THE RON CLARK STORY

THE RON CLARK STORY - 2006 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG for some minor violence and language. Family friendly. Best for age 12 and above.

RATINGS - 59 Amazon (4.5/5), 134,128 Netflix (4/5), 3,461 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Matthew Perry who was nominated for an Emmy as the Best Lead Actor.

AWARDS - Numerous nominations, including Emmy and Golden Globe. Won Family Film Award for Best TV Movie/Drama.

STORY - This is the true story of Ron Clark, a teacher in rural North Carolina, who had a dream to teach in the toughest area of New York City. The dream wasn't just for himself, it was for that indifferent young boys and girls, against great odds, could become successful in life if only they could believe it was possible. Not only were the odds great against any of his students going beyond elementary school, the odds seemed even greater against Ron Clark making it through his first year of teaching in the toughest school in Harlem. But he had a dream and he was 'naive' enough and idealistic enough to believe he could reach that goal. While optimism and belief are essential, it is also helpful to have talent and Ron Clark is a very gifted and creative teacher. He was willing to experiment with various ways to reach this rebellious kids who wanted nothing to do with school or him. If making a fool of himself trying to 'double dutch' jump rope would get their attention, then so be it. The kids were more important than his ego. His relationships with parents should be an example for any teacher who really wants to make a difference with their students. This is one of those truly inspirational films and stories that comes along once in a great while. Not only has he helped students reach their potential but he has written a best selling book of classroom rules called THE ESSENTIAL 55 for teachers. We may not all have the same talents as Ron Clark but we can all be inspired to use what we have to the best of our ability and for the benefit of others. Put this at the top of the list. Unfortunately, it's OOP and somewhat expensive to purchase but readily available as a rental. Enjoy! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/15/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

GIFTED HANDS

GIFTED HANDS - 2009 (TV)

RATED - NR but probably PG for mature themes, minor violence and intense surgery scenes. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 27 Amazon (4.5/5), 12,094 Netflix (4.3/5), 452 IMDB (7.3/10).

STARRING - Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Dr. Ben Carson

THEMES - Justice, relationships, spirituality.

AWARDS - 4 prime time Emmy nominations.

STORY - This is the life story of Dr. Ben Carson, chief of pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins University and considered the world's best pediatric surgeon. The story begins with Dr. Carson being asked to consider operating on the two sons of a German couple who are joined at the abdomen and skull. No one has ever performed this surgery successfully with both children surviving. The film then flashes back to the childhood of Dr. Carson. He was raised by an illiterate but very loving and determined single mother who married at the age of 13 and was divorced soon after when she discovered her 'husband' was married at the same time to another woman with another family. She was determined that her two sons would not turn out the same way she did. It is an amazing story of this mother and her love and determination. Ben, not realizing he needed glasses, consistently performed way below the other students in class until his mother used all their savings to get him a pair. That, along with her firm hand in making the two boys read two books a week from the library (along with written reports) as well as limiting TV watching to two programs a week turned Ben into the 'student of the year' in 8th grade. Even that, however, was tainted, as a teacher at the award ceremony berated the other students for letting a 'boy of color' with serious disadvantages and a single mother outperform them. The story continues with his achievements and struggles through high school and his scholarship years at Yale and on to his residency at Johns Hopkins. The story then takes us back to the conclusion of the decision whether or not to operate on the German twins. It is an incredible story of someone who not had the 'gifted hands' needed to be a great surgeon but also the determination, humility and faith to make a life of great service to his fellow humans against great odds. The acting is outstanding. I would encourage everyone and every family to make this a 'must watch'. I would also highly recommend SOMETHING THE LORD MADE, another story about a great African-American surgeon, Dr. Vivian Thomas, who was born 30 years too early to be able to have the same opportunities as Dr. Carson, but nevertheless made a great contribution to medicine that is still being used today. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/15/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, SOMETHING THE LORD MADE REVIEW

P.S. As I was watching GIFTED HANDS and THE RON CLARK STORY and reflecting, also, on SOMETHING THE LORD MADE, I was impressed by how these men (in these particular cases), who were/are extraordinarily gifted, used their gifts to benefit others as opposed to the kind of greed and ego we see so often today, especially on Wall Street, where some (not all) have so abused their positions and ruined the lives of millions of others and almost took down the entire U.S. economy. It also reminded me that those of us who have lesser gifts still have those same options - whether to use them for the benefit of others or simply to profit from them. How will we be judged for what we have done with our giftedness??

OVERLORD

OVERLORD - 1975 (Not released in U.S. until 2006)

RATED - NT but PG/PG-13. Some language, very brief glimpse of bare breast when a young woman starts to undress in a dream-like scene. No sex or other nudity. Some fairly tame war violence by today's standards.

RATINGS - 11 Amazon (3.5/5), 6,706 Netflix (3.0/5), 583 IMDB (7.5/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

AWARDS - Won two and nominated for one the 1975 Berlin International Film Festival.

STORY - The film, shot deliberately in black & white, opens with a young man in England leaving home for boot camp. He appears to be the definition of average, neither overly bright nor stupid. Naive might be a label that applies, if anything. Young men all over England are being called up as casualties mount on the European front and the Allies prepare for D-Day. The strength of the film is in its use of terrific archival footage from the Imperial War Museum within the movie. Our young soldier survives boot camp and thanks to a fellow soldier becomes a little more worldly than before he entered the service. The use of the archival film to show the massive buildup of troops and equipment contrasted with the loneliness and fear of the solitary soldier is effective in understanding D-Day. Some of the footage from the archives is amazing and worth watching the film for that alone. You have the most massive military invasion in history and yet at its core is the individual soldier. He meets and falls in love with a very nice young girl but will there be a future together-will there be a future at all? Neither of them can be sure. His unit learns that they will be among the first to land on D-Day. Cannon fodder-that's what they begin to see themselves. How would you react knowing your chances of surviving the invasion are slim and none? While some see this an anti-war film, I think it is more a reality of war film. While war may be a necessary evil in the face of greater evils, that doesn't change the fact that is evil and young lives and families are forever changed. A film that will make you pause and consider the consequences of even the most just war. The extras are very worthwhile. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/7/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

EARTH: THE BIOGRAPHY

EARTH: THE BIOGRAPHY - 2008

RATED - NR but probably G. Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 25 Amazon (4/5), 14,022 Netflix (4.1/5), 295 IMDB (8.9/10).

STORY - Subtitled 'The Story of Our World', this is the BBC documentary on the make up of our planet; how it works, what sustains it and why our planet is unique in our solar system and probably in the universe (at least so far). There are five episodes: VOLCANOES, ICE, ATMOSPHERE, OCEANS & THE UNIQUENESS OF PLANET EARTH THAT ALLOWS FOR LIFE. If you're really into science there may not be any revelations here but at the very least this is a reminder of the incredible planet that we inhabit and the amazing way that it sustains itself and how unique and precise everything has to be to sustain life. Being a typical non-scientist, I can say there were things that I learned, especially about how important volcanoes are to sustaining life and how the atmosphere works. It also reinforces the mysteries that surround the origins of and life on planet earth. The BBC, in my opinion, has no peers in producing documentaries about nature. They are education and entertainment of the highest level. The host is Iain Stewart, an entertaining and energetic daredevil. The five episodes were seen on the National Geographic Channel in one hour shows. Planet Earth is truly amazing. Enjoy! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/07/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

GREEN FOR DANGER

GREEN FOR DANGER - 1946

RATED - NR but G/PG. Nothing offensive but mostly adult content.

RATINGS - 32 Amazon (4.5/5), 11,769 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,453 IMDB (7.8/10), New York Times (4/5).

STORY - The setting is England during 1944 and the Nazis are sending V-1 unmanned bombs over. When the noise overhead stops, you know the bomb is about to explode and you better take cover. A postman who just completed a delivery on his bicycle to the rural hospital (temporarily converted estate) nearby that operates on bomb victims becomes the next victim. While his wounds require surgery, they are not life threatening until the surgery begins. He mysteriously and suddenly dies on the table. The new hospital administrator states there will be a full inquiry. A whimsical Scotland Yard inspector is brought in who quickly sequesters the surgery team and boasts he knows who did it and will reveal the killer shortly. One of the better whodunits I've watched, it is tightly scripted and the acting is superb. Every word and gesture counts. The eccentric inspector antagonizes just about everyone with his arrogance. Did I mention the tangled web of relationships that will keep you guessing? This Hitchcock-like British murder mystery will hold you to the end. The Criterion version has been restored exceptionally well. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 10/31/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

BULLITT

BULLITT - 1968

RATED - PG but some brief but fairly bloody and graphic violence for a PG.

RATINGS - 247 Amazon (4.5/5), 365,493 Netflix (3.8/5), 18,596 IMDB (7.5/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

STARRING - Steve McQueen (Detective Frank Bullitt), Jacqueline Bisset (Cathy-Bullitt's girlfriend), Robert Vaughn (Senator Chalmers).

AWARDS - 1969 Academy Award for Best Film Editing, AFI TOP 100 Thrills, 1970 BAFTA nominees for Best Direction & Best Supporting Actor (Vaughn).

STORY - Most people remember this film for perhaps the best (or one of the best) car chase scenes in film history with Steve McQueen (driving himself) in a Mustang Fastback chasing two gangsters in a Dodge Charger up and down the hills of San Francisco. It is memorable to be sure, but the movie, as a whole, is decent. While there is some brief but bloody violence it's not just a shoot 'em up film. Steve McQueen insisted that it be realistic and as a result you do get inside the character's heads. You experience detective work as much of it really happens, methodical with patience. Bullitt is assigned to what should be a fairly routine witness protection weekend assignment at the request of Senator Chalmers (Vaughn) who is on a crusade to clean up the mob and get credit for it - the credit is what he mostly cares about. This is his star witness and the hearings will be his stage. However, the assignment quickly goes bad and Bullitt wants to find out who leaked the location and who are the assassins. There are enough twists and turns to keep you involved and, of course, there's the car chase. Roger Ebert likes it because the role of the stoic cop Bullitt is so close to the real Steve McQueen. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 10/31/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB WITH TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

GATES OF HEAVEN

GATES OF HEAVEN - 1978

RATED - NR but probably PG. Nothing offensive but the subject matter is mostly adult oriented.

RATINGS - 26 Amazon (4.5/5), 20,232 Netflix (3.4/5), 1,640 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/4)

STARRING - Academy Award-winning Erroll Morris (THE THIN BLUE LINE) is the film maker. The pet owners and pet cemetery owners are themselves in this documentary.

STORY - Roger Ebert calls this documentary 'A masterpiece...one of the top ten films of all time...They say you can make a great documentary about almost anything, if you see it well enough and truly, and this film proves it.' While on the surface, this might seem to be a film about people and their pets, it's really a study in human nature and psychology. It is people opening up to the camera about their dreams, hopes and disappointments. It initially is centered around the developer of a pet cemetery in Southern California that ultimately went bankrupt and how the 450 buried pets had to be dug up and transferred to another cemetery. The film then shifts to the owners of the new cemetery, a family run business, and the dynamics of the father and two sons as they share their 'success' strategies for life. Interspersed are interviews with owners whose pets had to be transferred and the trauma that goes along with that experience. This might have been a good candidate for 'reality TV' if that had existed. Not your everyday documentary but fascinating in its own way. Read Roger Ebert's fascinating review at the link below. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/10/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT