Thursday, December 16, 2010

Looking for a Rental?

Are you in the movie mood? I haven't been impressed with the offerings at the box office this year but we've hit some winners with the rentals lately. Earlier this summer I talked with Rob Reiner about his new movie Flipped (based on the book by the same name) and wanted to see it but it never made it to the theaters here in Anchorage for some reason.

However, we did pick it up at Blockbusters this weekend and it was a huge hit.  I can't remember the last movie I enjoyed so much that was appropriate for the whole family to see.  From Lillian to Andrew we all enjoyed this coming-of-age flick told from the alternating perspectives of the boy (Bryce) and the girl (Julie).  With a great supporting cast, it also has plenty of good messages without being didactic or maudlin (vocab words for the day) and at the end there were things you could discuss that enforced the themes.

Yes, a good movie--and how often do you get something of quality coming along?

Well, as it turns out, the answer is: the next day.  Because the next night we watched The Nativity, which came out several years ago but we never got around to seeing it. It was a matter of me wanting to see it and watching it by myself at first and then everyone slowly joining me until the whole family was watching and enjoying it. Which is saying quite a bit, given that I have two boys who think that high drama means nuclear-sized explosions and car chases.

Perfect for Christmas and for families, it's PG for a bit of the evil-Herod violence against the babies at the beginning which might be tense for small children but not offensively so. We checked it out of the library and thought it was great.

9 comments:

Kathy G said...

You're the second person that's recommended The Nativity. I think I'm being told something :')

Flea said...

Thanks for the reviews! Seeing as I still haven't gotten to Blindside, it may be a bit before I watch these, but I'll watch out for them.

I can't find my blog said...

Thanks! I've been looking for some non-action movies that my boys will like. (If I never see another action flick it will be too soon. That's what happens when I'm in a house full of males!)

Daisy said...

My students enjoy the book "Flipped." I usually prefer the books, but it sounds like this movie was made well.

chair rentals said...

Flipped looks interesting.

J said...

I can't remember if I saw The Nativity...I think I did. If not, I'd like to. Maybe I'll put it on my Netflix queue.

Stephanie said...

We saw "The Nativity Story" a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated the role of Joseph (and imagining what the whole experience must have been like for him).

prestiti on line said...

very beautiful!

Jeanette said...

cute story, we watched the Nativity a couple years ago when my oldest was 4. She saw Mary in labor, and pain, decided right then and there she was never having babies!!! She's 7 now and still says she will adopt, but not have any babies of her own. Of course once reality of pain and childbirth r hers, she may change her mind. New follower!