Exam (2009)

Eight candidates are taking a final exam in order to get a dream job. They have eighty minutes to answer one question. The question is what is the question?
The  movie has a very promising start but in time the excitement dies away. The solution was not satisfying. Sad that a script with a very good potential had a very weak culmination.
Rating 6 of 10

Night Night Blessings

By Amy Parker , illustrated by Marijan Ramljak
Published by Thomas Nelson

Night Night Blessings by Amy Parker is a beautiful children’s bedtime prayer book.  Blessings stated by Amy Parker, the author, are simple, funny and appropriate for small children. Marijan Ramljak, the illustrator, has created a colorful and delightful painting for each blessing.

My children love to browse through the book and pick a blessing appropriate for their feelings of that day. Hard pages of the book make this task easy and enjoyable. Especially they like to look at pictures carefully. Their favorite character is a little toy giraffe that appears in several pictures.

The pictures are paintings in calm and pastel colors. The illustrator has managed to add softness to his paintings. Each picture has beautiful, well-painted details.

Blessings remind of all kinds of daily situations that every kid experiences, meals, friends, family, pets, toys, bedtime. These blessings are good start for kids to form prayers in their own words. 

My kids defiantly would love to share Night Nigh Blessings with their friends. If you like artistic children’s books this one is for you. My kids and I would give five stars to this book.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program but I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

The Girl with the Dragon Tatto (2011)

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is asked to find truth about the disappearance of Harriet Vanger forty years ago. During investigation he is joined by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a hacker.
This movie has the most amazing begging where music and computer graphic leaves unforgettable impression. These few minutes alone are worth whole movie. Movie's soundtrack is so well created that gives one more dimension to the movie.
Rooney Mara is great choice for Lisbeth. Her play is honest, powerful and memorable.
This is the movie in a category of 'must see.'
Rating 10 of 10.

Coriolanus (2011)

Based on a play of William Shakespeare the movie is set in today's world. Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), a war hero in Rome, is banished by his people. In revenge he allies with his greatest enemy.
Shakespearean lines and plot felt out of place in the modern setting. It seemed too theatrical. However, Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave as mother, showed brilliant play of dramatical actors.
Rating 6 of 10.

The Rum Diary (2011)

Based on a novel of a journalist Hunter.S. Thompson the movie pictures young journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) who takes freelance in a financially troubled local newspaper in Puerto Rico in 1950s. Kemp finds himself between self-destructive colleagues who most of their days spend drinking rum.
Beauty of Puerto Rico and charm of Johnny Depp make the movie endurable otherwise it is quite poor.
Rating 5 of 10.

Carnage (2011)

Two parents meet to solve a conflict between their kids. They start out as polite and intelligent people but during their intercourse emotions rise and we find four raging people.
Roman Polanski has chosen an excellent cast, Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly against Kate Winslet  and  Cristoph Waltz. Foster and Winslet very good show how calm and civilized ladies turn into chimers.
Rating 9 of 10

Kolka Cool (2011)

One of the best movies made in Latvia I have seen in a while. Director Juris Poskus pictures board, aimless youth walking around a little coastal village. Three guys Andza, Boga and Balais spend their days killing time by drinking beer, smoking, picking fights and chewing sunflower seeds. Andza wants to merry Simona who is not sure of Andza. Day after day nothing really happens. . The film is so real that makes me sad. I have seen many similar scenarios.
Rating 8 of 10.