Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience

The Jonas Brothers head to the big screen— in 3-D—in a high-energy Walt Disney Pictures rockumentary feature film event. The film blends excerpts from the Brothers' red-hot "Burning Up" concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor—giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick.

I didn't see this. I probably never will. I was lucky enough that WW and friends took the bullet of making sure that Stinka and company got to check this out. Based on their combined thoughts of the adults the movie is somewhat watchable and nicely short. The children obviously loved it and thought it was just like the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana concert movie last year.

Needless to say - my recommendation pretty much means nothing regarding this. If you have kids in to the Jonas Brothers, take them to the movie and you will be considered royalty for at least a day. If you don't (or aren't in to themselves for some reason) why would you ever bother checking this out?

Fired Up!

Shawn Colfax (Nicholas D'Agosto) and Nick Brady (Eric Christian Olsen), the stars of the Gerald R. Ford High School football team, are dreading the prospect of another summer at football camp. When Nick hatches a scheme for the two to join their school's cheerleaders at cheer camp instead, they find themselves awash in a sea of young women. It all goes great until Shawn falls for Carly (Sarah Roemer), the head cheerleader who sees right through them.

I saw the preview for this and figured it was yet another one of those envelope pushing sex comedies (a la College, Sex Drive or Zach & Miri). I really don't like movies like that. The humor gets lost once you stop alluding to things and start actually showing them. It goes from watching a comedy to watching soft core porn and it ends up being simply not funny. I was working in the booth this week and decided to give this movie the 15 minute lithmus test as to whether or not I will end up ever bothering with the rest of the movie. I started watching about 30 minutes in to the movie and ended up watching most of the last hour of it. I was shocked at how it didn't push the envelope and how many times I was laughing out loud. It is by no means a good movie. Its pretty dumb honestly, but it does have a lot of laughs. Its kind of like that movie Bring It On from a couple of years ago. They actually refer to that movie numerous times during this one.

I would actually recommend that people check this out. I never thought I would be writing that. Its pretty funny in a silly way based on the parts I saw and worth checking out for some big laughs.

Madea Goes To Jail

After a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea (Tyler Perry) in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. A gleeful Joe (Tyler Perry) couldn't be happier at Madea's misfortune. But Madea's eccentric family members the Browns (David and Tamala Mann) rally behind her, lending their special "country" brand of support. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway (Derek Luke) is on the fast track to career success. But Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle - defending young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington (Keisha Knight Pulliam) - and asks his fiancée and fellow ADA Linda Holmes (Ion Overman) to fill in on his behalf. When Candace ends up in jail, Madea befriends the young woman, protecting her in a "motherly" way as only Madea can.

I apologize but I think that Madea is one of the funniest characters ever. I could watch her for hours. I know that at this point it is just plain insulting that Tyler Perry is using this Eddie Murphy like silliness to get butts in the seats for his movies or television shows at this point but I don't care. Its hilarious. This movie is no different. When its about Madea the whole audience is cracking up. When its about Rudy from The Cosby Show being a strung out junkie - nobody cares. I wonder if I was the only one that can still only see her lip synching on those classic episodes where the family sang to the grandparents. Anywho, I digress. This movie was basically half great and half snooze fest. On top of the laughs - Madea delivers a speech on how everyone should just stop playing themselves as victims when they are responsible for where they are in life that was nothing short of phenomenal.

I'd recommend this movie to anyone that is a Madea fan . . . . . . . or obviously a Tyler Perry fan. Even though the non-Madea down time is rough, it all comes roaring back the second she gets back on screen. If you aren't - I would stay as far away from this one as you did the others and try to find a sense of humor, people! How can anyone not find Madea hilarious!?!

Coraline

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door and discovers an alternate version of her life on the other side. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life and the people in it – only much better. But when this seemingly perfect world turns dangerous, and her other parents (including her Other Mother voiced by Teri Hatcher) try to trap her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to escape this increasingly perilous world – and save her family.

This movie is just plain weird. Seriously. Its like a demented acid trip. Even stranger is that this kids movie couldn't possibly be less for kids if it tried. I have no clue how any kid could remotely get in to this movie. Its also heavily advertised as being a great 3D experience, but I see no real need for the the 3D whatsoever. Even though I'm ranting - the movie isn't absolutely horrible. Its watchable for adults, but it is just so damn weird.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to check this out. I would also not recommend this movie as being that escape type movie to take the kids too. It won't work.

The International

In The International, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing – even murder – to continue financing terror and war.

Oh my god this movie was horrible. I can't believe how completely lame this movie was. I'm still stumped. I watched the first 45 minutes of the movie and was going to try to tough out the rest before I found out that there was another hour to go. This is the most boring espionage/suspense movie I've ever seen. The worst part is that they totally lose you right off the bat. This is one of those movies where they try to get you all involved by abruptly starting the movie. Its one of those where if you weren't there to see the studio opening you would think you walked in 15 minutes late. From there, you are stuck watching all the characters be high strung and go blah blah blah having no clue whats going on.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Its horribly done and insanely boring for a "suspense" movie.

Friday The 13th

Searching for his missing sister, Clay heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins that lie in wait behind moss-covered trees. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay pursues what few leads he has, with the help of a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are about to find much more than they bargained for. Little do they know, they've entered the domain of one of the most terrifying specters in American film history—the infamous killer who haunts Crystal Lake, armed with a razor-sharp machete... Jason Voorhees.

This was actually one of the better relaunch/remake movies to come out in a while. It was essentially a Friday The 13th that went back to the core of the original three movies before they started getting so absolutely ridiculous. It was an hour and a half of crazy killings. I remember back in the day when the best part of these movies was wondering how Jason was going to kill the victims and this movie was just like that. Its your typical horror movie where you have to throw any sense of logic/continuity out the window, but its pretty good once you do that.

I would recommend anyone who likes horror movies check this bad boy out. Its a throwback to the horror movies that weren't too smart or pulled their punches. This is the kind of horror movie that I grew up loving.

Fanboys

It's 1998 and Star Wars fanboys across the globe eagerly await the release of "Episode I." But for Eric, Linus, Hutch and Windows the term fanboy is more than just a title, it's a badge of honor. Spurred by impatience and an undying loyalty to their cause, these former high school friends reunite to undertake the road trip of their fan-tasies. Traveling West across the country to visit their Mecca - George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch - the plan is to break in, steal the film and stake their claim as the first fanboys in history to watch it. But to secure their place in the fanboy hall of fame, they'll have to contend with bizarre bikers, a crazy pimp, a deranged group of trekkies and the quiet intensity of William Shatner.

This movie is hilariously great . . . . . if you are or were a Star Wars fanboy. I am an admitted Star Wars fanboy. The first Star Wars was the first movie I ever saw in a theater and that has stuck with me to this day of my movie addicted life. I was just as excited about Episode I as the characters in this movie were and had the conversations that they have about it with my friends. The random dialogue and joke references towards the movies had me laughing out loud. The flip side of this is that if you are not or never were a Star Wars fanboy, this movie might be one of the silliest things you've ever seen. Its your text book road trip movie but instead of pushing sex, drugs and hijinks - its pushing Star Wars moments. This has the ability to end up being a total cult favorite when it hits DVD.

I couldn't possibly recommend this movie more to die hard Star Wars fans. They will fully enjoy it. Others should not waste your time.

The Pink Panther 2

The Pink Panther 2 stars Steve Martin as he reprises the role of intrepid-if-bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese) is forced to assign Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts. Martin is joined by his co-stars Jean Reno (as Ponton, his partner) and Emily Mortimer (as Nicole, the object of his awkward affections).

Wow! This was pretty disappointing. I know that this remakes of the Pink Panther completely pale in comparison to the originals, but I found the first one hysterically funny in a family film kind of a way. I actually saw it in passing the other day on tv and was laughing my ass off. This one . . . . . not so much. There were a couple of laughs, but nowhere near the first one. This sequel actually played as completely flat as I expected the first one to. This is really sad considering how laugh out loud funny (although stupid) the first one was. How do you lose something so simple?

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Kids might like it but there weren't even enough laughs to keep them fully interested.

He's Just Not That Into You

An all-star cast is featured in the stories of a group of interconnected, Baltimore-based twenty- and thirtysomethings as they navigate their various relationships from the shallow end of the dating pool through the deep, murky waters of married life. Trying to read the signs of the opposite sex, each hopes to be the exception to the "no exceptions" rule.

This is your textbook date movie. It has a portrayal of every type of "dysfunctional" relationship and pretty well developed characters. You find yourself rooting for some of them and hating some of them. You also know damn well how its all going to turn out and that makes the 2 hour plus running time a pretty big stretch. Even with the long running time, it is definitely a watchable and enjoyable movie. I love how its based on the age old premise that girls are told that if a boy treats you like crap it means he likes you. I have always thought that is the dumbest thing you could possibly tell a little girl and could totally see it screwing them for life. The opening scene of this movie where this is shown/explained is about as classic as the orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally.

I would recommend that people check this movie out. Its really not that painful of a movie for the guys that only go to see it because their girlfriend/wife wants them too and the women will love it.

Push

The Division, a shadowy government agency, is genetically transforming citizens into an army of psychic warriors—and brutally disposing of those unwilling to participate. Nick Gant (Chris Evans), a second-generation telekinetic or "mover," has been in hiding since the Division murdered his father more than a decade earlier. He has found sanctuary in densely populated Hong Kong—the last safe place on earth for fugitive psychics like him—but only if he can keep his gift a secret. Nick is forced out of hiding when Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning), a 13-year-old clairvoyant or "watcher," seeks his help in finding Kira, (Camilla Belle), an escaped "pusher" who may hold the key to ending the Division's program. Pushers possess the most dangerous of all psychic powers: the ability to influence others' actions by implanting thoughts in their minds. But Cassie's presence soon attracts the attention of the Division's human bloodhounds, forcing Nick and Cassie to flee for their lives.With the help of a team of rogue psychics, the unlikely duo traverses the seedy underbelly of the city, trying to stay one step ahead of the authorities as they search for Kira. But they find themselves square in the crosshairs of Division Agent Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou), a pusher who will stop at nothing to keep them from achieving their goal.


This movie could have been awesome. It had a pretty decent premise of a government agency churning out pseudo-xmen. Unfortunately, it played out pretty crappy. You can pretty much tell just from the lameness of the power having classifications. The Screamers . . . . . well they scream and can hurt your ears. The Sniffers . . . . well they sniff and can track you. The Pushers . . . . . well they push you to do what they want you to do. You get the drift by this point, right? How can you have a great sci-fi type premise and then be that lame with power titles? Seriously. Anyway, this movie also provided us with the worst performance of Dakota Fanning's career to date. Hopefully this is just a blip and won't be the start of bad to come as she gets older in terms of acting ability.

I wouldn't really recommend this movie to anyone. Its definitely not worth the money and would pretty much be a waste of time to go to the theater and what not.

New In Town

Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger) is an ambitious, up and coming executive living in Miami. She loves her shoes, she loves her cars and she loves climbing the corporate ladder. When she is offered a temporary assignment - in the middle of nowhere - to restructure a manufacturing plant, she jumps at the opportunity, knowing that a big promotion is close at hand. What begins as a straight forward job assignment becomes a life changing experience as Lucy discovers greater meaning in her life and most unexpectedly, the man of her dreams (Harry Connick, Jr.).

This movie is pretty much what you saw in the commercial. Its your textbook character out of her element movie. You know she's going to fall in love with the new area she has to go to. You know that she's going to fall for the guy. You know she's going to throw in the towel for her old life and enjoy her new found life. I know all of this - and I didn't even bother watching the end of the movie. Its not that the movie was horrible. I just didn't care enough to make it past the first 35 minutes. The Minnesota is cold jokes had already gotten old. Renee Zellwegger had already reached her usual annoyance level with me. And I already knew damn well where this movie was going to go. This was essentially a movie version of an ABC series, Men In Trees, from a couple of years ago and if I didn't feel like watching that from the comfort of my own home - why would I bother watching the rest of this movie that I started watching only because the kids movie wasn't over yet and there wasn't anything else I hadn't seen yet?

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering to check this out. Its really just kind of there and not worth your time at all.

Inkheart

Mortimer "Mo" Folchart and his 12-year-old daughter, Meggie, share an extraordinary gift for bringing characters from books to life when they read aloud. But there is a danger: when a character is brought to life from a book, a real person disappears into its pages. On one of their trips to a secondhand book shop, Mo locates a book he's been searching for since Meggie was three years old, when her mother, Resa, vanished into its mystical world. But Mo's plan to use the book to find and rescue Resa is thwarted when Capricorn, the evil villain of Inkheart, kidnaps Meggie and, discovering she has inherited her father's gift, demands that she bring to life his most powerful ally, the Shadow. Determined to rescue his daughter and send the fictional characters back where they belong, Mo assembles a small group of friends and family--some from the real world, some from the pages of books--and embarks on a daring and perilous journey to set things right.

Although Brendan Fraser really has become one of the most annoying, type cast actors, I was still able to enjoy this movie. It wasn't a great movie by any means. It was definitely watchable though. Even though, Helen Mirren was more annoying than Brendan Fraser and you pretty much knew everything that was going to happen - it accomplished the one really important thing for a fantasy movie to do. It took you to the other world and got you in to it. Pulling that off in fantasy movies is more important that getting you hooked in to the characters. If they would have done both - I would have absolutely loved this movie. Pulling off the one made it enjoyable enough to watch though.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out. Kids will like it and the parents won't bu writhing in pain watching it with them.