Real Beauty

This isn't a movie review, or a profile on a celebrity. What it is, however, is a bit of reality among the Hollywood glamour and polish. Thanks to Dove you can see the transformation an "ordinary" looking woman undergoes to achieve that Hollywood perfection we all see every day. When you go to the Campaign for Real Beauty website, you can watch the film they produced to help dispel the myths that plague women and girls across this country and around the world. Striving to achieve Hollywood's standard of beauty is often unreasonable, unhealthy and even dangerous. Millions of women and girls suffer from eating-disorders, poor self-esteem and body image issues. For the longest time, that included yours truly.

The Dove campaign hopes to change all that one girl at a time. Through their Real Beauty program, they hope to help women and girls find their own beauty and own their own uniqueness. I think it's something we should all embrace in our own way. Being a woman is an amazing thing. You're granted the opportunity to be a daughter, a friend, and even a wife and mother. I know you've heard it all before, but how you are on the inside matters much more than how you look on the inside. Some of the prettiest people I know are beautiful because they are 100% REAL. They might not be the thinnest, or the most fashionable, but they live their lives according to their beliefs and create the world they want to see.

I offer you a challenge as we end this year and look ahead. Be a real beauty. When you start on the inside and put your beliefs and your real self first, the outside will shine like the brightest star.


-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn at earthlink dot net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Coming Soon: Eragon

Since as long as people have been able to imagine, there has been a sort of love affair with dragons. They have captured our minds, and our spirits and have been beautifully brought to life in countless stories, books and now films. One of the latest incarnations is Eragon. Based on the book by Christopher Paolini, it tells the story of a boy named Eragon and the events that are set in motion when he discovers a beautiful blue...dragon egg.

Now, you'd imagine that finding an egg that would hatch into a fire-breathing creature that can fly might be a bit of a challenge. You'd be right on the money with that, and soon Eragon discovers just how much his life can change with the arrival of a new friend.

This movie will be one worth your time if you liked the Lord of the Rings series, The Chronicles of Narnia or even Harry Potter. The trailer for it looks absolutely breathtaking, and the special effects are outstanding. Created by the teams behind Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, you will feel like you're riding the wind on a dragon's back and in the midst of the battle. Oh, and did I mention the story's awfully good too?

Eragon arrives in theaters on December 15th.

Eragon-The Official Website
(Picture from Eragon courtesy 20th Century Fox)

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
jennuntch@yahoo.com
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

My Treat To You: Ghostbusters

-Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Starring:
-Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver

I can just about guarantee that if you go to a Halloween party this year you'll hear the theme song from this movie. It's one of those staples that ranks right up there with "Monster Mash". But if you haven't seen it yet, this is a fantastic way to get in the spirit for Halloween. Released in 1984, this movie stars two of the funniest men working in movies today as well as a now Oscar nominated actress in what can best be described as a comedy that has it's moments of spooky fun.

The story is set around a group of paranormal investigators who, after finding out that they're the joke of the academic world, go into business cleaning up the city of New York their way. Armed with arguably some of the coolest gadgets you'll see in a movie, the team battles their way through sausage eating blobs, a freaky librarian and most importantly a 50 foot marshmallow man to save their home town of New York City from apocalyptic doom. What makes the movie a lot of fun is that it doesn't take itself all that seriously. Murray and Akroyd know how to work in a comedic environment, and do so with amazing skill here. Weaver and Ramis also shine in moments of weirdness that highlight their comedy talent.

You should know that while this movie is a lot of fun, it does have some language issues and one fairly weird scene involving sex with a ghost. Overall though, it's a solid PG-rating and the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit.

(Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 are available now on DVD.)

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn at earthlink dot net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Coming Soon: Stranger Than Fiction

Starring:
-Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman

With some actors, you're forced to wonder if they ever go home. Will Ferrell is one of those guys. It seems like at least once a year he has a film either out or in the works, and this is his latest. Stranger than Fiction is the story of two stories really. First, it's the story of Karen Eiffel. She's a best selling author who can't kill the main character of her latest book. That character is the second story. His name is Harold Crick, and he happens to be real. Unfortunately for Harold, he winds up hearing a narration of his life which is really Karen's book. Needless to say, when he finds out that the narrator is planning on killing him he's concerned and there's where the third story begins.

The movie has a fantastic cast which ranges from Ferrell to Dustin Hoffman, and by all accounts it looks like an interesting and perhaps warped comedy. Hey, after a long week there's nothing wrong with a little weirdness. Narration not included.

Stranger Than Fiction Trailer

Stranger Than Fiction opens November 10th.

(Photo provided by Yahoo! Movies)


-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
jennuntch@yahoo.com
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!

Channel Surfing: Ugly Betty

So what does your intrepid reviewer do when faced with a broken hand and no ability to type for two months? Aside from a single hysterical tantrum that I'm deeply embarassed by, she goes channel surfing that's what. And look at what I found! A show that's family friendly, incredibly cute and you know...GOOD.

Meet Betty. On first glance, she wouldn't seem like the sort of person you'd find at a high fashion magazine. But thanks to Salma Hayek and the nice folks at ABC that's exactly what happens in this American version of the Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea. Hayek, who is best known for her movie roles, steps into the role of creative force for a show that's a lot like what LDS girls go through each and every day. Betty may not be the prettiest girl on the outside, but in a working environment that's anything but normal she's a positive, friendly force that can't help but shape the world around her.

America Ferrera stars as the irrepresible Betty, and it's her gifted performance that keeps this show from being anything but ordinary. She has an excellent sense of comedic timing, and her smile lights up the screen as she's faced with situations that are nothing like her working-class roots. But that's what the real beauty of this show is to me. As members of the Church, we're sometimes put in situations we've never encountered before when we're out in the world or even with our friends. While we might not be as funny as Betty, it's a nice change to see someone on television stick to who she truly is.

Overall, this is a show worth watching. While there are some moments that are a bit on the PG-13 side, it's a show you can enjoy pretty safely. Just promise me that you'll follow Betty's example in life, not in clothes.

Catch Ugly Betty Thursdays on ABC, and check out Betty's website for some advice of conquering any situation.

-Jenn Untch
Liberty, Missouri
indigojenn at earthlink dot net
Is there a movie you'd like me to review? Let me know!