5 CHILDREN & IT (2005)

Last week I mentioned some of the films in which Freddie Highmore appeared as a child actor. This is another one.

During the two World Wars in Europe it became custom to send children from especially affluent families from the city to live, for safety reasons, with relatives residing in the rural country side (think for instance of the Pevensie children from the Narnia-series). In this instance it is during the First World Was and five kids from London are sent to stay with their eccentric uncle and his even weirder household in his dilapidated castle by the sea while both their parents are involved in the war effort. And this is then where they meet It, a strange but magical creature that calls itself a sand fairy and has the ability to grant wishes. 

It is a heart warming story full of adventure and, of course, magic. Besides Freddie, this movie also has an excellent cast that includes greats like Kenneth Branagh, Zoe Wanamaker and Eddie Izzard as the voice of It. I thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moZugdUFBXw

 The first encounter...

THE CIDER HOUSE RULES (1999)

Based on the classic novel by American author John Irving this multi award winning film is a touching look at coming of age. Directed by Lasse Halstrom the subject matter is treated with sensitivity without it becoming overly sentimental.

Young Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) grew up in an orphanage where he was basically groomed by Dr Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine in a role that won him an Oscar) to eventually take over his place as director of the institution. However, Homer is not so sure that that is what he wants to do for the rest of his life. So, one day, when a pair of strangers pay then a visit, he asks them to take him with them in search of the real world. But the ensuing events make him re-think his views on life, love and the true meaning of home.

In the end I guess the moral of the story is the age old truth of you never know what it is that your have before you actually run the real risk of losing it forever. I enjoyed this DVD and gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWpOP9NoaM8

Michael Caine and Toby Maguire

 

THE ART OF GETTING BY (2011)

Freddie Highmore is also one of those actors that was able to successfully make the transition from cute child star to accomplished adult actor. Just think of movies like Finding Neverland (2004), Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005), Arthur And The Invisibles (2006) and August Rush (2007). He was indeed a busy little bee when he was still very young. But, more recently, in productions like the TV series Bates Motel and the movie under discussion, he more than proved that he's got what it takes to make as a full fledged actor in the challenging world of entertainment.

In this movie he plays George Zinavoy, a cynical teenager that does not see any sense in anything until he meets the beautiful but quirky Sally (wonderfully portrayed by Emma Roberts) to help him realize life is worth living after all! Again, this is just the movie to watch if you feel a bit down and wonder about your own place in the bigger scheme of things.

It is highly recommended to get rid of those post holiday blues. It deserves the 3 out of 5 stars I rated it with.

Trailer link:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tueRW54vj4Y

  Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts

RAMPART (2011)

This is a load of rubbish that deserves just 1 star out of 5. The only reason why I did not rate it as a DUD (in other words no star at all) is due to the star studded cast including Woody Harrelson. But even they are not able to make something out of nothing.

It just goes to show that you should stay away from unknown stuff from bargain bins in shops which is exactly where I found this turkey of a DVD! However, if you like to look at senseless violence and especially police brutality, your opinion just might differ from mine. But even then I think you will agree that we at least deserve to expect a proper story line which movie is seriously lacking...

Trailer link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpte72HaLRE

Woody Harrelson in action... 

THE A-TEAM (2010)

The same can definitely not be said of this movie. Based on the hugely popular TV series of the 1980's under the same title, the movie takes you back to where it all started. But for some reason, when it first came out the film did not receive the same rave reviews of the earlier series. Maybe that was because too many people and critics compared the two directly with each other. Unfortunately that seems to be the case almost always. I am sure you can think of many more such examples where either a TV series was made into a movie (as is the case here) and visa versa. And to say that such comparison is not fair, I think, is not quite fair in it self as it all bears down to a matter of taste.

Be that as it may, in the end I enjoyed both the original series as well as the movie each in it's own way. My honest opinion is that the movie is good enough to earn itself 3 out of 5 stars. The only question I am left with is, why has there been no attempt to any sequels yet? 

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exyzEFrmLuM

 The old (above) and the new...