Watching It Now on Netflix

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is a 2010 Fantasy Action movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ben Kingsley. Plot:  Gyllenhaal plays Dastan, an adopted Prince who is known more for his impetuous, fight-first nature than for being a thoughtful, intelligent son of the King.  His father's army is tricked into invading a holy city whose secret, crown jewel is an item of unimaginable power.  The one who possesses this item has the ability to control time, and soon a power struggle ensues as Dastan is caught in the center of a plot designed to bring down his father's kingdom and perhaps destroy the world. My Take: I resisted seeing this in the theaters once the poor box office numbers started to emerge.  As a fan of Gyllenhaal's, I relented to finally watching it one night at home on Netflix.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun the movie was, with a good plot and lots of action.  Gyllenhaal was his typical charming self, and the movie had eno...

Top Secret Rosies is a 2010 historical documentary. Plot: Before the advent of computers, men were responsible for the tedious and time-consuming calculations that were needed for big mathematical practical problems.  When the United States entered the war, these men left their math jobs and picked up arms to go fight overseas for their country, leaving these incredibly important jobs unfilled.  That is, until the armed forces started recruiting their female mathematical genius counterparts.  Whether it was calculating ballistics information, or programming the first military computers to help efficiency, these women became an essential component of the war effort. My Take:  I knew women played an important role in production assembly in various military factories, as I consider myself a military history buff.  However, I had no idea that there were highly intelligent women in such highly specialized jobs in the military effort.  ...

Fat Head is a 2009 Documentary. Plot: Created as a direct response to the documentary, Super Size Me, the subject in this documentary sets out to show you that you CAN lose weight on a diet of fast food alone.  Interviews with nutritionists and doctors seek to explain the true nature of why Americans are so fat, and the results will probably surprise you. My Take: This documentary was a total revelation to me.  It basically refutes the idea of a low-fat diet as being healthy and instead presents evidence to show how and why low-carb diets work.  The "special effects" are cheesy, and the whole documentary looks like an early 80's educational cartoon, but the message gets through.  Fun and educational for anyone, but if you're looking to get healthier and lose weight, this documentary might give you clues as to how to do it successfully. I have tried to follow the diet principles presented here, and I am happy to say that they have totally worked.

The Wonder Of It All is a 2007 Space Documentary. Plot: This documentary uses interviews with astronauts of the Apollo Space Program to detail the missions to the moon in the late 1960's and early 1970's.  Detailing the challenges and discoveries of each of these missions, using archived NASA footage, a comprehensive view of the moon missions is laid out for the viewer, as well as a case for going back. My Take: I've seen a lot of documentaries about the space program, but there was a lot of new details brought to life in this documentary.  The interviews are well done, and the astronauts interviewed share a sense of joy and wonder at what they were able to see and accomplish.  If you're a space nut, you should watch this.

Robert E. Lee is a 2011 American Experience documentary. Plot: Details the life of Confederate General/Hero, Robert E. Lee.  From his early beginnings in Virginia, West Point (where he graduated 2nd in his class), his exploits in the army as an engineer, his difficult courtship of his wife, and his failures as a young commanding officer, Robert E. Lee endured much hardship in his life.  None more than when he became Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War. My Take: A very thorough account of Lee's life.  Just an overall excellent documentary with some surprises within.  A must-see for any military history buff.  Very well done.

Sweet Land is a 2005 Independent Drama starring Elizabeth Reaser. Plot: It's just after WWI and still at a time when arranged or bought marriages brought women over from Europe to marry American men.  Olaf is a hard-working, quiet farmer who arranges to bring over outgoing, music-loving, Inge from Europe.  When she arrives, he realizes that she is German, which doesn't go over well with the local Anti-German townsfolk   She also can't speak English at all.  Faced with intense prejudice, they nonetheless begin to build a relationship that lasts for a lifetime. My Take: Another gem from Netflix!  I absolutely loved this quiet, understated film.  Depicting what life was like back in the early 1900's when there was little technology and knowledge of the outside world in small towns, this film is a love story set against the backdrop of prejudice.  The acting is wonderful, and the chemistry between the main characters plausible and endearing...

Hubble's Amazing Rescue is a 2009 PBS Nova space documentary. Plot: This documentary details the space mission that repaired the Hubble Telescope in 1993.  Several space walks from the Space Shuttle were needed in order to perform different repair/replace tasks on the telescope to get it operational again so that it could be used for research. My Take: Great documentary for anyone who enjoys the space program.  This particular mission was fraught with so many complications and possible disasters.  The $2 billion dollar Hubble Telescope had been malfunctioning to the point where it could not adequately capture the research needed by the scientists on the ground.  With this documentary, you get to see the training and hear from the astronauts themselves who were on that pressure-filled mission.

What If is a 2010 romantic family movie starring Kevin Sorbo and Kristy Swanson. Plot:  Ben is a highly successful businessman who is visited by a mysterious tow truck driver when his car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.  This "angelic" tow truck driver offers to show Ben what his life had been had he not left his long-term girlfriend and church to take that business internship years ago.  In a situation similar to "It's A Wonderful Life," Ben gets to see how life would have turned out...marriage, kids, pastor of his own church.  What does he really want out of life? My Take: I don't normally watch spiritual films, but this one doesn't push religion at you as much.  Definitely a "What If" movie...the road not taken. It's a sweet film that looks at the things that are most meaningful in life.  It was nice to see Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie) again, and Sorbo does a nice job in this film. A movie you could watch wit...

Toy Story 3 is a 2010 animated Pixar film starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Plot: In the third and final installment in the Toy Story series, Andy is packing up his childhood room and getting ready to go to college.  What will happen to all his toys, who are so devoted to him? A series of events occurs and suddenly the gang are thrust into a brand new world: daycare.  Woody the cowboy (Hanks) and Buzz the astronaut (Allen) lead the group of ragtag toys in trying to figure out a way to get back to Andy before he leaves for school. My take: It's really hard to believe that an animated story could have better writing, acting, and visual effects than 99.9% of the non-animated films out there, but it's true. Pixar does it again with a rare sequel that is even better than the original.  Kids and parents alike will love this movie. If you're not the kind that likes animated movies, this is the one on which you should take a chance and watch.  Emotional, funny, and he...

When in Rome is a 2010 romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. Plot: In Italy for her sister's wedding, Beth (Bell) impulsively takes some wishing coins out of a fountain.  Unbeknownst to her, this act causes a curse is placed upon her and she begins to be hounded by a variety of romantic admirers.  At the same time, she meets a handsome, charming reporter (Duhamel) who seems to be falling for her.  Is it real, or is it the curse? My Take: This is a typical chick flick movie, with a predictable plot and ending.  However, both Bell and Duhamel have the kind of charisma that just jumps off the screen and together they make the film worth watching.  I especially miss the days when Duhamel would do romantic comedies.  Watch out for Danny Devito who does a great job in this film!!! Get When In Rome here !!

What's The Next Big Thing is a 2011 PBS Nova documentary. Plot: Taking the viewer on a tour of technological advances that could change our lives dramatically over the next few decades and beyond, Nova introduces us to scientists working on projects such as social robots, designer microbes, and mini-robot cars. My Take: Another excellent science documentary from Nova.  My favorite part of the episode was the section on the social robots, which would basically live in our homes with us and keep us company.  Capable of being quite life-like, these robots can carry on realistic conversations or even perform basic household chores.  The rest of the documentary is just as mind-boggling.  Any techie or geek would like this show, but I think most folks would also enjoy the social robot section.

Illusion is a 2004 independent romantic drama starring Kirk Douglas (post-stroke and currently his last dramatic role) and Michael Goorjian (who also wrote and directed the film). Plot: In one fantastical night, dying filmmaker Donald (Douglas) is shown a series of films about his son, Christopher's (Goorjian) life.  A son that he has always refused to acknowledge.  Shown how this abandonment has affected Christopher, Donald sees a man whose lack of self-confidence gets him into a lot of serious trouble and keeps him away from the love of his life.  Will Donald be able to help his son or will it be too late...for the both of them? My Take: Kirk Douglas, after his stroke, is still showing why he is one of the best actors of the past century.  This is a very angst-filled film, with a touch of fantasy intermingled. The parent-child dynamic in the film was well-done.  Can a father, who has been completely immersed in his career his whole life, learn to love th...

Stone of Destiny is a Scottish independent comedy/drama starring Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, and Billy Boyd. Plot : The Stone of Destiny has sat under the throne of the King/Queen of England for centuries and is an important historical artifact to the English.  However, the Stone technically belongs to the Scots and they want it back.  Based on true events in 1950, a group of young Scots attempt to do the impossible: break into Westminster Abbey and return the Stone to its rightful place in Scotland. My Take: I liked this one a lot more than I thought I was going to.  Very funny, smartly written story with a large degree of tension: will they actually pull this off? A bit of a crime thriller...somewhat in the mode of a old-school Ocean's 11.  The Scottish accents and the landscape really add to the film.  This is actually a true story and it really did happen.  Once you've watched the movie, check out the historical facts.

On A Clear Day is a 2005 independent drama starring Peter Mullan and Billy Boyd. Plot : Frank (Mullan) is having a bit of a mid-life crisis.  He loses his long-held supervising job at the docks, and has a hard time finding work afterwards.  Frustrated and feeling helpless, he turns to swimming as an outlet.  Soon he comes up with an idea to put the challenge and spark back into his life and marriage: he's going to swim the English Channel.  With the help of a motley group of friends from his old job, can he do it? My Take: This was a real gem of a movie.  Took me totally by surprise.  One of those finding yourself while doing an amazing challenge sort of movie. There's more than just the above plot going on...this movie is definitely a drama about confronting past mistakes and learning how to move on and live.  I totally and thoroughly recommend this movie.

The Right Stuff is a 1983 drama starring Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn, and Ed Harris. Plot: Based on the book of the same title, this movie chronicles the early beginnings of the space program.  From  breaking the sound barrier to the Mercury program, this movie chronicles the people and technology that took America to the head of the space race. My Take: I saw this movie originally as a kid, and only recently watched it for the second time.  A nice semi-biographical account of the lives of the original Mercury 7 astronauts and test pilot, Chuck Yeager, the movie is just as much about the personal challenges of each of the historical figures as it is about history itself.  I think it would be an excellent introduction to the space program's history for anyone seeking to learn more about that time.  The excellent cast makes the movie enjoyable for anyone to watch.

Serenity is a 2005 sci-fi movie based on the Firefly television series that ran in 2002.  It is a Joss Whedon project and stars Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and Adam Baldwin. Plot:  A bit of time has passed since the events in the Firefly episodes, and the crew of the Serenity have their toughest mission yet.  Harboring fugitives from the over-reaching government called the Alliance, the Serenity crew discover a dangerous secret that could bring it down.  Pursued by the government and a group of flesh-eating savages, the Serenity crew have to rely on each other to survive. My Take: Just as funny and smart as its predecessor, Serenity is a delight in every way.  More action, bigger storyline, and even more character development, fans of the tv show were not disappointed. It's rare when a tv show gets a feature-length movie released in theaters, and even more rare when it's based on a series that lasted less than one full season.  You don't have to ...

Firefly is a sci-fi television show produced by Joss Whedon that aired in 2002 for one season.  It starred Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and Adam Baldwin. Plot:  Set 500 years in the future, this show follows the ship, Serenity, and its misfit crew as they go from one dangerous job to the next. Constantly hunted by the Alliance (an over-reaching government) as criminals, this crew has to figure out how to survive this and each other. My Take: Yet another Joss Whedon project that got cancelled far too soon.  14 episodes and one feature length movie (Serenity, to be reviewed elsewhere) are all we have of this delightful, surprising television show. Equal parts western/Star Wars/comedy/sci-fi show, the characters are extremely well-developed and well-written.  The dialogue is crisp and frequently hysterical.  Viewers were so distraught following the premature cancelling of the show that they successfully petitioned to have the show be made into a feat...

Doctor Diaries is a 2009 PBS documentary. Plot:  2009 is the final chapter of this long-running documentary from PBS about the lives and careers of a group of doctors who began their medical education at Harvard Medical School in 1987.  Over the years there were a few more documentaries that chronicled their lives while in medical school, and then their lives once they decided on a specialty and began their careers.  This 2009 documentary ties everything together as one film. My take:  I've been following this project since its beginning in the late 80's, so I'm definitely biased as to its quality. This installment encompasses every prior installment so that a new viewer doesn't feel like they need to see anything else.  The doctors are now all in their 40's and 50's and every single story is drastically different from the rest.  Some doctors are doing well in their chosen fields, some have quit medicine altogether, several have had drastic personal ...

Eureka is a current sci-fi, comedy television series (2006-current) starring Colin Ferguson. Plot:  Ferguson plays Sheriff Carter, a former US Marshal, assigned to the town of Eureka.  The town is filled with genius scientists who work at the top-secret, highly dangerous research facility located there.  It seems like every day brings a new "end of the world" scenario to town, and Ferguson has to figure out how to save Eureka, and the world, with the help of his new genius friends. My Take: One of the smartest, funniest, and best written shows I've seen on tv in quite a while.  At least in the "Sci-Fi" genre.  The characters are well-developed and each lends their own distinct voice to the show.  This is my current obsession.  Eureka currently airs on the Sy-Fy channel in the summers, but I only recently became acquainted with the show when it appeared on Netfllix.  There are currently 43 episodes that cover the first 3 seasons of ...

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a 2008 independent musical comedy starring Neil Patrick Harris, Felicia Day, and Nathan Fillion.  This is a Joss Whedon project. Plot: Harris is Dr. Horrible, a wannabe evil "super-villain", who is juggling two lives: trying to earn membership in the Evil League of Evil by doing dastardly deeds, and also trying to get the love of his life to even notice him.  Fillion plays Captain Hammer, Dr. Evil's nemesis. My Take: Conceived and produced during the writer's strike of 2008 and originally shown in pieces on the internet, Dr. Horrible shows once again how truly artful and imaginative and AWESOME that Whedon is.  Not only is it funny and sweet, but the music and the singing are so amazing that I actually bought the soundtrack.  This is a really fun, short film to watch, and I would encourage anyone who likes good things to watch this.

The Guild is a 2007-current comedy internet series starring Felicia Day. Plot: A group of online gamers are joined in their own "Guild" by their obsession with an online game similar to World of Warcraft.  Their lives, however, quickly become even more complicated when they begin to interact outside of the game, which throw most of them into a world that they desperately try and avoid: real life.  Each "episode" on Netflix is a collection of that season's webisodes.  Season 5 has been filmed and should be coming out later in 2011. My Take: Original, inventive, smart, and funny.  Anyone who has spent any time in an online community will understand this show.  The characters are each distinctly different, but meld with each other in unpredictable ways.  The episodes flow very nicely, and the stories are very well-written.  This is one of my current favorite series to watch, and I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Season 5.

Easy A is a 2010 romantic comedy starring Emma Stone and Amanda Bynes. Plot: The story follows Olive, a high school student, who begins to enjoy a rather promiscuous reputation and the popularity that follows.  However, reputation is far from reality and Olive has to eventually figure out if she wants her reputation or be her own person. My Take : Ever see/read the Scarlet Letter? This is a modern-day adaptation, and it's done really well.  Stone is outstanding as a smart, sarcastic, jaded high school student.  One particular scene of her singing along with a greeting card is still in my head weeks after I watched the movie.  Funny and smart, this is one of the better high school movies to come along in a while.

Timer is a 2009 independent romantic fantasy comedy starring Emma Caufield. Plot:  What if you could know the moment when you would meet your soul-mate?  In this movie, people have taken to having "Timers" implanted on their arms.  If your soul-mate also has a timer, both of your timers will count down to the exact second that you lay eyes on each other. My Take: Charming, delightful, and thought-provoking describe this movie to me.  The idea that you could get an implant that would tell you not only when you meet your soul-mate, but at that moment tell you exactly who it was, is an idea that I kinda wished was real.  This movie explores the idea of romantic love and its uncertainty.  What do you do when your timer doesn't have a countdown? What do you do if your countdown doesn't end for 20 years? What do you do if you're 16, and your countdown ends in less than a day?  All these possibilities are explored in a funn...

The Pixar Story is a 2007 documentary. Plot:  This documentary is exactly what it sounds like.  Detailing the state of animation that led to the founding of Pixar, we get to see the original founding members in interviews and video of the early days of the animation company working to produce some of the most successful animated movies ever.  Working in the field of 3D animation, Pixar was ground-breaking at a time when many thought good animated films were a thing of the past. My Take: This is a story of good, old-fashioned American entrepreneurial spirit. Rebels in a dying artistic medium, Pixar's owners and illustrators showed that smart, caring geeks can not only produce great animated movies, but they can create great MOVIES.  Getting to see the inside story on how they were able to thrive in an era of down-sizing, you come to really appreciate the genius of the people responsible for Pixar's success. The documentary covers the Pixar movies To...

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a 2005 American animated tv series originally shown on Nickelodeon. Plot:  In this fantasy world, there are four tribal nations: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth.  Each nation's people are capable of controlling that particular element.  Having lived in peace for generations, the Fire Nation begins a war of total domination of the other nations.  There is one man who can stop this war and bring the world back into peace.  That man is the Avatar, the one person in the world capable of controlling all of the elements. However, that man is actually a young boy who just wants to have fun.  Destiny cannot be avoided, however, and he begins a journey to learn the skills needed to defeat the Fire Nation once and for all. My Take:  This is one of my all-time favorite shows I have watched on Netflix.  It appears to be a show for kids, but clearly it is for anyone.  It is smart, with characters that are developed over the...

The Pluto Files is a 2010 documentary produced by PBS as part of their Nova series. Plot: This documentary explores the history of Pluto, both its discovery and the recent scientific turn of events that led to its status of a planet being removed. My take: I love the Nova series.  Presented in a whimsical but informative way, this particular documentary does a good job of presenting the reasons for why Pluto was named a planet in the first place and how modern science has determined it isn't.  Great watch for anyone interested in astronomy.

Surrogates is a 2009 futuristic Sci-Fi thriller starring Bruce Willis. Plot:  Set in the not-so-distant future, humans have turned over the day-to-day living of their lives to robotic doubles called Surrogates while they hibernate at home controlling the Surrogates through a neural link.  When a series of surrogate murders threatens this way of living, a police detective (Willis) is forced to venture out in the world as himself to investigate. My Take: I can watch anything as long as Bruce Willis is in it.  This movie, however, is actually a pretty decent sci-fi thriller.  Plenty of action and a good story go a long way.  I found the premise to be very interesting, and the issues explored kept me thinking about this movie for quite a while after I watched it.  What is living? Is it living out a variety of fantasies using a robotic double who is more attractive than you? Or is it simply being with the ones you love, in a body that may be unattract...

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a 2010 Fantasy/Sci-Fi movie starring Nicholas Cage and Jay Baruchel. Plot:  Cage stars as Balthazar, a master sorcerer who has searched for hundreds of years for the next apprentice.  Living in New York, he comes to realize that college physics student, Dave (Baruchel), is that apprentice.  He then begins to train him in the ways of magic in order to prepare him for what is to come: a showdown with one of history's most evil sorcerers. My Take:  This is a movie that I would never had seen in the theater simply because it didn't look like a movie I would enjoy.  However, watching it in my own living room, on a whim one night, proved it to be an entertaining and fun movie.  Baruchel is perfectly typecast as the lovable loser who tries to avoid his fate as a powerful sorcerer destined to save the world.  Nicholas Cage does a nice turn as his mentor in what is a fairly predictable story.  Predictable can be a lot of ...

I'm Reed Fish is a 2009 independent romantic comedy starring Jay Baruchel, Katey Sagel, and Alexis Bledel. Plot:  Baruchel plays Reed Fish, a small town radio host who has the world in his hands.  He co-hosts his own regular show with the mayor and is engaged to his childhood sweetheart.  However, when his secret high school crush returns to town, a crazy love triangle is formed. My Take: This movie threw me for such a loop.  There is a bit of a reveal at the end that will make you have to watch the movie at least once more.  Overall, Baruchel is quite charming in this role.  It's almost a bit of small-town Ferris Bueller in a way.  Ferris with relationship issues.  Anyway, if you want a bit of a mind-twister, watch this movie.  It's good, it'll just make you think.

Shades of Ray is a 2008 independent romantic comedy starring Zachary Levi (from the tv series Chuck). Plot:  Levi plays Ray, a half-Pakistani, half-white man feeling pressure from his parents to settle down and get married.  That is also precisely Ray's plan, and he proposes to his (white) girlfriend.  As he waits for her to give him an answer, he meets and rapidly begins to fall for a Pakistani/white woman who has fully embraced her mixed-race heritage in a way he never has.  This begins to challenge his identity and he struggles to figure out who he is and what he wants.  In a subplot, while Ray is trying to sort things out, his parents arrive to complicate matters. My Take: I watched this movie purely for Zachary Levi.  I was pleased with his performance, as I think he is an excellent comedic actor.  However, the movie as a whole grabbed me.  Can you escape from who you really are? Do you do what society tells you should do, or do you bec...

Civilian Conservation Corps is a 2009 American Experience Documentary. Plot: During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps as a way of putting to work thousands of young men across the country. This documentary celebrates the 75th anniversary of the creation of the corps and details its efforts in road-building, planting trees, and working across the country in forests and parks. My Take: As a history buff, I'm embarrassed to say that I had never heard of the CCC.  However, you can see the success of their efforts all across the country in the healthy forests and in the state parks.  Virtually every state had a division of the CCC, giving thousands of young men a job to do, a roof over their heads, and three meals a day.  Considering this was during the Depression, this was a lifeline for many men.  They were paid a dollar a day, and required to send the majority of their money back home to their families. ...

Forever Strong is a 2008 Sports Drama starring Gary Cole and Sean Faris. Plot: Faris plays Rick, a troubled young man playing for his father's rugby team, who gets into quite a bit of trouble with the law.  Sentenced to a Boys Reform school, he meets a rival rugby coach (Cole) who takes him under his wing and helps him to become a better person.  Once released from the reformatory, Rick joins his father's rugby team again and is faced with a critical moral decision when both his father and teammates want him to divulge secrets he learned from the rival coach. My Take:  This story is actually based on a real life rugby coach's efforts to use rugby to reform troubled young men.  I found this movie to be very inspiring and uplifting.  Excellent acting, and a realistic plot go a long way.  It also does a great job of showing the brotherhood of rugby and what it means to its athletes.  As a rugby fan, I was very pleased with how the sport was portray...

Peaceful Warrior is a 2006 independent drama based on the book of the same name.  It stars Nick Nolte and Scott Mechlowicz. Plot:  A cocky, brash young man at the height of his gymnastic career in college has his life fall apart when an injury seems to end his Olympic aspirations.  However, just when things are darkest, a teacher comes into his life that helps him to recover physically and spiritually. My Take: I'm always happy to review sports movies! This movie explores spiritual enlightenment (not the religious kind) and its effect on the athlete.  It's a little weird at times, and doesn't flow as well as I thought it should.  Ultimately the movie does come together nicely and it's well worth a watch on a weekend afternoon.

Paper Clips is a 2004 documentary. Plot: A small middle school class in rural Tennessee begins a year-long project investigating and detailing the Holocaust during World War II.  However, the project quickly takes root in the school and the community and becomes a life-changing lesson as they begin to interact with holocaust survivors and hear their tales.  Deeply moved, the students decide to create a memorial to represent the 6 million Holocaust survivors.  They do so using paper clips. My Take: In a southern society where these kids are still exposed to racism from their elders on a daily basis, it was incredibly heart-warming to see them (and their teachers) come to grips with what that kind of hatred and fear can do to an entire race of people. The Holocaust project lives today in that same middle school class: each year a new group of students come in and continue the project.  I highly recommend the documentary for educators and, really, everyone.

By Dawn's Early Light is a 2000 TV family drama starring Richard Crenna and David Carradine. Plot: Richard Crenna is a crusty old cowboy living in Colorado who has to deal with the arrival of his troublesome, moody grandson, sent to live with him for the summer.  It doesn't take long for the boy to wear out his welcome.  The grandfather agrees to send the boy home, but on one condition: they will travel via horseback back to the boy's home in California.  Will the greenhorn survive the trip, or will he learn the life lessons his grandfather is trying to teach him? My Take: This is a really good film for kids, but I still found it to be very entertaining.  Little bit of a twist at the end.  You don't see a modern-day cowboy story any more.  Really nice coming of age story.

Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip is a 2003 historical documentary by Ken Burns. Plot: A 20th century version of pioneering American spirit, this documentary Chronicles the cross-country automobile trip of Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson.  It took him 63 days to drive from San Francisco to New York City.  The documentary chronicles the state of America's roads at that time, and how everything changed as a result of this remarkable accomplishment. My Take: I love these kinds of journey stories.  I would recommend watching the Lewis and Clark documentary first, and then compare it to Dr. Jackson's journey.  They are 100 years apart but the change in the country is so dramatic.  It was fascinating how, as Dr. Jackson drove across the western half of the country, so many people came out to see him because they had never seen a car.  Stagecoaches would bring him much needed parts for replacement and repair. Another fantastic Ken Burns docum...

Dear Zachary is a 2008 award-winning documentary. Plot: Written and filmed originally as a tribute to a friend, this documentary is a bit of nostalgic piece and a bit of crime drama.  A man is murdered and the suspected killer is not only that man's ex-girlfriend, but also pregnant with his child.  It sounds like an open and shut case, but what happens when the court system fails and allows the suspected killer to raise the baby? My Take: I can't say much more than this without ruining the documentary for you.  I will warn you: this is extremely difficult to watch.  It is heart-wrenching.  This would have been a very worthy tribute to the slain man, but then it morphs into a chronicle of his family's struggle to take his son away from the woman who may have killed him.  Even despite the difficult subject matter, this is a must see.

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend is a 2010 romantic comedy starring Alyssa Milano and Christopher Gorman. Plot: Jesse (Milano) meets struggling writer, Ethan (Gorman) and starts to date him. At the same time, she also meets advertising executive, Troy, and starts to date him.  Both men seem perfect for her in different ways. Is it possible to fall in love with two men at the same time? Who will she choose? And what secret has she been hiding from both? My Take:  Okay, the premise sounds stupid and sophomoric, I know.  Trust me, it's not.  There's a bit of twist at the end that makes all the difference...and I ended up watching this movie three times in one weekend.  It's a very sweet romance, and Milano is quite likable.  So when she's seemingly stringing along two guys at the same time, it's hard to dislike her. I like romantic comedies, have watched a ton, and think that this film is a great Saturday afternoon flick.

One Week is a 2008 Independent Drama starring Joshua Jackson. Plot: Jackson plays Ben, a young man who lives a rather quiet, simple life with his fiance', Samantha.  When he receives the unexpected news that he has terminal cancer and a short time to live, his entire idea of what is living is questioned.  He sets out across Canada on a motorcycle to sort out his thoughts, leaving Samantha at home.  As Ben journeys across the country, he begins to realize what he's missed out on in life, and even in love. My Take:  I'm not a Joshua Jackson fan, so he has to work a little harder than most guys to make me appreciate his acting.  He did impress me this time. The film examines the timeless idea of what would you do if you knew you had weeks to live? What happens when you realize that the life you thought you loved isn't the life you want to live? If you liked the movie, Into the Wild , I think you'd also like this.

The Way We Get By is a 2009 documentary. Plot :  This documentary chronicles the lives and efforts of a group of senior citizens who are part of the volunteer group that greet American soldiers returning from Iraq.  The story follows the heart-breaking tales of not only the volunteers but of the men who return home, sometimes without their friends. My Take: This documentary made me want to retire and move to Bangor, Maine, where these amazing senior citizens live.  Since the first plane of American soldiers starting coming back home, these people have been there to stand in line and shake a hand, give them a free phone to call home, or simply listen to their stories.  3 a.m. or 3 p.m., these people are there.  There are some definite heartbreaking moments as these senior citizens' lives are examined, showing their own current heartbreaks, which makes their sacrifices to these soldiers even more impressive. Simply put, this documentary makes me proud to b...

Saint Ralph is a 2004 independent drama starring Adam Butcher and Campbell Scott. Plot: Ralph is an unusually self-sufficient young man dealing with both the rigidity of life in a Catholic school in 1954, as well as his mother's illness.  When his mother falls into a coma, Ralph makes a deal with God: if Ralph can win the Boston Marathon, God will wake up his mom.  Can he really do it? My take: If EVER there was a film more inappropriately described on Netflix, Saint Ralph is it.  It continually came up on my recommendations for months before I finally broke down and watched it.  First of all, it's a comedy.  Secondly, it sounds like a totally crazy idea...winning the Boston Marathon.  The way the movie builds it up, it's not. This movie was a total surprise to me, and well worth a high recommendation.  I just wish Netflix would rewrite the description of the movie to more accurately reflect its spirit and content.

Bella is a 2009 independent drama starring Eduardo Verastegui and Tammy Blanchard. Plot:  Verastegui plays a former soccer star turned cook, Jose, who helps Nina, a pregnant waitress who is going through a very difficult time.  In the course of one day spent together, both of their lives are changed forever. My take : Trust me, if I write any more plot, I will be giving too much away.  The acting in this movie was outstanding, and the ending was not what I expected.  Don't think you'll know what's going to happen..I found this a wonderful story of redemption and forgiveness (of oneself).  Very, very good for the heart.

Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery is a 1997 history documentary about the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804-1806. Plot : The documentary itself uses letters and stories written by and for the explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to describe their journey of discovery through the unknown American wilderness. Sent by President Jefferson to map the territory and assess the Native American tribes, Lewis and Clark's trip was filled both with danger and immense discoveries. My take: This is a fascinating look at a time in American History that everyone knows far too little about. Americans had no idea of the bounty of North America at this time. What they knew extended mostly to the Appalachians. Settlers had just begun to move west into Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. I was fascinated by the way they used rivers to move west (although it makes perfect sense as being the easiest way to travel), but what really intrigued me was the descrip...

School of Life is a 2005 made-for-tv movie (comedy) starring David Paymer and Ryan Reynolds. Plot: Paymer stars as stick-in-the-mud science teacher, Matt, who is trying to live up to the legacy left to him by his father. Matt's father, who taught at the same school Matt now does, was an inspirational teacher who won the Teacher of the Year award EVERY year. At the beginning of the school year, Matt tries to position himself to win the award, but is foiled by the arrival of a brand new history teacher, Michael (played by Reynolds). Michael's engaging style (so similar to Matt's father) is such a hit with students that Matt feels the only option for his success is to find a way to smear Michael. What Matt is able to uncover about Michael is life-changing for them both, as Matt has to come to terms with who he is so he can change. My take: Paymer does an excellent job with his character, making him both unlikeable and endearing at the same time. Reynolds' perform...

Chaos Theory is a 2007 romantic comedy starring Ryan Reynolds. Plot: Reynolds plays Frank, a ultra-organized control freak, who lives his life by a strict regimen. Everything he does is timed to the second. Then one day, unbeknownst to Frank, his wife decides to set the home clock back 10 minutes. This well-intentioned act suddenly throws Frank's life into chaos, as events unfold in entirely different ways than usual. Frank suddenly loses grasp of what he knows and trusts, including his relationship with his wife. My take: Just about any movie with Ryan Reynolds is going be good simply because he is so watchable. This movie was surprisingly touching as it deals with some serious issues of life and love.

Dollhouse is a television series created by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Firefly)that aired from 2008-2009. Starring Elisha Dushku, this sci-fi/adventure show was cancelled before it could find its proper audience (in my opinion.) Plot: Dushku plays Echo, one of many "Dolls" that are programmed for whatever scenario their handlers desire. Hired out by anyone with a lot of money, a doll can be made into whatever that person wants. A surrogate mother, hooker, counselor, assassin, spouse...anything is possible. Their minds are erased at the end of each mission by those assigned to protect them. Consequently, they don't remember anything of previous missions or of their own lives. Echo is regarded as the best doll in the Dollhouse until she begins to inexplicably experience flashes of memory and visions of her previous life. This begins to create a big problem for her handlers assigned to protect her from others and herself. My Take: This series was a s...

The Open Road is a 2009 independent comedy/drama starring Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges. This is a typical father/son angsty drama with a few comedic turns tossed in. Bridges plays the father, Kyle, who is estranged from his family after a long, successful baseball career. Timberlake is Kyle's son, Carlton, also a baseball player, but who is struggling with his career and his future. Plot: In the story, Carlton's mom is facing a serious surgery and asks her son to bring her husband, Kyle, to her side for support. Kyle had left the family years before, but Carlton is able to track him down. Thus starts a battle of wills as Carlton's desire to fulfill his mom's wishes battles against Kyle's desire to avoid real interaction with his family at all costs. In a subplot, Carlton is struggling with his own future, both on the field and off. My Take: If you like Timberlake, you'll like this movie. Timberlake does an excellent job with this role, and ...

In a Day is an independent romantic drama released in 2006. Plot: Starring Lorraine Pilkington and Finlay Robertson, this story is about a young woman who has a rather remarkable day. It starts off quite horrible, but soon takes a dramatic turn after she meets a handsome stranger. This stranger offers to give her a wonderful day, no strings attached. At first she is skeptical and suspicious of his intentions, but soon gives herself over to it and finds herself having the best day of her life. Of course, things are not what they appear and there is a nice twist to the movie at the end. My take: I was caught completely by surprise with this movie. I wasn't expecting much, but I found a thoughtful, sweet story with great characters. It's definitely a hidden gem.

I stopped counting what I watched after 300 different listings. That includes complete tv series and multi-part documentaries. I plan on adding a section to the blog about my all-time favorite things to watch.

I've been a Netflix consumer for the past two years. My major reason for joining Netflix was to save money. That's right, save money. I had been spending, on average, over $50/month on movie rentals and the purchase of movies and tv shows on DVD. Once I switched to Netflix, that number dropped dramatically. It also widened my scope of what I watched. It's not just mainstream blockbusters anymore. I can watch films from all across the world. Small and large. Movies that were unheralded and (unjustly) performed poorly at the box office. Not just films, either. I watch far more tv on Netflix than I watch on my regular cable provider. Many of my favorite shows/films that I watch have been word of mouth suggestions. That's why I decided to start this blog. I'm always on the lookout for good movies/tv to watch, and I plan on sharing my favorites on here as well.