You’ve got one chance to save your life. Do you take it? Or do you hope for something better to come along? That’s the choice Dakota (Emily Mortimer), a killer for hire, faces. Elmo McElroy (Samuel L. Jackson), still in his kilt, has her by the wrist, dangling off the side of a building. He offers her $1 million to call of the hit or he’ll drop her. She counters. Ah well, life is short.

Once a deal is reached, she lands on a ladder while a crooked cop gets the drop on Elmo. Always interested in what’s up a Scotsman’s kilt, the cop asks as the fabric rises. Little does he know that it may be his last wish.

Director:  Ronny Yu Writer:  Stel Pavlou Cast:
Samuel L. Jackson -  Elmo McElroy Robert Carlyle -  Felix DeSouza Emily Mortimer -  Dakota Phillips Rhys Ifans -  Iki Meatloaf -  The Lizard Ricky Tomlinson -  Leopold Durant Sean Pertwee -  Detective Virgil Kane Jake Abraham -  Konokko		Michael Starke -  Arthur Mac McDonald -  Mr. Davidson Aaron Swartz -  Mr. Yuri Nigel Whitmey -  L.A. Highway Patrol David Webber -  Mr. Jones Christopher Hunter -  Lawrence Robert Jezek -  Priest Michael J. Reynolds -  Mr. Escobar

What lengths would you go to in order to make the kind of money that will set you up for life? Would you betray your crew? Would you go on the run and leave your tidy life behind?

Laure Ash (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) likes women. At a film premiere, she makes a move on one with a caress and a whisper. But it’s not to be as the woman flinches and stomps out. Alas, it is just a ploy for she has lured Veronica (Rie Rasmussen) for a bit of girl-on-girl in order to steal a diamond encrusted body piece and other jewelry. The caper goes awry when a bodyguard decides too much time has passed and goes to investigate. Laure gets away but not before her colleagues swear revenge.

Director:  Brian De Palma Writer:  Brian De Palma; Marina Gefter Cast:
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos -  Laure Ash/Lily Antonio Banderas -  Nicolas Bardo Peter Coyote -  Bruce Watts Eriq Ebouaney -  Black Tie Edouard Montoute -  Racine Rie Rasmussen -  Veronica Thierry Frémont -  Serra Gregg Henry -  Leonard Shiff		Fiona Curzon -  Stanfield Phillips Daniel Milgram -  Pierre/Bartender Jean-Marc Minéo -  Seated Guard Jean Chatel -  Cannes Commentator Stéphane Petit -  Bodyguard One Olivier Follet -  Bodyguard Two Eva Darlan -  Irma Jean-Marie Frin -  Louis

Rod McCain (Kevin Kline) is a blustering billionaire who buys and sells just for the buzz it gives him. Management of one of his recent acquisitions, a British zoo, is in the hands of Rollo Lee (John Cleese), who is tasked to squeeze a 20 percent profit from the place or else. His idea to succeed is to posit the theory that violence is the only thing that sells and decides to purge the zoo of all but the dangerous animals.

His approach is complicated by the arrival of two Americans; newly hired marketing expert Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis) and McCain’s lout of a son Vince (Kevin Kline redux) who plans to transform the zoo into a corporate and celebrity sponsored theme park. Toss into the mix, Adrian ‘Bugsy’ Malone (Michael Palin), a zoo employee who is an obsessive walking encyclopedia chattering incessantly. Along for the ride are the staff who try to save their charges by convincing Rollo that the animals are dangerous, leading to some very creative misdirection.

I was quite taken by this movie once I realized that the reviews it got were undeserved and any salaciousness should have been reserved for the film editing.

Director:  Fred Schepisi; Robert Young Writer:  John Cleese; Iain Johnstone; William Goldman Cast:
John Cleese -  Rollo Lee Jamie Lee Curtis -  Willa Weston Kevin Kline -  Vince McCain/Rod McCain Robert Lindsay -  Sydney Lotterby Michael Palin -  Adrian ‘Bugsy’ Malone Ronnie Corbett -  Reggie Sea Lions Carey Lowell -  Cub Felines Bille Brown -  Neville		Derek Griffiths -  Garry Ungulates Cynthia Cleese -  Pip Small Mammals Richard Ridings -  Hugh Primates Maria Aitken -  Di Harding Michael Percival -  Ant Keeper Fred Evans -  Flamingo Keeper Lisa Hogan -  Sea lion Keeper Choy-Ling Man -  Parrot Keeper

The father-son dynamic is a tricky one. Growing up, your dad was the incarnation of Superman. As time passes, that image tarnishes as you realize his superpowers aren’t quite what you thought them to be. Until you figure out he is just a guy trying to do his best by you. Through these years, dad wants you safe and not to suffer the vagaries of life that he did. Trying to find a balance between both of you is the toughest bit in order to end up with mutual respect and admiration. Often there is a hiccup or two along the way. Just ask Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks) who grips the controls a smidge tightly until his son Nemo (voice of Alexander Gould) feels suffocated and starts to rebel and is caught up in the net of pet shop tropical fish collector. Marlin gird up his fishy loins and takes off into unknown waters to find his son.

Director:  Andrew Stanton; Lee Unkrich Writer:  Andrew Stanton; Bob Peterson; David Reynolds Cast:
Albert Brooks -  Marlin (voice) Ellen DeGeneres -  Dory (voice) Alexander Gould -  Nemo (voice) Willem Dafoe -  Gill (voice) Brad Garrett -  Bloat (voice) Allison Janney -  Peach (voice) Austin Pendleton -  Gurgle (voice) Stephen Root -  Bubbles (voice)		Vicki Lewis -  Deb/Flo (voice) Joe Ranft -  Jacques (voice) Geoffrey Rush -  Nigel (voice) Andrew Stanton -  Crush (voice) Elizabeth Perkins -  Coral (voice) Nicholas Bird -  Squirt (voice) Bob Peterson -  Mr. Ray (voice) Barry Humphries -  Bruce (voice)

Practically everyone has another that they imbue with the traits they admire and hope to emulate. Not all of them live up to the standards and some pass before their admirer expects. How do you cope with such a change? Most go on with a pall hanging over them.

Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the others are forced to travel through the Mines of Moria. They are attacked by Orcs and a Troll, and run into a Balrog, an ancient demon of shadow and fire, while attempting to cross the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf (Ian McKellen) faces off against the Balrog on the bridge, letting the others escape, while he falls with the creature into the abyss below. What is Frodo to do?

Director:  Peter Jackson Writer:  J.R.R. Tolkien; Frances Walsh; Philippa Boyens; Peter Jackson Cast:
Elijah Wood -  Frodo Baggins Sean Astin -  Sam Gamgee Sean Bean -  Boromir Cate Blanchett -  Galadriel Orlando Bloom -  Legolas Greenleaf Ian Holm -  Bilbo Baggins Ian McKellen -  Gandalf Christopher Lee -  Saruman		Viggo Mortensen -  Aragorn Andy Serkis -  Gollum Billy Boyd -  Pippin Dominic Monaghan -  Merry John Rhys-Davies -  Gimli Liv Tyler -  Arwen Marton Csokas -  Celeborn Ian Mune -  Bounder