Movie Review

Despite its title, there's not too much that's unexpected in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

There are goblins, wizards, trolls, rock monsters and, of course, dwarfs.

This should please fans of the J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973) novels, on which "The Hobbit" is based, as it did my son, Elias, who accompanied me to a 3D screening of "Unexpected Journey."

It was the second time Elias saw "The Hobbit" movie. The first time he saw it was in the regular format. Elias said the 3D version enhanced some scenes, but it's not necessary to see "The Hobbit" in 3D.

"Anna Karenina" is a gorgeous mess the famous Tolstoy character and the new film version of the novel.

Director Joe Wright, who previously directed the historical romantic dramas, "Pride and Prejudice" (2005) and "Atonement" (2007), also starring Keira Knightley, who plays the title character, Anna Karenina, reached for opera and instead got soap opera.

Wright apparently made a conscious effort to not be repetitive of other critically-acclaimed movie versions of the Leo Tolstoy classic (published in installments 1873 - 1877).

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2," fifth and final in the series, should please fans of the Stephenie Meyer novel and movie series.

For non-fans, "Breaking Dawn" signals it's time to put the brakes on "The Twilight Saga."

"Part 2" is an extended coda, with not much new happening that didn't happen in "Part 1," i.e., the marriage of Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and the birth of their daughter, Renesmee.

Daniel Day-Lewis is Lincoln. In a long life I have seen only a handful of actors who in a handful of films so completely encompass their characters that I forget it's only acting. Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump comes to mind. The recent Time Magazine cover story on Spielberg's new film claims that after the acclaimed director tapped the acclaimed actor for the title role, Day-Lewis insisted on a year's hiatus to study the acclaimed president he would play.