All the talk going on around me about Christmas shopping got me thinking about giving some holiday gift giving advice from the movie side… because a lot of people like tech gifts, a lot of people like music, or games, and there are a lot of people who like to get or give movies as Christmas/Holiday gifts.

So here it is, my first ever advice blog for holiday shoppers about what you can give/ask for this holiday season for movies and not be disappointed !!!

2008 movies for teens and adults….

 1. “The Dark Knight” (released on DVD/Blu-Ray 12/9)

Its one of the best movies of the year for both critical and popular reaction and by that, I mean it was well reviewed by the national critics (who don’t usually like the superhero genre) and it was big at the box office ($530 million and counting just at U.S. theaters).

If you saw “Batman Begins” (2006), you know that Director Christopher Nolan did a great job re-booting this franchise and Christian Bale was great as Batman, along with Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine.

But this is one of those very rare examples in Hollywood where the sequel is actually better than the first movie!!!

Here’s where I wish my old reviews were still available, but bottom line this is the best superhero movie up to this point! (see my full list here)  The storyline is solid, the effects and stunts, the action, the acting, Heath Ledger’s perfect performance as the Joker (Golden Globe nominee and eventual Academy Award nominated performance), the entire cast is great!

My review: was a 9.5 / 10

The only way you could possibly go wrong giving this movie as a gift is not including a gift receipt because the person you gave it to already bought it when it came out Tuesday (December 9th).

 2. “Iron Man” (released on DVD/Blu-Ray 9/30)

Robert Downey, Jr. is great as Tony Stark/Iron Man, the cast is great, the story and effects are great, the characters are fantastic and the level of comedy and tension are just right for the new-age superhero genre.

Just like “The Dark Knight”, “Iron Man” had critical and box office success ($318.22 million in 20 weeks was 2nd only to “The Dark Knight” this year).

It also became my 3rd favorite superhero movie of all time.

My review: was a 8.0 / 10

How it could be the wrong gift: if someone hates superhero movies or if you’re giving it to Terrence Howard (who will not be returning for the highly-anticipated sequel after a contract disagreement).

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See a Christmas movie classic on Saturday – for free !!!

The Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids is doing a free presentation of the 1946 Frank Capra Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life on Saturday, December 13th at Wealthy Theatre.

Its not Christmas (as a movie junkie) without this movie, so thanks to the Wealthy Theater for making it available on the big screen!

I recently declared It’s A Wonderful Life as my 3rd favorite Christmas movie of all time… so you should go see it if you’ve never seen it, or want to see it again!

Doors open at 5:15pm and the movie starts at 6:00pm.

For more, check out their website: www.grcmc.org.

 Four Christmases is a fun holiday comedy that will have you laughing throughout.

While this Christmas Comedy is a good comedic break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it won’t make my top 10 favorite Christmas Movies.

The movie is carried by the relationship concept between the main characters of Brad and Kate and their families that most audiences will find relevant and easy to relate to…

 “Four Christmases”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for some sexual humor and language) (1 hr, 22 min)

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Peter Billingsley, Carol Kane, Colleen Camp

Director: Seth Gordon

Genre: Comedy/Christmas

The Plot: A couple struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day.

MY TAKE:

Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) have a mission to avoid their dysfunctional families on Christmas and they nearly pull it off again this time, until fog grounds their flight to Fiji.   As you’ve probably seen in the trailer – they are then forced to spend Christmas with each of their divorced parents and siblings, making four stops in one day, hence the title of the movie.

While this has all the makings of becoming a holiday classic: a couple, holiday travel, dysfunctional families, comedy, a good cast, a fresh concept, it falls a little short along the way.

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The Classic Film Series are about to start again in Grand Rapids

I’m not too young to know some of these movies, but I have to say, I have only seen 3 of the dozen movies included in these 2 “classics” series…

The Grand Rapids Public Museum will show 4 classic movies:

($5 Non-members, $4 for Members, Advance ticket sales are available online or by calling 616-456-3977)

September 19 @ 7pm: “The Kennel Murder Case” (1933)

October 17 @ 7pm: “He Walked By Night” (1948)

November 14 @ 7pm: “D.O.A.” (1950)

December 26 @ 7pm: “The Man in the Attic” (1954)

Celebration Cinema! North will show 8 classic movies:

(all shows $2.50, click above link for more info)

October 21 & 23 @1:30pm & 5:45pm: “Out of Africa” (1985) - saw it, good movie!!!

October 28 &30 @1:30pm & 5:45pm: “The Big Broadcast of 1938″ (1938)

November 4 & 6 @1:30pm & 5:45pm: “Winchester ‘73″ (1950)

November 11 & 13 @1:30pm & 5:45pm: “Watch on the Rhine” (1943)

November 18 & 20 @1:30pm & 5:45pm: “Inherit the Wind” (1960)

December 2 & 4: “Holiday Inn” (1942)

December 9 & 11: “A Christmas Story” (1983) - a modern Christmas classic!!

December 16 & 18: “White Christmas” (1954) - saw it, a great Christmas musical

enjoy!!!

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