It is easy to get lost. All it takes is a wrong turn and you find yourself looking around and wondering what happened and how you got to this point. Just as Steven Goodson (Fred Savage). He took the advice of his friend Jack Manning (Steven Pasquale), went on a tear after dumping his cheating girlfriend Chloe (Andrea Bogart) and turned into a hound of the first stripe. Now he’s broke, fired from his job and sniffing around any girl that will give him the time of day. One night, he runs into Amelia (Erinn Bartlett), an old high school chum he was too shy to date, and finds himself ambivalent over whether he wants to see her again or seduce her on the spot. Maybe he has run out of steam.

Director:  Jonathan Segal; Anthony Hickox Writer:  Todd M. Camhe; Jonathan Segal Cast:
Fred Savage -  Steven Goodson Amy Adams -  Alexis Steven Pasquale -  Jack Manning Andrea Bogart -  Chloe Erinn Bartlett -  Amelia Vyto Ruginis -  Clancy Robert Romanus -  Steven’s Boss Ray Baker -  Mr. Powers		Abby Brammell -  Bar-Back Chick Amanda Swisten -  Sage Lisa Arturo -  Ginger Jillian Bach -  Felicia Ina Barron -  Stunning Brunette Judith Benezra -  Bridget Art Bonilla -  Landscaping Co-Worker Sharon Brathwaite -  Renee

I was idling away an evening watching this movie again when the bad guys had forced the good guys to lead them to the Cradle of Life to find Pandora’s box. They were headed into the are of the shadows and we see a portion of the country that looks like it has been swept through by a forest fire when Cthulhu Mythos popped into my head. Geez, where did that come from? Then the bad guys get picked off one by one and thoughts of the minions of the Elder Gods surfaced. Then Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) drops the glowing bowling ball map down into what looks like a hole in a pinball table and I wondered whether we were in the middle of a H.P. Lovecraft shooter game. The unseen horror of Doom arises made me smirk.

Director:  Jan de Bont Writer:  Steven E. de Souza; James V. Hart; Dean Georgaris Cast:
Angelina Jolie -  Lara Croft Gerard Butler -  Terry Sheridan Ciarán Hinds -  Jonathan Reiss Christopher Barrie -  Hillary Noah Taylor -  Bryce Djimon Hounsou -  Kosa Til Schweiger -  Sean Simon Yam -  Chen Lo		Terence Yin -  Xien Daniel Caltagirone -  Nicholas Petraki Fabiano Martell -  Jimmy Petraki Jonathan Coyne -  Gus Petraki Robert Cavanah -  MI6 Agent Stevens Ronan Vibert -  MI6 Agent Calloway Lenny Juma -  Village Leader Raymond Offula -  Village Leader

The relationship between fathers and daughters is complicated. How does a girl show her dad that she is ready to be an adult? How does a father transform that image of his little girl and replace it with one in whom he can be proud, ready to stand beside him to face the world?

King Théoden (Bernard Hill) has shaken off the effects of the mental and physical weakness placed upon him by enchantments of his steward, Gríma Wormtongue (Brad Dourif), a toady of Saruman. Théoden raises an army rides off to war with some 6,000 Riders of Rohan, unaware that Éowyn (Miranda Otto), along with Merry (Dominic Monaghan), as part of the army. She knows that this will be her one chance to prove that she is truly a heir to the throne of Rohan.

Director:  Peter Jackson; Bret Robbins; Chris Tremmel Writer:  Nuno Miranda; J.R.R. Tolkien; Michael Becker Cast:
Elijah Wood -  Frodo Baggins Ian McKellen -  Gandalf Viggo Mortensen -  Aragorn Sean Astin -  Samwise Gamgee John Rhys-Davies -  Gimli Miranda Otto -  Eowyn Orlando Bloom -  Legolas Greenleaf Liv Tyler -  Arwen		Andy Serkis -  Gollum / The Witch King of Angmar Billy Boyd -  Peregrin ‘Pippin’ Took Dominic Monaghan -  Merry Christopher Lee -  Saruman Ian Holm -  Bilbo Baggins David Wenham -  Faramir Andrew Chaikin -  Shagrat Tom Chantler -  Rangers of Gondor

One day, a friend said that Local Hero was her favourite movie. She went on at length as to why it was. In my usual fashion, I took the info in and set it aside for future consideration. I was waiting for another unrelated conversation to happen which would mention the movie is some context or other. I’ve found this approach often will lead me to finding something I’ll like or, at least, appreciate. Nothing did. One day, I watched Bill Forsyth’s Gregory’s Girl and it reminded me of our conversation. I figured anyone who could direct such a delightful film must have talent. So I bought a VHS version of Local Hero and was smiling like a happy puppy. I delighted in Gordon Urquhart (Denis Lawson) and his wife Stella (Jennifer Black) when they got frisky, chortled when Mac MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) found out what he was eating after saving the rabbit on the road into town and cringed when the scooter rider made another run down main street. When laser discs came out, I bought another copy and rewatching brought more delight to me that my first viewing. Then I purchased a DVD copy when my laser disc player went on the blink and the cost of repair/replacement scared the pants off me. Now it is an annual ritual of which I never tire. I guess my friend was right.

Director:  Bill Forsyth Writer:  Bill Forsyth Cast:
Burt Lancaster -  Happer Peter Riegert -  Mac Fulton Mackay -  Ben Denis Lawson -  Urquhart Norman Chancer -  Moritz Peter Capaldi -  Oldsen Rikki Fulton -  Geddes Alex Norton -  Watt		Jenny Seagrove -  Marina Jennifer Black -  Stella Christopher Rozycki -  Victor Christopher Asante -  Rev Macpherson John Jackson -  Cal Dan Ammerman -  Donaldson Tam Dean Burn -  Roddy Luke Coulter -  Baby

The attention paid to someone else is always an allure to those who are being paid less. Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) orders all of the menu specials prompting Chef Didier (Gérard Depardieu) to drop by her table to chat about cooking and ingredients. This makes the boss Matthew Kragen (Timothy Hutton) envious as he wants to impress his guests and associates—Senator Dillings (Giancarlo Esposito), Congressman Stewart (Michael Nouri)—with his capacity to demand respect and feels slighted when the chef doesn’t scamper like a puppy to his side to have his belly rubbed.

Director:  Wayne Wang Writer:  Jeffrey Price; Peter S. Seaman; J.B. Priestley Cast:
Queen Latifah -  Georgia Byrd LL Cool J -  Sean Matthews Timothy Hutton -  Matthew Kragen Giancarlo Esposito -  Senator Dillings Alicia Witt -  Ms. Burns Gérard Depardieu -  Chef Didier Jane Adams -  Rochelle Mike Estime -  Marlon		Susan Kellermann -  Gunther Jascha Washington -  Darius Matt Ross -  Adamian Ranjit Chowdhry -  Dr. Gupta Michael Nouri -  Congressman Stewart Jaqueline Fleming -  Tanya Kendall Mosby -  Anton Chloe Bailey -  Angie