The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
{4/5} “I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult. They’re suspicious and secretive, with the worst manners you can possibly imagine. But they are also brave and kind, and loyal to a fault. I’ve grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can.” The Hobbit: The Battle of […]
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
{4/5} “I did not come to steal from you, O Smaug the Unassessably Wealthy. I merely wanted to gaze upon your magnificence, to see if you really were as great as the old tales say. I did not believe them.” The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, released in 2013 Gandalf heads off on his own […]
The Muppet Christmas Carol
{4/5} “Mother always taught me: ‘Never eat singing food.’” The Muppet Christmas Carol, released in 1992 Ebeneezer Scrooge gets visited by ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future and he vows to change his miserly ways. I’ve seen several versions of this story and if this were another straight adaptation I wouldn’t be that interested. […]
A Long Way Down
{4.5/5} “However much I do change, I’m left with me.” A Long Way Down, released in 2014 Four people separately decide to kill themselves by jumping off the top of a certain building on New Year’s Eve. But when they meet each other, they decide not to do it. Later they make a pact to […]
No Reservations
{4.5/5} No Reservations, released in 2007 Kate works as a chef at a fancy restaurant, and it’s her life. But then her sister dies in an accident, leaving her to care for her young niece Zoe. While this is going on the restaurant hires a new sous-chef Nick, whose style of working is quite different […]
The Way Way Back
{4.5/5} “Yeah, you’re going to have to take off. I’m getting complaints. You’re having way too much fun. It’s making everyone uncomfortable.” The Way Way Back, released in 2013 Duncan goes with his family to a beach house for the summer, but he doesn’t like his mom’s boyfriend. As one character puts it, summer at […]
Dune Messiah
{4.5/5} “If you need something to worship, then worship life — all life, every last crawling bit of it! We’re all in this beauty together!” Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert, published in 1969 Paul Maud’dib has been Emperor for 12 years. Many are happy with his reign, and a few are conspiring against him. Some think […]
Dune
{4.5/5} “Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.” Dune by Frank Herbert, published in 1965 Paul moves with his family to a new planet, Arrakis. The Emperor has decided that Paul’s father Duke Leto Atreides should […]
In Your Eyes
{4.5/5} “‘Wait, you’re real. You’re a real person!’ ‘Oh, that’s the sweetest thing anybody’s said to me all day.’” In Your Eyes, released in 2014 Dylan works at a car wash in New Mexico. Rebecca is the wife of a doctor in New Hampshire. They share a unique connection. They can sometimes see through each […]
Nick Offerman: American Ham
{4.5/5} “Paddle your own canoe.” Nick Offerman: American Ham, released in 2014 Nick Offerman is very funny on Parks and Recreation and he’s similarly funny in this stand-up comedy show. He titles his performance “10 Tips for a Prosperous Life” and he does indeed provide some useful advice. He’s also hilarious. And he sings some […]