Person's Unknown

TV series I think I saw some of, but couldn't remember. Some of the episodes were directed by Jonathan Frankes of Star Trek Next Generation. A group of people are kidnapped and help hostage in a fake town & given tests. They are watched constantly and analyzed. In the end, they must kill each other to survive. Well, one group decides they will work together and beat the system. Season finale - they all get rounded up and sent to level two - thank goodness it was cancelled it was beginning to feel like Lost. All in all, I say: SKIP IT it's torture.

Winter's Bone

Mountain folk and their ways. A 17 year old girl has to put off joining the army perhaps forever to take care of her sick mom and 2 younger siblings. Now the police and bail bondsman say they are going to take her house and her family's land. The only hope she has is for her father to show up for his trial. Problem is - everyone found out he was ratting out his own people - they all sell guns & drugs. So, they took care of him - now she has to find his body before it's too late. A chilling look at mountian culture - in modern times. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

The Lottery

A documentary about the charter school lottery in New York, NY. Chilling - a controversial topic. I think I agree with parents being able to chose. I think dollars should be attached to students & not school disricts. I think we need sweeping reforms in schools - I know I'm tired of the red tape. All in all, I say: if you have kids & can vote - SEE IT.

Fish Tank

Teenage girl - very much a product of her drunk mother & a rough enivornment - falls for her mother's boyfriend. All is not what it seems. She dreams of dancing in videos - dreams will be crushed. She gets the boyfriend only to find he is already married. She finds a friend and leaves her sister behind - a bummer. All in all, I say: SKIP IT too depressing.

Nightmare in Red, White, and Blue

A look at the evolution of horror films in the US. Influences fluxuated with culture. Not enough focus on zombies for my taste. All in all, I say: RENT IT.

Red

It was fun. There was a good fight scene. None of the actors took over - they didn't over do it. They all fit the parts they played. It was filmed and edited perfectly. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Disappearance of Alice Creed

Spoiler alert: it turns out to be a love triangle, so nothing is as it seems and no one is what they appear to be. Not much dialogue. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - her crying got on my nerves and the bad guys die in the end.

Law & Order UK

Stars from Battlestar Gallatica & Dr. Who - those are the young ones. The older ones have been acting for long in UK stuff it would take pages to list. Aside from occasionally not being able to understand accents - I love it - the formula works on any continent it seems. All in all, I say: SEE IT - hurry because in US it is season one, but in UK it is season three already.

Sex and The City 2

Horrible jokes and one liners. Unnecessay scenes and sub-plots. Fashion was even worse. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Valhalla Rising

This is an unusal and artistic film. A silent, hero - like a Clint Eastwood - Pale Rider type joins a group of Christian crusaders headed for the Holy Land. Problem is the land on a completely different continent. End the end the warrior sacifices himself for a young boy. I found it frustrating - the entire time - the only parts I liked were the sound effects, the few fighting scenes - and well I guess that's it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Life As We Know It

Filmed in ATL - and if that's not enough to convince you - I cried three times. I really like it - it's predictable but so good.

Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

I have just checked out the last book in the Larsson series. It starts off right after the shooting in book two. Problems, meaningless scenes and mundane conversations. Again, like his other books he is caught up in too many unimportant details that bore me to death. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you read the other two. In which case, hurry up because the third movie comes out this month.

Books for School

I also read Francis Parker: The Children's Crusader. He's no relation. All in all, I say: Read Wink if you are interested in teaching critically; read Stern if you like social studies history; read Campbell's if you want to know how Parker influenced schools today.