The Help

To accurately sum up the movie "The Help" is quite a feat, one that I would normally reserve for those folks over at the TV guide offices, but if I were to write something pithy about it, it would go like this:
"Young white woman FIGHTS THE POWER by writing about the lives/mistreatment of black maids in 60s Mississippi and turning it into a book, while two of her subjects FIGHT THE POWER by helping her and forming close bonds with each other while they FIGHT THE POWER against their own oppressors and lift up those whom they care for...FIGHT THE POWER!"
To be a little more specific, I went into this film feeling like this would be the sort of film that would try to squeeze some emotion out of me by forcing me to feel for the characters and their plights.  And surprisingly, it did just that and I was ok with feeling for them.  If anything, it really showed the resolve and strength of the three main characters while they had to put up with so much.  From Emma Stone's character, a young ambitious woman who wanted to make a name for herself, yet had the misfortune of being nicknamed "Skeeter" (no not that one), she had to put up with all her friends being obsessed with having children and dates and bridge club and all the petty things women thought of back then. Not only from her friends, but from her mother as well, but in that woman's defense, she got better as time went on and not only approved of her daughter's actions later, but defended her from critics and her crazy friends alike.  But I'd say the most growth and spunk goes to the character of Minnie the maid, who really stuck it to her nasty boss and was able to find a good, if not a little ditzy, new boss with whom they have mutual respect for.
Another great aspect of the film is the antagonist.  One could only describe her as the most nefarious sort of villain because she honestly believes that all she is doing is for the best, which makes her come across as nastier than advertised.  So when her comeuppance comes, the audience is all the more satisfied at the justice served. (and the subsequent mental breakdowns are fun to watch too)
All in all, it IS a movie that makes you feel for the characters in an era which discrimination is at its height, but it does so in a way that is not over-preachy and not completely blatant (lookingatyouHairspray).  Thus, it is a good film and is well worth your time.

Gnomeo and Juliet

Quick! When I mention "starcrossed lovers" what story comes to mind? If you said, "Romeo and Juliet" by Romeo and Juliet, you dig classic literature...if you said "West Side Story," you're into musical theater...if you said "Twilight," hahahaha yeah right.  But going back to "Romeo and Juliet" this famous story of an extreme family feud, the kids who break the rules of engagement, revenge and exile, and horrible miscommunication leading to their deaths, has been told over and over and over again, in many ways, styles, and forms.
BUT!
Has it ever been told with tacky lawn ornaments?
...
Not until Touchstone pictures' "Gnomeo and Juliet." Strangely enough, this retelling of the Immortal Bard's most famous love story/tragedy is not the lighthearted children's film that many perceive it to be.  By no means is it a grim and gritty version with death and destruction everywhere, but it is somewhat faithful to the original story.  Instead of fair Verona, it's Verona Street. There are still two houses, Montague and Capulet, but there's also backyards to these houses, which is where most of the action takes place; despite the names of the original feuding families still being used, the lawn gnomes are differentiated by the color hat they wear, be it red or blue (making this story red vs blue gnome style). In a strange twist, instead of a party where the two protagonists meet, it is a thrilling action scene where the man is masquerading as a commando and the lady as a ninja and they're fighting over a flower to bring back to their respective gardens.  And while the character for Tybalt, curiously still named Tybalt, doesn't kill anyone in this version, he does do considerable cosmetic damage to Gnomeo's best friend, to which the retaliation from our hero is the same, shockingly dramatic, accidental murder.  Interestingly enough, the voice of Don Karnage from the tv show "Talespin" provides a comic relief character in THE quintessential tacky lawn ornament, a pink plastic flamingo named Featherstone, who is a supporter of the budding romance between the two protagonists, not knowing about the red vs blue situation.  What's interesting about this funny Spanish-accented bird is that, just like Jessie in "Toy Sotry 2," his backstory is shown through a hauntingly emotional montage of sadness and love lost so that the audience really feels for the silly bird.  Additionally, they reference so many of Shakespeare's works that they actually put a talking statue of the man (voiced by Patrick Stewart no less) telling how the story ends as he did it, saying that his is better like a hipster.
Overall, a really cute movie that takes its inspiration from one of the great stories, honors it well, and is good for a laugh.

Believe it or not, this scene happens with Ozzy Osbourne's voice.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

If I were to rename the film "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," I'd simply dub it "How to Keep Doing your Impossible Spy Mission when Everything's Going Wrong."  Seriously, even though ever-present conflict is such a strong element in storytelling, it can keep the audience in such a tense anticipation and suspense that after the film's done you remember to take deeper breaths and get that crick out of your neck.
Ethan Hunt, still done expertly by Tom Cruise, after escaping a Russian prison, is right away on another mission with a team completely unfamiliar to the audience. But then *gasp* they are betrayed! Thus, they are completely cut off from the rest of the agency, are blamed by Russian officials for destroying part of their government building, and various other sundry things. Cruise himself, is picked up discreetly by the US Secretary of Defense, only to see the man get murdered in front of him.  Taking the supposed analyst who was in the car with him (played by Jeremy Renner, who I'm surprised is not the barely-in-control, ragemachine that he's played in "The Hurt Locker," and "The Town."), they recon with the rest of the team on another whirlwind tour of the world to stop the somewhat-well-intentioned, nuclear-extremist, Russian terrorist, and his flunkies.
As is typical of the franchise, there is a LOT of what the bad guy in MI2 called, "acrobatic insanity." But as I mentioned before, the multitude of gadgetry and spy equipment seems to not prefer to function as well as previous movies, leading to a lot of inventive quick-thinking on the agents part (most of which does not boil to "kill the opposition"). In addition to Cruise's superspy, and Renner's cool-headed but efficient agent, Simon Pegg brings his funny, tech-guy Benji persona back, but this time, also as a field agent now so we get to see him be the badass "Hot Fuzz" Nicholas Angel as well. We also get the Smurfette of the team being almost as hot as the chick was in MI2 but with a lot more no-nonsense attitude, and a revenge subplot.
Overall, great great great film that's a thrill ride from start to finish.

In addition to HM05(Flash) being used in "Tangled," I am slowly learning to never underestimate the usefulness of items or moves that help you get around easier