Hop

Tonight we watched the movie, Hop, and we all loved it. Except for Hubby, who had to go back to bed where he'd spent most of the day, because of the stomach bug, who has taken up residence in his digestive system.

Poor guy.

Anyways, Hop, is a great movie for the whole family. Hopfully, the Playboy Mansion reference will go over kids' heads, assuming Dads hide their late night reading material.

Hop, is about a special teenage bunny, E.B.,  destined to become the next Easter Bunny, but dreams of becoming a rock star drummer instead.

E.B., who poops jellybeans, crosses paths with a human, Fred, played humorously by James Marsden. Of course, Fred would give anything to be the Easter Bunny.

This may seem far fetched, basically because it is, but it works.

E.B. is played perfectly by Russel Brand, whom I adore.  Honestly, who can resist a charming and hilarious  bunny with a British accent? 

Hop is funny and entertaining, and makes me feel like it's Easter all over again, and is destined to become a classic holiday movie favored by bunnies everywhere. Check it out!

Hugo

Last night the whole family watched the movie, Hugo. We all enjoyed it.

Hooray!

More than a children's movie, Hugo is inspiring for all ages. Hugo is based on the award winning, historical fiction book, The Invention Of Hugo Cabret, which uses both pictures and words to tell the story.

 Both Vinny and Hubby have read the book.

 "The movie pretty much follows the book," says Hubby.

Which lead me to ask, "Oh my gosh, is he going to be okay?" and "Is the father gonna die now?" and "Was that in the book?!" amongst other interrupting questions throughout the movie.

Watching Hugo, who is orphaned and lonely may be stressful, but it is worth viewing. The message of Hugo, is timeless. Our greatest strengths come from unlocking the mystery of that which pains us most in life. And when we decode and heal our lives,we inspire others to do the same.

And that, Internet is a Happy Ending!

21 Jump Street

Hollywood took the TV series 21 Jump Street and turned it into a raunchy comedy for the big screen.

21 Jump Street is probably best saved for a DVD rental for $1 from Redbox rather than the price of a $10 movie ticket.

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star in the spoofy bromance where they go back to high school as under cover cops. Only the overly friendly duo act more like teenagers on a drunken rampage than cops. Somehow by the end of the movie they BOTH manage to rap the Miranda rights while arresting suspects.

Johnny Depp, who starred in the original series , makes a cameo appearance in the movie. But they killed him off so don't expect to see him in the sequel, "21 Jump Street Goes To College."

The Muppets

Last night we took the boys to see, "The Muppets," movie. Internet, normally, I don't take the boys to see children's movies in the theater, ever since the whole lice debacle, anyways. It's too risky.

But the Muppets are so inspiring, I broke my own rule. Hopefully, I won't itch to regret it.

"Honey, can you check my hair?" I ask scratching my scalp. "My hair feels itchy."

And now back to our regularly scheduled movie review of "The Muppets."

Anywho, "The Muppets," movie was entertaining for both kids and adults. Big people will especially appreciate all the 80s jokes and music. I did, anyways. Though I have to admit I was a bit worried The Muppets was going to be a dud for the first twenty minutes of the film.

The main problem with the beginning of The Muppets is that it had only one Muppet with far too many campy, sappy, singing, dancing humans. That's just the wrong human to Muppet ratio in a film titled, "The Muppets."

Also, normally I love Amy Adams, but neither she nor Jason Segal had any chemistry in this movie. Together or apart, in my opinion. Maybe because they were trying to HARD to be cute and/or funny like Muppets, but they were NOT.

As "The Muppets," progressed the movie picked up all the usual Muppets along the way, including Gonzo, Animal, Fozzie Bear, Kermit the Frog, Ms. Piggy, Beaker and many, many more. There were also cameo appearances by David Grohl (Foo Fighters), Selena Gomez, Jack Black and other Hollywood stars.

The soundtrack to, "The Muppets," was fun, including Muppet classics, "Rainbow Connection," and "Mah Na Mah Na." Though there were a few songs, sung by humans, that made me wish I had packed my earplugs, such as "Am I A Man Or A Muppet," and a few others not worth mentioning.

The boys loved, "The Muppets," though they would have preferred more scenes with the Swedish Chef, and "the torekey."

"My favorite scene was when the Swedish Chef blow torched the refrigerator," says Vinny.

Overall, Vinny and I collectively give the movie a B.

Footloose

"Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise pull me off a my knees
Jack, get back c'mon before we crack
Lose your blues everybody cut footloose...."

Oh hey, Internet I didn't hear you come in cause I was busy dancing.

Tonight, the Huz and I went to see the remake of the movie, "Footloose."

"Honey, do you remember the first "Footloose?" I ask.

"Not at all," answers Hubby.

"Me either," I say. "But I kind of want to watch it again after seeing the remake."

That being said this, obviously isn't going to be a compare and contrast movie review.

I did enjoy the new, "Footloose," despite the fact that it was filled with teenagers doing stupid, naughty and dangerous things.

Ahhhhh! It's not easy watching movies about teenagers who want to live life fearlessly, knowing the I will eventually be a parent to two teens.

The dancing in Footloose was well choreographed, I think. Many of the dancing scenes in "Footloose," were filmed too close. Often times the dancers were filmed from the waist up, perhaps to stress the lewdness and lasciviousness of the dance. Which I must say it did quite well. :p Though I believe we'd all just rather watch great dancing.

Julianne Hough, formerly of Dancing With The Stars was stunning and charismatic in a saucey kind of way as the female lead, Ariel Moore. Professional dancer, Kenny Wormald plays Ren McCormach, a James Dean-esque rebel with a cause, peppered with Mikhail Baryshnikov flair.

Ren's cause: Make dancing legal in the small town of Bomont. Did he succeed? I am not gonna tell you, go see it yourself.

"Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes.
Oowhee, Marie shake it, shake it for me
Whoa, Milo c'mon c'mon let's go Lose your blues everybody cut footloose......"

The Music Within

"This is a pretty good movie so far," says Hubby.

"Yeah, but I thought it was a true story about a musician?" I say.

"Well, there's a lot of music in it," notices my Mom.

"The Music Within," is based on the true story of Richard Pimentel, a vocal advocate for people with disabilities. Pimentel played an integral role in the passage of the Americans Disabilities Act, which passed under the President of George Bush, Sr.

Watching the movie, I realized how prejudice people were against folks with disabilities. In one scene, Pimental and his wheelchair bound buddy Art, stricken with cerebral palsy, are refused service in a restaurant under the Ugly Law. Apparently, the two were making the other restaurant patrons uncomfortable.

What the heck? I also find it hard to believe The Americans With Disabilities Act wasn't passed until freaking 1990!

I highly recommend this witty, compassionate, inspiring movie.

Favorite movie quote by Art: "Does this wheelchair make my butt look big?"

References:
1. The Ugly Law

2. Americans Disabilities Act

3. Richard Pimentel

The Help Movie

"Did you go see, "The Help?" I ask.

"Yes," says my friend. "Seeing the movie for me was almost more emotional than reading the book. We had a black maid when I was five. When we went to the movies together, she had to sit in the balcony. I couldn't understand why she couldn't sit with us?"

Finally, the book we've all been waiting for has come to the big screen, and it does not disappoint. I found the "The Help," movie as delightful as the book. But viewers be warned, it's not light fare. Read: bring Kleenex.

"The Help," movie is like a roller coaster rider with the perfect mix of ups and downs. The highs will have audiences roaring with laughter, and the lows will have them sobbing in tears.

Based on the novel, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, the movie does an amazing job transforming the author's words into a visual spectacle.

The Help, set in the south during the civil rights movement of the 60s, is told from the perspective of an aspiring white writer, Skeeter, and two black maids, Minny and Aibileen, who is also a writer.

Skeeter, enlists Minny and Aibileen, as interview subjects for a book exposing the truth of what it's like working for white women in the prejudicial south. Aibileen, being a writer, chooses to write her own side of the story, rather than be interviewed by Skeeter, as the other maids are in the film.

The film depicts how nonsensical racist people are, letting black women raise their own children while banning the maids from sitting on their toilets for fear of them spreading "black" diseases.

While many of the maids share terrible encounters with their white bosses, other maids reveal stories of friendship, compassion and strong bonds with the women they work for, sometimes for most of their lives.

The casting in the movie is absolute perfection. The three main characters play their roles true to the characters in the book . Minny, the feisty black maid, played by Octavia Spencer should win an academy award for her role, just on facial expressions and body language alone.

Viola Davis plays Aibileen. While Aibileen is subdued on the surface, the audience can feel her emotions brewing to a boil underneath her self-controlled demeanor.

Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, is a socially awkward, rebellious, outspoken, non-conforming white woman. Stone's character would have suffered far more repercussions for her actions, than being shunned from her born social group, if she were a black woman.

Visually the film is sweet sugar to the eyes, capturing the 60s era with colorful pastels, big, up, hair-dos, and picture perfect scenes. Juxtaposed to the visual sugar rush, is the assassination of Medger Evers and President Kennedy, in case viewers forget how dangerous a task the women are setting out to accomplish. The film also depicts the ramshackle living conditions of the maids, in stark contrast to the decadence of their white counterparts.

"The Help," gets away with plenty of emotional gut wrenching moments, by interspersing tons of humor that will leave audiences deeply satisfied at the end of the movie, rather than depressed.

"Why do you bring me to these sad movies?" says my Bestie, through tears.

"It's good sad," I say.

Movies that make us feel our feelings, and remember our past, are free therapy in my book. Hopefully, someday stories such as these will help humanity stop practicing hatred based discrimination because of the color of someone's skin or their sexual preferences.

Acrhetypally, "The Help," is the classic story of the victim who rises up against her oppressors saying, "You will keep me down, NO Longer!" Even when that means going against her very own survival instincts.

"The Help," is a story about team work, unity, and unlikely friendships. The three courageous women discover, TOGETHER, is the only way through adversity for the downtrodden, and will leave audiences cheering at the end.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Pt 2

Date Night

"Let's go see a movie," I say.

"Okay, what do you want to see?" asks Hubby.

"Midnight in Paris," I say.  "Let me check the movie times."

"Harry Potter in 3D!" I say. "Let's go see that instead."

"I wish I could go," says Vinny.

"No way," I say. "Remember how scary the last Harry Potter movie was? You wanted to leave during the preview."

"Oh yeah," says Vinny.

Internet I am so glad I didn't take my 10-year-old, though there were it at least 20 times throughout the movie I thought to myself, "I wish Vinny were here, he would know what this means."

Vinny is an avid Harry Potter fan, having read the Potter series multiple times.

But the final film is completely inappropriate for my kids, without the ability to fast forward through the violence and gore. While the last Potter movie had some blood in it, Part 2 of the Deathly Hollows has much more.

The film was full of varying shades of gloomy grey.   The lack of color, save for blood red, gave the movie an anxiety provoking feel as though evil was lurking around every corner. And actually it was.

Honestly, I felt stressed out watching the movie, and couldn't stop saying, "Poor Harry," and  reminding myself to breathe.

"Why did I think this was going to be fun? " I wondered.

That being said I'm glad I saw the last Harry Potter movie. Though the movie was like a rollercoaster ride, it tied up a lot of loose ends and the 3D was AMAZING!

Morning Glory

"Strip Me" Natasha Bedingfield

"Who sings this song?" I ask, as the film credits to "Morning Glory," roll. "I love it!"

"Natasha Redingfield," replies Hubby.

"Bedingfield," I correct.

"I think it's Redingfield," says Hubby.

"Uh, huh," I say politely.

I must have been tired, I'm usually not polite when I'm right. Or maybe these Chinese Herbs for PMS are working.

"Oh, you're right it is Bedingfield," says Hubby.

"I know," I say.

I love the movie, too! "Morning Glory," starring the spunky Rachel McAdams, has a great message, "be yourself," and still manages to be laugh out loud funny.

McAdams plays a television news producer whose childhood dream of working on The Today Show isn't panning out, when she lands a gig on a worn out, viewer-less morning show, DayBreak.

McAdams shines in her role, despite the movie's slow start, with her Lucille Ball-like comedic follies.

The film also stars Harrison Ford, as a fired, curmudgeon, has-been, top notch, television journalist, in the likes of Dan Rather. Not only is Ford surprisingly unannoying, he's actually quite good.

Diane Keaton, who looks great with blonde hair!, plays the co-anchor opposite Ford. Keaton and Ford's relationship is filled with a love-hate based tension, making for witty banter between the two.

The film naturally picks up momentum as the show DayBreak starts to improve picking up viewers with YouTube-esque stunt based feature stories. Humorous and inspiring, "Morning Glory," is my kind of movie.

Trailer for "Morning Glory"

Charlie St Cloud

Before I start the movie review, Internet, I have a confession to make. I knew nothing about, "Charlie St Cloud," I only rented it because Zac Efron is beautiful. That and the movie summary didn't sound half bad. Oh, and Yahoo Movies user reviews gave the film an A-.

I will generally watch any movie with a Y!M user rating of B- or higher. Truth be told, I rarely find movies in the A range.

On to the movie. I hope you have your bucket of lightly salted popcorn.

I personally give, Charlie St Cloud," (CSC) an A+! Not just because Zac Efron is hot. Or because his co-star Amanda Crew is sexy. Or because they have a sizzling on screen romance making Brangelina look like Ma and Pa Kettle.

Their chemistry is so fiery, their cemetary sex scene was borderline erotica. They lit up the burial grounds. Literally. That's not easy to do. Graveyards are full of creeps. But I guess they don't mind being watched.

Now that's what I call a romantic drama.

CSC fluctuated between dream like scenes with a backdrop of the majestic Canadian coast. Then it would venture over to darker scenes filled with varying shades of grey.

The story is supernatural in the spirit of, "The Sixth Sense," or the more recent. "Hereafter," where live folks talk to dead people. I LOVE this.

But if you're dead, it doesn't mean I want to talk to you, especially when I'm sleeping. Honestly, I hate when ghosts wake me up in the middle of the night. It's rude for one, and scary, for two!

Oh yeah I'm crazy like Charlie St Cloud.

The film is based on the best-selling novel by Ben Sherwood titled, "The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud." Hmm, sounds like a good read.

Viewers be warned CSC is a tender hearted movie, so have some tissue handy or your partner's shirt.

The film deals with heavy duty themes such as life after death, grief, letting go, and finally healing and rebirth. The movie brought tears to my eyes on several on occassions, but left me feeling inspired.

Easy A

Thanks to my recent head trauma I have been watching a lot of movies over the last few weeks. Sadly, I wouldn't say many of them are worth watching, or suggesting them to friends.

But Easy A, starring the dynamic Emma Stone, as Olive, was witty, inspiring and entertaining. I definitely recommend it cause it is laugh out loud funny.

Olive makes up a fake date to get out of going camping with her frenemy. When asked how her date went, instead of telling the truth, that she had a boring weekend at home with her parents, she lies and says she had s3x with the guy.

A bible thumping girl overhears the conversation, and Olive's lie spreads like wildfire across the high school campus. Big surprise.

Instead of denying the rumor, Olive embraces it, and even brandishes the red letter "A," on her slutified clothes, when she returns to school. Hey a girl's got to live up to her reputation.

Not coincidentally Olive's English class happens to be reading the novel the "Scarlett Letter," which partly inspired the film. They were so mean to poor Hester Prynne, almost as mean kids can be in high school.



Olive frequently talks to the camera giving the movie an intimate, YouTube-esque, vlogger (video blogger) feel.

Easy A, pays homage to the 80s flicks I grew up on such as, "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," to name a few.

Olive Penderghast: Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80's movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80's movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life.

But Easy A has a cuter male love interest, than any of those 80s flicks, who walks around campus in various costumes, including studly, blue, body paint.

I. Am. Not. Kidding. Oh and guys, not to worry Olive is hot and not really in high school. I hope.

Easy A is laugh out loud funny, and any movie that makes fun of Tom Cruise is okAy, in my visual viewing world.

Burlesque

Oh em gee, Internet! I'm watching Burlesque. And it is so good. Whoever thought of putting The Fabulous Christina Aguilera in a starring singing/dancing/acting role is a cinematic genius.

Add to that Cher, who still has it going on. Plus, the dashing Stanley Tucci. Oh and how could I forget Aguilera's brawny, songwriting musician, frequently shirtless, sometimes naked, roommate?

Wait, did I leave out the dancers? With their contionist dance moves and bodies of perfection. Oh and there's even a diabolical plot, or two.

Burlesque is visually spectacular, auditorily orgasmic, and exceptionally entertaining. It's what I would call a great movie. And by great movie, I mean I feel inspired. I must get the soundrack!

Water For Elephants

My pet elephant, Canada.

Tonight my awesome and amazing BFF's took me surfing, out to dinner, then to a movie and later for tea for my birthday. I love my friends. Though when we were all still surfing at 5:30 I had my doubts that we would make dinner let alone a movie and tea.

If there's one thing I've learned from having friends with giant, glowing yellow auras is I've got to glow with the flow. I can actually do this if I haven't had too much caffeine.

At 6:55 I ask, "Uh are we still going to the movie?"

"Yeah! say the BFF's. "What time does it start?"

I thought it started at 7 but it actually started at 7:05, giving us plenty of extra time. We walked in late, which is surprising considering the previews are longer than the actual movie these days.

It was okay, cause I quickly explained what was happening in the movie. I'm psychic like that. And no I didn't read the book, of the same title, which the movie is based on.

Then suddenly, I remembered why I didn't read the book! Ahhhhhh! I brought my besties to a movie about animal and worker cruelty under the Big Tent during the depression.

What? Was? I? Thinking?

"They're never going to go to another movie with me, again. Or worse, they'll never let me pick."

I recently saw the preview for, "Water For Elephants," and was so caught up in the steamy romance between Robert Pattinson (Twilight) and Reese Witherspoon, I completely forgot about the animal torture plan.

Luckily, I can close my eyes and cover my ears, which I did through the gruesome scenes. That being said, the story is compelling, enjoyable, yet stressful. I had to keep remembering to breathe, between screams and snorts.

"Oh my gosh, I know the bad guys are going to come in, right before they do it," I shriek.

But I was wrong they came in right after they came.

"Uhhhhh, uhhhhhh, uhhhhhhh."

Reese and Robert had great on screen chemistry, but not so great that they seemed like they slept together during the making of this movie, I would guess. Though one never knows for sure, unless we're talking about Brangelina. Reese, 10 years Robert's senior had a way better body, I might add.

Score one point for the Cougars! I'm wondering if their age difference has some critics claiming the pair have no chemistry. Sounds like someone's brain needs to be rewired. Men aren't the only ones who have younger mates, Internet.

It was nice to see Robert's true skin color, which is quite lovely like the rest of him, though his biceps could use a workout. But why on Goddess's Green Earth he kept the vampire fangs to play a veternarian, I will never know. Unless, he really is a vampire?

The cinematography was awesome. Every scene looked like a perfect still picture with brilliant colors and faded backdrops. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, though at times it felt a lot like torture, not that there's anything wrong with that.

I may have to read the book to see how well they did the movie......Unless, someone just wants to tell me in the comment box. Someone named Sara Gruen perhaps?

Bridesmaids

Date Night

"What do you want to do tonight?" I ask Hubby.

"Go to dinner and a movie!" says Hubby.

He picked the restaurant, so the movie was mine for the pickin'. Or so I thought.

"Let's go see, "Bridesmaids," I say.

"Is that a movie I would like?" asks Hubby.

"It's not a chick flick," I say, reading between the lines. "Besides, Kristen Wigg is in it, and you love her."

Internet, a movie with buckets, sink loads, and toilets full of potty humor, Kristen Wigg's Wonder Twins, one-eyed Jack and tea bag impersonations, is no chick flick in my book. 

It's a C-O-M-E-D-Y. And a funny one at that.

Confessions Of A Shopaholic

Now on DVD and Netflix Instant Viewing.

Me, laughing out loud.

"Hey what are you watching?" asks Hubby.

"Confessions of a Shopaholic," I say
"It looks funny," says Hubby.

"It is," I say.

"Well, how come we aren't watching it together?" he asks.

"I don't know," I say. "You looked busy?"

"Wait a second," he hesitates. "Are they shopping?

"Yes," I say, hoping to get rid of my interruption.

"Never mind," he says.

Whatever. It isn't as if I like shopping.

But I'd give it four out of five surfboards for it's humorous slapstick comedy.

The movie is adapted from the Shopaholic book series by Sophie Kinsella, which I haven't read. The leading lady, Isla Fisher, is charming and physically comical in a Lucille Ball kind of way. A light movie, that is laugh out loud funny, who can go wrong with that? Probably, not even the most macho anti-shoppers.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Oh my goodness, Internet. The third installment of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse, was by far my favorite, in the series of books, vamped into a movie, so far.

I love seeing a visual interpretation of a book, and I'm happy to say they they got it right.

I thought Eclipse the movie, captured the deep emotions portrayed in the third book, more intensely and accurately than the previous two movies. Bella (human, so far), is exceptionally broody over being pulled in separate directions by her two loves.

Jacob (werewolf) is more determined than ever to win Bella over. Edward (vampire) is so passionately devoted to Bella, he willingly hands her over to Jacob several times.

Their love triangle is perfectly torturous. Although Bella is a fragile human, she's no wimp, and she always has the final say, on who carries her into the forest. Team Jacob vs Team Edward is a moot point, considering she has those little monsters wrapped around her finger.

I don't want to spoil the plot line, in case you haven't read the book or watched the movie, but I will say there are plenty of tense moments and volatile scenes within the dynamic threesome, Bella, Edward and Jacob.

Ménage à trois?

It's probably not going to happen considering the author of the Twilight Saga is a Mormon. Though perhaps there is a chance for a bit of reverse polygamy? One can only hope for more cramped 2-person tent scenes, with the trio.

Thankfully, "Eclipse," doesn't take itself too seriously, and frequently makes fun of itself, in spite of Jacob's high body temperature. In fact, he is so hot, he can barely manage wearing any clothes at all, save for a pair of cut-off jeans, throughout most of the movie.

Sizzzzzzzle.

"Doesn't he own a shirt?" Edward asks Bella of Jacob.

Edward, for the sake of female audiences everywhere, I hope Jake doesn't own a shirt. Guys have been soaking up blatant eye candy in the media for years. Women have a lot of catching up to do. We are making up for lost time with Jacob, and online pR0n, apparently.

Then there's our heroine, Bella. At times she is more of a man than the noble Edward and haute Jacob combined, clad in her Kurt Cobain flannel and plaid attire. Who else could get away with yelling at a vampire, and slapping a werewolf, but bad-arse Bella?

Besides, I'm sure all three actors have violet auras, most famous people do. Violet women appear more masculine than violet guys. But don't worry guys, she's all woman, underneath her grunge wear. Though you won't see much skin, so bring your visualization skills.

I can't wait until the fourth book, "Breaking Dawn," is brought to the big screen. "Breaking Dawn," has my favorite twist in the entire series. Correction: Films, the fourth book is actually going to be broken up into two movies, just like the seventh Harry Potter Book.

Here's a trailer from Eclipse. Enjoy. :)

Date Night

Oh. My. Goodness. Go see Tina Fey and Steve Carell in "Date Night," because it is laugh out loud funny. I'm not exaggerating, Internet.

The action-comedy, in the spirit of last year's smash hit, "Hangover," is a movie couples can relate to. Well, at least this, couple....... we found it less, ehem, stressful. But don't worry, guys, there's still plenty of action and pole dancing for y'all.

And ladies there are more than enough Marky Mark Wahlberg pecs to go around, and around, and around.........

Also, while it is a comedy, "Date Night," addresses a lot of issues couples with children deal with, such as zombie sex, being too tired to make an effort to "do it," communication gaps, the differences between men's and women's perspecitves, jealousy and who does more in the relationship.

Audiences may be laughing, but they will also be thinking, which is what the best comedy sets out to do.

Where The Wild Things Are

The book.

Every kid's parents should see "Where The Wild Things Are," but leave the kids at home.

I say leave the kids at home because it's a movie brimming with intense emotion, mainly anger, themes of abandonment, loneliness, divorce and child abuse. I guess if I had tweenagers or teenagers I would let them watch it and prepare for a counseling session, afterwards.

My husband and I went on a date night without the kids. Hubby didn't want to go, but when we walked out of the movie he said, "hey, that was a pretty good."

I loved it!!!!

I could relate to this movie as parent currently residing with not one, but TWO Wild Things. Children have wild imaginations, wild amounts of unlimited physical energy, and they are wildly sensitive.

Wild Things does a great job of depicting how sensitive kids are to what's going on in their environment, as well as, what's going on with their parents. And the movie also reminds us, how much guidance today's children need from their parents.

Being a kid, is as hard or even harder than being a parent, at times.

"Tale of Despereaux"

We just finished watching the movie, "The Tale of Despereaux."

I had never heard of it before today, but it's based on a book by Kate Dicamillo, so I asked Vinny about it.

"Have you read, "The Tale of Despereaux?" I ask him.

"No, but it's a movie, too," Vinny answers.

"Yeah, I know. What do you think it's rated?" I ask.

"It must be rated PG because in the preview he is holding a needle for a sword. So it must be violent if he has a sword."

"Let's check," I say. We looked it up and to our excitement it was rated G.

"Hey, we can watch it!" I say. After all, G rated movies don't come out everyday. Or very often for that matter.

Anyways, we watched "Tale of Despereaux ," and it's a cute little movie for little people that adults can appreciate, too. Despereaux the mouse stars as the hero. A mouse who is banished for being too brave, for reading and for talking to people. We all know how dangerous talking to people can be, especially for a mouse.

A mouse who never gives up in the face of adversity and stays true to his word, and more importantly he stays true to his character. He is courageous, trustworthy and noble even when no one else around him is.

The narrator in the movie mentions in fairy tales the hero shows up when the world really needs a hero most. I couldn't help but think of President Elect Obama. Yes, right about now the world could use a hero. A hero to inspire all of us to greatness because that is what it's going to take.

But my favorite part of the movie was the part about forgiveness. How one act of forgiveness can change everything. Maybe even the world.

I asked Gio what he thought of the movie and he said, "He's so good saving the day from the bad guys."