens is the stuck up, spoiled grandson of oil tycoon Red Stevens. When his grandfather dies and leaves a will that requires Jason to work for his "inheritance," Jason wants nothing to do with it. Only when his gold-digging girlfriend encourages him to go on this journey, does Jason take a flight to Texas to embark on the first part of Red's "ultimate gift." During this journey, Jason begins to gain character and purpose. Red's question for Jason from the beginning is "How can I give you something and not have it ruin you like your aunts and uncles?"

This movie allows the audience to see the importance of the "gifts" that Jason receives. The series of these gifts includes the gift of hard work, the gift of learning, the gift of a true friend, the gift of family, etc. (Spoiler Warning) In the end Jason does receive a large sum of money that he uses to build a medical facility for families experiencing severe health challenges. He builds it in honor of a selfless little girl that he meets along his journey who falls victim to leukemia.

There is not much negative in this movie other than it being obvious that Jason is living with his girlfriend at the beginning of the movie. Also alcohol is shown in many scenes to represent the wealth of the Steven's family.

I was a little concerned about whether this movie would be have a good story along with a good message. But it is filled with action, romance, and comedy and is truly a gift to theaters everywhere.

Highly recommended.

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA

RATED PG

Reviewer Cassie Scheidies

Warning: This entire review is a spoiler

Sucker punched, that is how I felt after sitting through nearly two hours of BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. I, like many others, am not familiar with the Katherine Paterson novel that the movie is based on. Unfortunately, this means that I was not fully aware of what I was in for.

Ever since I was a little kid I always had trouble reading children’s books. Why? Because for some reason, people seem to think that a death has to occur in every children’s story that has “meaning.” This movie is no different.

More than anything, the movie is about the friendship of Jess and Leslie and the magical kingdom that they form in their imaginations. It is enjoyable for the first hour and a half or so. We get to smile as we see their friendship and their relationships to their families’ blossom.

But then Jess goes on a surprise field trip on a Saturday with his music teacher alone (this is another thing that is weird about the movie) and comes home to the words “Leslie is dead.” It was said, just like that. Way to soften the blow, folks. Apparently, Jess’ friend Leslie drowned in a lake when he was on his field trip. Of course, he blames himself. I was confused and shocked because very little foreshadowing led up to this.

Not a lot was done to redeem this moment, and it left me with a sour feeling. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA is something that would have disturbed me completely when I was a kid. I would not recommend taking your children unless they are familiar with the novel and are aware of what is coming.

FREEDOM WRITERS

RATED PG-13

Reviewer Cassie Scheidies

Students at Wilson High School are unsure of whether they are going to live to see the next school day, graduation is not even in their mindset. Because of an integration program at this school, faculty have started to see their job as babysitting the kids until they can drop out on their own.

Freedom Writers is the true story of Erin Gruwell, a teacher in 1994 who recognized that a change had to made when she realized that almost all of her students had been shot at, but almost none of them knew what the holocaust was. She began to use literature such as "The Diary of Anne Frank" to relate to her students about racism and division among the human race.

But the real heroes of this movie are considered the students, who chose to start rebuilding their lives and make it to graduation. In the true story most of these students went on to college and graduate school and became teachers. The story of room 203 is a truly inspiring one about how each one of us can make a difference in our own lives, as well as those around us.

Since this is a story about kids in gangs, we endure some gang violence including a couple of murders (very little blood is actually shown.) There are also several uses of profanity by the teens, but it's not overwhelming. Erin uses the F#&$ once to show a kid that this is what he is telling his classmates by failing himself on his self-evaluation.

Other negative elements about this movie involve Erin's husband desire to get a divorce because he does not want to support her in her passion, and they drink a bottle of wine during their talk about the divorce.

This movie is one of the best I have ever seen. It's not just a run of the mill inspirational movie about a student and their wonderful teacher; it is a true story about a teacher not giving up on her students or herself and in turn, they not giving up on themselves. The violence would probably be too much for young kids but I would recommend this movie for teenagers through adults.

WE ARE MARSHAL

RATED PG

Reviewer Carolyn R Scheidies

I had good expectations for this movie and was not disappointed. The movie starts just before the crash that killed not only the Marshall University football team, but also the coaching staff and many supporters. Devastated, the town and the college struggle to go on. In fact, the university plans to drop the football program until the students themselves, led by one of the remaining football players, demand it be continued. But how, when only a few seasoned players remain, when freshman can’t make up the team and no wants the job of coaching a non-existent team?

The story follows the lives of several of those affected as well as the new coach and how with ingenuity, perseverance and sensitivity, Marshall turns the corner and begins to heal.

The movie impacts even more because it is a true story and told with a touch of humor and lots of heart. While, because of the crash scene and death, this may not be suitable for the very young, the rest of the family will enjoy this very family-friendly movie that champions love, faith and hope. (However, the one spoiler is some mild rough language.)

HOLIDAY

RATED PG-13

Reviewer Cassie Scheidies

In England, Iris Simpkins is nursing a broken heart, for the last two years. Her dream man has been dating another woman but continues to keep Iris on the side to stroke his ego. When she finds out that he has gotten engaged without telling her, it is the last straw.

Amanda Woods is also in the midst of a struggling relationship. She's had enough of her life as well and looks for a new place to spend her holiday. She comes across a simple English Cottage that is only available for home exchange. This would mean that Amanda and Iris would switch locations and houses for two weeks.

"The Holiday" is a lighthearted comedy with emotional, honest drama. It is a movie that makes one feel the time was well spent. A bonus storyline involves Iris helping an elderly screenwriter gain his self esteem back.

A few things difficulties arise in this movie. Amanda and Graham are way too quick to jump into bed together. Although no sex is actually seen, we do experience a long scene where Amanda is in her bra. This movie is for older teenagers and adults.

Warning: sexual situations—often played for laughs, innuendoes, and quite a bit profanity.

HAPPY FEET

Rated: PG

Reviewer Gloria Geiselman

Around the holidays my family often looks for a fun movie to attend that gives us laughter and time shared enjoying it together. Happy Feet looked as though it might be one of those movies.

It was a movie with a good message, plenty of music to enjoy and some cute parts but I would probably not recommend it for the real young. This story involves struggles, sadness, and some scary parts where killer whales and sea lions are coming mighty close to eating penguins.

HAPPY FEET is about a young emperor Penguin that is born with a rhythm in his feet instead of his voice (as all emperor penguins sing to find their mates). So begins a journey where "Mumbo" tries to fit into a world that doesn't think he is normal. He meets a smaller breed of penguins with Spanish accents who befriend him and most of the comic relief in the film comes from these guys. Of course Mumbo has several things to prove to his family and his race. He wants to be accepted for who he is, win over his childhood girlfriend, and discover what is happening to all the fish disappearing.

I won't spoil the ending, but in a simple yet effective way he connects his world to the world of man and brings harmony in a way you never imagined. I do enjoy music but I thought this movie relied too much on all of the songs sung. It was a good message stating that to be different is ok and you can make a difference too. Of course the animation alone is amazing to watch as it all seemed like the real March of the Penguins. So if you like music, ice and penguins, and realistic animation, then try moving your feet to Happy Feet.

Warning: Strange as it may seem, the movie does contain some suggestive lyrics, speech and body gestures. Includes violence as mentioned in the review, mild language such as gosh & darn as well as put downs of other penguins, humans and faith (mild).