I brought my personal exhaustion to the party. By the end I was moving my body and totally into the joy of the experience.

The first thing that struck me was that Cher really loved her audience. And they loved her. You could tell by their smiling expressions and the waving cardboard signs.

There is so much packed into this ninety minute extravaganza that I can’t cover it all. But here are some highlights.

Cher started out with a body moving “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”. She followed this with “All or nothing”.

The audience then delighted in a “Sonny and Cher” film sequence. Ah yes – the good old days.

Other performances included the popular “Half Breed”, “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves”, and a “Take Me Home” dance sequence.

You’ve seen Elvis impersonators. Well – Cher was one also. And she was good.

This DVD rental also featured “The Shoop Shoop Song”, aka “It’s in his kiss”.

I absolutely loved the two flamenco dance sequences. It made me want to take up dancing.

Just when I thought I couldn’t, “Strong Enough” moved me forward.

Believe it or not, the next uplifting song was “If I could turn back time”.

The finale was Cher’s mega-hit “Believe”. As if the singing wasn’t enough, there was spectacular musical accompaniment, amazing dancing, and aerial acrobatics. I watched this finale six times! That’s one of the great things about DVDs.

It’s unusual to encounter a performance that inspires you to get out of the doldrums and do what the artists are doing. This is one of those performances.

Movie Feel Good Review – You absolutely must see this performance by Cher and her team.

[rating:5/5]

There are at least three different versions available for rent. I’ve been enthralled with at least twenty-five viewings. And I’ve rented them multiple times from both Netflix and Blockbuster. They are that good.

Here is the list:

Riverdance: Live From New York City is the first one I saw. This was performed by the main troupe. However, Colin Dunne replaced Michael Flatley, the original male lead. Later I learned that after the first highly successful tour, Flatley refused to return when his impossible financial demands proved to be too impossible. Dunne, a multi-time world danced champion filled Flatley’s dancing shoes with perfection. Jean Butler rightfully continued as the female lead.

The lively performance invites a feeling of joy as you marvel at the seemingly impossible movements made in unison by the entire dance troupe. These physical artists all started as young children and were dedicated to Irish dance their entire lives.

One of the high points is the dance-off between two African American tap dancers and three Irish dancers. This joyous performance, choreographed by Colin Dunne, brings the entire music hall to their feet.

Later I marvelled at Riverdance: Live from Geneva. This featured an entirely different troupe that was as amazing at the first.

I finally saw Best of Riverdance. This recording told the entire story from the very beginning as a one time ten minute performance. The viewer sees how it mushroomed to a world-wide phenomenon. This shows performances by Michael Flatley, the Lord of the Dance. He exhibits a swashbuckling persona as he dominates the stage.

The three DVDs bring tears of joy. If you want to feel good, this is one very good way to do it.

The following video snippets give you an idea of the experience. However, the actual movies have much higher video quality.

Movie Feel Good Review: These are my favorite DVDs of all time.

[rating:5/5]

The movie includes Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) who becomes Mr. Fantastic. He’s the guy who can stretch his body like a rubber band. You never know when you might want to do that.

His girlfriend Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) becomes the Invisible Woman although she is one of the last people you would like to become invisible.

Her brother, Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) becomes the Human Torch who can ignite himself to incredible temperatures with no adverse side effects. Only in the movies.

And finally Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) becomes a powerful monster, The Thing, who can lift just about anything.

The bad guy of the film is their boss Doctor Doom (Julian McMahon), turned his incredible talents to serve his serious control issues. He’s getting even for having his financial backers withdraw after the space accident. He sets himself on a mission for domination.

To complicate matters, both Doctor Doom and Reed have romantic interests in Sue Storm. The plot thickens.

The foursome enter the realm of fame rather quickly as they avert a major disaster on the bridge. It’s quite a study in human character to see how the new circumstances mold each person’s character.

In this DVD rental, the Human Torch loves to be in the limelight. He absolutely soaks up the fame and adoration. He immediately takes maximum advantage of the fame and the women.

The Thing had a major life downturn due to his massive change in appearance. However, in major life crises we sometimes lose old friends and make room for new ones.

Mr. Fantastic humbly takes on the role of leader and is forced to become honest about his feelings for the Invisible Woman.

This film is one more Marvel Comic creation that made it to the silver screen. And I’m happy that it did. As with other Marvel DVD Rentals, this is just plain fun.

Leave your critical editor in the closet and enjoy this fantasy.

Movie Feel Good Review: It’s just plain fun. Go for it.

[rating:3.5/5]

The toddler is tested and passes by correctly identifying objects belonging to the 13th Dalai Lama. Tibet’s spiritual leader has come back and has been found. It’s an honoring of a pledge to keep returning as long as there is life on Earth.

The video shows fascinating scenes of adults bowing down to a two year old as he is brought to the palace. We witness the special education tailored to the new Tibetan leader.

Fortunately the overwhelming duties are assisted by a staff of advisors. And finally the teenage Dalai Lama announces that he is in charge. The advisers happily defer to him. They know he has finally arrived.

Tibet’s conditions rapidly worsen as Mao’s Red China invades Tibet in the name of liberation. Various high ranking military leaders visit the Dalai Lama and make demands. These demands are met with a stare and silence.

Kundun, another name for the Dalai Lama, finally visits Mao Tse Tung in Red China and is greeted with a thin veil of politeness. Mao’s parting words were "Religion is Poison."

The film’s main lesson is depicted by masterful artwork created with multi colored sand. It is an absolute beautiful creation of love. And then the masterpiece is wiped away.

This demonstrates the Buddhist belief that physical objects are only temporary. The only lasting reality is the being.

Although Kundun was forced out of Tibet, the victory is not in the physical universe. The victory for Tibetans is a victory of the spiritual being.

You can check out the trailer below.

Movie Feel Good Review: Good movie. Go for it.

[rating:3.5/5]

This movie starts slowly, but it sneaks up on you. Having a bunch of scene’s strung together without much in the way of sensible transitions, the movie doesn’t have much of a smooth flow. However, it does get it’s point across.

It’s about getting your own act together. It’s about setting your own boundaries and letting others have their’s. It’s about making your own decision about when to get close. It’s about being real. It’s about being honest with oneself.

This DVD rental will show you excellent portrayals of how different people interact in their own personal ways. There is the emotionally unavailable father who is hiding his talents from the world. This cripples his own joy while depriving the world of uplifting music.

You’ll see the quibbling old couple who break through ancient control issues.

You’ll see the jerk at the bar. And then you’ll see another sensible guy who refuses to get in the middle of someone else’s problems.

And you’ll witnessing the emergence of self acceptance accompanied by forgiveness. You’ll see the acceptance of one’s own power.

Knock and the door shall be opened. However, you have to walk in.

You can check out the movie trailer below.

Movie Feel Good Review: I liked it. There’s some good life lessons.

[rating:3.5/5]

Max is raised by his loving Uncle Henry at a beautiful winery in France.

As a child, he cheats his uncle at chess. And his Uncle Henry knows it.

Max doesn’t want to learn by losing. He just can’t stand to lose. Losing makes him bitter to no end.

Cut to an executive business office in London. Max greets his employees by shouting "hello lab rats!" And he means it. He doesn’t seem to really like anyone. He hires people because they are uncaring and greedy.

He proceeds to direct his people to sell billions of dollars in bonds. Others see the drop in prices and dump their own shares. This drives the price down quickly. At the ideal moment, Max buys it all back at a much lower price. The result was a transfer of about $70 million dollars from other people to Max.

The hate mail comes pouring in. Max is gloating.

After not having spoken to his uncle for ten years, Max learns that his uncle has passed away without leaving a will. As the only known relative, Max inherits the chateau. Although he doesn’t want to leave London during his time of triumph, he is persuaded to travel to the winery in France to claim his inheritance.

A whole new set of troubles begin starting with trying to find the winery is a tiny rental car using a GPS that speaks French.

Although there are endless mishaps, Max will never admit to having a problem.

Max continues his ruthless behavior while in France. Will he ever change? What can change him? Will memories of Uncle Henry help? What about the beautiful countryside? What can help a man reunite with his soul?

Movie Feel Good Review: I highly recommend this movie. It’s filled with passion, peace, chemistry, deceit, honesty, romance, and love. And possibly doing the right thing.

You can check out the following trailer.

Movie Feel Good Review: Good movie. Worth seeing.

[rating:3.5/5]

Near the beginning of the movie Bond earns his 00 status. He raises havoc by following a low level terrorist into an embassy while blowing up everything in site. He also raises the eyebrows of the boss, M, played by Judi Dench.

As expected, there is action galore. Craig, as the new James Bond, provides a tremendously muscular and athletic physique for the benefit of the female audience. As in all available Bond movies, there are beautiful offerings for the male eyes. This is quite true of the female lead, Eva Green.

The film begins and continues with highly intense action and repeated demonstrations of athletic prowess. It seems that the cast was comprised of Olympic athletes.

The movie takes a mental, psychological turn when Bond meets the leading lady. The relationship begins as a battle of the intellect and the psyche as each seems to read the other thoroughly with a scant supply of highly astute observations.

The high stakes game begins with a poker game with ten players, each bringing fifteen million dollars. Bond astutely states that he’s not playing cards. He’s playing the other player.

It’s a battle of the wits and the soul as each player seems to be looking into the other’s soul.

Movie Feel Good Review: Really liked it. It’s well worth seeing.

[rating:4/5]

Donald (Josh Hartnett) cared enough to form a support group for people with a similar disorder. He leads the group from the power of love more than he does with any other leadership skills.

The entire group demonstrates the power of love and how it impacts the lives of oneself and others.

One magical day Isabella (Radha Mitchell) joins the group. When she recounts a tragic life changing event, only Josh seems to care. He understands even though he is far from a master of communications. True caring shines superior to technique.

It’s obvious that Josh is strongly attracted to Isabella. However, his astronomical shyness seems to get in the way of any possible relationship.

However, Isabella has the opposite character trait. She always blurts out what she feels without any forethought.

What happens to one, or in this case, two members of the group is the business of the entire group. The budding romance becomes the main focus of group interest.

A relationship would bring up the resistances and barriers of both of the love candidates. It takes tremendous courage to break through.

This DVD rental displays honesty at its’ finest. This is the kind of honesty that is required for real success in life, but is seldom achieved by many "normal" people.

This film is a lesson in life. If these two lovable people can raise their level of happiness, perhaps we can too.

Movie Feel Good Review: A great lesson in life. Go for it.

[rating:4/5]

The first mission of the class is to drive the young teacher away. They’ve succeeded with every other teacher. However, Gruwell won’t quit. The young teacher tackles the racial conflicts and the hard shells of the students who spend their daily lives in fear of brutality and death.

This movie brings you into the lives of the do-gooder teacher and the tough facade of teenagers who are struggling for survival, acceptance, and respect of their peers.

The story leaves you with a sense of hope and accomplishment. It makes you want to hug somebody.

Feel free to take a look at the trailer below.

DVD Rentals Review: Great movie. Very inspiring.

[rating:4.5/5]

It demonstrates courage, integrity, ego interactions, romance, ability, determination, and the full range of human emotions. This is all painted on a backdrop of beautiful music and breathtaking mountains and trees.

It’s a coming of age story where a friendly young man with incredible abilities runs into issues of acceptance and pride.

This masterpiece is based on the poem “The Man from Snowy River” by Banjo Patterson.

This movie stars Kirk Douglas in two roles – Harrison and Spur. Spur is a one legged, bearded mountain man who makes terrible wallaby stew. Harrison is an arrogant cattle baron.

Young Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson) is forced down to the low lands so he can prove his worthiness to live in the rugged mountains near Snowy River. He is shocked to see Harrison who is a dead ringer for his friend Spur.

After gaining employment with Harrison, Craig slowly falls for Harrison’s daughter Jessica (Sigrid Thornton). The young mountain man is left behind when all the men go out in quest of horses.

Feeling rejected and insulted, the young horseman teams up with Jessica to break Harrison’s prize horse.

Harrison’s return brings a brash symphony of clashing egos. I don’t want to reveal too much.

One of my favorite movies, “The Man From Snowy River” is available through Blockbuster and Netflix.

Although it’s not a movie trailer, the following clip shows one of my favorite parts of the movie.

Movie Feel Good Review: A great movie rental. Go for it.

[rating:4.5/5]