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Rating: 7.5

Visually stunning and definitely worth seeing. The story and most of the characters are, ironically, pretty two-dimensional. But even so, the female characters kick some butt. I recognize that James Cameron has to generate eleventy bazillion dollars so it has to be kinda vanilla to appeal to everybody (that closing credits song? REALLY horrible. Will certainly win the best song Oscar - it's that bad.) So it has a weirdly simultaneous pro/anti war message going on, which I guess we are so used to, it didn't hit me right away. But at least the red states will get force fed a little environmentalism, which is good in my book.

Larger Than Life... Dave Matthews band in 3D

Rating: 3

Yes, I saw the Dave Matthews concert in 3D movie but it was only because the film opens with my new obsesson, Gogol Bordello. In 3D! Which was awesome, but they only played the last 2 songs of their set, then moved on to a Ben Harper show....in 3D. I even like Ben Harper but damn if that was not the most boring show ever. I think the 3D actually enhanced its dulllness. So I didn't even bother to stay for Dave Matthews because it just isn't my scene. Though the 3.5 minutes worth of Gogol Bordello was great, maybe not worth $13.50. I think there is a documentary of them coming out soon. I should have just waited for that.

The Road

Rating: 8

I don't know how this is possible: I wasn't crazy about the book and I really liked the movie a lot. But the book and movie are EXACTLY THE SAME. The movie did not add or embellish, it followed the book precisely. But the book didn't resonate emotionally while the movie really got to me. Perhaps the Viggo factor? The kid was pretty amazing too. Somehow, I understood the intention of the book much better after seeing the movie. Maybe Twihards feel the same way.

The Messenger

Rating: 8.5

The acting is so good. It may be too good, because the subject matter and realism are almost too much to bear. Ben Foster is phenomenal. Hard to watch, so be warned, but one of the most beautifully acted pieces I can recall.

Up In The Air

Rating: 7.5

It's a sweet shout out to people who have been laid off during the recent recession, and George Clooney and Vera Farmiga have excellent chemistry. There are some clunks in the story but it gets better as it moves along.

The Found Footage Festival

Rating: 8.5

Even in the age of YouTube, the Found Footage Festival is a hoot. Something about the juxtaposition of clips from video tapes found at garage sales, in basements and at Goodwill combined with the live narration of the guys who obsessively collect them is charming. There's bad hair, firearms, full frontal nudity, and most shockingly, video dating (see below.) Unfortunately tonight was their last night in Seattle but if they ever come back to town, get your tickets early. I just barely squeezed in on the waitlist. See website:

http://www.foundfootagefest.com/videos/video-dating-part-2

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Rating: 9.5

Positively sublime.

The Bad Lieutenant - Port of Call: New Orleans

Rating: 8

It's controversial but I think Nicholas Cage is excellent - but only when he's playing a depraved fuck-up. Same goes for Werner Herzog as a depraved fuck-up director. Love it.