Millions

This movie was definitely different.

It starts out with Anthony and Damien, two little boys who live in the UK. Their mother has recently died and their father just purchased a large home for them to live in.

Damien and Anthony go about trying to fit in. Damien is a very compassionate little boy who is always looking out for the other guy. Anthony is the schemer...always looking out for Number One. The two boys come across some money -- or rather, the money comes across them. Over 200,000 pounds worth of money comes and smashes into Damien's playhouse. Unfortunately, the money will be worthless in a matter of days, because the government has decided to change the pounds into euros. "Why not just exchange it?" you ask. Well, young Anthony is convinced that the government will take a majority of it. Anthony's plan: let's keep it and spend it before the currency exchange. Damien's plan: give it to the poor.

You see, Damien is 'visited' by these saints. You know, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of television...all these saints are encouraging him to keep giving it away. Being young and naive, Damien goes around asking the everyday Joe on the street if he/she is poor. Sometimes they are honest, sometimes they aren't, and sometimes Damien just misunderstands them and gives them money because he THINKS they are poor.

While the boys are doing what they want with their money, Anthony happens upon the story of the greatest burglary conspiracy and discovers that the money that Damien thought 'came from heaven' actually was thrown off a train by the conspirators. They are now in very grave danger and they don't know what to do.

I think that was the plotline -- I had a really hard time following it. You certainly have to think like a child to understand this one.

If you want to find out what they do about it, rent it. It really is a heart-warming story in the end, though it is EXTREMELY confusing and hard to follow in the beginning.

3 and a half stars. Confusing, but still worth it, I guess. I'm just glad I waited til it came out on video.

Harry Potter 4: The Goblet of Fire

Well, I must say this was my favorite of the four. But, I, unlike some poor, misguided souls who left the theater ahead of me, did not leave the movie screamiong that it was the best movie I had ever seen. Let's just say it doesn't take much for a movie to be better than the first three Harry Potter movies. They were awful. The other three produced only disappointment and tears for me. I am a vigorous fan of the books, and the movies had to be scaled down quite a bit to be put into a reasonable timeframe, but what drives me insane about the movies is that they cut out what really matters -- for example, the fact that Harry is supposed to have GREEN eyes, not blue, but moving on...

I suppose this was a very well-developed film. Everyone knows the characters, and the story is pretty well laid out in the books, so it's not exactly what you would call a 'surprise', because a true fan already knows the story, but for the sake of those who are either too illiterate, busy, lazy, or have a religious reason not to read the novels and haven't the cash or time to see the movie, here's a brief synopsis:

Harry Potter is a hero in the wizard world. He was nearly killed by the Dark Lord Voldemort when he was not even a year old and no one ca explain why, but he vanquished the dark lord even though he was only a vulnerable child. He was raised by and aunt and uncle who are very prejudiced against wizards and they tried to make sure Harry knew nothing of his magical heritage. But, of course, he finds out. Not only does he find out who he really is, but he also finds out he is a hero in the wizarding world because pf the fact that he survived the 'Avada Kedavera' curse. He leaves his aunt and uncle and goes to Hogwarts, a school of witchcraft and wizardry.

Each year he is there, the dreaded Lord Voldemort, who is only barely alive, chases Harry and tries to kill him and finish the job he started the night his parents died. This particular year, Harry is entered into the Triwizard Tournament, a contest between three wizarding schools: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. One contestant from each school will compete to get the grand prize. The only thing is -- Harry didn't enter his name into the contest. He's too young to enter anyway...and he has no particular desire to. Also, a champion was already chosen from Hogwarts to represent the school in the tournament. To have two champions from one school is unfair and unheard of. But, when the Goblet of Fire chooses a contestant, there is no turning back. So Harry is forced to compete and he knows that there is a dark, evil reason he was entered, but he doesn't know who could have done it.

You have to see it to find out how he does :)

I liked it...it was better than the other 3. The acting was better in this movie but the actors still showed about as much talent as four-year-olds. Since acting is my profession, I would expect someone that gets paid the big bucks to act better than these people did...

The camera work was very interesting. I really enjoyed the special effects and the beautiful scenery. Many of the scenes in the movie were exactly the way I had imagined them while I was reading the book. Again, they eliminated a LOT of the plotline, but they had to, seeing as how it would have taken about ten years to watch the thing if it had been full length.

Thee and a half stars. For those of you who think that HP 4 was the best mvie in the world and that my rating should be higher...I'll pray for you. Only God can help you now.