Movie Review: A Far Off Place

A Far Off Place (1993)
Starring: Reese Witherspoon and Ethan Embry
Characters: Nonnie Parker and Harry Winslow
Directed by: Mikael Saloman
Tagline: A far off land, a far off journey, a far off adventure
Grade: A++

I've loved this movie for a long time. It's just a great feel good movie. One of Reese's first movies. She's a great actress and Ethan Embry is great as Harry, the spoiled boy. The only other movie that he was in after this that anyone even heard of was That Thing You Do!, where he played TB Player (The Bass Player). At least he got a name this time. This movie is about Nonnie, who's parents are Americans, but she's been raised in Africa. Her dad works to get rid of poachers and, because of the work he does, he, his wife, and his wife's friend (Harry's dad, the two were visiting the Parkers). Nonnie, her dog Kensa, and Harry are helping Nonnie's bushman friend Xhabbo when all of this happens, so nothing happens to them but Nonnie goes back to the house and sees the evidence of what happened. So, they decide to cross the Kalahari ("The wind can do it, we can do it.") with the bad guys in pursuit. Then they find out that the bad guy isn't at all who they expected. Another great family friendly movie with lots of heart and even some star power. I would reccomend this to anyone who loves great heart warming movies.
-MOT

Just finished: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Watching now: The Terminator
Excited to see: Tomorrow, When the War Began

Movie Review: Operation: Stormbreaker

Operation: Stormbreaker (2006)
Starring: Alex Pettyfer and Alicia Silverstone
Characters: Alex Rider and Jack Starbright
Directed by: Geoffrey Sax
Tagline: You're never too young to die
Grade: A

This movie is awesome. I've loved the books for a long, long time. (And yes, the books are better than the movie...but what books aren't?) Alex Pettyfer is just about the perfect Alex and Alicia Silverstone is a great Jack Starbright. And, the movie has Damien Lewis in it...with a Russian accent?!?!?! Epic win! So, the movie is about Alex Rider. After his uncle (who he thought was a banker, but is really a spy for MI6) dies, MI6 contacts Alex and threatens to have Jack's visa revoked. He goes on a mission to Cornwall to investigate an odd deal made by Darrius Sayle, a computer tycoon who has given a free Stormbreaker computer to every school in England. The Stormbreaker is an amazing new computer. But what the entire country doesn't know is that Sayle is actually trying to take revenge against his high school enemy, the Prime Minister, by releasing a form of the smallpox vaccine from the computers. Alex rushes out of the plant in Cornwall, with the help of some trusty gadgets, and saves the day...and gets the girl, speaking of which, Sabina doesn't come into the books until the third book...I wish they wouldn't have changed that, cause they changed her entire character. If they were to make another movie, I would be very surprised if they do, they'd have to completely change Sabina's character so everything makes sense...I guess I just don't understand why they have to change the books so much.
-MOT

Just finished: A Far Off Place
Watching now: Ferris Buller's Day Off
Excited to see: Eclipse :)

Movie Review: Unaccompanied Minors

Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
Starring: Dyllan Christopher and Gia Mantegna
Characters: Spencer Davenport and Grace Conrad
Directed by: Paul Feig
Tagline: Silent night...yeah, right.
Grade: A-

I like family movies...that should be fairly obvious by now. And this one is no different. While some of the lines are a little bad and some of the acting is sorry, it's overall a pretty good movie. It's about a group of kids traveling on planes without their parents (or unaccompanied minors) that get stuck at Hoover International Airport. The group, which consists of Spencer, Grace, Charlie Goldfinch, Beef Wellington, and Donna Malone, is chased by the airport's passenger relations officer, Oliver Porter. After they escape from the UM room, they are caught by Zach Van Bourke, Porter, and the guards. While the rest of the kids get to spend a relaxing night in the lodge, they have to stay in the abandoned room. They escape from the room, and continue to elude Porter...having a chase through the luggage sorting room is one of my favorite scenes. So, overall a good, heartwarming family movie. I would probably reccomend it to other people, esp as a family Christmas movie.
-MOT

Just finished: Operation: Stormbreaker
Watching now: A Far Off Place
Excited to see: Letters to Juliet