The breeze this morning was, as my spouse likes to say, delicious. It's warmed up a bit but is only about 80, although I think it feels warmer.

We rented the movie Guess Who with Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. Guess Who is an updated remake of the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? That film starred Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn. Guess Who has 2 maybe 3 funny moments in the whole film. Otherwise it is predictable and ho-hum, although it is entertaining. The special features (which is usually my favorite part of a dvd) are lame except for the previews of upcoming films. There is a preview of Rent which comes out in November and a non-scene preview of next year's The Da Vinci Code. It's a trailer that shows no scenes from the movie (hmmm could that be because it's still being filmed? Probably).

Speaking of movies, here are the films that I just have to see this fall (or life won't be worth living). I'm so glad I'm not dramatic.

Flightplan: Jodie Foster is back. She last kicked butt in the thriller Panic Room and now she's back kicking butt 40,000 feet in the air. She plays a mom who's daughter disappears on a transatlantic flight. Is she telling the truth or is she some whacked out escaped mental patient?

Proof: Originally done on the stage this film, directed by Shakespeare in Love's John Madden, stars Gwyneth Paltrow (who was directed to an Oscar in Shakespeare) plays daughter to Anthony Hopkins's brilliant mathematician. He's also mentally ill. Yes, it does sound like A Beautiful Mind but it does have a good cast. It will either be really good or really depressing....or both.

Syriana: A CIA agent looking for a terrorist in the Middle East. Sounds heavy and not the sort of film I'd usually want to see. It does star George Clooney though and for me he is eye candy. Yes, even with 35 pounds packed on and his beard and salt and pepper hair, and dreamy eyes... Oh sorry, I forgot where I was.

Walk The Line: Or as I like to call it, this year's Ray. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon play Johnny and June Carter Cash. They supposedly do their own singing and are already being called major Oscar contenders. We'll see.....

Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire: The wizarding tournament, the Quidditch, the death of one of the students, the rebirth of Lord Voldemort (played by Ralph Fiennes, so vicious and creepy in Schindler's List) and the turn from happy go lucky Hogwarts to deadly serious and loss of innocence. Oooooooooo

Rent: Adapted from Jonathan Larson's Tony- and Pulitzer- winning musical (he died right before it hit the stage). Only two of the major cast members were not in the Broadway version of the show. This film could be this year's Chicago or it could be a major flop. I've got my fingers crossed for the former outcome.

The Producers: Not out until December but I'm looking forward to seeing this and thankfully it has the two stars from the Broadway show. Those stars are of course Nathan Lane (my Natey is back) and Matthew Broderick. It would have been nice to have seen these two performers live but I'll have to pay a lot less to see them this way.

Brokeback Mountain: Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger play gay cowboys in a film that promises to be daring and risque. Yeah, we'll see.

These movies are not movies that I have to see but probably will see just because they will no doubt be event movies.

King Kong: Peter Jackson (the hobbit who directed some film called The Lord of the Rings). Naomi Watts plays the role made famous by Fay Wray in the film that boasts cool special effects.

All The King's Men: Another remake, I know. The original film (based on a book, so it wasn't original to begin with) won the Oscar for Best Pic and took two acting awards. The new cast screams Academy Award: Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Sean Penn, James Gandolfini, Kathy Baker, and Anthony Hopkins.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The adaptation of C.S. Lewis's first book of his seven part series. Could be this year's Lord of the Rings.

As they say; See you at the movies.

That's it for now. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

paul