Bless Me, Ultima:

Coming of age without the amorous romance, but with a romantic's view of the past. This story explores the paradigm of good vs. evil, religion and superstition, and ways of passing knowledge that are ancient and timeless. The cycles of life and time feature strongly here, as do destiny, emnity, friendships, and family. The most heartening thing for me was the clear reverence for the Earth, Nature, and family farmers who hold the land that sustains us in trust. Not everything here is easy or pretty by a long way, nor is the movie perfect, but in its way it's timeless. 7/10

Promised Land:

Old-school charm and story-telling meet good people torn between tough choices, philosophical wrangling, soul-searching, and the ever-American argument of Green-or-Greenback$. There's a good twist & sweet romance. 7/10

Warm Bodies:

Awww! Sweet for Valentine's Day, as long as semi-rotted flesh, dead cannibals, and face-smearing zombie-goop doesn't gross you out. At first the lead zombie's nostalgia reflex surviving rigor mortis seems odd, but his OCD as a collector of things that hint at love are what keeps some life in those strange ol' bones, and if any zombie can collect on a hot crush, it's our boy, Rrrrr. For a dead Romeo, he really lives it up! His driving instructor is some hot stuff, too. Will he thaw, or will he gnaw? 7/10

Beautiful Creatures:

Two worlds in beautiful chaotic collision, coming of age, young love, elders all fighting each other, ancient meets ancient in a temporal pocket just a stone's throw back from modernity. Trust me, Romeo really is a good guy, and Juliet is all hot and magic. The story's as old as dirt, but the circumstances are cool enough to bust the bible belt. More lively and fun than Twilight, but not as dramatic, with half the saccarine content. 8/10

Dan

A Good Day To Die Hard:

Everything can be blown up, you can bet on it. Parent-child relationships, friendships, buildings, vehicles, aircraft, anything. If you can't blow it up, you can shoot it. Violence is a joke, a cliche, a salve. It's even cute now. Plus, there's a great new Rolling Stones song during the credits. Go, cool Bruce! 6/10

Dan