Winter's Tale - moview review

Who would have thought that Colin Farrell could make such a wonderful romantic lead.  Whoever did the casting in Winter's Tale, knew something that most didn't.  If you want to see one movie which depicts a love story which totally embraces love, time travel, and mythology, then this is it.


What a beautiful story.  A thief (Colin Farrell) who has a fight on his hand with an old nemeses (a demon played aptly by Russell Crowe) has a beautiful white horse come into his life (Pegasus) and while he burglars a particular house falls for a girl who is dying.  She eventually dies in his arms, but not before the most wonderful love scenes of sincerity and joy have taken place. Plus lots of philosophy of life.


Then his nemeses sees him dead, except somehow he arrives not knowing who he is in our time. Here he encounters another person (Jennifer Connelly) who has a daughter who is dying from cancer. It is how this story unfolds and how although he thought he was supposed to save the original red haired girl, it turns out he can save the young red haired girl instead.  He also gets to destroy the demon, and flies away on Pegasus.  Sounds a bit much, but really it is beautifully done.  Akiva Goldsman who co-wrote and directed this movie has done a wonderful job of bringing a sensitive, hard to put into movie form story.  I believe he did it.  (I know many critics say it didn't).  But as I sat there with tears in my eyes (at the end) I was so glad I saw it and so did my friends who were there with me.


This is a beautiful love story, soft, gentle and leaves you with the feeling that love is real. Enjoy all of life fully while you can.  Go see this beautiful story.  The settings are wonderful. Especially those set back in time.  Oh yes, can't not mention Will Smith who has a small role as the 'Judge', (the Devil).  As usual he is great!. Plus Eva Marie Saint has a small role. Great to see her also.  A Winter's Tale, is definitely a winter winner!
4 out of 5. 

After Earth movie review

I was not sure I wanted to see After Earth. Watching the previews with these large animals wanting to 'kill' humans I knew I would be frightened etc.  But, go see it I did and although I covered my eyes in certain scenes, and definitely had adrenalin racing through my veins, I was glad to see it mostly because of the discourse that Will Smith, who is listed as writing this movie, gives on FEAR!!  It's brilliant and worth seeing just for that as he teaches his son, Kitai played by his real life son Jaden about how not to exhibit fear. A lesson which gets learned by the end of the movie. They way Will explains fear is exactly how I teach it, but delivered so well. 
Their spaceship is wrecked on earth, a place where humans no longer live, but animals who hunt them do.  Cypher, Will Smith is injured so his young teenage son has to travel 100 miles over rough terrain with very variable day/night temperatures to get a beacon from the other part of the space ship. The adventures he goes through is what the story is mainly about, with flashbacks to the death of his sister to aid the impact of the story.  Young Jaden Smith, carries this movie and considering his age he does an incredible job. Will Smith's job as being the commander/father and learning about his son, who is strong minded and trying to impress him is truly a supporting role, done is the usual great Will Smith style.
If you like your adrenalin on high, action scenes with human fighting dangerous animals (even though animated) this is the movie to see.  Don't take young children, its violent and scaring even for an adult like me.
Mostly through the discourse on FEAR is why to see this movie and what is learned and taught about FEAR is worth the journey.
3 1/2 out of 5.