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And now for my weekly look at new movies I reviewed this week.

Alice in Wonderland
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter
Quick Take: Director Tim Burton is a master at creating a unique, compelling visual world. In Depp, Burton has found a perfect collaborating partner. They never do anything in the expected way, and the same goes for "Alice in Wonderland." Unfortunately, this film has story flaws and drags in parts. It's not the most dynamic 3-D presentation, either. Both Burton and Depp have talent, but this is not the best example of that talent.
Rating: The film has been rated PG for for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Last Station
Starring: Helen Mirren, Paul Giamatti, James McAvoy and Christopher Plummer
Quick Take: This movie is based on the last days of Russian author Leo Tolstoy (Plummer) and his wife, Countess Sofya (Mirren). The film is seen through the eyes of a young man appointed to serve as Tolstoy's secretary (McAvoy). It centers on the fight between Sofya and Vladimir Chertkov (Giamatti), who has formed a partnership with Tolstoy to create a new social movement and insists his work should be the property of the people. Doubtless viewers will see parallels between the purest ideals of communism and the "Tolstoyan Movement" as featured in the film. Both Mirren and Plummer earned Academy Award nominations for the film, and rightly so. Both give great performances, as do McAvoy and Giamatti. This is one of the most pleasant cinematic surprises I've received this year. It's a moving and engrossing film that seems to have been largely overlooked.
Rating: R for a scene of sexuality/nudity.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Home Video Update:
For those that want to see what all the fuss is about with some of this year's Academy Award nominated films, there is plenty to see on DVD. Best Picture winner "The Hurt Locker" is out on video, as is Best Animated Feature "Up," which features a beautifully moving opening montage, and Best Documentary winner "The Cove."
This week the powerful film "Precious," winner of two Academy Awards, made its DVD debut as did "Up In the Air," the film that I felt was the best of 2009.

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