Mad Max

(1979)



Alexis says:



1.5 STARS



I am going to try really hard to give this movie a fair review, becuase my first instincts are to tell you that it is garbage. But when I try to delve a little deeper and think about the time (the movie was filmed in 1978), the actors (this is Gibson's second movie and first leading role) and the budget ($200,000, Gibson got $5k of that) then I can start to appreciate this movie in a different light.



The idea isn't all that bad, post apocolyptic Australian cops fight against murderous biker gang but the dialogue is lacking and so is most of the acting. But when I think about the fact that even though it was 1978 and Star Wars was being released this is an Australian film and many of the filming techniques used in this film were entirely new to Australian cinema. The chase scenes are actually rather good when you take into account the $200K budget.



So I feel a little mixed, this film is lacking on several levels but at the same time it was groundbreaking for the time and place it was recorded. If you are interested in action films and you don't mind them being a little hokey, this film deserves your viewing.

Todd Says:

3 STARS

Let me start off by saying that Mad Max didn't age well. Yes, by today's standards this movie is definately sub-par. But, it was a B-Movie to begin with. It grew into a cult classic because of it's intensity and originality.

For what they had to work with, and what was around to compare it with at the time, Mad Max actually is a gem. However, with all of that said, the action movie genre has grown by leaps and bounds (no doubt in some part due to movies like this), and Mad Max just doesn't hold up thirty years later.

Is it a good movie? Yes. Will you enjoy it? Only if you approach it with a sense of History.

The Good Shepherd

(2006)



Alexis says:

3.75 STARS

This film was pretty good, as usual Matt Damon evolves into the character he is portraying and gives a five star performance. The story in interesting and the teetering between both flashbacks and present day scenes develops and brings the story full circle wonderfully. Angelina Jolie gives an ordinary but enjoyable performance as well.

The film and the story it tells are sad yet honest. I have to admit that I was a little frustrated the first time I saw this film because I felt completely lost most of the way through, the second viewing I knew where the film was headed and I was able to pay attention to details that I had missed the first time. Unfortunately, I feel like this hurt my overall rating of this film. In the end I was enlightened and satisfied I just wish that I hadn't felt so lost with the story the first time but I imagine that was the director's intention.

Overall, the movie was filmed well and the story an intriguing one and I would recommend you invest a few hours in this one.

Todd Says:

5 STARS

I think that the Good Shepherd offers us a wonderful look inside the beginnings of an institution that is now the cornerstone of America's Foreign Policy. I don't know how much of the movie is factual and how much is fantasy, but to be honest it really doesn't matter much. This film is deep and riveting, and I found it hard to not become emotionally invested in the story.

The cast, which is the epitome of All-Star casting, is superb, and the writing and directing are nearly amazing. Even though some of the characters are hard to like (Jolie's especially), they seem like real people, which is rare in movies anymore.

The story, which is told in a seemingly random chronology, will keep you wondering what exactly is going on until the very end, when you come to the realization that this is a top notch spy movie and that you may never know exactly what you want to know. This movie, in my humble opinion, is brilliant and raises the bar a bit for movies of this genre.

You must see this.

We Own The Night

(2007)

Alexis says:

2.5 STARS

I have come to expect a lot more, maybe too much from Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg and Robert Duvall which is possibly why this movie was such a letdown. The story seemed at times rushed and at other times just too farfetched and still at other times I just didn't like it, for no other reason than it just wasn't all that good. I felt like this movie wanted to be The Departed but instead just came off as a less than powerful movie in the same vain.

Here is another one of those movies where hype hurt it because I was expecting far better things than I actually got, and that just doesn't seem good enough.

Todd Says:

3 STARS

We Own The Night is a dark depressing look at the life of a multi-generational police family. One brother (Wahlberg) is an ambitious cop and the other brother (Phoenix) runs a night club owned by the Russian Mob. Robert Duvall plays their father, who is also a cop, and who is having a hard time holding his family together.

The story borders on morbidly depressing, the highest point in the film (emotionally speaking) is when one of the brothers exacts brutal revenge on a member of the mob. So, it's not a feel good story. But, if you happen to be in the mood for a somber police drama, they don't come much more somber than this.

21

(2008)

Alexis says:

2.5 STARS

Las Vegas seems less and less appealing all the time and so do movies about gambling. This is another one of those films that I had high expectations for but left me wanting a little more, wondering where have all the goods films gone.

Having just seen another film about Las Vegas gambling I was not at all impressed with this film. It seemed gimicky and I had a hard time feeling for any of the smart, cocky characters in the film which happens to be a huge downfall when I watch a movie. Well written, well acted characters are so much a part of good films and I found myself rolling my eyes and getting bored with the characters and their sorry scenarios. The 'love' story was rushed and unconvincing, I am often wondering why directors and writers think that every film needs a love story, I am of the opinion that if you aren't going to develop the love story, just leave it out completely.

Producer Kevin Spacey was good as usual and he had to be far and away my favorite thing about this film, sometime I just have to wonder why he gets involved in some of the films that he gets involved in, does he have higher expectations of them too?

The ending was a little transparent but it wasn't all bad. I still had no compassion for any of the characters but I at least felt like rooting for the 'good' guys. In addition to the ending the Las Vegas scenes were eye catching but the gambling aspect of Las Vegas just gets less and less appealing all the time.

Todd Says:

2 STARS

I found 21 to be one of those films that I could tell what was coming from the very beginning. Maybe I knew too much about the story from the History Channel documentary that I saw a couple of years ago, but then again this one was based only loosely on actually events.

For all of the flash and sparkle of this film, I found it rather lacking in the acting department. The story, which is quite a stretch from the story that inspired it, is engaging enough I suppose, the total package just doesn't pull everything together like you'd hope.

The trailer is better than the movie, as is too often the case these days, but if you're into flamboyant getting-one-over-on-the-man movies then you might enjoy this on.

Lucky You

(2007)

Alexis says:

1 STAR

This movie is just as bad as I heard that it was. Let me restate that. It didn't do well at the box office and that to me says that not many people went home and told their friends to go and see it and now that I have seen it I am not going to tell my friends to go and see it and do you know why that is, because it is bad.

Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall are all capable actors and actresses, I know it, I have seen them pull it off (or at least come really, really close to pulling it off) but this film is so badly written, the dialogue is atrocious, and the characters pathetic that I am just baffled that any of them even allowed their names to be tied to it.

Next to the boring, let down of a plot is the seemingly endless scenes of poker play. If I want to see poker I will watch Spike TV (OK, I won't really but you get the point don't you?) where I know that at least these people are really gambling for real money. There seemed to be entire segments devoted to rounds of poker and this was just really boring to me especially on top of the really boring storyline.

If annoying dialogue and poker are your thing than this movie is for you, if not, I wouldn't recommend it.

Todd Says:

1.5 STARS

Lucky You, that is if you haven't seen Lucky You yet. This movie is like watching the World Series of Poker on ESPN 8 (the Ocho!) and flipping back and forth during commercial breaks to Soap Opera: The Young and the Unfortunately Inarticulate.

Let me save a little time and get straight to the point, unless you like Poker (I mean really really like Poker) then this movie is probably not going to interest you. It's some sort of Hybrid Chick/Dude Flick, and it didn't really work for me. Take my word for it.

Vantage Point

(2008)



Alexis says:



3 STARS



This is a pretty good action flick about the different perspectives involved in a crime. The pieces fit together rather nicely and unravel a much larger story. This movie just seemed a little too action packed for me lacking a more involved interesting story. The action wasn't terrible though a little far fetched (I've been in a car accident how long can you keep going on adrenaline?), I was just hoping for a little more plot and background information. There seemed to be more characters than the movie could keep up with and this seemed to be a huge drawback for me. Maybe a little less action or a longer running time would have done this film some good. It isn't terrible though and if action terrorism films are your thing than this isn't a bad one to watch.

Todd Says:

3 STARS

I thought that Vantage Point was a good movie, especially since the story was just mediocre. Dennis Quaid who leads a good cast in this film, is well, Dennis Quaid. I don't think that any of us really expect greatness from him, but he does alright (but that's pretty much all he ever does isn't it). The rest of the cast, Forest Witaker and William Hurt especially, don't quite live up to their potential.

But all in all this is a good ride. Very fast paced, up and down political roller coaster of a movie. You shouldn't be bored watching this, but you probably won't be especially enthralled either. Enjoy.

Fearless

(1993)













Alexis says:


3 STARS


This was a sad, moving film. The movie begins with a quite believable plane crash scene that left me wondering about budgets and what goes into filming a movie of this genre to get the emotion and feeling built up. The rest of the film is almost simple, it follows two people survivors of a plane crash through the post tragedy stage. Everything about this film is simple but very powerful and moving. I don't question that this is Perez's best performance and close if not Bridges as well.


I was moved through out this film but I was slightly disappointed in the way that it ended. It just seemed so cliche that I couldn't overlook it. I don't know how I wanted it to end, but this isn't how I would have written it.


Other than the ending this film is quite good, and with the ending it isn't but half bad.

Todd Says:

3 STARS

This movie was not nearly as powerful as I remembered it being, but that is sometimes the case with second viewings. Of course, I hadn't seen it in many years either.

The story is good, a solidly written tale of someone who nearly loses everything and has difficulty finding a reason to attach himself to anyone or anything again. Jeff Bridges does a wonderful job as the 'Fearless' survivor, and the rest of the cast turns in solid performances as well.

This is a good Looking-for-the-meaning-of-life film, but it's not a masterpiece. It's worth a watch, but I wouldn't go too far out of my way to track down a copy.

Running With Scissors

(2006)




Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

This film is based on the personal memoirs of Augusten Burroughs by the same title. It is a well casted, well told, strange but sad, slightly funny film. Joseph Cross was near perfect as Burroughs, the fifteen year old son of an alcoholic father and possibly bipolar mother. The film follows Burroughs through the divorce of his parents and a not quite specified length of residency with his mother's shrink and his family.

Annette Benning plays Burrough's mother, a struggling poet with a flair for the dramatic and a predisposition for dependency on prescription drugs. I don't think I have ever seen Benning any better and she is part of what makes this film in my opinion. In the simplist words, she could have been my mother.

Aside from Benning's portrayal of Burrough's mother my favorite thing about this film had to be the relationship between the doctors wife, Agnes (Jill Clayburgh) and Augusten. Agnes, who appears to be a little mentally off at the start of the film unravels to be the bravest, sanest thing about the Finch family and her attachment to Augusten is endearing and at times overtakes everything else going on in the film. To me their connection is a powerful theme reverberating throughout the film and this is where it gets the slightly higher rating.

If memoirs with a helping of bizarre, a side of humor and a splash of drama are your thing, then you will definitely want to watch this one.

Todd Says:

4 STARS

This is an odd but hilarious look at adolescence through some of the most bizarre situations imaginable. And supposedly it's all true. It's hard to imagine some of the things that Augusten Burroughs is forced to endure, but having at one time or another all been teenagers it's easy enough to identify with the major themes.

At times this movie is laugh-out-loud funny, but most of the time the humor is subtle and delivered very slyly in the guise of mishandled tragedy. It's a hopeful movie about some quite awkward experiences, but quite enjoyable non-the-less.

Unless you are easily made uncomfortable then you should find this movie quite humorous and thoroughly enjoyable.

The Darjeeling Limited

(2007)

Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

Let me begin by saying that I really loved The Royal Tenenbaums and that I hold Wes Anderson to a really high standard because of it, possibly too high for his own good, and I was really looking forward to this film.

That being said this film wasn't a complete disappointment. I thought it was funny and quirky and the shooting excellent. The panning and scene set-ups (excuse my lack of filming vocabulary) were great. Wilson and Brody, two of my favorite actors were dead on and Schwartzman did his thing but I am never particularly impressed with his thing.

The DVD included 'The Hotel Chevalier' a short film meant to be seen before the full length film, I couldn't help but feel that The Darjeeling Limited would have been perhaps a little better if I hadn't seen this short film and I suggest that if you are given the chance you skip this short film. I usually really like Portman but she and everything else about it were just below par.

But The Darjeeling Limited should at the very least go on your 'should see' list. You do have movie lists right? Everyone should have movie lists, if you don't have one go ahead and start one and then go ahead and put this on your list.

Todd Says:

3 STARS

This film was good, but not great. It gives us a close look at the dymanics of brotherhood. Although these three characters are pretty weird brothers, they still have fairly basic personality traits that most of us can relate to, siblings or not.

The delivery of the story and the story itself are good, but sometimes come up a little short. Although there were a few powerful scenes that are truly moving. The movie felt like it took a long time to get nowhere, and then ending somewhat abruptly.

All in all, it's worth watching if you're into character movies, but otherwise I think you're going to end up bored with this one.

The Replacements

(2000)

Todd Says:

2 STARS

The Replacements is kind of exactly what you probably expect it to be, which is a very predictable, sometimes funny but sometimes not quite, sports comedy. It seems that they tried to make a decent movie here, but just couldn't break out of the typical 'feel-good-sports-movie' formula. It's hard to watch a movie when you know after the first scene or two how the entire rest of the movie is going to unfold.

The acting was just O.K., which is not saying much with a cast who are mostly capable of better. The Characters aren't very interesting or entertaining, and even though there was a time or two that I fell into that 'sports feel-good root for the underdog' mode I found myself mostly not caring what happened. (Of course, I already knew what was going to happen.)

In conclusion, I can't highly recommend this movie to anyone, but if it comes on cable on a rainy sunday, and there isn't any real football on, then you could do worse things with your time.

Alexis says:

1 STAR

What can I say really, I wasn't really looking forward to this film because sports movies are just not my thing. Don't get me confused I will watch the Colts attempt to win at games they should have no problem winning any given Sunday, but football films, they have to be really something to win me over and this one falls short, way short.

First off, the film is not 'enormously funny' as the box suggests. It is rather in an identity crisis, not sure whether it wants to be a comedy, a drama or just another sports film. The characters are annoying at best and some of them are so far stretched (the striking players) that I found myself rolling my eyes. The forced attempt at a love story is almost pathetic and I wonder who is supposed to be the 'audience' for this film. I could care less about most of the main characters and most men would probably feel about the same at their love story attempt.

I've seen Reeves and Hackman do better but at the same time I don't think that they are amazing and Reeves didn't convince me that he could play a quarterback. This film doesn't really have many redeeming qualities but I've seen far worse (even this month) so here have a star.

Intolerable Cruelty

(2002)

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

I thought that this was a hilarious look at the business end of mariage. The Coen Brothers seem to have a knack for the subtle back-handed comedy that I enjoy the most. Plus, the cast is just incredible. I haven't seen George Clooney quite so goofy since Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

I would have to say that I think most people would enjoy this movie, unless of course you are the kind of person who needs to be spoon fed your humor. For those people I think the Zucker Brothers are the comedy team to look into.

Alexis says:

4 STARS

Intolerable Cruelty is quirky, funny, surprising and attractive, well at least Clooney is anyways. I am quite the fan of the Coen brothers to boot and I didn't even know that until I looked them up on IMdb and noticed that they are responsible for some of my favorite movies (Raising Arizona just to name an all time favorite). This movie is not overly predictable and is actually at times surprising in its twisted comedic flair. Zeta-Jones may be at her all time best and whatever it is Clooney does to drag us in, well he does it again in this divorce lawyer love story. I found the ending perfect and the only thing I wanted was a copy of a Massy Prenup in the DVD extras.

Kentucky Fried Movie

(1977)

Todd Says:

0 STARS

I don't know how this movie ended up in our DVD player, but you should take care that it never happens to you. This movie was worse than any Saturday Night Live skit movie I've seen. The one or two funny jokes in this GEM are grossly overshadowed by the abundance of low-brow comedy that tends to insult your intellegence.

Alexis Says:

0 STARS

Don't Bother. I don't know how this movie even got financed.

Deja Vu

(2006)

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

As far as action movies go this is a good one. Good story. Good Acting. Good visuals and special effects. It'll also make you think a little, perhaps, about science. It will keep you guessing what's going to happen next, although it's all already happened.

I would recommend this movie for most movie lovers, whether your taste is for action or drama or suspense or crime thrillers. This is a good one to watch with some friends, and then sit around and talk about it.

Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

It has been said that I have the world's worst memory. This may in fact be true as I can sometimes completely forget what a movie is about or how it ends thus making subsequent viewings almost like the first viewing instead of a Deja Vu. This film for instance, we watched it when it first came out but I couldn't remember almost anything about it when we watched it this time.

The story is pretty original, who doesn't like to think about the possibility of bending time and traveling between it? The acting is great, who doesn't love Denzel Washington? The setting is fabulous, who doesn't love the Big Easy?

This film has it's drawbacks which I don't want to draw out in the open thus issuing spoilers right and left but I will say that there appear to be at least one lapse in writing to make this story work but ignoring that oversight I would recommend this film to all my friends and a few of my enemies.

Bill

(2007)

Alexis says:

2 STARS

You ever watch a movie because the back of the box description is enticing at Target or because you read about it in Entertainment magazine and the reviews were pretty good and you really wanted to enjoy the film? You ever watch a film like that wanting badly to really like the film but just not ever reaching that point?

That was Bill for me. It looked good and it sounded good but it was just OK. I think I am just getting burnt out on movies about mid-life crisis. I feel as though that genre is over saturated and the story needs to be a lot better than Bill's to interest me. I am tired of weak, lazy characters who are only starting to gain some redeeming qualities when the film ends. This film was headed in a direction that could have led to greater places but I feel that it just fell short for my expectations.

I am so demanding and this movie is a let down.

Todd Says:

4 STARS

Bill is an engaging movie about a man whose life in crumbling before his eyes and he tries to catch the falling pieces before things spiral out of control. I feel that this film gives us an unblinking look at how fragile our handle on life really is, and how easy it is to lose control.

Bill is a guy who, from an outsiders view, has pretty much everything: a great wife, a great job, a great house and lots of money. But as we get to see deeper and deeper into the real situations that make a life what it is, we realize that we don't necessarily control those aspects of our life as much as they seem to control us.

Bill is a great movie about losing yourself and the long, sometimes dark, road you have to travel to find yourself again. I recommend this one to anyone who loves a good tragedy.

Uncommon Valor

(1983)





Alexis says:





3 STARS





This movie is sort of a classic, or so I hear anyways. So we watched it and it wasn't half bad. For some reason that I can't really explain I love movies about the Vietnam war and the people and times effected by it so that fact made this movie easy to like for me but I think that it has alot to offer the 'regular' movie goer as well.





There were some holes in this movie and some scenes that made me scratch my head as to where the characters got all their money and supplies and how they got from one place to another and where some of their spouses disappered off to for years but overlooking every one of those facts and just enjoying the story is pretty powerful. The ending was sad and great at the same time.





For those interested in factual Vietnam movies, I don't know what to tell you. For those who like action war movies even if they need a little stretching of the imagination this film is worth your time.



Todd Says:



3 STARS



Uncommon Valor is one of those classics that you are just supposed to love, but this one doesn't age so well. I thought that it was a little dated, even though it was only made in the eighties some scenes felt a little cheesy. The acting was pretty good, some much better than others, but the costumes and sets seemed a little cheap.



Don't get me wrong, this is a good 3 star movie with a great story, but I'm just trying to give you fair warning that it's going to possible seem less-than-great at times. I think that it is worth seeing, but at the same time I don't think that everybody is going to enjoy it the same.

Stardust

(2007)

Alexis says:

4 STARS:

Are you ready for a surprise (but not a spoiler)! I had no idea what to expect from this movie and it was actually pretty good. I think this film came out around the same time as The Golden Compass and I must say that now having seen both of them this is a far superior film.

Most of the acting is quite good, with the possible exception of Pheifer, is it just me or is she actually getting worse? De Niro gives a surprising performance as a completely unexpected character and newcomer Charlie Cox plays a decent romantic hero as Tristan.

Witches, cross-dressing pirates, dead princes, celestial beings, what more could a beautiful written sci-fi truly need? If you love a good fairy tale, this film is for you.

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

I remember that this movie hit the theaters at about the same time as The Golden Compass did, and that it was overshadowed by the enormous hype of the latter. That was unfortunate, because I think the Stardust was a much better movie.

It seems, at first, like fairly standard fairy-tale fare, but as the story unfolded I really found myself enjoying it. It was fun to watch. It was quick-paced and witty, with a few unexpected turns. All in all, it was a little predictable but a lot of fun. I recommend this one to anyone who likes an adventure.

The Eye

(2008)

Todd Says:

2 STARS

I'll start out by saying that for what it was this was a pretty good movie. I am no fan of the modern horror movie. I feel like most of them are far to similar in style (the ghosts and the gore all seem the same to me), and short on substance. This is not to say that the last generation of horror movies, or even classic horror movies for that matter, were as a genre all that impressive to me. Formulaic is the word that I would use to describe 90% of all horror movies.

But, The Eye wasn't so bad. It didn't stray far from the tried and true horror movie formula, but the acting was decent. I've seen a lot worse. It is a remake of a Japanese or Chinese movie (which has also become very popular is this genre) which I haven't seen so I can't make a comparison. I will say that if it weren't for remakes there would probably be no more horror movies.

Every once in a while we still get treated with a new idea in the form of a horror movie, unfortunately this isn't one of those times. The story is about a blind girl who gets an eye transplant and all manner of evilness ensues. I think that I remember a movie from the '80's or early '90's with a similar storyline, except that it was an evil arm transplant.

So my final verdict is this: If you really like horror movies, well then you've probably already seen this. If you don't necessarily like the genre but don't mind a good horror movie every now and then, then you could do worse than The Eye. If you like good movies, then don't bother with this one.

Alexis says:

3 STARS

I am not a horror movie fan. I don't like to watch them because they tend to have a lot of senseless gore and graphic scenes that I can do without so when this movie came up for review I was less than thrilled about the prospect. Fortunately, Jessica Alba was not terrible and the story was digestible.

The story was reminiscent of White Noise or The Sixth Sense and there was little or no senseless violence. The story wasn't the most original thing to come to Hollywood but if we are honest with ourselves there are less and less original stories coming out of Hollywood all the time. I think this movie would be prefect for those who love a good jump once in a while and lean towards thrillers over horror movies.

Far From Heaven

(2002)


Todd Says:

3.5 STARS



I thought that this was an unexpectedly powerful movie about social taboos in the 1950's. I must admit that it caught me a little off gaurd, as I wasn't sure where it was going from the beginning. But let me tell you, it is a bumpy journey.

The main character, played by Julianne Moore, is somewhere between strikingly naive and over-poweringly idealistic. This duality in her nature works, and I really felt a connection with her. Dennis Quaid plays her husband, with a dark secret of his own to come to terms with. The acting was good, as was the cinematagraphy.

Overall I was presently surprised with this one. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a nice complicated dramas.



Alexis says:



3 STARS

This timepiece was not quite the gem I had hoped it would be but it is an interesting story of taboo circumstances in the 1950's (and even today?). Julianne Moore is never that great an actress in my opinion and what I mean is I always see Moore, never the person she is portraying and I really didn't feel as though this was any exception. She just didn't seem believable. Dennis Quaid and Dennis Haysbert were rather good however and at times I wished the film focused more on their characters than Moore's. For those interested in a good real-life drama, I would recommend this film as a backup choice.

Evolution

(2001)

Todd Says:

4 STARS

I love a good comedy. Unfortunately they don't seem to make them anymore. It seems to me that somewhere between five and ten years ago someone decided that the only way to make a good comedy was to string together 90 minutes worth of mindless parody gags. I disagree, and I'm starting a club.

Anyway, Evolution is a fairly silly movie about aliens. It's witty and fast paced, and most of it's jokes are less crude than the competition. If it feels like I'm defending this movie, that's because I tend to be hard on Comedies. I pine for the days when we were forced to think about the jokes that made us smile.

This movie is one that you should see, if you somehow managed to miss it when it came out. If you have already seen it, and it's been a while, then you will probably be able to enjoy this one again. So, if you like comedy, then you'll like this one. If you like serious Sci-Fi Drama, then maybe this isn't for you, unless you're one of the chosen few who have the ability to laugh at the things you love.

Alexis says:

2.5 STARS

Maybe it was because I have seen this film previously but I just didn't think this was as funny as I used to think that it was. Duchovny is good and I found his remarks about the FBI funny and Orlando Jones' has the perfect eyes to portray emotion and carry a good joke. I am not impressed usually by Julianne Moore and this was no exception. This film has some rewarding characteristics and actually a pretty interesting plotline about alien life form invasion and evolution and I think those who enjoy comedies will enjoy this film.

Waitress

(2007)

Alexis says:

2 STARS

I was not crazy with any of the characters in this romanitc comedy. Most of them seemed selfish, weak minded and shallow on the surface. Then I realized about halfway through, that this is just art imitating life. Many people are like this. With this new frame of mind I was able to endure the second half of the film with much more enjoyment.

The film is funny and the bit about the pies is quirky but in a good way. It makes me want to head to New England and seek out a pie shop for myself. I couldn't quite get past the infedility plotline however, so this movie wasn't what it could have been. I think that Nathan Fillion was pretty good, channeling some of Malcolm Reynolds for me in my thirst for a little Firefly connection and convincing me that he could survive as an actor in Hollywood outside of sci-fi western television shows. Andy Griffith was also superb, probably my favorite thing about the whole movie was his character.

This film isn't great and I was indeed a little disappointed but there were some redeeming qualities to the film and to avoid spoilers I will go ahead and suggest that you watch this one when you have a few hours on hand.

Todd Says:

3 STARS

This movie wasn't bad at all for a Romantic Comedy. If you've learned anything about me by now, you know that I don't care much for this genre and I tend to grade on a fairly generous curve. The story itself isn't great, but I thought that most of the characters were interesting enough to enjoy watching them toil through their respective dilemmas. I thought that Andy Griffith was spectacular, really he was.

Not much else was spectacular, but all in all it was more than tolerable. I would recommend it to fans of the genre, or as a possible date movie, or to anyone who needs to kill a couple of hours and doesn't want to watch The Jane Austen Book Club.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

(2007)

Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

I grew up hearing the story of Jesse James assassination. I knew more about James' murder than what made him infamous. I didn't even know the name Robert Ford (or at least remembered it) until this movie came out. I found this movie to be very educational and well acted. Affleck has maybe never been better but then I haven't viewed Gone Baby Gone yet. Pitt was his usual impressive self. Overall this film was pretty good. The only problem I found was that it felt more like a History Channel film than a Hollywood release, which isn't bad but could explain why it didn't do well at the box office. The movie was a little slow at times which wasn't bad except the movie was a little long to begin with. The story which is based on a book about the assassination is sad. I found myself feeling bad for both James and Ford.

Despite the slow pace at times this movie is worth watching.

Todd Says:

4.5 STARS

I really liked this movie. I liked that it was based on true events. I liked that it didn't play out like a typical Hollywood movie. I liked that I wasn't sure who I was supposed to feel bad for. I liked that it was refreshingly original.

This is a movie about two motivated and deeply disturbed men whose paths intersect leading to a tragic outcome. Both main characters, Jesse James and Robert Ford, will have you despising them and pitying them mostly at different times, but sometimes simultaneously.

This isn't a movie for everyone. It does movie at a creeping pace, and last a long time. It is short on action and heavy on atmosphere. It is historical, and not fantastical at all. It is somber throughout, and deeply moody. But it is a good movie, looking for a worthy audience to appreciate it.

Stop-Loss

(2008)


Todd Says:

3 STARS

Stop Loss is a depressing look at the politics of today's military and the war in Iraq. It is well written but very dark and a little hopeless. The cast does a good job with it, giving a convincing picture of today's soldiers fighting a war that they either don't believe in, or that they believe is being mishandled.

This movie is not for everyone, as the subject matter is quite political as well as pessemistic. I think that a lot of people will have trouble with this one for one reason or another, but at the same time I think that it's worth watching.

Alexis says:

2 STARS

I saw the trailer for this movie and I must say that it was well done. It made this movie look very interesting and I really wanted to see it. The movie on the other hand was not very good. I couldn't get over Philipe's annoying Texan accent, I couldn't seem to care about Cornish's boyfriend problems and I felt that the overall theme of this movie, soldiers getting stop-lossed could have been more moving with a better writer and story. The most moving thing in the entire movie was Gordon-Levitt's subplot about a man who wants nothing more than to be a soldier and yet his poor conduct leads to an army that doesn't want him.

Overall, the movie was just a letdown for me. I was interested in the plotline. I was unaware that so many soldiers were being stop-lossed in the War on Iraq so that was educational and interesting. I didn't mind the political undertones. I just didn't care much for the story and character they put out there for you to feel bad about.

It's an interesting enough movie, I just don't think that is enough to award higher stars.

The Jane Austen Book Club

(2007)

1.5 Stars

Sue says:

The only thing that might be keeping Jane Austen from rolling over in her grave is that she had a sense of humor. Unfortunately I don’t think there’s anything funny about this movie, or that fact that I spent 2 hours watching it.

I believe that the writers were trying to make the characters seem like modern day versions of Jane’s characters. They made an effort, just not a very good one.

What can I say? The acting was poor. The stories contrived. Jimmy Smits was (is?) old. The end. Don’t waste your time. If you love Jane Austen, or you want to get to know her, read a novel.

The Bank Job

(2008)

Alexis says:

3 STARS

I have only been to the theatre once this year and we don't watch cable so other than what reviews I chose to read in Entertainment magazine I am not all that familiar with a lot of new releases, on DVD or at the Box Office. This is a good example. I had no idea what Bank Job was about, all it was was a title to me. I didn't even know that it was based on a true story until I sat down to watch it.

To be honest I was not at all thrilled when the movie began and there was a lot of nudity as I was watching the film with my younger (though adult) brother. From the beginning this left a bad taste in my mouth. Also, I am not the fan of Statham that a lot of people seem to be. Fortunately, this film has a good story and is well put together. Once the heist was introduced and a real plot started to evolve I found myself getting more and more interested.

This isn't an overly fast paced action flick or a silly comedy. It is a tride and true thriller. Reminds me of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or something in that vain. Despite the nudity and several short scenes of violence (I would not recommend this to viewers under 18) this movie wasn't half bad.

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

The Bank Job was a good heist movie. The story (being true and all) is pretty captivating, and complicated. There was a point in the movie where is was starting to get hard to keep up with who was after who and why. There is a lot going on.

But it works, and that's a good thing in a genre that has been beaten like a dead horse. The cast and the director do good work here, though there really isn't anything that stands out as outstanding. There isn't anything that is bad either. It's an above average crime movie that is likely to entertain most people.

X-Files : I Want To Believe

(2008)



Todd Says:



2.5 STARS




I wanted to believe, I really really did. The thing is, it just wasn't that good. Understand, that I am a true, hard-core X-Files fan. I watched from Season One until after the first movie when T-2 took over. I wanted this movie to be the best X-File ever, but the case in this movie isn't even an X-File, I mean where did all the paranormal go? And Scully and Mulder aren't even FBI agents anymore.



This would have made a perfectly good crime-drama, but not an X-File. The movie isn't BAD I guess, and people who don't expect much from the X-Files brand may be perfectly happy with what they get here, I however am not one of those people. I felt let dissappointed. I want to believe that they could have done better, I believe that they should just stop and let Mulder rest.





Alexis says:



2 STARS


Let's start with what I did like. The actors did a fine job and the story wasn't half bad. But what I kept thinking throughout this movie was 'Is this really the best they could come up with?' As a crime drama involving the FBI this movie would have been alright. But wanting to see Mulder and Scully work on an X-File even without the little green people this movie just come up short in my opinion. I have seen much better stories in the first few seasons of the X-Files that also didn't neccessarily elude to alien life forms, just the unexplained. I felt that this movie leaned more on the religion side than I would have preferred for an X-Files film.

I wonder sometimes why certain films are even made. If this is the best that Chris Carter could have come up with why not just let the series remain dormant. Duchovny has Californication to tape and I am sure that Anderson has something better she could be doing other than a pitiful attempt at resurrecting a once incredibly acted and written television series.

Unfortunately, some television series are just not cut out for the big screen. I felt the same way in 2006 with the release of Serenity, the film that evolved from Joss Whedon's cancelled prematurely series Firefly. Even though fans miss there favorite television shows and characters bringing them to the cinema is not neccessarily the answer. I never really liked the first X-Files movie but compared to this I think it was better.

Here's to hoping that Mulder and Scully stay retired from the FBI. I think it's best for all of us and if nothing else good comes from the movie at least I have drawn that conclusion.

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

(2007)

Alexis says:

2 STARS

This movie was just OK. The story is interesting enough I just wasn't impressed. I am not usually impressed by Ethan Hawke or Marisa Tomei and this film was unfortunately no exception. Even Philip Seymour Hoffman was a little bit of a letdown. Albert Finney gave the most intriguing performance in the whole movie. I think with a different director and a few actor changes this film could have been a lot better.

Todd Says:

2 STARS

I wanted to like this movie more than I really could. I consider myself a fan of 'heist' movies, but this one didn't come through. It wasn't the story itself, that was full of twists and truns that could have played out quite well. It was all about the delivery here, very sub-par.

I don't think that anyone in the movie was particularly bad, I just didn't find much to be impressed about. This was simply an O.K. movie, and with all the other good movies out there (just search our archives for a list) this one isn't really worth wasting your time on.

Parenthood

(1989)









Alexis says:









4 STARS







This movie is (at the time of our most recent viewing) 19 years old and yet it hardly seems dated at all. The plotline is as relevent today as it was in 89. This movie centers around one large family and all of their struggles to be good parents and raise healthy, confident kids. The story is well woven and together with spots of drama and comedy explores the adventures and downfalls of parenting, marriage, sibling and parent relationships, and basically all other aspects of day to day life. The movie portrays that life isn't easy, but it can be rewarding as well as surprising. The actors and actresses in the film are well fitted to their roles and most everyone does an overall good job, including Martha Plimpton and Keanu Reeves. I saw this movie several times as a young whipper snapper and always enjoyed it but I think that perhaps my own recent foree into parenthood has made me appreciate the film even more so. But I think that regardless of your familial stance this movie has a lot to offer the casual moviegoer. I think that tears will just come more readily if you are already on the roller coaster.





Todd Says:





4 STARS





So I hadn't seen this movie since I was a know-it-all teenager who could care less about Parenthood, but even then I thought that it was kinda funny. Well, as a new dad I must say that this one moved me, more than I expected it to. O.K., I didn't need tissues, but I did think that it was really touching.





I think that everyone should see this movie, but especially every parent. The situation and jokes seem a lot more relevant when you are already involved in the struggle to not screw up your kids.

The Kingdom

(2007)

Todd Says:

4.5 STARS

I was just expecting this to be a typical action flick about blowing up the terrorists that hate Americans, but I was pleasantly suprised to find that there was more to it than that. The Kingdom offers a somber comentary on the state of relations between the US and the middle east. This movie is very political, but not so much that it overshadows the story itself.

The actors all do a great job, in both the action sequences and the real acting scenes. Who would have thought that Jason Bateman could ever look good getting shot at, and then shooting back. The whole thing is just well done.

This is a thought provoking film, that hopefully will leave you thinking about the way you look at the world and others in it. It's not neccessarily a hopeful movie though, and it may leave you quite disheartened. You know, one of those 'this is the way it is, and it looks like it will never change' kind of things. I think that we need more films like this, the ones that make us confront the way we look at the world.

All in all, this is a good film for lovers of action as well as political thrillers. I feel good about recomending it to everyone.

Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

I would be lying if I said I wasn't really looking forward to this movie. Todd had suggested it several times before we finally bought and viewed it. I was for the most part pleasantly surprised. As always Foxx and Cooper are superb and Bateman and Gardner showed they can do well with dramas as well as comedies and super hero let down films. The story is all too real and revealed some insight into the affairs of the middle east that I was unaware of beforehand. Overall, this movie is well written and directed, if only real life political movies such as these weren't so darn depressing.

Ordinary People

(1980)

Alexis says:

4 STARS

This movie is a tear jerker and almost a classic. The three main characters are superb and touchingly sad. Redford does a great job in his directing debut. I am always surprised that Hutton was not a more successful actor, I personally find him very good as Conrad, the guilt ridden teenage son in Ordinary People whom the story is primarily about. This film may be approaching 30 years old but it is so well done that I think it will be enjoyed and relevent for quite some time to come.

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

If real-life depressing is your thing, then this is the movie for you. There is nothing about this movie that is not sad, except for a few scenes that made me angry. But that is all good, that is what was intended, and the cast and director did great. I'm not overly familiar with Mary Tyler Moore, but she can really be nasty.

This is probably not a movie that you'll want to watch over and over again (if you do there is probably something wrong with you), but it is a very good movie none-the-less. I highly recommend giving it a viewing.

The Dark Knight

(2008)

Sue says:

3.5 Stars

I really wanted to love this movie. I'll start with the good. The acting, which I thought was great. To be fair it's an action/comic book movie, not Out of Africa, so when I say great, I'm grading on the comic book scale. Heath Ledger's Joker was everything promised and more. He was transformed. I found myself a few times trying to see if I could see Heath at all. Christian Bale is my favorite Batman, he makes me believe that it's hard to be a hero. Aaron Ekhart, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldham, all very enjoyable. I'm not a big Maggie Gyllenhaal fan, to me she always seems to come off a little self-righteous no matter what the role, and this was no exception.

The movie is action packed and the effects were fabulous. Technically speaking it was a great movie. The bad guys were bad, the cops corrupt, and the Bat conflicted. When all is said and done of course, justice prevails, for now anyway.

The problem for me is that it was just a little too dark. A little too hopeless. I couldn't really get past the pity I felt for all of Gotham's residents, even the Joker. I wanted him to check into Markham, get some plastic surgery and be redeemed.

*One last thing, on my soapbox. If you are thinking of taking a child to see this movie, by child I mean anyone under 15, PLEASE screen it first. In our theater last night there were young children(under 5), this movie is absolutely rated PG-13 for a reason. Be responsible.

Todd Says:

4 STARS

This is the second film that we've seen in the theatre all year, and I think that it was worth it. I do very much enjoy Chirstopher Nolan's vision for the Dark Knight, and I'm glad that he and Hollywood have decided to reinvigorate the franchise. (God knows that everyone regrets that little Mr. Freeze fiasco.)

Too Dark? That depends. It depends on what you want from a story about a man driven to the brink of insanity by grievous loss, who decides to take justice into his own hands no matter what the personal cost to himself. I feel that premise gives you a little leeway to dip into the nearly macabre when you need to.

And the VILLAINS! I don't know about you but that is what has always brought me back to the Batman stories. Such wonderful, colorful, maniacal villains. Heath Ledger does a great Joker, a different Joker than I'm used to, and I've seen my fair share of Joker Incarnations, but a wonderful, twistedly insane "engine of chaos." That's all that I'd like to say on that point, I think that Ledger was a great actor, but I hate to deify a dead junkie.

Bale and Oldman are great, as usual as the conflicted good guys trying to do as much right as possible without breaking too many rules. I think that Aaron Eckhart was brilliant as the goody-goody District Attorney, Harvey Dent.

So go out and pay your $10 per person and help this monster break some more records.

Alexis says:

4.5 STARS

For my second venture into the theatre this year I chose The Dark Knight and what a dark story it was, but overwhelmingly written and acted it was. Maybe it's the fact that Nolan was so involved, maybe it was Ledger's incredible performance, maybe it was the story but the fact is that whatever went into this movie just worked.

I am not as big a fan of the comic genre or Batman even as a lot of other people I know but I thoroughly enjoyed Batman begins as well as Christian Bale's Batman. I was happy to see Bale as well as many of the other actors return in the Dark Knight. I got a little hopeful at the beginning that Scarecrow had returned but alas it wasn't so, maybe in a later sequel? But even with Scrarecrow mournful absent the villians in this movie were well written and portrayed. Ledger's perfromance as the Joker almost lives up to the hype but it was pleasing enough that I won't take anything away from it (not that I even could). My biggest worry is that all the focus gets shifted to Ledger when Oldman, Bale and Eckhart are all as equally impressive (if not more so) in thier roles.

I was a little nervous because I had read many news articles over the weekend about different records The Dark Knight had replaced, I was worried that people are just too willing to drop $10 on anything. Turns out The Dark Knight met if not exceeded all of my expectations. Here's to the sequel!

Junebug

(2005)

Todd Says:

1.5 STARS

Alright, I'm sure that some of you have been anxiously waiting for me to bare my teeth again, here I go.

Junebug is almost entirely disappointing. It comes off as an aloof artsy film with the sole purpose of lampooning modern southern life. I could live with that, I mean who doesn't think rednecks are funny right. Well, they miss the mark here by quite a bit. To me, the 'intellectual' city folk in this movie (i.e. the two main characters) come across as shallow, judgemental, explotative, jack-asses.

The only two characters in this film with any heart are the expecting married couple, which most of the film's scenes are designed to make fun of. By the end of the movie I was so sick of Madeline, an art dealer who comes south to gain a fruitcake of a new client and meets and stays with her husband's family, that I wanted to quit watching. Her character seemed to have zero growth what-so-ever, and in the middle of an emotional family crisis, she chooses to visit her racist, perverted, relgious fanatic folk painter, totaly ignoring her in-laws.

In my opinion the best thing about this movie was the fact that it ended after only 106 minutes. From the opening scene to the last, even though you keep hoping for better, the characters is this movie are very hard to connect with. Don't bother.

Alexis says:

1 STAR

We here at Cinemaphiles were recently discussing how we like most of the films we viewed. Is it because we often pick movies that we are looking forward to or get a lot of hype? Well, whatever the reason, our recent viewing of Junebug was a complete and utter letdown from scene one.

Maybe people who nominate the movies for Oscars just have a lot different taste than I do because I am still stunned that this movie could ever have been up for such high honors. The actors, the story, the camera work, all unconvincing and at times just belittling to real people and places. The characters are dysfunctional but so boring that I couldn't seem to care. The sexual undertones distracting and unimpressive to the story. That one star, that is for you Amy Adams and your performance. Adams is the only likable, digestible ingredient in the whole movie.

I was really looking forward to this movie. I really wanted to see it. I was let down, disappointed and confused. Maybe I just don't get it. It wasn't the nitty gritty camera work, some of that was appealing. It wasn't the southern middle class family so much. It was the weakly written art dealer, her confused and confusing recent spouse and her much sought after would-be art client. I couldn't seem to give a care for any of them.

Other than Adams performance (and her story for which I think the movie should have been more centered around) I liked the shots of Replacements, Ltd. Other than that I see no real redeeming qualities in this movie and really wouldn't recommend it to anyone at all. I wish we could have seen the Dark Knight like every one else on Friday night.

Boiler Room

(2000)

Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

This movie has a very interesting storyline. A young college drop out who owns a successful casino in his apartment gets hired on at a new stock brokerage firm thinking that it will make him rich and earn his father's respect. What follows is an interestlingly tangled story. Ribisi is as good as he was when I first saw him on an episode of the X-Files some ten or so years ago and Diesel continues to surprise me with his acting ability.

Overall, I really like this film, except for the music. I know most people probably don't care what music they hear in a movie and usually I don't either but this music really didn't seem to fit and just seemed annoying to me. But otherwise this crime drama is pretty enjoyable.

Todd Says:

4 STARS

I thought that this was a great movie. I agree that the soundtrack is a little too 'gangsta' for my taste, and overall they may have tried a little too hard to make this movie 'hip'. The story and the cast are excellent, and Ben Younger (writer/director) would have been better off to rely more on the talent of his cast and the strength of his story, but at times the movie plays a little bit like a hip-hop video.

I don't want to scare anyone away though, because I do think that this is a great movie. Perfect? No, but everyone should see it anyway. Really, if you've never heard of it, or just never bothered watching it, go and see it. With a little better vision from the director, I could have given this one five stars.

Less than a week...

Anyone want to volunteer to babysit?

American Gangster

(2007)

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

This movie was about what I expected it to be, it could have been better given the cast, but it could also have been worse, given the subject. I for one have grown a little tired of the 'gangster' movie genre over the years. I used to be a big fan, two of my favorite movies are Mobsters and The Untouchables, but two of my least favorites are Casino and Good Fellas. Maybe it's Joe Peci?

Anyway, Denzel Washington was good, but we've all come to expect incredible things from him, so no suprise there. Russel Crowe was even good, and I for one have come to expect not much from him. And of course Ridley Scott did a fine job weaving it all together in an in-your-face view from the streets kind of way, but expect about 20 different director's cut releases over the next decade. I'm not kidding, I just saw another version of Blade Runner at Target: The Final Cut. Give me a break Ridley, what are you George Lucas or something.

Back to American Gangster. It was a long movie, but it was good. The subject matter was a bit harsh, and may not be for everyone. But if you like gritty cop movies then this would be a good one for you.

Alexis says:

4 STARS:

I have been wanting to see this movie for a while despite one of the leading actors being Russell Crowe, who I am not very fond of. For me the movie didn't disappoint. For over two hours this movie was fast pased. At times it did seem like you were watching two completely different stories but they were intwined fairly well at the end of the film. Having watched two films back to back that took place in the 1970's I was surprised how well the scenes were set up. From the street shots to the clothing, everything was well done.

I felt this movie lacked a little something however. I felt that it built up for a bigger climax but then let me down a little. The ending was also misleading. It makes you think that Frank Lucas did time for only that one conviction when instead he was let out early on parole and was back in three years later for possession. It was hard to feel bad for anybody in this movie, except maybe Det. Roberts' (Crowe) son.

Overall, this film was pretty good about this movie. You can't always expect a Hollywood ending when the film is based on real accounts. Be on the lookout for Chiwetel Ejiofor who plays Lucas' younger brother in the film, I expect good things from him.

Zodiac

Todd Says:

4 STARS

I thought that Zodiac was great! For a "based on true events" crime drama, I was thoroughly impressed. To me this is a story about four, not one, men who are completely obsessed with the idea of these murders. I found it to be intense and at times sad, the effect that obsession can have on different people.

Jake Gyllenhall, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. are all excellent in this film. The rest of the cast also does a superb job. I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes crime suspense.

Alexis says:

4 STARS

There you have it folks, most of us here at cinemaphiles enjoyed this movie so I highly recommend you view it for yourself, I don't think you'll be disappointed.


Chris says:

4 Stars



We finally got around to watching this and I can't decide which was longer - the time between us purchasing it and finally watching it or the movie itself. But seriously, I did enjoy this movie on a number of levels even though it wasn't perfect. I personally find movies that are based on true events to be rather tricky. I can find them fascinating and more intense knowing that these things actually happened, but at the same time I feel that the director and those involved are simply re-telling a story that, depending on your level of knowledge or interest, you may already be familar with and knows how things will turn out. Given that this states right from the start that the movie is based on actual case files associated with the "Zodiac" killings, I think that David Fincher does a great job of piecing it together in a somewhat-jumpy timeline. By this I mean that there are a lot of times when the viewer is informed that it is now "six weeks later", "four moths later", "five years later", etc. With a running time around 2 1/2 hours, the movie can seem to drag at times even though a lot of information is being thrown at you. I do want to make it a point to mention the great cast. It's one of those movies that you seem to recognize most everyone and they all do a convincing job in my opinion. There are some issues with character development and you're left wondering what's going on with some of the main characters' familes sometimes, but as mentioned before the movie is already 2 1/2 hours long! For anyone familar with Fincher's work (Seven, Fight Club, and Panic Room to name a few), you know that he likes his movies to be dark and "gritty" from a visual perspective and Zodiac is no different, especially given the nature of the subject. Overall, whether you're familiar with the Zodiac case or not, the goods far outweigh the bads and I do highly recommend it.

Sleepers

(1996)

Alexis says:

3.5 STARS

The first time I viewed this movie, shortly after it originally came out, I thought it was so depressing I may never watch it or any other Kevin Bacon movie ever again, but I love She's Having a Baby so much that I couldn't do that so the other night I agreed to viewing this movie again.

And I am so glad that I did.

Because even though it is a rather sad tale, it is a rather well told tale. Based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's book by the same name (and supposedly based on real events) the movie is so intrigiung that I don't really care if it is true or not, but I hope that it isn't. The way a mistake can effect the rest of your life. The impact that cruel people and their actions can have on others. The way that some people are just inherently stronger than others when it comes to overcoming extremely difficult situations. The lengths one will go to for revenge. The grip of childhood friendships.

This is one of the best movies we have seen in a long time, and though it is a brutal tale, it is nonetheless good.

Todd Says:

4.5 STARS

This is one of those top notch movies that should be in everyone's top 20 list, but somehow managed to slip through the cracks. It disturbs me that so many people have never even heard of this movie.

This is a crime/revenge/coming-of-age movie about four kids growing up in New York. It is powerful and touching.

Lions for Lambs

(2007)

Alexis says:

3 STARS

This is NOT a feel good movie, but you should watch it anyways. I know this is going to seem like a cop out but I think that this movie will strike so many different opinions in all the different people's minds who view it that I think that a simple 'watch this movie' will suffice.

Todd Says:

3.5 STARS

This is definitely a powerful thought-provoking film. I think that most people could benefit from viewing this movie. It is often good to be reminded of, or introduced, to ideas that are hard to deal with comfortably. This is a controversial movie. The controversy, of course, lies with how you view the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is not a political blog, so I'll refrain from kicking that hornet's nest.

If you want a movie that is going to make you think about what's going on in the world, and question your own or anyone else's ability to change the course of things, then this is a good movie choice for you. If you just want to be entertained for two hours then you should steer clear of this one. It is not a feel good movie.

Be Kind Rewind

(2008)

Todd Says:



3 STARS

This is a good original comedy, about movies. The story is so good that Jack Black can't even ruin it for me. I'm usually not a fan of his, but in a good movie (where he is not the center of everything) he can do alright.

This movie is a solid comedy that almost anyone should enjoy. It's also a story about holding on to your dreams, that Mos Def does all the work in making it believable. It's rare to find a comedy these days that isn't so formulaic that you know what every joke is going to be after the first one is delivered.

So find some time to sit back and enjoy this one, it'll have you laughing at movies you haven't seen in a long time.

Alexis says:

2.5 STARS

This movie is original, funny and even sad. It mix unbelievable, almost science fiction with sad and true life in the downtowns of old cities. This movie was laugh out loud silly and very depressing at times. Overall, it was pretty good.

My biggest problem with this movie was that the beginning didn't seem to mesh well with the end in my opinion. I feel like it changed direction at some point and at times you just had to tell yourself to just accept where it was going without any kind of explanation really. I did this and enjoyed the movie but I felt like there was just something missing or that this was a mesh between two original yet very different ideas. Had the missing piece been present I would have liked this movie a little more.