DEAR JOHN

Romance

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Amanda Seyfried: 20-something-year-old college student Savannah Curtis
Scott Porter: her friend Randy
Channing Tatum: Special Forces Army Sergeant John Tyree
Richard Jenkins: John’s father
Henry Thomas: Alan’s father Tim

REVIEW
Fans of the Harlequin romance novels will love it; others probably less so. The female target audience, primarily teenage girls, will be enchanted with this story of young love tinged with some unfortunate circumstance if you believe the title.

This is a big production number with decent acting, a nice score and some fine cinemaphotography. It’s too bad it is so cliché ridden and entirely predictable.

But again, perhaps that is what some moviegoers want ?

CLASSIFICATION
for some sensuality and violence.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
John said he was born in 1980 and toured the United States Mint at Philadelphia to see them producing coins when he was 8. Trouble is, the coins being struck are dated 1987, a year before he got there.

Savanna has some wine during dinner with Tom. Before standing up her glass is less than half full but by the time she is on her feet it has replenished itself and now its almost right to the top.

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE

Science fiction, romance

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Eric Bana: 30-year-old Henry DeTamble, Library researcher
Rachel McAdams: the adult Clare Abshire, an artist
Arliss Howard: Henry’s father Richard
Brooklyn Proulx: the young Clare
Ron Livingston: Gomez, boyfriend of Clares roommate
Stephen Tobolowsky: geneticist Dr. Kendrick

REVIEW
Watching this film about a time traveler (someone who can move from one instant in time to another) is like being bounced about on a rocking ship. Just when you think you got a good grasp on the situation, it all changes. An interesting premise this time travelling but it leads to a jumbled mess of encounters as you are witness to things happening totally out of sequence.

Any movie that is primarily a love story to my mind is best served in the traditional narrative form with the odd flashback as required. That way we get to see how things play out. Instead, as each new episode is presented, we know soon it’s going to disappear. Not much fun in that.

CLASSIFICATION
for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
• With the bride and her father about to walk down the aisle, almost half the house behind them is in shadow. By the time they arrive at the altar moments later the entire façade is now in brilliant sunlight.
• While Henry is talking to the young Clare in the meadow, a white thread is clearly visible hanging from her left sleeve. It disappears and reappears between shots.
• Henry slides into bed on the left hand side. The next shot is a close up with him talking to Clare and as the camera pulls back we see he somehow in an instant has gotten over to the right hand side.

PASSCHENDAELE

War, romance








BACKGROUND
This map of the area around the small town of Ypres, Belgium (shown as the red symbol at the midway point) indicates the frontline at various stages from just east of the town progressing to the line on the right encompassing the village of Passchendaele. The assault was the first major international battle for the contingent of Canadian troops. The distance between the two solid lines is a mere 5 miles. It cost the lives of 140,000 Allied troops, roughly 2 inches of territory gained per dead soldier.



PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Paul Gross: Sergeant Michael Dunne
Caroline Dhavernas: Nurse Lt. Sarah Mann
Joe Dinicol: her brother David

REVIEW
No war story would be complete without some element of romance: this film devotes most of the time to just that and far less to the battle scenes. This may come as a disappointment to anyone looking for more action. For me it was enough because not since Saving Private Ryan has hand-to-hand fighting been so realistically presented on screen. It’s enough to make you want to stop all wars now.

This film is about Canadians during the First World War both at home and on the battlefield. The producers have gone to great lengths to accurately portray the battle scenes. It has that authentic look and feel about it. The acting is fine and the cinematography first-rate.

CLASSIFICATION
for war violence.

P.S.
Actual black-and-white film footage and photos accompany the end credits. No one even moved while these were being shown. Having that many people stay after the end of a movie is rare indeed

STARDUST

Fantasy romance

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Charlie Cox: Tristan, a 18-year old Englishman
Sienna Miller: Victoria, a rather vain young lady
Henry Cavill: big bully Humphrey
Claire Danes: the walking-talking fallen star Yvaine
Peter O’Toole: the king of Stormhold
Michelle Pfeiffer: the not so ugly witch Lamia

REVIEW
After half an hour I had enough and walked out. What transpired I think is all pretty silly. Here’s what I saw so you can be the judge:

Tristan falls in love with the prettiest maiden in the village (what else is new?) who is betrothed to the town-braggart (surprise) but will marry the new guy if he fetchs her a falling star (now that’s true love) which turns out to be a even more beautiful girl. But an ugly witch wants to snatch her heart out so she (the ugly witch) will gain immortal beauty and now Tristan has all kinds of problems.

CLASSIFICATION
for fantasy violence and some risque humor.

CASHBACK

Fantasy, comedy, romance

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Sean Biggerstaff: Ben Willis, gifted artist and stock clerk
Michelle Ryan: Ben’s girlfriend Suzy
Stuart Goodwin: Jenkins, the boss at Sainsbury's supermarket
Emilia Fox: Sharon, the checkout clerk
Michael Dixon: Barry, fellow employee
Shaun Evans: Ben’s long time friend Sean
Marc Pickering: wannabe kung fu master Brian

REVIEW
Just a quick glance at the poster and you can see why the movie is unconventional and controversial. It is also original and entertaining. Unlike most British productions the humour is not of the cerebral sort, but often funny nevertheless.

CLASSIFICATION
So far the movie has only been released in Quebec and the Régie du cinéma has given it their 13+ rating.

In Canada, theatrical movie ratings are a provincial responsibility and they use different rating systems and descriptors. When released in the rest of Canada later this year it will no doubt get their R rating (Restricted to persons 18 years of age or over) taking into account the visually explicit full frontal nudity. Perhaps the Quebec board missed that part?

P.S.
Many companies have some type of loyalty reward program extended to shoppers either in the form of points that can be redeemed for something or sometimes a discount on the spot which is effectively getting cash back. These reward programs in Britain are referred to as Cashback.