Five things to be grateful for in the fifth and final ‘Twilight’ film

Death becomes Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (★★1/2 out of four). Never before has the typically stoic actress demonstrated so much life. And so it goes in the fifth and final chapter of The Twilight Saga, in which newly christened vamp, Bella (Stewart) and hubby Edward (Robert Pattinson) fight fate after the birth of their half-human/half vampire daughter. The film is loaded with costars and a surprisingly well executed ending that should do the film franchise justice. A winner at the box office last weekend, no doubt the film has enough legs to last through the holiday season. That said, here are a few things to be grateful for as the film series (finally) wraps up:

Day-Lewis’ extraordinary performance powers Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’
It’s probably counter-productive to try to shoehorn Steven Spielberg’s massive historical epic, Lincoln, into the realm of allegory. Yes, this tale of political maneuvering at the close of the American Civil War portrays a House literally divided against itself, one party trying to reconcile the conservative and “radical” elements within itself, two parties so ideologically diverse they can’t engage in debate on the floor without hurling invective at each other, and a recently re-elected president struggling to balance his personal principles with his need to heal the nation.

Craig's 007 shaken, yet stirring in 'Skyfall' 

What does Skyfall, the title of the new 007 movie, actually mean? Suffice it to say that "Skyfall" is James Bond's "Rosebud," an element from his deeply shrouded past revealed here for the first time—one of many "firsts" that make this 23rd outing for the legendary über-op so interesting.

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Minimalism diffuses potential power in psychological drama 'Loneliest Planet'

Less-is-more seems to be the prevailing philosophy behind The Loneliest Planet. In this exercise in narrative and emotional minimalism, Russian-born American filmmaker Julia Loktev has the nerve to go slow, revealing her story in tiny gestures, instead of conventional action or pages of dialogue. Audacious in design and intent, the film starts out like an adventure about a young couple on a backpacking holiday across an exotic landscape (the vast and splendid Caucasus Mountains in Russian Georgia). But Loktev uses her enormous canvas to zero in on the psychology of inner space as the couple discovers worrying secrets in each other and themselves.

Films This Week
Check out the movies playing around town.
With: Reviews,
Movie Times click here.
Santa Cruz area movie theaters >

Films This Week
Check out the movies playing around town.
With: Reviews,
Movie Times click here.
Santa Cruz area movie theaters >

Lives entwine across the ages in dense, yet visionary 'Cloud Atlas'

Who will win the Best Makeup award at next year's Oscar festivities? You can bet on the talented team from Cloud Atlas, the ambitious, visionary saga of love, loss, greed, slavery, and redemption through the ages, co-written and directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer.

Films This Week
Check out the movies playing around town.
With: Reviews,
Movie Times click here.
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‘Chasing Mavericks’ wins high marks for its story, cinematography and illuminating the legend that was Jay Moriarity

Hollywood and the surfing communities viewpoint have not always portrayed the surf culture as one of honor and prestige. Surfing is a right of passage from the time you step into the water your first time. The line-up changes; never are two waves the same or two surfers. It has an unwritten set of codes that if you truly surf—you know what I mean—that we follow and enforce. There is always a pecking order, no matter how long you surf or how good you are. There is a veritable math equation that takes place when one of the boys paddles out.