PHILOMENA: SEARCH FOR A SON

There are those movies that you want to see, others you feel obligated to see and some that fall into both categories. PHILOMENA falls into both categories, a sad tale that offers hope before the end of the film, a movie that inspires you to be a better person, to be like Philomena. Would that we could all achieve that goal.

The movie opens with Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a battle hardened political journalist caught up in controversy and looking for work. At a party he goes to a friend tells him to contact her should he ever decide to write a piece for her magazine. He also finds himself introduced to a woman who tells him he should meet her mother. Not expecting to find much interesting he agrees.

When they first meet Martin is unimpressed with Philomena (Judi Dench), an elderly woman who wants him to help her with a quest. When she was a young girl in Ireland, Philomena found herself pregnant but unmarried. With no way to support herself she was sent to have the child and work for the nuns at Sean Ross Abbey. While she is told ahead of time what will happen, it still comes as a shock for her. Children born out of wedlock in this Abbey are sold off to American couples looking for children. What makes it horrifying is that the girls are allowed to nurse their children and spend time with them prior to their being taken away. Now some 50 years later Philomena turns to Martin to help her find her son.

Martin isn't interested at first but the more he thinks about it, the deeper his interest grows. If nothing else he can get a story out of it. Contacting the magazine editor he met at the party he gets funding and he and Philomena set out to find her son. Their initial contacts in the Abbey lead to nothing but stonewalling and being informed that the records of all the children were burned in a fire some years back. Unwilling to settle for their replies Martin digs deeper until he discovers a leak that leads the pair to the U.S.A. Unfortunately the information they find isn't quite what they expected or hoped for.

What makes this movie special isn't just the lead in story. The movie explores the relationship between Martin and Philomena, two completely different people from two totally different backgrounds. The posh world that Martin comes from is filled with superficial people who consider themselves above it all, especially when it comes to religion. Philomena, on the other hand, retains her faith in God after all that has happened to her in the past. A salt of the Earth character, her attitudes toward the world around her are to see the wonder of it all where as Martin takes it all for granted. Before their journey ends Martin will find his life changed forever.

Coogan not only stars in the film, he helped write it as well. While not a known mega-star in the U.S., he is a big name in England. Some will recognize him from his roles in both NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM films. He turns in a wonderful performance here, showing his disdain for common people and being taken to task for that from Philomena. Dench is absolutely fantastic in the lead role, bringing a sense of amazement to the character as she observes her surroundings while trying to settle the heartbreak she has suffered through for all these years.

If anything this film will tear at your heart with the whole story of the Catholic Church selling babies back in the 50s. It will anger you. But it will also make you realize that it is people who make poor decisions not organizations. This was a small group that made this decision, not the entire church. At the same time in today's times it's hard to imagine a world where young people have no idea how they will become pregnant and are stunned when it happens. It only makes the loss they experience that much sadder.

Even with such a sad story there is much hope to be found in the experiences of both Martin and Philomena. Both of them walk away from the tale much wiser and closer than they were when they began this journey. The answer is found and just what that is I won't reveal. I would whole heartedly suggest though that you watch the film to find out. No guns, no explosions, no monsters or superheroes...just a movie about real people. In particular a movie about one true hero and that is Philomena. .

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INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS :THE TIMES THEY WERE A CHANGIN'

There was a time when a movie released by the Coen Brothers was cause for celebration. Fans flocked to theaters to watch their movies and they could do no wrong. But for some reason their latest film gathered little attention from critics and fans alike. Which is sad because INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS actually quite a good film.

Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is a folk singer on the verge of stardom. Still playing the Greenwich Village circuit for low pay with an album that's not selling at all, Llewyn goes from friend to friend, sleeping on any couch that is offered and trying to remain the creative artist that he is. We're given glimpses into a past that involved a partner but no clue where he is now.

The folk scene is still hip in 1961 New York with people still flocking to the local clubs to hear the latest music. But Llewyn is disappointed in the music he hears now. It's not the soulful music rooted deep in not just the early folk music that was there but in blues as well. The current crop of performers, including his friends Jean and Jim (Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake), are talented sure but they lack that certain something he feels will prove their worth. In the meantime they're a hit with club patrons and Jim is recording a new album at Columbia.

Looking for work, Llewyn goes from place to place seeking help from his friends and colleagues. At the same time he refuses to break down and forego the life of a performer, working the day to day menial jobs like his father before him. Having once been a merchant marine, he no longer wants to return to that life. And so he moves forward in the hopes of creating music and getting that lucky break.

But as the movie slowly unrolls we get a glimpse into the real world that Llewyn live in. Jean is pregnant and unsure if the child is his or Jim's and thus wants an abortion just in case. Her resentment of Llewyn putting her into this position is tinged not with guilt so much as anger since she wants children with Jim. Llewyn's agent always collects his fee but rarely ever seems to do much for his clients. And Llewyn's sister just wants him to make something of himself. All of them push hard at Llewyn with no sympathetic ear to offer him.

Word reaches Llewyn of one of Jim's friends making a trek to Chicago to meet with Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham), the owner of the biggest folk club and producer of many who have made it in the field. We move from Llewyn trying to find his way in New York to his finding a ride with a quiet driver for an eccentric named Roland Turner (John Goodman). Cajoled and insulted by Roland, Llewyn stays with the duo as long as he can. The meeting with Grossman could change everything.

There are two movies at work here in this film. The most obvious is the quest of Llewyn Davis to find vindication in his work, in his art. He wants to be loved not in the form of a paycheck but in the form of adoration while at the same time holding himself above all of that. At the same time we're given a history of folk music of that time period. The early sixties was a transitional period for folk music, moving from the classic standards of the past to a more personal and youthful sound that was moved forward by Bob Dylan. This film takes place right in the middle of that change.

More than any other Coen film, this movie relies heavily on the music found here. I watching the extras you learn that each person involved played their own music and most were recorded straight through as they performed. To think that these actors could not only act the scene but perform the music as well says much to the authenticity they bring to each character.

The story that we're made privy to here is a sad one in some ways but with a glimmer of hope shining through at the end. And yet we have no idea when it's all over just what will become of Llewyn and that's how it should be. This is no cardboard cutout look at the music world where all things happen in 90 minutes, crisis stated and solution found. This is the world of an artist who is still seeking that elusive muse that will allow him to be discovered by the world.

The Coen Brothers have done it once again. They've transported us to another place in time, a world that we might have heard of but most have never experienced. And in so doing they expose us to some well played music and some incredible actors who appear to be the characters they're portraying rather than acting. In so doing we're given a movie that entertains both visually and aurally. It's a movie that's worth watching and perhaps even adding to the collection.

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AUGUST - OSAGE COUNTY: DYSFUNCTIONAL ISN'T THE WORD

One of the best things to come out of movies is when you watch one that involves family problems. The reason it's great is that suddenly all of the problems you might have with your own family seem inconsequential compared to those of the characters onscreen. The downside of this is that you find yourself sitting there watching people with tremendous character issues for 2 hours which in itself can be a bit daunting.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is about the Weston family. It opens with patriarch Beverly Weston (Sam Shepherd) interviewing a possible live in nurse to take care of his wife Violet (Meryl Streep). Violet is prone to throwing tantrums and taking more meds than she needs when it comes to her cancer of the mouth problem. Beverly then does what most of us would consider after having to be involved with this family: he commits suicide. This brings back the entire family for the funeral.

First off is Violet's sister and her husband, Mattie Fae Aiken (Margo Martindale) and Charlie (Chris Cooper). Mattie is one of those smiling faces and larger than life persons that capture a room but always have a hidden sadness deep inside. Charlie is the friendliest person in the film, always having a good word to say but not quite sure how he fits into this group. Also on hand is daughter Ivy (Julianne Nicholson), the one daughter who stayed near home to help but who hides a secret that you won't see coming near the end.

Coming home for the funeral is Barbara (Julia Roberts), her father's favorite but a strong willed woman much like her mother. Barbara left the confines of this family but has problems of her own at present with her husband Bill (Ewan McGregor) having an affair which has led to their separation. Along with them is their daughter, Jean (Abigail Breslin), your stereotypical troubled teen who finds fault in both her parents.

Next to arrive home is Karen (Juliette Lewis), the free spirit of the three sisters. Karen has her own faults, moving from man to man in the hopes of finding happiness and yet always picking the worst males possible. Her latest is Steve (Dermot Mulrooney), a sports car driving pot smoking wheeler dealer. If you don't see where his character is heading early on then you're not paying attention. It is so over handed that to say its obvious is in itself obvious.

The last member to arrive is cousin Little Charles (Benedict Cumberbatch), son of Charlie and Mattie Fae. Little Charles is incredibly shy and withdrawn but having lived his life around this family would have do that to you. Constantly put down by his mother, loved by his father, Little Charles also finds himself in a bit of a fix before the end of the film.

With the stage set we experience what is happening in this household as each member arrives and eventually they return from the funeral for the family dinner. Violet is the most vicious of mothers seen on screen in some time. She cajoles and pokes at the wounds in each of her family members, provoking them all in hopes of their returning her attacks. When they do the most explosive moments of the film show themselves. Each one edges us closer and closer to the moment when some will strike back, some will reveal themselves to be more than anyone expected, some will realize they are more like Violet than they had hopes and all secrets will be revealed.

Based on the stage play this movie unfold like one with little time spent moving from location to location. Instead most of the film plays out in the Weston home where bitter and damaging history has played out in the past leaving everyone with scars they carry with them for life. The home itself is a character, displaying the time worn walls that hold secrets of a family that offered little love and much damage to one another. The film only offers three sympathetic characters from start to finish: Charles, Little Charles and Johnna, the nurse Beverly hired. The rest are all people you might recognize as the family members you most try to avoid at reunions.

Roberts and Streep were both nominated for best actress this past year but I don't think either should have qualified. It's another case of those who seem the most flawed and loud get the attention while understated performances are ignored. Had either shown a character here that you had some sympathy for at some point it might have been different. As offered neither grows or changes, instead simply retaining their dislikable selves.

If your idea of entertainment is listening to actresses yell at one another, tossing out the GD expletive as if it were water and seeing a family self destruct before your eyes then you'll want to watch this one non-stop. If that's not your cup of tea then avoid it. Maybe you might want to watch it once to feel good about your own family but my guess is it will be tedious at best for everyone else except those trendy people who find depth in destruction of the family.

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AVENGERS CONFIDENTIAL: ANIMATED AVENGERS

It seems odd that stories derived from comic books have made such a huge splash in reality based movies over the past few years but not quite in animated films. The comic book medium seems to be a no brainer when it comes to crossing into animation. And yet many of the animated movies based on comics haven't achieved near the same success. That being the case it's still nice to see some comic book companies still trying to combine the two and make a successful animated film. Marvel does just that this week with the release of AVENGERS CONFIDENTIAL: BLACK WIDOW AND PUNISHER.

Background on the two main characters is needed to understand them before the film starts, some of this on display in the opening credits sequence. Natasha Romanov aka Black Widow, was raised from childhood in Russia to be their top assassin. Years later she learned of the reality behind what they had done to her, switched sides and now works for S.H.I.E.L.D. as one of their top spies. Frank Castle was an ex-Marine turned policeman whose family was killed by the mob. Since that time he has taken on the mantle of The Punisher dressed in black with a skull on his chest intent on wiping out any and every criminal underworld character he can. While they rarely come into contact in comics they find themselves thrown together in this film.

Castle is in the midst of taking down a group of criminals led by Caine when Black Widow shows up and tries to stop him. While most of the criminals die at Castle's hand, Caine escapes and Castle is captured by Widow whose objective was to take him before her commander, Nick Fury the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury informs Castle that he's ruined an operation that's been going on for months. It seems that Caine was tied into a group called Leviathan, a terrorist organization made up of ex-Russian military leaders intent on world domination. Using stolen S.H.I.E.L.D. technology they are developing and selling arms to the highest bidder.

In Castle's mind he doesn't care. His only objective is to take down the low life criminals who kills innocent people. Fury's objective is to follow those players to the source and win the entire war, not just a single battle. Both want the bad guy but are going at it from different angles. Fury offers Castle a chance to come on board with the plan and find Leviathan and put an end to the terror as long as he'll work with Widow. Castle agrees, sort of, refusing to take orders.

The duo follow track Caine using a bug that Castle planted on him during the initial fight that opened the film. The secret that it leads to, jus how developed the plan is that Leviathan has formed and the personal interests that involved the Black Widow makes for some emotional sequences as well as a deeper secret than we were led to believe from the information Fury had. Just how the pair will overcome their differences and put an end to Leviathan makes up the rest of the film.

Make no mistake about it, this is not comics from the sixties or earlier. Comics changed during the eighties and nineties taking on a more adult tone. This was in part because their audience was aging, becoming older. The adult market makes up a bigger part of their sales now than children. Not only is the story and themes used here more adult in nature, the violence is as well. Within seconds of the movie starting we witness Castle cut the throat of one thug and gun down many more in cold blood. Make note of this before allowing your children to watch this movie.

That warning aside this film plays out more like James Bond than Captain America. The combination of spy and vigilante make for an interesting story that moves along at a quick pace that doesn't allow time for relaxation. Fans of thrillers that seem to take up book racks everywhere will enjoy the storyline here as well as the action. Fans of comics will be glad to see the Avengers on screen once again (even if it does come towards the end of the film).

On the whole this film is quite enjoyable and will entertain fans and non-fans alike. While I'm not a big fan of anime style animation, it didn't affect what is going on here on screen at all. It actually worked well with what happens here. In the end viewers will get a solid film with adult themes that take place in a comic book reality. Heroes and villains are not black and white but shades of gray, sort of like the real world. Comic fans will add it to their shelves while all others have a chance to escape for 83 minutes.

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KILL YOUR DARLINGS: ELITISTS ENTERTAINMENT

I've never been a big fan of movies that are too wrapped up in their "artistic integrity" to be entertaining. There are certain subjects that film makers, writers and other artists have as deeply held convictions on as the most religious zealot to stand on a pulpit proclaiming his faith. The difference is that most of these artistic zealots believe in their art above all else and hold the men who influence them as sacred. It's the same reason we yearly have millionaires awarding other millionaires awards on TV.

The case in point this time around is the author Allen Ginsberg, a poet that many have proclaimed to be the voice of his generation, a generation known at the beat generation. I'm sorry but if you have to call yourself part of a group while saying people shouldn't be part of a group, you're pretentious. Ginsberg was a member of that same group of people that included both Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. All are involved in the release of KILL YOUR DARLINGS.

This true story begins with Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliff) heading off to college where his world completely changes. On a tour of the library for freshmen he is witness to an outburst by bad boy Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). In class he immediately starts off by disagreeing with his professor about the dynamics of how poetry should be written which catches the eye of Carr. Soon Ginsberg is recruited into the world of Carr.

Rather than follow along with the standard things people do in college like sporting events, lectures or pep rallies (the film takes place in the 40's), Ginsberg is led down into a seedier world near Harlem by Carr. He is exposed to jazz and blues music, drinking & drugs and the intelligentsia of society. At a party he meets Burroughs (Ben Foster), lying in a dry bathtub inhaling nitrous oxide. He also meets the host of the party, David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall), holding realm over the rest and seemingly having a controlling eye on Carr.

The immediate friendship between Ginsberg, Carr and Burroughs develops as they come up with a concept, a manifesto if you will, about the change that is to come in art and society, a new vision. Led by Carr who offers up ideas left and right, Ginsberg is so caught up in the moment that he fails to realize that Carr has rarely if ever come upon an idea on his own. Hints are dropped everywhere that most if not all of his ideas come from Kammerer. As the movie progresses we soon discover that Kammerer does indeed have a hold over Carr. The most obvious hold is that he writes all of Carr's papers for his classes. The other is that he has involved Carr in a homosexual relationship; a relationship not only frowned upon at the time but illegal as well.

Through it all Ginsberg remains oblivious on the surface. At the same time he's developing his own crush on Carr. Never involved in a relationship prior Ginsberg feels his developing homosexuality grow the more involved he becomes with Carr.

The three friends ramble on about art and how they will change the world. They bring Carr's friend Jack Kerouac into their plans. They display their rebellion in acts like breaking into the library and replacing rare display case books with erotic books kept locked up. They fail to go to class and yet consider themselves part of the University, intent on changing it all the while. Always hanging on is Kammerer, trying to control Carr while Ginsberg begins to do all in his power to part the two. Eventually the conflict that develops will end in murder and revelations for all as to who they truly are.

The worshipfulness on display by the screenwriter and director for the beat generation runs rampant here. It's as if they feel these characters can do no wrong no matter what they do, as if they are the cool kids that they so long wanted to be. The same holds true for the actors, especially Radcliff. Why is it that child stars always seem to leap towards roles that require them to either undress or do "adult" things to prove they are truly actors? Radcliff has done nudity on stage and here offers us a gay lovemaking scene that while not showing the entire act leaves little to the imagination. Straight sex scenes in movies have become boring. Gay sex scenes to me seem done for little more than shock value.

In the end I couldn't recommend this film to anyone with the exception of the gay community who will proclaim it a standard by which all films should be made. It will also be a film that those who criticize will find themselves called homophobic over. There are some truly great movies made concerning the topic of homosexuality and offering an understanding viewpoint. This is not one of them. From a movie standpoint to me it was boring and felt as if it was in love with itself. Not even a quick finger on the remote's fast forward button can save this one.

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OLDBOY: SURVIVING TRANSLATION

While most critics love Spike Lee I've never been a huge fan. Sure he's done some movies that I've thought were good but too often I found his films too filled with political correctness and outrage. That's fine when you start but after so many films it becomes less a statement of honesty and more one of trying to keep your following happy. The films I have enjoyed have been his more mainstream films. This week finds one of those released on DVD though mainstream might not quite be the word I'd use to describe it.

OLDBOY was a Korean made film that took audiences by surprise and by storm when it was originally released back in 2003. It was controversial and filled with extreme violence and yet it told a fascinating story. Lee has taken that original film and made it more palatable for U.S. audiences, those who still refuse to read subtitles.

Josh Brolin is Joe Doucett, an ad exec who's seen better days. Now Joe he weighs too much, drinks too much, flirts too much and tends to forget about the family he once had. After losing an important client he goes on a binge only to wake and find himself locked in a strange room with no way out. The sparse room has a bed, nightstand, huge TV screen, a false window and a bathroom. Cries for help or to know what's going on go unanswered.

By watching the TV, Joe also learns that his wife has been raped and murdered and that his daughter has been taken in child protective services. He also finds out that the police think he's the one who did this with DNA evidence to back it up. He is supplied with plenty to eat (if he'll eat Chinese food) and an endless supply of whiskey which he takes to rapidly. The only programs on his TV screen are news, exercise programs, kung fu movies and updates on the life of his daughter now being raised by an adoptive couple.

Time moves forward and first Joe feels helpless and then tries to take his own life. But the forces that be won't allow that, knocking him out with gas and then bandaging him up. Knowing that he'll survive no matter what he does, he decides to make the best of things. He stops drinking and begins to work out since most of the TV programming is exercise shows and kung fu movies. As the years go by, Joe begins to work on a way to escape, finding some lose tiles in the shower. But before he can use this escape, he is knocked out once again.

When Joe wakes, he finds himself in a steamer trunk in the middle of a field with a cell phone and plenty of money. It is now 20 years later and he still has no clue who did this to him or why. But he sees a woman carrying an umbrella with a symbol he recognizes as one he tattooed onto his own arm.  Following her he ends up in an altercation with a group of weekend sports players that he takes out easily using the things he's learned watching the TV. He loses the girl but does find an old friend named Chucky (Michael Imperoli). With his help Joe learns how to use a computer as well as the internet.

As Joe continues to search for whoever is behind this he meets a young woman who helps with the less fortunate in the neighborhood named Marie (Elizabeth Olson). Along with his friend Chucky, they continue to try and find answers to help him. Various clues are left for Joe to help him move this direction or that and eventually he is brought face to face with the person responsible. And he still has no idea who this is or why any of this has taken place.

That might seem like a lot of information but trust me when I say that things go forward from here that make all of it not only clear as to what was going on but why. Through it Joe faces off against enormous odds in a fight sequence that isn't exactly what the original presented but close enough that fans should be pleased. Lee has also decided to keep the ending somewhat intact, something that will shock many, disgust a few and surprise only those with no contact with the original film.

This move is so well paced, so well put together that there isn't a moment when you'll consider touching the remote to fast forward. You'll want to absorb not only every ounce of information in the hopes of putting the story together but you won't want to miss any of the fine quality acting on display from every single person involved. Why Brolin isn't doing more in movies is beyond me and Olsen shows that in that family she was the one gifted with acting ability.

OLDBOY is not for the weak of heart. It offers a gritty world where bad things happen to bad people and where justice takes on the oddest form. If the end of this movie doesn't make your draw drop then you weren't paying attention. As for Spike Lee I wish he'd direct more straight forward movies like this one. He has the ability to do it right, if he'd only stick to it. Lastly I would suggest that if you're interested in something different you might want to watch the original film as well. It's well worth the time.

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THE TICK COMPLETE SERIES: A SHOW AHEAD OF IT'S TIME

When I heard back in 2001 that THE TICK was going to become a live action series on TV I was thrilled. The comic, that would be considered underground by some, was hilarious as had been the animated series back in 1994. My expectations were high and fortunately they were well placed. The show was hilarious and I loved it. Apparently I was in a minority though because it sadly lasted only one season. Luckily the entire series has been available on DVD, first for a steep price that eventually dropped and now for just $9.74 (amazon.com price).

If you aren't aware of the series or haven't heard of the Tick then you're truly missing out on one funny show. With super heroes all the rage these days, the series was obviously well ahead of it's time. But the superheroes on display here are not the average ordinary types that we have today. Sure, they may be found in colorful tights, but they are not the successful bunch found in most movies now.

No one knows where the Tick came from. As played by Patrick Wharburton he is central to the success of the show in a role that I can't imagine anyone else playing now. Dressed in what appears to be a latex blue one piece outfit with wiggling antennae (one of the funniest visual things in the show), the Tick leaves a bus station he's been guarding to head to the big city. His goal is to put a stop to crime. The Tick has several things going wrong for him though. The first is that he has no clue of his own strength and with that the ability to be aware of the things that he does around him. Like knock out portions of roofs as he leaps from one to the next. He also has a tendency to try and make everything he says sound profound. His tone may make it so but not his choice of words. My favorite takes place in the opening of the pilot where the Tick is "fighting" a coin operated coffee machine that refuses to give a patron the cup of coffee he purchased. Grabbing the machine he lifts and shakes it yelling "So vending menace we meet again...Armless bandit! Empty your bladder of that bitter, black urine men call coffee!"

Once the Tick arrives in the city he meets a hero wannabe, accountant Arthur, just released from his job because he wants to be a hero...and dresses in a white spandex suit with wings. Until he meets the Tick no one recognizes that the outfit is that of a moth. The pair then meets two other heroes, Bat-Manuel and Captain Liberty. Discovering a plot to kill Jimmy Carter by a dormant Soviet robot that's been awakened, the heroes must work together to thwart this menace. See? His way of speaking can be infective.

Other episodes in the series took all kinds of turns. And rather than be kid friendly like the animated series, this one often had sexual innuendo on display throughout, especially when Bat-Manuel tried to bed Captain Liberty. Or the episode where she went to bed with The Immortal only to have him die there. 

For the most part though this series didn't dwell on those topics. They were background noise to the real focus which was just how dedicated the Tick was to justice while at the same time causing as much damage as the bad guys did in an attempt to apprehend them. And yet at the same time you had to love this big galoot who just wanted to do good.

I can't say enough how the best part of this series was Patrick Wharburton. This is not to short change the rest of the cast, but he stood out so much here. To this day when I hear his voice in anything he does, this is what pops into my head. He's a great voice actor and a wonderful live actor and deserves not only more work but more credit as well.

The series may not have lasted that long. Looking back the Fox network didn't promote it all that well and placed it up against SURVIVOR and NBC's must see shows on Thursday nights. Fortunately it can still be enjoyed on DVD and watched again and again. For me it's not a DVD that I'd part with. I can still watch the episodes and enjoy them as much today as the first time. If you love super heroes or comic books or just want to enjoy something funny and different, then pick this up. You won't regret it.

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THREE STOOGES 6 MOVIE SET: THREE STOOGES TREAT

Fans of the Three Stooges are beginning to dwindle with time. Kids are exposed to more high brow humor on one hand and the antics that the Stooges brought to the forefront are being taken over by kids on Disney channel programs. Since most of their shorts and films were made in black and white, kids today won't bother to watch them and adults don't feel like shelling out big bucks for their films. Thank goodness the people at Mill Creek still like the Stooges and offering quality product for a low price.

Die hard fans were pleased last year when Sony offered the complete box set collection of the Stooges shorts. Now they can make a point of collecting THE THREE STOOGES 6 MOVIE SET. It's a no frills, no extra set of 6 films made by the Stooges after they were "rediscovered" in the late 50's/early 60's. If you're not familiar with the Stooges history, once shorts fell out of grace with movie companies they were tossed aside without so much as a thank you for providing Columbia with 24 years of dedicated service where they helped them earn plenty of money. With the invention of television stations were searching for low cost entertainment to fill the hours. Studios repackaged the shorts of people like the Stooges and the Little Rascals and suddenly everyone remembered them. Cashing in on their new found popularity, the Stooges set out to make features for the same company that let them go before. Now you can pick up 6 of those movies for just $8.96! (amazon.com price)

The set starts off with HAVE ROCKET WILL TRAVEL (1959) which sees the Stooges as janitors working at a space program who accidentally find themselves inside a spaceship heading for Venus. Traveling through outer space and arriving on Venus they encounter aliens, giant spiders, a wicked robot and of all things a unicorn. No need to worry, they do find their way home. This film found Joe DeRita (dubbed Curly Joe) as the third stooge since both Curly and Shemp had passed away by this time. It offers some great sight gags and not one but two sets of the stooges when they get duplicated!

The next film in the set is THE OUTLAWS IS COMING (1965). When a diabolical bad guy (is there any other kind?) in the old west stirs up trouble with the Indians in an attempt to start a war and then take over the old west, a Boston magazine send out an intrepid journalist played by Adam (Batman) West along with his assistants, the Stooges. When West suddenly ends up the town sheriff you know trouble won't be far behind...or some funny antics from the Stooges. Joe DeRita starred in this film as well.

Third up (the last on the first disc) is ROCKIN' IN THE ROCKIES (1945). Made when they were still making shorts this movie has the Stooges prospecting for gold, up against despicable gamblers and attempting to help some girls they meet find a way to Broadway. The movie is filled with musical numbers and more story than one usually finds in a Stooges film. One of the nice things about this film is the fact that it has Curly Howard, the original Stooge, still alive and well.

The second disc begins with THE THREE STOOGES GO AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAZE (1963), taking them on the same trek Jules Verne launched in his 80 DAYS novel. Phileas Fogg III, the grandson of the original adventurer, bets Randolph Stuart III that he can accomplish the same trek his grandfather did in the same amount of time. He sets out to do so with the help of his three servants, the Stooges of course. Unbeknownst to him is the fact that Stuart is a con man who intends to use this trip as camouflage for his plan to rob the bank of England. Joe DeRita once again takes up the third Stooge role.

The next film is one of my favorites of all time, something that I recall from when I was a kid, THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES (1962). Working in a drug store the Stooges attempt to help their neighbor, timid inventor Schuyler Davis, with the time machine he's working on. A mix up transports the Stooges, Schuyler and his girlfriend Diane back to the ancient times in Greece where they run afoul of King Odious. Placed in the galley, Schuyler develops quite the set of muscles and when they escape the Stooges bill him as Hercules which upsets the real Hercules. Of course they find a way out of it and back home. Joe DeRita is on tap here again.

Lastly we have TIME OUT FOR RHYTHM (1941). This one doesn't feature the Stooges in the starring role but as support players. The movie revolves around Danny and Mike, two guys who want to meet a talent agent and make their way to the big time. A woman comes between them and they part ways only to reunite with the chance at producing a big show on Broadway. As I said, the Stooges are in supporting roles here with Curly on hand and in drag doing his impersonation of Carmen Miranda.

So there you have it, descriptions of the 6 movies included in this set. Are they worth adding to your collection? For Stooges fans, absolutely. How could you possibly consider your collection complete without these? Sure they guys appear a little older and worn down but hey, they were getting older and yet could still hold their own with younger comedians of the time. Their slapstick routines were becoming so well known you knew what to expect but that was part of the joy of watching the Stooges. You knew Moe would get mad, Larry would say something goofy and Curly/Curly Joe would end up smacked by one or the other.

More importantly this set offers something that few films do these days. It offers family entertainment, something that they youngest to the oldest can watch without fear of someone being offended or insulted. No gore, no guts, no bad language or vulgarity, the movies offered here were films that we enjoyed as children and that I would bet youngsters might get a laugh out of today. I intend to give that a run the next time my niece and nephew come over. With the way they loved Abbott and Costello that I showed them, I'm betting this collection will be a hit as well. Definitely one to add to the collection.

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THE ELLEN SHOW: FUNNY BUT SHORT LIVED SERIES

I always thought Ellen DeGeneres was hilarious when I first saw her stand up routine on HBO years ago. Parts of it I can recall to this day. When she decided to take on television with a series we watched and enjoyed that as well. And then she redefined what she wanted to do with that series. Rather than be funny it became about her being a lesbian. That was important the first episode she did it on but it soon wore thin when each week we were having her tell someone else about it. It suddenly was more agenda oriented and less funny. It wasn't long after that the show folded too much controversy. The fact is the ratings weren't there.

Then in 2001 Ellen came back with a new series on a new network with a new story. Sure she was a lesbian again, but it wasn't the focus of the show. It didn't matter. What mattered was being funny and yes, she was funny again. Unfortunately the series didn't bring back the viewers she had lost and it only lasted one season. But for fans you can watch it now on DVD at an affordable price from Mill Creek, just $9.98 (amazon.com price).

Here she plays Ellen Richmond, back home in the small town she grew up in which is throwing a celebration in her honor as the most successful person to have left there. Ellen has owned several businesses and has one of the biggest dot.com businesses going. Until it collapses and she goes bankrupt...just as she is about to attend the dinner in her honor for being successful.

From their the series has her visiting with her friends and returning home to start her life again. She lives with her eccentric mother (Cloris Leachman) and ditzy sister Catherine (Emily Rutherford), a woman who seems intent of picking the worst possible candidates for boyfriends. The man who brought her home for the celebration is her old school teacher Mr. Munn (Martin Mull), now the principal of the school. Her ex-prom date Rusty (Jim Gaffigan) still thinks he might have a chance of winning her hand, even though she's informed him of her sexual preference.

Even though things look bad, Ellen lands on her feet. Mr. Munn offers her a counseling position at the school and she ends up having people to talk and give advice to. This is where Ellen's talent lies, in the back and forth conversations she has with people. It feels like it stems from her stand up routines in spots and is actually pretty funny. And while one running joke about being a lesbian keeps popping up (the ladies gym teacher might be the only other lesbian in town), it never becomes the focus of the series. Sure she mentions it now and then but each time the story continues from there rather than dwell on the topic.

I have no idea why the series didn't do better. Perhaps it was the competition it was up against. Maybe people were afraid it would be exactly the same as her previous show. In any event it was funny and perhaps better than a number of comedies we see on the air right now. But it didn't last long and for fans the only way to remember it is by picking up this DVD set now. Fans did eventually come to accept Ellen for herself and stop judging her. Her talk show first aired in 2003 and continues successfully to this day and she hosted the most recent Oscars. Ellen was and is a funny comedienne. This set is proof that she was a funny comedic actress as well.

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GOTHAM CITY SERIALS: LONG BEFORE ADAM WEST...

Batman began as a comic book over 80 years ago. It continues to this day in comic form through several titles still produced by DC Comics. Popular when it began it led to a radio program and then made its way to the big screen.

When most people think of Batman at the movies, they now think of Christian Bale. Years earlier they were talking about Michael Keaton. And before him in the sixties there was Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin seen weekly on television. But the first film version of Batman arrived on screens in a different sort of weekly version, a serial that appeared week after week prior to the double features seen on screens around the country.

In 1943 the first serial, BATMAN, was showing up week after week and thrilling kids non-stop. To miss a week was pure torture, not having seen how Batman made it through the danger he was left in the week before. For the longest time these serials were seen when they first ran and then disappeared from public view. During the heyday of the TV series a number of them were joined together to make a feature that intended to cash in on the show's popularity. Then, once more, they disappeared. A few years back, Columbia released a DVD version of the serial but that left the shelves as well. With the help of Mill Creek Entertainment, those serials are available once again and at an affordable price.

The first serial, BATMAN, ran in 1943 and had the team of Batman and Robin not only taking on everyday criminals but the enemies at war with the US as well. With sets reminiscent of most B grade films, the stories went from week to week as the dynamic duo faced off against the evil Dr. Tito Draka, an oriental villain pulled straight from the stereotypical playbook of the time. With mind controlled zombies, a radioactive guns and pet alligators that enjoyed the tastes of his victims, Draka did his best to destroy Batman and Robin and ruin America. Like that was going to happen. While Batman's alter ego Bruce Wayne lazes around where ever he goes, Batman steps up to the plate wielding fisticuffs and his own set of gadgets to take down this enemy in a death defying 15 episodes lasting about 25 minutes each.

The second serial, BATMAN AND ROBIN, came about 6 years later in 1949. With new actors portraying the dynamic duo (after 6 years I would think the boy wonder would have been too old to be played by the same actor) and a new costume, darker this time around, the pair faced off against a new evil in Gotham. This time around the pair faced off against The Wizard, an evil genius if there ever was one. Clad in his own costume this time, The Wizard has built a machine that allows him to control moving vehicles from his secret lair. His plan revolves around stealing some top secret documents but the Batman and Robin don't intend to let him succeed. To make things worse Batman's love interest Vickie Vale is trying to uncover just who the real men behind the mask of Batman and Robin really are. Then we once again have a lay about rendition of Bruce Wayne who appears more like a narcoleptic bumbler than a wealthy playboy man about town. But that's all right because when in costume he more than makes up with the action.

Two complete 15 chapter serials, one box, two DVDs. Curious viewers might not have felt like coughing up over $15 to $20 to find out what this was all about, to see if it was worth the cost. But at $8.78 (amazon.com's list price) it is well worth it. If not for the chance to see a classic serial then to reach back into history for the chance to witness the first incarnation of Batman brought to the big screen. The quality of the films is well made and the movies, while dated and typical of serials back then, still offer great entertainment and historical value. Batman fans won't want to pass this one up.

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