Greetings all~ A late Merry Christmas and and a timely Happy new Year to all of you.

I have been fortunate enough to have a friend with DVD academy screeners this year. Many times these film never make it close to where I can get to them easily so this has been a good last couple of weeks for films for me. Here are a couple that I highly recommend you make the effort to try to see.

At the very top of my list is Guillermo del Toro's - Pan's Labyrinth. Wow Wow and Holy Shit Wow !! I will try to refrain from more flowery praise, but this film just blew me away. Beautiful, violent and unshakable. Here is a review from today's Chicago Sun-Times:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061228/REVIEWS/61228001

Not for the kiddies (it earns its "R" rating), but if you love film..make the effort to see this movie.

The Queen - I wasn't expecting to be taken in by this story of the Royal family and their non-response to the death of Diana, but I was very wrong in my assumption. Fascinating.

The Last King of Scotland starring Forest Whitaker is a good film with a very strong performance by by Mr Whitaker as Idi Amin.

Little Children - Directed by Todd Field (In The Bedroom) also works very well. Kate Winslet is one of the most amazing actresses working today.

On my wish list Children of Men, Sherry Baby, The Science of Sleep, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Fountain and Shut Up and Sing.

I really just wanted an excuse to pimp Pan's Labyrinth, in the hopes that more films of this caliber are the norm.

Happy New Year to all.