District 9 (2009)

20 years ago, an alien spaceship appeared over South Africa. Now, the aliens been moved to a slum by the government who eagerly tries to learn the secrets of their technology. A government agent, sent to evict District 9 into a new area, finds himself caught in a living nightmare when he discovers a mysterious alien cylinder.

District 9 is revolutionary. Shot in a documentary style, the film pans over African slums, corporate offices and alien vs. human violence. The movie is extremely violent and dirty, from the numerous shoot-outs, other war scenes, medical rooms, and shrimp-looking aliens sifting through piles of garbage. Everything about the alien genre is turned on its head and will not doubt be copied in years to come.

The director was genius in casting unknowns, so all our attention is focused on the story. It uses the popular alien theme to build upon the experiences Neill Blomkamp (the director) had during his childhood in South Africa during apartheid. It forces questions about equal rights, the rules of war and more.

This isn't my favorite kind of movie. It's too grungy, too realistic, too painful to watch. However, it is extremely well-done and thought-provoking because of its similarities to the real struggles in South Africa and other countries. It sticks with people. It's brilliant.

Julie & Julia (2009)

Based on the two true stories of Julia Child, the wife of an American diplomat discovering her calling in Paris, and Julie Powell, an insurance worker with a love of cooking and Julia.


This is the kind of movie that makes you feel good. It's got Meryl Streep and food, two of the best things on this green earth. From the moment the film begins and all you hear is Meryl Streep's Julia Child voice, a smile finds its way unto your face. We watch Julia and her adoring husband fall in love with France and French cuisine, and the Julia Child the world recognizes is born. Meryl Streep is brilliant as Julia. Her physical acting, the voice...the actress once again proves herself to the best professional in Hollywood today. When Amy Adams appears on screen, her unpretentious charm makes you feel right with her in the dirty apartment of Queens as she investigates the tiny kitchen. Her gentle bravery in taking on a project in which she cooks her way through Julia Child's legendary book and blogs is inspiring. I found myself drooling over the collage of food images that Nora (the talented director of classics like "Sleepless in Seattle") flashes on the screen: ducks dripping with butter, chocolate cakes crusted with almonds, raspberry creams, and more.

"Julie & Julia" is the kind of movie that makes you appreciate things more. We went out to dinner after the movie, and I found myself savoring my Japanese Gyoza (pork dumplings/pot stickers) more than I might have otherwise. It makes me believe my little movie blog can be something someday.

G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra (2009)

An elite military unit comprised of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, operating out of The Pit, takes on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer.


This was not "Gone With The Wind." It didn't pretend to be. It was awful, and it embraced it. No one could act, the dialogue could have been written by a 13-year old boy, and even the graphics lacked something. There was one scene I couldn't believe: a plane flies over a desert, and it looked half-finished. Where was the money going? Sienna Miller's skin-tight, bust-enhancing leather suits?

Ok, I may be being too harsh. It was an awesome toy commercial. It fed into fantasies; the women, the machines, everything was over the top and much more scientifically advanced than we actually are now.

Any relationships developed in the movie happened before the actual movie and were revealed in a series of flashbacks, so the movie didn't have to spend any time on them. They were assumptions.

I can't even write more about this movie. It was laughable. It wasn't screened for critics, and STILL got top dollar. Sad.

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

A young couple move into a new apartment, only to be surrounded by peculiar neighbors and occurrences. When the wife becomes mysteriously pregnant, paranoia over the safety of her unborn child begins controlling her life.

This was an amazing movie. It was chilling, subtle, and perfectly paced. From the first two minutes to the climatic ending, my emotions grew from immediate suspicion to full-blown horror. The reason this film is so terrifying is because it relies on a true-to-life atmosphere. There's no demons jumping out of every corner, no gore, and for the most of the movie, we just watch Rosemary in her apartment growing increasingly worried over her pregnancy. It's very relatable, with a few exceptions, of course. The acting is brilliant. Mia Farrow is excellent as Rosemary, a very young, very trusting individual whose state of mind begins to crumble. Her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) always creeped me out for some reason, but he serves his purpose in the movie. Ruth Gordon as the eccentric neighbor stole every scene she was in. She was funny, over-the-top and scary. She totally deserved that Oscar she got that year.

This is a disturbing movie. It is done so well it seems like it could really happen in any of the old apartment buildings anywhere. Appearances are deceiving. To make matters even MORE disturbing, it was only another year till Roman Polanski's wife Sharon Tate and his unborn baby were brutally murdered by Charles Manson's family. Watch the movie with a firm grip on reality and truth. There is dark power in the world, yes, but the power of good is infinitely stronger.