Winter's Bone

Staring: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, & Isaiah Stone
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Winter's Bone won best film at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and was also nominated for 4 Academy Awards including best picture. While it was an outstanding story, it defiantly didn't deserve 3 of the 4 nominations. The film is very dark and slow moving, with lots of unnecessary dramatic pauses. Randomly they jump into country music and shots of hillbillies, it was all very odd. While I really enjoyed this movie, especially the storyline, it gave new meaning to the words "white trash". The only Oscar nomination that was warranted, is that of Lead Actress, Jennifer Lawrence. I've never seen her in anything before, but god was she impressive. In a world of darkness, drugs, murder, and despair, Ree stood out, everyone who came in contact with her knew she was special and so is the actress who played her. Normally movies like this aren't for me. It was the story that attracted me to this film, but it was Lawrence's performance that made this film worth seeing.

The Prestige

Staring: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, & Scarlett Johansson
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Prestige is vintage Christopher Nolan. A dark, twisted, visually appealing story. I enjoyed this movie a lot, but I must admit, for most of it, I had no idea what was happening. It was a cool story, about two rival magicians trying to discredit one another. While I enjoyed what I was seeing, the story just twisted and turned in ways I couldn't really follow. I know I loved watching it, but afterwards I was still like what the hell? The ending was the most confusing part, not real sure what happened there, maybe one day I'll get it. This film had the star power, one of Hollywood's best directors, and a unique story, but it's going to be hard for a lot of people to follow. I've seen 1000's of films, and it's not often that I get to say, I didn't really get it, especially with something I enjoyed, but I guess Christopher Nolan will do that to ya!

Stag Night

Staring: Kip Pardue, Vinessa Shaw, & Breckin Meyer
Rating: 1 1/2 out of 5 stars

Cannibalistic, machete wielding, homeless men, living in the NYC subway system, where they raise families, keep farm animals, and can tap into electricity and cable tv. Yes, this movie is THAT bad! I don't mind a gorefest, but this movie wasn't even scary. There was zero character development, as they spend all of about 10 minutes on a background story. It's just a bad movie, basically just a chase through the subway tunnels. We all know what's going to happen! What a fucking waste of time!

The Butterfly Effect

Staring: Ashton Kutcher, Logan Lerman, & Amy Smart
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It is based on the theory that for every decision we make, an equal and opposite reaction occurs in another dimension. In this film, Ashton Kutcher's/Logan Lerman's character finds a way to enter these dimensions and make the opposite choice. This movie was so good, because the possibilities are endless. There were two sequals which I haven't seen. Normally I'm all for sequals, but this movie was so good, that I don't want to risk tarnishing it by watching the two direct to video sequals, and lets face it, they don't have Ashton in them. In The Butterfly Effect, Kutcher shows that he is versital and can do much more than just romantic comedy. This movie is a Sci-Fi lovers dream and a can't miss film!

Bridge To Terabithia

Staring: Josh Hutcherson & Anna Sophia Robb
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Bridge To Terabithia is one of my all time favorite fairy tales and when I heard they were making it into a movie, I was very excited. When I heard it was Disney doing it, I was mordified. Disney has a way of taking classic tales and distorting them into happy, loving, little stories that completly ignore the underlying issues, but with Bridge To Terabithia they didn't do that. This movie was fantastic and every bit as impactful as the original story. The young leads are terrific, the movie is visually appealing, and the story is left virtually untouched. This is a good one!

Borat

Staring: Sacha Baron Cohen
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Out of all of Sacha Baron Cohen's characters, Borat is by far the funniest and that's why he decided to make his first big studio film about him. There is no doubt this movie is hysterical, anyone who doesn't find this funny really must have something wrong with them, but how far is too far to push the envelope? I don't get offended easily, but lines like "Senator Chocolate Face" and "the jews repeating their attack of 9/11" were more than slightly over the line. While the line is much further away in the uncensored market, it does still exsist, and Cohen does cross it on several occasions. I laughed until I cried, Borat is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I was however offended by several of the things he said and that's why It gets 4 instead of 5 stars.

Hannibal Rising

Staring: Gaspard Ulliel
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Contrary to popular belief, this movie is not about Anthony Hopkins experimenting with Viagra. In fact, the man who made Hannibal Lecter a household name, doesn't so much as have a cameo in this film. Hannibal Rising takes the story to where it's never been before, back to the beginning. We see a young Hannibal in Europe, during WWII, and we learn how he grew into the monster he became. What made this different from the other Lecter films, was that Hannibal is seen as a good guy for much of the film, just out seeking revenge. French film star Gaspard Ulliel is fantastic in his first American film and was the perfect choice to play a young lecter. As a fan of the film franchise, I found this movie facsinating, but as an outsider I can see how some people would find it a bit long and slow.

Meet The Parents Trilogy

Staring: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Dustin Hoffman, Owen Wilson, Barbra Streisand, & Blythe Danner

Rating:
Meet The Parents: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Meet The Fockers: 4 out of 5 Stars
Little Fockers: 3 out of 5 stars

 Meet The Parents is based on the classic story that every guy worries about, meeting the girlfriends parents and in turn meeting the daughters boyfriend. This
trilogy really gives De Niro a chance to show that he does have a lighter side, as well as a terrific sense of humor. He's not someone who should be tight cast the way he usual is. Ben Stiller is another one who benefits from these films. To be honest, I always found his style rather annoying, until these films. For the first time I was finally able to get what people see in him and now look at his stuff through diffrents eyes.


As for the trilogy, this one doesn't fit the usual model. In general, the first one is the best, the second one goes in a totally different direction and sucks, while the third mixes the two and brings the series to a close. Here, The first one introduces us everyone and in the beginning is very slow. I actually walked out of it when it was in the theaters, because I was falling asleep! It wasn't until right before Meet The Fockers came out, when I saw the end on cable, that I realized how funny it actually was!

My favorite was the second one. You already had the charachters established and judged in the eyes of the audience and in this case they didn't change a thing! They took the same people and put them into an entirely new situation with only a couple of new people for us to meet and it works very well. Dustin Hoffman was truly hysterical and really makes the difference between 3 1/2 and 4 stars.

As for the most recent installment, Little Fockers, it wasn't as sophisticated as the other two. I wouldn't want my kids seeing either of the first two, but I'd have no problem taking them to Little Fockers. To be quite honest, they look like they may have started to run out of material and scrapped the bottom of the barrell to give us one more look at the Focker-Byrns partnership. It wasn't bad, but it definatly wasn't the higher class of humor you saw in the first two films.

All 3 films have the same charachters with the same personalities, they never change, the situations do, and that's what makes these films great! Most trilogies try to change charachters, add a ton of new charachters, kill charachters... there is none of that here. It introduces you to this couple and continues on along the natural path their lives take. Its a tremedous cast, very well written, and parts of it are very funny. I would definatly recommend seeing it!

Amhurst

Staring: Amy Tiehel, Alec Hogan, Stephanie Hullar, & Jesse Buschini
Rating: 1 1/2 out of 5 stars

When I first read about this movie, I was intrigued, and went out of my way to get a copy. It was a mistake! The story makes no sense and has more holes than a log of swiss cheese. As for the cast, I've seen better acting in reality shows. This movie was just a big waste of time!

Awake

Staring: Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, & Terrence Howard
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars

This movie gets two big thumbs up for eye candy and the background story. The plot and flow of the movie however are both weak. This film is based on phenomina of anesthetic awareness, something we saw for the first time, 15 years earlier in a Tales From The Crypt episode. It was a great episode and seemed like it should make a good movie, but this wasn't it. Awake moves very slowly and is pretty boring for the first 45 minutes or so, and after that it just jumps around. Hayden yelling at people who can't hear him, gets old, quickly, but it continues to go on and on and on. It has a good cast, its a great idea, but it's only a decent story, and much too slow for me.

Catch Me If You Can

Staring: Leonardo DiCaprio & Tom Hanks
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Catch Me If You Can is a true story and a triumph. This is a very different story and it's that uniqness that lets you know it has to be true. You can't make this stuff up! Leo DiCaprio is amazing, showing the birth of one of the the countries all-time best con men, in a time when it was relatively easy to do. Tom Hanks is equally as good as the guy who's chasing him, showing once again why he has the reputation that he does. This is one of the best films I've seen in a long time, don't be a fool, you have to see this!

Due Date

Staring: Robert Downy Jr. & Zach Galifianakis
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars

From the writer, director, and star of the Hangover, aka the funniest movie i've ever seen, comes Due Date! I can't tell you how excited I was to see this film. Unfortunatly, if you've seen the preview, you've seen all the funny parts. Robert Downy is great as the moody, uptight, Peter. Zach Galifianakis however, was pretty bland. Metrosexual Ethan didn't have the same shock value and loveable loser quality as Alan did, I didn't find him funny, I just felt sorry for him. The plot didn't help the film much either. How many times have you seen two strangers, thrown together by happenstance taking a road trip together? Due Date was OK, but it's been done, and they made the rookie mistake of putting everything good into the preview. Despite the great cast, I say pass on this one.

The Dark Knight

Starting: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, & Maggie Gyllenhaal
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Regular readers of this blog know that I don't like super heroes, but Batman is the exception. As a kid he was the only one I thought was cool and the only one that i felt could be real. Apprently Christopher Nolan has the same idea. What I love about his take on Batman is that it's very realistic. Even the joker, as out there as he maybe, was a much more believable and realistic villian than the portrayl by Jack Nicholson. As for the movie, it's an amazing story, with one of the best performances ever, by the late Heath Ledger who I really couldn't stand until this movie! As with all Nolan movies, it's a very visually appealing film, with a great story, and cast perfectly. I can honestly say that this is as good as it gets! There will never be a better Batman or super hero movie.

Unknown (2006)

Staring: Jim Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, & Joe Pantoliano
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This movie was really cool, not only because of it's terrific cast, but also for the way the story is done. At many points this film seems familiar, mainly because it has similar pieces to similar movies all put together into one original story. A group of people wake up locked in a warehouse with no memory of who they are or how they got there. Only one thing becomes immediatly clear, if they don't discover the truth and how to escape, they'll all be dead soon. Its not the strongest story or ending, but the way this film was done was just pure geinus. Definatly worth seeing!

Breach

Staring: Ryan Phillippe, Chris Cooper, & Laura Linney
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Breach is a movie based on actual events, in which a rookie FBI agent goes undercover to find a Russian spy inside the U.S. Government. While the story is a good one, the film moves VERY slowly. In the end, it's pretty awesome what this agent did and what he was able to find. The story could have been told in a different way thou, one that whould have kept the audiences attention better. It's a good story with a couple of great performances, but its not easy to sit through.

Limitless

Staring: Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro, & Abbie Cornish
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Limitless is one of these rare films, where the preview doesn't give you a clue as to how good it really is. I saw this because the movie I wanted to see wasn't playing until 11, and I honestly didn't expect much from it. What I got was a visual masterpiece, with some of the best camera work I've ever seen, and an amazing story that was so much more than some guy and his magic pill. It's intense, shocking, and unique. Bradley Cooper really makes the movie. He FINALLY lets go of his super cool, good looking guy image, and really shows the audience that he can act! This movie was a breath of fresh air and I can't wait til it comes out on DVD so I can see it again!

Georgia Rule

Staring: Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, & Felicity Huffman
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was an amazing movie! The premise of the movie is a troubled family sending their insane daughter to live with her hard-nosed Grandmother in Idaho. From the previews, I was expecting a lame, even raunchy comedy, boy I was I wrong. While it had it's comedic aspect to it, it was so much more than that. It was the story of trust and redemption that centers not around Georgia and her rules, but rather around her grandaughter played by Lindsey Lohan. I don't like Lohan, her previous roles, or even how she is as a person, but in this movie, she's terrific. I think it's because she was actually playing herself. A smart but troubled girl, who acts slutty and stupid to keep up apperances and hide from her own misery. This movie was smart and funny as well as deep and emotional. It's a can't miss film that everyone should see!

Lady In The Water

Staring: Paul Giamatti & Bryce Dallas Howard
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Ok, what kind of drugs is M. Night Shyamalan on and how can I get some!? This is one weird, tripped out movie! Overall it's was good, but just very very weird. It has Shyamalan's typical, dark, mythodical, presence, as well as his unique brand of humor. What's not typical thou is this story. I don't give spoilers, so let's just say the whole movie I was either saying WTF?!?! or WOW that's cool! It's a strange one, but unique and imaginative. It took me a little while to figure out, but ultimatly I decided, I liked it!

What Happens In Vegas

Staring: Ashton Kutcher & Cameron Diaz
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Before the Hangover, there was What Happens In Vegas. It didn't get the same cult following simply because it was billed as a romantic comedy, but it was almost as funny and has a cameo by Zach Galifinakis. The story is about a couple of friends getting drunk and hooking up in vegas. After a drunken marriage, Diaz and Kutcher gamble, winning 3 million dollars. They go to court, being that they want and divorce and don't wanna split it, and the judge played by Dennis Miller puts the money in esgrow, forcing the couple to live together for 6 months. That's when they find out how different they really are. This movie is hysterical, fun, and much better than the previews which by no means do it justice. If you like comedy and you enjoyed the Hangover, check it out!

Defiance

Staring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, & Jamie Bell
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars

Defiance is the real life story of the Bielski brothers, who during WWII in Belarus, saved and protected 1200 fellow jews from the nazis. The Bielski's never sought recognition for what they did, however the decendents of the people they saved now number in the tens of thousands. The story is truly inspiring, as for the movie, it moved very slowly and like all war stories, was much too long. You quickly see that the story repeats itself over and over again. The film starts off very strong and than just flatlines. It's a shame, because it's a great cast and an inspiring, relativly unknown story, but it just doesn't go anywhere.

Guess Who

Staring: Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, & Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

This is a remake of the 1967 film, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, however in this version roles are reversed and Ashton Kutcher is the minority. This movie was great for two reasons. All the talented people that star in it and for how it played on something we generally don't talk about, reverse racism. It gives everyone a chance to see things from the other sides perspective. At the same time, it's clever, and funny. Guess Who is a can't miss!

Higher Learning

Staring: Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, & Michael Rappaport
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Higher Learning is a very bold film, that shows the paths of 3 college freshman and how they develop socially during their first semester in college. They start out as a group of naive kids, who don't even understand themselves, and develop into different personas that fit the group of friends they choose to fall in with. It's really interesting to see how 3 people, who are all in the same boat, wind up on such different paths, simply as a result of who they choose to spend their time with. I can't really say much more, but eventually their paths will cross with some very interesting results!

Snake Eyes

Staring: Nicholas Cage, Gary Sinise, & Carla Gugino
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is your classic, who done it, murder mystery by the modern day master of suspense, Brian De Palma. A lot of other people who reviewed this movie didn't like it, because it moves slowly and then shows a lot of flashbacks of the crime through many different witnesses eyes, similar to the TV show Cold Case. Personally, I think this just adds to the suspense and helps build to an expected climax, which had unexpected results for everyone involved. Nicholas Cage plays Rick Santoro perfectly, its a role that at the time seemed as thou it could be a bit of a stretch for him, but as always he is terrific. This film is definatly a throwback, that many people didn't seem to go for, but I think it's something different and well worth seeing.

The Darkroom

Staring: Shawn Pyfrom, Greg Grunberg, & Lucy Lawless
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

This is one of those horror movies that tries to scare you based on the, "it could actually happen' premise. The ending makes the movie. When you finally put it all together at the end, you realize that eventhou most of the performances sucked, and the story was kinda confusing, it was actually very clever. Up until that point, it's jumpy and confusing as hell, but I can promise you it will keep you thinking and you won't have any idea until the end.

A Wrinkle In Time

Staring: Katie Stuart, Gregory Smith, & David Dorfman
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Only love can defeat the darkness. What a wonderfully Disney idea. Personally, I think the darkness looked a lot like New Jersey. This movie is based on an old novel, one that many of us read in school. While Disney tried to adapt it to the big screen, they failed miserably. This movie was way too long and confusing for kids. Even I had a hard time sitting through it. Katie Stuart gives a tremendous performance as Meg, but sadly it was the only note worthy performance. Gregory Smith, one of my favorite young actors, was quite bland, the three ladies were just ridiculously Disneified, and David Dorfman, while adorable, was very repetative. I usually love when old fairytales and Sciene Fiction novels come to life on the big screen, but this was really one I could have done without.

Happy Gilmore

Staring: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, & Julie Bowen
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

I've seen this movie 1000 times, and you know what, it's STILL funny! It's classic, amazing movies like this, that keep getting Adam Sandler work today. They are hoping every shitty PG-13 "family" comedy will capture the magic that Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison had. You can't truly appreciate just how bad Sandler's current films are until you see how amazing his old ones were and this one, is one kids will still be watching 100 years from now.

Gamebox 1.0

Staring: Danielle Fishel & Nate Richert
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Gamebox 1.0 is one of those movies I had to see, simply to find out what it was all about. The story seemed like such a unique concept that i was sure it would be something exciting. I was pretty dissapointed thou, being that it was direct to video and probably had a small budget, the special effects were pretty lame. The backround story was actually pretty good. However, it was buried under cheezy special effects and performed by Sabrina and Boy Meets World outcasts, that are all grown up, so it was hard to tell. After thinking about it a little, I could see where they were going. Overall, it was ok, pretty much just a direct to video version of a failed movie with a similar story line, Stay Alive. Pass on this one! 

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Staring: Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, & Liev Schreiber
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

X-Men Origins: Wolverine will hopefully be the first in a line of many films explaining the beginnings of the X-men franchise. This film was filled with unbelievable stuns, great action scenes, and tremendous special effect. Like Charles Xavier himself, the writers got right into the mind of the watchers and as soon as the movie started getting predictable and done, they throw you a curve, right at the beginning of an amazing ending. This movie was great!...and for all you lazy, impatient people... make sure you watch the credits all the way to the end.

Shooter

Staring: Mark Wahlberg, Danny Glover, and Ned Beatty
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

From the Funky Bunch to action movie star, it's been a long road for Mark Wahlberg. A long road filled with a lot of bad movies, but in recent years he has finally mastered his craft and Shooter is the crown jewel. This is the perfect action movie! A GREAT story, several plot twists, and lots of explosions. Wahlberg was the perfect choice to play Swagger and really brings to life the best intended parts of his charachter. This is an absolute can't miss movie for action fans. I was truly in awe!

Daredevil

Staring: Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Ben Affleck is a tool. He's about as believable a super hero as I am a super model. Ben, do us all a favor, stick to directing and shitty romantic comedies so that I don't have to see you anymore!

The Town

Staring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, & Jeremy Renner
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I don't like Ben Affleck as an actor. I think he's very overrated and quite bland. As a director thou, he is now 2 for 2. The town was a terrific story based on actually events. The action sequenses are phenominal and the story was pretty solid. The crappy bawston accents did make the dialouge a little difficult to understand but overall, I feel like this was a great film that definatly lives up to the hype. It worth checking out.

The Strangers

Staring: Scott Speedman & Liv Tyler
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

The strangers is a creepy story, based on actual events. This isn't your typical horror movie. It moves a lot slower and lacks the cursing and gore, but what it is, is mythotical and truly scary. I have so many questions I'd like to ask, but can't do it without spoilers. This movie will make you jump, make you scream, and make you think, and that's what makes it special and worth seeing.

United 93

Staring: Khalid Abdalla, Denny Dillon, & Cheyenne Jackson
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

This movie should have been a tribute to the heroes who gave their lives to save so many others on 9/11. Instead, they are portraied as vigilantes who killed themselves. All they had to go on was the black boxes and the phone calls made from the plane, the rest is conjecture and, in my humble opinion, complete and absolute bull shit! Nothing like this happend on that plane. They took a tragic story and hollywoodized it until it became a mockery. I was not impressed.

RED

Staring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, & Mary-Louise Parker
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

You are never too old to make a great action comedy, and Bruce Willis and John Malkovich prove that in RED. This wasn't just another shoot um up kill fest with a story you've seen a million times. RED is action packed, but it's also clever, exciting, and hilarious. It's a fresh movie in a typically repetative genre. Honestly they don't get much better than this!

When Zachary Beaver Came To Town

Staring: Jonathan Lipnicki, Cody Linley, Eric Stoltz, Jane Krakowski
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

A cute predictable story based on an old novel, When Zachary Beaver Came To Town is the story of two boys and the summer that changed their lives, which just happends to co-inside with the arrival of the world's fattest boy visiting their small Texas town. This movie isn't bad, but the story is inconsistant and jumps around quite a bit. At times, it seems as thou Zachary is just a quirky side charachter rather than the focus of the film. Both the young leads are fantastic thou and the young southern belle charachter was just hilarious. It's a cute movie, it's not going to blow anyone away, but if you're looking for something fun and simple, check it out.