The Big Screen

Movie Reviews for the week of 7/11 – 7/18

By Crystal Grande

Have you been to the movies lately? Movie theaters are reporting slow business this month,
with U.S. box office receipts down nearly 20 percent. Traditionally, summer is not a great time
for film lovers. Studios usually schedule their best movies for October and December, when
theaters are busiest. But this summer is different. If you haven't left your couch this week, you
may be missing some truly great films.

First, let me tell you about one of the funniest movies I've seen this year—director Jim Harold's
latest comedy

The Gardens. Cathy Diego stars in this story of a gardener who is ready for love but who just
can't find the right guy. Things begin to change when she meets a man (played by Ken Upton)
with similar problems with love and similar talents with plants! This movie is

hilarious

—I laughed until I cried! It's also very

romantic

, with a great love story. It's the perfect date movie! Don't miss it.

Next up is a movie for the younger members of your family. My kids and I have just seen the

animated

film Seriously? 2. What a great movie! It continues the story of two cartoon puppies, Max and
Mikey, and their journey to find the perfect home. They have lots of fun and exciting
adventures. I took my three kids with me: my ten-year-old, my six-year-old, and my four-year-
old. My ten-year-old did find some of the situations a bit

silly

, but my two younger children didn't care that the movie was sometimes almost stupid. They
loved every moment. Unlike a lot of children's movies these days, this movie didn't have any

frightening

and violent scenes to scare kids. And there were actually some

thought-provoking
moments, things to really think about, when the dogs are treated badly during their travels. In
my family, this led to some interesting dinner table conversations about homelessness and
helping others.

The last must-see movie of the week is the

documentary

, Arctic Ice, which is packed full of information. OK, I know what you're thinking—another

boring

film about the Earth's changing weather. I'll be asleep in five minutes. But this movie is
different. Film-maker Clara Green followed the daily lives of several arctic animals. The stories
that she tells are

unforgettable

! They really stay with you. Even if you already know a lot about climate change, you will leave
this movie with a whole new viewpoint. Everyone should see this important and thought-
provoking movie. It isn't always easy to watch, but it is so important, and so beautifully filmed!
A true masterpiece.