Seven Pounds

Really, really good movie! I will NOT give it away. Will Smith is tormented even as he falls for Rosario Dawson. The beginning of the movie is a little confusing and disjointed as it slips back and forth through different phases of Will Smith’s life and at first they don’t even make it clear which phase is current. But stay with it, even as you slowly figure it out all is explained in the end. Even the title makes sense after it ends. Bring tissues, it will make you cry. This movie is so good; just go see it, that’s all I can say.

Frost/Nixon

Excellent movie, but a bit dry at times. Frank Langella magnificently portrays Nixon, though I wish they gave him a few facial prosthetics to make him resemble the disgraced president a bit more. Michael Sheen (whom I admired as Tony Blair in The Queen) plays the interviewer David Frost. I did not see the original interviews so I can’t compare, but the film version conveyed the stress Frost was under to get the sponsors needed to pay for the project, which wouldn’t have been included in the original. I like the movie the best in the beginning before the interviews began, but it was very interesting throughout, though just a bit dry when Nixon went off on another of his long stories.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

Good movie where Keanu Reeves plays an alien in human form sent here to “save the earth” from humans. Jennifer Connelly plays the scientist trying to help him and Will Smith’s son Jaden plays her stepson. I did not see the original so I cannot compare. The concept isn’t exactly original, but then again, maybe the original movie was the first with this concept? I appreciated that it wasn’t a super action packed movie; it is just a slow suspense. It can wait for cable, but it is a decent film, not terrible.

Nothing Like The Holidays

Cute family drama. As I said, it is a family drama that takes place during Christmastime, but it is not a really a “Christmas movie”. Debra Messing and John Leguizamo go home to the proud Puerto Rican neighborhood of Humboldt Park, Chicago to be with his family (Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Peña) for the holidays. One brother (Freddy Rodriguez) is returning home from Iraq, Mom announces she wants to divorce Dad, and other family members each have their own dramas. It is a good movie, but not a Christmas movie like I was hoping for (after such a dire disappointment from Four Christmases). It can wait for DVD or TV.

Cadillac Records

Good movie and great music about the inception of the Chess recording studio with Adrian Brody as the owner, Leonard Chess and the start of some of the greatest blues/R&B musicians: Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Chuck Berry and Etta James. The previews lead you to believe it is all about Beyonce as Etta, but she doesn’t appear until the latter half of the movie. Beyonce has a beautiful voice –probably the best singing performance by her I’ve ever seen - but I’m afraid nobody can match Etta’s wonderfully gritty pipes. Good movie; but if you have a good sound system at home it can wait until it’s out on DVD or TV.

Slumdog Millionaire

Excellent movie. Accused of cheating on India’s version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, a young contestant must recount to police the tragic and horrific events of his life that explain how he knew the answers to each of the show’s questions. Some scenes are violent and hard to watch and it is definitely not a flattering view of India, but it is an excellent portrayal of perseverance and undying love.

Australia

Good movie, but not the epic it was hoping to be. Someday I will learn to go to a movie without expectations, but I haven’t learned that lesson yet; I’m a late bloomer. Kidman and Jackman try to beat a competitor by herding cattle to the troops during WWII. Australia begins as sort of a corny comedy, where prissy Nicole Kidman and tough guy Hugh Jackman behave just like Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in African Queen. Then the movie switches back and forth from corny, to serious drama, to overly dramatic, even stealing a bit of the plot from South Pacific. Overall, I liked the movie but not as much as I would have had I not watched the constant previews that led you to believe it would be the next Gone With The Wind. Good movie, but very long – don’t drink too much of your soda or you won’t be able to hold it!

Milk

Excellent adaptation of the true story of Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay man to be elected to a major office. Sean Penn is awesome as usual, and it’s kinda funny to him smile in a role for a change. There are quite a few kissing scenes and loving glances that I found a little uncomfortable to watch, despite the fact that I am definitely pro-gay rights. Excellent movie.

Four Christmases

Disappointing and even cornier than I expected it to be. Too bad, because I actually found Vaughn’s effort last year, Fred Claus, amusing. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon must visit each of their divorced parents on Christmas Day and endure their dysfunctional families. Really, really dumb.

Twilight

Good teenage vampire movie. I love vampires, so I am biased – though I never read the book so I can’t compare. Kristen Stewart plays a human newcomer to Washington State who never smiles but manages to attract the school hunk harboring a secret, Robert Pattinson. I’ll have to read the book to learn why Stewart always looks so miserable despite having some cheerful human friends. There’s some good vampires, bad vampires, a forbidden romance and a really cool baseball game! Only for vampire lovers who don’t mind that these blood suckers have reflections and don’t burn to death in the sunlight. I enjoyed it, though as I pointed out, it’s not a traditional vampire movie.

Role Models

Mildly amusing movie starring Seann William Scott (Stifler from American Pie), Paul Rudd and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin from Superbad). Scott and Rudd must act as “Big Brothers” to two young social misfits. While Scott’s charge is a cute kid with a foul mouth, Rudd’s charge – Mintz-Plasse - is a teen obsessed with this strange group that dresses in medieval attire and pretends to do battle with each other. Wait for it to come out on TV; although the copious profanity will all be bleeped out, which is almost as annoying as tolerating the vulgarity in the first place.

Quantum of Solace

James Bond fans and action lovers will love this one. Beaucoup chase scenes abound, on foot, by car, by boat, and by aircraft. But wait! There’s more! Bond is after bad guys who seem to be after oil – or are they? I still prefer the suave, tongue-in-cheek Sean Connery with the twinkle in his eye, but Daniel Craig holds his own as a tough guy you don’t mess with. I’m not sure what’s up with the R&B tune they played during opening credits. R&B just doesn’t seem the right fit for Bond. I’m a traditionalist, and was missing the jazzy, film noir-esque Bond theme song, but they finally played it in the closing credits. Good action movie.

Zack & Miri Make a Porno

I hadn’t planned on seeing this one, but I was bored and it was playing, and now I’m sorry I went. I love Seth Rogen, but I hated the Clerks and Chasing Amy movies that shared the same writer/director Kevin Smith. Zack and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are platonic friends who are broke and in debt so they decide to make a porno to pay the bills. It’s not too hard to see where this will lead. I was hoping for some funny embarrassing moments as in The Full Monty (a far superior film), but it was mostly lewd and crude and full of raunchy language. In the ladies room I overheard some young girls say “they said ‘F**k” an awful lot”. Yup. I did laugh out loud really hard once during a particularly gross scene, but that was about it. Even the droves of twenty-somethings in the theater didn’t laugh that much. There were some surprisingly romantic moments, but if you want romance, go rent Definitely, Maybe or go for a classic like Sabrina (either the Audrey Hepburn or the Harrison Ford version will do nicely). Or just go rent The Full Monty again for the laughs…

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

I like to Move it, Move it… Cute kiddie movie, but I liked the first one better - from what I remember of it. Ben Stiller plays the lion and they allow him to over do it, just like in his last effort: Tropic Thunder. Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinket Smith round out the rest of the main characters who try to fly a broken airplane back to New York, but wind up in a beautiful preserve in Africa. The pampered New Yorkers have a bit of trouble fitting in with their wild brethren. I still love the crazy penguins the best. Kids will enjoy it, as will kids at heart.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Excellent portrayal of a young boy who’s family moves “to the country” for Daddy’s new promotion as an “important soldier” during WWII. The boy is lonely for his friends and sees from his window a “farm” with people wearing pajamas. Of course he’s curious and sneaks off to check it out. You see everything from the boy’s perspective of not understanding that his Dad is the Commandant of a concentration camp. Starring Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, Amber Beattie. Excellent movie about a terrible time in history.

Pride and Glory

Definitely a “guy film”. Lots of blood and guts and shootings. Colin Farrell, Ed Norton and John Voight star in this crime drama about good cops, very, very dirty cops and the drug dealers too. I have seen so many crime dramas now that I’m pretty sick of them. If someone were to keep track of how many times the f-bomb and all it’s derivatives were used in a movie, this one may be a contender for the most times used. I was so distracted by f-this, f-that, my f-ing f is f-ed, that sometimes I forgot to pay attention to the actual conversations :). OK, it’s an f-ing exciting movie, I’m just more of a happy-feel-good-movie type of girl…

Happy-Go-Lucky

British indie flick. Sally Hawkins stars as a fun, loony, goofball with a crazy wardrobe to boot. She sees the world as her oyster and tries her best to help other folks lighten up and smile. She’s seems a bit immature, but there is some depth in there as well – you just have to hold out for it. The most amusing scenes are when she drives her “type A” Drivers Ed teacher bonkers. Enjoyable film that has been the darling of several film festivals.

The Changeling

Excellent movie about a mother at odds with the LAPD after they return “her” missing son to her – only the child is not hers. Angelina Jolie and John Malcovich star. Heartbreaking and tragic true story. The only flaw in this movie is the police captain’s occasional Irish brogue which sometimes lapses back into an American accent. Sorry, but little details distract me. I definitely recommend it.

Passengers

Too reminiscent of another movie about a shrink from about 10 years ago. Anne Hathaway stars as a psychologist assisting a group of plane crash survivors with their post traumatic stress. The characters all act eerily, and I kept thinking this felt very much like a certain director’s work, but if I tell you who, it will certainly give away the end. This one really isn’t nearly as good as that other movie and unless you live in a cave, I am certain you have seen it or at least its famous catch line. I’ll be happy to tell you which one if you ask. Also, Anne Hathaway was way too young for the part, unless she was some sort of child genius who accumulated all of her degrees as a teen. I’d say don’t bother with this movie and wait for it on cable.

Rachel Getting Married

Not a happy feel good movie. Anne Hathaway stars as the black sheep family member who is released from rehab to attend her sister’s wedding. Extremely well acted and will probably get plenty of award nominations. However, as most indies are, it can be grueling to watch. You get to sit through ALL of the long winded and embarrassing rehearsal dinner speeches. And I wish they had cut out a long, dull scene where they were competing over who could load a dish washer better. It is still a very moving film. Only for those who have the patience for indie films.

Sex Drive

Silly teen movie that steals directly from A Sure Thing as a teen drives from Chicago to Tennessee to meet a girl he met online. Along for the ride is the girl he really likes (gee, I wonder how that will turn out…), and his very strange pudgy friend who is an unlikely chick magnet. James Franco is hilarious as the bully older brother; in fact he completely embodies “Stifler” from American Pie. Seth Green has a small role as a sarcastic Amish mechanic. There isn’t much originality here, as it steals from several movies. But it’s good for a few laughs if you’re in the mood for that sort of thing.

Choke

Great premise, but too much nudity for me. Sam Rockwell (Charlie’s Angels) as a “historical interpretor” (one of those guys who dresses in early American dress at a folk park) who is also a sex addict with a mother (Angelica Huston) in the hospital suffering from dementia. He falls for his mother’s doctor, all while trying to keep his addiction under control and hoping to learn who is father is before his mother dies. I thought it was a very original story, but too many bare boobs that I never wanted to see. Funny in parts but mostly bittersweet. Overall a good movie for those who like indies.

The Secret Life of Bees

A good chick flick that takes place in the segregated South during the summer of 1964. Dakota Fanning and her maid (Jennifer Hudson) befriend a local beekeeper (Queen Latifa). I won’t give away anymore. Equal parts tragic and heartwarming. Bring tissues. My only complaint is that Latifa’s character should have looked a bit older.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Cute kiddie movie about a spoiled and pampered pup who gets lost in Mexico and tries to find her way home. Drew Barrymore, George Lopez and Cheech Marin provide some voices and Piper Perabo and Jamie Lee Curtis star.

W., A Life Misunderestimated

I was expecting this Oliver Stone effort to be a guilty pleasure of watching Josh Brolin playing the bumbling idiot. While there was some of that - especially in the beginning - the rest of the movie felt dry; like a made-for-TV movie. Josh Brolin was perfect, he completely embodied Bush, from his facial expressions to his mannerisms to his voice. Thandie Newton was terrible as Condoleezza Rice, she seemed constipated, stiff, and her face looked like she had Bells Palsy. (They should have used Janet Jackson instead – she did a great impersonation on SNL a few years back.) Richard Dreyfess played Cheney well. But the movie was dull. We all know the story; there was nothing new here. Oliver Stone took some liberties with W’s relationship with his parents, and what was discussed when they were deciding to invade Iraq. Stone skipped over Bush’s failure with the Texas Rangers and lightly skimmed over the rest of his occupations up to his eventual running for office. And what’s with all the constant super close-ups of Brolin stuffing his face with food, drink, etc. throughout the entire film? I’d say wait for it to come out on video. Or cable.

Religulous

Bill Maher pushes a lot of buttons about people’s faith in this documentary. If you are sensitive about the topic, then this movie will probably offend you. I think it is healthy to push buttons and get people to think. I didn’t agree with all of Bill Maher’s conclusions, but I found the movie quite amusing and laughed out loud several times. He picks on pretty much everybody (gay Muslims, ex-Jews for Jesus, that wacko who has folks believing he is the second coming of Christ, and a Holy Land amusement park!), and those TV evangelists deserved it the most. He inserts amusing tidbits from various religious movies, and even Scarface! For a documentary, it kept me interested and never bored. I enjoyed it, but like I said, it may offend some sensitive folks.

Flash of Genius

Good movie about the frustrating legal battles that tore apart a man’s life after Ford Motor Company stole his invention for the intermittent windshield wipers. Greg Kinnear stars. I enjoyed it.

Body of Lies

Another movie on terrorism that takes you all over the Middle East hunting for bad guys. Plenty of action and suspence. Leo DiCaprio as a CIA operative at odds with his boss in DC, Russell Crowe. Very exciting; if you haven’t had enough of movies on terrorism already.

Eagle Eye

Good action film. This movie brings paranoia to a new level. Shia Labeouf stars with Michelle Monaghan as they follow orders from a mysterious voice on the phone that seems to have all-seeing eyes. Another one of those movies that leaves too much to chance, yet seems to work out almost perfectly. It is still very exciting, and once you figure out where the orders are coming from, it will bring to mind a certain old Stanley Kubrick movie. Oops! Did I give it away? Lots of explosions, shoot outs and car chases. Enjoy.

The Duchess

Good period film. Ralph Fiennes plays a perfect scoundrel of a husband. You will love to hate him. Keira Knightly as the popular duchess who must put up with her philandering husband, all in the name of social standing in stuffy old England. I’m not a Keira fan, but she does play the part very well. Will probably be nominated for plenty of awards. I enjoyed it. Only for those who like the corset and wig films.

Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist

Cute teenage movie. The movie follows a couple of groups of high school seniors through an endless night around NYC clubs as they search for the location of an elusive rock band, while two girls vie for the affections of geeky Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad). I’m still not sure what either girl saw in Cera, but the movie is entertaining - and there is a running theme with some bubble gum. I wasn’t paying attention to the gum until one particularly gross – and unforgettable – scene with the drunk blonde, so I’m not sure when it all started. I loved the gay band members; they were probably my favorite part of the movie. I kept hoping a certain arrogant and condescending bimbo would get punched in the face. A fun movie for those who like teenager films.

Miracle at St Anna’s

Good movie, but too pat of an ending. The movie begins enticingly enough with a veteran who kills someone he recognizes from WWII. Most of the rest of the movie takes place during WWII with the plight of 4 black Buffalo Soldiers as they rescue an Italian boy. All of it was excellent, except for the end, which ties everything into a big shiny red bow. I was disappointed in the ending, but the rest of the movie was excellent, even powerful. Your call.

Nights in Rodanthe

Perfect movie for hopeless romantics who like a good cry. Richard Gere and Diane Lane play two damaged souls who connect at a picturesque inn on an island off of the Carolina’s. I won’t give away anymore. I didn’t read the Nicholas Sparks book so I can’t give any comparisons. But I love this sort of movie, being one of those aforementioned hopeless romantics myself. I loved it, and I cried my eyes out at the end, so bring tissues.

Towelhead

I was expecting a film that addresses misconceptions and prejudices. While these issues are addressed, it is more of a coming of age story of a 13 year old girl (Summer Bishil) sent to live with her extremely strict Lebanese father (Peter Macdissi) set during the onset of the US invasion of Iraq. Aaron Eckhart costars as her creepy neighbor with pedophilia tendencies; Toni Collette stars as another neighbor trying to help look out for her best interests. Although Bishil is 20 years old in real life, it is still very disturbing to see her character in so many sexual situations. Good movie for those who don’t mind squirming through child sex scenes and promiscuity. I left the theater feeling “icky”.

My Best Friend’s Girlfriend

Way too lewd and crude for me. I was hoping for a mindless comedy, but got this gross-out, not very funny movie instead. Dane Cook stars as Jason Bigg’s best friend who attempts to horrify Kate Hudson into believing that Jason is the “nice guy” meant for her. A love triangle ensues. I suppose macho guys will enjoy this sort of humor, but I don’t.

Lakeview Terrace

Good movie. Samuel Jackson plays the neighbor from hell who does everything he can to force out the new interracial couple who moved in next door (Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington). I groaned several times at the poor decisions the neighbors made which would obviously backfire. But it was still fun to watch it all play out.

Burn After Reading

Good comedy. I’m not sure why everyone was expecting the Coen Brothers to come out with another No Country For Old Men. Clearly, the brothers are just having fun with Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand as two inept coworkers who find a CD which they believe contains CIA secrets. They attempt to blackmail John Malkovich. George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins also star. A fun film, but being a Coen brother’s movie, expect a couple of gruesome murders. I liked it.

Righteous Kill

Good movie. Robert De Niro and Al Pacino star as two cops searching for a serial killer who kills the bad guys. John Leguizamo and Danny Wahlberg costar. I wouldn’t call this an action movie, but it’s a good cops and robbers who-dunnit. You’ve got one character saying he’s the killer, but everything still seems a little fishy till the twist at end. Good movie, but I still liked “Traitor” better.

The Women

Good chick flick. Four great (ultra rich) friends who help each other out through bad times; in this case, one has a cheating husband. Meg Ryan and Debra Messing play two scrappy looking mothers. Annette Benning and Jada Pinkett Smith play two sleek and chic childless singles. Also starring Eva Mendes, Candice Bergen, and in a small role, Bette Midler. The title is taken quite literally, since none of the husbands, fathers, or any male characters at all are shown in the movie. I liked this movie but I am biased, since I love chick flicks and movies where true friendship is the underlying theme. If you like a good chick flick too, then go for it.

Ripple Effect

Great premise, so-so execution. A Lebanese-American fashion designer finds both his business and marriage to Virginia Madsen failing. He is haunted by a car accident from 15 years ago where he hit Forest Whittaker and left him wheelchair bound. He believes that meeting with Forest may give him the peace of mind he needs to turn his life around. Minnie Driver also co-stars. The beginning of the movie was very choppy but eventually smoothed out. But then the end became sudden and choppy as well. These things bug me! Overall, a good story. But wait for it on DVD or cable.

Elegy

Well if you look up the word, it means a sad, mournful poem or song. That about sums up the movie. Ben Kingsley seems to have it all. He’s a respected professor, he gives interviews on TV and has a radio talk show. He has Patricia Clarkson for a lover. Dennis Hopper is his best buddy who keeps him grounded. But he’s sad and lonely and becomes obsessed with Penelope Cruz. I thought it was a creepy romance, what with him not so good to look at, and her simply gorgeous and full of life. And he wants to know all the details of her past lovers. Creepy! But right when I thought the movie was finished, it continued on and surprised me a bit with more depth. Deborah Harry has a bit part as Hopper’s wife and Peter Sarsgaard as Kingsley’s hateful son. This is the type of movie that the Academy Awards seems to love; but not me. Wait for it to come out on cable. Or not.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Very good movie. Woody Allen movie - thankfully he is not in it :). Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) spend two months in Barcelona where they meet the extremely – and amusingly so – forward Javier Bardem, who impacts the girls lives in ways they didn’t expect. Penelope Cruz doesn’t show up until the second half. I was afraid this would be some kind of weird sex movie that I would hate. In fact, the movie is very tastefully done and is rated PG-13. None of the irritating, overly analytical conversations that seem to be a Woody Allen trademark. Good movie. Gorgeous scenery of Barcelona and Orvieto. What’s not to like?

Traitor

Excellent movie!! Don Cheadle as a devout Muslim who leads a complex life while walking a fine line between his own beliefs and those of the terrorists he builds bombs for. Guy Peirce plays the FBI investigator trying to track him down. Jeff Daniels as an Intelligence operative. I don’t want to give away anymore. Just go see it. Very intense and exciting.

House Bunny

Anna Faris as a bunny booted from the Playboy mansion who finds a new home as a house mother for an unpopular sorority. It’s predictable but cute with some forced laughs. Hugh Hefner and his Girls Next Door make several appearances. Cute movie, but don’t race to the theater to see it.

Henry Poole is Here

Pretty good movie; Quirky and a little sad. Luke Wilson is a sad guy who buys a small stucco house and just wants to be left alone. When his nosey neighbor discovers a water stain on the side of his house that resembles a portrait of Jesus, she sneaks in her church buddies and her priest (George Lopez). People continue to sneak in and claim to receive miracle cures from the water stain. Poor Luke Wilson just wants them all to leave him and his home alone. It was cute, bittersweet, and I only recommend it for those who like quirky indie movies.

Meet Dave

Funny, but wait for it to come out on TV. Eddie Murphy is an alien robot operated by dozens of inch tall people sent to earth to steal the salt from our oceans. The laughs come mostly from Murphy’s hilarious facial expressions as he tries to fit in with humans. One gay character is so over the top, it may piss off some folks in the gay community. But it’s a funny, harmless movie.

Tropic Thunder

Funny, but even dumber than I expected. Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. star as actors who’ve been dropped in a Vietnam jungle to film an action movie. This movie tweaks at actor’s insecurities and egos and also the overly dramatic (sappy) scenes in movies. Tom Cruise also stars as a ruthless balding and overweight movie exec (I loved his dancing scenes). Also starring Matthew McConaughey and Nick Nolte, plus many other star cameos. The movie used plenty of raunchy profanity and Ben Stiller just over acted too much; even though the movie is a parody and they are supposed to be acting badly, Stiller was just too much.

Swing Vote

I really liked this one. Kevin Costner must decide between Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper as the next president due to a voting machine glitch. This movie is less about which candidate is better qualified, and more about Costner’s evolution from an irresponsible guy who drinks his way through life into someone who starts to care about the world around him. Madeline Carroll as his daughter is adorable and steals every scene – what a great little actress!

Brideshead Revisited

Excellent movie; though without the happy ending I was hoping for. This movie is worth it for the gorgeous scenery alone. In the 1920’s, a young artist (Matthew Goode - Matchpoint) befriends an eccentric gay classmate (Ben Whishaw – Perfume), but falls for his sister instead. A sort of love triangle ensues. The setting, Brideshead, is a gorgeous English estate (or palace - by my definition) headed by Whishaw’s mother, Emma Thompson. It is a setting where Goode’s artistic imagination runs wild, and later, he is taken to scenic Venice to visit the siblings’ dad, Michael Gambon (Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, among many other things) and his mistress. Goode’s character is brought back to Brideshead many times – as the title suggests – as he tries to come to terms with his conflicted interests. Excellent Academy Award worthy movie. I really enjoyed it and especially the scenery, even though I always hope for the happy ending in movies.

Bottle Shock

Excellent movie! Based on a true story. In 1976, a snooty wine connoisseur (Alan Rickman, better known as Professor Snape) hoping to improve business in his Paris wine shop, decides to travel to Napa Valley and have a contest comparing the frowned upon California wines to the preferred Parisian wines. Meanwhile, a struggling vintner (Bill Pullman) and his spoiled hippy son (Chris Vine) try to prevent their vineyard from going into foreclosure. This is a very well done movie that will make you want to uncork a good chardonnay when you get home.

Pineapple Express

Hilarious! Seth Rogen (Superbad) and James Franco (Spiderman) are two dope-heads on the run from killer drug dealers. Plenty of action, complete with chase scenes, shoot-outs, a few explosions, and a little gore. Thankfully, it is not raunchy like Superbad or 40 Year Old Virgin. But you can’t help but love the two protagonists as they stumble through the movie in a pot induced fog.

Sisterhood of Traveling Pants 2

I liked this movie, but somehow I had imagined the girls to have matured a bit in the two years since the original. They still behave like adolescents. The previews led us to believe that most of the movie would take place on Santorini, Greece, (which I was really looking forward to!) but the girls don’t arrive there until the end. It was a very sweet movie with three of the girls having boy troubles, often bring the drama onto themselves, and the forth girl learning she has a Grandmother who loves her (Blythe Danner). I enjoyed the role by Shohreh Aghdashloo, who plays an archeologist leading a dig in Turkey and also serves as a role model for Blake Lively. It was still an enjoyable movie, and I did sniffle a few times, I just wish more of it took place in Greece like Mama Mia did!

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

This is a fun adventure movie with Brendan Fraser fighting mummies for the 3rd time. It is nearly not as good as the first two Mummy installments though. This time, Brendan’s 21 year old son (I don’t remember him having a kid that old…) uncovers an evil Chinese emperor’s (Jet Li) tomb who of course gets brought to life, with plenty of CGI effects (including some fake looking Yetis). Maria Bello takes over the role of Brendan’s wife, though she is not nearly as feisty and fun as Rachel Weisz. Like I said, it is a fun escape, but not nearly as good as the previous Mummy movies.

Step Brothers

This movie is dumb, ridiculous, and hilarious! John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell join up again as 40 year old “kids” forced to share a room after their parents decide to marry. Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins star as the parents. Together, the step brothers fight with each other, fight neighborhood bullies, and share a mutual hatred for Ferrell’s little brother, whom you will love to hate. They perfectly portrayed emotionally stunted men who pout and have tantrums and stomp up and down the stairs just like kids. There is plenty of profanity and a few offensive songs, and this is not the kind of movie I would normally enjoy, but I did like it.

Dark Knight

“Dark” being the operative word. I thought the movie was unnecessarily too dark, and the plot too convoluted. I’ve always liked Heath Ledger, but a posthumous Academy Award? I think not. Heath plays an insane criminal who enjoys bringing chaos into the already dangerous Gotham. Christian Bale is back as the caped crusader and Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking – now that was a good movie!) as the new idealist DA who wants to turn Gotham around. It wasn’t a terrible movie, but not nearly as good as the previous Christian Bale effort. Sorry, I prefer Jack Nicholson as a more light-hearted Joker, with a sense of humor. Unfortunately this “comic” book adaptation is dark and depressing with so many characters that I gave up trying to remember everyone’s names. But all the critics seem to love it, so maybe it’s just me. You decide.

Mama Mia

I really enjoyed this one. Only for those who like musicals. Meryl Streep’s daughter is getting married, and she invites the three men who could be her possible fathers. I loved the Greek scenery and I liked the music too, despite the fact that neither Pierce Brosnan nor Colin Firth can carry a tune. The daughter is angelic looking and really sweet – and a good singer too! I thought the two women who played Meryl Streep’s friends were a bit ridiculous, but the rest was good clean fun. A good uplifting movie.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (in 3D)

Brendan Fraser follows after his lost brother’s footsteps via the Jules Verne novel to find himself at the earth’s core, along with his young nephew and a pretty Icelandic mountain guide. I’ll be honest, I never read the book; my Weymouth public school education didn’t include the classics. I will say that they seem to have improved upon 3D visual effects, though the picture still feels shaky. The last time I saw something in 3D was a Friday the 13th back in 1984 or ‘85. They use plastic glasses now instead of the cardboard ones, and the cost is added to the movie ticket! This movie didn’t take advantage of the 3D as much as it could have. The only time the 3D was fully utilized, in my opinion, was during the flying piranha scene – which is the only scene that made me jump out of my seat. It was a fun, cute movie though. The glow-in-the-dark birds were cartoonish and corny, but I found the rest of it to be an enjoyable fantasy, especially for kids.

Hancock

Fun action movie with Will Smith as the reluctant super hero with a drinking problem. Jason Bateman and Charlise Theron also star. I enjoyed it, although I imagine there has to be a sequel since they leave you with unanswered questions regarding Hancock’s origins. Aside from that, the movie is very fun, though probably not for little kids; unless you want them repeating some of the swears – like the little kids sitting near me were doing.

War, Inc.

John Cusack seemed to have a noble idea of portraying war as a business that makes rich companies richer. But the execution of his idea just plain stinks. The movie takes place in a made up country that the US has invaded in order to line the pockets of a Haliburton-like company which is run by a “former vice president”. Cusack is supposed to be an assassin sent to kill the country’s ruler. His “cover” is to act as a representative of the “Haliburton” type company. Hillary Duff plays an oversexed pop star that the company wants to use for PR. Marisa Tomei stars as a reporter who is trying to expose the dirty dealings of the company. Sir Ben Kingsley and Joan Cusack also star. I read an interview where John Cusack says he made the movie into a satire, because the reality is too depressing to watch. I agree with him there, but I’m afraid the movie is just too dumb.

WALL-E

Very cute robot cartoon, but not your typical cartoon with action and one-liners. Wall-E is the last of a fleet of mini garbage compacters who’ve been left to clean up the earth after all of the humans were evacuated to a space ship, 700 years prior. This movie definitely is sending a message about humans destroying the planet via consumption and waste. There is no dialogue, so to speak, until the last 3rd of the movie. Instead, we watch Wall-E the lonely robot explore through trash heaps that are larger than NYC skyscrapers, while he compacts the trash, and saves the little trinkets he finds interesting. Then it turns into a love story when Eva is sent to the polluted earth to looks for signs of vegetation. Still no dialogue, just really sweet scenes and a great soundtrack of classical and golden oldies. The movie goes further to show how humans became lazier and lazier to the point of forgetting how to stand or walk. I won’t give away anymore. It is a sweet robot love story with a poignant political agenda.

Wanted

Exciting action flick starring James McAvoy (Atonement, Last King of Scotland) as a loser who finds himself being recruited into a group of assassin spies led by Morgan Freeman and receives some training from Angelina Jolie. There was so much I really liked about this movie, especially in the beginning with James McAvoy’s sad but laughable life as a drone in an office cubicle and his cheating girlfriend. I even liked the super human type abilities of the spies and the unrealistic but still kinda cool chase scenes. What I couldn’t get past was how the assassins got their marching orders on whom to kill. Unlike the Bourne movies or Mission Impossible, etc., where there is a command center that tracks bad guys worthy of being taken out, this group of spies gets their targets from this stupid “Loom of Faith”. You wouldn’t believe me if I tried to explain it, it is so ridiculous. As I said, there were so many other good things about the movie, especially James McAvoy who is so likable as a shmo going through life on automatic. Too bad about the incredibly dumb basis for which the group of assassins conspires.

The Happening

M. Night Shyamalan’s latest is better than I think most critics gave him credit for. Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel are caught in the middle of an unexplained event that is causing people to go a little nuts before committing suicide. I kind of liked the theme of nature restoring balance. I liked it, it wasn’t too weird, it wasn’t too scary. It was just the right amount of creepy. And I like seeing Mark Wahlberg mature as an actor.

Get Smart

Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is back fighting Chaos in Russia with Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). I was expecting this to be really dumb, but I wound up enjoying it. It wasn’t what I’d call side splitting, but there were plenty of laughs and fun poked at Bush and Homeland Security. James Caan is amusing as the US President. A fun movie that brought back plenty of memories from one of my favorite shows when I was a kid.

The Incredible Hulk

Ed Norton as the big angry guy in hiding in a fun action movie that is left wide open for a sequel, and in fact at the end they tie in a teaser for the sequel including another big action hero. Liv Tyler stars as his love interest and William Hurt as the bad guy general who wants the Hulk back for government testing. Tim Roth stars as a report to Hurt’s general, who is hot for the challenge of conquering the Hulk. Nice cameo from Lou Ferrigno – I swear the man hasn’t aged and he is still HUGE. I have two complaints: 1) the fate of “Mr. Blue” isn’t clear. I assume he will be in the sequel, but a more of a teaser would have been nice. 2) one of the bad guys sort of has a change of heart (though I am sure it is self-serving) but it is not clear what he has to gain from this. Other than those possibly intentional loose strings, it was a fun action thriller, with really cool special effects.

Kung Fu Panda

Cute movie geared at boys who love Kung Fu, lots of action and fight scenes. Jack Black as a Panda who dreams of being a Kung Fu warrior, and gets his wish to train with the most elite. As the title implies, there is a LOT of Kung Fu and action in this movie. May be too violent for very sensitive youngsters. My only complaint is that the Tigress, voiced by Angelina Jolie, looks like a male, walks like a male and dresses like a male. But it is supposed to be a girl. Where’s the big pretty eyes and long eyelashes? Even the female snake looks like a girl. Fun action flick, but not as inventive as say Shark Tale, among others.

The Fall

This an artsy independent film, with some gory violence. The movie takes place in the early 1900’s in a small hospital. A bored and precocious little girl with a broken arm wanders around the hospital and makes friends with a man (Lee Pace / Pushing Daisies, Miss Pettigrew) with a back injury, who tells her a fantastical story that takes place in faraway lands. Much of the movie follows the outlandish characters in Pace’s made-up story, though his story vaguely parallels his own problems in life. The movie shows some breathtakingly gorgeous landscapes from around the world and is very artfully done. It is strange, fantastical, tragic and kinda cool. I enjoyed it, but I only recommend it for those people who enjoy strange, artsy movies.

Made of Honor

Well, this one is better than What Happens in Vegas, but that isn’t saying much. Patrick Dempsey stars as a rich womanizer who decides his best friend, Bridget Monaghan, is the one for him. Unfortunately, Bridget falls for a handsome Scottish man and asks Patrick to be her Maid of Honor. Very similar to My Best Friend’s Wedding. Some of the movie is cute and there is some beautiful scenery of Scotland with quaint villages, castles and cathedrals. Unfortunately, much of the “comedy” is overdone and just not funny.

Then She Found Me

This is one of those low budget independent films with an all star cast. Helen Hunt stars as a school teacher who has pretty much every tragic thing that can happen to one person, happen all at once in about two months time. Mathew Broderick as her immature husband wants a divorce. Her adoptive mother dies. She starts dating Colin Firth only to find out she’s pregnant with Broderick’s child. Out of the blue, her birth mother, Bette Midler, wants to meet her. There’s more, but I won’t give it all away. Helen Hunt is really good at playing the tired and haggard woman who desperately wants to be a mother. Bette Midler is wonderful and lively as usual, and is a real bright spot in the movie. I enjoyed it, but I only recommend it to those who enjoy low budget, independent films.

Sex And The City

If you loved the TV show as much as I did, then you’ll love it. They give you a little recap in the beginning to catch you up on each character’s history, so even those who never watched the show can enjoy it. The pre-wedding part of the movie flew by and felt choppy, but the movie is over 2 hours, so they had to cram a lot in. After the “Big” day, the movie slows to a more manageable rate, without the choppiness. Samantha is just as fabulous as always, Charlotte is still sweet and optimistic, Miranda is a bit overworked and Carrie is the same old Carrie. My only question is: What happened to Marcus, Sanford’s one true love? They could have mentioned him in passing to give us a hint at what happened with him. Even though the evil previews gave away the two main dramas that the movie is centered around, I refuse to give any of it away. I was just hoping they would have given Samantha more of a grand finale to her storyline. She was always my favorite with her unapologetically unabashed love for sex :). If you love chick flicks, go see it! I loved it!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Another fun addition to the Indiana Jones series. This time a young kid, Shia Labeouf, convinces Indy to go to Peru to rescue his kidnapped mother (Karen Allen) and also an old colleague of Indy’s, who was originally on the quest for the Crystal Skull. Also involved are a Russian group led by Cate Blanchett who are also interested in the findings of Indy’s old colleague and anything Indy may be able to offer in the search of the Crystal Skull. I am not giving away any more! Go see it! Lots of fun adventures and mysteries to unravel. A fun movie.

Son of Rambow

Go see this one if you get a chance! A British movie about two boys who are complete opposites who, after seeing “First Blood”, decide to film a version of their own. One boy is sweet and naïve, and brought up by a strict religious group, the Brethren, that don’t allow him to watch TV. The second boy is straight out of Denise The Menace and can’t help but get into trouble. The movie takes place in the 80’s at the time the first Rambo movie, First Blood, came out. There is also a creepy French exchange student who epitomizes everything that was bad about 80’s fashion. I honestly thought he was a girl at first, and it took some time before I realized he was a boy. This is not a straight out comedy, as we expect coming out of England. It is more of a drama with some funny parts. I definitely recommend this one, its great!

How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer

Three generations of women all search for love, or at least a satisfied libido, in this sweet – but slow – movie. There is a running theme about women and cars, and each woman’s fate is affected by cars or lack thereof. The granddaughter (America Ferrera) is a 17 year old coming of age and looking to explore her sexuality, and thinks she finds it when a cute guy rides into her (very!) small town in the middle of nowhere. Her mom (Elizabeth Peña), who has been all work and no play for years, tries to fight temptation with a neighborhood flirt. And Grandma seeks independence by buying an old car and getting driving lessons from her gardener. Grandma is a very proper woman but finds difficulty in suppressing her desires. This is a very slow moving, low budget-type movie, with some long sensual scenes that were, at times, a little uncomfortable to watch. But if you have patience for this type of movie, this one has a quiet beauty about it. All I can say is: Go Grandma!

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I think I liked this better than the first Narnia movie, and that one was great! The same 4 siblings find themselves transported back to Narnia after being beckoned to assist a prince to prevent his throne from being overtaken by an evil uncle. A few cool battles with even cooler creatures ensue. It felt like a cross between the Harry Potter movies (one creature sure looked a lot like Buckbeak the Hippogriff) and the Lord of the Rings trilogy (I think they stole some Ents!). The only “star” that I recognized from this film is Peter Dinklage (In Bruges, Station Agent), but I tend to prefer non-star-studded movies as the focus is more on the story, rather than who is in it. Not suitable for small children, since the battle scenes may be too scary. Very cool special effects and a very enjoyable movie!

The Visitor

At last, a really good movie! (This is an American, English speaking movie). Stars Richard Jenkins as a stale, lonely college professor whose life gets spiced up when he returns to his second home in NYC only to find a couple of illegal aliens living in his apartment! Jenkins allows them to stay and winds up truly enjoying their company. Tarek, from Syria, has an infectious smile and teaches Jenkins how to play African drums. Tarek’s wife, from Senegal, is a bit more reserved. Unfortunately, one of the aliens gets caught by INS and winds up in a detention center, and Jenkins does what he can to help out. Enter Tarek’s beautiful mother. This is an excellent movie, though the ending was a bit sad. Realistic, I suppose, but not what I was hoping for. I definitely recommend it.

What Happens in Vegas…

Well, if you saw the previews, you saw the whole movie. I was hoping there would be some more funny parts, but everything was already shown in the “trailers”. It has really gotten to the point where I close my eyes and hum during the previews, because I would rather be surprised, and not have the entire story given away! Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher meet in Vegas, wake up married to each other, and after agreeing to divorce, hit the $3mil jackpot in a slot machine. Dweezil Zappa as a fed up judge, sentences them to “six months of hard marriage”. Obviously, while trying to drive each other crazy, they fall for each other. Queen Latifah plays the court appointed marriage counselor. Too many dumb and over the top ploys against each other. It just wasn't that funny. Wait for the DVD…

Iron Man

This was a fun guilty pleasure. You know the story: Robert Downey Jr., after being held captive in Afghanistan and forced to create a missile, instead creates a cool suit that withstands fire power and helps him escape. More improved cool suits follow along with some double crossing and adventure. Also stars Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow. We enjoyed the special effects and the gratuitous violence. As I said, a fun, guilty pleasure.

Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

Much lewder, cruder and even more vulgar than the original. Much more female nudity too. Of course Jim loved it. Me, not so much. Harold and Kumar get arrested on an airplane and get sent to Guantanamo Bay Prison. The movie takes a lot of much deserved cracks at Homeland Security. They wind up traveling across the South and, while dispelling the stereotypes about Koreans and Indians, they wind up reinforcing stereotypes of every other race and culture along the way. OK, we didn’t get the joke that was supposed to be insulting to blacks, about pouring out grape soda onto the street, much to the dismay of the stereotyped black folks. Could someone explain this one to us? I did laugh out loud a few times, but mostly I was cringing at how lewd it was. As I said, Jim loved it… I loved the first movie, (OK, except for 2 REALLY gross parts, yeah, the girls in the bathroom and the puss bursting guy), but the rest of it was side-splitting and stereotype busting fun. As I said, this sequel one makes fun of all white people, Jews, and everyone in Alabama (and the rest of the South), and blacks too, though I didn’t get the joke. Anyway, more of an immature guy movie… Not so much enjoyable for girls…

Priceless (Hors de Prix)

I wanted so much for this to be a modern day Breakfast At Tiffany’s (after all, my dog is named after Audrey Hepburn!!). Well this French movie with subtitles stars Audrey Tautou (Amelie, Da Vinci Code) as more of a blood sucking vulture, instead of a mere gold-digger. It starts out with much promise, very cute and snappy, as she mistakenly sleeps with a hotel worker, thinking he is a rich suitor. Well much like the beloved classic, the two social climbers fall for each other, eventually. I really did enjoy this movie, but my expectations were too high! After the cute & snappy beginning, it sours a bit when you realize just how greedy Audrey Tautou’s character really is. The male social climber, who has much higher morals (which leads you to wonder what he sees in the blood sucking vulture) is only going along for the ride to win the girl’s heart. I wound up being sickened by the lifestyles of the rich and not so famous. But it really was an enjoyable movie; it just wasn’t the wonderful future classic I was hoping it to be.

Nim’s Island

Really cute story of a girl and her Dad living on a private island. The girl (Abigail Breslin, from Little Miss Sunshine- GREAT movie!) idolizes her favorite adventure writer (Jodie Foster). When Dad (Gerald Butler – so hot! - from the "300" movie) doesn’t return from a boat trip, the girl enlists her favorite adventure writer to help her. Too bad Jodie Foster’s character is OCD and agoraphobic! Very cute adventure type story, and slightly reminiscent of Home Alone when the boy has to scare away bad guys. I omitted a sentence here - I don't like to give away too much! From the previews, I had the impression the island animals speak. They don’t. The lizard may groan and even scream at times, but the movie is not as “cutesy” as I expected it to be. I loved it, and kids and grownups of all ages should as well!

Deception

Ewan McGregor as a nerdy introvert who inadvertently falls into a sex club (though he certainly enjoys himself – don’t worry, the sex scenes are fairly tame) and then gets blackmailed. I can’t say anymore without giving away too much. Also stars Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams. It’s another one of those movies with a carefully devised plan that leaves too much to chance yet still works out (almost) perfectly. I enjoyed the suspense of it, the not really knowing what will happen next. Some of it is easy to figure out, but you still won’t know how the all cards will be played. The only thing that bugged me was the ending – take the darn suitcase already! I liked it.

Leatherheads

Entertaining movie and fictional take about the inception of professional football in 1925. George Clooney as an aged football player with no other real job skills. When his small time football team starts going broke, he devises a plan to make football a professional sport with a rich backer, and uses a popular player / war hero (John Krasinski) as the main attraction. Enter Renee Zellweger as a smart mouthed, ambitious reporter who is sent to get the real dirt on the “war hero” status and tarnish his reputation. A love triangle ensues. My only question is that Clooney’s character wanted to make the sport professional to ensure himself some financial stability. It wasn’t really clear if he got anything. It’s all a fun romp with Clooney in his full, charming swagger, and Krasinski as the likable good guy. I enjoyed it.

88 Minutes

Exciting suspense movie. Al Pacino stars as a womanizing college professor who gets an ominous phone call that he has 88 minutes to live. The movie involves a serial killer, whom Al Pacino helped convict as an expert witness, who is about to be executed on the same day. The movie starts out like a standard slasher movie, and I was worried I had I had wandered into the wrong theater! But instead, the movie is simply demonstrating the talents of the serial killer. It was very exciting and all the characters, including Al Pacino, act suspicious, so anyone and everyone is a suspect. In fact, the characters don’t seem to react the way normal people would in the same given situation. I still liked the movie, despite the fact that once you learn who is causing all the chaos, it seems truly unlikely that this person could have orchestrated all the events in only 88 minutes.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

I wasn’t even intending to see this movie, but I was in need of a comedy… Guy gets dumped by girl, then winds up stuck in the same Hawaiian hotel with her and her new boyfriend. It stars Jason Segel (from How I Met Your Mother) and Kristen Bell (I have no idea why she is famous?), also Mila Kunis (from That 70’s Show). I did laugh out loud several times; I thought the hotel employees were lovable, and I thought the young newlywed couple (who had abstained from sex until their marriage) was hilarious. I think they tried too hard for laughs at times, especially with the weird rock star boyfriend, but the audience seemed to enjoy it. Jason Segel displays full frontal nudity several times for comic affect and it seemed to get a lot of laughs from the audience. The movie was good for a few laughs, but it’s not the best comedy I’ve seen.

Smart People

An arrogant, socially inept professor (Randy Quaid) tries dating a lonely MD (Sarah Jessica Parker), while his loser of a brother (Thomas Hayden Church) moves in with Randy and his daughter (Ellen Page). I was hoping this movie would be more of a comedy, like Juno or Sideways, but the rare moments of humor are very dry, and overall the movie is depressing. Ellen Page has pretty much the same personality as her Juno character, and the only bright spots in the movie are when Thomas Hayden Church is present. There was no chemistry between Randy and Sarah’s characters. They were two lonely people going about their lives on autopilot, but they didn’t have a good time when they were together either. I suppose you are supposed to use your imagination and believe that everything turns out to be hunky dory. I’d say skip it, and go rent Juno and Sideways instead.

Drillbit Taylor

An amusing tale of two nerds who hire a bodyguard (Owen Wilson) to protect them from school bullies. This wasn’t as funny as I’d hoped, but I did love the two kids. They were a younger and cleaner version of the crude nerds in Superbad. Some of the pranks the poor kids had to endure were a bit too much. I’ve always liked Owen Wilson, but he always plays the same sort of personality. I’d recommend waiting for this one to come out on DVD.

Run Fat Boy Run

Very funny. Out of shape, ne’er do well security guard (Simon Pegg) decides to run a marathon to prove to his ex (Thandie Newton) and their son that he can actually complete a goal and somehow win her heart back. I read other reviews that said this movie “fell flat in the second half”, but I disagree. I think in the first half some of the jokes weren’t quite as funny as intended, but the second half had a lot of heart. Stars Simon Pegg (the red haired guy from Brit films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) and Hank Azaria as Thandie Newton’s boyfriend. My favorite character was played by Dylan Moran, as Simon Pegg’s best friend and also a gambling addict. We enjoyed it, and it gave Jim further motivation for his goal of completing the Chicago Marathon this October.

Under The Same Moon (La Misma Luna)

I loved this movie! A nine year old boy travels from Mexico to L.A. to find his mother who has been working there for 4 years to send money back to her family. Yes, I am against illegal immigration – there just has to be a better way! But it is very interesting to hear the Mexican’s point of view, and the little boy is just so darned cute you can’t help but root for him. Too bad the previews gave away pretty much the entire movie, but I still loved it anyway.

Sleepwalking

Charlize Theron as an irresponsible mother who abandons her 12 year old daughter with her slightly more responsible younger brother, Nick Stahl. The uncle and niece duo take off on a road trip and wind up at his abusive father’s ranch (Dennis Hopper). This is not a happy, feel-good movie. It is sad and depressing. Great acting though. I was hoping the characters would improve their situations somehow, but you’re left wondering “what now?”.

Funny Games

Two young preppies terrorize a young family (Naomi Watts, Tim Roth). Excruciating. I don’t mean excruciating suspense. I mean it is excruciating that you have to sit there and listen to the young preppies dumb jokes and banter. At one point one of the preppies actually talks to the camera and asks us, the viewers, if we want them to continue on because it would be no fun without a plot. What plot? We learn nothing about the preppies backgrounds or their motives. Apparently they were just bored and decided to go on a killing spree. All of the scuffles that end in gruesome violence are all done off screen. I do enjoy cat and mouse suspense films, but this isn’t one of them. Maybe if you have the patience to listen their dumb “polite” banter you might enjoy it. I didn’t.

War / Dance

If you want to see a really good movie of substance, that you will not soon forget, this is it. I will be really mad if this doesn’t win the Academy Award for Best Documentary. It is about the children of Northern Uganda who have been left orphaned by the rebels and must now live in a refugee camp with armed guards to protect them from abduction and being forced to kill innocents. The children from this particular camp are practicing for a National Music Competition, where they sing, dance, and play instruments, and find a little happiness in the music and forget their sorrows. The movie is narrated by the children who tell their horrific stories, yet they persevere and have hope for their future. It is wonderful to see the pure joy in their faces when they are dancing and playing music. I really don’t believe that there could be a better or more powerful movie to top this one all year, or ever.

10,000 B.C.

OK, I am no historian, but I believe this is a fictional adaptation of what the movie writers think to be real history. This was a very enjoyable piece of fiction; I loved the saber tooth tiger and the mammoths. Basically, there is “white” tribe (I use this term loosely, since the actors are from all walks of life), and they are ravaged by a more advanced tribe, who ride horses and use bows & arrows. The men (mostly it is the main character who wants to retrieve the pretty blue-eyed girl), decide to pursue the evil advanced tribe. Along the way, they meet other tribes, first black tribes, and then lighter skinned black tribes (I guess that’s why the movie got bad reviews, since it is unlikely after a few days hike that you would stumble upon a tribe of such a different culture & race) who were similarly ravaged. I won’t give away anymore, but you get the idea that the original “white” tribe collects members from other tribes who want to get their women and children back. It was an entertaining journey, and I enjoyed it, but of course, do you think the boy finally gets the girl? Great special effects, and very entertaining. But definitely not historically correct, if you are a stickler for details. The good new is that it is not like a History Channel documentary type thing. Fun adventure movie, but you might prefer to wait for it to come out on DVD.

The Bank Job

This is a good heist movie, though there are way too many topless girls in it that I never wanted to see! This is based on a true story of the heist of safety deposit boxes in London in the early 70’s. All sorts of shady characters are after the robbers from dirty cops to racketeering types to some sort of British version of the Black Panthers. It was exciting, even though parts drove me nuts, such as they finally get into the vault, and they decide to take a nap first! And they didn’t wear gloves, so they left fingerprints everywhere. Details bug me! Don’t worry, none of these things affected the plot, surprisingly… Jason Stratham stars as one of the robbers. There is some bloody violence, and the aforementioned nudity. This was an exciting movie.

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day

I loved this movie! Amy Adams plays a lovable floozy who can’t decide between 3 men: the rich man, the man who can make her a star, and the poor man who loves her. Frances McDormand plays the morally conflicted “social secretary” who is desperate for a job. With WWII looming overhead, and the great soundtrack of big band and swing, and the lavish lifestyles of parties, luxurious furs, silks and satins and dripping chandeliers, it was a fun and engaging movie. Sure, it’s a little predictable, but aren’t all chick flicks, and isn’t that why we love them?

Movies that are playing in Chicago as of March 5

The Other Boleyn Girl
I did not read the book, and I realize movies often have a hard time stuffing everything in from the book. I liked the movie, though it seemed like Henry VIII had nothing better to do than turn his kingdom upside down in order to satisfy his libido. But this is Henry VIII we are talking about. I loved the lavishly bejeweled costumes and the tender love scenes with Mary. Although I really like Natalie Portman, I think her blatant flirting was a little stiff. I still enjoyed being transported to another time and it felt like the Medieval Festival all over again :).


Penelope
Cute fairytale story. A girl is cursed with a pig nose, and the only way to break the spell is to find another blue blood who will accept her as she is. Although even with the pig nose, Christina Ricci is still gorgeous, and it’s hard to believe everyone running away in horror at the sight of her. Cute movie. I love James McAvoy, but he seems to be in every movie in the theaters these days.


Vantage Point
This is a tough one to review.

On the plus side, it was extremely exciting. Very edge of your seat. I thought it seemed realistic and Forest Whitaker is amazing as usual. Even Randy Quaid was excellent.

On the downside, they play the same 23 minutes over and over, from different characters point of view/ vantage point. They build you up to a cliff hanger, then they stop! and start over the 23 minutes again from another point of view. This felt very much like Groundhog Day. They do this 4 or 5 times. And it feels a little insulting to your intelligence, when after the 23 minutes they do a little recap, in case you weren't paying attn the first time.

In the end it all ties together nicely, which makes me happy. I have to say, I don't see any other way they could have squeezed in all the details of all the many characters. I guess I would give it 3 stars. It was very exciting to watch though, and it made me care about the characters.

I know the critics have bashed it, and some lady who came out of the same show complained that it was all action, and little dialogue. Well DUH, in an action movie, there isn't much time for chit chat. Overall, I did like it, but I guess it could have been done better, I am just not sure how. Maybe stretch out the 23 minutes and show everything consecutively, but then it would be easier to get all the characters mixed up.

Spiderwick Chronicals
I LOVED this movie!!! Anyone who likes cool creatures, like the ones in Harry Potter or Narnia, etc, should love this movie too. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, because I didn't think the previews looked very good. Luckily, there were way more nifty creatures that the previews didn't give away. This is the movie I had hoped Bridge to Terebithia would be (the previews had promised lots of creatures, but were pretty stingy with them). Lots of cool characters, a little bit of a mystery to unravel, some adventure since some of the creatures were evil, and a sweet ending. I just wish they showed more of the fairies :). May be too scary for very small children.

Charlie Bartlett :
I liked this one. It’s a teenager movie, but not obnoxious as most tend to be. Charlie is an Über rich, high IQ student who engages in illegal entrepreneurial enterprises in order to become popular. The movie begins with his getting kicked out of the latest private school, and he now must face public school. He shows up on his first day wearing a shirt, tie and a blazer with a crest on it… Robert Downey Jr. plays the harried principle who must contend with him. (Downey reminded me a lot of the Matthew Broderick character in “Election”, another movie I really enjoyed). I really enjoyed this one, as Charlie slowly learns from his mistakes and tries to do good.

Persepolis :
French adult cartoon with subtitles, which takes place in Tehran, and follows the life of a young girl who acts out against the injustices she must witness on a daily basis. It is a coming of age movie, of sorts, and a little enlightening on the way of life in Iran, and also in Vienna, where she is sent away to school. It begins in 1978, when she is about 10 or 11, and continues until about 1992 or 1994. There are some cute scenes, and I liked the stark black and white art used to illustrate the movie. There is a lot of teenage angst, intensified by her extreme life. It was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Ratatouille, which I disagree with. I’m pretty sure Ruthy and maybe Laura would like this one.

27 Dresses –
If you really need to see a chick flick go ahead, this should satisfy any chick flick cravings. Unfortunately, this is not one of the best chick flicks I’ve seen. The best part is when you see how Katherine Heigl’s character uses all the old bridesmaid dresses.

Fool’s Gold -
Not exactly an Oscar contender, but hey, during this frigid Chicago winter, it is really nice to see a tropical locale and swaying palm trees. Guys will be happy to see Kate Hudson in a bikini, and girls will be happy to see Matthew running around shirtless. Oh yeah, there's a treasure hunt too! It is a fun, silly comedy.

Jumper –
Well this one isn’t going to win any awards. There were some neat special effects as the main character learns he can transport himself to anywhere in the world. It did make me wish that I had that capability and be able to travel like he does. But then there is Samuel Jackson as the one who is after “jumpers” because jumpers do break laws. And the end was left wide open for a sequel.

Juno -
Great movie, a little slow in parts as most low budget type movies tend to be. Ellen Page as a pregnant teen, preparing to give it up for adoption to Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. I loved the girl's father, J.K Simmons. The sound track reminded me a lot of Phoebe from Friends singing her coffee shop “Smelly Cat” song. Smart dialogue, witty, dry humor. I really enjoyed it.

No Country For Old Men –
Excellent movie, though a bad “ending” – the movie just stops, without any resolution. Though the ending in this one is better than the one from There Will Be Blood. Javier Bardem plays a chilling killer with his own strange code of ethics. He deserved the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

In Bruges –
Very good dark comedy. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are hit men in hiding in the quaint tourist town of Bruges. Ralph Fiennes is pretty intense as thier boss. There are some blood and guts toward the end, so it’s not all laughs. This movie is mostly dialogue, so if you are looking for an action movie, this is not for you. It is refreshingly politically incorrect, and pretty much everyone, including Americans, is insulted. I really enjoyed the different characters and their attitudes, and I definitely have to go see Bruges someday!

The Savages –
Excellent portrayal of siblings sniping at each other over the care of their father, from whom both had been estranged. Partly funny, partly sad, but excellent all the way through. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are both excellent as usual.

Atonement –
I do love period films. This movie felt a bit long in parts, and I think they could have cut some of it out, mainly some of the war scenes. James McAvoy was excellent, and boy, you really will want to strangle that little girl! Beautiful costuming and scenery. Very tragic story. A good tear-jerker.

Definitely, Maybe -
I loved this movie! Ryan Reynolds tells his daughter, Abigail Breslin, the story of the 3 main loves of his life. Only complaint was Ryan Reynold's character wasn’t aged. His present day character is around 37-40, and he still looks baby faced. They should have added a little gray to his temples. But still an adorable movie with, of course, a happy ending.

There Will Be Blood –
No question that Daniel Day Lewis is a riveting actor. The story was interesting, but there was no ending – the movie just stops without any resolution. And there were some maddening questions over this Paul/Eli character. Were they twins and Paul just dropped out of the movie after his only scene? Or was Eli suffering from multiple personalities (he was a bit unbalanced)? And what made the kid go nuts? He saw a picture in a diary and just went nuts. Very strange movie.