Hilary Swank and April Lee Hernandez in "Freedom Writers"
courtesy of Paramount Home Videos
"Let's Write About Freedom"

Hilary Swank moves to the front of the classroom in her new film, now out on DVD, "Freedom Writers." Over the years there have been many movies about how a teacher has transformed an unruly class of students. From "Up the Down Staircase" to "Stand and Deliver" to "Dangerous Minds" each has celebrated the power of one person, and that is only naming a few of the films. Now we add to that celebrated list another film about the power of one teacher to make a difference.

"Freedom Writers" tells the true story of Erin Gruwell (Swank), a young teacher at a school in Long Beach, California. She is assigned to teach freshman English to an underachieving group of kids. She starts off on the wrong foot and stays there for a long time but eventually she begins to break through to them.

She does this without the help of her department head, Margaret Campbell (Imelda Staunton). Campbell has written these kids off and wants to use the facilities and materials for others more gifted. But Gruwell perseveres and begins to introduce her kids to literature, particularly THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. In doing this she learns that her students know next to nothing about the Holocaust.

As she instructs these kids about the Holocaust they begin to open up and realize that other people have been in worse situations than they, and have triumphed. Gruwell instructs the kids to write down their thoughts and ideas in journals. Through these journals the students learn more about themselves and Gruwell learns more about them.

Except for one vulgar exchange between Swank and one of her students that comes at the end of the film, this is a movie that should be seen by everyone. Maybe you can fast forward over that exchange and let your kids watch this inspiring movie.

"The Marsh" is a movie about the paranormal and it is chilling as can be. Gabrielle Anwar plays an author who is plagued by bad dreams. Hoping to cleanse her mind she takes a vacation but ends up being more and more drawn into another world that threatens her sanity and maybe even her life.

Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker co-stars in this scary film so you know the acting credentials are top notch. Watch this one with the lights on.

When I first saw the title for "National Lampoon's Pucked" I misread it and thought it was "Punk'd." So I expected a movie about Ashton Kutcher's brand of humor. But this one is "Pucked" and it concerns one man's efforts to start an all girl hockey team. 

Bon Jovi and Estelle Warren star in this comedy and there is a lot of fun in the film. National Lampoon knows how to make fun of everything and this time out it is sports. So grab a copy and settle in for a laugh out loud evening.

My kids and my grandkids love "Scooby Doo" so they were all thrilled when I told them about this new DVD titled "Scooby Doo, Where Are You? The Complete Third Season." This DVD has sixteen, yes I said sixteen, episodes of the popular sleuthing dog and his band of cohorts.

The adventures are Scooby Doo and the gang at their best. Velma, Fred, Daphne and Shaggy join forces with Scooby Doo to solve mysteries and have fun. So will you!
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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