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Reviews Written By: A28HB1CS21SRDU

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	Stranger Than Fiction
	"Wonderful"	2009-10-29
I had no idea what to expect when I rented this DVD. It looked quite interesting on the trailer so it was a, "Why not?" sort of a rent. And I loved it. I absolutely loved every aspect of this movie. The script was so clever I was savoring every dialogue. The casting was perfect down to the t. Nobody could have played Emma Thompson's character like she did. There's a scene where she talks about a fantastically depressing book that she'd read while researching death...haha~ who else could deliver such a line? Nobody could have played Dustin Hoffman's character - a college professor and the only person who actually believes and tries to help out Will Farrell's character who claims he hears his life being narrated by a woman. The process that he goes through to help out Will's character is ridiculous yet so logical. Get this. Since Will is in some sort of literature (or so he says) Dustin uses his literary expertise to help figure out the genre of the literature thus figuring out how his story/life will unfold. That is ingenious writing at its best, wouldn't you say? I love that Will Farrell plays Harold, the main character, in this. He's known more for his obnoxious comedy but I think this kind of role really suits him. I think he possesses a unique vulnerability that makes him so likable and perfect for this particular role. The comedic inserts throughout the film isn't the kind where you laugh out loud. It's the subtle kind where you just smile and go 'dang, that was a clever line!' I highly recommend it for those who enjoy a good play with words. Let me just say that I'm now the proud owner of this DVD.
	A Cinderella Story (Full Screen Edition)
	"Light and Cute"	2009-10-13
I am wayyyy past the age bracket of the target audience of this movie. Nevertheless, I actually had a good time watching this movie. It is wholesome, sweet and quite funny. Hillary Duff, however lame or teen-boppy you may think she is, she does have a certain screen presence to her and is quite watchable. As for the role of a modern day Cinderella, she was a perfect fit - A good girl who learns to stand up for herself and wins the prince in the end. Some excellent additions to the cast were Regina King and Jennifer Coolidge. These actresses made the film become a real movie. Regina King is the modern day fairy godmother but definitely with an edge and Jennifer Coolidge - isn't the name enough? She was downright hilarious and just fabulous, as always. I was thinking that if I were a teenager, I would have dove right into this movie. I was thinking about it from a mother's point of view, too. This movie is definitely risk-free in many ways. The only precaution I'd have is Cindrella's correspondence with a perfect stranger that she met in a chat room. :) Even if you're not a teen or a tween, I think if you're fan of a light romance movie or don't mind reminiscing the cute old days of just dreaming of prince charming, I'm sure you'll enjoy this modern day Cinderella story.
	A Cinderella Story (Widescreen Edition)
	"Light and Cute"	2009-10-13
I am wayyyy past the age bracket of the target audience of this movie. Nevertheless, I actually had a good time watching this movie. It is wholesome, sweet and quite funny. Hillary Duff, however lame or teen-boppy you may think she is, she does have a certain screen presence to her and is quite watchable. As for the role of a modern day Cinderella, she was a perfect fit - A good girl who learns to stand up for herself and wins the prince in the end. Some excellent additions to the cast were Regina King and Jennifer Coolidge. These actresses made the film become a real movie. Regina King is the modern day fairy godmother but definitely with an edge and Jennifer Coolidge - isn't the name enough? She was downright hilarious and just fabulous, as always. I was thinking that if I were a teenager, I would have dove right into this movie. I was thinking about it from a mother's point of view, too. This movie is definitely risk-free in many ways. The only precaution I'd have is Cindrella's correspondence with a perfect stranger that she met in a chat room. :) Even if you're not a teen or a tween, I think if you're fan of a light romance movie or don't mind reminiscing the cute old days of just dreaming of prince charming, I'm sure you'll enjoy this modern day Cinderella story.
	Marley And Me (3-disc Bad Dog Edition) [Blu-ray]
	"Sweet"	2009-06-13
After all the hype around the movie, I finally got around to seeing it. In a nutshell, it is a movie that shows the arch of a couple's life who happens to have a dog. The story itself isn't anything out of the ordinary. The characters in the movie are just regular people that we probably all know. Marley, although the 'Grogans' will beg to differ, is just an adorable lab just like yours and mine (Okay he may be a tad bit crazier). The seemingly 'normal' story of a family is what makes the movie unique. The movie spans for about 15 years. It starts with a newly married couple starting out in their careers. At this time they adopt a puppy. And the puppy goes through the journey with this couple of their first, second, and the third child, the job changes and marriage struggles. The movie definitely runs at a different pace to other movies. There's no huge drama, there's no hilarious and frustrating struggles with crazy in-laws. Nobody cheats on anybody. Nobody chases anyone driving at a thousand miles per hour. Nothing traumatic happens. Basically, there's no climax. But that's probably more realistic. As other reviewers say, Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson make a nice couple. And the last scene of Owen Wilson with the dog is just very awesome....(sniff) I wouldn't call it a family movie..an 'adult' family movie may be a more accurate genre. I really wanna get a lab...
	Elf (Infinifilm Edition)
	"Light, Sweet, Hilarious!"	2008-08-09
In a world filled with elf and Santa Claus movies, this one definitely stands out from the crowd. The movie is about a human baby who accidentally crawls into Santa's sack on one fateful Christmas day, and consequently is transported to the north pole to live among cheerful, happy, Christmas-adoring elves. And like all good adopted kids in the movies, Buddy wants to meet his biological father and sets out to find him in the most un-north pole like city, New York. Will Ferrell is perfect for this role. He is endearing as the innocent and vulnerable Buddy. You can't help but adore him. As a critical movie watcher, I sometimes imagine certain characters with different actors, but I really can't imagine anyone else playing Buddy but Will Ferrell. The supporting actors were all very well casted as well. They all perfectly complemented Buddy's over-the-top persona. Jon Favreau has done it marvellously. This film is light, sweet, and hilarious! A great holiday fun!
	Elf [Blu-ray]
	"Light, Sweet, Hilarious! "	2008-08-09
In a world filled with elf and Santa Claus movies, this one definitely stands out from the crowd. The movie is about a human baby who accidentally crawls into Santa's sack on one fateful Christmas day, and consequently is transported to the north pole to live among cheerful, happy, Christmas-adoring elves. And like all good adopted kids in the movies, Buddy wants to meet his biological father and sets out to find him in the most un-north pole like city, New York. Will Ferrell is perfect for this role. He is endearing as the innocent and vulnerable Buddy. You can't help but adore him. As a critical movie watcher, I sometimes imagine certain characters with different actors, but I really can't imagine anyone else playing Buddy but Will Ferrell. The supporting actors were all very well casted as well. They all perfectly complemented Buddy's over-the-top persona. Jon Favreau has done it marvellously. This film is light, sweet, and hilarious! A great holiday fun!
	I Kissed Dating Goodbye
	"Better way to date"	2008-06-21
First of all, when I first picked up this book, I couldn't believe that a twenty-something-year-old SINGLE guy wrote this book. It was a two-way shock. One, I couldn't believe that someone who was so young with little experience was bold enough to publish a book about dating and relationships. Then after reading this book, I was shocked again, but this time, at the wisdom this guy had at such a young age. But I know that many times age means nothing when it comes to wisdom. Since there are so many interpretations about this book, I won't even attempt to defend this book. That would be Joshua's part. I'll share what I got out of this book, though. This book didn't tell me to stop dating - I know, it's contrary to its title. What I learned from this book is to have a different approach and attitude about dating. Before the book, I thought that in order for me to find my life partner, I'd have to date around. The scenario would go like this: If there's a guy that I was interested in, I'd go on a date with him and if we liked each other, we'd enter into a more serious relationship and then see how we fit. If we're not a good fit, we end the relationship and then another dating cycle would begin. The problem I had with this cycle was that when we were in the serious relationship phase we would act like a couple - like a husband and wife (obviously without the cohabitation and sex). We would plan weekends together, we would refer to ourselves as we. And all of this would go on without the guarantee of a future. And I wondered how healthy that was for both of us - to be so intimate with each other when neither of us was sure about marriage. And if I wasn't sure about the future in the first place, was it smart for me to devote so much time, energy, and heart into this no-guarantee relationship? This book offered a solution to my dilemma. Here's the book's approach to dating: When I find someone I'm interested in, rather than going on a date with him (so rather than jumping into a romantic relationship right away), I'd develop a good friendship with him first. If you think you can't get to know someone by just being their friend, you haven't experienced good friendship. The book explains that this is a healthier way to get to know someone (that is a potential spouse) without the 'romantic' pressure and confusion. In my opinion, this is what Joshua calls kissing dating good-bye. But he doesn't end there. If, through your friendship the intrigue and respect grows, then you enter a 'courtship.' (I know I said I wasn't going to defend Joshua but he DOES say that 'courtship' could be called whatever you want - e.g. DATING. So he wasn't telling everyone not to date!!!) The difference between what people call 'dating' and 'courtship' is that 'courtship' is purposeful. You're getting to know each other more, to see if you are right for marriage or not. How is 'courtship' different from the 'serious relationship' I described above? Well, in a courtship you wouldn't be acting like a couple. Rather, courtship would be like a job interview (but obviously more fun, less rigid, with more food). You're taking time out to get to know each other to see if you're both right for marriage. I bought into this book 100% because I've decided that I don't want to hop from one relationship to another giving pieces of my heart away - I'd like to reserve that for just one person. Some people may say, you can guard your heart while dating...well, easier said than done..... So what Josh says in this book, I agree with completely. And may I just say this also, that Joshua DOES say that this principle is not for everyone? He sooo clearly says this in his book. I don't know why some reviewers keep reiterating this when it's clearly written in the book. If you think you can 'date' around and still have a purposeful relationship that honours God, then great! I wish you all the best! But if you're like me, I highly recommend this book. Not only that, if you're someone who's entering the dating world, or are confused about dating, I also recommend this book to you. You may not agree with everything in this book, but it may give you some guidance to dating. One last note about this book. It focuses on pleasing God. As Christians, we strive to commit our lives to God daily in all areas of our lives. For the singles, dating is a big part of our lives and this book constantly goes back to the question 'Is this pleasing to God?' Whether you follow the principles in this book or not is not the big question, but awareness and acknowledgement of God is. Anyway, thanks for reading this far. :) Peace!
	I Kissed Dating Goodbye
	"Taught me HOW to date"	2008-06-21
First of all, when I first picked up this book, I couldn't believe that a twenty-something-year-old SINGLE guy wrote this book. It was a two-way shock. One, I couldn't believe that someone who was so young with little experience was bold enough to publish a book about dating and relationships. Then after reading this book, I was shocked again, but this time, at the wisdom this guy had at such a young age. But I know that many times age means nothing when it comes to wisdom. Since there are so many interpretations about this book, I won't even attempt to defend this book. That would be Joshua's part. I'll share what I got out of this book, though. This book didn't tell me to stop dating - I know, it's contrary to its title. What I learned from this book is to have a different approach and attitude about dating. Before the book, I thought that in order for me to find my life partner, I'd have to date around. The scenario would go like this: If there's a guy that I was interested in, I'd go on a date with him and if we liked each other, we'd enter into a more serious relationship and then see how we fit. If we're not a good fit, we end the relationship and then when I meet a new guy that would interest me, another dating cycle would begin. Here's the book's approach to dating: When I find someone I'm interested in, rather than going on a date with him (so rather than jumping into a romantic relationship right away), I'd develop a good friendship with him first. If you think you can't get to know someone by just being their friend, you haven't experienced good friendship. The book explains that this is a healthier way to get to know someone (that is a potential spouse) without the 'romantic' pressure and confusion. This is what Joshua calls kissing dating good-bye. But he doesn't end there. If, through your friendship the intrigue and respect grows, then you enter a 'courtship.' (I know I said I wasn't going to defend Joshua but he DOES say that 'courtship' could be called whatever you want - e.g. DATING. So he wasn't telling everyone not to date!!!) The difference between what people call 'dating' and 'courtship' is that 'courtship' is purposeful. You're getting to know each other to see if you are right for marriage. How is 'courtship' different from the 'serious relationship' I described above? Well, in a courtship you wouldn't be acting like your typical boyfriend/girlfriend. Rather, courtship would be like a job interview (but obviously more fun, less rigid, with more food). You're taking time out to get to know each other to see if you're both right for marriage. I bought into this book 100% because I've decided that I don't want to hop from one relationship to another giving pieces of my heart away - I'd like to reserve that for just one person. Some people may say, you can guard your heart while dating...well, easier said than done. But if you think you can 'date' around and still have a purposeful relationship that honours God, then great! I wish you all the best! But if you're like me, I highly recommend this book. Not only that, if you're someone who's entering the dating world, or are confused about dating, I also recommend this book to you. You may not agree with everything in this book, but it may give you some good guidance to dating. One last note about this book. It focuses on pleasing God. As Christians, we strive to commit our lives to God daily in all areas of our lives. For the singles, dating is a big part of our lives and this book constantly goes back to the question 'Is this pleasing to God?' Whether you follow the principles in this book or not is not the big question, but awareness and acknowledgement of God is.
	I Kissed Dating Goodbye : A New Attitude Toward Relationships And Romance
	"Taught me HOW to date"	2008-06-21
First of all, when I first picked up this book, I couldn't believe that a twenty-something-year-old SINGLE guy wrote this book. It was a two-way shock. One, I couldn't believe that someone who was so young with little experience was bold enough to publish a book about dating and relationships. Then after reading this book, I was shocked again, but this time, at the wisdom this guy had at such a young age. But I know that many times age means nothing when it comes to wisdom. br /br /Since there are so many interpretations about this book, I won't even attempt to defend this book. That would be Joshua's part. I'll share what I got out of this book, though. br /br /This book didn't tell me to stop dating - I know, it's contrary to its title. What I learned from this book is to have a different approach and attitude about dating. Before the book, I thought that in order for me to find my life partner, I'd have to date around. The scenario would go like this: If there's a guy that I was interested in, I'd go on a date with him and if we liked each other, we'd enter into a more serious relationship and then see how we fit. If we're not a good fit, we end the relationship and then when I meet a new guy that would interest me, another dating cycle would begin. br /br /Here's the book's approach to dating: When I find someone I'm interested in, rather than going on a date with him (so rather than jumping into a romantic relationship right away), I'd develop a good friendship with him first. If you think you can't get to know someone by just being their friend, you haven't experienced good friendship. The book explains that this is a healthier way to get to know someone (that is a potential spouse) without the 'romantic' pressure and confusion. This is what Joshua calls kissing dating good-bye. But he doesn't end there. br /br /If, through your friendship the intrigue and respect grows, then you enter a 'courtship.' (I know I said I wasn't going to defend Joshua but he DOES say that 'courtship' could be called whatever you want - e.g. DATING. So he wasn't telling everyone not to date!!!) The difference between what people call 'dating' and 'courtship' is that 'courtship' is purposeful. You're getting to know each other to see if you are right for marriage. How is 'courtship' different from the 'serious relationship' I described above? Well, in a courtship you wouldn't be acting like your typical boyfriend/girlfriend. Rather, courtship would be like a job interview (but obviously more fun, less rigid, with more food). You're taking time out to get to know each other to see if you're both right for marriage. br /br /I bought into this book 100% because I've decided that I don't want to hop from one relationship to another giving pieces of my heart away - I'd like to reserve that for just one person. Some people may say, you can guard your heart while dating...well, easier said than done. But if you think you can 'date' around and still have a purposeful relationship that honours God, then great! I wish you all the best! br /br /But if you're like me, I highly recommend this book. Not only that, if you're someone who's entering the dating world, or are confused about dating, I also recommend this book to you. You may not agree with everything in this book, but it may give you some good guidance to dating. br /br /One last note about this book. It focuses on pleasing God. As Christians, we strive to commit our lives to God daily in all areas of our lives. For the singles, dating is a big part of our lives and this book constantly goes back to the question 'Is this pleasing to God?' Whether you follow the principles in this book or not is not the big question, but awareness and acknowledgement of God is.br /
	Closer [Blu-ray]
	"close enough"	2008-01-19
This movie is originally a playwright. And it hasn't been film-ized completely, so it feels like you're watching a play on screen. I think that's how you should watch this film rather than expecting a conventional film. As mentioned in other reviews the film is explicit in its sexuality and yet there are no sex scenes. It's only in conversations you find out about the sex, lies, and betrayals. Yes, the time frame is confusing as the change of scene can mean the movie has moved forward a day or three months, but I think we're all smart enough to follow. Personally I think the subtlety is what makes this movie brilliant. We, as audience, aren't told what we're supposed to think but rather given the opportunity to actually think for ourselves. This movie stands in its own league and really shouldn't be compared to your average romance movies. The movie is lead by the four actors who are flawless in their performances and I recommend this movie to anyone looking for a unique film experience.
	Disturbia [Blu-ray]
	"disturbed?"	2008-01-19
Not as disturbing as I'd hoped. The plotline is predictable and it isn't as thrilling or frightening as you'd like. Despite this flaw, there isn't a boring moment in the movie which is a huge credit to the director and the actors. It kept me watching. One of the best parts of the movie was the discovery of the young actor, Shia LeBeouf (impossible to spell!). I remember him in very small roles in big movies but he did amazingly well playing the male lead of the movie. Definitely an actor to watch out for. Actually the whole ensemble of the actors were quite fantastic.
	Black and Blue
	"Black and Blue with flying colors"	2008-01-19
Anna Quindlen's writing is the perfect chocolate cake. Not too dry, not overly creamy, but moist and perfect for the taste buds. That's Anna Quindlen's writing. The story in this book is very honest and real, but my enjoyment and amazement of the book came more from the brilliance of her writing. Her writing makes the characters more vivid and real than if you'd met'em in person. I think Ms Quindlen should tell all stories. She can probably make a microwave dinner sound more interesting than a blockbuster movie. If you're someone who enjoys excellent literature, I highly recommend this book to you. Even if you weren't a fan of the genre, you'll still be enchanted.
	Disturbia [HD DVD]
	"disturbed?"	2008-01-18
Not as disturbing as I'd hoped. The plotline is predictable and it isn't as thrilling or frightening as you'd like. Despite this flaw, there isn't a boring moment in the movie which is a huge credit to the director and the actors. It kept me watching. One of the best parts of the movie was the discovery of the young actor, Shia LeBeouf (impossible to spell!). I remember him in very small roles in big movies but he did amazingly well playing the male lead of the movie. Definitely an actor to watch out for.
	Black and Blue : A Novel
	"Black and Blue with flying colors"	2008-01-18
Anna Quindlen's writing is the perfect chocolate cake. Not too dry, not overly creamy, but moist and perfect for the taste buds. That's Anna Quindlen's writing. She didn't do a great job at telling this story but a 'perfect' job. The book tells the story of an abused woman who has had enough and runs away from her husband, a police officer. She takes her son with her. She coincidentally finds an organization that helps women like herself to start a new life - an organization that claims that their program is more efficient than the witness protection program. The story goes back and forth from her new (completely new) life, and flashbacks to her life of abuse. What was so interesting about the story-telling was that there was the constant wondering of whether this husband of hers would find her. As a reader, I was sweating with the main character, everytime the phone rang or when there were strangers or policemen at her son's school. A true page-turner. Quindlen's set up of the characters were so real that when the characters spoke, (call me crazy) I could imagine what kind of voice they'd have if I were to really hear them in person. Even if you're not a fan of this genre or this subject matter, this book is an awesome piece of literature. Read it.
	Native Speaker
	"A book for second generation Koreans."	2007-10-18
I am a Korean who grew up in an immigrant family and I am forever grateful for this book. As mentioned in many other reviews the search for identity and the many searches the human experience presents transcends culture or ethnicity and in that regard this book is a great success. However, I do believe the greater success of this book comes from the amazingly accurate presentation of the idiosyncratic experiences of a Korean immigrant. In that regard, I believe this book achieves the greatest success. When you're watching a movie set in Paris, the movie experience will be completely different for the person who's only read about Paris and the person who's actually walked the streets of Paris. On that note, let me say, this book will be more meaningful to those such as myself - second- generation Koreans. No matter how much research you've done or how many Korean friends you have, you can never fully understand the unique experience of a Korean immigrant family unless you are apart of one. Chang Rae Lee is not generous with his experience. He uses candour and brutal honesty to present this unique Korean culture from a first-hand experience. If you've been through the struggles of culture in a Korean immigrant setting, you will find a friend in this book. You'll find assurance that you are not alone in the straining journey of a second-generation immigrant. The artistic accomplishment of this book is also evident on this review board. If this many non-Koreans were moved by it despite the specific subject matter...there is nothing else I need to add about the phenomenal talent of Chang-Rae Lee.
	Bounce
	"warm and sweet"	2007-03-04
This film was a surprise to me. As the blurb on the DVD case said, this was a romantic movie with great chemistry between the two co-stars, I expected to see a cute movie about two beautiful people falling in love. but I was pleasantly suprised by the depth of the movie. The basic plotline is this: Ben Affleck plays a vibrant, young man with a promising career named Buddy who gives up his plane ticket to a man he meets at the airport for a night with a beautiful blond. As fate would have it, the plane has a deadly crash killing all the passengers on board including Buddy's acquaintance. To make up for the guilt, Buddy seeks out the widow of this acquaintance, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Although, Buddy's intentions were merely to help the family and disappear, in the midst of his guilt, he sees past the grief and falls in love with this beautiful woman. I believe the script, the directing, and the acting were all very successful in this film. Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck were very believable and the gradual growth in their relationship was very real. Gwyneth's performance was quite amazing. Peronally this is one of my favorite performances by her. She allows Abby to be vulnerable and emotional yet her strength and virtues are consistent throughout the movie. The credit goes to both Gwyneth and the write/director, Don Roos for this. The director seemed to have paid much attention to the details, especially with the two characters in their behavior. Five stars!
	Bounce
	"warm and sweet"	2007-03-04
This film was a surprise to me. As the blurb on the DVD case said, this was a romantic movie with great chemistry between the two co-stars, I expected to see a cute movie about two beautiful people falling in love. but I was pleasantly suprised by the depth of the movie. The basic plotline is this: Ben Affleck plays a vibrant, young man with a promising career named Buddy who gives up his plane ticket to a man he meets at the airport for a night with a beautiful blond. As fate would have it, the plane has a deadly crash killing all the passengers on board including Buddy's acquaintance. To make up for the guilt, Buddy seeks out the widow of this acquaintance, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Although, Buddy's intentions were merely to help the family and disappear, in the midst of his guilt, he sees past the grief and falls in love with this beautiful woman. I believe the script, the directing, and the acting were all very successful in this film. Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck were very believable and the gradual growth in their relationship was very real. Gwyneth's performance was quite amazing. Peronally this is one of my favorite performances by her. She allows Abby to be vulnerable and emotional yet her strength and virtues are consistent throughout the movie. The credit goes to both Gwyneth and the write/director, Don Roos for this. The director seemed to have paid much attention to the details, especially with the two characters in their behavior. Five stars!
	A Walk to Remember
	"From a profesional romance movie-ist"	2006-08-18
Two teenagers falling in love in high school may have people write it off as another teen flick but I thought the teenage factor was a necessary element if not an advantage in the story-telling. If you can remember that far back, when you fall in love as a teenager it's a crystal pure love with a lot less complications. The two actors of the movie capture that so well which I believe is one of the successes of this film. Shane West - I'm now a fan. I have not heard of this actor before, but his portrayal of Landon and his tranformation from a bad boy to a boy in love is satisfyingly accurate. Mandy Moore - a rare breed in Hollywood - beautiful and sexy with a wholesome image. I was aware that she received a lot of credit as an actress in this movie (which was one of the reasons why I wanted to see the film) but I was surprised at how she was able to carry the film with such ease. Honestly, I am not a fan of Nicholas Sparks - his novels or adapted films. I am not going to say that this one was an exception. The movie still had sappy lines, unrealistic plot, and unconvincing elements to it. But I give it five stars for successfully sucking me, a non-Sparks fan, into the movie. And as someone who loves, just looooves, romance movies I could not dismiss the brilliant chemistry of the love story with less than five stars. I would be dishonoring my integrity as a professional romance movie-ist. :)