Mamma Mia! (2008)

I wish I was a character in Mamma Mia!. Or at least, I wish I could have a little bit of whatever it is they’re on. Perfectly tanned, living it up in paradise, they are forever singing and dancing. Trifles such as one’s direct parentage, don’t worry them much. When they are sad, they sing a bit more and cheer up instantly. But I guess, such is a life in a typical musical.

In Bruges (2008)

Bruges, Belgium. A historical town full of medieval architecture. A major port. “The Venice of the North”. And now, the setting for one of the best crime comedies I’ve seen in a long time.

Enchanted (2007)

In the animated kingdom of Andalasia lives a beautiful maiden named Giselle, who loves to sing and play with her forest animal friends. She is delicate and graceful, has big eyes, perky nose, and long flowing hair – unmistakably, a Disney heroin.

Bee Movie (2007)

Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld) is a recent college graduate. He is reluctant to commit to a career just yet so he ventures into the big wide world where he meets a girl and experiences a life changing adventure. Familiar story, except… Barry is a bee. A talking bee.

The Orphanage (2007)

Unlike most movie orphans, Laura remembers fondly her childhood spent in an orphanage. Hers was a great old mansion on a wild peninsula with a lighthouse overlooking as she and her friends played happily in the garden. That is why years later, Laura returns there with her husband and young son Simon, to restore the now rundown place and open it as a home for the disabled children.

British Museum is Falling Down by David Lodge

Who’d have thought you could enjoy a book so much even if the subject matter was something you could absolutely not identify with? Like say, the contraception problems of young, married Catholics in the early 60s, as was the case here.

Death Sentence – The Decay of Public Language by Don Watson

I have a colleague who cannot express a thought without using the words ‘stakeholder’, ‘road map’ or ‘deliverables’. Don Watson, author and former speech writer to Paul Keating, wouldn’t have much time for him.

The Chaser’s Age of Terror Variety Hour

I’ve been a fan of The Chaser ever since their excellent CNNN in 2002. Their popularity (infamy?) has been steadily growing over the past few years but the APEC stunt really clinched it. In fact, I am surprised they still manage to find people who are genuinely bewildered by the Citizens’ Infringement Officer or the Surprise Spruiker.

Made of Honor (2008)

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) have been best friends for 10 years. Hannah unexpectedly meets Colin (Kevin McKidd), decides he’s the man of her dreams and calls a shotgun wedding asking Tom to be her Maid of Honour. Problem is, Tom has chosen exactly that moment to realise that he’s in love with Hannah and sets out to sabotage the wedding. Ding dong, ding dong! Does that ring some bells? It should, because it’s the plot of My Best Friend’s Wedding only with the genders reversed! Also, My Best Friend’s Wedding was a great movie while Made of Honor revels in its triteness.

Nim’s Island (2008)

Nim (Abigail Breslin) is an 11 year old girl living on an island paradise with her marine biologist dad (Gerard Butler). Beach is her playground, seals and albatrosses are her pets and her favourite fictional hero is Alex Rover (Gerard Butler again), the brave adventurer whose books she devours. (She also has full internet access despite the fact that the island is supposedly not on any maps, wonder who her ISP is?)