Priceless

Shades of Jacques Tati, but far, far less boring.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482088/ (Original title: Hors de Prix)

The Fall

I see no harm in building a plot around filming (and thereby preserving) gorgeous sites from around the world. (I counted three I've seen myself, and feel damn lucky for that.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/

24: Redemption

Interesting what popular opinion (and Senate discussions) can do to a TV series.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813980/

State of Play

Maybe not as obvious as similar mini-series, but bloody over-plotted.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362192/

MASH: Season 9

A few extra heart-tugging episodes than usual.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068098/

The Bank Job

British heists are so laid back. Even when people get killed.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200465/

Milk

About two minutes into the film, I completely forgot that Sean Penn actually wasn't Harvey Milk.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/

Australia

The Australian Gone with the Wind. With better pecs.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455824/

Under the Same Moon

The song about Superman being an illegal alien says it all. (If you can ignore the crappy subtitles.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796307/ (Original title: La Misma Luna)

Tropic Thunder

Yes, Mr. Cruise, your best part was in Magnolia. Glad to see you figured that out again.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942385/

Water

I tried to keep track-- is there actually some form of water in every gorgeously choreographed scene?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240200/

Matewan

If for no other reason (and there are plenty of others), watch and remember why unions were created in the first place.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093509/

Transsiberian

Being American isn't such a bad thing, is it?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800241/

The Year of Living Dangerously

To me Billy Kwan's character seems a know-it-all. Pride goeth, and all that, or in this case maybe the veil has simply lifted.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086617/

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Five books squished into one movie? Never a good idea-- will always feel rushed.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416236/

Heroes: Season 2

Every time Sylar looks directly at the camera and utters some trite line, I curse the serial format that keeps me watching.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813715/

Felicity: Season 2

Who likes cheese? Ooh, me, me!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134247/

Peter's Friends

Not The Big Chill. Not by a long shot.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105130/

Friday Night Lights: Season 2

Boo on all those who haven't tried this series yet. Middle America at its finest.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/

Quantum of Solace

What gives with those opening titles? Guess we're back to the old Bond.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/

Night of the Living Dead

Romero makes you care about the characters and then takes it all away from you. Result: first heartbreaking horror film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063350/

Wanted

Slick, slick, slick. Bullets as swords, a nice riff on Matrix styling.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/

MI-5: Season 2

Could the last two episodes be more out of character? We get it, Macfayden wants to move on.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160904 (Original title: Spooks)

Changeling

The critics are wrong. A detached narrative means viewing many amoral types and deciding for yourself which you dislike more.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824747/

Lars and the Real Girl

Too precious for me. Does it really make sense for a community to seriously accept a plastic doll as a real girl?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/

Night on Earth

A favorite, and finally on Criterion. My favorite vignette: Paris. Yes, it trumps Rome.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102536/

North & South

The usual boy-meets-girl-loses-girl-gets-girl-back plot, but why a story that is so similar to Pride & Prejudice? (Although, the industry vs. union plot is quite educational.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417349/

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 5

Spike better be in every episode in Season 6. No one else better suited to patrol while Buffy is, um, away.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/

All Creatures Great and Small: Season 4

Only a sense of duty (to the books) propels me to watch this series. I usually end up knitting.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075472/

In Bruges

Bruges as a physical manifestation of purgatory. And Farrell released from his (self-made) hell.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/

Knocked Up

Gender-specific views of parenting and marriage? Yup, hits the nail squarely, I'd say.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478311/

The X Files: Season 6

Best episode, so far: Dreamland II-- McKean and Duchovny doing the mirror scene from Duck Soup.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106179/

Saturday Night Fever

A poor man's Rocky or Mean Streets, with sappy music and silly dancing. (Did we really like this stuff back then?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076666/

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Oh, who cares if it's obvious what will happen-- this is one smartly shot, scripted and acted film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/

MASH: Season 8

Radar leaving is kinda depressing, but it's not like they're bereft of good characters.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068098/

The Sopranos: Season 4

In future seasons, I would much prefer fewer boring episodes in the middle of the run. Why does this show have to be so inconsistent?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0141842/

Pushing Daisies: Season 1

I'm proud of pop culture, how 'bout you? (I know this production designer is.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0925266/

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Faintly ridiculous watching blinked letters being translated into English (e.g., M=D). The rest of this--phenomenal, and in case you were wondering, not boring.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401383/ (Original title: Le Scaphandre et le Papillon)

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Yikes, even raunchier than the last one. And scarier, and funnier, and more to the point.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481536/

The Simpsons: Season 5

Yes, we recognize how funny this show is, but we can't sit through more than 2 episodes without falling asleep.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096697/

The Great Debaters

Why can't Denzel win an Oscar for something like this instead?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427309/

From Dusk Till Dawn

Haven't you always wanted Tarantino to turn into a vampire? Yah, me too.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116367/

Burn After Reading

Y'know, the acting is stellar, but how funny should murdering people really be?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887883/

The Counterfeiters

Moral ambiguity is de rigueur with Holocaust films. Bit of a twist (to state it mildly) in this one.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0813547/ (Original title: Die Fälscher)

Be Kind Rewind

Another in Michel Gondry's takes on the power of moving images. Only, more overtly clever.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799934/

Quantum Leap: Seasons 4 & 5

Man, I'm going to miss this show. OK, I'll be honest-- I'm going to miss their every opportunity to make Scott Bakula take off his shirt.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096684/

American Gangster

And the point of trying a remake of The Godfather (when you're not Scorsese) is to show the extent of "progress" in our beloved nation.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/

Friday Night Lights: Season 1

The only problem with watching this show is that I talk like a Texan for an hour afterwards.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/

Man on Wire

You think Phelps can concentrate? Check the focus on Philippe Petit's high-wire acts.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592/

The Fifth Element

Only Luc Besson can craft an enjoyable film that includes abysmal (the president) and phenomenal (the guy with that great hat) acting.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119116/

Caramel

Romantic dramas are a bit more interesting when set in a country and city you will likely never visit.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825236/ (Original title: Sukkar Banat)

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

A completely coherent film, incoherently told. Now go see it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032846/ (Original title: 4 Luni, 3 Saptamâni si 2 Zile)

Rough Science: Season 4

Even better than Season 3 (the limewater/carbon dioxide filter is keen). Perfect 2-disc set for a pre-teen or teenager interested in science.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363367/

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Derivative in parts, but scripted very nicely: plot, character development and action happen all at the same time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411477/

The Gold Rush

How many times have I heard about the fork-roll dance? There's a reason people talk about it. (Don't watch the 1942 talkie, watch the 1925 original.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015864/

Mamma Mia!

Most unpolished major film ever made. Still, everyone's clearly having a blast and Streep, as the hippie chick I never became, is a joy to behold.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795421/

Rough Science: Season 3

When you can build a kiln from scratch in less than a day, or determine that cinnabar contains mercury, I consider you a genius.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363367/

From the Earth to the Moon

My third time watching this 12-part series. Most entertaining docu-drama ever made.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120570/

The Dark Knight

Heath, we hardly knew ya. And your perfectly maniacal laugh.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/

The Orphanage

So easily could have been basic horror. The pace, as well as the satisfying ending, save it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464141/ (Original title: El Orfanato)

No End in Sight

History cycles. So does stupidity. (But let's not have another Rumsfeld, shall we?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912593/

Quantum Leap: Season 3

Ever so slightly boring, especially when they didn't tie the episode to something historically pertinent.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096684/

MI-5: Season 1

Fast-paced, but oh so British. There's something about the poker faces that rubs me the wrong way.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160904/ (Original title: Spooks)

MASH: Season 7

Colonel Potter and his "Pony pucks!"-- no wonder this show lasted 11 seasons.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068098/

Friends: Season 5

C'mon, what other show could contrive to put a massive raw turkey on someone's head and not make it seem forced?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/

WALL·E

My husband said it best: "We're going to film the first 45 minutes without any speaking. Nyah, nyah, nyah."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/

Doctor Who: Season 1

As engaging as William Hartnell is in the only remaining episodes of the first season (despite his inability to remember lines), I get easily distracted. The novelty of cheesiness wears off fast.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056751/

Much Ado About Nothing

Despite the idiot plot, I both discover new meaning in the lines and shed a tear or two every time I watch it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107616/

The Lookout

Gordon-Levitt says he did his homework on closed head trauma victims, and I'm inclined to believe him.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427470/

Maurice

Merchant Ivory and their subtle innuendos-- the interactions between Simcox, the valet, and Hall, the "gentleman", are what the film's all about.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093512/

Dexter: Season 1

Best, most morally ambiguous ending to a TV show ever.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0773262/

The King of Kong

Question: How many moral lessons can you fit into a very funny, very engaging documentary about video-game-aholics? Answer: As many as you want.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/

Hopscotch

Screenwriter's goal: an action-adventure film with no violence. Succeeded. Result: a bit boring.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080889/

In the Valley of Elah

Is the Iraq experience really that different from the Vietnam experience? You decide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478134/

Sex and the City

Yes, if you liked the TV characters (and you enjoy looking at fashionable people), you'll find this smartly-scripted film well worth your time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/

Goldfinger

1964, what a fun time for women. "Dink, say goodbye to Felix. Man talk."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058150/

The Terminator

Ohmigosh, look at those 80s clothes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Contains the best dog joke in the entire world.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109045/

Gloomy Sunday

A unique experience-- a German film with French sensibilities, but set in Hungary.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0155722/ (Original title: Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod)

Divided We Fall

Astounding when anyone can pull off a humorous Nazi-era film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234288/ (Original title: Musíme si Pomáhat)

Lost: Season 4

Setup city. The final reveal apart, I'm sure hoping all the people who look like they died, didn't really. (But of course, they'll be back anyway.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411008/

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Not a worthy successor to the other three. Since when has Indy smiled that much? (And I don't mean a smirk or a snark.)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367882/

Cloverfield

An effective homage to pretty much every sci-fi creature film made, with the added bonus of feeling like it was made for YouTube.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/

Iron Man

The plot, actor, and special effects align. (Why not open this puppy on Memorial Day weekend and make a bigger bundle?)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

Lilja 4-ever

Despite the somewhat unbelievable set-up, quite powerful. Makes you understand how lucky you really are.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300140/

Earth 2

Really not at all like Firefly, but engaging in its own sense. 22 episodes, what do you have to lose?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108758/

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

That Apatow-Rogen-Segel-Cera clique sure is on a roll lately.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800039/

A Heart in Winter

The French are so exhausting to watch. Nothing is overt, all subtle facial tics and large swoony eyes.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105682/ (Original title: Un Coeur en Hiver)

The Kid

Is there anything more heartbreaking than Jackie Coogan pleading with the social workers not to take him away? Chaplin's own life story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0012349/

Enchanted

It's the songs (and Patrick Dempsey, natch) that make this film so enjoyable. Did you know the pigeons and rats are for real?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461770/

That Thing You Do!

Critics: spot on. Marketing department and, thus, viewers: missed the boat.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117887/

Battlestar Galactica: Razor

A pity this "special event" wasn't better thought out. Cain and Shaw are bad people, hands down, why should I care about them?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0991178/

The Bear

Despite the unbearably (heh) cute little one, my first stop was Wikipedia to see how to repel an attack.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095800/ (Original title: L'Ours)

Battlestar Galactica: Season 3.0

Only one thing to say-- thank the gods season 4 is available as full episodes on scifi.com.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407362/

Aliens: Special Edition

Mostly extraneous scenes, but just for the opportunity to see more of the cool crap Cameron built, it's worth it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090605/

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Critics: too long and slow. Me: were we watching the same movie?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443680/

Paris Je T'aime

The short with the Spanish worker bee commuting to her job is still with me.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401711/

Poltergeist

Steven Spielberg wants you to watch movies, not TV.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084516/

No Country for Old Men

This film made me feel stupid. Now I see, Bardem is Death. The movie has many impressive elements, but I shouldn't have to search for post-viewing commentary.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477348/

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Eh. Blanchett shines in any role in which she can be sarcastic, but the film doesn't gel as a whole.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414055/

Helvetica

Not sure why some folks think this was boring. Obsessed folks are the most interesting, I think.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0847817/

Superbad

So filthy! There's something about it, though, that just tickles me pink.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0829482/

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse

Well, that explains a lot.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102015/

There Will Be Blood

Day-Lewis is king. This epic, though, has a mushy middle third.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/

Fanny and Alexander

Incredibly, for a 3-hour film, this is far from dull and will keep you entertained, entranced and wondering the entire time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083922/ (Original title: Fanny och Alexander)

The Hoax

If you're even the least bit paranoid, do NOT watch this film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462338/

The Interview

The only phrase that is appropriate to this film is... wait for it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120714/

Paprika

Hmm. A lot of crazy, a little bit of understandable. Watch Tokyo Godfathers instead.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0851578/

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Gross. Marvelous.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408236/

3:10 to Yuma

I really dislike westerns, but this one was 98% perfect. Caveat: I never saw the original.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381849/