Tyrese Gibson and James Franco in "Annapolis"
courtesy of Disney Home Entertainment
"Gung Ho and Ready To Go"

"Annapolis" is a movie that is just right to watch so close to the 4th of July. It is all about patriotism and commitment to honor and duty. James Franco and Tyrese Gibson are the stars and they do a good job of making this pro military film as enjoyable as possible.

The film tells the story of a young man who wants to go to the Naval Academy in the worst way. When he finally gains admittance he finds that getting in and staying in are two different things. He has to prove his value over and over to his fellow students, to the faculty, and ultimately to himself.

Jordana Brewster also stars as an upperclassman who finds the underclassman attractive. They can't fraternize but they can build a relationship. That takes care of the romance side of the story. The competitiveness between Franco's character and Gibson's character takes care of the rest. The DVD also has deleted scenes and commentary to add to the enjoyment of the film.

So get in the patriotic mood by watching "Annapolis." It will fill you with the old stars and stripes feeling.

One of the most unique movies I have seen in a while is on DVD and is titled "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School." This film concerns a widower (Robert Carlyle) who happens upon a car accident. A man (John Goodman) is in the car and tells the stranger how he is on his way to Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. He says he has to meet a girl he knew some forty years previously. As kids they had promised they would meet on a specific date in the future..

The stranger goes to the school but he can't locate the girl the victim was supposed to meet. He hangs around though and his life begins to change. He makes friends and he meets a woman (Marisa Tomei) who might bring him out of his self-imposed shell.

This movie has no car chases, no pirates or super heroes; but it does have warm characters you grow to care about. Take a chance and watch this movie. It is a winner.

If you were a fan of the TV series "Commander In Chief" you will want to get the DVD of the first ten episodes of the series. When they aired they were so bounced around and out of sequence that they could barely be enjoyed. But with the DVD you can watch them straight through from beginning to end.

Geena Davis is there as President Mac Mackenzie and Donald Sutherland is seen as her nemesis, the Speaker of the House. You also get to see how Mac struggles with balancing her political life and her family life. It is quite a struggle.

So get "Commander In Chief: The Inaugural Edition - Part 1." It will give you a new appreciation of a series that never had a chance. It should have been one of the year's most popular but it got done in by poor scheduling.

If your kids are fans of the "Lilo and Stitch" movies then you have to get them "Leroy and Stitch." This film has the regular characters back for another adventure but this time they are joined by Leroy who is Stitch's evil twin. With evil getting the upper hand it is up to Stitch, Lilo and their friends to make sure that right prevails.

This is a great Disney film and it comes with extras. There is the "Big Red Battleship Flight Stimulator Game" plus never before seen episodes of the "Lilo & Stitch" TV series. So get a copy of this new movie and let your kids' fun begin.

 

 

 

 

 

©2006 Jackie K. Cooper

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