madshell

This obscure, overlooked art-house film is a near masterpiece, full of strong acting, brilliant directing, and mythical continuity. Similar in theme to "Babette's Feast" and "Chocolat," it illustrates how the religious zealot is sometimes blinded to the true light of divinity in their search for a perfect, godly world. Tchéky Karyo gives a blazing performance as Etienne De Bourbon, full of passion and spite. Yet, it is the ensemble cast, along with beautiful scenery that makes this film so powerful. The story somewhat falls a bit too feminine, where there are only heroines, no heroes, other than the well meaning Vicar, who is more sympathetic to Elda's cause. Queue this one on Netflix!

Being neither a fan of Charlie Kaufman's work nor Jim Carrey's previous comic pratfalls, I met "Eternal Sunshine..." with the same reluctance of the main character meeting his soon-to-be, yet past girlfriend. Incredibly charming, witty, and powerfully surreal, the film succeeds in explaining that elusive, strange phenomena; dare we call it "fate?"

I'd call nearly half of it "Kate," in her best performance since "Titanic," she is as real as a rain soaked birthday party. What person wouldn't want to fight to not forget Winslet as Clementine? She may have a cyclonic temper, but she's a sweet and vibrant personality. She imprints herself on Carrey's Joel Barish so much that his own memory of her becomes a heroine to his invaded mind.

As for Jim Carrey, his own range of emotion, from rage to confusion to utter joy and contentment, adds a deft subtlety to a movie about great extremes. Such an impressive performance makes me want to go to the doctor to erase any preconceived notion about him.

Kaufman continues to point a frightened finger at those who take their lives like a grain of salt, easy to be thrown away or pulled like a bad tooth. Here, not as in "...Malkovich," is a message "eternally spotless:" Our memories and fantasies are what makes us human. No matter how painful they are, we should never throw them away.

In a very strange twist, the story is "Dumbo" and "The Ugly Duckling," and a bit of "E.T." It's also just as pleasing as all those stories as well.

Lilo, a young native Hawaiian girl, who has been orphaned to all but her older sister, prays for an angel to come and to be her friend. At the same time, an alien mutant escapes from being locked up for his destructive tendencies. When the alien lands on Earth, Lilo mistakes him as a dog and adopts him, naming him Stitch.

While her older sister struggles to get employed, Lilo tries to get Stitch to become a model citizen using Elvis as the model of a fine citizen. But Stitch can't help but be himself, which means wreaking havoc on most everything!

Chris Sanders, animator and director of "Mulan" as well as the creator and voice of "Stitch" directs this movie to Disney Classic stardom. Sanders knows where to make it funny and where to make it touching, never skipping a beat.