District 9

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 28, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: When a spacecraft stalls in the skies above Johannesburg and alien refugees become residents of District 9, the tension between humans and aliens escalates into a worldwide affair.

Review: This was an interesting socio-political movie hiding within the genres of sci-fi, action/adventure and faux-documentary. The alien slum of District 9 is faced with many problems, such as illegal cross-species prostitution and arms dealing. Because of this and public outcry to separate the aliens from humans, an effort to relocate them to a new facility, District 10, is underway. However, the government must provide a 24-hour notice of eviction to each and every alien. When Wikus, head of the relocation operation, confiscates a metal cylinder, it squirts a black liquid into his face and he slowly begins to mutate. Now he must work with the "prawns," as they are known in a derogatory way, to see if he can reverse the process. The blatant racism and prejudiced attitudes of the humans toward the aliens is pretty despicable. Fear of this unknown population's customs, practices and motives serve to heighten the bias against them. In addition to the government's mandatory isolation of this gruop, they attempt to seize all alien weaponry from them out of fear and a greed for power that they cannot even utilize. The alien machines will not work with human DNA, however, the goverment confiscates it all to keep the population under their control. Humans also take advantage of the aliens by providing food to them at inflated prices. If this is not a metaphor for Westernized society, I don't know what is.

Watch It: For an interesting look at what the "civilized" world does to "underprivileged" populations in the name of "aid."

Skip It: If you're looking for a straight action/sci fi movie. It takes a while for it to get going.

The Sandlot

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: April 7, 1993

DVD Release Date: January 29, 2002

Plot 411: The new kid on the block spends his summer bonding with the kids from the sandlot and "the beast."

Review: "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” This is clearly a legend of a coming-of-age movie in my book. Bookish Scott Smalls (Tom Guiry) moves to L.A. with his mom (Karen Allen) and stepdad (Denis Leary). In an effort to make friends, he follows some boys to a dirt field affectionately called "the sandlot." Here, he is taught the great game of baseball by the local kids and is taken under the wing of Benny "the Jet" Rodriguez (Mike Vitar), who is the best player in their neighborhood. However, when an over-the-fence homerun knocks a ball signed by Babe Ruth into the domain of "the beast," the boys must find a way to recover it despite their fear of the ferocious dog. Not only does this movie have it all (comedy, drama, intrigue and wholesomeness), it is especially good at relating to kids. All the little details that are so important when you're 10 or 12 years old is important in this movie. The idea of losing a baseball over the fence feels immense. Getting a kiss from a pretty girl is a life or death situation. A day can seem like a year when it's summer and you have all your friends with you. This movie captures this feeling of childhood innocence and enthusiasm like no movie of its kind. Everything is there in this film, including inspirational themes like realizing your dreams and overcoming your fears. And yet, in its purest form, this is just a movie about a summer of baseball. Genius.

Watch It: For a good amount of childhood fun and adventure that will have you reliving your own summer adventures.

Skip It: If maybe hockey is your thing and you'd prefer Mighty Ducks. I think that movie is good in its own right but it's no Sandlot. There's something about the '60s that just makes you think baseball and apple pie.

Spirited Away / Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 27, 2001 (Japan) / September 20, 2002 (USA)

DVD Release Date: April 15, 2003

Plot 411: A little girl must work at a bath house for spirits to save herself and her parents.

Review: Chihiro (Daveigh Chase/Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents take a shortcut that leads them to an abandoned theme park. However, little do they know that when they pass through a tunnel, they leave the human world for the spirit world. In this world, there are all kinds of spirit creatures that walk the earth. They are all so distinct and unique. When her parents are turned into pigs, Chihiro must work for Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette/Mari Natsuki), the owner of a bath house, to free them. Along the way, she meets people who become her friends and help her on her journey - Haku (Jason Marsden/Miyu Irino), Kamaji (David Ogden Stiers/Bunta Sugawara) and Rin (Susan Egan/Yumi Tamai). This movie is a gem by Hayao Miyazaki that brings together several themes. The most obvious is Chihiro's coming-of-age story and is depicted with the loss of her identity when she becomes employed by Yubaba. By stripping her identity, Yubaba seeks to control her in a similar way that contemporary values influence young people. She must avoid these temptations and foster more traditional values on her journey to adulthood. There are also environmental themes throughout the movie that highlight pollution and the loss of nature due to urban development. What I thought was interesting were the nuances that Miyazaki added to simple scenes. They helped to really appeal to children as most of them would be thought trival to adults.

Watch It: For an animated film with applicable themes for children and adults.

Skip It: If you're into the Pixar style of animation.