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Humble OpinionsNot to miss - things to do BooksThe best Science Fiction & Fantasy Series:
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MoviesV for Vendetta *** 1/2 "The people should not be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of the people." This is the philosophy of V, originally a comic book character, now brought to the big screen. With much more substance than your typical comic turned movie, V fights against a fascist regime that has taken over the U.K., oppressing the people in the name of "national security." You can't miss the parallels to today's headlines, from "spinning" the truth, to stoking the public's fear of avian flu to the penchant for torture. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ** Since I love the original movie, I was nervous about the remake, but felt compelled to see it. While amusing in spots, I really didn't care for the additional info on Willy Wonka's life--he's supposed to be this great magical figure, not an ordinary person with a troubled past. The expensive sets didn't impress me either. Depp does a good job as Wonka, but can't do enough to make this a must see. BooksHarry Potter #6 *** Eagerly anticipated around the world, book 6 magically arrived on our doorstep the day it was released (we had ordered it in advance from Amazon.com). While it's a good book and required reading for all Potter fans, it's mainly a huge setup for the final book in the series #7. I'm not going to spoil the plot for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but I'll just say that fans should keep in mind that appearances can be deceiving. A great older movie you may not have seen: Earth Girls are Easy * * * * Silly "spacemen come to earth" story stars Geena Davis, a ditzy nail technician in "the valley", Jeff Goldblum as her to-be space hunk, an early look at Jim Carrey as one of the goofy spaceboy sidekicks, and Julie Brown, who wrote and sings one funny song after another, including the very politically incorrect BLOND song. |
PlaysWicked - The Best ****It's no surprise that this is the hot ticket of the season, Wicked has it all--a great story and powerful musical numbers to pull it along. It's the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz, from her birth past the end of the classic movie. If you have a chance, go get Wicked. Mama Mia - All ABBA, all fun *** 1/2A story stitched together with songs from the 70's rock band ABBA. You don't have a be a big fan to enjoy the play, but you do have to leave your skepticism at the door and just go with it. Anyone afraid of silver spandex suits paired with 4" platform boots should stay away. The Lion King **You probably already know the story and it's not a particularly interesting one. Disney's fixation with parental death is tiresome. The way the animals are presented on stage is striking and the music is good, but that's not enough to sustain a whole play. The Blue Man Group ***Enjoyable for everyone, the Group is an eclectic collection of music, lights, sight gags, and general silliness. It is somewhat loud, so if you sit towards the front and are sensitive, you might want to take some earplugs with you. A Streetcar Named Desire *Not familiar with the story, we thought this might be a romantic play for our anniversary. It was a real bummer to find out that it's about a woman with a cheating, alcoholic husband and a sister with mental problems. Unless depression is your thing, stay away. |
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