Movie Critiques & Raves

Catching Up On a Great List of Movies – April 2006 – July 2007

Hello everyone. It’s been along time since I posted a movie review because of my duties to my company, Lancer Media, Inc. I haven’t stopped attending movies, though. My favorite theaters these days are The Galleria in Sherman Oaks (which is soon becoming an Arclight Theater!), the ArcLight Cinema in Hollywood and the Laemmle in Encino. The Laemmle, named after Max and Kurt Laemmle who started the Los Angeles-based chain in 1938, is a haven for independent films, much like the Kendall Square Theater in Cambridge, MA. By the way, the Laemmle’s cousin Carl Laemmle founded Universal Pictures so I guess movies run in the family.

Most people enjoy movies and most people enjoy weighing in on the best movies of all time so I recommend List of Favorite Movies which discusses best DVD movies, best drive-in movies, best movies with soundtracks, best thrillers, best suspense, best comedies, you name it.

Must See – 4 STARS from April 2006 – Dec 2006
Paris, je t’aime Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi

Children of Men Clive Owen

Pan’s Labyrinth Ivana Baquero

Dreamgirls Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose

Friends with Money Catherine Keener, Jason Isaacs, Timm Sharp, Joan Cusack, Frances McDormand

Lady in the Water Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Bob Balaban

The Ant Bully Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti

Enjoyable
Mission Impossible III Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan

The Omen Liev Schreiber, Predrag Bjelac

The Lake House Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Christopher Plummer

Superman Returns Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Parker Posey

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly

Man of the Year Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Jeff Goldblum

Stranger then Fiction Will Ferrel, Queen Latifah

Pursuit of Happyness Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandie Newton

The Break-Up Vince Vaughn, Jennife Aniston

Must See – 4 STARS from Jan 2007
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Enjoyable
Spiderman 3 Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace

Ocean’s Thirteen George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Carl Reiner, Ellen Barkin

Evan Almighty Steve Carrell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham

Knocked Up Seth Rogan, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd

Movie Critique and Rave for APRIL 2006

Must See – 4 STARS
Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, Mary Steenburgen, Sean Astin, Donnie Wahlberg, John Goodman and many other great actors. Directed by Randall Miller. John Goodman is emotive (phenomenal). Robert Carlyle is brilliant and understated. Marisa Tomei puts in another endearing, credulous, solid performance.

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Quit Smoking Now

It seems as though each year, more and more teens and young adults begin to smoke. While many do quit smoking, it is disconcerting to know that the ingredients of a cigarette are intended to prevent smoking cessation. Therefore, just as many begin smoking and fail to quit smoking as there are those that quit smoking successfully. There are many ways to quit smoking from nicotine patches, zero nicotine patches and non-nicotine patches to lozenges and gum, from hypnosis to quit smoking pills and capsules. There are even ebooks advising on the best strategies to quit smoking. Even some states have outlawed smoking in public venues such as restaurants. Some states are even considering the adoption of legislation that prevents smoking in any public locale – indoor or outdoor. Teach your kids that smoking is not only dangerous but that it is also addictive and that it cannot be turned on and off, like an iPod. Very few smokers are able to quit smoking cold turkey. Teens are known to question. So, give your teens an education in the ingredients of a cigarette. Show them what lungs look like after years and years of smoking. Talk to your kids friends about it. Create your own peer pressure. It will make a difference.

These are some great quit smoking references to help support you:

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