msims1

I made the mistake of reading the book and the one before it, too. As a result, I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I liked the actors, especially Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, and the actors playing the Aunts. I guess the story was fine, if you don't mind the children being bullied as witches. Or the adults bullying Sally. You might also enjoy it if you don't mind abusive men. Or magic spells that are counter productive. Actually, my advice is to read the books and skip the movie.

The visuals are captivating. But I watched the movie thinking it might be a good adaptation of the fantastic, wonderful book by Diana Wynne Jones. It wasn't. It has characters from the book, but they are not as Ms. Jones wrote them. It has some some plot lines, but they are not as wise or loving as the book. Those who admire and rave about the animation are right - it IS beautiful. But I wanted the story I read. And this is not it.

Without being nasty or vulgar, LAST VEGAS is humorous and heartfelt. This movie celebrates friendship, especially among four friends who have known each other for more than 50 years. The camaraderie exhibited by these stars is enviable as well as appreciated. They have enjoyed much and suffered much in their lives, apart and together. The movie doesn't dwell on the negative, but it does unfold at a comfortable pace. The actors are perfect for their roles, and each relishes the part he plays. The supporting actors are able to enjoy their time on screen, whether it is for five or fifty minutes. This movie is about family, too, and grown children might understand their parents better seeing this film with or without them.

This is definitely a movie for mature audiences - children will not understand some of the jokes, and parents will become red faced explaining them. In fact, children will probably want to avoid this movie at all costs. Young people from 18 to 30 may not appreciate the depth of the friendships exhibited by these four friends, and they may misunderstand the difficulty of these "old folks" performing some of the day to day antics that they take for granted: dancing, drinking, picking up women. Getting old is neither easy nor fun, but it beats the alternative!

Some may refer to this as HANGOVER on Viagra. I prefer to think of it as "HOW TO ENJOY OLD AGE WITH A BANG." Or maybe it's a first - not last - hurrah to be repeated annually by anyone over 60.