Kathleen Turner: A Young MasterArts Class

An HBO series about young people that won nationwide contests to be in a class to get tips from Kathleen Turner on acting on stage. A group of 4 students put on a monologue and get pointers from Turner. She also takes them to a play she has and just talks to them. Her acting suggestions are pretty cool. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like acting and are curious about her process - otherwise SKIP IT

Showgirls: Glitz & Angst

An HBO documentary on a group of showgirls who are in a show at the Rio hotel and casino called Showgirls. It shows the audition process, the rehearsals, and the pain behind the show. It was done in 2003 and it was filmed through hand held recording devices. It wasn't bad - I was curious. All in all, I say: SEE IT - if you even wondered what it took to put on an act in Vegas.

Penguins of Madagascar

Finally my favorite characters from the Madagascar series have their own movie. They run into an elite group called the North Wind who are trying to capture an evil scientist (Malkovich from Crossbones) and his deadly serum. There are a ton of jokes which are a play on celebrity names that cracked me up the entire time. For example, he yells, "Drew and Barry more power!" Stormore (Blacklist) plays a polar bear. Cumberbatch (Sherlock) is the leader of North Wind, a wolf. It is filled with cuteness and the kids loved it - all 4 of them. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Hunger Games

Based on the book this movie is an almost perfect duplicate. The casting is amazing. Lawrence (Winter's Bone) is Katniss. Kale is played by Hemsworth (The last Song). Hutcherson (Red Dawn) plays Peeta. Effie is played by Banks (The Lego Movie). Bentley (Interstellar) plays Crane. Tucci (The Terminal) plays Flickerman. Harrelson (Zombieland) plays Haymitch. The effects are awesome - the action is cool. You will cry even if you've read the books. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I

District 12 has been destroyed, so Katniss, Prim, their mother, Haymitch, Gale, Finnick, and Effie are now at District 13 deep underground. Will Katniss be able to keep it together to make promos to inspire a revolution against the Capital? Will she be able to get Peeta back? If you've read the book the already know the answer and the movie is super cool - cinematography amazing! soundtrack amazing! The lumberjack scene - amazing! If you haven't read the book and you are just seeing the movies it is powerful. There is not a ton of action because this film sets up the climax of the series. All in all, I say: SEE IT - on the big scene and then download the soundtrack.

One Christmas Eve

A story of how everything that could go wrong does go wrong. A group of random people that might never meet and become friends come together through a series of disasters over Christmas. Heche (Save Me), Tee (The Wolverine), and Gomez (The Glades) star.

It wasn't bad - it wasn't great, but it's a holiday Hallmark movie. The commercials alone made it worth it. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas Under Wraps

Bure (Growing Pains) is a big city doctor with big plans that get sidetracked. She takes a job as the only doctor in a small Alaska town. She meets a great guy and changes her plans so they can live happily ever after. There is some cheesy - is he the son of Santa stuff, but the rest is fun and light hearted. All in all, I say: SEE IT