In each life there are a number of rites of passage. Some are simple, some are strange and some are confusing. One I remember as a highlight was the first time I was allowed to go to the corner store by myself. I had no idea what I wanted to buy, it was being allowed out on my own to spend my pennies that filled my mind. I remember the journey but not the purchase. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), who is turning eleven, is ushered into Mr. Ollivander’s (John Hurt) shop by Rubeus Hagrid ( Robbie Coltrane ) to buy a wand. He’s breathless to see all of the choices available. He has some trouble in finding the right one but Mr. Ollivander is up to the challenge. Harry agrees and stumbles distractedly out of the shop. He bought something on his own.

Director:  Chris Columbus Writer:  J.K. Rowling; Steven Kloves; Steve Kloves Cast:
Daniel Radcliffe -  Harry Potter Emma Watson -  Hermione Granger Rupert Grint -  Ron Weasley Richard Harris -  Albus Dumbledore Maggie Smith -  Professor Minerva McGonagall Robbie Coltrane -  Rubeus Hagrid Saunders Triplets -  Harry Potter (Age 1) Fiona Shaw -  Aunt Petunia		Harry Melling -  Dudley Dursley Richard Griffiths -  Uncle Vernon Ian Hart -  Professor Quirrell Ben Borowiecki -  Diagon Alley Boy Warwick Davis -  Professor Flitwick/Goblin Bank Teller Vern Troyer -  Griphook the Goblin John Hurt -  Mr. Ollivander Matthew Lewis -  Neville Longbottom

I’ve never been to war. I don’t respond well to authority. I don’t play well with others. But I recognize and understand the need for unity, discipline and respect for a command structure for a group to meet their goals. But it is hard to understand the need to sacrifice others for what is perceived as the greater good. Tom Jericho (Dougray Scott ) lays out the possibility of cracking new Nazi signal codes but the expense is the destruction of a convoy of some 140 merchant vessels and their crews. How big a human sacrifice is acceptable? Apparently it is hundreds if not thousands, if you don’t know their names or their families.

Director:  Michael Apted Writer:  Robert Harris; Tom Stoppard Cast:
Dougray Scott -  Tom Jericho Kate Winslet -  Hester Wallace Saffron Burrows -  Claire Romilly Jeremy Northam -  Wigram Nikolaj Coster Waldau -  Jozef ‘Puck’ Pukowski Tom Hollander -  Logie Donald Sumpter -  Leveret Matthew MacFadyen -  Cave		Richard Leaf -  Baxter Ian Felce -  Proudfoot Bohdan Poraj -  Pinker Paul Rattray -  Kingcome Richard Katz -  De Brooke Tom Fisher -  Upjohn Robert Pugh -  Skynner Corin Redgrave -  Admiral Trowbridge

Lifelong buds. You’ve known them since grade school. You’ve shared the joys, triumphs and disappointments throughout the trials and tribulations of growing up. You’re on your own now but you can’t imagine them not being a part of your life. You know they’ll do anything to help you regardless of the consequences to themselves. But when it comes to women… well, testosterone will always trump synapses. Just ask Darren Silverman (Jason Biggs), J.D. (Jack Black), and Wayne (Steve Zahn) who have been friends since birth practically. Darren is set up with Judith (Amanda Peet) who may be the girl of his dreams. In meeting J.D. and Wayne, She gets caught on the wrong end of a beer spray, tumbles backwards out of their broken recliner and is the victim of stray salsa attack. Now Judith insists that Darren is to never see his friends again. Being lads of stealth and cunning, J.D. and Wayne take it upon themselves to kidnap Judith, locking her in their basement. Now what? They haven’t thought that far and Judith isn’t about to crumple girlishly.

Director:  Dennis Dugan Writer:  Hank Nelken; Greg DePaul Cast:
Jason Biggs -  Darren Silverman Steve Zahn -  Wayne Lefessier Jack Black -  J.D. McNugent Amanda Peet -  Judith Fessbeggler Amanda Detmer -  Sandy Perkus R. Lee Ermey -  Coach Norton Neil Diamond -  Himself Kyle Gass -  Bar Dude		Norman Armour -  Minister Colin Foo -  Old Man Chris Logan -  Vageet Esme Lambert -  Raccoon Woman Max Fomitchev -  Mime Tony Parsons -  Newscaster Brett Armstrong -  Brett Patrick Pfrimmer -  Clayton

Everybody has something to hide. Everyone has an opinion on who is to blame for what has gone wrong. Everyone knows who should be doing a better job. They all worry that their future is in jeopardy. None of them seem to have a clue as to what is going on. There seems to be a desperate lack of understanding about why some difficulties befall them. About all they seem to agree upon is that the murder of Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon) came about none too soon.

Director:  Robert Altman Writer:  Robert Altman; Bob Balaban; Julian Fellowes Cast:
Maggie Smith -  Constance Trentham Michael Gambon -  William McCordle Kristin Scott Thomas -  Sylvia McCordle Camilla Rutherford -  Isobel McCordle Charles Dance -  Raymond Stockbridge Geraldine Somerville -  Louisa Stockbridge Tom Hollander -  Anthony Meredith Natasha Wightman -  Lavinia Meredith		Jeremy Northam -  Ivor Novello Bob Balaban -  Morris Weissman James Wilby -  Freddie Nesbitt Claudie Blakley -  Mabel Nesbitt Laurence Fox -  Rupert Standish Trent Ford -  Jeremy Blond Ryan Phillippe -  Henry Denton Stephen Fry -  Inspector Thompson

Let’s take a moment and look at it from the monster’s point of view. You have no contemporaries, people shun you, you can breath fire but you look like you’ve been carved out of a log. In essence, you’re monstrous. Along comes a slip of a girl who works in TV and offers you your 15 minutes and what happens? You become a media darling, get blasted out of your head, annoy everyone with your demands and treat everyone with whom you come into contact… monstrously. Who’d want you and why would you stick around to take the chance?

Director:  Hal Hartley Writer:  Hal Hartley Cast:
Margrét Ákadóttir -  Rental agent Robert John Burke -  The Monster Julie Anderson -  Beautician Sarah Polley -  Beatrice Anna Kristín Arngrímsdóttir -  Sólveig Ilene Bergelson -  Ethel Guðrún Bjarnadóttir -  Marta Bessi Bjarnason -  Captain		Helgi Björnsson -  Leó Julie Christie -  Dr. Anna Stacy Dawson -  Mugger María Ellingsen -  Karlsdóttir/Gate-Manager Anthony Giangrande -  Journalist Erica Gimpel -  Judy Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson -  First mate Brynhildur Guðjónsdóttir -  Ticket clerk