Movie Review: Babies

BABIES
2010
PG (cultural and maternal nudity)
78 Minutes

Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures everything from first screaming breaths to first steps.

Even though this movie has been out for awhile, since it is a documentary and didn't get as much media attention, I don't think everyone has heard about it.  If you have a Netflix account, you can watch this on Netflix instant right now, which is how I watched it.

The documentary features babies from Africa, Mongolia, Tokyo, and the USA.  It was absolutely fascinating to me from the very first clip.  The babies from Africa were the first to be featured and as the two were playing next to eachother, the younger of the two immediately was trying to copy the older one and wanted to grab the rock that he was using.  Of course, then a squabble ensued and one hit the other and then he bit him back.  This scenario played out in my household on a daily basis when our boys were little.  The point this documentary was trying to make was that no matter where babies are raised and how they are raised, they are just as happy and fulfilled as babies exposed to more industrial/technological advances.  The babies in Africa and Mongolia live in such stark contrast to how babies in Tokyo and the US live.  Their lifestyles were fascinating to watch.

There was no narration or talking during this movie except for small background conversations.  I really wished I could understand what the 2 moms from Africa were saying to eachother.  I was wishing the translations were scrolling across the bottom.  But, that is the only negative from the movie.  The babies were adorable and the featured lifestyles were eye-opening.  Do babies really need the hundreds of toys we smother them with here in America or will they be just as happy with their cat or dog and a rock to play with?  I had many questions after watching the movie including, where where the fathers/husbands in the African feature? 

If you are looking for a relaxing movie to help you wind down at the end of the day, this is it.  It is definately a "feel good" kind of movie, but watch out....it may just make you want to have another baby!  This movie is appropriate for all ages, but there is many instances of breast feeding and the African mothers are not clothed at all during the movie.  This would be a great opportunity to discuss different cultures with your children.  I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars!

Movie Review: VeggieTales Sweetpea Beauty: A Girl After God's Own Heart

Our family watched the newest movie put out by Big Idea Productions in their VeggieTales line titled, SWEETPEA BEAUTY.  SWEETPEA BEAUTY involves many of our favorite fairy tales including Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and the Princess and the Pea all wrapped up into one story. 

Once upon a time, there lived a royally sour blueberry, a fair rhubarb maiden, and a dastardly deceptive mirror!  Sweetpea Beauty knows that what's on the inside is what matters most, but insecure Queen Blueberry can't see past her own reflection! So, when a decree is handed down that only the most beautiful can rule the land, the Queen gets nervous and things turn ugly! Banished to the dark forest, Sweetpea's fate seems bleak until a charming prince, a band of merry minstrels, and seven snow peas come to the rescue! Will Sweetpea and her friends be able to warn the Queen in time to save her from the clutches of the tricky mirror - or will the crumbling kingdom and the Queen's own heart be lost forever?  Find out in this fairy "Veggie" tale about the real meaning of true beauty. 

I knew our 5-year-old daughter would love this movie, but wasn't sure about our older boys.  But, as VeggieTales fans, it didn't matter that this was more of a "girly" story.  We all enjoyed the movie and the boys said, after I asked how they liked it, "It was good, Mom.  It doesn't matter how you look on the outside but what is inside of you that counts."  Well, I guess they got the message!

This is definately another VeggieTales winner.  It is a quick 50 minutes and has the usual opening act with Bob and Larry and some fun songs sprinkled in.  The key verse from this movie is from
1 Samuel 16:7b
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (NIV)
A message all of us need to hear.

Movie Review: Sex and the City 2

Yesterday I met my BFF, Tammy and we went to the movie SEX AND THE CITY 2.  We went to the first movie on opening day and LOVED it.  Unfortunately, it took us a couple of weeks to get our schedules arranged to get to this one.  Since it had been out, I had seen numerous reviews, several trailers, read Facebook postings, and heard numerous comments about it.  So, I went into it knowing that it was over-the-top and was disappointing to some. 

SEX AND THE CITY 2
The fun, the fashion, the friendship: “Sex and the City 2” brings it all back and more as Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) take another bite out of The Big Apple—and beyond—carrying on with their busy lives and loves in a sequel that truly sparkles.


What happens after you say “I do”? Life is everything the ladies ever wished it to be, but it wouldn’t be “Sex and the City” if life didn’t hold a few more surprises…this time in the form of a glamorous, sun-drenched adventure that whisks the women away from New York to one of the most luxurious, exotic and vivid places on earth, where the party never ends and there’s something mysterious around every corner. It’s an escape that comes exactly at the right moment for the four friends, who are finding themselves in—and fighting against—the traditional roles of marriage, motherhood and more.
After all, sometimes you just have to get away with the girls.

As a true SEX AND THE CITY fan, I did enjoy the movie.  Yes, it was over-the-top at times.  Yes, it was cheesy in places.  But, I could relate to the marriage issues that Carrie was having.  I could relate to Charlotte's frustrations with motherhood (not the nanny part, but the being a mom part).  I really liked the beginning and the ending.  The middle was "fluff" and fun to watch.  The fashion, the shoes, the jewelry, the hair...I took it all in.  I didn't feel like I was looking at the clock wondering when it was going to be over, but at times I did get a little bored with the Middle East trip part of the story.  I also think Liza could have been left out of the movie.  That whole scene was a bit much. 

Overall, if you are true fan, I think you will enjoy the movie.  I will probably rent it and watch it again when it comes out on DVD, but not likely to buy it.  My husband tolerated the first movie, but doubt I could get him to watch much of this one.  So, once it is out on DVD, it would be a good girls-night-in flick. Make sure you are watching it in HD for the amazing colors and scenery!  Also, this is not for young eyes.  There is nudity and sex scenes.

Review: The Lovely Bones Movie

Last night I was finally able to see the movie The Lovely Bones.  I posted a review of the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold here. 

This is not the type of movie that I can say was a "great" movie because of the subject matter.  This is a very disturbing story and was as hard to read as it was to watch unravel on the big screen.  Also, I am usually very disappointed by the movie after reading the book.  My only exception to that was the movie version of The Secret Life of Bees, which I loved.  But, I wasn't that disappointed with this adaptation of the book.  Of course, I realize that not every storyline and scene from the book can be placed in the movie and I think the correct scenes were edited out of the story.  Some of the timing of events were also different in the movie from the book, but the main storyline, succession of events, and ending to the story remained the same, which I appreciated. 

I absolutely adored the young woman who played, Susie, the daughter who was murdered.  Saoirse Ronan is just lovely and I thought her portrayal of Susie was exactly how i imagined her. 

I thought the images of the "in-between" and heaven were interesting and beautiful.  One of profound images was all the ships in glass bottles crashing in the ocean while the dad was smashing them in the house.  A very powerful scene. 

I appreciated that the movie left out the graphic images of the murder and left that to viewer's imagination.  If you read the book, you were well aware of the horriffic end to Susie's life. 

I gave the novel 3 out of 5 stars and I would give the same rating for the movie as well.  It is not a feel good movie, but if you enjoyed the book, I think you will enjoy the movie as well.

Softlips Winners!

Softlips recently sent me more of their awesome products and I decided to share it with you. So, 3 winners have been chosen today rather than just one. The winners will receive an email from me today! Be sure to look for the Softlips brand of products in your local drugstore. Thanks so much for entering and please continue to enter my other giveaways!


Here are your random numbers:


2 - vansicklel


5 - bpstrlnr


8 - tzel



Timestamp: 2009-09-15

CD Review: Live by Shawn Colvin

I recently won this CD from An Iowa Mom, a fellow blogger. You can find a link to her blog down the right side of my blog. So, thanks much to Wendy for sending this CD my way!

On ITunes, Colvin is listed in the pop category, but I wouldn't classify her in the same pop category as Jordin Sparks, Gwen Stefani, or Lady Gaga but more of a folksie pop, like ADELE or Brooke White. Shawn Colvin is a three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter. This Live CD was released in June of this summer.

This is a CD for when I am feeling mellow. It would also be a great CD to listen to when I need to destress. Of course, the most popular song on the CD is "Sunny Came Home", but I also liked "Tennessee", and "Fill Me Up". I know this is a CD that my friends Tammy and Emily would love. This is more of an occasional CD for me...have to be in the right mood. But, a timeless CD, that can be enjoyed and pulled out for those situations that could use a little Shawn Colvin.

My Sister's Keeper Movie Review

I have been anxiously awaiting the debut of "My Sister's Keeper", the movie based of the novel by the same name by Jodi Picoult. I LOVED the book and couldn't wait to see the movie. My friend, Tammy, and I planned to see it on opening night. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. I would suppose that if someone hadn't read the book, they would probably like the movie. Of course the movie is about cancer and a sibling who no longer wants to use her body to help save her sister. So, the topic isn't a happy one. But, there was so much more they could have done with the movie. I felt the character development was very weak. Alec Baldwin played the lawyer and he was such a pivotal character in the book, but wasn't as amazing in the movie. Jesse, the troubled brothers character, was also not as developed as he could have been in the movie. But then other external family members were part of the movie who I think were completely unnecessary to the storyline. I think the actress who played Kate was amazing and the makeup used to show her cancer was very realistic. I loved seeing Jason Patric as the father. It has been years since I have seen him in something and he looks as good as I remember him! :) The ending of the movie was the most frustrating. I think any lovers of Jodi Picoult's novels know relish in the twists and unexpected storylines and this movie adaptation ruined that for us. It totally changed the flow of the whole story and really ruined it for me. Again, I think if you haven't read the book, you probably won't be as disappointed. I would love to know Jodi Picoult's take on the movie and her feelings on the storyline. I would give this a 2 out of 5 stars.

The Secret Life of Bees

I read this book quite awhile ago and truly enjoyed the book. Then on Friday, I went to the movie. WOW! If you loved the book, you will truly love the movie. Usually my typical line is "The book is always better than the movie", but this time I think both were equally fabulous. The actors for the movie were well chosen for the roles they played. Numerous scenes in the movie were powerful enough to resort me to sobbing (sorry Tammy for sniffling through the whole movie). I was just drawn into the book in a whole new way and was very impressed with how the movie followed the book. Dakota Fanning is brilliant and many of her scenes were amazing. So, put this movie on your "Must Watch" list and if you haven't read that book, that needs to be on your "Must Read" list too!