National Geographic: Everest: 50 Years on the Mountain

Description: Celebrate 50 years of mountaineering magic with this awe-inspiring documentary replete with sensational footage of Mount Everest. The award-winning National Geographic crew tracks the three children of mountain-climbing icons Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first two people ever to conquer the fabled peak.

My Promulgation: I like mountain climbing and have an imense amount of respect for the drive, determination, and devine inspiration for people who climb mountains for fun and for pay. Besides, it's a cool place that I plan to visit someday. OK, not Everest but somewhere near, perhaps.

The Gleaners and I

Description: Agnes Varda's no-holds-barred documentary about scavengers and recyclers is an insouciant treat from beginning to end. Inspired by Jean-François Millet's famous painting "Les Glaneuses," Varda strikes out with just a hand-held digital camera in search of the modern equivalent of Millet's grain field gleaners. She finds her quarry at dumpsters, outdoor markets and roadsides across France. A unique film with an unexpectedly obtuse perspective.

My Promulgation: OK, so here another film about how you can make do with less that really struck a cord with me. I was particularly impressed by the teacher who was able to train for a marathon, and after years, still teaches Sudanese immigrants to read and write.

Bringing Down the House

Description: Be careful what you wish for! When lonely, divorced lawyer Peter (Steve Martin) decides to spice up his life with a little online romance, he gets much more than he bargained for in the form of feisty prison inmate Charlene (Queen Latifah). Determined to convince Peter to help clear her name, Charlene escapes and starts wreaking havoc on his carefully controlled life. Eugene Levy and Joan Plowright co-star.

My Promulgation: Not a big fan of loud mouthed black women, but her role was as funny as "the jerk" himself. This movie didn't make a big impression on me, that's why it gets 2 stars.

About a Boy

Description: Will Lightman (Hugh Grant) is a rich, hip, irresponsible Londoner who, in search of available women, invents an imaginary son and starts attending single-parent meetings -- confident in both parties' inability to make a commitment. But when Will meets Marcus, the troubled 12-year-old son of Fiona (Toni Collette), a quirky and unexpected friendship develops as both Will and Marcus help each other grow up.

My Promulgation: I don't remember a damned thing about this bastard. Not even sure why the hell I'm giving it a f*cking star....and I HATE Huge Grant movies.

Ghost in the Shell

Description: Considered an anime classic, this cyberpunk epic's incredible visuals enhance its complex story points. In 2029, a hacker called "The Puppet Master" takes over the minds of computer-enhanced humans. Cyborg government-agent Motoko Kusanagi wants to stop him because she's especially vulnerable to his attacks. The Puppet Master wants to locate her as well … to carry out an inhuman plan.

My Promulgation: I'm not much of an anime fan, and Japanese movies can be really good or really suck to high heaven. Not sure how to assess this one since I fell asleep for at least 75% of it. What I did see, I thought it was a turd. It gets one star because I'm sure somebody worked really hard to put this thing together, unlike Gummo.

Swingers

Description: In director Doug Liman's career-making look at twenty-something guys, struggling comedian Mike (Jon Favreau) despairs over his love life, so his four pals, fellow Hollywood hopefuls, pump up his nightlife. Buddy (Vince Vaughn), offering dubious lessons on "babes," even whisks Mike to Vegas. Although their attempts at living la vida loca seldom work out as fantasized, Mike meets one woman (Heather Graham) who might finally break his funk.

My Promulgation: I dug this movie and think both Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn are hilarious. It's so money.

Amilie

Description: Impish gamine Amélie (Audrey Tautou) lives alone and works in a café. When she finds a trove of toys hidden for 40 years behind a baseboard in her apartment, she's inspired to repatriate the items, an impulse of generosity that sparks more benevolent acts. A celebration of life, Amélie reminds us of the small wonders that abound around us … if only we paused to look.

My Promulgation: This was a unique and cute movie.