The director of “In the Valley of Elah,” Paul Haggis, also directed the movie “Crash.” Both of these films are well done and provide what I believe to be important social commentary.

I like Brittany Murphy and I would like to see her in a larger more interesting role. For some reason, maybe the cover, I thought this movie would be funny. To me it was just kind of drawn out and depressing. The happy ending didn’t even feel happy really. It’s probably just me.

Anyone can say they love someone, but its how you treat the people you love that matters.

That message from the movie made it worth consuming to me.

I used to love horror movies, but lately the scenes are just too graphic (especially in this film).

“Woody’s song and guitar made him a spokesman for the downtrodden everywhere, but he also sang of the beauty of America, a beauty he viewed from the open doors of boxcars as they sped across the country. He saw America from the open road, and he knew its people firsthand.”

~ from the postscript

I enjoyed this book because it enabled me to see America through Woody Guthries eyes. I admire him for staying so upbeat in the midst of many troubles.

~“This train don’t carry no gamblers,

Liars, thieves and big-shot ramblers;

This train is bound for glory,

This train!”

~ Woody Guthrie

I’m in the middle on this one. The ending made me want to say not worth it, but the movie had its moments and I suppose some kind of meaning. Though kind of frustrating, I guess that is a picture of life. I think the nudity was unnecessary, but I think that about most nude scenes.

An Excellent Synopsis of Ulysses

This collection of stories is one of my most favorites. Bradbury has a way of enlivening the imagination. Though the stories are dark, I leave them feeling somehow better.

I didn’t see the previews so I wasn’t sure what the movie was about beyond the title. At first I thought it had an interesting premise, but it soon turned ridiculous. The graphic scenes just cheapened it for me, and the mobster stuff was just unbelievable. At the end I was laughing when I think the intention was to make me sad.

What a great collection of songs! “If I Were A Carpenter,” “The Loving Gift,” & “It Takes One To Know Me” are just the best love songs. I love this album, listening to it makes me happy. :)