Star Wars Episode I in 3D - Again you will see it

So I venture into the theater to check out this new movie called Star Wars. Not sure what to expect, I settle in and see what all the hub-ub was about. The premise is that two guys they call 'Jedis' are sent to force a resolution of a trade dispute between some interstellar Asians and the young queen of a plant along with George Lucas' version of Goofy (JarJar Binks). Come to find out there's a more sinister plot afoot. There's a guy in a cloak who has a bad case of emphysema is basically puppeting the interstellar Asians and has a seriously tattooed bad ass as a sidekick. Meanwhile the Jedis take their marching orders from Kermit the Frog's evolutionary predecessor named Yoda and Samuel L. Jackson. There's another story line about a kid named Anakin who was essentially born through some immaculate conception that makes him a lightning fast pod racer, pilot and great mechanic. Now they want to train him to become a Jedi, but Yoda and Samuel L Jackson aren't big fans.  Not sure this story line will go anywhere, but I can't help but think that there's a couple more movies to come, so we'll see.

This movie wasn't made for 3D and it shows.  There are some cool effects that look deeper and richer, which I think is the real plus of 3D movies. Problem is, you can see where it's not quite right in many places. Also, I'm not really into the floating object in the middle of the screen. Partly because I think there's more to a movie than a gimmick that floats in front of you and partly because I can't not put my hand up and try to touch it when it's floating right there in front of me.

If you love Star Wars, you'll love it again. If you hate Star Wars, this will further fuel your rage. 

Big Miracle - 'Meh'

A young, ambitious reporter in Alaska stumbles upon a family of 3 whales that are stuck under an ice sheet with one hole and 5 miles to the closest open ocean.  He performs a simple and humble report on the tragedy and the world is captivated by the human and animal struggle to save hope for all mankind. This tiny village must rally together under the evil, watchful eye of the mainstream media to get the whales to open water before the hole freezes up and civilization loses the will to go on! At least that was probably the pitch Greenpeace gave the studio when they bought the rights to this story.
Essentially, here's how I'd sum it up: Jim from 'The Office' spots three whales in the ice and calls one of 'Charlie's Angels' and Sam Malone from 'Cheers' along with anyone that owned a video camera in 1988 to come to northern Alaska and cut holes in the ice and help the whales to safety.
It's a feel good movie that reeks of Greenpeace holier than thou sermons and the evils of the Regan administration for being literally hog tied into helping out.  Jim from 'The Office' was right in character (there is but one dimension for this guy), Drew Barrymore was in rare Carl mouth form (it's in the hole!) and Sam Malone from 'Cheers' was the standard rich oil guy that is trying to get some good press and then starts to care about the whales just as all hope is about to be extinguished. The movie is based on a true story that took place in 1988 which makes it somewhat understandable as a dramatic representation or documentary.  But I'm not sure that's what they were going for here.  I vaguely remember something about there actually being news in the world around that time, but whales in the ice never hit my radar or I might have appreciated this more. Riiiiiiiiight.


I will say my family loved it. Young kids who love whales (you know who those are) and tender hearted wives that cry at commercials will love it as well. So it IS a good family movie. 
As long as your family loves whales, 'The Office', 'Charlie's Angles' and 'Cheers'.....on the rocks.


Class this as an OK family movie that you rent OnDemand.
PG for the cussing I and other Dads were doing after the movie.