NOBEL SON

It was stupid! Sheila and I both came out of that movie shaking our heads and saying, "What the hell did we go see that for?" It really stunk. Don't go see it.

TWILIGHT

It was pretty good, for a vampire movie. It was suspenseful. I liked it!

FOUR CHRISTMASES

That was another stupid movie. It stank. It was supposed to be funny but it wasn't really that funny. It was about a bunch of families that wouldn't stop fighting with each other. Kind of reminded me of us. It wasn't worth seeing. I'd give it a 60.

MARIAN IS TURNING 80.

That's right, Marian aka Granny, is turning 80 on December 11th. Please send her a birthday wish via the comments on this page! She has no idea that anyone reads this thing. Granny has been taking me to movies since I was able to sit through one. We have seen everything from "The Shaggy D.A." to "The Return of the Pink Panther" to "Sixteen Candles" to "Porky's". Her selections then were just as random as they are today. I love her dearly and couldn't be happier that she's turning 80 and isn't even thinking of slowing down. She retired from Washington Regional this year, but has continued to travel and keep herself busy. She's a very special lady. I love you Granny!
One other note: I'll be running in an Arthritis Foundation Jingle Jog in honor of Granny who suffers from arthritis. The run is on December 14th. Feel free to pledge a few bucks if you have any to spare. http://JBRW.brooklyn.kintera.org/dawnmadell
Thanks!
Dawn

AUSTRALIA

Oh, you have GOT to see this movie! It was 2 hours and 45 minutes long, but it was so good. I cried so much I used up 3 kleenexes. The little boy in that was beautiful. He was part aborigine, part white. He stole the show! If he doesn't win an Academy Award for this, nobody deserves it! They gave it a 77 in our paper, but I give it a 100-it was that good!

BOLT

I went by myself; Sheila had something else to do that day. It's an animation cartoon about a white German Shepherd. John Travolta is the voice of the dog. It was really cute. I'd give it a 90.

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA

I have met those dogs! The chihuahuas! Those dogs were on my plane when I came back from New Zealand. Their handlers have a place in Arkansas. That was a cute movie. The dogs talked. It wasn't animated, but the dogs talked. Take the kids.

THE CHANGELING

It stars Angelina Jolene. It's the one about the boy who went missing. They tried to give her another boy. She knew it wasn't her son, but they kept saying it was her son. They put her in an institution. They drove her crazy. It went on for a long time before they found out it wasn't her boy. She (Angelina Jolene) played a good part. I heard she's gonna quit movies and spend time with her kids. I give it a 92.

MADAGASCAR ESCAPE 2 AFRICA

It's great. It will make you laugh. They gave it an 84 in the paper, but I thought it was at least a 90. It had the same characters as last time. It was really good. Take the kids. I enjoyed it.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

It has Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah in it. God was Dakota Fanning great in it! I mean, it was a great movie. I thought it was one of the best movies I have seen in such a long time. Dakota Fanning is a great little actress. I think she's gonna be great when she gets big.

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE

It was great! It has Richard Gere and Diane Lane. Richard Gere went to the Outer Banks. She had just broken up with her husband. It's a wonderful love story. There's nothing dirty in it, so you could take the kids. I'd give it a 90.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3

It was really good. I'd give it an 85. I liked it. So did Sheila. The kids were really good in it. It's about high school. It's about drama. They put this musical on, with dancing and singing. It was light-hearted and every once in a while, that's what you want to see.

BURN AFTER READING

Brad Pitt was in it. So was George Clooney. I didn't care for it, even though it had all those famous people in it. Brad Pitt acted like a kid. It didn't do anything for me. I wouldn't go see it again, let's put it that way.

EAGLE EYE

This had Shia Lebeouf in it. It wasn't that good. Sometimes you get a good movie and sometimes you don't.

THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR

It was OK. It was just a mummy movie. It was about an emperor. He died and so did all of his men. He brought all of them back to life. It was a lot like the first mummy. I would give it about an 8. I don't like dead people coming back to life, but it was cute.

MAMA MIA

It was really great! The music was fantastic. It was really, really upbeat. It was a fun movie to see. Glenn Close was wonderful in it. I give it a 9.

TROPICAL THUNDER

It was hilarious! It had Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr.. You will die laughing. It is hilarious. They go to the jungle. They are in the jungle. And it's just crazy. They do crazy stuff! You'll laugh your butt off. I give it a 9.

RIGHTEOUS KILL

It stars Al Pacino and What's-his-name. It was a mystery movie. You didn't know what was going to happen until the end. You didn't know who the good guys were until the end. One of them was a dirty cop. Them two old guys did good. It was a really good movie. It was something else.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

I enjoyed it. It was a real interesting movie. How they got in there and how they got out. You could take the kids to this one. I'd give it a 9. I really liked it.

THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2

We went to see the one about the pants. You know the 4 girls who pass the pants around? Ugly Betty, and all them. It's been 3 years since they made that first one. It was cute. It was really good. It had a good ending. I'd give it an 8 1/2. They are all movie stars now.

SWING VOTE

Eh, it was okay. I'm used to seeing Kevin Costner looking real sharp, but in this one he was kind of down and out. They lived in a trailer. I went by myself because Sheila was camping. He had a little girl playing his daughter. She wanted him to vote. He promised her he would. Well, he got drunk and didn't go. It was just a typical movie. It wouldn't be something I'd go see again. I'd give it about an 8.

THE HULK

It was a lot of action. It was very entertaining. Take my word for it, you've really got to go see it for yourself. You'll be so tired when you get out of there, because you're sitting on the edge of your seat trying to help the Hulk. They did outstanding work on all 4 of those pictures--The Hulk, Iron Man, Batman and Indiana Jones.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT

Oh I thought it was wonderful. Keith Ledger was great in it! It was a lot of action, really kept you on the edge of your seat. I wouldn't take children. The way he was dressed and the way he was made up, that could be scary to a kid. It was long, but it was worthwhile. I would give it a 91/2 it was great. Or a 10.

KIT KITTERIDGE

It was about the depression and how they got through the depression. They had camps outside of town, where the people who had no place to go went. They blamed them for everything. If anything got gone, they blamed them. A lot of times they didn't do it. Abigail Breslin played a great part. I like her acting. She is so good for a young kid. There was a boy who had a little boy he took care of. Turned out, it wasn't a little boy at all, but a little girl. It was a great movie. I give it a 9.

BABY'S MAMA

ed. note- SPOILER ALERT This is a really cute movie! Tina Fey is a business lady like you. She tries every way she can to get pregnant, but she can't. Her uterus wasn't right. Her doctor told her he didn't like the looks of her uterus. I thought I'd crack up. It is really funny. Amy Poehler is her surrogate. She was faking the whole thing. Then she really got pregnant. And the business girl got pregnant with this real nice guy. There are some places in this movie that you will just bust out laughing, it's that good.

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

It was good. I give it an 8. You've got to see it to appreciate it. It had a good story. Honey, I'm almost 80, I can't remember the story of every movie I see.

IRON MAN

It was wonderful! I give it a 9 1/2. Robert Downey Jr. was really great in it. It was a good comeback for him, as fouled up as he was. It was the best comic book movie I've seen in a long time. It might be a little scary for the kids.

MADE OF HONOR

It was a good, funny movie. Patrick Duffy was good in this one. He is her maid of honor, but he kind of likes her. He didn't really want to give her up. I give it an 8.

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL

I have never seen a movie with a naked man right smack in front of you! And twice! Sheila and I cracked up! Jason Segel is in it. He obviously didn't mind being in the nude. It's not for kids. They didn't pull any punches! It was a cute movie.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA PRINCE CASPIAN

I think I liked the first one better. So did Patty. Don't get me wrong, it's a good fairy tale. I just think the first one when they went through the wardrobe was better. I liked all the different creatures in this one. They had a half man-half horse, and the lion, of course. I bet they make another one, but not with the two older kids. They will be too old.

FORBIDDEN KINGDOM

I give it a 9. Jackie Chan is great. The movie is just really good. There are lots of laughs. There is also a lot of action. It will be worth renting when it comes out on DVD.

NIM'S ISLAND

This is a great movie. Take the kids! They will love it. There is a lot of action and a lot of laughs in this one. I give it a 9.

STREET KINGS

Forest Whitaker and Keanu Reeves play in this one. They did a great job. There was a lot of action. I give it a 9.

WITLESS PROTECTION

I didn't know one man could be so stupid! It was the first time I have seen Larry The Cable Guy in anything. He's a cop in this one. Oh my. He does some pretty stupid things. I give it an 8.

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

It was a good movie. I really liked it. I'm sure whoever goes to see it will like it. Sheila and I both liked it. When I was there (in London) we went to the castle where they beheaded her. Right there!

DEFINITELY MAYBE

It was about a young girl. She was ten. She wanted to know how her parents met. Abigail Breslin is a really good actress. It was cute.

SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES

It was kind of interesting. It was one of those weird movies about a bunch of kids. It had weird things in it. They looked like frogs, but they were little monsters. It was really strange. You have to see it to appreciate it. I give it an 8 1/2.

RAMBO

I thought it was great. Sylvester Stallone didn't talk much in it, he just grunted. I think that's why it was so good. You know, normally he mumbles. He was good in this one. I didn't see him in Rocky. It was kind of bloody, but that's what Rambo does. I give it a 9.

FOOL'S GOLD

You have got to go see this one! That was the best picture I have seen in I don't know when. It was marvelous. Besides, Conaughey isn't too bad looking with his shirt off. Kate Hudson is pretty. They are great together. And the little girl was so cute. You will laugh your butt off at her. She dresses in the damndest ways. I give it a 10. And I don't give 10s very easily. It was crazy, it was funny, it was just cute.

JUNO

I give it an 8 1/2. She was a smart kid. She did what she had to do. She had the baby and she finished school. She was brave. It was a good movie.

THE BUCKET LIST

I loved this one. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are both dying. Jack Nicholson was the head of a hospital and he made a rule you had to share rooms. So when he got sick, he had to share a room with Morgan Freeman. They became friends. Actually, they were a pain in each other's butt for a while, and then they became friends. They started making a list of things they always wanted to do. And then they went and did them. Then at the end, I won't tell you what happens, but bring your Kleenex. I give it a 9.

ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS

You have got to take the kids to see this one. They were so cute. And those little buggers could sing! I like the chipmunks. I saw the first one they made. I give this one an 8 1/2.