Entertainment

I recently watched The Band's Visit (2007,PG-13).  From Wikipedia:

The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, consisting of eight men, arrive in Israel from Egypt. They have been booked by an Arab cultural center in Petah Tiqva, but through a miscommunication, the band takes a bus to Bet Hatikva, a fictional town in the middle of the Negev Desert. There is no transportation out of the city that day, and there are no hotels for them to spend the night in. The band members dine at a small restaurant where the owner, Dina invites them to stay the night at her apartment, at her friends' apartment, and in the restaurant. That night challenges all of the characters.

I enjoyed this one...it's comfortable pace and understated humor.

I give it 4 out of 5.

Last night we watched Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992,PG) for family movie night.  From IMDB:

Wayne Szalinski is at it again. But instead of shrinking things, he tries to make a machine that can make things grow. As in the first one, his machine isn't quite accurate. But when he brings Nick & his toddler son Adam to see his invention, the machine unexpectedly starts working.

A bit of wisdom from the film:

There's one thing every kid knows: daddies mean fun, mommies mean business.

The kids enjoyed it.  I give it 3 out of 5.

I recently watched American Gangster (2007,R).  From ScreenIt!:

An honest to a fault cop tries to catch a Harlem drug lord who's directly importing and selling heroin, thus becoming a legend in his own right.

It was weird because I found myself pulling for the murderous drug dealer rather than the honest cop.  Such is the magic of Denzel.  I liked the film. 

I give it 4 out of 5.

A few weeks back I took the kids and a couple of their friends to see Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010,PG).  From ScreenIt!:

A teen must not only contend with discovering that he's the son of a mythological god, but also that he must find Zeus' stolen thunderbolt before a devastating battle takes place among the gods that could destroy Earth.

I'd heard good things about the film but was disappointed.  I heard the book is better.  The boys loved the film.

I give it 2 out of 5.

Last year during Saturday night of the MS 150 weekend, Eric and I continued our tradition of going to see a film...this time it was Iron Man (2008,PG-13).  From ScreenIt!:

After seeing the military weapons he developed used in ways he hadn't imagined, a wealthy industrialist has a change of heart and creates an armored suit that nearly leaves him invincible, gives him the ability to fly, and affords him the opportunity to right his wrongs.

I give it 4 out of 5.