Barbie: Princess and the Popstar: I got to watch this while babysitting the other day. Barbie movies, and sadly I have seen quite a few, are very formulaic and this was no different, magical items, pets that talk to each other, pretty barbie girls and villains. It made me decided that I don't want barbie to be a part of the lives of any children I might have.

The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain: Yes, that is a very long title and yes that is the title. It's set in Wales near the end of WWI, a preface at the beginning said that so many people in Wales have the same last name that they call them things like Morgan (the last name) the goat (the identifying name), I believe the title had something to do with this. Anyway, these two Englishmen have been sent to make a map and survey the local mountain, if it's not 1000 ft or more, it's a hill not a mountain. The mountain is discovered to be a hill and the town decided to make it tall enough to be considered a mountain. A cute movie about rallying a community.

The First Grader: This movie was heartbreaking but also really beautiful in parts. This is not a movie for everyone, there were parts where I was covering my ears and looking away. A man who's name I probably would misspell if I tried, is 84 and living in Kenya when free education for all is announced. The man turns up at the primary school near him to get enrolled. He's turned away because he's too old and because he doesn't have the school supplies. The next day he shows up with school supplies but is told that he needs a school uniform and that he should just go home and enjoy what time he has left. He gets himself a uniform and the headmistress lets him into the school. The movie is about his journey and the repercussions of his being allowed to attend school. There are also flashbacks to his past, his family was killed by the British, he is of the Mau Mau tribe and they rebelled against the British and helped win independence for Kenya. (Flashbacks are often violent because terrible things happened, this movie is based on actual events.) This movie made me appreciate so much about my own life and somewhat guilty that I sat through many class periods bored out of my mind, rather than full taking advantage of them.

The Lady and The Highwayman: This was made late 80s early 90s and seems to be absolutely a product of it's time. It's okay I guess but mostly forgettable. I love Hugh Grant but he didn't make for a wonderful action hero.

The Hunger Games: I hadn't read the books at all but I ended up seeing the movie and it was alright, I felt perhaps like maybe I was missing a fair amount, perhaps not. I'm not a huge fan of dystopian things. The jury's out I suppose.

Notting Hill: I came in for the second half of this years ago at some friends and then it was on tv a while ago and anyway I recently saw it not on tv. I liked parts of it, I didn't like, nor was I expecting the F-bombs there were. I don't really think I'll be coming back to this movie though I am a fan of Hugh Grant.

The Secret World of Arrietty: This is the latest Miyazaki movie and I thought it was great and beautiful. The story is based on The Borrowers. I love the way that Miyazaki movies capture the imagination and take you to fantastic places

Amazing Grace: This movie's been on my to see list for a while, and recently I've been reminded of it a few times to where I finally watched it and it's a wonderful movie, both a well crafted movie and a wonderful story being told of William Wilberforce and the abolition of slavery in England.

About A Boy: I thought I'd posted about this movie already but perhaps it was one of the ones that got accidentally deleted. Anyway it's a movie about life, about growing up, and about needing other people in your life. Hugh Grant plays a man who doesn't have to work, who deems himself to be an island and essentially has not responsibilities in his life... that is until he meets a boy named Marcus. Marcus' life is pretty much the opposite, he and his mother live alone and live a more hippy lifestyle. Marcus is miserable in school where he doesn't fit in and miserable at home where his mother seems to suffer from depression and attempted to take her life. Together Marcus and Will (Grant's character) help each other, to grow up or to be able to be a kid. It's a movie that's quite funny despite the seriousness of some aspects.

Music and Lyrics: I saw this movie in the library and I decided to get it. I'm a fan of Hugh Grant. It was a funny, silly movie. The plot and all that are meh but there is some great dialogue that made me laugh. Warning, the teen idol girl in the movie dresses and dances like a hooker, a major downside to the movie (in my opinion anyway.)

Megamind: I had hopes for this movie but I didn't expect much. I really enjoyed this movie, it's the second Will Farrel movie that I've actually enjoyed (the first being Stranger Than Fiction). This movie was cute and funny, good for kids ( the theater was full of them) and it made me think. I really recommend it.