Once: A+

An Irish street musician/ Vacum repairman (Glen Hansard) is waiting on someone or something to motivate him, when one day he meets a Czech immigrant girl (Marketa irglova) who becomes his inspiration to pursue his passion and in the process creating an unexpected friendship....


Every once in a while a movie, a song, peace of poetry, picture, phrase, or direct conversation cause's within us an epiphany that re inspires our youthful ideas of achieving what all odds say is impossible. Ideas of success, despite insurmountable obstacles, all because we knew deep inside that nothing could stop our passion or extinguish our tenacity for what we most desire. Once is one of those moving pictures, in cinematography, storytelling and arraignment this show expresses freedom.

The acting done by self professed "non-actors" is raw and refreshing, neither of these actors take acting too seriously and that is makes the acting so convincable and real. All of the songs featured in the movie were written and composed by Glen Hansard, making his performance of those songs in the movie so convincingly brilliant. The film from start to finish took 2 weeks, $500,000.00 and was filmed in its entirety with hand held video cameras.

This movie is moving, beautiful, and full of passion, if you see one movie that will lift you spirits and rejuvenate your soul ONCE is a must.

Rated "R" for language.

Stardust: C+

To win the heart of Victoria (Sienna Miller), a beautiful but cold object of his desire, a young man named Tristan (Charlie Cox) ventures into the realm of fairies to retrieve a fallen star. What Tristan finds, however, is not a chunk of space but a star in the form of a beautiful woman (Claire Danes) being chased by competing brothers and a trio of witches needing to restore their ultimate powers and youth.

Aside from the usual nerdy scifi movies like "Lord of the Rings", Star Wars, and Star Trek I have no affiliation to movies such as Stardust and often make fun of those who do!

This movie with all of it's flaws was enjoyable enough to make me eat some of those harsh words I may have said to hardcore fantasy/scifi geeks over the years! Allow me to elaborate?

The acting in stardust starts out mediocre at best, the music starts out to load, the storyline / writing is confusing and unfocused for the first thirty minutes of the film, and just as your preparing to pluck your eyes out, blow your eardrums, and seriously contemplate suicide the movie slows down, becomes quieter, and starts get good! The main reason for this is the saving grace of Robert Deniro! yes, you read right, Robert Deniro. He single handed Makes this movie into the next generations "Princess Bride", What Deniro does as in all of his other movies is make the actors opposite him look really good, because he is really good. His character is a complete departure from "normal Deniro", this move is so unexpected that you are taken completely of guard, unlike Travolta in "Hairspray" the departure Deniro takes really works, is outrageously enjoyable and changes the whole pace, tone, and emotion of the show.

I found myself grateful for finishing the movie, and was left feeling the way the movie wanted me to? Happy (good job Bob).

Also see: Princess Bride, Eragon.