Based on my utter failure to do that, I make no such promises this year.

I do, however, want to share some thoughts about some of the movies I have seen this year.

Amongst White Clouds
A beautifully shot movie about Chinese Buddhist Monks who live as hermits. This documentary focused on one particular mountain range that is alive with classic hermitage. As much an introduction to Buddhism as it is about the individuals themselves, it was as informative as it was relaxing. Except for the seats (folding chairs in a traditional playhouse, instead of movie seats), it was a comfortable trip that held pacing similar to that of living a monastic life. The director Q&A afterwards was good, neither highly revealing nor a waste of time.

The Undeserved
A very good film about a close-knit small Vermont town. Struggling against the limitations of their upbringing, this story takes its time to show how kids try to break the mold that has been cast for them. A very well done first time directorial turn, it won't win any awards but should be a nice rental someday. The Q&A afterwards was very interesting, with the director and three of the cast members. The town they chose to film in seemed to be the primary source material for their drama, oweing to the fact that 4 teenage fatalities occured during the few months they were there filming.

Frozen Angels
I thought that I had successfully escaped the evil KFI AM640 when I moved up here. Unfortunately, it followed me in the form of "Frozen Angels". A documentary about the current state of reproductive technology, including surrogacy and genetic selection, Frozen Angels never really knows what it wants to say. Using Bill Handel and his Center for Surrogacy something-or-other as its primary mouthpiece (did we really need shots of him walking around with his kids at Disneyland?), it tries to uncover sinister plots to overwhelm the world with blond hair, blued eyed children. Instead, it comes across as a wandering mess that neither presents compelling scientific information, nor a legitimate philosophical debate. It tries, but it fails. Points for beautiful SoCal cinematography, but in the end I could have seen something better on the Discovery Channel.

Innocent Voices
A brilliant film. Period. See it. It comes out on Friday the 14th in selected theaters. This was Mexico's entry for the 2005 Academy Awards, and it moved me like very few other movies ever have. A true story about a boy who grew up in the shadow of war in El Salvador, it connects you to the people, the place, and especially the boy (who, we found out in the Q&A, had never acted before), in a way that very few movies can. I guarantee you that we will buy it on DVD -- I would be happy to share it once we have done that if you cannot see this in a theater. Check out the trailer and more information at the website.