My Neighbour Totoro (1988, dir. Hayao Miyazaki) ***.5/****

I've always had a love for Japanese anime, especially films by Hayao Miyazaki.  He has the ability to capture the imagination of any viewer regardless of age.  My Neighbour Totoro tells the story of a family who move to a house in the countryside of somewhere in Japan.  The house is a beautiful, old run-down place which is inhabited by spirits both inside and outside.  The two young girls (voiced by sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning) befriend a few of these spirits living in the forest outside their house.  One of them, a large, fluffy, bear-like being they call "Totoro."  The film is a whimsical tale and depicts how these forest spirits eventually help the girls get out of trouble.  There is something magical about the film and the Japanese mythology is quite compelling.  Obviously, a film that is made for children has to be quite simple in plot but there is something charming about the movie and even adults will enjoy it for its beautiful imagery and childhood innocence.

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011, dir. Martin Scorsese) ****/****

This documentary on George Harrison is one of the most interesting documentaries I have seen.  Martin Scorsese, continuing in the same vein as his previous documentary on Bob Dylan called No Direction Home, brings George Harrison's fabulous career as a musician with the Beatles and on his own to life.  He paints a picture of Harrison that captures all of his idiosyncrasies and talents and weaves a rich tapestry of a truly compelling musical figure.  Harrison's contribution to the Beatles is brought to light as well as his spiritual contributions which for him was a life-long exploration that was always in development.  In fact, the spirituality that George discovered is highlighted as the most important contributing factor to his music and his life.  With insightful comments from many different interviews from such people as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, his form wives, son, and other friends, Scorsese's documentary portrays Harrison in a way previously unattained and gives him a respectful portrait as a towering musicians with an accomplished spiritual background.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011, dir. Lasse Hallstrom) ***/****

Lasse Hallstrom's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen tells a story of a fisheries expert who is approached by a consultant to realize a sheik's dream of bringing fly-fishing to a desert in the Yemen.  This is a fairly quirky tale as you can tell by this description but the screenplay is witty enough and the characters are compelling enough to make the viewer believe in it and enjoy it as it unfolds.  Ewan MacGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas are among the principle players and they all do a wonderful job of bringing heart and soul to a movie that you wouldn't expect to like.  There are some genuinely funny moments in this movie there are also moments of suspense.  I saw this film as part of a Film series at Shaw Festival and the audience applauded when the movie ended.  It has real wit and charm.

Les Miserables (2012, dir. Tom Hooper) ****/****

The film-musical version of Les Miserables is a sprawling epic:  engaging, enthralling, captivating and sensational.  The cast is dynamite and the staging of the musical numbers is extremely well-done.  I loved this film, but I'm also a huge fan of the original musical so perhaps I am a bit biased.  On the other hand, I think anyone will enjoy the movie who isn't familiar with the music and it will win over new fans to the musical version.  Some highlights are "One Day More", "Master of the House", and "At the End of the Day".  But the whole thing is brilliant.  The film is sure to garner multiple Oscar nominations, most notably for Best Picture, Actor (Hugh Jackman), and Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway).  The casting is perfect of all the principle characters.  The period detail is also very beautiful and Tom Hooper does a masterful job of bringing the musical to life on the big screen.

  

Total Recall (2012, dir. Len Wiseman) *.5/****

Total Recall is a remake of an Arnold Swartzenegger movie from 1990.  CGI has come a long way since then so they felt the desire to remake it.  Was it necessary?  Probably not.  The movie is confusing and boring.  In case you were wondering, there is an appearance made by the notorious triple-breasted woman of the original film.  Her inclusion in the film seems unnecessary and gratuitous.  The film itself is instantly forgettable.  The futuristic atmosphere is quite visually-pleasing.  But you leave the theatre with a sense of being let down and having spent two hours for nothing.  There is nothing you will take away from this useless remake.  Some will say its better than the original.  That is not saying much however because the original was nothing to sneeze at either.

Jack Reacher (2012, dir. Christopher McQuarrie) **/****

Jack Reacher is an action movie in the same vein as Dirty Harry and a Jason Bourne movie.  In it, Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) investigates the case of a homicidal maniac sniper who guns down innocent people.  It is a case of mistaken identity and Cruise's character must get to the bottom of a series of criminal activities and corruption.  It is simply an OK picture that is instantly forgettable and will definitely not make any end-of-the-year best films of 2012 lists.  It is to run-of-the-mill, derivative, and unoriginal.  I was left with an unpleasant feeling at the end of this picture because of all the gunplay and  killing in the wake of the recent killings in an elementary school in the US.  Definitely one that is not worth seeing again and even the lame title gives a hint as to the lame attempt at a compelling action picture.

Ted (2012, dir. Seth MacFarlane) ***/****

Ted has some very funny moments and delivers the typical comedic elements of an episode of The Family Guy only a little more raunchier.  Writer, director and star Seth MacFarlane pushes the envelope as far as risque humour goes and often ends up with some hilarious outcomes.  Ted is a teddy bear who comes to life one Christmas after his owner, played by Mark Wahlberg wishes that he was alive and was his best friend.  The grown up Wahlberg character is 35 and still living with his furry friend much to the dismay of his girlfriend played by Mila Kunis.  There isn't much of a plot to the movie and some of the material falls flat but there are some highlights.  Much of the humour is derived from the fact that Ted is a child's teddy bear but he still uses filthy language, smokes pot and drinks, and has sexual intercourse.  You may finish this movie with a slight feeling of being let down because the whole thing doesn't amount to anything very significant or earth-shattering.  But it is still a very funny movie that will make you laugh.