Top Movie Blog

The movie Memoirs of a Geisha is based on the hugely popular book of the same name by Arthur Golden. It is a story about a young girl who, along with her sister, is sold by their poor, fisherman father. One girl, who becomes a geisha in 1930s Japan, is taken to work in a house for geishas, the other ends up in a brothel. Ziyi Zhang plays a girl who becomes Sayuri, the most desired geisha in Japan. The dramatic tension comes from the interactions between Sayuri and her geisha rivals, rather than from her unrequited love, a wealthy man she knows only as the Chairman (Ken Watanabe) this encounter transforms her life. Most of the other geisha are Gong Li, who takes jealousy to new heights as the ravenously vindictive Hatsumomo.

Starring: Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, Youki Kudoh
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Produced by: Patty Whitcher, Bobby Cohen, Roger Birnbaum

Score: 4 / 5

The Family Stone is more like a romantic comedy about a sophisticated family gathered on Christmas. The Stones, a New England family, have their annual holiday gathering when the oldest son, Everett (Dermot Mulroney) is bringing home his fiancee Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) to meet the family. Meredith is not going to be an easy fit because his entire family, especially his mom who refuses to give him the previously promised family ring to pass along to this woman. Julie (Claire Danes), Meredith’s sister, comes to rescue her sister. Julie is as relaxed and natural while Meredith is the down emotionally. Most of the action takes place in the house and as you can predict, it doesn’t go well.

Genres: Comedy, Kids/Family and Romance
Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams
Directed by: Thomas Bezucha
Produced by: Jennifer Ogden, Michael London, Mindy Marin

Score: 4.5 /5

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 isn’t all that bad, Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt), decided to gathered the family for a memorable summer vacation to the rustic Lake Winnetka, but it turns out that Steve Martin and Eugene Levy ( Jimmy Murtaugh in the movie ) are childhood rivals, which only fuels the long-standing family competition on the lake known as the Labour Day Cup.

The couple has 12 children the oldest pregnant daughter Nora (Piper Perabo) is moving to Houston with her annoying husband (Jonathan Bennett), who is prone to feeding her organic food or reading to their unborn child when he isn’t on his cellphone, while humorless second-eldest daughter Lorraine (Hilary Duff) is going to study fashion in New York City.

Genres: Comedy, Kids/Family and Sequel
Starring: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Eugene Levy, Carmen Electra, Piper Perabo, Hilary Duff, Tom Welling, Jamie King
Directed by: Adam Shankman
Produced by: Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot, Garrett Grant

Score: 4 / 5