Being a big fan of musicals, dance and fun costumes, I was really excited to see "Burlesque" when it came out in theatres. I went to see this movie with a few of my best girlfriends, expecting a few hours of fun, light (yet not ground-breaking) entertainment: my expectations were met exactly.

"Burlesque" is a movie that follows the journey of a young, small town woman (played by Christina Aguilera) who sets off to find something bigger than what she has known. Armed with an amazing singing voice and a bit of determination, she jets out to LA and finds herself in one of LA's (fictional) best kept secrets: a Burlesque club owned by Tess, the talented matriarch of the dancers. Aguilera's character jumps through hoops and meets several challenges in order to join the talented performers in the club.

The movie has an amazing roster of actors: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Kristen Bell (of Veronica Mars), Eric Dane (of Grey's Anatomy), Cam Gigandet (Twilight), Julianne Hough (of Dancing with the Stars), Stanley Tucci, and many more. One weakness I found in the movie was that some of the acting could have been better, but overall, the musical numbers were fabulous, with amazing vocal talent from Aguilera and Cher, and well performed dance numbers by the dance cast.

Overall, I would recommend this movie for people who enjoy musicals, and "big production" type movies filled with great costumes, singing and dancing. It would be a great "ladies night" movie to watch with your best girlfriends.

I went to see this movie expecting a chickflick comedy with nothing much to it besides laughs and a predictable storyline. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by a thoughtful, and at times touching, movie that incorporates both tears and laughter (yes, you might reach for your tissues.)

This movie revolves around a plotline in which two people with opposite personalities become the legal guardians to their mutual friends' child. The two leads, Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl, both play their parts well, playing two characters so opposite from each other that your find it hard to believe that they are expected to live together to care for their friends' child. However, this challenge is one that they must overcome, a task filled with both struggles and moments of joy.

Along with the child and the house that the two leads inherit from their friends, they also inherit a neighborhood of wacky, yet hilarious, neighbors. Many of the laughs in this movie will come from the supporting cast.

Overall, this movie is will probably appeal mostly to women, but as "chick-flicks" go, it is grounded and "real" enough that it may appeal to a wider audience.

I have always had a bit of a conundrum when reading the Shopaholic novels about Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood): I can't stop cringing at the loopy things Becky does, yet I cannot stop laughing as well!

In this 6th Shopaholic Volume, the shopaholic fan is introduced to a new side of Becky: motherhood! Becky is now the mother of a darling young daughter (aptly) named Minnie. Of course, along with motherhood comes a whole slew of new shopping temptations, including childrens' clothing and toys!And, it never hurts to be a well-dressed, "yummy mummy" with the latest fashions! Becky's antics are all over the place as she begins to plan a party for her husband Luke's birthday, and the hilarity begins!

With all these new ways to spend, how will Becky cope with the need to "cut back"? Will Becky be able to plan a lovely birthday party for Luke all on her own? And the big question: is her daughter Minnie more like her father (wise with money) or like her mother (spend-happy)? Kinsella describes Bloomwoods life in a hilarious, satisfying way that is sure to please ( if not make you laugh and cringe at the same time!)

I would definitely recommend this novel for fans of the previous shopaholic books!

Nicholas Sparks' fans know that he is the go-to author for bittersweet stories of romance, coming-of-age, and heartbreak. For those of you who have yet to read a Sparks novel, here's your chance to experience his writing at its best!

This novel chronicles the summer of a young, recently graduated rebellious girl named Ronnie, who has been sent with her brother to visit their estranged father following the divorce of their parents. Unhappy with being forced to leave behind her friends in New York City for a small ocean side town for a few months, she spends as much time as she can ignoring her father and brother.She eventually meets Will, a young man who lives in the town, and despite their differences, they fall for each other. The novel follows their relationship, as well as Ronnie's relationship with her father and family.

Without giving anything away, this story really tugs at one's heartstrings. Sparks weaves Ronnie and Will's relationship into a broader story about the importance of family with great skill and this is definitely one of the best examples of his work. I would reccomend it for teens as well as adults, as it can definitley be enjoyed by both.

"Remember Me" is a movie that weaves together the three themes of love, family relationships and tragedy in a way that touches your emotions and leaves you thinking about the film even days after it's finished. Often thought of as a "chick flick", it exceeds the normal expectations one would place on a "girl's movie" to become a movie that can be appreciated by many.

"Remember Me" is a movie that takes place in New York, where the two leads (played exceptionally well by Twilight's Robert Pattinson and Lost's Emilie de Ravin) fall in love in spite of the pressures their families place upon them and traumatic events in their pasts. The movie follows their courtship, as well as their relationships with their families, and is surprisingly gritty, yet realistic. The fathers of the leads (played by Chris Cooper and Pierce Brosnan) feature prominently in the movie, and the acting of both characters is done quite well.

I would definitely recommend this movie to both males and females, although it may be a little heavy for younger audiences. I found it to be one of the most surprisingly engaging movies I have seen recently, and overall, it is an excellent example of the Romantic Drama film genre.

Leap Year, starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, is a movie that follows a young woman's attempts to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day after hearing about an Irish tradition that claims that,in Ireland, women should propose to their boyfriends on Leap Day. After her boyfriend leaves for Ireland for business, she follows him to propose to him on this specific day. Howe ver, complications ensue and she has a hard time finding him as the clock ticks down on "Leap Day". She hires a bar owner/taxi driver (Matthew Goode) to take her to Dublin to find her boyfriend. Their journey to Dublin is comical and touching.

Overall, I felt the movie was cute, satisfying and well done. I had gone into the theatre not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. The scenery in the movie was beautiful - lots of shots of the rolling, green Irish hillsides, castles and lakes. The leads also were very cute together and were believable.

I would definitely reccomend this movie to teens and women looking for a light hearted romantic comedy that makes them smile throughout the movie. I was happily surprised, and I think you will be too.

As a Nicholas Sparks fan and fan of both the lead actors in the movie, I was extremely excited about this movie. I also had not yet read the novel, "Dear John", so the element of surprise was also something that amplified my excitement. I must say, I was left quite disapointed.

The movie tells the story of two young people who fall in love during a summer at the beach and then are separated by the war in 2001. They correspond by letters and develop a romance that spans the continents.

The acting and chemistry between the two leads is great and the audience is really drawn into their story. However, the plot takes a very strange, illogical turn that it seems was supposed to be a surprising twist. While it is surprising, it also doesnt seem to fit in with the rest of the movie. And as always with Nicholas Sparks, there is heartbreak and sadness; however, the "sad" parts in the movie did not tug at my heartstrings as much as in some of his other movies.

Overall, although the movie was fun to watch and definitely is a chick flick, the strange plot turn near the end rendered the movie confusing and unrelatable. Personally, I left the movie saying "huh?" To date, "The Notebook" and "A Walk to Remember" still remain untouchable as the top Nicholas Sparks movies.

I ,like many others who have picked up this book, did so because I have read and been a fan of Stephenie Meyer's other novels, the Twilight Saga. Because I really enjoyed her story-telling ability in Twilight, I was really excited when I found out she had written another novel, this time science fiction. Now, I have never been a huge science fiction fan, and the synopsis describing alien parasitism did not seem to be a huge draw to me at first glance ( as I tend to stick within the Romance/Historical/Supernatural genres). Furthermore, the first few chapters were a bit of a slog to get through, being a bit confusing. However, I stuck it out a bit and before long found myself hooked, just as I had been with Twilight.

With "The Host", Stephenie Meyer has proven that she can write beyond the world of Forks and Bella and Edward. Meyer has created a cast of characters likeable and believable, in an entirely different setting than Twilight. The story follows Wanderer ( Wanda), an alien parasite who's "soul" is just one of many inhabiting a human body on Earth after it has been conquered by the alien parasites. Most parasites are able to suppress their human's thoughts, thus living in the human body as if it were their own. However, the original occupant of Wanda's new body ,Melanie,doesnt seem to want to leave, and thus the two minds occupy a single body. This makes for interesting interactions between the minds themselves and those around them, human and alien.

If you are looking for the same type of romance found in Twilight, "The Host" does have a great romantic subplot to it. While it is unarguably not at the level of Bella and Edward's romance in Twilight, it's unpredictable and satisfying. Readers will not be disapointed.

I would highly recommend this novel to both teens and adults, and even for both males and females. The creativeness of the story will appeal to everyone, and I would not hesitate to suggest it to another fan of reading.

Born with the nose of a pig due to a family curse, Penelope has been unlucky in love throughout her life. Her parents have sheltered her to shield both them and her from embarrassment, but she longs to explore the world outside her home. Her parents are keen on breaking the curse, which will only come from marriage to a man of noble birth... but how can they convince a fellow noble to marry a girl with the nose of a pig?

And so, the stage is set for the heartwarming new fairy tale, Penelope; a film which appeals to all ages: children, teens and adults.A comedy interspersed with fantasy and romance, it is a winning combination.

I would definitley recommend this film to families and teen and adult women looking for a satisfying comedic romance.

When I was young, one of my favourite movies was the 1975 film, "The Ballet Shoes". I would borrow this title from the library often, and I must have seen it over 10 times as a young girl!
Years later, I had forgotten about the movie, and this movie came on television. After watching it for several minutes, I realized it was a remake of my old favourite.

This movie is quite a good remake, and is a great family movie. This movie is specifically aimed at young girls, who would most likely delight in movie that focuses on young girls achieving their different dreams. With three very different main characters to represent the many interests of young girls, every girl will find something to like in this movie. Dreams of ballet, acting and flying in airplanes are just a few of the goals the characters aim to acheive in this movie.

This movie also stars Emma Watson, of "Harry Potter" fame (Hermione), as Pauline, a young girl with ambitions to be an actress. Young movie watchers will enjoy seeing Watson in a different role.