A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.
Let me just start by saying that Hayden Christiansen has officially become my least favorite actor in Hollywood. The guy is simply atrocious. He pretty much single handedly destroyed the Star Wars prequels and has consistently gotten worse with every movie he has been in since then. Jumper is no different. The other jumper in the movie with him was great and the effects were awesome. Unfortunately, that was it. As if Hayden didn't suck enough, this movie had to be graced with the presence of Samuel L. "I don't turn down an offer to be in any movie no matter how absurd it or my physical appearance in it will be" Jackson. What is the deal with him? The guy is a great actor with an awesome presence, but he keeps choosing to be in these giant turds that are offered up to him. Samuel, please fire your agent and look in to a little thing called selectivity.
I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering to check this out. The effects while cool are not nearly enough to help you get past the horrid acting.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
From the series of books by the same name comes The Spiderwick Chronicles. It is a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what's really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.
This is one of those great fantasy type movies. I love movies like this when you get a chance to view in to this made up world of fairies, goblins, and magic. I had read the books and really looked forward to seeing this movie. I was worried that my expectations were too high and I was inevitably going to end up disappointed. However, I was not at all. I think they did a great job of capturing the world and characters created in the book and that Freddy Highmore (playing both Jared and Simon) has continued on his path of what could be an amazing acting career. The only real knock that I can make against this movie is that there are some parts that are way too scary for really little kids seeing this. The main bad guy turns in to a huge goblin and a massive snake at certain points. I was glad that Stinka was past that waking me up in the middle of the night because she was scared phase at certain points during the movie so be warned parents of young ones.
I would fully recommend people checking this movie out. Its a great trip to another world while you are in the theater watching it.
This is one of those great fantasy type movies. I love movies like this when you get a chance to view in to this made up world of fairies, goblins, and magic. I had read the books and really looked forward to seeing this movie. I was worried that my expectations were too high and I was inevitably going to end up disappointed. However, I was not at all. I think they did a great job of capturing the world and characters created in the book and that Freddy Highmore (playing both Jared and Simon) has continued on his path of what could be an amazing acting career. The only real knock that I can make against this movie is that there are some parts that are way too scary for really little kids seeing this. The main bad guy turns in to a huge goblin and a massive snake at certain points. I was glad that Stinka was past that waking me up in the middle of the night because she was scared phase at certain points during the movie so be warned parents of young ones.
I would fully recommend people checking this movie out. Its a great trip to another world while you are in the theater watching it.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Martin Lawrence is talk-show sensation RJ Stevens, who left behind his Southern upbringing and family name to transform into a self-help guru dispensing his "Team of Me" philosophy to millions of adoring fans. With a reality-TV-star fiancée and money to burn, there's no piece of the Hollywood dream RJ hasn't achieved. After his parents request that he come home for their 50th wedding anniversary, the TV host packs up his 10-year-old son and diva bride-to-be and heads back to Georgia. It's a chance to prove to his family that he's no longer the awkward kid they relentlessly picked on. At least, that's the plan...But when his crazy, lovable family calls him on his big-city attitude and challenges him at every turn, RJ is forced to take a hard look at the man he's become.
This is one of those formula comedies. You have pretty much seen the movie by watching the commercial. There are still some really big laughs though even if the movie did run a bit too long. I have always found Martin Lawrence to be hysterical. He played really well off of Mo'Nique, Mike Epps, and Michael Clarke Duncan as his family. The only really bad part about this movie was his fiancee. She was so annoying that I wanted to throw my soda at the screen every time she talked.
I'd recommend people checking this one out if they are looking for a laugh. Its nowhere near being a must see, but it might be worth the trip for you.
This is one of those formula comedies. You have pretty much seen the movie by watching the commercial. There are still some really big laughs though even if the movie did run a bit too long. I have always found Martin Lawrence to be hysterical. He played really well off of Mo'Nique, Mike Epps, and Michael Clarke Duncan as his family. The only really bad part about this movie was his fiancee. She was so annoying that I wanted to throw my soda at the screen every time she talked.
I'd recommend people checking this one out if they are looking for a laugh. Its nowhere near being a must see, but it might be worth the trip for you.
Fool's Gold
Ben Finnegan (Matthew McConaughey) is a treasure hunter who is obsessed with finding the legendary 18th century Queen's Dowry--40 chests of priceless treasure that was lost at sea in 1715. In his quest, Finn has sunk everything he has, including his marriage to Tess Finnegan (Kate Hudson). Just as Tess has begun to rebuild her life, working aboard a mega-yacht owned by billionaire Nigel Honeycutt (Donald Sutherland), Finn discovers a vital clue to the treasure's whereabouts. Much to Tess' consternation, Finn maneuvers himself aboard Nigel's yacht and, using his roguish charm, convinces the tycoon and his celebutante daughter, Gemma (Alexis Dziena), to join him in the pursuit of the Spanish treasure. But they are not the only ones after the prize. Finn's one-time mentor, Moe Fitch (Ray Winstone), and a ruthless local gangster (Kevin Hart) are intent on beating Finn to the prize. Let the treasure hunt begin.
This was one of the worst movies I've ever seen and probably a lock for the worst movie of 2008. WW and I didn't even make it to the end. God Bless her beautiful soul for throwing in the towel on the gigantic piece of dung 3/4 of the way through. It speaks volumes that she was willing to leave. She is an incredibly patient person and will usually fully commit to the movie unless it is beyond intolerable. This movie most definitely was. We waited for an hour and a half for this movie to decide where the hell it was going and it still never went anywhere. It just kind of circled the drain for what seemed like an eternity. It was honestly the worst collection of movie characters I've ever seen. Thank God I had no sharp objects on me or I might have stabbed myself in the eyes with it.
I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Ever! Seriously. I wouldn't make my worst enemy suffer through this movie.
This was one of the worst movies I've ever seen and probably a lock for the worst movie of 2008. WW and I didn't even make it to the end. God Bless her beautiful soul for throwing in the towel on the gigantic piece of dung 3/4 of the way through. It speaks volumes that she was willing to leave. She is an incredibly patient person and will usually fully commit to the movie unless it is beyond intolerable. This movie most definitely was. We waited for an hour and a half for this movie to decide where the hell it was going and it still never went anywhere. It just kind of circled the drain for what seemed like an eternity. It was honestly the worst collection of movie characters I've ever seen. Thank God I had no sharp objects on me or I might have stabbed myself in the eyes with it.
I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Ever! Seriously. I wouldn't make my worst enemy suffer through this movie.
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds
Hannah Montana fans everywhere have a chance to see their favorite singer, songwriter and actress, Miley Cyrus, perform her sold-out concert tour on the big screen in Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. The film was shot during Cyrus's 54-city tour and is being shown in digital 3D.
I can't remember the last time I saw such total madness at a movie theater. Nobody promotes/markets things better than Disney and this might have been their best ever. This thing has morphed in to more of an event than a movie. It literally felt like you were going to the actual concert and not something that was on the screen at your local movie theater. Tickets for the movie have been sold out months in advance and the excitement level of all the children there to see it was priceless. Of all the Disney channel shows that the future steppie is addicted to, Hannah Montana has pretty much been my least favorite one. I had pretty much no desire to check out this movie but came away pleasantly surprised. The 3D effects of the concert and how it gave the stage so much depth was awesome and it turns out that Miley Cyrus has a lot more talent than I thought she did. I still fully expect her to turn in a crazy crack who-ra a la Britney Spears by the age of 21, but the kid is a pretty good performer. I could have done without the Jonas Brothers songs, but the experience ended up being worthwhile and most importantly - the kids loved it.
I would definitely recommend that people check this out. It such a great experience for the kids and the adults (once they let go and give in to the lunacy of the whole thing) end up liking it as well.
I can't remember the last time I saw such total madness at a movie theater. Nobody promotes/markets things better than Disney and this might have been their best ever. This thing has morphed in to more of an event than a movie. It literally felt like you were going to the actual concert and not something that was on the screen at your local movie theater. Tickets for the movie have been sold out months in advance and the excitement level of all the children there to see it was priceless. Of all the Disney channel shows that the future steppie is addicted to, Hannah Montana has pretty much been my least favorite one. I had pretty much no desire to check out this movie but came away pleasantly surprised. The 3D effects of the concert and how it gave the stage so much depth was awesome and it turns out that Miley Cyrus has a lot more talent than I thought she did. I still fully expect her to turn in a crazy crack who-ra a la Britney Spears by the age of 21, but the kid is a pretty good performer. I could have done without the Jonas Brothers songs, but the experience ended up being worthwhile and most importantly - the kids loved it.
I would definitely recommend that people check this out. It such a great experience for the kids and the adults (once they let go and give in to the lunacy of the whole thing) end up liking it as well.
Meet The Spartans
A spoof of the movie 300.
I am begging Hollywood to put a ban on these spoof movies. How the hell do they spend money on these humongous piles of garbage over and over again? Its like they are sitting there waiting for only 3 things to reach a certain level of pop culture status and then they have to rush production on one of these turds. This one consisted of 300, Stomp The Yard (the only actually funny scene in the movie) and reality tv/game shows. You literally sit there for an hour and a half wondering why in the blue hell you are subjecting yourself to this stuff.
I wouldn't recommend anyone check this crapola out ever. Its one of the most unfunny comedies I've ever seen.
I am begging Hollywood to put a ban on these spoof movies. How the hell do they spend money on these humongous piles of garbage over and over again? Its like they are sitting there waiting for only 3 things to reach a certain level of pop culture status and then they have to rush production on one of these turds. This one consisted of 300, Stomp The Yard (the only actually funny scene in the movie) and reality tv/game shows. You literally sit there for an hour and a half wondering why in the blue hell you are subjecting yourself to this stuff.
I wouldn't recommend anyone check this crapola out ever. Its one of the most unfunny comedies I've ever seen.
The Eye
Sydney Wells (Jessica Alba) is an accomplished, independent, Los Angeles-based concert violinist. She is also blind, and has been so since a childhood tragedy. As our story opens, Sydney undergoes a double corneal transplant, a surgery she has waited her whole life to have, and her sight is restored. After the surgery, neural ophthalmologist Dr. Paul Faulkner (Alessandro Nivola) helps Sydney with the difficult adjustment, and with the support of her older sister Helen (Parker Posey), Sydney learns to see again. But Sydney's happiness is short-lived as unexplainable shadowy and frightening images start to haunt her. Are they a passing aftermath of her surgery, Sydney's mind adjusting to sight, a product of her imagination, or something horrifyingly real? As Sydney's family and friends begin to doubt her sanity, Sydney is soon convinced that her anonymous eye donor has somehow opened the door to a terrifying world only she can now see.
This movie was atrocious. I am really starting to hate the American remakes of Japanese horror movies. For every The Grudge or The Ring, there seems to be three or four juicy turds like this bad boy. Unlike the aforementioned movies - this one had no suspense whatsoever and an incredibly dull story that I couldn't have cared less about if I tried. To make matters even worse - Jessica Alba has to be in the top five worst actresses ever. Her lack of acting talent totally annoys me in a normal movie, but when she has to do things like act like a blind person - its just downright excruciating and I wouldn't wish the retinal scarring of this movie on my worst enemy.
This movie is horrid, people. Don't see it . . . . . . . ever . . . . . . seriously. Its total garbage.
This movie was atrocious. I am really starting to hate the American remakes of Japanese horror movies. For every The Grudge or The Ring, there seems to be three or four juicy turds like this bad boy. Unlike the aforementioned movies - this one had no suspense whatsoever and an incredibly dull story that I couldn't have cared less about if I tried. To make matters even worse - Jessica Alba has to be in the top five worst actresses ever. Her lack of acting talent totally annoys me in a normal movie, but when she has to do things like act like a blind person - its just downright excruciating and I wouldn't wish the retinal scarring of this movie on my worst enemy.
This movie is horrid, people. Don't see it . . . . . . . ever . . . . . . seriously. Its total garbage.
Untraceable
Within the FBI, there exists a division dedicated to investigating and prosecuting criminals on the internet. Welcome to the front lines of the war on cybercrime, where Special Agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) has seen it all... until now. A tech-savvy internet predator is displaying his graphic murders on his own website – and the fate of each of his tormented captives is left in the hands of the public: the more hits his site gets, the faster his victims die. When this game of cat and mouse becomes personal, Marsh and her team must race against the clock to track down this technical mastermind.
This movie was essentially a two hour episode of Criminal Minds or CSI. If you find any of those procedural shows on tv, like myself and WW, then you will definitely enjoy this movie. The overall premise is pretty creepy and kind of freaks you out when you think about how stuff like this could either be really happening right now or surely will be soon. I must have turned to WW fifty times during this movie to tell her that I don't want the kids on the computer anymore. The only knocks that I could make against this movie is that it could have easily been 15 - 20 minutes shorter and it pushed the cop bravado thing a little too much. You'll see what I mean by the extremely corny last scene before the credits. Outside of that - it was a pretty good suspense movie.
I'd recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys procedural television shows and/or suspense movies. Outside of that - you might find it kind of boring.
This movie was essentially a two hour episode of Criminal Minds or CSI. If you find any of those procedural shows on tv, like myself and WW, then you will definitely enjoy this movie. The overall premise is pretty creepy and kind of freaks you out when you think about how stuff like this could either be really happening right now or surely will be soon. I must have turned to WW fifty times during this movie to tell her that I don't want the kids on the computer anymore. The only knocks that I could make against this movie is that it could have easily been 15 - 20 minutes shorter and it pushed the cop bravado thing a little too much. You'll see what I mean by the extremely corny last scene before the credits. Outside of that - it was a pretty good suspense movie.
I'd recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys procedural television shows and/or suspense movies. Outside of that - you might find it kind of boring.
Rambo
John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) has retreated to northern Thailand, where he's running a longboat on the Salween River. On the nearby Thai-Burma (Myanmar) border, the world's longest-running civil war rages on. Rambo has long given up fighting, even as medics, mercenaries, rebels and peace workers pass by on their way to the war-torn region. That all changes when a group of human rights missionaries search out the American river guide. When Sarah (Julie Benz) and Michael Bennett (Paul Schulze) approach him, they explain that since last year's trek to the refugee camps, the Burmese military has laid landmines along the road, making it too dangerous for overland travel. They ask Rambo to guide them up the Salween and drop them off, so they can deliver medical supplies and food to the Karen tribe. After initially refusing to cross into Burma, Rambo takes them, dropping off Sarah, Michael and the aid workers. Two weeks later, pastor Arthur Marsh (Ken Howard) finds Rambo and tells him the aid workers did not return and the embassies have not helped locate them. Rambo reluctantly leads a band of mercenaries to look for the missing volunteers.
Just like when Rocky Balboa came out last year, I thought that making another Rambo movie was such a horrible joke. And just like Rocky Balboa, I was pleasantly surprised. Its not that this movie is an well done movie. Its not a sequel/prequel or remake like a lot of the garbage that comes out nowadays. Its simply a look at where this character is twenty years later and how he still has people to kill. Its just great for what it is. The movie is a blatant 80s action movie with lots of horrible dialogue, over dramatic pauses, and mounds of violence/gore. These are the types of movies that used to be the biggest movie of the year simply because it was all out testosterone and nobody had to think while watching the massive shoot outs and what not. The whole crowd started clapping the first time that Rambo killed people with his bow and arrow.
I'd strongly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoyed these types of action movies from back in the day. You won't be disappointed. If that wasn't up your alley - I wouldn't remotely recommend you checking this movie out though.
Just like when Rocky Balboa came out last year, I thought that making another Rambo movie was such a horrible joke. And just like Rocky Balboa, I was pleasantly surprised. Its not that this movie is an well done movie. Its not a sequel/prequel or remake like a lot of the garbage that comes out nowadays. Its simply a look at where this character is twenty years later and how he still has people to kill. Its just great for what it is. The movie is a blatant 80s action movie with lots of horrible dialogue, over dramatic pauses, and mounds of violence/gore. These are the types of movies that used to be the biggest movie of the year simply because it was all out testosterone and nobody had to think while watching the massive shoot outs and what not. The whole crowd started clapping the first time that Rambo killed people with his bow and arrow.
I'd strongly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoyed these types of action movies from back in the day. You won't be disappointed. If that wasn't up your alley - I wouldn't remotely recommend you checking this movie out though.
Mad Money
Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) is shocked to learn that she is on the verge of losing her home and comfortable upper middle class lifestyle when her husband Don (Ted Danson) is downsized from his job. Bridget is forced into the unfamiliar labor market with no job skills. Finally, she accepts the only position she can find—janitor at the Federal Reserve Bank.The one-time suburban mom soon discovers she has more in common with her new co-workers than she thought. Bridget forges an unexpected bond with Nina (Queen Latifah), a hard-working single mom with two kids to raise, and Jackie (Katie Holmes), an free spirit with nothing to lose. After a lifetime of playing by the rules, the three devise a plan to smuggle soon-to-be destroyed currency out of the supposedly airtight Reserve. As the unlikely crime syndicate amasses piles of cash, it looks like they have pulled off the perfect crime—until a minor misstep alerts the authorities. With more money than they know what to do with, the women are pushed to the limits of their ingenuity to stay one step ahead of the law!
This movie was just plain stupid. I kept thinking that it would get better, but it kept staying stupid. What is the deal with Queen Latifah? She's like the female version of Hugh Jackman last year in terms of overexposure. The woman seems to show up in every other movie. And as far as Katie Holmes goes - she must have gotten incredibly annoying via injection from Tom Cruise because I spent the whole movie wanting to punch her in the face for her horrible acting and her annoying quirky character. This is one of those movies that you are annoyed on the ride home that you just spent an hour and a half of your life that you can't get back.
I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Certainly not in the theaters for the love of God. I wouldn't even rent it. If you are stuck at home doing nothing when this comes on cable then I could suggest maybe watching it.
This movie was just plain stupid. I kept thinking that it would get better, but it kept staying stupid. What is the deal with Queen Latifah? She's like the female version of Hugh Jackman last year in terms of overexposure. The woman seems to show up in every other movie. And as far as Katie Holmes goes - she must have gotten incredibly annoying via injection from Tom Cruise because I spent the whole movie wanting to punch her in the face for her horrible acting and her annoying quirky character. This is one of those movies that you are annoyed on the ride home that you just spent an hour and a half of your life that you can't get back.
I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Certainly not in the theaters for the love of God. I wouldn't even rent it. If you are stuck at home doing nothing when this comes on cable then I could suggest maybe watching it.
27 Dresses
Jane (Heigl) has always been good at taking care of others, but not so much in looking after herself. Her entire life has been about making people happy – and she has a closet full of 27 bridesmaid dresses to prove it. One memorable evening, Jane manages to shuttle between wedding receptions in Manhattan and Brooklyn, a feat witnessed by Kevin (James Marsden), a newspaper reporter who realizes that a story about this wedding junkie is his ticket off the newspaper's bridal beat. Jane finds Kevin's cynicism counter to everything she holds dear – namely weddings, and the two lock horns. Further complicating Jane's once perfectly-ordered life is the arrival of younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman). Tess immediately captures the heart of Jane's boss, George (Edward Burns) whom Jane has been in love with for years. Tess enlists her always-accommodating sister to plan yet another wedding – Tess and George's – but Jane's feelings for him lead to shocking revelations... and maybe the beginning of a new life.
This was a total chick flick. I was cracking up at how out of 300 people that go to see this movie, about ten of them would be guys. Well, I was one of them and I have to admit that I ended up not minding this movie at all. See, the deal breaker with chick flicks is always the supporting characters. James Marsden was great in this, but the real scene stealer was Heigl's best friend. She had perfect timing with her one liners and 9 times out of 10 would say the line that I was thinking in my head in response to the situation that was going on. The two of them combined to make this movie pretty enjoyable and helped to get by the atrocious acting of Heigl's sister. That lady could go ahead and never get an acting job again and I'd be thrilled to death.
I'd fully recommend this movie. Its a great date movie and not one of those painful ones for the guys that go.
This was a total chick flick. I was cracking up at how out of 300 people that go to see this movie, about ten of them would be guys. Well, I was one of them and I have to admit that I ended up not minding this movie at all. See, the deal breaker with chick flicks is always the supporting characters. James Marsden was great in this, but the real scene stealer was Heigl's best friend. She had perfect timing with her one liners and 9 times out of 10 would say the line that I was thinking in my head in response to the situation that was going on. The two of them combined to make this movie pretty enjoyable and helped to get by the atrocious acting of Heigl's sister. That lady could go ahead and never get an acting job again and I'd be thrilled to death.
I'd fully recommend this movie. Its a great date movie and not one of those painful ones for the guys that go.
Cloverfield
Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.
I'm not really sure what to think of this movie. Part of me wishes that it wasn't done on the personal video camera with all of the running and shakiness. But then I realize that this would be nothing more than a weak version of War Of The Worlds. Part of me realizes that what gives the movie its edge is the fact that its filmed Blair Witch style and it really was well done considering it had such a small budget. There were definite parts of the movie where I found myself tensed up and then there were times where I felt that the camera work totally took away from the movie. I can easily see how a lot of people are going to see this and think that it sucked because of there being waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much hype for it. I find myself thinking that the movie was good. It wasn't great. It wasn't bad. Its kind of locked in between.
I'd recommend people checking this out. Just try to keep your expectations in check. If you are the type of person that gets sick from watching home videos with all the motion though stay far far away from this movie.
I'm not really sure what to think of this movie. Part of me wishes that it wasn't done on the personal video camera with all of the running and shakiness. But then I realize that this would be nothing more than a weak version of War Of The Worlds. Part of me realizes that what gives the movie its edge is the fact that its filmed Blair Witch style and it really was well done considering it had such a small budget. There were definite parts of the movie where I found myself tensed up and then there were times where I felt that the camera work totally took away from the movie. I can easily see how a lot of people are going to see this and think that it sucked because of there being waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much hype for it. I find myself thinking that the movie was good. It wasn't great. It wasn't bad. Its kind of locked in between.
I'd recommend people checking this out. Just try to keep your expectations in check. If you are the type of person that gets sick from watching home videos with all the motion though stay far far away from this movie.
The Bucket List
Corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are. Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor. Each adventure adds another check to their list.
This movie was a blatant heartstrings movie. They pulled no punches in trying to make you cry your eyes out. However, I absolutely loved it! I'm usually a sucker for movies like this and this movie was no different. I found myself genuinely caring for Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. Even though I knew Morgan Freeman leaving his wife and family for months and the things that these two guys did (skydiving and car racing) and the places they went (the top of an Egyptian pyramid? mountain climging?) while having 6 months to live from cancer were totally unrealistic and insanely far fetched, I didn't care. I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow and was crying like a little girl at the end of the movie. Granted, my emotional state had a lot to do with mine and WW's snarfing incident and some tears being from an insane giggle fit at the most gut wrenchingly sad moment of the movie, there were still genuine tears of sadness because of watching these well developed characters pass on at the end of the movie.
I'd recommend this movie to everyone . . . . . as long as you can handle the crazy sadness that you get hit with at the end of this movie.
This movie was a blatant heartstrings movie. They pulled no punches in trying to make you cry your eyes out. However, I absolutely loved it! I'm usually a sucker for movies like this and this movie was no different. I found myself genuinely caring for Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. Even though I knew Morgan Freeman leaving his wife and family for months and the things that these two guys did (skydiving and car racing) and the places they went (the top of an Egyptian pyramid? mountain climging?) while having 6 months to live from cancer were totally unrealistic and insanely far fetched, I didn't care. I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow and was crying like a little girl at the end of the movie. Granted, my emotional state had a lot to do with mine and WW's snarfing incident and some tears being from an insane giggle fit at the most gut wrenchingly sad moment of the movie, there were still genuine tears of sadness because of watching these well developed characters pass on at the end of the movie.
I'd recommend this movie to everyone . . . . . as long as you can handle the crazy sadness that you get hit with at the end of this movie.
Atonement
In 1935, 13-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her family live a life of wealth and privilege in their enormous mansion. Robbie Turner (McAvoy), the educated son of the family's housekeeper, carries a torch for Briony’s headstrong older sister Cecilia (Ms. Knightley). Cecilia, he hopes, has comparable feelings; all it will take is one spark for this relationship to combust. When it does, Briony – who has a crush on Robbie – is compelled to interfere, going so far as accusing Robbie of a crime he did not commit. Cecilia and Robbie declare their love for each other, but he is arrested – and with Briony bearing false witness, the course of three lives is changed forever. Briony continues to seek forgiveness for her childhood misdeed. Through a terrible and courageous act of imagination, she finds the path to her uncertain atonement, and to an understanding of the power of enduring love.
This is one of those movies that was made with winning oscars in mind. Unfortunately, I'm usually not a big fan of movies like this. I find myself sitting there, knowing that the movie is very well done and sure to win all sorts of awards and critical praise, but honestly I find it pretty boring. Its like that English Patient movie years ago. You know its good, but its just not your type of movie. The only part of the movie that I found myself truly enjoying was the end when it all tied together. There were very many parts where I was wondering if there was some way that I could just fast forward the movie. Again - its not that its a bad movie at all. If you enjoy movies like this - then you would probably love this movie. I just wasn't very in to it at all.
I'd recommend this movie to anyone who either likes these powerful, "epic" dramas or anyone who likes to see movies that are nominated for awards. Other than that - I wouldn't really recommend this movie.
This is one of those movies that was made with winning oscars in mind. Unfortunately, I'm usually not a big fan of movies like this. I find myself sitting there, knowing that the movie is very well done and sure to win all sorts of awards and critical praise, but honestly I find it pretty boring. Its like that English Patient movie years ago. You know its good, but its just not your type of movie. The only part of the movie that I found myself truly enjoying was the end when it all tied together. There were very many parts where I was wondering if there was some way that I could just fast forward the movie. Again - its not that its a bad movie at all. If you enjoy movies like this - then you would probably love this movie. I just wasn't very in to it at all.
I'd recommend this movie to anyone who either likes these powerful, "epic" dramas or anyone who likes to see movies that are nominated for awards. Other than that - I wouldn't really recommend this movie.
One Missed Call
In One Missed Call, a chain of people receive terrifying cell phone messages of their own final fatal moments. Though the messages can be deleted, their number is up. Beth Raymond (Shannyn Sossamon) is traumatized when she witnesses the gruesome deaths of two friends just days apart. Even more disturbing, she knows that both of them had received chilling cell phone messages—actual recordings of their own horrifying last moments. Impossibly, the calls were received days before they died, but each death occurred precisely when and how the messages foretold. The police think Beth is delusional—except for Detective Jack Andrews (Edward Burns) whose own sister was killed in a freak accident that bears a strange similarity to the deaths of Beth's friends. Together, Jack and Beth work feverishly to unravel the mystery behind the ominous calls. But even as they get closer to the truth, Beth's cell phone begins to ring with an eerie tune, and the readout says One Missed Call.
This movie is another one of those Japanese thriller remakes for American audiences a la The Ring or The Grudge. Ironically enough - it was kind of the same movie as The Ring with getting "one missed call" on your cell phone replacing the watching of the weird video. WW loves these kinds of movies so her opinion should be shared here. "It wasn't The Grudge, but I still liked it," says my loyal movie going companion. I concur with her assessment of the movie. It was definitely watchable, but nowhere near the level of creepiness of the other Japanese remade movies.
If you are in to movies like this - its worth the trip to theaters. If these bad boys are not your cup of tea - don't ever bother checking it out.
There Will Be Blood
There Will Be Blood is set on the frontier of California's turn-of-the-century petroleum boom. The story chronicles the life and times of one Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver miner raising a son on his own into a self-made oil tycoon. When Plainview gets a mysterious tip-off that there's a little town out West where an ocean of oil is oozing out of the ground, he heads with his son, H.W. (Dillon Freasier), to take their chances in dust-worn Little Boston. In this hardscrabble town, where the main excitement centers around the holy roller church of charismatic preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), Plainview and H.W. make their lucky strike. But even as the well raises all of their fortunes, nothing will remain the same as conflicts escalate and every human value – love, hope, community, belief, ambition and even the bond between father and son – is imperiled by corruption, deception and the flow of oil.
First of all - let's just say that There Will Be Blood could have easily been called There Will Be Numb Asses. The movie is a little bit longer than 2 1/2 hours. Luckily, it doesn't feel it at all for the first hour and half but then it does kind of slow down a bit before turning really good again. Daniel Day-Lewis is phenomenal. Then again, when is that man not? Think about it. Have you ever see him in a less than stellar role? Anywho - he's awesome and his presence is so commanding that you find yourself not realizing that there isn't even any dialogue for the first 20 minutes of the movie. You're just watching him doing whatever he is doing. It was to the point that by the time he did speak I jumped a little out of shock. This cinematography of this movie is also great. The area where they are drilling is just as much of a character as the actors themselves and it was well caught. The weirdest thing about this movie was the non-stop over the top sound. It was like an orchestra was playing the whole time that they were filming. In any other movie - this would have probably driven me nuts. However, it was great in this movie and you end up liking it. This movie was awesome. I wouldn't go so far as to say the best movie of 2007 like many critics did, but it was definitely up there.
I would strongly recommend people checking this one out. It isn't necessarily mainstream fair, but for those of you in to the somewhat artsy movies - this is a must see.
First of all - let's just say that There Will Be Blood could have easily been called There Will Be Numb Asses. The movie is a little bit longer than 2 1/2 hours. Luckily, it doesn't feel it at all for the first hour and half but then it does kind of slow down a bit before turning really good again. Daniel Day-Lewis is phenomenal. Then again, when is that man not? Think about it. Have you ever see him in a less than stellar role? Anywho - he's awesome and his presence is so commanding that you find yourself not realizing that there isn't even any dialogue for the first 20 minutes of the movie. You're just watching him doing whatever he is doing. It was to the point that by the time he did speak I jumped a little out of shock. This cinematography of this movie is also great. The area where they are drilling is just as much of a character as the actors themselves and it was well caught. The weirdest thing about this movie was the non-stop over the top sound. It was like an orchestra was playing the whole time that they were filming. In any other movie - this would have probably driven me nuts. However, it was great in this movie and you end up liking it. This movie was awesome. I wouldn't go so far as to say the best movie of 2007 like many critics did, but it was definitely up there.
I would strongly recommend people checking this one out. It isn't necessarily mainstream fair, but for those of you in to the somewhat artsy movies - this is a must see.
2007: The Best
Honorable Mention - Arthur & The Invisibles
I'm pretty sure that barely anyone knows of this movie. It came out way back in January and I took my future stepdaughter to see it and the two of us absolutely loved it. It reminded me of those movies from when I was a kid like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Its not top ten worthy, but definitely justified an honorable mention shout out.
10. 3:10 To Yuma
Pretty much the only genre of movies that I am not really a fan of is Westerns. However, I completely enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe were both great and Ben Foster put forth one of the best performances of the year as the main bad guy.
9. The Simpsons Movie
This movie deserves a spot on this list simply because they can make it as fresh and funny some 19 years after the Simpsons were created. That's simply amazing. Most of the time you get a movie that's way past due and it ends up just kind of being there. That was not the case with this awesome piece of work.
8. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
The fact that these movies continue to get better and better five movies deep in to the franchise is phenomenal. This movie struck me as the "Empire Strikes Back" of the franchise. It was darker than the previous one and served as the perfect bridge from the lighter first four and the two that are still to come. Side note - Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange might be the single best casting decision ever.
7. The Bourne Ultimatum
This movie was awesome simply because of how action packed it was and when you think about it - there really weren't any special effects. The fight scenes and car chases all looked so real. Plus the perfectly built suspense keeps your eyes glued to the screen the whole time. This is one of those movies that you can't even check to see what time it is.
6. The Kingdom
I think its a shame how underappreciated this movie was. It was like watching CSI: Saudi and then you couldn't even breathe for the last 20 - 30 minutes because of how terrified you were with the suspense level. Not to mention that Jason Bateman starting to surface in more prominent roles is the single best acting related thing to happen in Hollywood this year. The movie also drives home a really strong message and isn't just a popcorn, patriotic - kick their ass kind of movie.
5. Sweeney Todd
Nobody does quirky better than the combination of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I was beyond skeptical about this movie (as I am about all musicals), especially with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter singing. However, this movie did such an amazing job of sucking you in regardless of how weird/dark everything was and how gory it was at times. I found myself loving the music and not finding it out of place at all.
4. The Kite Runner
I loved the book and couldn't wait to see the movie. It still managed to meet my expectations when they were so high. If anyone doesn't like this movie, they simply don't have a heart in their chest. This movie gave such a remarkable insight in to a culture that we are mostly blind to out of rage and drives home the "they aren't all bad" line of thinking.
3. No Country For Old Men
This movie easily would have been number two if it wasn't for the last 2 minutes of the movie. This was the best 99.9% of a movie ever. I was so disenchanted by the final pointless (damn you, artsy directors!) scene that it cost it a silver medal. Javier Bardem's character in this should be a lock for Best Supporting Actor at every award show this year. He was the creepiest guy on screen since Hannibal Lecter. The tension between him and Josh Brolin was one of the best good guy/bad guy things I've seen in a long time.
2. American Gangster
This was an awesome rise and fall gangster movie. It wasn't as good as The Godfathers, Goodfellas or The Departed but it was pretty damn close. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe were both awesome. The growing build up of their seperate stories was very well done and when it culminated there was no disappointment with the pay off.
1. Transformers
I have waited so long for a true "event" movie. So many have been given that label in the last ten plus years (basically since Independence Day) and haven't fully paid off. I felt that this one truly did. I can't remember the last time I felt like a little kid with the excitement that this movie made me feel. When I heard Optimus Prime's voice and it was the same from the cartoon I was freaking out. The effects were obviously awesome. The script was full of huge laughs along with the great action. Shia LeBeouf is the next Will Smith. He simply has that "it" quality. This may not have been worthy of "Best Picture" status by any means, but I haven't truly enjoyed watching a movie as much as this one in years.
I'm pretty sure that barely anyone knows of this movie. It came out way back in January and I took my future stepdaughter to see it and the two of us absolutely loved it. It reminded me of those movies from when I was a kid like Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. Its not top ten worthy, but definitely justified an honorable mention shout out.
10. 3:10 To Yuma
Pretty much the only genre of movies that I am not really a fan of is Westerns. However, I completely enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe were both great and Ben Foster put forth one of the best performances of the year as the main bad guy.
9. The Simpsons Movie
This movie deserves a spot on this list simply because they can make it as fresh and funny some 19 years after the Simpsons were created. That's simply amazing. Most of the time you get a movie that's way past due and it ends up just kind of being there. That was not the case with this awesome piece of work.
8. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
The fact that these movies continue to get better and better five movies deep in to the franchise is phenomenal. This movie struck me as the "Empire Strikes Back" of the franchise. It was darker than the previous one and served as the perfect bridge from the lighter first four and the two that are still to come. Side note - Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange might be the single best casting decision ever.
7. The Bourne Ultimatum
This movie was awesome simply because of how action packed it was and when you think about it - there really weren't any special effects. The fight scenes and car chases all looked so real. Plus the perfectly built suspense keeps your eyes glued to the screen the whole time. This is one of those movies that you can't even check to see what time it is.
6. The Kingdom
I think its a shame how underappreciated this movie was. It was like watching CSI: Saudi and then you couldn't even breathe for the last 20 - 30 minutes because of how terrified you were with the suspense level. Not to mention that Jason Bateman starting to surface in more prominent roles is the single best acting related thing to happen in Hollywood this year. The movie also drives home a really strong message and isn't just a popcorn, patriotic - kick their ass kind of movie.
5. Sweeney Todd
Nobody does quirky better than the combination of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I was beyond skeptical about this movie (as I am about all musicals), especially with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter singing. However, this movie did such an amazing job of sucking you in regardless of how weird/dark everything was and how gory it was at times. I found myself loving the music and not finding it out of place at all.
4. The Kite Runner
I loved the book and couldn't wait to see the movie. It still managed to meet my expectations when they were so high. If anyone doesn't like this movie, they simply don't have a heart in their chest. This movie gave such a remarkable insight in to a culture that we are mostly blind to out of rage and drives home the "they aren't all bad" line of thinking.
3. No Country For Old Men
This movie easily would have been number two if it wasn't for the last 2 minutes of the movie. This was the best 99.9% of a movie ever. I was so disenchanted by the final pointless (damn you, artsy directors!) scene that it cost it a silver medal. Javier Bardem's character in this should be a lock for Best Supporting Actor at every award show this year. He was the creepiest guy on screen since Hannibal Lecter. The tension between him and Josh Brolin was one of the best good guy/bad guy things I've seen in a long time.
2. American Gangster
This was an awesome rise and fall gangster movie. It wasn't as good as The Godfathers, Goodfellas or The Departed but it was pretty damn close. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe were both awesome. The growing build up of their seperate stories was very well done and when it culminated there was no disappointment with the pay off.
1. Transformers
I have waited so long for a true "event" movie. So many have been given that label in the last ten plus years (basically since Independence Day) and haven't fully paid off. I felt that this one truly did. I can't remember the last time I felt like a little kid with the excitement that this movie made me feel. When I heard Optimus Prime's voice and it was the same from the cartoon I was freaking out. The effects were obviously awesome. The script was full of huge laughs along with the great action. Shia LeBeouf is the next Will Smith. He simply has that "it" quality. This may not have been worthy of "Best Picture" status by any means, but I haven't truly enjoyed watching a movie as much as this one in years.
2007: The Worst
10. Primeval
This movie was actually not horribly bad. It was the fact that it was advertised as the story of "the most prolific serial killer of all time" and it ended up that said serial killer was . . . . . a huge alligator. That kick in the nuts advertising ploy gets this movie a spot on the bottom ten alone!
9. Employee Of The Month
It is such a shame to think of how beyond funny Dane Cook was before he went through the most massive bout of overexposure I've ever witnessed. Add that to the walking calamity that is Jessica Simpson and this movie could not have possibly been any less funny or more painful to watch.
8. Perfect Stranger
How could a thriller starring Halle Berry and Bruce Willis be bad, right? I'm still asking myself that question months after seeing this movie. I would have enjoyed watching paint dry more than this steaming pile of dung.
7. Captivity
Outside of the Saw franchise which actually puts effort in to a smart script, can Hollywood please stop making this gore porn movies. They are horrible. I find myself getting incredibly mad at myself for watching these things and then I start to freak out that if someone is demented enough to film/write this stuff - what the hell are they doing with their free time for inspiration, people!?!
6. 30 Days Of Night
The trying to survive from the vampire attack portion of this movie was decent. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the fact that they were trying to hide from them for 30 days of night . . . . . . in Alaska . . . . . with no heat or electricity . . . . . . sometimes outside under houses or cars . . . . . COME ON NOW! I'd be a little bit more worried about freezing to death after day 2!
5. Next
Nicolas Cage was blessed with a special power of seeing what will happen next. Unfortunately, his power only could let him see about two minutes in to the future. That has got to be the most limited special power ever! Besides the lameness of that - there was so little action that I actually walked out on this juicy turd. I wonder if Mr. Cage saw me doing that 2 minutes prior?
4. Grindhouse
I've heard from fellow movie fans that seeing Grindhouse in its entire 3 plus hour form was great just because of the experience. Unfortunately, when released on video the two movies were issued seperately. I only saw one of them (Death Proof) and you couldn't pay me to even bother watching the other half. It was one of the lamest things I've ever seen and the only reason that this whole thing was made is because Tarantino's ego has gotten way to big and he insists on using his talent to recreate things he thought were cool way back when.
3. Skinwalkers
This is one of those movies that you can't help but wonder for the entire duration how many millions of dollars were totally wasted making this. It had something to do with two werewolf clans squaring off over something that totally didn't matter or make you care in any way. This would have been brutal even as a made for tv movie on the Sci-Fi network. It is completely beyond me how this was made for the big screen.
2. Bug
This movie looked so creepy in the preview. What wouldn't be creepy about a bug infestation like they advertised. Except there were no aforementioned bugs. It was some paranoid delusional guy convincing Ashley Judd that someone was watching them so they stayed in the hotel room . . . . . for the whole movie . . . . . with none of the advertised bugs. I honestly spent most of this movie wanting to drive to the fictional hotel room, knock on the door, and slap Ashley Judd in the face for being in this humongous turd of a movie.
1a. I Know Who Killed Me
So do we, Lindsay. It was you. Over and over and over and over and over again all year long. And just when we thought you couldn't possibly be any more of a pathetic mess - this movie came out. This horrible, pointless movie came out. There wasn't a single minute of this movie that I wasn't watching the screen with a totally disgusted look on my face. It was truly that bad.
Upon further review (I only rented the movie on New Year's Day 2008), the actual worst movie of 2007 is . . . . . .
Shoot Em Up
Be sure to check out my review of this putrid piece of cow dung on the video blog site.
This movie was actually not horribly bad. It was the fact that it was advertised as the story of "the most prolific serial killer of all time" and it ended up that said serial killer was . . . . . a huge alligator. That kick in the nuts advertising ploy gets this movie a spot on the bottom ten alone!
9. Employee Of The Month
It is such a shame to think of how beyond funny Dane Cook was before he went through the most massive bout of overexposure I've ever witnessed. Add that to the walking calamity that is Jessica Simpson and this movie could not have possibly been any less funny or more painful to watch.
8. Perfect Stranger
How could a thriller starring Halle Berry and Bruce Willis be bad, right? I'm still asking myself that question months after seeing this movie. I would have enjoyed watching paint dry more than this steaming pile of dung.
7. Captivity
Outside of the Saw franchise which actually puts effort in to a smart script, can Hollywood please stop making this gore porn movies. They are horrible. I find myself getting incredibly mad at myself for watching these things and then I start to freak out that if someone is demented enough to film/write this stuff - what the hell are they doing with their free time for inspiration, people!?!
6. 30 Days Of Night
The trying to survive from the vampire attack portion of this movie was decent. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the fact that they were trying to hide from them for 30 days of night . . . . . . in Alaska . . . . . with no heat or electricity . . . . . . sometimes outside under houses or cars . . . . . COME ON NOW! I'd be a little bit more worried about freezing to death after day 2!
5. Next
Nicolas Cage was blessed with a special power of seeing what will happen next. Unfortunately, his power only could let him see about two minutes in to the future. That has got to be the most limited special power ever! Besides the lameness of that - there was so little action that I actually walked out on this juicy turd. I wonder if Mr. Cage saw me doing that 2 minutes prior?
4. Grindhouse
I've heard from fellow movie fans that seeing Grindhouse in its entire 3 plus hour form was great just because of the experience. Unfortunately, when released on video the two movies were issued seperately. I only saw one of them (Death Proof) and you couldn't pay me to even bother watching the other half. It was one of the lamest things I've ever seen and the only reason that this whole thing was made is because Tarantino's ego has gotten way to big and he insists on using his talent to recreate things he thought were cool way back when.
3. Skinwalkers
This is one of those movies that you can't help but wonder for the entire duration how many millions of dollars were totally wasted making this. It had something to do with two werewolf clans squaring off over something that totally didn't matter or make you care in any way. This would have been brutal even as a made for tv movie on the Sci-Fi network. It is completely beyond me how this was made for the big screen.
2. Bug
This movie looked so creepy in the preview. What wouldn't be creepy about a bug infestation like they advertised. Except there were no aforementioned bugs. It was some paranoid delusional guy convincing Ashley Judd that someone was watching them so they stayed in the hotel room . . . . . for the whole movie . . . . . with none of the advertised bugs. I honestly spent most of this movie wanting to drive to the fictional hotel room, knock on the door, and slap Ashley Judd in the face for being in this humongous turd of a movie.
1a. I Know Who Killed Me
So do we, Lindsay. It was you. Over and over and over and over and over again all year long. And just when we thought you couldn't possibly be any more of a pathetic mess - this movie came out. This horrible, pointless movie came out. There wasn't a single minute of this movie that I wasn't watching the screen with a totally disgusted look on my face. It was truly that bad.
Upon further review (I only rented the movie on New Year's Day 2008), the actual worst movie of 2007 is . . . . . .
Shoot Em Up
Be sure to check out my review of this putrid piece of cow dung on the video blog site.
Charlie Wilson's War
Charlie Wilson (Hanks) was a bachelor congressman from Texas who had a habit of showing up in hot tubs with strippers and cocaine. His exterior, however, masked an extraordinary mind, a deep sense of patriotism and a passion for the underdog, and in the early 1980s the underdog was Afghanistan—which had just invaded by the Russians. Charlie's longtime friend was Joanne Herring (Roberts), one of the wealthiest women in Texas and a big anti-communist. Believing the American response to the Russian invasion was anemic at best, she prods Charlie into doing more for the Mujahideen (Afghan freedom fighters). Charlie's partner in this uphill endeavor is CIA Agent Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman), a blue-collar operative in a company of Ivy League blue bloods. Together, the three of them—Charlie, Joanne and Gust—travel the world to form unlikely alliances among the Pakistanis, Israelis, Egyptians, arms dealers, law makers and a belly dancer.
I was pretty skeptical going in to this movie because I am not a big political thinker whatsoever. I figured that this would be one of those movies that I would know was well done and what not but basically not really care at all. I ended up really enjoying it. Tom Hanks was great (as always), the dialogue was excellent and Phillip Seymour Hoffman was phenomenal. Julia Roberts overall continued her road of not worth the hype, but played well against Hanks and Hoffman. The movie was very humorous but drove home a lot of thinking about how things went down years back.
I would recommend everyone checking this out. Its not to politically heavy, has great star power and performances and is worth the price of admission.
Juno
Juno stars Ellen Page as the title character, a wiseass teen confronting an unplanned pregnancy by her classmate Bleeker (Cera). With the help of her friend Leah (Thirlby), Juno finds her unborn child a "perfect" set of parents: an affluent suburban couple, Mark and Vanessa (Bateman and Garner), longing to adopt. Luckily, Juno has the total support of her parents (Simmons and Janney) as she faces some tough decisions, flirts with adulthood and ultimately figures out where she belongs.
This movie is a perfect example of what happens when you hear too much about a movie before seeing it. I found myself uncontrollably thinking that this movie wasn't as great as everyone had said it was the entire time. I thought that Ellen Page was great and some of her one-liners were hysterical, but that this was nowhere near top ten status like most critics said. It was cute. It was really funny for a while but then spiralled in to a big drama for a while and that sort of killed it for me.
I don't really know whether or not to recommend this movie because my opinion was definitely effected by all the rave reviews I had heard. It's quirky. It's cute at times. I just didn't think it was that great.
This movie is a perfect example of what happens when you hear too much about a movie before seeing it. I found myself uncontrollably thinking that this movie wasn't as great as everyone had said it was the entire time. I thought that Ellen Page was great and some of her one-liners were hysterical, but that this was nowhere near top ten status like most critics said. It was cute. It was really funny for a while but then spiralled in to a big drama for a while and that sort of killed it for me.
I don't really know whether or not to recommend this movie because my opinion was definitely effected by all the rave reviews I had heard. It's quirky. It's cute at times. I just didn't think it was that great.
Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem
In this follow-up to Alien vs. Predator, the monsters from two of the scariest film franchises ever, wage war in an American Midwestern town – with the residents caught in the middle.
Aliens and Predator were two of my favorite movies growing up. I was so psyched to see the original Alien Vs. Predator movie because I was a huge fan of the comic books. Ultimately, I ended up being pretty disappointed because of where it took place and what not and because the movie was rated PG-13. When I saw that they were making this one with it taking place in a town and that it was rated R, I thought I was finally going to get to see the version I wanted. OH MY GOD! I can't remember the last time that I was so disappointed in a movie. This movie was horrid! The script was one of the worst things ever written. The acting was so bad that I was rooting for all of them to get killed asap. Then there was how bad the interaction between the Aliens and the Predator was. They filmed every fight sequence in the dark so you basically had no clue what was actually going on. As for the desired gore that necessitated a R rating - there was no limit to the lengths that they went in this movie. The face hugger aliens attacking a little boy? The lead alien making pregnant women ingest the alien babies so they can then blow out their pregnant stomachs? How can they screw up such a simple concept so badly!?!
I wouldn't recommend that anyone check this piece of turd out. And that is coming from a huge Aliens and Predator fan.
Aliens and Predator were two of my favorite movies growing up. I was so psyched to see the original Alien Vs. Predator movie because I was a huge fan of the comic books. Ultimately, I ended up being pretty disappointed because of where it took place and what not and because the movie was rated PG-13. When I saw that they were making this one with it taking place in a town and that it was rated R, I thought I was finally going to get to see the version I wanted. OH MY GOD! I can't remember the last time that I was so disappointed in a movie. This movie was horrid! The script was one of the worst things ever written. The acting was so bad that I was rooting for all of them to get killed asap. Then there was how bad the interaction between the Aliens and the Predator was. They filmed every fight sequence in the dark so you basically had no clue what was actually going on. As for the desired gore that necessitated a R rating - there was no limit to the lengths that they went in this movie. The face hugger aliens attacking a little boy? The lead alien making pregnant women ingest the alien babies so they can then blow out their pregnant stomachs? How can they screw up such a simple concept so badly!?!
I wouldn't recommend that anyone check this piece of turd out. And that is coming from a huge Aliens and Predator fan.
The Kite Runner
Based on the acclaimed novel, The Kite Runner is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It's a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day's victory, one boy's fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban's iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right.
This book was one of the best books I've ever read and I couldn't wait to see the movie. It didn't disappoint me whatsoever even though I had really high expectations for it. Words do no justice to how rarely that happens when seeing movies for me. If someone was to not like this movie - I would say that they have no heart whatsoever. This movie, just like the book, did such an amazing job of helping people to understand a culture that our anger blinds us to. The way that they examine how the Taliban is viewed by those living if Afghanistan with them was excellent. It validates the "they aren't all bad" theory.
This movie should be considered a must see and is one of the best movies to come out in 2007.
National Treasure: Book Of Secrets
In this follow up to National Treasure, treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) once again sets out on an exhilarating, action-packed new global quest to unearth hidden history and treasures. When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces, Ben's great-great grandfather is suddenly implicated as a key conspirator in Abraham Lincoln's death. Determined to prove his ancestor's innocence, Ben follows an international chain of clues that takes him on a chase from Paris to London and ultimately back to America. This journey leads Ben and his crew not only to surprising revelations – but to the trail of the world's most treasured secrets.
This movie was literally an extension of the original one. Its like a thinking man's Indiana Jones with not as much action, but you find yourself enjoying the adventure nonetheless (Drew 1993). If you liked the first one - you are sure to love this one just as much. The only real difference is that Helen Mirren is introduced as Ben's mother and the banter between her and his father (Jon Voight) is awesome. It wasn't as good as the one liners from Ben's sidekick (the best part of both National Treausre movies), but it was a close second.
I'd recommend people checking this movie out. Its an enjoyable adventure movie and worth the trip to the theaters.
This movie was literally an extension of the original one. Its like a thinking man's Indiana Jones with not as much action, but you find yourself enjoying the adventure nonetheless (Drew 1993). If you liked the first one - you are sure to love this one just as much. The only real difference is that Helen Mirren is introduced as Ben's mother and the banter between her and his father (Jon Voight) is awesome. It wasn't as good as the one liners from Ben's sidekick (the best part of both National Treausre movies), but it was a close second.
I'd recommend people checking this movie out. Its an enjoyable adventure movie and worth the trip to the theaters.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
America loves Cox! But behind the music is the up-and-down-and-up-again story of a musician whose songs would change a nation. On his rock 'n roll spiral, Cox sleeps with 411 women, marries three times, has 22 kids and 14 stepkids, stars in his own 70s TV show, collects friends ranging from Elvis to the Beatles to a chimp, and gets addicted to -- and then kicks -- every drug known to man... but despite it all, Cox grows into a national icon and eventually earns the love of a good woman -- longtime backup singer Darlene (Jenna Fischer).
Overall, this movie was incredibly silly. There were some really big laughs thoughout the movie though. The way that they satirize music from the 50s to the 70s is great. I especially enjoyed it because of how it mocked the fact that in every musician biographical movie, the superstar had to go on the drug ride. The scenes where Tim Meadows from SNL describes drugs to Dewey Cox were so funny I had tears rolling down my face from laughing. John Reilly has always done a phenomenal job in supporting performances in some really good comedies and it was nice to finally see him have a starring vehicle.
I'd recommend people check this movie out. There is no rush and its not a must see, but it has enough laughs to make your viewing of it worthwhile.
Overall, this movie was incredibly silly. There were some really big laughs thoughout the movie though. The way that they satirize music from the 50s to the 70s is great. I especially enjoyed it because of how it mocked the fact that in every musician biographical movie, the superstar had to go on the drug ride. The scenes where Tim Meadows from SNL describes drugs to Dewey Cox were so funny I had tears rolling down my face from laughing. John Reilly has always done a phenomenal job in supporting performances in some really good comedies and it was nice to finally see him have a starring vehicle.
I'd recommend people check this movie out. There is no rush and its not a must see, but it has enough laughs to make your viewing of it worthwhile.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in a big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Depp stars in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge, not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, Sweeney Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who "shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again." Joining Depp is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. The cast also includes Alan Rickman, who portrays the evil Judge Turpin, who sends Sweeney to prison and Timothy Spall as the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli.
I know of the Sweeney Todd story, but never really saw the original movie or the broadway show. I still went in to this movie with really big expectations because there is no combination that I enjoy more in Hollywood than Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. These guys really can't do anything wrong when they work together. Their combined quirkiness gave this movie such a great, unexplainable feel to it. I was a little bit skeptical about it being a musical though. Musicals are like foreign movies with subtitles in that you can tell how good they are by how phased or non-phased you are by the subtitles. If you find yourself struggling to read and watch at the same time - the movie isn't that good. In a musical - if you find yourself following the movie along even though they are singing instead of talking, then its all good. This movie was able to do that perfectly. And at the risk of sounding like a total movie nerd - the cinematography and overall sound of this movie were phenomenal. There were definite points in the movie where the gore gets to you so be warned.
I would fully recommend everyone checking this out, especially if you are a Tim Burton fan. I truly enjoyed it and thinks its one of the best movies to come out this year.
I know of the Sweeney Todd story, but never really saw the original movie or the broadway show. I still went in to this movie with really big expectations because there is no combination that I enjoy more in Hollywood than Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. These guys really can't do anything wrong when they work together. Their combined quirkiness gave this movie such a great, unexplainable feel to it. I was a little bit skeptical about it being a musical though. Musicals are like foreign movies with subtitles in that you can tell how good they are by how phased or non-phased you are by the subtitles. If you find yourself struggling to read and watch at the same time - the movie isn't that good. In a musical - if you find yourself following the movie along even though they are singing instead of talking, then its all good. This movie was able to do that perfectly. And at the risk of sounding like a total movie nerd - the cinematography and overall sound of this movie were phenomenal. There were definite points in the movie where the gore gets to you so be warned.
I would fully recommend everyone checking this out, especially if you are a Tim Burton fan. I truly enjoyed it and thinks its one of the best movies to come out this year.
I Am Legend
Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable... and manmade. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City... and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by "the Infected"—victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. All the while, the Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville's every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Perhaps mankind's last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But his blood is also what The Infected hunt, and Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time.
Overall, I liked this movie. I actually liked it quite a lot. As far as I'm concerned there are two actors in Hollywood that truly can do no wrong . . . . . Tom Hanks and Will Smith. If Will Smith wasn't in this movie - it probably would have been horrible. Him and Hanks are the type of characters that are so commanding that you can actually watch just them for long periods of time and you are just as in to it as if it was some kind of a special effects summer blockbuster. This movie reminded me ALOT of Cast Away with Tom Hanks. Will Smith has that same kind of awesome presence. He's so good that even though his primary supporting actor is a dog - you end up caring about the dog. Speaking of which . . . . . SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFOREHAND - SKIP TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH. The dog that you come to completely care about dies. I only give that away because I feel that certain system shockers like that are better forewarned. It is heartbreaking and I really could have done without it.
The only knock that I'll make against this movie is what my good friend from another faith pointed out. That is that the movie seems to flip flop back and forth a little too much between what genre it wants to be. Is it a post-apocalyptic sci fi blockbuster? Is it a horror movie? Is it a psychological drama? There were a couple of times where the going back and forth made the movie drag a bit at times. Outside of that - it was a really good movie and again - Will Smith really can't do any wrong as far as I'm concerned. I would recommend people checking this out. I wouldn't bring young kids even though its rated PG-13 because there are some really scary parts in it. WW nearly shoved me out of my chair numerous times. She has this awesome thing with hitting or shoving me when she gets scared.
Overall, I liked this movie. I actually liked it quite a lot. As far as I'm concerned there are two actors in Hollywood that truly can do no wrong . . . . . Tom Hanks and Will Smith. If Will Smith wasn't in this movie - it probably would have been horrible. Him and Hanks are the type of characters that are so commanding that you can actually watch just them for long periods of time and you are just as in to it as if it was some kind of a special effects summer blockbuster. This movie reminded me ALOT of Cast Away with Tom Hanks. Will Smith has that same kind of awesome presence. He's so good that even though his primary supporting actor is a dog - you end up caring about the dog. Speaking of which . . . . . SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFOREHAND - SKIP TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH. The dog that you come to completely care about dies. I only give that away because I feel that certain system shockers like that are better forewarned. It is heartbreaking and I really could have done without it.
The only knock that I'll make against this movie is what my good friend from another faith pointed out. That is that the movie seems to flip flop back and forth a little too much between what genre it wants to be. Is it a post-apocalyptic sci fi blockbuster? Is it a horror movie? Is it a psychological drama? There were a couple of times where the going back and forth made the movie drag a bit at times. Outside of that - it was a really good movie and again - Will Smith really can't do any wrong as far as I'm concerned. I would recommend people checking this out. I wouldn't bring young kids even though its rated PG-13 because there are some really scary parts in it. WW nearly shoved me out of my chair numerous times. She has this awesome thing with hitting or shoving me when she gets scared.
Alvin & The Chimpmunks
Jason Lee stars as David Seville in the CG/live-action hybrid film, based on the 1950s cartoon series about chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore, who lay waste to Seville's surroundings and sing in three-part harmony.
This movie was pretty much exactly what you would have expected from the commercial. Its a cutesy family movie with the adults being somewhat entertained while the kids love it. The chipmunks are pretty cute and Jason Lee is perfect casting as Dave Seville, even if he has much more acting ability than he gets to put forth in this role. The only thing that is upsetting about this movie is that all children think that this is all some new/original idea and that it hasn't been around for 50 plus years. They keep talking about it like we don't know who Alvin & The Chimpmunks are. Come on now!
I would recommend anyone with kids checking this out. The kids will love it and it isn't too painful for the adults either.
This movie was pretty much exactly what you would have expected from the commercial. Its a cutesy family movie with the adults being somewhat entertained while the kids love it. The chipmunks are pretty cute and Jason Lee is perfect casting as Dave Seville, even if he has much more acting ability than he gets to put forth in this role. The only thing that is upsetting about this movie is that all children think that this is all some new/original idea and that it hasn't been around for 50 plus years. They keep talking about it like we don't know who Alvin & The Chimpmunks are. Come on now!
I would recommend anyone with kids checking this out. The kids will love it and it isn't too painful for the adults either.
The Golden Compass
Based on author Philip Pullman's novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra (played by Dakota Blue Richards), a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who's been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers - and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well.
Before reviewing this movie, I would like to address the church protesting this movie. STOP! All the church is doing is giving the movie more publicity and making people who probably wouldn't have bothered to go and see it now go and see it. The church is making money for the movie at this point . . . . just like with The DaVinci Code (both book and movie). Think about how the book was simply a book until the church went all bonkers and then it became the biggest selling book of all time. The church really needs to take in to account how there is no better press than negative press and if they really want to hurt something, issue one statement and leave it alone. Besides the fact that it is a FANTASY movie. Its not literal or factual in any way. Its some guy's creative material and the church is going all self-conscious and bringing so much more attention to something that would simply go away if left alone.
Now that I got that out of the way, I really enjoyed the movie. I had read the book and didn't think that they would be able to do a good job of transferring it to the screen. I was pleasantly surprised at how they were able to pull it off. The key to any good fantasy movie is character development. This movie did a great job of having Lyra meet each of the important supporting characters and then bring them all together for the awesome climatic battle scene. The only real problem that I had with the movie was that the movie ended soon after the big battle scene when there was still about 20-25 minutes left in accordance to the book. The actual bridge to the next book was left on the cutting room floor. I don't really know why this was done because it made the ending of the movie kind of abrupt when the movie was so well paced throughout. Regardless, this was a really enjoyable fantasy movie. Its nowhere near a Lord Of The Rings quality fantasy movie, but I would say its on par with The Chronicles Of Narnia for me.
I would recommend people checking this out (regardless of what the Catholic church thinks). If you like fantasy movies like this - its worth the price of admission.
Before reviewing this movie, I would like to address the church protesting this movie. STOP! All the church is doing is giving the movie more publicity and making people who probably wouldn't have bothered to go and see it now go and see it. The church is making money for the movie at this point . . . . just like with The DaVinci Code (both book and movie). Think about how the book was simply a book until the church went all bonkers and then it became the biggest selling book of all time. The church really needs to take in to account how there is no better press than negative press and if they really want to hurt something, issue one statement and leave it alone. Besides the fact that it is a FANTASY movie. Its not literal or factual in any way. Its some guy's creative material and the church is going all self-conscious and bringing so much more attention to something that would simply go away if left alone.
Now that I got that out of the way, I really enjoyed the movie. I had read the book and didn't think that they would be able to do a good job of transferring it to the screen. I was pleasantly surprised at how they were able to pull it off. The key to any good fantasy movie is character development. This movie did a great job of having Lyra meet each of the important supporting characters and then bring them all together for the awesome climatic battle scene. The only real problem that I had with the movie was that the movie ended soon after the big battle scene when there was still about 20-25 minutes left in accordance to the book. The actual bridge to the next book was left on the cutting room floor. I don't really know why this was done because it made the ending of the movie kind of abrupt when the movie was so well paced throughout. Regardless, this was a really enjoyable fantasy movie. Its nowhere near a Lord Of The Rings quality fantasy movie, but I would say its on par with The Chronicles Of Narnia for me.
I would recommend people checking this out (regardless of what the Catholic church thinks). If you like fantasy movies like this - its worth the price of admission.
August Rush
A charismatic young Irish guitarist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a sheltered young cellist (Keri Russell) have a chance encounter one magical night above New York's Washington Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, orphaned by circumstance. Years later, performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger (Robin Williams) who gives him the name August Rush, the child (Freddie Highmore) uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.
Its kind of tough to review this movie. Ultimately, I ended up really liking it and it was a great feel good movie. The ending was beautifully crafted and brought together so well. Unfortunately, there were many points during the movie that I was bored out of my mind during. However, there was something that kept telling me to be patient and I'm very glad that I wasn't and didn't annoyingly start campaigning to pull the plug on the movie and go home. Freddie Highmore is a great child actor. He really makes you feel what he's going through excellently. Hell, I started thinking the people really were his parents.
I would recommend people checking this out. Its a feel good movie, but definitely be warned that its sometimes very slow paced. Its totally worth it in the end.
Its kind of tough to review this movie. Ultimately, I ended up really liking it and it was a great feel good movie. The ending was beautifully crafted and brought together so well. Unfortunately, there were many points during the movie that I was bored out of my mind during. However, there was something that kept telling me to be patient and I'm very glad that I wasn't and didn't annoyingly start campaigning to pull the plug on the movie and go home. Freddie Highmore is a great child actor. He really makes you feel what he's going through excellently. Hell, I started thinking the people really were his parents.
I would recommend people checking this out. Its a feel good movie, but definitely be warned that its sometimes very slow paced. Its totally worth it in the end.
Hitman
Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant) has been educated to become a professional assassin for hire, whose most powerful weapons are his nerve and a resolute pride in his work. 47 is both the last two digits of the barcode tattooed on the nape of his neck, and his only name.The hunter becomes the hunted when 47 gets caught up in a political takeover. Both Interpol and the Russian military chase the Hitman across Eastern Europe as he tries to find out who set him up and why they're trying to take him out of the game. But the greatest threat to 47's survival may be the stirrings of his conscience and the unfamiliar emotions aroused in him by a beautiful, damaged girl...
I never played any of the Hitman video games so I can't really comment on this movie related to them. The movie standing alone was your run of the mill adrenaline/action movie. There were some good fight scenes. There was some cool locations. There was also some really bad acting. Timothy Olyphant was pretty good as Agent 47, but the female lead was beyond annoying and Dougray Scott as the detective chasing him apparantly went to David Caruso overacting school for this movie because every time he talked it was like watching CSI: Miami and I wanted to scream. The movie wasn't bad. It wasn't horrible either. It's a watchable action movie . . . . unless you are a huge fan of the game and then I don't really know what to say.
I'd vaguely recommend people checking this movie out. It might be a better rental saving you the money and travel time though.
I never played any of the Hitman video games so I can't really comment on this movie related to them. The movie standing alone was your run of the mill adrenaline/action movie. There were some good fight scenes. There was some cool locations. There was also some really bad acting. Timothy Olyphant was pretty good as Agent 47, but the female lead was beyond annoying and Dougray Scott as the detective chasing him apparantly went to David Caruso overacting school for this movie because every time he talked it was like watching CSI: Miami and I wanted to scream. The movie wasn't bad. It wasn't horrible either. It's a watchable action movie . . . . unless you are a huge fan of the game and then I don't really know what to say.
I'd vaguely recommend people checking this movie out. It might be a better rental saving you the money and travel time though.
Gone Baby Gone
Gone Baby Gone is Ben Affleck's directorial debut and is based on the novel from the acclaimed author of Mystic River. It is an intense look inside an ongoing investigation about the mysterious disappearance of a little girl. Two young private detectives (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) are hired to take a closer look at the case and soon discover that nothing is what it seems. Ultimately, they will have to risk everything -- their relationship, their sanity, and even their lives -- to find a little girl-lost.
I don't really know what to think of this movie. It was just kind of treading water at points and then it was really good at other points. It wasn't great. It wasn't bad. It was just kind of there. It felt kind of like an episode of Without A Trace I guess. Casey Affleck was actually pretty good in the lead role. Considering that this was big brother Ben's first attempt at directing - he definitely could have done much worse. I also liked the open ended final message that sometimes doing the "right" thing can be the wrong thing.
I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out. Again, its not really anything to write home about but the movie is nowhere near horrid either.
I don't really know what to think of this movie. It was just kind of treading water at points and then it was really good at other points. It wasn't great. It wasn't bad. It was just kind of there. It felt kind of like an episode of Without A Trace I guess. Casey Affleck was actually pretty good in the lead role. Considering that this was big brother Ben's first attempt at directing - he definitely could have done much worse. I also liked the open ended final message that sometimes doing the "right" thing can be the wrong thing.
I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out. Again, its not really anything to write home about but the movie is nowhere near horrid either.
No Country For Old Men
The time is our own, when rustlers have given way to drug-runners and small towns have become free-fire zones.The story begins when Llewelyn Moss (Brolin) finds a pickup truck surrounded by a sentry of dead men. A load of heroin and two million dollars in cash are still in the back. When Moss takes the money, he sets off a chain reaction of catastrophic violence that not even the law - in the person of aging, disillusioned Sheriff Bell (Jones) - can contain. As Moss tries to evade his pursuers - in particular a mysterious mastermind who flips coins for human lives (Bardem) - the film simultaneously strips down the American crime drama and broadens its concerns to encompass themes as ancient as the Bible and as bloodily contemporary as this morning's headlines.
If I were a teacher grading this movie as a test, I would give it a 99% and be so annoyed that the director couldn't get the last two minutes of the movie right. This movie was awesome. I absolutely loved it. Javier Bardem as the hitman guy was the creepiest movie character since Hannibal Lecter. You found yourself hanging on his every word and every scene that he was in. The tension throughout the movie was awesome. I found myself dying to know how it was going to wrap up and then . . . . . it didn't. The movie ended with Tommy Lee Jones babbling about something and then the credits suddenly rolling. The whole audience let out a sigh of discontent. It was one of the biggest movie endings downers ever. The movie totally rocks and let just ended with no closure. So upsetting.
I would still recommend everyone checking this out just because of the phenomenal performance of Javier Bardem. He's my pick for Best Actor of the year for this bad boy role. Just be warned about the massive pile of crap ending scene.
If I were a teacher grading this movie as a test, I would give it a 99% and be so annoyed that the director couldn't get the last two minutes of the movie right. This movie was awesome. I absolutely loved it. Javier Bardem as the hitman guy was the creepiest movie character since Hannibal Lecter. You found yourself hanging on his every word and every scene that he was in. The tension throughout the movie was awesome. I found myself dying to know how it was going to wrap up and then . . . . . it didn't. The movie ended with Tommy Lee Jones babbling about something and then the credits suddenly rolling. The whole audience let out a sigh of discontent. It was one of the biggest movie endings downers ever. The movie totally rocks and let just ended with no closure. So upsetting.
I would still recommend everyone checking this out just because of the phenomenal performance of Javier Bardem. He's my pick for Best Actor of the year for this bad boy role. Just be warned about the massive pile of crap ending scene.
The Mist
Following a violent thunderstorm, artist David Drayton and a small town community come under vicious attack from creatures prowling in a thick and unnatural mist. Local rumors point to an experiment called the 'The Arrowhead Project' conducted at a nearby top-secret military base, but questions as to the origins of the deadly vapor are secondary to the group's overall chances for survival. Retreating to a local supermarket, Drayton and the survivors must face-off against each other before taking a united stand against an enemy they cannot even see!
This movie was a great psychological thriller. Granted, it had plenty of creepy critters and what not with the huge spiders, bugs, and tentacled thing. The real suspense in this movie comes from the characters psychological reactions to being in the position that they are in. They cover the full gambit of emotions so well and the development of mob mentality is so well done that you find yourself worrying about the people that they are stuck in the store with just as much as the aforementioned creatures on the outside in the mist. I had read the short story by Stephen King that this movie was based on and thought that it was translated to film and expanded on very well. The performances were very well done and convincing, especially Marica Gay Harden who played the role of religious speaker condemning those who go against her. Her acting was so good that I found myself truly hating her and had to keep reminding myself that she's just acting.
I would recommend that anyone who was interested in checking this out go and see it. Movies like this isn't really everyone's cup o' tea, but if it is - its definitely worth the trip to the theater.
This movie was a great psychological thriller. Granted, it had plenty of creepy critters and what not with the huge spiders, bugs, and tentacled thing. The real suspense in this movie comes from the characters psychological reactions to being in the position that they are in. They cover the full gambit of emotions so well and the development of mob mentality is so well done that you find yourself worrying about the people that they are stuck in the store with just as much as the aforementioned creatures on the outside in the mist. I had read the short story by Stephen King that this movie was based on and thought that it was translated to film and expanded on very well. The performances were very well done and convincing, especially Marica Gay Harden who played the role of religious speaker condemning those who go against her. Her acting was so good that I found myself truly hating her and had to keep reminding myself that she's just acting.
I would recommend that anyone who was interested in checking this out go and see it. Movies like this isn't really everyone's cup o' tea, but if it is - its definitely worth the trip to the theater.
Enchanted
A classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City in a story about a fairytale princess (Amy Adams) from the past who is thrust into present-day by an evil queen (Susan Sarandon). Soon after her arrival, Princess Giselle begins to change her views on life and love after meeting a handsome lawyer (Patrick Dempsey). Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?
This movie was actually a lot better than I had expected. I had taken Stinka to see this with two of her friends and figured that I would give it a shot and get a nice nap if it was poop. However, the movie was totally enjoyable for the kids because it follows all the textbook Disney princess stuff, but at the same time is poking fun at itself for the adults enjoyment. There were so many parts in this movie where Stinka and her friends were looking at me because I was laughing out loud at some of the great satirical scenes that were over their heads. I was very pleasantly surprised.
I would definitely recommend people take their kids to check this one out. Its just as enjoyable for the adults as the kids and its the perfect movie for the holidays.
This movie was actually a lot better than I had expected. I had taken Stinka to see this with two of her friends and figured that I would give it a shot and get a nice nap if it was poop. However, the movie was totally enjoyable for the kids because it follows all the textbook Disney princess stuff, but at the same time is poking fun at itself for the adults enjoyment. There were so many parts in this movie where Stinka and her friends were looking at me because I was laughing out loud at some of the great satirical scenes that were over their heads. I was very pleasantly surprised.
I would definitely recommend people take their kids to check this one out. Its just as enjoyable for the adults as the kids and its the perfect movie for the holidays.
Beowulf
In a time of heroes, the mighty warrior Beowulf slays the demon Grendel and incurs the wrath of its monstrous yet seductive mother, in a conflict that transforms a king into a legend. Beowulf is done with motion capture animation (a la The Polar Express) and features the voices of Angelina Jolie as Grendel's mother, Anthony Hopkins as the corrupt King Hrothgar, and Ray Winstone as Beowulf.
We saw this movie in digital 3D and it made it more of an experience than a movie. The 3-D effects were phenomenal and there were numerous points where I actually leaned back to avoid what was flying at me. It felt like something you would see at Universal Studios or Disney World. Unfortunately, the movie itself was kind of lame. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have liked it at all if it wasn't for the 3D effects. Its one of those high profile movies that you find yourself wondering why they spent so much money making this. The voices were good, but I'm not really a big fan of this motion capture animation. Its makes the people (especially in this 500 A.D. time) look really creepy.
I would totally recommend anyone checking this out in digital or IMAX 3D. The experience is really cool. Outside of that, I wouldn't recommend this movie at all. And for those of you who think you can take kids to see this because its PG-13, you can't. Its way too violent and they push nudity to the limit as far as possible too.
We saw this movie in digital 3D and it made it more of an experience than a movie. The 3-D effects were phenomenal and there were numerous points where I actually leaned back to avoid what was flying at me. It felt like something you would see at Universal Studios or Disney World. Unfortunately, the movie itself was kind of lame. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have liked it at all if it wasn't for the 3D effects. Its one of those high profile movies that you find yourself wondering why they spent so much money making this. The voices were good, but I'm not really a big fan of this motion capture animation. Its makes the people (especially in this 500 A.D. time) look really creepy.
I would totally recommend anyone checking this out in digital or IMAX 3D. The experience is really cool. Outside of that, I wouldn't recommend this movie at all. And for those of you who think you can take kids to see this because its PG-13, you can't. Its way too violent and they push nudity to the limit as far as possible too.
Lions For Lambs
Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise star in Lions for Lambs, a story that digs behind the news, the politics and a nation divided to explore the human consequences of a complicated war. The story begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Redford), and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field, they become the string that binds together two disparate stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student (Andrew Garfield) who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Cruise), is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist (Streep) that may affect Arian and Ernest’s fates. As arguments, memories and bullets fly, the three stories are woven ever more tightly together, revealing how each of these Americans has a profound impact.
I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. I'm not remtoely a news/politics follower. I actually found myself feeling a lot like the student that Robert Redford was talking to during this movie because I tend to choose ignorance over having to deal with whats going on in the world and the propoganda that goes with it. I'm not one of those morons that hangs on to the latest happenings of Brittny Spears or the "tragic" death of Anna Nicole, but it simply depresses me to much to really follow all of the happenings that I tend to feel are in vain. Anywho - that's enough personal commentary. Let's get back to the movie. This movie was essentially two seperate converstaions going on while two troops are stuck under attack. I loved the back and forth of the conversations/stranded soldiers and it came together tighter as the movie went on. Even though I kind of felt like this movie was more of a public service announcement than a movie, I thought that it was very well done, written, and acted.
I would recommend people checking this out. It might not be a lot of peoples cup of tea, but it wasn't really mine either and I ended up liking it a lot.
I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. I'm not remtoely a news/politics follower. I actually found myself feeling a lot like the student that Robert Redford was talking to during this movie because I tend to choose ignorance over having to deal with whats going on in the world and the propoganda that goes with it. I'm not one of those morons that hangs on to the latest happenings of Brittny Spears or the "tragic" death of Anna Nicole, but it simply depresses me to much to really follow all of the happenings that I tend to feel are in vain. Anywho - that's enough personal commentary. Let's get back to the movie. This movie was essentially two seperate converstaions going on while two troops are stuck under attack. I loved the back and forth of the conversations/stranded soldiers and it came together tighter as the movie went on. Even though I kind of felt like this movie was more of a public service announcement than a movie, I thought that it was very well done, written, and acted.
I would recommend people checking this out. It might not be a lot of peoples cup of tea, but it wasn't really mine either and I ended up liking it a lot.
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world. In fact, it's a magic toy store and everything in it comes to life - including the store itself. The Emporium only asks one thing of its customers; you must believe it to see it.
This movie was essentially supposed to be Willy Wonka in a toy store instead of a chocolate factory. The big problem with that is that Dustin Hoffman was no Gene Wilder or even Johnny Depp in the remake of Chocolate Factory. From an adult standpoint, Hoffman as Magorium might go down in history as one of the most annoying movie characters ever. I honestly wanted to throw soda at the screen at certain points because his heinous overacting and how annoying his big bushy eyebrows and crazy hair was. This movie also managed to completely squander the acting talent of Natalie Portman (worst laugh ever in this movie as pointed out by Wonder Woman) and Jason Bateman. All of that being said - this is a kids movie and for whatever reason the future steppies enjoyed this movie. Therefore, this movie falls under that dreaded category of movies that the kids will love while the parents wish for pencils to stab themselves in the eyes and ears with.
I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone not willing to bite the bullet for their kids. Be warned, people! It's a pretty big bullet. Make sure that your children know the sacrifice that your optic nerves are making for them!
This movie was essentially supposed to be Willy Wonka in a toy store instead of a chocolate factory. The big problem with that is that Dustin Hoffman was no Gene Wilder or even Johnny Depp in the remake of Chocolate Factory. From an adult standpoint, Hoffman as Magorium might go down in history as one of the most annoying movie characters ever. I honestly wanted to throw soda at the screen at certain points because his heinous overacting and how annoying his big bushy eyebrows and crazy hair was. This movie also managed to completely squander the acting talent of Natalie Portman (worst laugh ever in this movie as pointed out by Wonder Woman) and Jason Bateman. All of that being said - this is a kids movie and for whatever reason the future steppies enjoyed this movie. Therefore, this movie falls under that dreaded category of movies that the kids will love while the parents wish for pencils to stab themselves in the eyes and ears with.
I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone not willing to bite the bullet for their kids. Be warned, people! It's a pretty big bullet. Make sure that your children know the sacrifice that your optic nerves are making for them!
Bee Movie
Bee Movie is a comedy that will change everything you think you know about bees. Having just graduated from college, a bee by the name of Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld) finds himself disillusioned with the prospect of having only one career choice – honey. As he ventures outside of the hive for the first time, he breaks one of the cardinal rules of the bee world and talks to a human, a New York City florist named Vanessa (Renée Zellweger). He is shocked to discover that the humans have been stealing and eating the bees' honey for centuries, and ultimately realizes that his true calling in life is to set the world right by suing the human race for stealing their precious honey.
This movie was nowhere near the excellency that is Shrek or most Pixar movies, but it still managed to be a very enjoyable animated movie for both kids and adults. There were some really big laughs and the animation scenes where the bees were flying was beyond amazing. I think the only thing that really bothered me about this movie was the year long non-stop hype for it because of Jerry Seinfeld. Clearly, there is a point when overexposure gets so annoying that it effects your level of enjoyment of something and I'm pretty sure that Seinfeld went about 1 million miles past that point with the hyping of this movie.
That being said, the movie is definitely worth the price of admission, has a great/short running time and is a great flick for both kids and parents to check out together.
This movie was nowhere near the excellency that is Shrek or most Pixar movies, but it still managed to be a very enjoyable animated movie for both kids and adults. There were some really big laughs and the animation scenes where the bees were flying was beyond amazing. I think the only thing that really bothered me about this movie was the year long non-stop hype for it because of Jerry Seinfeld. Clearly, there is a point when overexposure gets so annoying that it effects your level of enjoyment of something and I'm pretty sure that Seinfeld went about 1 million miles past that point with the hyping of this movie.
That being said, the movie is definitely worth the price of admission, has a great/short running time and is a great flick for both kids and parents to check out together.
Fred Claus
Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn) has lived almost his entire life in his little brother's very large shadow. Fred tried, but he could never live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas (Paul Giamatti), who was just a perfect... well... Saint. True to form, Nicholas grew up to be the model of giving, while Fred became the polar opposite: a repo man who then steals what he repossesses. Now Fred's dirty dealings have landed him in jail. Over Mrs. Claus's objections, Nicholas agrees to bail his big brother out on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and work off his debt making toys. The trouble is that Fred isn't exactly elf material and, with Christmas fast approaching, this one bad seed could jeopardize the jolliest holiday of the year. Has Fred finally pushed his little brother to the brink? This time, what Fred may have stolen is Christmas itself, and it is going to take more than Rudolph to set things right.
This movie is to Vince Vaughn what Elf was to Will Ferrel. It is literally a holiday movie that is built around his personality. It enables him to be his talkative, sarcastic self in a holiday movie. I happen to think that Vince Vaughn is absolutely hysterical and I wasn't disappointed at all with this movie. The interaction with his mother and brother (Santa Claus) is awesome and there is a scene where he is in siblings anonymous with a bunch of brothers to famous people that was classic. Along with the overall funniness of the movie, there is also the gratuitous feel good holiday vibe going. The only problem I have with this is that I can't for the life of me figure out why Hollywood insists on releasing these movies so early in November. Its a shame that this movie will be long gone by the time Christmas comes around. I wish they would have waited until early December or something so that you could actually take in the holiday vibe more.
I fully recommend this movie to everyone. Its got some big laughs, makes you feel good, and plants the seed for you to get excited about the holidays.
This movie is to Vince Vaughn what Elf was to Will Ferrel. It is literally a holiday movie that is built around his personality. It enables him to be his talkative, sarcastic self in a holiday movie. I happen to think that Vince Vaughn is absolutely hysterical and I wasn't disappointed at all with this movie. The interaction with his mother and brother (Santa Claus) is awesome and there is a scene where he is in siblings anonymous with a bunch of brothers to famous people that was classic. Along with the overall funniness of the movie, there is also the gratuitous feel good holiday vibe going. The only problem I have with this is that I can't for the life of me figure out why Hollywood insists on releasing these movies so early in November. Its a shame that this movie will be long gone by the time Christmas comes around. I wish they would have waited until early December or something so that you could actually take in the holiday vibe more.
I fully recommend this movie to everyone. Its got some big laughs, makes you feel good, and plants the seed for you to get excited about the holidays.
American Gangster
Nobody used to notice Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the quiet driver to one of the inner city's leading black crime bosses. But when his boss suddenly dies, Frank exploits the opening in the power structure to build his own empire and create his own version of the American Dream. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule the inner-city drug trade, flooding the streets with a purer product at a better price. Lucas outplays all of the leading crime syndicates and becomes not only one of the city's mainline corrupters, but part of its circle of legit civic superstars. Richie Roberts (Russel Crowe) is an outcast cop close enough to the streets to feel a shift of control in the drug underworld. Roberts believes someone is climbing the rungs above the known Mafia families and starts to suspect that a black power player has come from nowhere to dominate the scene. Both Lucas and Roberts share a rigorous ethical code that sets them apart from their own colleagues, making them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. The destinies of these two men will become intertwined as they approach a confrontation where only one of them can come out on top.
I loved this movie. It was an awesome gangster/cops flick. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe both put forth excellent performances. Ridley Scott did a great job of building up both main characters seperately for the first half of the movie, so that when the two sides did converge I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. Going in to the movie, I was pretty turned off by how long the movie was (2 1/2 hours), but the movie didn't remotely feel that long. This movie wasn't as good as The Departed was last year, but I could see this winning best picture this year just like that did last year.
I very strongly recommend everyone checking out this bad boy. Its more than worth the price of admission and will probably end up being one of the better movies to come out this year.
I loved this movie. It was an awesome gangster/cops flick. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe both put forth excellent performances. Ridley Scott did a great job of building up both main characters seperately for the first half of the movie, so that when the two sides did converge I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. Going in to the movie, I was pretty turned off by how long the movie was (2 1/2 hours), but the movie didn't remotely feel that long. This movie wasn't as good as The Departed was last year, but I could see this winning best picture this year just like that did last year.
I very strongly recommend everyone checking out this bad boy. Its more than worth the price of admission and will probably end up being one of the better movies to come out this year.
Martian Child
Martian Child stars John Cusack as a recently widowed science fiction writer who forms an unlikely family with a close friend (Amanda Peet) and a young boy he adopts that claims to be from Mars. The new couple ignores some sage parenting advice from the widower's sister (Joan Cusack) and gets more than they bargained for when a series of strange occurrences lead them to believe that the child's claim may be true.
This movie is textbook formula movie. Its one of those where you basically saw the movie by watching the preview. Anyone who doesn't know how this bad boy is going to play out after seeing the commercial needs to be dragged out back and hit with the stupid stick, people! That being said, John Cusack happens to be my favorite actor and I have always found his delivery to be priceless and that alone made the movie worth the price of admission. The kid was actually pretty funny and had some great lines as well, and Joan Cusack and Amanda Peet both played off of John Cusack very well. I enjoyed the movie, but I could completely understand people thinking that the movie was so predictable and ultimately pointless.
I don't really know whether or not to recommend this movie. If you wanted to see, I think that you should. Just be warned that its just a long extension of the commercial.
This movie is textbook formula movie. Its one of those where you basically saw the movie by watching the preview. Anyone who doesn't know how this bad boy is going to play out after seeing the commercial needs to be dragged out back and hit with the stupid stick, people! That being said, John Cusack happens to be my favorite actor and I have always found his delivery to be priceless and that alone made the movie worth the price of admission. The kid was actually pretty funny and had some great lines as well, and Joan Cusack and Amanda Peet both played off of John Cusack very well. I enjoyed the movie, but I could completely understand people thinking that the movie was so predictable and ultimately pointless.
I don't really know whether or not to recommend this movie. If you wanted to see, I think that you should. Just be warned that its just a long extension of the commercial.
Saw IV
Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead. Now, upon the news of Detective Kerry's murder, two seasoned FBI profilers, Agent Strahm and Agent Perez, arrive in the terrified community to assist the veteran Detective Hoffman in sifting through Jigsaw's latest grizzly remains and piecing together the puzzle. However, when SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend or face the deadly consequences.
In general I'm not a big fan of these torture porn movies. They seem almost criminal to be made and the FBI should seriously be following the writers of these movies because one has to wonder what in the blue hell they are up to in their free time that is making them come up with this stuff. Its also beyond disturbing that these movies push the grotesque gore envelope so far that they end up desensitizing you to it. Whenever you get to a point where the guy falling on the chainsaw and wiggling all over the place is making you yawn because its not as bad as the blowtorch to the eye scene - there is a problem! That being said - I do like the actual story portion of the Saw franchise. While I found myself looking mostly at the design on the sides of the theaters or ceiling during many scenes in this movie, the story of how Jigsaw became Jigsaw and the detectives chasing after him was actually really good. I would actually say that this movie was the second best one after the original and it is pretty impressive that at the end of the movie you forget the massive, and I mean MASSIVE, gore and are replaying the movie in your head to figure out the switcheroo ending.
If you are a fan of these types of movies - this is a great one and you'll love it. Others who aren't in to these types of movies should stay far, far away.
In general I'm not a big fan of these torture porn movies. They seem almost criminal to be made and the FBI should seriously be following the writers of these movies because one has to wonder what in the blue hell they are up to in their free time that is making them come up with this stuff. Its also beyond disturbing that these movies push the grotesque gore envelope so far that they end up desensitizing you to it. Whenever you get to a point where the guy falling on the chainsaw and wiggling all over the place is making you yawn because its not as bad as the blowtorch to the eye scene - there is a problem! That being said - I do like the actual story portion of the Saw franchise. While I found myself looking mostly at the design on the sides of the theaters or ceiling during many scenes in this movie, the story of how Jigsaw became Jigsaw and the detectives chasing after him was actually really good. I would actually say that this movie was the second best one after the original and it is pretty impressive that at the end of the movie you forget the massive, and I mean MASSIVE, gore and are replaying the movie in your head to figure out the switcheroo ending.
If you are a fan of these types of movies - this is a great one and you'll love it. Others who aren't in to these types of movies should stay far, far away.
Dan In Real Life
Advice columnist Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is an expert on relationships, but somehow struggles to succeed as a brother, a son and a single parent in this heartfelt comedy.
I went in to this movie with some pretty moderate expectations. It seemed like the type of movie that had some funny things in the commercial but would inevitably spiral in to a drama that you totally weren't looking for by going to check this out. However, I was dead wrong. This movie was great. As for the comedy part of it - there were four or five scenes in this that had me laughing so hard I was crying. The family dynamics portrayed in this movie were great and even though you didn't get the chance to see them all develop individually, their interaction with the Steve Carell character was priceless. Steve Carell was spot on as always. He really is evolving in to a phenomenal all around actor. I truly enjoyed this movie.
I strongly recommend everyone checking this movie out. Its a great family movie and has some huge laughs.
I went in to this movie with some pretty moderate expectations. It seemed like the type of movie that had some funny things in the commercial but would inevitably spiral in to a drama that you totally weren't looking for by going to check this out. However, I was dead wrong. This movie was great. As for the comedy part of it - there were four or five scenes in this that had me laughing so hard I was crying. The family dynamics portrayed in this movie were great and even though you didn't get the chance to see them all develop individually, their interaction with the Steve Carell character was priceless. Steve Carell was spot on as always. He really is evolving in to a phenomenal all around actor. I truly enjoyed this movie.
I strongly recommend everyone checking this movie out. Its a great family movie and has some huge laughs.
Rendition
Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep, Peter Sarsgaard and Alan Arkin star in Rendition, a thriller from director Gavin Hood ("Tsotsi"). Witherspoon stars as the American wife of an Egyptian-born chemical engineer who disappears on a flight from South Africa to Washington. The woman desperately tries to track her husband down, while a CIA analyst (Gyllenhaal) at a secret detention facility outside the U.S. is forced to question his assignment as he becomes party to the man's unorthodox interrogation.
This movie was an awesome political drama. I thought that it captured the government perfectly with how some lady sitting behind a desk can decide in the blink of an eye to have someone extradited to a different country because they think he might have some kind of information. The only thing that held this movie back from being a four star movie was the . . . . . . . SPOILER ALERT . . . . . . . fluffy happy ending. The husband ends up getting reunited with his family. Now, let's be serious for a moment. The guy gets an accidental cell phone call from a terrorist that the government is monitoring. The government picks the guy up from the airport and transports him to some prison in North Africa. They torture him endlessly for god knows how long. A CIA agent witnessing the interrogation feels its too much, frees him, and sends him home. COME ON NOW!!! You are telling me that the government would ever let this guy go!?! They would let someone exist with the knowledge of what they did!?! That's just plain silly. As cruel as it sounds to say - this movie would have been so much more legit if the guy would have gotten killed to cover it up or something. The sappy ending took away a lot for me and this movie would have been phenomenal without it.
Even with the sappy ending, the movie is still very enjoyable. The validity of it is kind of questionable, but it was a good political drama anywho. I would recommend people checking this out. It's worth the price of admission.
This movie was an awesome political drama. I thought that it captured the government perfectly with how some lady sitting behind a desk can decide in the blink of an eye to have someone extradited to a different country because they think he might have some kind of information. The only thing that held this movie back from being a four star movie was the . . . . . . . SPOILER ALERT . . . . . . . fluffy happy ending. The husband ends up getting reunited with his family. Now, let's be serious for a moment. The guy gets an accidental cell phone call from a terrorist that the government is monitoring. The government picks the guy up from the airport and transports him to some prison in North Africa. They torture him endlessly for god knows how long. A CIA agent witnessing the interrogation feels its too much, frees him, and sends him home. COME ON NOW!!! You are telling me that the government would ever let this guy go!?! They would let someone exist with the knowledge of what they did!?! That's just plain silly. As cruel as it sounds to say - this movie would have been so much more legit if the guy would have gotten killed to cover it up or something. The sappy ending took away a lot for me and this movie would have been phenomenal without it.
Even with the sappy ending, the movie is still very enjoyable. The validity of it is kind of questionable, but it was a good political drama anywho. I would recommend people checking this out. It's worth the price of admission.
30 Days Of Night
For 30 days every winter, the isolated town of Barrow, Alaska is plunged into a state of complete darkness. It's a bitter time when most of the inhabitants head south. This winter, a mysterious group of strangers appear: bloodthirsty vampires, ready to take advantage of the uninterrupted darkness to feed on the residents remaining in town. Barrow's Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), and an ever-shrinking group of survivors must do anything they can to last until daylight.
Horror movies by design are usually ludicrous. Very rarely will you ever catch one with a legit story and what not so you kind of expect any sort of reality to be thrown out the window. However, you can't throw it so far out the window that it is millions of miles away. That was all I kept thinking with this movie. They are in Alaska . . . . . . for 30 days of night . . . . . with no electricity . . . . . . which would mean no heat . . . . . . for 30 days of night . . . . . in Alaska . . . . . and they need to worry about attacking vampires? I'm pretty sure that the mind numbing cold would have them done in about half way through night one, people! These people were running around outside for supplies and what not with nothing on their faces, no gloves, just all out hustle. Last time I checked, if I was to run down the block here in New York during the coldest day in winter, I would come close to passing out because of the weather making it impossible to breath. There was one point where one of the characters hid underneath a car . . . . . FOR FOUR DAYS! Again . . . . 30 days of night . . . . . in Alaska . . . . outdoors . . . . . with no food. The vampires are not the problem! You would be a human popsicle. To make things even sillier, these were some sort of ancient Roman vampires that spoke in all sorts of overdramatic, gladiator like terminology, did the most annoying screams when they weren't communicating all goth like, and looked like they were trying to constantly squeeze out a deuce. As if all of this wasn't silly enough - the movie completely spiraled out of control at the end with Josh Hartnett injecting himself with vampire tainted blood so that he could turn in to one of them and have this retardly delusional cage fight with the leader of the vampires. Spoiler Alert! . . . . he wins . . . but then he loses because he's now one of them and the 30 days of night is over. He flakes away to cigarette ashes in the arms of his estranged wife . . . . . . The end. No, I'm not kidding.
Stay away from this movie forever. It is truly horrendous and should never be viewed. It has to be one of the worst movies of this year.
Horror movies by design are usually ludicrous. Very rarely will you ever catch one with a legit story and what not so you kind of expect any sort of reality to be thrown out the window. However, you can't throw it so far out the window that it is millions of miles away. That was all I kept thinking with this movie. They are in Alaska . . . . . . for 30 days of night . . . . . with no electricity . . . . . . which would mean no heat . . . . . . for 30 days of night . . . . . in Alaska . . . . . and they need to worry about attacking vampires? I'm pretty sure that the mind numbing cold would have them done in about half way through night one, people! These people were running around outside for supplies and what not with nothing on their faces, no gloves, just all out hustle. Last time I checked, if I was to run down the block here in New York during the coldest day in winter, I would come close to passing out because of the weather making it impossible to breath. There was one point where one of the characters hid underneath a car . . . . . FOR FOUR DAYS! Again . . . . 30 days of night . . . . . in Alaska . . . . outdoors . . . . . with no food. The vampires are not the problem! You would be a human popsicle. To make things even sillier, these were some sort of ancient Roman vampires that spoke in all sorts of overdramatic, gladiator like terminology, did the most annoying screams when they weren't communicating all goth like, and looked like they were trying to constantly squeeze out a deuce. As if all of this wasn't silly enough - the movie completely spiraled out of control at the end with Josh Hartnett injecting himself with vampire tainted blood so that he could turn in to one of them and have this retardly delusional cage fight with the leader of the vampires. Spoiler Alert! . . . . he wins . . . but then he loses because he's now one of them and the 30 days of night is over. He flakes away to cigarette ashes in the arms of his estranged wife . . . . . . The end. No, I'm not kidding.
Stay away from this movie forever. It is truly horrendous and should never be viewed. It has to be one of the worst movies of this year.
Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. A former criminal prosecutor, Clayton takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen's dirtiest work at the behest of the firm's co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack). Though burned out and hardly content with his job as a fixer, his divorce, a failed business venture and mounting debt have left Clayton inextricably tied to the firm. At U/North, meanwhile, the career of litigator Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) rests on the multi-million dollar settlement of a class action suit that Clayton's firm is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. But when Kenner Bach's brilliant and guilt-ridden attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life.
The first movie of this hour was brutal. I had no clue what was going on, was bored out of my mind because I truly find few things less mind numbing than corporate law stuff, and was ready to pull the plug on the movie based on this being one of those movies that you know is "good" but its just not your cup of tea. However, WW wanted to hold on and see how it turned out and I'm glad that she did because the second hour of the movie and especially the ending were great. George Clooney performed the internally conflicted role very well and the rising tension during the last hour was also very well done.
I would recommend people checking this one out, but please be warned that the first hour feels like a very choppy nap session. The wrap up of the movie makes it worth the trip to the theater though.
The first movie of this hour was brutal. I had no clue what was going on, was bored out of my mind because I truly find few things less mind numbing than corporate law stuff, and was ready to pull the plug on the movie based on this being one of those movies that you know is "good" but its just not your cup of tea. However, WW wanted to hold on and see how it turned out and I'm glad that she did because the second hour of the movie and especially the ending were great. George Clooney performed the internally conflicted role very well and the rising tension during the last hour was also very well done.
I would recommend people checking this one out, but please be warned that the first hour feels like a very choppy nap session. The wrap up of the movie makes it worth the trip to the theater though.
We Own The Night
Bobby Green (Joaquin Phoenix) has turned his back on the family business. The popular manager of El Caribe, the legendary Russian-owned nightclub in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach, he has changed his last name and concealed his connection to a long line of distinguished New York cops. For Bobby, every night is a party, as he greets friends and customers or dances with his beautiful Puerto Rican girlfriend, Amada (Eva Mendes), in a haze of cigarette smoke and disco music. But it's 1988, and New York City's drug trade is escalating. Bobby tries to keep a friendly distance from the Russian gangster who is operating out of the nightclub – a gangster who is being targeted by his brother, Joseph (Mark Wahlberg), an up-and-coming NYPD officer, and his father, Burt (Robert Duvall), the legendary deputy chief of police.
I was so psyched to see this movie from the first time I saw the preview for it. It looked so much like last year's The Departed (the best movie of last year, people!). Unfortunately, I think I broke my most important of movie going roles and let my expectations get too high. I wasn't disappointed by this movie. I still really liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I definitely think that I could have seen this as one of the best movies of the year hands down if I didn't go in expecting it to be just that. Regardless of my expectations ramblings, this was a great film. The acting was top notch. Mark Wahlberg continues to get better with every role even though I still hum Good Vibrations a la Marky Mark every time I see him in a movie. Joaquin Phoenix continues to be phenomenal in everything that he does. The sibling rivalry between the two of them in the movie is excellently crafted along with the non-stop tension feeling.
I fully recommend that everyone checks this bad boy out. Even though I expected to see the best picture of the year and was disappointed, this movie was still totally worth the trip to check it out.
I was so psyched to see this movie from the first time I saw the preview for it. It looked so much like last year's The Departed (the best movie of last year, people!). Unfortunately, I think I broke my most important of movie going roles and let my expectations get too high. I wasn't disappointed by this movie. I still really liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I definitely think that I could have seen this as one of the best movies of the year hands down if I didn't go in expecting it to be just that. Regardless of my expectations ramblings, this was a great film. The acting was top notch. Mark Wahlberg continues to get better with every role even though I still hum Good Vibrations a la Marky Mark every time I see him in a movie. Joaquin Phoenix continues to be phenomenal in everything that he does. The sibling rivalry between the two of them in the movie is excellently crafted along with the non-stop tension feeling.
I fully recommend that everyone checks this bad boy out. Even though I expected to see the best picture of the year and was disappointed, this movie was still totally worth the trip to check it out.
Eastern Promises
The mysterious and charismatic Russian-born Nikolai Luzhin (Mortensen) is a driver for one of London's most notorious organized crime families of Eastern European origin. The family itself is part of the Vory V Zakone criminal brotherhood. Headed by Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), whose courtly charm as the welcoming proprietor of the plush Trans-Siberian restaurant impeccably masks a cold and brutal core, the family's fortunes are tested by Semyon's volatile son and enforcer, Kirill (Vincent Cassel), who is more tightly bound to Nikolai than to his own father. But Nikolai's carefully maintained existence is jarred once he crosses paths at Christmastime with Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), a midwife at a North London hospital. Anna is deeply affected by the desperate situation of a young teenager who dies while giving birth to a baby. Anna resolves to try to trace the baby's lineage and relatives. The girl's personal diary also survives her; it is written in Russian, and Anna seeks answers in it. Anna's mother Helen (Sinead Cusack) does not discourage her, but Anna's irascible Russian-born uncle Stepan (Jerzy Skolimowski) urges caution. He is right to do so; by delving into the diary, Anna has accidentally unleashed the full fury of the Vory.
Let's just get out of the way that you should know before going in to this that there is a crazy knife fight in which Viggo Mortensen is butt naked. I mean like the fight scene from Borat with knives, people! I just thought I'd warn my peeps about this before discussing the movie. That being out of the way now, the movie was actually very well done. It's not really a mainstream movie though. Its an artsy drama about the mob with good performances by all included. There are a couple of really violent scenes (including the aforementioned naked fight scene), but its mostly a character drama besides that. This is one of those movies that has a lot of tension built in throughout the movie, but no big end point where its all released. The tension is simply properly directed to keep your attention throughout the movie. There was one thing that I just couldn't get out of my head during this movie. Does every son of a mob boss have to be such a out of control dumbass? In every mob movie or television show - the son is always the stupidest guy in the world. What's that about?
I'd recommend people checking this one out if they were interested by the commercial for it. Just be warned that its a artsy type movie and this may disappoint a lot of people who are looking forward to some big wham bam type ending that doesn't happen.
Let's just get out of the way that you should know before going in to this that there is a crazy knife fight in which Viggo Mortensen is butt naked. I mean like the fight scene from Borat with knives, people! I just thought I'd warn my peeps about this before discussing the movie. That being out of the way now, the movie was actually very well done. It's not really a mainstream movie though. Its an artsy drama about the mob with good performances by all included. There are a couple of really violent scenes (including the aforementioned naked fight scene), but its mostly a character drama besides that. This is one of those movies that has a lot of tension built in throughout the movie, but no big end point where its all released. The tension is simply properly directed to keep your attention throughout the movie. There was one thing that I just couldn't get out of my head during this movie. Does every son of a mob boss have to be such a out of control dumbass? In every mob movie or television show - the son is always the stupidest guy in the world. What's that about?
I'd recommend people checking this one out if they were interested by the commercial for it. Just be warned that its a artsy type movie and this may disappoint a lot of people who are looking forward to some big wham bam type ending that doesn't happen.
The Heartbreak Kid
Single and indecisive, Eddie (Ben Stiller) begins dating the incredibly sexy and seemingly fabulous Lila. Upon the urging of his father and best friend, Eddie proposes to her after only a week, fearing this may be his last chance at love, marriage, and happiness. However, while on their honeymoon in sunny Mexico, Lila reveals her true beyond-awful nature and Eddie meets Miranda, the woman he realizes to be his actual soul mate. Eddie must keep his new, increasingly horrid wife at bay as he attempts to woo the girl of his dreams.
There were some really big laughs in this movie. However, the absolute funniest part of the movie was the guy sitting two rows in front of me. You know how sometimes you laugh harder at things because of how much someone else is enjoying it? This guy had me crying because of how hard he was laughing at the movie. He definitely made it more enjoyable than it was. That's not to say that the movie wasn't funny on its own. It definitely was. I love watching Ben Stiller's facial reactions. They truly are priceless. This being a Farrely Brothers movie though, there are a few mind blowing sight gags that push the envelope big time. There is one that rivals the caught in the zipper scene from There's Something About Mary that makes you cringe beyond belief and laugh only because of how totally uncomfortable you've become. Be sure to never let kids anywhere near this movie! Besides that and the couple of over the top sex scenes, the movie is pretty funny. They didn't need to push the sex envelope so much, but that seems to unfortunately be the new Hollywood trend. The movie was plenty funny without it and I think that stuff like that held the movie back somewhat.
I'd recommend people checking this out if they want a good laugh. Just take heed about some of the over the top stuff and keep kids as far away from this as possible.
There were some really big laughs in this movie. However, the absolute funniest part of the movie was the guy sitting two rows in front of me. You know how sometimes you laugh harder at things because of how much someone else is enjoying it? This guy had me crying because of how hard he was laughing at the movie. He definitely made it more enjoyable than it was. That's not to say that the movie wasn't funny on its own. It definitely was. I love watching Ben Stiller's facial reactions. They truly are priceless. This being a Farrely Brothers movie though, there are a few mind blowing sight gags that push the envelope big time. There is one that rivals the caught in the zipper scene from There's Something About Mary that makes you cringe beyond belief and laugh only because of how totally uncomfortable you've become. Be sure to never let kids anywhere near this movie! Besides that and the couple of over the top sex scenes, the movie is pretty funny. They didn't need to push the sex envelope so much, but that seems to unfortunately be the new Hollywood trend. The movie was plenty funny without it and I think that stuff like that held the movie back somewhat.
I'd recommend people checking this out if they want a good laugh. Just take heed about some of the over the top stuff and keep kids as far away from this as possible.
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising
Based on the acclaimed novel, The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising tells the story of Will Stanton, a young man who learns he is the last of a group of warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the Dark. Traveling back and forth through time, Will hunts for a series of mysterious clues and encounters forces of unimaginable evil. With the Dark once again rising, the future of the world rests in Will's hands.
This movie is another one of the rush to adapt any best selling children's book series. Every studio is looking for the next Harry Potter or Chronicles Of Narnia. Its become one of the most recent hollywood fads. There are the better than average ones like Charlotte's Web, Eragon and Lemony Snicket and then there are the ones that are just kind of thrown out there. The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising is unfortunately one of the latter. Its not that the movie was horrible. It just seemed like the proper amount of effort that it deserved wasn't given and that the studio just rushed it, both in story and effects, and threw it out there. The movie is somewhat watchable but nowhere near as good as it could have been. To make it a little bit tougher to swallow, the story is pretty much over the head of the youngsters who are supposed to make up the core audience.
I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this bad boy out in theaters. You're better off just waiting for it to hit the video store.
This movie is another one of the rush to adapt any best selling children's book series. Every studio is looking for the next Harry Potter or Chronicles Of Narnia. Its become one of the most recent hollywood fads. There are the better than average ones like Charlotte's Web, Eragon and Lemony Snicket and then there are the ones that are just kind of thrown out there. The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising is unfortunately one of the latter. Its not that the movie was horrible. It just seemed like the proper amount of effort that it deserved wasn't given and that the studio just rushed it, both in story and effects, and threw it out there. The movie is somewhat watchable but nowhere near as good as it could have been. To make it a little bit tougher to swallow, the story is pretty much over the head of the youngsters who are supposed to make up the core audience.
I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this bad boy out in theaters. You're better off just waiting for it to hit the video store.
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