Django Unchained

Dark Comedy, Period
4 stars
Brutally violent, yet funny.  Jaime Foxx stars as a slave who agrees to help bounty hunter Christoph Waltz in return for his freedom as well as assistance with rescuing his wife (Kerry Washington) from plantation owner Leonardo DiCaprio.  Excellent acting, especially DiCaprio as we've never seen him before.  The violence is mostly gratuitous, with exaggerated exploding blood bags that can't help but make you laugh with how silly it is - typical Quentin Tarantino. But then there are some truly disturbing, brutal acts of violence as well. Very good, but not for the faint of heart.

Les Miserables

Musical, Drama
5 stars
Loved it!  Hugh Jackman stars as Jean Valjean, a man just released from prison, who raises the little Cosette (Amanda Seyfried).  Oh, there's lots more to the story, but why give it all away?   I loved that the stars sang the songs as they acted, rather than being dubbed over later - I found these performances so much more powerful, and less staged.  If they were off-key, I was too busy sniffling to notice.  I am not even an Anne Hathaway fan, but she made me cry at least twice.  I thought the singing was excellent (even Russell Crowe!); the acting was outstanding; the story is of course very moving.  For all the critics out there who didn't like it, they obviously don't like Broadway theater musicals, or maybe they just don't get it.  The audience at the showing I went to all applauded at the end - though I was too busy blowing my nose!  This film is for those who loved the famous musical, and those who never got a chance to see it.  Bring lots of tissues.  Bravo!

This is 40

Comedy
3 stars
Part funny, part depressing.  Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann (wife of writer/director Judd Apatow) play a couple approaching their respective 40th birthdays while raising two daughters and dealing with financial troubles.  Apatow films are generally too raunchy for me, but this one was OK in that respect save for one gross conversation regarding Mann's workout friend and her "nerve damage".  I wish I never even saw that scene - eew!  But when the film got really into their financial problems and Mann started questioning her marriage, it just got too depressing for me.  I was expecting a light comedy, and much of it was, but Apatow should stay away from the serious stuff.  Good for fans of Apatow.

Jack Reacher

Action, Dry Comedy
4 stars
Smart action thriller starring Tom Cruise as a former Military Policeman and brilliant detective and who comes out of hiding to assist in the investigation of a sniper shooting rampage.  Rosamund Pike (An Education, Wrath of the Titans) co-stars as the daughter of the DA (Richard Jenkins) who has chosen to represent the shooter. I thought this was a well done, very intelligent story.  However, it felt like a few details were skimmed over too quickly (such as why was Reacher demoted from the MP? among others); details that I assume were explained in greater detail in the book version.  I didn't read the book, but although Cruise does not physically resemble the title character, he has proven he can pull off fight scenes quite well, and be convincing as a highly intelligent character.  Very good film.

Guilt Trip

Comedy
3 stars
Cute light comedy where Seth Rogen takes his Mom (Barbra Streisand) on a cross-country road trip.  There are a few outtakes after the closing credits begin.  It's predictable of course, but good for a few laughs.

The Hobbit, 3D

4.5 stars
Fantasy, Adventure
Fun movie.  The first film in a trilogy(!) based on the single book of the same title.  Bilbo Baggins is recruited by Gandolf the Wizard to embark on a journey with a group of dwarves to help them reclaim their castle.  They encounter many dangers and strange beings along the way.  The New Zealand backdrop is stunning, the visual graphics are cool and I loved the close-ups of Gollum's face!  I read this book twice back when I was a teen, but my memory fails me.  From what I recall it seems to follow along closely with the book, and at about the same pace.  I did not experience the vertigo that some people have been experiencing with the 3D version.  I did think that a few times the camera moved too quickly when it was panning, resulting in a blurry picture - especially when they first encountered those giant wolves.  Fun movie.

Playing For Keeps

Chick Flick, Drama
3.5 stars
Predictable but cute.  Gerard Butler stars as a former soccer star who tries to win back the hearts of his ex-wife (Jessica Biel) and son.  Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman and Judy Greer all play desperate soccer moms vying for his heart - or least into his bedroom.  Dennis Quaid co-stars as a strange character whose source of wealth and motives regarding Butler are unclear.  Cute but forgettable.

Killing Them Softly

Drama, Crime
3.5 stars
Very dark; Jim liked it.  Brad Pitt stars as a slick hit man called in to whack some thugs.  James Gandolfini co-stars as a profane pig of a man.  I really hated his character.  The acting is very good, but nothing we haven't already seen from any of these actors.  The film moves slowly for dramatic effect,  much like in the film Drive.  However, in Drive, at least there was some hope for the characters to have a better future.  In Softly, all the characters are losers, and whether they succeed in their schemes or not, will continue to be losers.  Too dark for me and lacking any wry comic relief.  But as I said, Jim liked it.

Rise of the Guardians

Family, Animation
4 stars
Cute.  All our childhood fantasy characters are reinvented for this fun filled adventure as the good guys try to stop the Boogie Man (Jude Law) from haunting children's dreams.  If you can get past all the characters being different from how you know them (Santa (Alec Baldwin) is a tattooed Russian, The Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) is a big tough guy, etc), it's really a fun story.  To give you an idea: I wanted to change my seat in the theater, but I couldn't find a good time to take my eyes away from the screen to do so.  Very cute film.

Anna Karenina

Period, Drama
5 stars
Excellent in every way.  Keira Knightly stars in the classic Tolstoy tormented love story of a married woman who falls for another man.  Jude Law co-stars as her saint of a husband and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass and Savages) plays her lover.  The movie is filmed partly on the stage and transitions the scenes in the same theatrical manner.  At first it seems awkward and strange and then suddenly you realize how genius it is and you can't help but admire such bold creativity, especially with such a beloved classic.  Outstanding acting, gorgeous costuming and stage designs, and a heartbreaking story. If this isn't a Best Picture nominee, then I don't know what is.   Loved it!

Hitchcock

Drama, True Story
4.5 stars
Loved it.  Anthony Hopkins stars as Alfred Hitchcock while filming the classic Psycho.  I was skeptical about this one, since Hopkins doesn't really look like Hitchcock and I thought just the filming of the movie would be dull - but it isn't.  We get an insider's look at his marriage (Helen Mirren plays his wife), and some insight on the true story that inspired the plot of Psycho.  Even though we all know what a classic hit Psycho was, I couldn't help but feel the suspense as Hitchcock tries to prove all the naysayers wrong by making this movie.  Very good film.

Lincoln

Period, True Story
4 stars
Very good historical drama dealing with the events leading up to the passing of the 13th amendment.  Daniel Day Lewis is amazing as usual.  I am not a fan of Sally Field (as the First Lady).  I thought she was good until her inevitable tantrum (she seems to have one in every film she's in), then I kept thinking "Enough already, let's move on to the next scene!".  I thought the f-word, though used humorously, seemed incongruous with the time period, but my historian friend informed that word has been around since the 1600's.  This movie is mostly dialogue, which can be dry at times, but it was thankfully broken up with humor every now and then by Lincoln's youngest son and also by James Spader (love him!).  Very good history lesson.

Life of Pi

Drama
4.5 stars
Awesome.  Suraj Sharma stars as a boy stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger, but there's so much more to it than that. Irrfan Khan costars as the adult version of Sharma.  The visual effects are stunning, except for that very fake looking whale that they showed in the previews.  At first I was very skeptical of going to the film since heavily advertised films usually stink.  The ending felt a little hokey but how else would you wrap up such a fantastic tale?  If you liked films like the Black Stallion and Castaway (the first half of each of those films anyway) then this film is a must.  I hope the Blu Ray version includes a "making of" segment, because I think that would be worth seeing.  Loved it.

Silver Linings Playbook

Drama, Romance
4.5 stars
Excellent film, and definitely NOT a chick flick.  Bradley Cooper stars as a volatile bipolar guy with an explosive temper.  Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone, Hunger Games) plays an equally damaged woman who balances out his mood swings.  Robert De Niro co-stars as Cooper's father with a temper of his own who is obsessed with the Philadelphia Eagles and bets heavily on them.  Those are the ingredients, along with some wry humor, that make for a great date movie since there is plenty for both genders to enjoy - though some of the tumultuous scenes can be quite intense. Very good flick.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2

Sci-Fi, Romance
2 stars
Painfully bad acting.  Once again I have subjected myself to the land of bad acting.  "Why?" I ask myself.  Because I read the God-awful books and now feel invested and need closure.  So the Twilight Saga is now complete along with its failed attempts at humor, though I appreciate them trying.  Edward is no longer brooding, since he is so happy to have his vampire wife, and Jake is no longer pouting, since he no longer pines for Bella.  Too bad, because I used to like the friction between the two of them.  Now we have the horrible acting of Michael Sheen (who had been so talented in his other films The Queen and Frost/Nixon) as the head of the Volturi clan who wants to destroy the Cullen clan.  Whatever.  See it at your own risk...

Skyfall

Action, Drama
4 stars
Fun film.  Daniel Craig returns as James Bond to find the bad guys who attacked MI6.  Judi Dench reprises her role as M; Ralph Feinnes and Javier Bardem also costar.  I'm not so sure I like the new "Q", Ben Whishaw, but maybe he appeals to the younger audience.  Lots of fun, though I thought M should have been smarter in regards to using a flashlight at one point that made me cringe.  The running theme in the film which I liked was "Sometimes the old ways are better".  I liked the old school approach trumping the new technology.  Maybe I'm just getting old...  Fun film.

Flight

Drama
3.5 stars
Not what the previews lead you to believe.  Denzel Washington plays an alcoholic pilot, who also uses cocaine to "sober" himself up, and makes a miraculous landing of a commercial airplane.  The airline flight was very exciting, very cool.  The rest of the film is watching Denzel make a waste of himself, make all the wrong decisions, and you just want to dope-slap him!  The previews make him look like a shiny hero pilot, who unfortunately had some alcohol in his system after presumably having a couple of innocent social drinks, and is being unfairly prosecuted.  Nope, that is not the case.  There is some great acting, but it's just not my kind of film.  Standout performance by Kelly Riley (Sherlock Holmes) as Denzel's love interest.  Only for fans of Denzel who have the patience to watch him depressingly hit rock bottom.

Cloud Atlas

Drama, Sci-Fi
2 stars
So Weird!  Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and others are reincarnated over the centuries in this nonsensical film.  Mostly, I was distracted every time I saw an actor in heavy makeup, trying to figure out which actor they were, but why does it matter in this stupid film?  Something about karma and how it effects our next lives, but all the little clips of the different eras are thrown at you seemingly all at once so it doesn't even start to make sense until halfway through this 3 hour, bloated piece of weirdness.  Skip it.

The Sessions

Indie, True Story
4 stars
Very good. A man (John Hawkes) almost completely paralyzed by polio wants to lose his virginity, so he hires a sex therapist (Helen Hunt) to achieve his goal. William H. Macy is the great as the man’s priest and friend whom he confides in. This film is sweet and funny, but mostly you just want to root for Hawks in his quest. Excellent acting. Based on the true story of journalist Mark O’Brien. Excellent film.

Fun Size

Comedy, Teen
2 stars
Awful. A teenage girl (Victoria Justice) reluctantly takes her devilish little brother (Jackson Nicholl) out for Halloween and then loses him. Both the sister and brother have their respective adventures. The little boy was really cute and there was a touching scene near the end. But the focus is more on the gorgeous but geeky big sister, as well as their mother, Chelsea Handler, who both make embarrassing fools of themselves. Not funny. Skip it.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Drama, Teen
4.5 stars
Loved this movie! Based on the best selling novel. Logan Lerman (3:10 to Yuma and Percy Jackson) stars as an awkward high school freshman who befriends two misfit seniors, Emma Watson (Harry Potter) and Ezra Miller (City Island). Each of the kids, including those in their wider circle of friends, has personal issues they must deal with. Mostly quirky and upbeat, though there is one scene requiring tissues. This film has been described as the modern day Breakfast Club, but I think it way surpasses the older film which I loved back in the day. Now I have to read the book since it seems evident that there are more back stories that couldn’t fit into the film. Loved it!

Looper

Sci-Fi, Time Travel
3.5 stars
Good movie. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays an assassin who kills men sent back in time from the mob, from 30 years in the future. His last kill must be his older self, played by Bruce Willis. Time travel movies always seem to feel a little sketchy with the details, but this one mostly makes sense, aside from one “do over” scene when Levitt first meets his older self. But maybe that’s just me. I thought Levitt was awesome in his impersonation of Bruce Willis. I know he wore colored contacts, but his face seemed different somehow too. Emily Blunt co-stars as the young mother of Pierce Gagnon (TV’s One Tree Hill). There is some violence and gore. Decent flick.

Seven Psychopaths

Comedy, Dark
4.5 stars
LOVED this movie! Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell star as dog-nappers who kidnap the wrong Shih Tzu, which belongs to mobster Woody Harrelson. Colin Farrell plays Rockwell’s buddy writing a screenplay about psychopaths. There is plenty of gore, violence and profanity, but what I loved best was the oddball philosophical conversations between the characters. You never knew what was going to come out of their mouths. Similar to classics like Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and the lesser known In Bruges (one of my favorites). Original, quirky, and hilarious. Loved it!

Argo

Drama, True Story
5 stars
Excellent film starring Ben Affleck as a CIA operative who goes into Iran during the hostage crisis to extract 6 Americans taking refuge at the Canadian Ambassador’s home (Victor Garber), under the guise of a sci-fi film crew. Bryan Cranston co-stars as Affleck’s contact in the CIA, and John Goodman and Alan Arkin play the Hollywood moguls who help put together the faux film. Stay through the credits to see photos of the actual people involved in the story as well as an acknowledgment from Jimmy Carter of the historic events. Excellent reenactment of the era. Quite the nail-biting climax even though we already know the outcome. The only reason I could see for the R rating was the humorous use of the f-word regarding the film title. Teens and tweens should really see this film too.  Best Picture nominee for sure.

Frankenweenie

Animation
4.5 stars
Loved it, but I cried a lot! Tim Burton creates a sweet and sentimental story about a boy who loves his dog. After the dog dies in an accident, the boy learns about reanimation in science class. You know what happens. This is listed as a comedy on imdb.com, but it’s only funny when the boy’s classmates begin experimenting on their own. It’s really cute, and pays homage to Young Frankenstein, Gremlins and Godzilla. Voices include, Catherine O-Hara, Martin Short, Atticus Shaffer (TV’s The Middle) as the creepy kid, and Charlie Tahan (Charlie St. Cloud) as the heartbroken boy. Bring tissues.

Arbitrage

Indie, Drama
3.5 stars
Interesting story starring Richard Gere as a Wall Street mogul whose world, both personal and professional, begins to implode. Susan Sarandon co-stars as his wife and Tim Roth plays the detective investigating him. I liked the story even though I have no idea what a variable margin is. This film had been kicking around the theaters for a month now, but it would be worth checking out later on Netflix.

The Master

2.5 stars
Drama
Yuck! Intense acting, but long, slow, Boring, and WEIRD! Joaquin Phoenix stars as a troubled alcoholic with PTSD whom the title character, Philip Seymour Hoffman, takes on as sort of a pet that he tests his psycho-babble on. Amy Adams costars as Hoffman’s loyal wife. Great acting. I’m sure they’ll all win acting awards. I just kept checking my watch to see if I could sneak into Frankenweenie next door. I wish I did. Skip it.

Hotel Transylvania

4 stars
Animation, Comedy
Very cute. A hotel meant only for monsters as a safe haven from pitchfork wielding peasants gets an unexpected human visitor (Andy Samberg) who the owner (Adam Sandler as Dracula) tries to hide from his guests. The monsters are all there to celebrate the 118th birthday of Dracula’s daughter, voiced by Selena Gomez, when she develops a crush on the human. It’s rated PG, surprising since, unless I misheard, I swear Andy Samberg’s character said “I can’t f***ing see” when Dracula was shielding him from his guests. There was a lot of commotion with the monsters at the time, so maybe I misheard, or hopefully young ones won’t notice. Otherwise, this should be fine for kids. Cute film.

Pitch Perfect

3 stars
Comedy, Musical
Cute, but nothing original. Anna Camp (Good Wife and True Blood) leads an all girl college a cappella singing group that is vying for the regional championship. Anna Kendrick plays their new recruit and Rebel Wilson plays her usual oddball self. I liked the singing, but too bad I had to sit though the silly, predictable drama that came with it. The best parts – and the only times I laughed - were the sarcastic commentators at the competitions played by Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins. Some raunchy humor. Wait for cable.

10 Years

2 stars
Drama
As excruciating as an actual high school reunion feels. Channing Tatum and friends reunite for their high school reunion, and the usual things occur: one makes a drunken fool of himself, some try to recapture the glory days, others hope to go after the dream girl who seemed out of reach back in the day. Rosario Dawson co-stars as Tatum’s former flame. I only really liked one of the storylines in this film, where a now famous one-hit-wonder musician (Oscar Isaac – Drive, Robin Hood (2010)) hones in on an under-the-radar girl nobody else seemed to remember (Kate Mara – TV’s American Horror Story). Wait for cable, or just skip it.

Robot & Frank

4 stars
Indie, Drama
Good movie starring Frank Langella as a retired cat burglar whose son (James Marsden) buys him a robot (Peter Sarsgaard) as a caretaker. Langella finds the robot useful with indulging in old habits. Susan Sarandon costars as a librarian Langella loves to flirt with, and Liv Tyler plays Langella’s daughter. There is some wry humor as well as a bit of a somber feel as Langella struggles to feel relevant in an age where technology is taking over. Very well done.

Trouble with the Curve

Drama, Comedy
3.5 stars
Predictable; but fun to see Clint Eastwood as a grumpy old man again. Eastwood plays a baseball scout with failing vision who prefers to use his instincts rather than technology when choosing players. Amy Adams plays his daughter who follows him on a scouting trip after she learns of his vision problems. Justin Timberlake plays a fellow scout and John Goodman plays Eastwood’s boss. It’s a nice story, but you can see the outcome a mile away. Also, I happen to like sentimental scenes, but Clint Eastwood singing the children’s song “You are my Sunshine” at his wife’s grave just made me cringe. Cute movie; it’s just not as good as we’ve come to expect from Eastwood.

Samsara

Indie, Artsy
5 stars
Spectacular imagery balanced with a few disturbing scenes. This film is pure imagery backed by hypnotic, even spiritual music from many different cultures. There is no dialogue, no narrative, no story. The screen is filled with gorgeous images of ancient architecture in far off lands, natural landscapes such as an exploding volcano, a time-lapse view of the sun rising over the desert, as well as cultural rituals and close ups of people from around the world. The title is a Sanskrit word meaning “Ever turning wheel of life”. The message in this film would be the sheer masses of the human population, human consumption and waste. There are disturbing images of meat packing plants, and children scavenging through garbage dumps looking for salvageable items. Not all of it is pretty, but it’s life. The stunning photography and exposure to people and places some of us may never see in a lifetime makes it all worthwhile.

The Words

Drama, Intrigue
3.5 stars
Intriguing story with an unsatisfying ending. Bradley Cooper stars as a man who published an unknown author’s book manuscript as his own, only to have the true author, Jeremy Irons, confront him. This story unto itself would have been great, but the film opens with Dennis Quaid as the book author who wrote this tale about Cooper and Irons. I really liked this movie right up until the ending where it just fizzles out. They give you enough clues to fill it all in for yourself, but I would have preferred more details about Quaid’s life, or even better, just leave the Quaid character out of the story completely. Good movie, just don’t expect a great ending.

Cold Light of Day

Indie, Action
4 stars
Good movie. Henry Cavill’s (The Tudors, Immortals) family gets kidnapped by terrorists and he must figure out whom to trust and do whatever he can to get them back. Bruce Willis costars as Cavill’s Dad, who happens to be a CIA spy. Sigourney Weaver plays a colleague of Willis. Lots of action as Cavill runs all over Madrid with seemingly everyone chasing after him while his family’s lives are in the balance. Good movie.

Bachelorette

Comedy, Raunchy
1 star
Hated it. Simply Awful. Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) plays a sweet chubby girl getting married to her prince charming, when her horrible “friends” show up as her bridesmaids only to trash talk her behind her back, snort coke at her rehearsal dinner, make toasts about themselves, and ruin her wedding dress with everything from blood to semen after tearing it first. The self centered bridesmaids from hell include Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan (True Blood, Hot Tub Time Machine). I did laugh about something near the beginning, but I was so horrified by the rest of the film that don’t even remember what I ever thought was funny. Forget this horrible attempt at ripping off Bridesmaids and rent the original Bridesmaids instead.

Lawless

Drama, True Story
5 stars
Excellent film based on the true story of bootleggers in Virginia during prohibition. Tom Hardy (making up for his goofy comedy This Means War) plays the oldest and wisest of the four Bondurant brothers who decide they are not going to be bullied into giving up a percentage of their profits to corrupt law enforcement. Jason Clarke (Public Enemies) plays his loyal and mean partner in crime, Shia LaBeouf plays the brash, cocky younger brother who wants to be part of the family business, and Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) plays the youngest brother with crippled legs. Guy Pearce (Memento, Traitor, King’s Speech) gives a chilling performance as a dirty mean Special Deputy from Chicago. I’m pretty sure there will be Oscar nominations for both Pearce and Hardy, whose performance of a man of few words is simply perfect. Also included in the cast are two of the finest young actresses today: Jessica Chastain (The Help, The Debt) and Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, The Kids Are All Right). There are a few gory violent scenes. Excellent film.

For a Good Time, Call...

Comedy, Raunchy
3.5 stars
Funny film about a pair of roommates (Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller) who, desperate to pay the rent, develop a phone-sex business. Justin Long has an amusing role as the mutual friend who introduced them. It’s funny, there are plenty of “bro-mance” comedies out these days, but what is the word for two girls who have a platonic love for one another? Since I can’t think of a better word, this is sort of a “chick-mance” film. It’s funny. It’s raunchy. It’s good for a few laughs.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Drama
3 stars
Cute, but tries too hard and the previews gave away the entire story. Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton (Warrior) play prospective parents who interview at an adoption agency and tell the fanciful tale of Timothy, the boy who “came from the garden”. I tend to like magical, whimsical tales, and this one is sweet, but something just wasn’t right about it. I liked little Timothy (CJ Adams) with his mystery and his little friend with whom he created a magical world – but I just didn’t buy into it. And why would anyone tell such a crazy story to an adoption agency even if it was true? Wait for cable.

Hit and Run

Comedy, Action
4 stars
Very funny. Dax Shepard (TV’s Parenthood) falls in love with Kristen Bell while hidden away under Witness Protection and under the watch of inept U.S. Marshall Tom Arnold. Things go awry when Shepard crosses paths with the man he betrayed, Bradley Cooper. Co-stars include Joy Bryant (also from TV’s Parenthood), Kristen Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, David Koechner (TV’s The Office), and John Duff, a little-known body builder who is in my favorite scene of the film. A little dumb, but a fun movie.
Trailer:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2097307/

Celeste and Jesse Forever

Indie, Romantic Comedy
3.5 stars
Nice story, I liked it. Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg play the best of friends who happen to be going through a divorce. All their friends can see that they are made for each other, but they think they are better off just being friends. Complications arise when they begin dating other people. Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings) and Chris Messina (Ruby Sparks and TV’s Damages) costar, as well as Emma Roberts as a spoiled pop star. Some crude humor, but a good flick.
Trailer:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3209208345/

ParaNorman

Animated, Sci-Fi
4 stars
Really cute! An eleven year old boy sees dead people – and he must use his “gift” to save his town from the curse of a 300 year old witch. I loved the imaginative animated townsfolk. Voices include Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road, Let Me In) as Norman, Anna Kendrick as his older sister, Tucker Albrizzi as his best friend, and Casey Affleck as Albrizzi’s dopey older brother. Also Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the bully, and John Goodman as Norman’s creepy old uncle. I loved it.

The Bourne Legacy

Action, Suspense
4 stars
Exciting, but doesn’t always make sense. Jeremy Renner stars as a CIA operative who learns that the entire project he has been part of is being eliminated. What is flimsy is the reasoning behind killing everyone involved with the project. Rachel Weisz co-stars. Jim and I thought it was very exciting and fun to watch, there just needed to be a better reason for killing everyone off. Good acting and special effects. Good mindless fun.

Total Recall

Action, Suspense
3.5 stars
Exciting, but a silly plot. Colin Farrell stars in this remake of the 1990 film as a blue collar worker who attempts to have fake memories implanted in his mind, only to find the life he has been living is all a lie. Suddenly he finds himself on the run, with police in hot pursuit. Kate Beckinsale co-stars as his “wife” and Jessica Biel plays his dream girl. This film is much better than the original, with some changes to story. I can’t point out my issues with the plot without giving away the story, but it’s the same issue I had with the original film.  Fun, but kinda dumb.

Hope Springs

Comedy, Drama
4 stars
Loved it! Meryl Streep signs up her husband, Tommy Lee Jones, for intensive couple’s therapy with counselor Steve Carell. The film can be a little slow at times, but watching Tommy Lee Jones squirm while being questioned about his sex life is hilarious – I’m not sure how Carell was able to keep a straight face. Streep brings her usual warmth and sweetness to her role. The gorgeous scenery (that is supposed to be in Maine) was actually filmed in Connecticut, but has all the New England charm I get homesick for sometimes. Loved it.

Red Lights

Drama, Suspense
2 stars
Very Disappointing. Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy (Red Eye, Inception) play scientists who specialize in debunking so-called supernatural occurrences. Robert De Niro plays a world famous psychic who Murphy really wants to investigate. All kinds of strange and creepy things start to happen, but it just left me asking “why?”. Why weren’t the police called? Why was a certain secret kept from the one person who would appreciate it? How could certain things be gotten away with? Why did I sit through this stupid movie??? Do yourself a favor and skip it.

The Watch

Comedy, Dumb
3 stars
Funny, but dumb; about what you’d expect. Ben Stiller stars as a community-conscious suburbanite who starts up a neighborhood watch group, only to discover there are man-eating aliens in his town. Stiller’s goofy watch group includes Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade (he’s been in six TV series I’ve never heard of, the longest running one was The IT Crowd). But seriously, does a manager of Costo (Stiller) make enough money to live in a McMansion? At $60k (according to my Google search), I don’t think so! A silly mindless comedy, good for a few laughs.

Ruby Sparks

Indie/Drama
4 stars
Very good. Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine, Cowboys & Aliens) stars as an author who begins writing a book about his dream girl when she suddenly materializes in his home. It turns out to be not all fun and games, but I still loved it. The screenplay was written by the dream girl herself, Zoe Kazan (It’s Complicated). The great cast includes Elliott Gould as Dano’s shrink, Steve Coogan as a colleague, Annette Bening & Antonio Banderas as his Mom & stepdad, and Chris Messina (TV’s Damages) as his incredulous brother. Good movie.

The Dark Knight Rises

Sci-Fi, Action
3.5 stars
Really, really long! 2 hours and 44 minutes long! Batman seems to have met his match with a bad guy named Bane (get it?) who wears a weird mask that makes his voice annoyingly loud. I won’t give anything away, but it would have been helpful if I had refreshed my memory by re-watching the previous two installments of this series. Anne Hathaway costars as a sort of cat woman – though that title was never used. I thought some of the conversations and scenes moved way too slowly for an overdone dramatic effect. My thoughts: too long, too slow, too dark, they tried too hard to make it super dramatic and how exactly did Batman return to Gotham City (you’ll get what I mean when you see it)? It would be best if you remember all the former characters from the previous movies, and don’t buy any soda unless you have an iron bladder. I stayed about 2 or 3 minutes into the closing credits until the cast rolled, and there were no extra scenes. This so-called “trilogy” is still wide open for more sequels. Only for true fans of this series.

Amazing Spiderman

Sci-Fi, Action
4 stars
Decent action flick, but skip the 3D version. Andrew Garfield stars as the brilliant Peter Parker, raised by his aunt and uncle (Sally Field and Martin Sheen) who just wants to find out what happened to his parents. Rhys Ifans plays a former colleague of his father; Emma Stone plays his crush and Dennis Leary plays the police captain not amused by Spiderman’s tactics. I liked this better than previous Spidey flicks because there is no sappy billionaire best friend storyline. As I said, I didn’t find any benefit in paying extra for the 3D version, stick with the 2D – which is too bad because I thought there would be plenty of Spidey swinging towards the audience; but there wasn’t. Stay during the closing credits as there is an additional scene about a minute into them. Fun flick.

Ted

Comedy, Dumb
3.5 stars
Guy movie; Better than I expected but still dumb. Mark Wahlberg plays a grown man living with his magical walking & talking, foul mouthed teddy bear, who comes between Wahlberg and his girlfriend Mila Kunis. Joel McHale co-stars as Kunis’s creepy boss and Giovanni Ribisi plays a creepy dude who wants Ted for his even creepier son. It was an amusing enough film but the only time I actually laughed out loud was when Wahlberg and Ted got into a knock down, drag out fight. I also liked a funny cameo that I won’t give away. But enough with the profanity and poop and fart jokes already. Wait for cable.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Indie, Drama
4 stars
Good but depressing with gritty, extreme poverty, such as in the film Winter’s Bone. This film is told through the perspective of a six year old girl (Quvenzhané Wallis) being raised by her scary and volatile single father (Dwight Henry) in a filthy trailer heaped with trash in a small community cut off from the world by a levee. The community is full of survivors who raise their own livestock for food and work together to weather storms that completely flood their town. It is interesting to see their pride in their lifestyles and how they get by without jobs or any form of aid. I just got so depressed by all the trash in their homes – they make the folks in that show Hoarders look clean and organized! Good film on the human spirit and perseverance.

People Like Us

Indie, Drama
4.5 stars
Good movie. Chris Pine stars as a self absorbed jerk who learns after his father’s death that he has a half-sister, Elizabeth Banks, as well as a nephew. (Wow, this sounds almost like Rainman, doesn’t it?). Michelle Pfeiffer co-stars as Pine’s mother and Olivia Wilde plays Pine’s way-too-tolerant girlfriend. I didn’t go see this film right away because I thought it would be one of those slow moving, emotional type films, but it is much better than that – and there are no sob scenes. Definitely add this one to your Netflix list.

Savages

Drama, Crime
4 stars
Gritty and violent, but really good. A powerful Mexican drug lord, Salma Hayek, wants to take over a small, well run drug operation managed by Aaron Johnson (Kick Ass) and Taylor Kitsch (Battleship, John Carter). As an incentive for their cooperation, Hayek has the girl both men love, Blake Lively, kidnapped. Benicio Del Toro co-stars as Hayek’s assassin, and John Travolta plays a corrupt politician. I liked it; even though there is one part near the end where I actually said out loud “Oh, Come on!” – you’ll know it when you see it. Good movie.

Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection

Comedy
2.5 stars
Funny, but all the best scenes were given away in the previews. Madea gets paid to board a family of five after a man, Eugene Levy, is used as the fall guy in a Ponzi scheme. Unfortunately, Levy (American Pie) gets way too goofy, to the point of not being funny anymore. Denise Richards is miscast as Levy’s wife. The most fun was Grandma (Doris Roberts; Everyone Loves Raymond), who had a crush on Madea’s brother Joe (Tyler Perry), but that storyline wasn’t explored as much as I would have liked. The fun is in watching Madea deal with the family and their teenage daughter, as well as watch her reactions to pretty much everything. At least this Madea film is pure comedy and didn’t mix in some overdone drama with the storyline. Only for die-hard Madea fans.

Magic Mike

Drama, Striptease
4 stars
Surprisingly good, along with some depth. Channing Tatum takes it all off for money, but aspires for a better life. Tatum mentors Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four), but falls for his sister, Cody Horn (TV’s Rescue Me and The Office). Other hunks include the strangely effeminate Matthew McConaughay and Adam Rodriguez (CSI: Miami), as well as Matt Bomer (In Time, and several TV shows and soaps) and the woefully underutilized Joe Manganiello (True Bood) whom I was most looking forward to seeing. This film includes the grittier side of their lifestyles, from the groupies to drugs to desperation. But there are fun strip scenes too. A good movie.

To Rome With Love

Indie, Comedy
4.5 stars
Loved it, though it is strange and bizarre. Woody Allen shows off the charms of Rome in this cute film where the characters live out their fantasies. Alec Baldwin gets to relive his young adulthood through Jesse Eisenberg; Woody tries relive his glory days in the music business by discovering a new talent; Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful) experiences fame; and a young newlywed couple live out their fantasies with other people. Ellen Page (Juno) and Greta Gerwig (No Strings Attached, Arthur) should have swapped roles, I cannot see Page playing a sexy temptress, there is just nothing sexy about her. Penelope Cruz plays an amusing hooker. A fun, weird romp.

Brave

Animation, Adventure
4 stars
Jim and I both liked this one. A young Scottish princess doesn’t want to be married off to one of the local clans, so she embarks on an adventure to change her destiny which leads to disastrous results. Plenty of humor with several likable characters, along with one mean, scary bear. Voices include Kelly MacDonald (No Country For Old Men) as the princess, Emma Thompson as her Mom, and Billy Connolly (The Last Samurai) as the King. A cute, fun movie.

Seeking a Friend for The End of the World

Indie, Drama
4 stars
Good movie. A giant meteor is barreling toward Earth and us earth dwellers only have 3 weeks left. Steve Carell and his daffy neighbor Keira Knightly take a road trip together; Carell hopes to see his high school sweetheart one more time, while Knightly hopes for a flight back to England and her family. Along the way, they meet an interesting cast of folks all dealing with the end in different ways. Martin Sheen co-stars. Aside from Knightly’s unfortunate taste in somber music, this is a nice sentimental film. I liked it.

Safety Not Guaranteed

Indie, Drama
4 stars
Slow, but I really liked it. A journalist for a small magazine enlists two interns to investigate a provocative personal ad someone wrote looking for a companion to time travel with. Each of the oddball characters has their own personal issues which they confront while working on the story. Aubrey Plaza (TV’s Parks and Recreation) and Karan Soni play the interns, Jake Johnson (TV’s New Girl) plays the flawed journalist, and Mark Duplass (TV’s The League) plays the time traveler. Very well done, and I loved the ending.

DVD recommendations

Run Lola Run
Suspense
Lola (Franka Potente of Bourne Identity) has 20 minutes to help her boyfriend who owes his boss 100,000 Marks. It is stylish, and full of suspense as Lola keeps running to a pulsating electronica beat that I just couldn’t sit still to. Ok, I kind of rocked out like dork... Anyway, if you don’t mind that it turns sort of into a suspenseful Groundhog Day, this is one fun flick to watch. This film is German with subtitles, and also has an option to watch with English voice-overs. We watched the former. Jim groaned at the mention of subtitles, but once the film started he couldn’t keep his eyes off the screen. We both thought it was great.
2000 Best Foreign Film winner of Independent Spirit Awards and nominee for BAFTA in the same category.
1 hour 20 minutes

Black and White oldies that are a little dark:

Suddenly Last Summer

Katherine Hepburn wants to have Elizabeth Taylor lobotomized after a trip Taylor took with Hepburn’s son ended in tragedy. Montgomery Clift co-stars as the doctor trying to determine if Taylor is a candidate for a lobotomy. This Tennessee Williams tale keeps you engaged until all your burning questions are answered.



A Place in the Sun

Montgomery Clift falls for the out-of-his-league socialite Elizabeth Taylor, but must first contend with his angry, jealous girlfriend, Shelley Winters. What to do??

Rock of Ages

Musical, Comedy
3.5 stars
Corny but cute. Small town girl Julianne Hough moves to LA to pursue her dreams, while Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand try to keep their nightclub afloat by depending on an unreliable rock star (Tom Cruise) to make an appearance. It feels kinda like Glee taking on the 80’s, but I got a kick out of those church lady clothes (I swear they raided my 1980’s office clothes closet) and now I really miss my old denim jacket. Baldwin and Brand are hilarious – in fact Brand is a pretty good rock singer too. Julianne Hough’s helium-filled voice made me cringe a bit, and Catherine Zeta-Jones made up for her overacting by belting out some rock classics quite well. Newcomer Diego Boneta (90210, Pretty Little Liars) plays Hough’s love interest, and Mary J. Blige was a welcome relief from some of the cheesier songs. Paul Giamatti co-stars as Cruise’s sleazy manager. A fun movie I bet Suri Cruise will never be allowed to watch given her dad’s sleazy/sexy role. Fun.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

Animation, Comedy
3 stars
Kids will love it; me, not so much. The assorted animal gang is back, this time traveling across Europe with a circus and with a crazed animal control officer hot on their heels. I liked them better in the wild. Oh, and like I haven’t heard Katy Perry’s “Firework” 20 gazillion times already! They only played “I Like to Move it, Move it” partially during the end of the movie. Jeesh! I only went to see this film because I needed a laugh. Folks at Dreamworks: please no more of these movies, unless they go straight to cable.

Prometheus

Sci-Fi
3.5 stars
Kinda pointless. A group of scientists (including Noomi Repace, the original Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Sherlock Holmes 2 ) explore a planet similar to earth where they believe the inhabitants were the creators of humans. There are some cool special effects, and the spaceships and slimy creatures are all pretty cool, and that’s what earned my 3.5 stars. But the story leaves a lot of strings hanging. Even from the beginning, you can see the kindly android (Michael Fassbender) who is not supposed to have feelings or a hidden agenda clearly does, but no one seems to notice. Charlize Theron is in charge of the company financing the trip, but why she went on the journey she clearly wasn’t interested in other than to exert her power and behave like a [rhymes with “witch”] is completely unclear. Since our current day NASA puts astronauts under psychological testing, why would our future expeditions allow a troublemaker with a really bad attitude (Sean Harris)? Well that one I know: because Hollywood thought it would be fun to add more tension. Jim and I were left with too many questions in end. Wait for cable.

Moonrise Kingdom

Indie, Dry Comedy
4.5 stars
Cute, quirky coming-of-age film. Bruce Willis stars as a local sheriff searching for two missing 12 years olds who have run off together. Ed Norton plays the local Khaki Scout leader, and Bill Murray and Frances McDormand play the missing girl’s parents. Other notable stars with smaller roles include Tilda Swinton, Harvey Kietel and Jason Schwartzman. But the real stars are the oddball runaways: Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. It wasn’t as funny as I’d hoped, but the quirky charm won me over. Good movie.

Snow White and the Huntsman

Fantasy, Action
4.5 stars
Very good and very dark portrayal of the classic Snow White story. This is too dark for youngsters, and is in fact good enough for guys to enjoy since there are lots of battle scenes and fight scenes. This film feels more like the Excalibur movie rather than your standard fairytale. It is indeed a strange world where Kristen Stewart is deemed fairer than Charlize Theron, but maybe that’s just me. Chris Hemsworth co-stars as the Huntsman. Very good.

Bernie

Indie, True Story
4 stars
Slow, but I loved it. Filmed documentary-style via interviews with residents of small-town Carthage, Texas, Jack Black stars as the nicest guy in town who befriends the meanest old lady in town (Shirley MacLaine). Matthew McConaughey co-stars. I won’t tell you what happens, but this is a dark comedy of sorts with the story being told with wry humor by the colorful residents of Carthage. After a quick search I could not confirm if some of them were actual residents rather than actors, but I’m guessing some of them were. Loved it.

Men in Black III

Sci-Fi, Comedy
4 stars
Loved it, though it didn’t have as many fun distractions as the previous films. Agent J (Will Smith) must go back in time to 1969 to prevent bad guy Boris the Animal (Jermaine Clement) from killing Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin). I have to say Brolin was awesome as a young Agent K, though I’m really not sure if he used his own voice or lip-synched? I’m not giving any more of it away. If you loved the previous Men in Black films, you’ll love this one too.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Comedy
3.5 stars
Funny, but forgettable. Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, and Anna Kendrick are in different circumstances and all expecting, in one way or another. The “dudes” (Chris Rock, Ben Falcone, etc) are probably the most fun to watch, though I couldn’t help but cringe every time Rock’s oldest son got hurt. I didn’t think that part was funny at all.  And enough with the vomit jokes already!  It’s a cute date-night movie, but certainly not the best thing in theaters (there is still time to catch The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel!).

Battleship

Sci-Fi, Action
4 stars
Fun movie, though very macho and gung-ho with plenty of arena rock songs to get you going. Giant alien spaceships hide in the Pacific Ocean to wreak havoc on the world with no apparent agenda other than to blow things up. Our good guys fight them off of Pearl Harbor. The hero is played by Taylor Kitsch, who supposedly rose through the Navy ranks with lightning speed despite being a screw-up. But all I kept think was “damn, he so darned cute!”. Super model Brooklyn Decker plays his love interest as a physical therapist who also happens to be the daughter of Admiral Shane, played by Liam Neeson. What sold me on this film, despite the Navy realizing they were out-gunned, out-manned and overpowered (so hey, let’s attack (doh!) and get revved up with some AC/DC!), was the use of real war veterans; most notably, Gregory Gadson. Gadson is an Army veteran of the wars in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq where he lost both of his legs. He may not be winning any awards for is acting performance, but I’d go watch him in another action film anytime. It’s a fun movie. So it’s Memorial Day weekend; if you need to feel patriotic, go see this film.

The Avengers

Sci-Fi, Action
3.5 stars
Jim loved it; I liked some of it. Thor’s evil brother, Loki, opens a portal to let all kinds of mayhem loose on Earth, so all the superheroes are teamed up to save the world. Now I love Robert Downey Jr. and his cocky Ironman persona, I’ve never heard of Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye character and didn’t get his never-miss, exploding arrows, and as hot as Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth are, they looked pretty stupid in their superhero costumes. Why couldn’t they just fight shirtless and in ripped jeans? But I digress... I so much prefer Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk rather than smarmy Ed Norton from the 2008 film. Even though suddenly the Hulk is now able to control himself while hulked-out - which I thought was quite a stretch - the Hulk scenes were probably the most fun; you’ll agree on one scene in particular. Oh yeah, Scarlett Johansson is in it too. The six Navy guys sitting behind me really enjoyed her scenes, a lot. They did left me hanging, wondering about Thor’s one true love at the end. Stay all the way through the credits. There is one scene shortly after the credits begin, and another scene ALL the way at the absolute very end. You should have time to go the bathroom and come back for that final scene. It’s a fun action movie. There are a lot of little details that bothered me, but as I said, my husband loved it.

Dark Shadows

Sci-Fi, Comedy
4 stars
Loved it! Johnny Depp and Tim Burton bring back to life an old soap opera featuring vampire Barnabas Collins who awakens after being buried for 200 years. This is for fans of Burton & Depp, lovers of vampires, and those nostalgic for the old soap; though many changes have been made to the original characters and storylines (I Netflixed the original soap; FYI: Barnabas doesn’t appear until episode 210). The most fun is in watching Depp attempting to acclimate to 1972. Younger viewers need to keep in mind the film is based on a soap, so the characters behave accordingly (i.e. stiff and mysterious) and quite hilariously. The “dramatic” climax seemed a bit overdone, but it was still fun to watch. Co-stars include Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloe Moretz and Johnnie Lee Miller as members of the Collins family, Bella Heathcote as Depp’s love interest, and Eva Green as the slutty witch who is so fun to watch. Fun film.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

British, Comedy 4.5 stars
Loved it! An assortment of retirees from England is mislead by an advertisement for a retirement home in India; they expected it to be luxurious but it is quite rundown instead. Of course, you know how most things will turn out, but the fun is in watching it all unfold. The impressive cast includes Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson to name a few. Also costarring is Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) whose character is a cliché as the hotel manager, but the fun is in watching the older Brits trying to adjust their expectations and adapt to their new environment. There is some depth, especially with Wilkinson’s character, but the rest is pure fun.

Chimpanzee

Documentary, Nature
5 stars
Loved it. Disney’s annual Earth Day films are consistently among my favorite films of each year. This film follows the story of a young chimp named Oscar and his life growing up with Mom, until he’s forced into finding another to take over Mom’s role. Fortunately, no bloodshed is shown, so little kids shouldn’t be traumatized by any of it. Scenery is lush. I wish narrator Tim Allen also described some of the amazing plant life, such as those plants that exploded when struck by raindrops, or that yellow liquid, or for what reason were those mushrooms glowing in the dark? It was all so cool; Jim loved it too. Excellent film.

The Five-Year Engagement

Comedy, Romantic
2.5 stars
Disappointing and way too long. Emily Blunt and Jason Segel star as a couple who keep putting off their wedding for reasons that don’t make any sense. If you’ve seen the previews, you’ve already seen all the best parts of the movie. The rest is just really, really long. Some of it is groan worthy, and though I’m not usually opposed to some profanity, it just seemed to be used unnecessarily. If not for the useless insertions of the f-word, this probably could have been a PG-13. Skip it.

The Raven

Period, Crime Drama
3 stars
So-so fictional take on Edgar Allen Poe assisting detectives investigating a copy-cat killer who recreates the morbid murders from Poe’s poems (kind of like TV’s Castle, but without the comedy). John Cusack stars as Poe, but Cusack should really stick to silly comedies like Hot Tub Time Machine because he’s really not that good of an actor. Luke Evans plays the detective, Alice Eve plays the object of Poe’s desire and Brendan Gleeson plays her disapproving father. It’s not a bad movie, but it could have been better – like if Johnny Depp starred, he would have made it awesome. Wait for cable.

Bully

Documentary
4.5 stars
Excellent account of how bullying affects victims as well as their families and where the school system fails them. Bring tissues. The film follows an assortment of families from around the country, either with children currently being bullied at school, or those who’ve lost their children to suicide. It’s frustrating to watch at times, as you wonder what the heck is wrong with that Sioux Falls school principle and bus driver, and I’m left wondering/hoping if they’ve been fired yet? Equally frustrating are the general attitudes of the school and law enforcement officials: “boys will be boys”. I wish the film gave a little more background as to how they chose Alex, who didn’t seem to think he was being bullied. Very good thought provoking film.

Think Like a Man

Comedy, Romance
3.5 stars
Very funny - much better than I expected. An assorted group of buddies all think they have the upper hand in their relationships until they get duped when the women in their lives buy the same best selling book teaching them how to get what they want. I read another review complaining that it felt like an advertisement for the book. I honestly didn’t know it was a real book when I watched the movie and thought it was hilarious, including the plugs by the author. Stars include Michael Ealy, Taraji P. Hensen, Jerry Farrara, Meagan Good and Kevin Hart as the little annoying guy who is so funny. The ending is predictable, as in all romantic comedies, but it’s still a fun ride.

The Lucky One

Chick Flick, Romance
3.5 stars
Sweet sentimental film only for chick flick lovers. Zac Efron plays a US Marine home with PTSD who searches for the woman whose photo he found while he was in Afghanistan because he believes finding her photo gave him luck and saved his life (Taylor Schilling). It’s a good chick flick though it didn’t make me cry (my gauge for determining how good a chick flick is) and the climax felt contrived. I also kept wondering if Schilling even owned a hairbrush! Blythe Danner co-stars (I always love her) as well as Riley Thomas Stewart as the cute little boy. Decent film only for lovers of the genre.

American Reunion

Comedy, Raunchy
3 stars
Funny, but not as funny as the original American Pie. The dudes from the class of 1999 find themselves back in Michigan for their overdue high school reunion. If you were a fan of the original film, it’s nice to see the characters 13 years later; though they are somewhat mellowed with age (except Stifler, of course). It’s best not to give away details. Jason Biggs, Sean William Scott, and all the original cast members are back. I liked it. Only for American Pie fans.

Wrath of the Titans

Action, Fantasy
3.5 stars
Interesting continuation of Clash of Titans not found in mythological lure but instead created in Hollywood writers’ minds. In this story, Hades, God of the Underworld, and Aries, God of War, unite against Zeus and Poseidon to bring back their evil father, Cronus, to destroy mankind. Perseus must unite with Poseidon’s wayward son to try to save mankind. Included are some of the Odyssey’s greatest hits (Odysseus was the hero in that story, not Perseus) such as the Cyclops, the Labyrinth, and I think that thing was supposed to be the Minotaur. Lots of other made up monsters make this movie fun and imaginative. Stars include Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Rosamund Pike as Andromeda. I thought this film was fun, full of action and special effects, and better than Clash of the Titans.

Mirror, Mirror

Family, Fantasy
4.5 stars
Loved it. Lily Collins stars as Snow White who must overcome her evil step-mother/Queen, Julia Roberts, as they both vie for Prince Charming, played by Armie Hammer (boy does he remind me of Brendan Fraser!). Nathan Lane co-stars as the Huntsman. Loved the dwarves, especially poor love sick Half Pint (Mark Povinelli). Loved the costuming, the characters and the palace. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Jeff Who Lives at Home

Comedy, Dry
3.5 stars
Cute. Jason Segel stars as the title character, a schlep with no job or motivation. Ed Helms (Hangover) plays his jerk of a brother and their mother, Susan Sarandon, can only hope for the best for her loser sons. It’s not a bad movie; I just don’t really like watching films about losers. It does have a nice ending though, one you won’t see coming. Good, but wait for cable.

The Hunger Games

Sci-Fi, Action
3.5 stars
Interesting concept. Futuristic story where an oppressive government forces 2 teens from each of 12 districts to go on a Survivor-like reality TV show where they fight to the death. Stars include Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutchinson as the District 12 participants, with Woody Harrelson as their mentor and Stanley Tucci as the TV host. Elizabeth Banks was fun to watch with her crazy hair, makeup and bejeweled manicures. Liam Hemsworth recieves top billing but his role is quite small as Lawrence’s boyfriend. I did not read the book. So, as a nonreader going into this highly anticipated film, I thought it moved along too slowly and I am left with a few questions that were not answered in the film. I also thought the outcome was predictable. But, I can say my normally quiet afternoon matinee was jam packed with teens and 20-somethings who all seemed to enjoy it. Although, these members of the ADHD Generation weren’t entranced enough with the film to stop playing with their phones. Only for fans of the book.

Salmon Fishing at the Yemen

British, Comedy
4.5 stars
Loved it. In this light comedy/drama, Ewan McGregor plays an expert in the fishing industry who is pressured by the Prime Minister’s press secretary (Kristen Scott Thomas) to create a habitat in the Yemen for salmon to swim upstream. Of course he finds the notion completely absurd. Emily Blunt co-stars as a representative to the sheik (Amr Waked) who has the vision and unlimited funding to realize this dream. Great character development, great acting, and great story; from the characters’ complicated love lives, to the politics involved, to the sheik’s philosophical and insightful wisdom. Loved it!

I am calling this the best movie so far this year. No crazy action scenes, no special effects, no gimmicks. It's not too deep either, otherwise I would have given it a "5". It's just an original story with great actors playing interesting characters. What a concept!

21 Jump Street

Comedy, Action
4 stars
Dumb, but very funny. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum play cops who go undercover as high school students to expose a drug dealer. Ice Cube costars as the Captain in charge of the 21 Jump Street unit. Dave Franco (James Franco’s little brother) plays the cool, popular kid. The first third of the film you’ve already seen in the previews. The middle third of the film is cute and very reminiscent of Drew Barrymore’s Never Been Kissed. The final third of the film is freaking hilarious! Plenty of action towards the end, as well as a surprise character twist that everyone in the theater loved. The film (and especially Ice Cube) is hilariously politically incorrect, but never offensive or raunchy. I’ve always thought of Channing Tatum as a handsome, but very stiff, dolt of an actor, but he’s perfect in this role. Very funny.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

Family, Animation
4.5 stars
Very cute! Based on Dr. Seuss’ classic tale, a boy (Zac Efron) living in a completely plastic, artificial world wants to impress a girl (Taylor Swift) by finding a real tree to plant. His grandmother (Betty White) tells him the only person who would know anything about trees (Ed Helms) lives far outside of town, where no one ever goes. And so the adventure begins. Danny DeVito voices the title character who is the keeper of the forest. I absolutely loved the adorable little forest creatures. The only thing I didn’t care for was the musical number about greed, but it was a necessary part of the story. The animation didn’t take advantage of the 3D effects, so save your money and go to the 2D version. Really cute film.

Friends With Kids

Drama, Dry Comedy
3 stars
Kinda depressing – don’t be fooled by the fact that four of the main characters were in Bridesmaids, this is not at all as funny. Jennifer Westfeldt (24) and Adam Scott (Step Brothers and Our Idiot Brother) are life long best friends who decide to have a baby together, while still leading separate dating lives. It’s a cute concept, and a no brainer how it will turn out, but there is way too much couples-infighting. As for all those funny Bridesmaid actors, they play very unfunny roles: Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm play a miserable squabbling couple, and Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd play another cranky, dysfunctional couple overwhelmed by their kids. Wait for cable, or just plain skip it completely.

John Carter

Sci-Fi, Action
4 stars
Fun movie. A Civil War vet (Taylor Kitsch) who is trying to escape being forced into serving again, finds himself magically transported to another planet where they also want to recruit him into fighting their own Civil War. Lynn Collins stars as his warrior-princess love interest. The film really tries for an epic scale like Star Wars and almost makes it. It is not hard to follow, but trying to keep up with the strange language and all the strange names, places, tribes, gods, mythology, etc, is a lot to swallow. Jim and I loved the “dog” the most, and we’d probably check out the sequel if they make one.

Gone

Drama, Suspense
3.5 stars
Interesting concept of a girl (Amanda Seyfried) who claims she escaped a kidnapper and now the same kidnapper has her sister, only the police don’t believe her. Daniel Sunjata (One for the Money) co-stars as the cop who believes she is mentally unbalanced. Seyfried’s lack of driving skills and risky decisions may incline you to agree. This film has the same sort of feel/ambience to it as the Ashley Judd/Morgan Freeman film Kiss the Girls. I liked it.

Wanderlust

Comedy, Raunchy
3 stars
So-so. Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston tryout living in a hippy commune setting. Some scenes were really funny – I loved Linda Lavin as their NYC realtor – but some scenes were groan-worthy, especially when Rudd preps himself for his first extramarital tryst. I liked Kathryn Hahn as the mean hippy, and Alan Alda’s character was fun. Justin Theroux plays the creepy leader of the group and Malin Akerman is good as the dippy free love advocate. As with all Judd Apatow films there is a lot of raunch. If you like Judd Apatow films, then this is for you; for everyone else, skip it.

Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012 – Animation

Animated
5 stars
I always love the annual animated shorts, and this year has some good ones. They are equal parts bizarre, imaginative, funny and strange, and loved them all. This years’ nominees are all from USA, Canada & UK, my favorite one being UK’s “A Morning Stroll” which is best not knowing anything before watching. Other great ones are “The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore” (USA) and La Luna (USA). Canada’s “Dimanche/Sunday” is amusingly strange, but Canada’s “Wildlife” is just plain odd. There were a few more “notable” shorts included (not mentioned on the official website), the only one I recall is Australia’s “Nullabor” a wryly funny variation of 1971’s Duel (Spielberg). Duel is a great movie to rent, by the way. Unfortunately, these films aren’t shown in most theaters, but can be found through iTunes and other media: http://theoscarshorts.shorts.tv/

This Means War

Action, Romance
3.5 stars
Fun movie, most of it is already given away in the previews. Two super spies compete for the affections of Reese Witherspoon (Chris Pine & Tom Hardy). It’s a bit corny and the action scenes are a mixture of super close-ups and heavily edited clips where you can't really tell what's going on - you just know the good guys are going to win. I miss good old fashioned choreography! But it's good for a few laughs.

Safe House

Action, Drama 4 stars
Good movie. Denzel Washington stars a rogue spy suspected of treason who is under the protection of an inexperienced rookie, played by Ryan Reynolds. Great cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga and Sam Shepherd. Very exciting and feels like a Steven Soderbergh film (Traffic, Haywire) but is instead directed by the somewhat unknown Daniel Espinosa, who shows a lot of promise. And surprisingly, Ryan Reynolds can actually act! Who knew? I thought it was really good.

The Vow

Chick Flick, Romance
3 stars
OK, nothing special. Rachel McAdams stars as a happily married woman who loses her memory and doesn’t remember ever meeting her husband, Channing Tatum. Tatum must now try to make her fall in love with him again. Tatum is handsome, but he’s a stiff actor. I’m a huge fan of chick flicks, but this one didn’t excite me either way. It’s OK, but a little bland.

Chronicle

Sci-fi, Teen
3.5 stars
Interesting premise. Three teens acquire supernatural powers. The film is viewed primarily through the lens of a camera (thankfully not a shaky one) as the teens film their experiences. Dane Dehaan plays the most troubled of the group with a terminally ill mother and an abusive father (Michael Kelly). Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan play well-adjusted, popular kids who try to help out their friend. Some of their abilities are really cool, but the film gets a little dark as they deal with their powers and situations differently. Not bad for a teen flick.

Big Miracle

Family, Drama
3.5 stars
Cute and sweet. Based on a true story. John Krasinski stars as small-time reporter in Alaska who, with the help of Greenpeace activist and ex-girlfriend Drew Barrymore, brings international attention to the plight of 3 gray whales separated from the ocean by a wall of ice. Kristen Bell co-stars as a reporter Krasinski has a crush on. There are some corny and goofy characters, but I still liked this film a lot for the warm & fuzzy feeling that the world came together to help save the whales.

Man On a Ledge

Drama, Suspense
3.5 stars
Exciting but predictable. Sam Worthington stars as, as the title suggests, a guy standing on the ledge of a building as a distraction while others attempt to exonerate him by trying to locate the 40 carat diamond he is accused of stealing. It’s really a no-brainer how this turns out but the fun is in watching it unfold. Elizabeth Banks plays the cop trying to talk him into getting off the ledge, and Ed Harris is truly scary as the tycoon who claimed Worthington stole from him. Jamie Bell plays Worthington’s brother and Genesis Rodriguez as Bell’s way-too-pretty-for-him girlfriend (thanks to her, I now know how to say SOB in Spanish). Fun and exciting.

Albert Nobbs

Indie, Period
4.5 stars

Very good, but a bit slow moving.  Glenn Close truly earns her Best Actress Nomination as she plays a woman who lives as a man working in a small Dublin hotel in this bittersweet tale.  Complications arise when her character develops a crush on a young and immature maid, Mia Wasikowska.  More interesting is her friendship with Janet McTeer - who I thought was fantastic - and is also worthy of her Best Supporting Actress Nomination.  McTeer plays another woman living as a man but has created a whole lifestyle that Close’s character is fascinated by.  Really good, but a little slow.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Indie, Dark
3 stars
Dark and Depressing, but this is not a horror film. Tilda Swinton stars as the mother of an evil son (Ezra Miller, City Island). I can’t describe too much without giving the ending away, but it’s clear from the start that something terrible has happened and she is ostracized from society. John C. Reilly co-stars as her husband. I thought this would be a guilty pleasure film like The Bad Seed or The Omen, but it so much darker and told mostly in flashbacks, that aren’t in chronological order, which I found annoying. I also was irritated that the mother didn’t reprimand and discipline her son when he behaved badly. To get an idea of the creepy weirdness of it, the opening scene is a dream of Hell with people mashed together and covered in squashed tomatoes while they toss more soupy tomatoes over each other’s heads. After seeing the ending, I can see that this subject matter would be interesting from the mother’s point of view; I just wish it was presented differently. Good acting, but I didn’t really like this film at all.

Haywire

4 stars
Action, Spy Thriller
Good movie – Jim loved it too. Former #3 ranked Mixed Martial Arts fighter Gina Carano kicks butt as a spy who has been double crossed and fights back. OK, I just realized that description sounds a bit like Jason Bourne, and it does have similarities, but it’s a good film in its own right. I was very leery going into this film – I’m not a fan of one-person-killing-machine type films – but since this actress actually has a fighting background, she is impressive to watch and I did wind up rooting for her. This film also features two accomplished indie actors: Ewan McGregor and Michael Fassbender; as well as Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum, and Antonio Banderas. This is definitely not a mindless action film. Go in with a clear mind and pay attention to her story in the beginning – there are a ton of characters to keep track of. All the pieces are there, it just goes by really fast. Good movie.

One For the Money

Comedy, Crime
4 stars
Fun film starring Katherine Heigl, as the heroine bond bailsman from the Janet Evanovich bestselling book series. Heigl gets the job of bringing in a murder suspect played by Jason O'Mara, with whom she has a prior grudge, but finds a lot more danger and excitement than she had bargained for. Heigl, whom I never thought much of as an actress, is actually pretty good in this role. I’ve had a crush on Jason O’Mara since his cancelled TV show Life on Mars, so of course I liked this film. Also costarring is Daniel Sunjata as a fellow bondsman whom she describes as “Michelangelo’s David dipped in caramel” and I have to agree. All kidding aside, I never read the book, but the movie is very fun and enjoyable.

Red Tails

Action, War
4 stars
Good movie based on the African American fighter pilots of WWII in the Tuskegee training program. The characters in the film are fictional but the Tuskegee training program was real and I’m glad that the men in the program are honored through this film. Terrence Howard stars as the colonel, Cuba Gooding (who looks funny holding a pipe in his teeth) plays the major, along with Nate Parker and David Oyelowo as the primary pilots featured in the film. Oyelowo is the daredevil, much like Tom Cruise’s character in Top Gun, and Parker plays his friend and superior who has a drinking problem. Lots of action in the air. Good movie.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Drama, Tearjerker
4 stars
Sweet, sad film about a neurotic boy (Thomas Horn) who lost his Dad on 9/11 and tries to figure out what a key his Dad left behind is for (Tom Hanks). The boy had way too much freedom and not enough discipline – why is he so rude to his doorman (John Goodman)?? – and he really needed a therapist. Sandra Bullock has a fairly small, understated role as the boy’s Mom. Max von Sydow played a neighbor with his own set of problems. There were a few sniffles but no tears, and I tend to be quite emotional in general, but I did want to slap that kid! Best picture nominee – I really don’t know why, but the kid deserves a nomination for his role. I liked the ending.

Comedies on DVD to help combat the winter blues:

*From “Across the pond”:

Waking Ned Devine
James Nesbit, Fionnula Flanagan, David Kelly, Ian Bannen,
Someone won the lottery in a tiny Irish town - but who?

The Full Monty
Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkenson, Mark Addy
Unemployment forces some men into becoming strippers

Saving Grace
Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson
Recent widow uses her gardening skills to pay the bills.

Tamara Drewe
Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper, Roger Allam
A young beauty breezes into town, disrupting a retreat for stuffy writers.
*Includes profanity and a gruesome death.

Son of Rambow
Two boys in the 1980's decide to film a version of "First Blood".

*An American Gem:

Thank You For Smoking
Aaron Eckhart
A spin-doctor for the tobacco industry attempts to validate cigarettes.

*Some Favorites I recommended last year, in case you didn’t get to see them:

A Fish Called Wanda
Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis
British caper/heist with American actors. "Don't call me stupid"

City Island
Andy Garcia Julianna Marguiles
A prison guard brings a convict home to his dysfunctional family to work off his sentence.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer
Modern day film noir murder mystery, so funny

Paper Moon
Tatum O'Neil, Ryan O'Neil
Father/daughter con-artist team

Underworld: Awakening

Action, Sci-Fi
3.5 stars
Fun violence with Kate Beckinsale in her cat suit kicking lycan butt. In this go-around she awakens after 12 years of being frozen to find humans as the number one enemy, as well as a cool hybrid child (India Eisley), and a supersized lycan. Co-stars include Michael Ealy as a detective, Steven Rea as sort of a mad scientist, and Theo James as a fellow vampire. The film felt way too short (88 minutes) and leaves you waiting for the next installment in the series. Jim loved it; well, mostly he just loves Kate in a cat suit. Fun fight scenes. Fun movie.

Contraband

Action, Drama
4 stars
Violent action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg as a former smuggler who must now help out his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) after he dumps some drugs in the ocean and the drug dealers want the cash value. Giovani Ribisi plays the bad guy, as usual, with great intensity. Kate Beckinsale plays Wahlberg’s wife who is also in danger if he can’t come up with the money. Jim loved it. These violent action movies aren’t my thing, but the acting was good and the story seemed somewhat plausible. A definite “guy movie”.

Joyful Noise

Musical, Drama
2.5 stars
Cute gospel musical, but it wasn’t as joyful as the title promises. Queen Latifah stars as a newly minted church choir director trying to get her choir ready for a national singing competition. I liked the music, but there was a lot of teen angst between her daughter, Keke Palmer and Dolly Parton’s grandson, Broadway star Jeremy Jordan. Unfortunately, Latifah’s character is angry and bitter and I prefer to see her in her usual friendly, comedic roles. It’s cute, the music was fun, but it could have been better.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

British, Intrigue
3.5 stars
Very hard to follow. Gary Oldman stars as a spy from Britain’s MI6 aka “the Circus” who suspects a high ranking mole among his men. Other spies include Mark Strong, John Hurt, Simon McBurney, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Toby Jones and Ciaran Hines. This film frequently and without warning switched back and forth between past and present and also included many extraneous scenes that only seemed to complicate it further (i.e. did we need to see Oldman swimming, grocery shopping, and watching TV? And what about that story line with Mark Strong and one of his students?). Most of these extra scenes were only a few seconds long and distracted me from the main plot. I’m sure fans of the book will get a lot more out of this film than anyone else.

War Horse

Drama, Tearjerker
3 stars
Sappy. A horse is raised lovingly by Jeremy Irving (the sappiest character of them all) until his father sells it to an English soldier and the horse goes to war and is passed among a variety of owners. The stage play is supposed to be a very powerful experience. The film is a sappy tearjerker, though there are some good parts. The first hour of the 2.5 hour film could definitely have been trimmed down as it is spent with Irving lovingly training the horse and making you want to gag yourself. The war gets much more interesting and there is one incredibly hard to watch scene, but then it turns back to sap. Only for lovers of tearjerkers.

The Artist

Indie, Drama
4 stars
Cute silent movie starring Jean Dujardin as a silent film star in the late 1920’s who meets a young up and comer (Berenice Bejo) during the transition to “talkies”. The charming story does get a little depressing for awhile though – in fact I’ll just say the first half is better. There is a lot of Academy Award buzz surrounding this film, but if anyone should be nominated it should be Uggie The Dog, who was awesome! I’ve always loved Dujardin with his expressive face, easy smile and charm. He was the highlight of a couple of so-so French films (OSS 117:Cairo, Nest of Spies and OSS 117: Lost in Rio – the Cairo one was the better of the two) as a sort of parody of James Bond and was the only thing that made them worth watching. Cute film.