Archive for December, 2009

Review by Jane Louise Boursaw

Reel Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild rude humor
Released in Theaters: Dec. 23, 2009
Genre: Family, Musical, Animated
Runtime: 88 minutes
Directed by: Betty Thomas
Cast: Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate
Official Site: http://munkyourself.com/

SYNOPSIS:Now in the care of Dave Seville’s nephew Toby (Zachary Levi), Alvin, Simon and Theodore take a break from pop-music stardom and return to school, where they meet the Chipettes, a female chipmunk singing group. (more…)

by Melanie Davis, MEd, CSE

What’s the right response when you discover your teen’s contraceptives? A) a hug; B) saying, “I’m proud of you for using protection”; C) patting yourself on the back; D) saying “Let’s talk” or E) All of the above. The correct answer is E, even though you may feel like breaking out in hives.

You may think it’s wrong for teens to have sexual intercourse, but if a teen has contraceptives, he or she is already sexually active or is planning to be. The contraceptives are evidence that your teen is trying to be sexually responsible, too. Let’s go through the response choices individually. (more…)

by Dara Chadwick

Last spring, Mattel’s Barbie doll turned 50, and you know what that means…the Internet was abuzz this year with stories about all the ways that Barbie causes low self-esteem and body image issues in girls and women. (more…)

Getting gifts is great, but returning gifts isn’t–especially if you don’t have the receipt or you have to deal with a retailer that simply doesn’t want to deal with returns (no fair, I say).

That’s why I thought you’d find this checklist from Consumer Reports, on how to avoid gift-return snafus, to be helpful. Luckily, I had all the receipts and information I need to make gift returns this past weekend. I wish you many happy returns, too. (more…)

By Judy Gruen

It’s December, the season of holiday parties and the inevitable New Year’s diet resolutions. I keep my resolutions secret, since if I blab about them to my friends I actually have to take my diet seriously. This is no fun at all. (more…)

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking

Released in Theaters: Dec. 18, 2009

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, War

Runtime: 163 minutes

Directed by: James Cameron

Cast: Sam Worthingon, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi

Official Site: http://www.avatarmovie.com/

SYNOPSIS: Humans have destroyed the earth’s resources and are forced to mine minerals from other planets, such as the Utopian Pandora. But first they have to remove the peaceful Na’vi tribe from their sacred land, which they attempt to do by downloading humans’ brains into Na’vi-like “avatars” and infiltrating their tribe.

Sex/Nudity: Longing looks between Jake and Neytiri, which eventually leads to kissing and “mating” (but nothing is shown on screen). Also, the Na’vi are sensual creatures with little clothing (though all the private parts are covered up).  

Violence/Gore. Characters are injured and die due to battle explosions, gunfire, arrows, and falls. Pandora has fierce creatures that resemble wolves and dragons. Massive robotic bulldozers blaze through the Pandorans sacred lands, scattering creatures and Na’vi and mowing down all the vegetation.

Profanity: Includes “s–t,” “bull–t,” “holy s–t,” “god—-n,” “pi–,” “limp-d—ed,” “hell,” “a–,” and “oh my God.”

Which Kids Will Like It? Kids 13 and older who like fantasy tales with a war theme.

Will Parents Like It? “Avatar” includes several overt messages about government corruption and human’s misuse of the environment, as well as a message about protecting the earth’s resources.

REVIEW: “Avatar” isn’t a movie you go see. It’s a move you absorb and sink into and let surround you. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I admit the plot is a little predictable. You can see things coming long before they happen, but the 3D special effects more than make up for it.

The story takes place in the year 2154 and revolves around a paraplegic Marine named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington). When his brother is killed in battle, Jake decides to take his place in a mission on the distant Utopian planet of Pandora.

Humans have ravaged the earth’s resources and environment, and are thus dependant on mining the minerals from other planets. Pandora has rich reserves of the mineral unobtainium, which the earth desperately needs. So the government and military have dispatched troops to move the peaceful Na’vi off their sacred lands on Pandora so they can mine the minerals beneath their lands. The political and environmental messages are rampant in this film.

On Pandora, Jake meets the greedy corporate suit Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), who will stop at nothing to get that mineral. He’s got the military on his side, led by the war-hungry Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). One of the reasons I couldn’t give this movie five out of five reels is because the characters are so one-dimensional. But again, the special effects are well worth a trip to the theater.

It’s in 3D, which I don’t normally appreciate in movies. The whole thing about wearing the special glasses is just annoying to me, and most movies don’t benefit from the 3D effects. But I can’t say that about “Avatar.” It’s one of those rare movies where the 3D actually adds to the movie, instead of detracts from it. You forget you’re wearing the glasses after a while.

The landscape of Pandora is a visual delight, featuring gorgeous plant life of every color, gentle floating creatures that resemble jellyfish, and lush vegetation not unlike a rainforest. It’s Utopia at its best.

Pandora is also home to the peaceful Na’vi, a race of blue humanoids who live in harmony with nature and have a deep connection not only to the land, but also all of their ancestors who’ve died. In this way, they can venture out into the land and see, feel and act like the real Na’vi, while their human body is wired up in a trance-like state back inside a building (humans cannot breathe the Pandoran air).

All this is a real bonus for Jake, who loves having the use of his legs again — though they’re not his real legs. Col. Quaritch promises him a spinal surgery that will restore his real legs, but first Jake has to infiltrate the Na’vi, learn their secrets, and see what it will take to get them to move off their sacred lands. Pretty soon, though, Jake starts to like their ways and starts to fall for one Na’vi, in particular, named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). He finds himself caught in the middle of two worlds, and the Na’vi world is becoming increasingly more desirable.

As mentioned, “Avatar” is really quite predictable, but it’s definitely worth seeing. For one thing, everyone will be talking about it and you don’t want to miss out on the conversational aspect of it. But it’s also a great fantasy movie that envelops you with its visuals. But because of the intense content involving war and other themes, I don’t recommend it for kids younger than 13.

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM:
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.filmgecko.com, www.ReelLifeWithJane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net.

…And Skip The Knife

by Kathy Sena

Imagine a non-surgical, needle-free skin-tightening procedure that smoothes wrinkles, firms up baggy or loose skin and improves body contours. Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham department of dermatology are performing such a procedure with a device that can be used all over the body to contour skin through the use of focused radio waves.

The device “emits radio waves that travel very deeply into the skin and the subcutaneous tissue to promote collagen remodeling and help tighten skin,” says Marian Northington, M.D., a UAB assistant professor of dermatology. “It is safe for all skin types, light skin and dark skin, and it works well for all body areas,” she adds. “You get some immediate tightening that occurs after treatment, and then the skin continues to improve subtly over time by getting tighter and firmer for up to four to six months.”

Treatments usually can be performed in one or two sessions lasting from 20 minutes to more than an hour, depending on the treatment area. Anesthesia is not required. A dermatologist can advise if multiple treatments are needed based on patient preference, treatment area and other factors.

During a treatment, a slight warmth on the skin signals that radio-frequency energy is being absorbed. This warmth indicates that collagen is being stimulated and tightened, Northington says. Afterward, the treated skin may be slightly red for a day or two. The patient’s work schedule, daily routines and sun exposure can remain unchanged.

Kathy Sena is an award-winning health and parenting writer and the mother of a 14-year-old son. Visit her website at www.kathysena.com and check out her blog, Parent Talk Today, at www.parenttalktoday.com.

by Mary Collette Rogers

“Do you have any wheat-free recipes?” As a kitchen and healthy eating coach, that’s usually the first thing I’m asked by people who have been prescribed a gluten or wheat-free diet. It’s a completely understandable inquiry. We think “recipes” when someone tells us we need to eat differently, whether it’s to benefit the heart, to ease arthritis or work around food allergies.

Don’t get me wrong, cookbooks and recipes aren’t a bad starting point. But they are only part—and a relatively small part of the solution. What’s more, they’re the easy part. The fact is, there are TONS of wheat-free recipes. (more…)

by Vanessa Van Petten

The Internet talk is the new sex talk.  You need to have it with your kids, and you need to have it early.  Like sex, the Internet can be a very scary and dangerous thing that should only be used at certain ages and always done correctly.  Yet, it can also be wonderful and exciting, and, now, it is a true part of life. (more…)

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Reel Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Reels
MPAA Rating: G
Released in Theaters: Dec. 11, 2009
Genre: Family, Musical, Animated
Runtime: 97 minutes
Directed by: Ron Clements

Cast: Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer Cody, Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, Michael-Leon Wooley, Jim Cummings

SYNOPSIS: Set in New Orleans during the jazz age, this animated fairy tale centers on a young girl named Tiana and her fateful kiss with a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again. (more…)