Bolt

Another surprise. A relatively simple tale that takes some cues from movies such as The Matrix--or is it The Muttrix?--and The Incredible Journey turns out to be an insightful, funny and occasionally even moving story about a girl and her dog...and, oh by the way, Hollywood, which the film both admires and skewers at the same time and with equal amounts of feeling. Anyone who has ever had a pet can’t help but feel the tug of this picture's underlying story of a companion lost, so it’s no wonder the film would hit home with its audience. Add on to that foundation a clever script, strong vocal performances, and a major upgrade to the studio’s digital animation output (by this point Disney finally learned a thing or two from their Pixar cousins) and you wind up with a movie that probably deserves way more love than it seems to have gotten in its day and subsequently. Ironic though it may be, this is one movie about a dog that earns a long, loud PURR.

Grease

A 42-year re-viewing of what most people (at least my age) would consider a classic. It may not get a ton of respect, but it is immensely entertaining, and--I would argue--worthy of the love it gets from a couple of generations of viewers. The lyrics on almost all the songs are really sharp; you notice how clever the songs are when you watch it a couple of times. The performances are good, ranging from fine to a real blast, especially from some of the bit players who inhabit the fringes of the story; the cameos from stars of yesteryear add a lot of fun to the proceedings. Mostly, though, this about the principals, and they deliver the goods. Travolta really is fine, but Olivia Newton-John...oh, my. If nothing else, this movie is about as close as you can get to spending the bulk of two hours with the girl of your dreams, if you're not so lucky in real life. (Few of us are.) Yes, the ending remains problematic, but that's a quibble (and probably says more about me than the ending itself). Mostly, this flick is a joy to watch--which you should do, or do again, before the '50s theme gets another day older and out of date.

The Thin Red Line

Wow--they made Guadalcanal boring. Almost a twin to Saving Private Ryan--another ponderous, pretentious WWII epic that had virtually no real story to speak of. Oh well--at least it looked nice.

Primary Colors

If only the real Clinton cared as much as Travolta's fictionalized version of him does in this flick. A mostly entertaining veiled look at the '92 campaign that can leave one feeling wistful for the promise that once was, and a little bitter over the disappointment that ultimately came.