Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
courtesy of Universal Home Video
"My Darling Clementine"

In the new to DVD movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" Jim Carrey plays a guy named Joel and Kate Winslet is his darling Clementine. They are in love but one day Joel discovers Clementine has had him erased from her mind. He is so angry that he decides to have the same process done. He will have Clementine erased.

Now this is a pretty whacky premise for a movie but if I say it comes from the mind of Charlie Kaufman you will understand. He is the writer who gave us "Being John Malkovich" as well as "Adaptation," two very unusual movies.

"Eternal Sunshine" is just too bizarre for me but many people loved it including my son and wife. They got into it while I stayed on the outside. Jim Carrey always seems to be struggling so hard when he is being serious. He commits that terrible sin of acting - you can see him doing it.

Kate Winslet on the other hand is a natural at anything and everything she does. She manages to be exotic and funny and romantic all at once. She brought the movie to life but Carrey killed it for me. Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Wilkinson and Elijah Wood are all okay but not essential to the plot.

I do have to say I enjoyed the movie more on DVD than I did in the theater. Perhaps it was all the extras that set me up to enjoy it more such as the "deleted scenes", which I always enjoy, and the commentary of Carrey, Kaufman and the director.

If you are in quirky mood, well they don't come much quirkier than "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Try it out, you may like it. But if you don't , well don't blame me.

Who knows what problems lurk inside the mind of an eight year old boy! In "Valentin" we get to see how much emotional stress there is when a boy this age loses his mother and is raised by his grandmother. He has a basic need for maternal love and seeks it through his father's girlfriends.

This Argentine film is poignant and enlightening. It shows us a world most of us don't know exists, and it makes real the feelings and emotions of a young boy. The movie is an award winner as well it should be. Watch it and you will see why.

Jamie Foxx is the star of the romantic comedy "Breakin' All the Rules." This is a lightweight effort by Foxx but a fun one. He has become the hot star thanks to "Collateral" and the buzz about his role as Ray Charles in the upcoming film "Ray."

In this movie he plays the author of a "How To Break Up" book When he tries to apply the rules in real life complications ensue. Gabrielle Union co-stars as the love interest while Morris Chestnut and Jennifer Esposito are also part of the cast.

Scooby Doo and the entire gang are off on another adventure in "What's New, Scooby Doo? Volume Four: Merry Scary Holiday." This time the gang is after a headless horseman who is terrorizing the people in Winter Hollow.

Its another grand mystery and each member of the gang - Velma, Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby - do their part. And when they start chasing the bad guys the kids will have a ball.

"Nine Dog Christmas" is a delightful cartoon for the holiday season. This time Santa's reindeer come down with the flu. Replacements have to be found and some stray dogs might just fill the bill. The kids will have to watch to see if the "dogs" can rescue Santa and save Christmas.

And finally there is "Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies" which features a sample of the best episodes from some Cartoon Network favorites. These favorite shows are represented with some great moments from the network's offerings.

 

 

 

 

 

©2004 Jackie K. Cooper

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