Avatar

For the love of Pete, go see Avatar, in 3D, as soon as possible. It literally had me gasping aloud. The most visually stunning movie since What Dreams May Come. Add to that a masterpiece of a story, an solid script, an incredible cast, great acting, and rich, full characters and you have a movie that lives up to its hype. And since I essentially live under a rock and had never even seen a preview for it, it didn't even have to do that for me. But despite my lack of expectations, I couldn't have been much more impressed. The best word for it (as cliche as it may sound) is epic. Just GO.
For a great review go to: http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Avatar

Is Anyone As Excited About THIS As I Am?

Sundance Excitement

Billy Bob Thornton and me at the 2009 Sundance Festival.


I have a time-slot to purchase individual local tickets to the Sundance Film Festival on January 9th. I'm excited! My good friend, Lacey, will be coming in from Denver to "do" the festival its first weekend. She will be here for four days and we plan to see at least three films. We also aim to get our pictures taken with Orlando Bloom (yum!) and Ryan Gosling (Lacey's pick). The next weekend my sister, Sarah, and her 15 year old son, Gabe, will be in town from Arizona. I'll probably hit another film with them.
Which films, you ask. Well, I intend to see a worldwide premier on both Friday the 23rd and the day after. I won't tell you which, just in case you're a stalker, but I will tell you what films look intruiguing.

Those starring celebrities:
The Company Men (Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner)
Cyrus (John C. Rilley, Marissa Tomei)
Blue Valentine (Ryan Gosling)
Burried (Ryan Reynolds)
Hesher (Rainn Wilson, Piper Laurie, Natalie Portman)
Sympathy for Delicious (Orlando Bloom:)
Get Low (Bill Murray)
Jack Goes Boating (Phillip Seymore Hoffman, etc.)
The Extra Man (Kevin Kline, etc.)
Howl (James Franco:), etc.)
The Runaways (Kristin Stewart, Dakota Fanning)
Bran Nue Dae (Geoffrey Rush)
3 Backyards
Please Give

Those without any big-names:
All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Boy
Abel
Obselidia
Armless
Cane Toads
The Shock Doctrine
Bilal's Stand
Douchebag
Peepli Live
Son of Babylon
Southern District
Vegetarian
Animation Showcase

Documentaries:
Lucky
Bhutto
A Film Unfinished
His & Hers
My Perestoika
Smash His Camera
Waiting for Superman
Wasteland
Secrets of the Tribes
Russian Lessons
The Red Chapel
Last Train Home

Find your picks in the film guide.