True Grit

True Grit has hit theatres this week. It stars Jeff Bridges as Marshall Rooster Cogburn, Hailee Steinfield as Mattie (my momma's name, don't see that too often), and Matt Damon as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf. The screenplay is by directors Joel and Ethan Coen. It's based on the novel of the same title by Charles Portis. This novel was also the basis of the 1969 True Grit film starring John Wayne. The plot of the story centers around 14 year old Mattie seeking retribution for the murder of her father- a crime committed by the hand of Tom Chaney (played by Josh Brolin-he got third billing over Hailee for some reason). To accomplish this, Mattie hires Rooster Cogburn, who is joined by LaBoeuf and unwittingly Mattie herself, to seek out and bring in Chaney. This takes them on an adventure through unsettled territory where Chaney fled off to.

I will open by stating plainly that this one of the best movies of the year. I'm ranking it #3 on my 2010 list. Behind only Kick Ass and Let Me In.

The acting is outstanding. Oscar and other nominations could easily be coming for Bridges and Hailee. And for the whole movie as well. It has some real heroic moments where the music takes off and you're ready to take some people down. But at the same time the movie is realistic. The characters all have their flaws. Stubbornness and arrogance abound.

The main theme that you start out with is obviously revenge. Revenge for a family member. But this evolves to loyalty and what makes a family. I could elaborate a bit on that but that would lead to spoilers of the ending...Once the final events of the film unfold - you will understand the title and what it means to have true grit....

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Black Swan

This review will be different from any other review I have done.

For this review I'm not going to summarize the movie and how it begins. I was told before I viewed the movie, that the less I knew about it the better the experience would be. I don't know about other people but for me this was true. I would recommend that you watch the trailer...better yet don't watch the trailer just look for a TV ad or blindly go without looking at anything. The trailer reveals a little too much in my opinion.

I will readily say that Black Swan is not for everyone. I say this because I saw five people get up and leave throughout the showing that I attended. I won't speculate as to why they got up, but rather say that this movie takes an acquired taste and an open mind.

This movie is one of the most gripping and engaging ones that I have watched all year. The acting was perfect on all parts and it was real. The overall intensity of it was turned all the way up and never came down. Few movies can pull that off and still end up being good. I don't have any complaints about the movie at all. Without going further into what I thought of the movie( so i don't spoil it), I would like to say that I was pleasantly surprised. For the second time....this movie isn't for everyone, but if you are bold enough I would recommend that you....

GO NOW!!!!!!

Review: Tron Legacy

Tron Legacy is the long awaited sequel to the 80's classic. The movie follows Sam Flynn, the son of Kevin Flynn( the main character from the first movie). We find out early on in the movie that his father has been missing for almost 21 years. In that amount of time Sam has grown up and is the majority shareholder of ENCOM. Sam shirks the responsibilities that come along with that power and is uninterested in running the company that his father was CEO of. All of that changes when Alan Bradley( a close friend of Kevin Flynn) receives a page from Flynn's arcade. When same travels there to investigate, he finds himself eventually transported to the Grid and the world of Tron.

Tron Legacy is one of the best movies that I have seen this year. It is visually stunning, and the 3D is really good. It's like looking at candy for your eyes for 2 hours. With amazing graphics comes an amazing story that never gets boring or tedious. The acting is first rate and is never overdone.

The only thing that I didn't like was the CG that was used for Clu and the younger Kevin Flynn. Other than that one small complaint the movie was excellent.

Overall, Tron Legacy was an amazing ride and it should be seen, especially in 3D. The only thing that I can say more is to......

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!

The Tourist

The Tourist is a new movie of the spy genre in the tradition of James Bond, etc. It co-stars Johnny Depp as Frank and Angelina Jolie as Elise. It is directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. The basis of the story is Elise running around doing some spy stuff in Europe which Frank, a tourist, gets caught up in unsuspectingly.

The main thing I liked about this movie was getting to see two of favorite performers, Angelina and The Depp, on the screen at the same time.

But beyond that there wasn't a whole lot to it. There really isn't a great big good story (it's on the same level as Jolie's Salt). The characters aren't nearly as deep as I was hoping they would be. Johnny had said that he really wanted to do a movie with Jolie. So I think he just jumped into this one because it was there. I don't feel this role really challenged him. Most anyone out there could have played it the same way. It isn't one of his definitive performances. I would like to see Johnny and Angelina try another movie sometime-one that's deeper. Also too the ending was kinda easy to foresee (that always bothers me).

Not a bad movie but nothing spectacular...FX/TBS It.

For Colored Girls

I knew that the moment the word was released that Tyler Perry's next film would be entitled For Colored Girls, that I would have to see it. Once I began to research further, I discovered that the movie would be based on the stage play, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange. The original story is told in a series of 20 poems, weaving together the tale of 7 women, who deal with love, abandonment, and other horrors beyond the imagination. Contrary to popular belief, it is my opinion that Tyler Perry did a great job in adapting the chorepoems to film. For someone like myself, who was unfamiliar with the original, it has made me interested in finding it and reading it for myself. Yes, this movie definitely has some depressing places, but they are very real places that exist for some people. The 8 women that tell us their story will definitely remind you of someone you know, perhaps even yourself. Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Kerry Washington, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Loretta Devine, Tessa Thompson, Kimberly Elise, Anika Noni Rose, oh, I could go on and on about the wonderful actresses and actors that did an amazing job in bringing their characters to life. It is definitely worth watching, even if only once. And no, you do not have to be a colored girl to see it, as its messages are universal!

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paranormal Activity 2 - Quick Review

Paranormal Activity part 2 is in theatres now and is the sorta kinda sequel or prequel to last year's successful film. It follows the same basic premise. There are a few things to point out though that are a bit different. Instead of a hand-held camera being in use we have a whole house-wide security cam system...therefore we see alot more of the house from all sorts of angles.

Furthermore, this PA movie is very sound oriented. You see alot of creepy stuff happening. But the true effect of this movie comes from the sound. This is the main reason that we suggest seeing it in the theatre. But make sure you have seen the first one first to prevent any spoilers. PA2 is mostly a prequel but it does overlap...GO NOW.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is a follow up to the classic film Wall Street (1987). Both directed by Oliver Stone and starring Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko. New to the second film is Shia LaBeouf as Jake Moore; Carrie Mulligan as Gordon's estranged daughter Winnie who's also in a relationship with Jake. Also there's Josh Brolin as Bretton James. This just isn't a commentary on Wall Street greed and how it can change the world, it's a story focused on family and relationships.

The first thing to say about Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is that it's a valid sequel. That's something that cannot always be said when sequels come rolling around. This new movie fits the modern era and state of economic affairs the same way the original applied to the situation of the latter 1980s. It's scary to see a group of about 10 people sitting around a table deciding how financial situations are going to be for everyone else in the world and only thinking about themselves.

The main themes are clear: Greed, envy, and revenge. But it's more specifically how those three things can affect how we treat and view other people around us-whether they be professional associates or, especially, family.

It's this main focus on family that I think make Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps a movie that everybody should be able to watch, appreciate, and connect with. It's certainly not just for those who understand (or think they understand) Wall Street market stuff. That's not really the story being told.

I need to comment on the great acting. This is the best performance to date for Shia. I've always liked him but he really did well in this movie. Also too, this may be the best I've seen from Michael Douglas. Tough to say but maybe it is. It's great to see Josh Brolin in something good (not Jonah Hex). Brolin's character is really tough and dark and he pulled it off wonderfully.

Finally, without any spoilers, the ending was great and well written and played...I really think this is a great movie for everyone...GO NOW!

Let Me In

Let Me In, the Americanized and Hammer produced version of the Swedish film Let The Right One In, is out in theatres. It stars Chloe Moretz as Abby and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Owen. It's directed by the same guy that did Cloverfield. It tells the tale of lonely and bullied Owen and his strange relationship with his new neighbor Chloe. Chloe is "not a girl" but a vampire completely dependent on human blood to survive. This is all set against the background of 1983 somewhere in the northern US.

I will open up by saying this. Let Me In is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I left the theatre just barely leaving Kick Ass as my favorite for the year (which also co-stars Chloe).

This movie has an incredible story. It's oddly very heart warming but also filled with suspense. There's one scene that just kind of creeped up on me. It was really good. Also you cannot overlook the extremely high level of acting by Chloe and Kodi. Their performances are the best for a duo since...I don't know, Elliot and ET? (There's a great deal of similarity between Let Me In and E.T. when you think about it).

Let me reveal some of the underlining themes of the film. All over this movie is lonliness and isolation. I think it may be prevalent in ways not immediately noticeable the more. There are parents too consumed with their own problems to really give the attention and care to their son. And we also have a relationship between two outcasts that are two different types of people...or beings (This is alluded to by a certain play being read for a school assignment). This relationship develops into an innocent romance between two 12 year olds. All of this is beautifully woven together and developed in a very careful way.

In addition to all this Let Me In has a great atmosphere which is reminiscent of the classic Hammer films (Dracula movies with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee for example). It's very dark and gothic. You can feel the cold air coming right off the movie screen. In contrast to this though is the, for me anyway, sense of nostalgia of the 1980s. There are countless things that contribute to this. Some more obvious than others.

For me, Let Me In is an instant classic.....GO NOW!!

Review: Devil

Devil is the first movie in the planned Night Chronicles series. The basic premise is that five people get on an elevator. The elevator stops on its way up, but not due to any sort of mechanical or electrical failure. We soon learn that a supernatural force is tightly controlling the situation. Things start to take a turn for the worse as one of the passengers get cut/bitten when the lights flicker. Soon things become increasingly worse for those stuck in the elevator and those who try to assist them. As the film's tag-line says, "Bad things happen for a reason"

Devil is a first rate suspense movie from the mind of Mr. What-A-Twist himself M. Night Shyamalan. The acting was excellent. When the different characters needed to convey a certain feeling to the audience it was conveyed well. The story itself is gripping and interesting. It has some tense moments, especially towards the end.

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie and how good it was, even if it falls short of my mandatory 90 mins or more time limit. The best part is the fact that you know the twist well in advance so there is no last minute where did that come from feeling.

Overall, Devil is a good suspense movie that should be given a chance. If you have the opportunity you should....

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review: Resident Evil Afterlife

Resident Evil Afterlife is the fourth installment of the long running franchise that is based upon the even longer running video game series. This installment of the series has us yet again following Alice (Milla Jovovich), the only surviving character from the original movie, as she fights to survive and tries to find Claire Redfield(Ali Larter) and the group of survivors she led from the first movie. Along the way she confronts the Umbrella Corporation and the series ultimate baddie Albert Wesker. Can she finally put Umbrella's sinister plans to rest? Only time will tell.....

REA is not the best of the RE franchise, but it is far from the worst. The acting was par for the course. The CGI and special effects were excellent, but I don't necessarily know if it was worth 3D being added. The story was alright, but there was no real resolution to the main conflict. At this point I am to far invested into the series to not have conflict resolution. It's not necessary to have the story overall to come to the end, but [SPOILER ALERT] we basically have a similar set up for the next movie (Yes it has been confirmed that they are making another one) that Resident Evil Extinction had for this movie. What makes it worse is that the cliffhanger they leave us with is so much more larger.

Overall, Resident Evil Afterlife is okay, but it is not worth the 3D. If you can see it in normal definition do that. If not you can wait and ......

RENT IT.

The We're SOOO Behind Review

The AJ Movie Review's No We Haven't Quit and Yes We Are Behind Review

This will be a set of movies that we have seen but have not reviewed because we were busy. The reviews will be one to two sentences and won't contain plot elements or character names. We will try to be as concise as possible.

First up is Machete:
Machete is a heartwarming tale of death and revenge. It's not original but it is very entertaining. If you liked the Grindhouse movies you'll like this one. GO NOW!!!!!!

Takers:
Takers is a mash up of many different heist movies, except those movies are much better. No new ground is broken here. RENT IT.

The Last Exorcism:
TLE is possibly one of the worst mockumentary movies I have ever seen. It is seldom scary and the ending is simply dumb. The beginning and middle were fine but the end ruined it for me. FX/TBS IT.

Scott Pilgrim VS The World:
Scott Pilgrim is one of the best comedy movies of the year. Full of small video game references and fun action sequences SP is a can't miss movie. If it is still playing you should GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There that should catch everything up. We want to thank all of our supporters and we will try to be on the ball next time.

Eat Pray Love

We've all had a moment where we eat from sorrow, happiness, depression, etc., you name it. There have been moments where you come to a crossroads, and all you can do is pray about it. Sometimes, after all is said and done, all you can do is love. Julia Roberts does an excellent job portraying Elizabeth Gilbert, in the movie based on Gilbert's memoir Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia. Gilbert hits an all time low in her life: realizing that she is not getting what she wants out of life, personally or professionally. Overseas on a literary assignment, she visits a medicine man, who makes predictions about her life. Once she comes back home, she is unable to get his prophecies out of her mind. She decides to get a divorce, and then goes away for year, searching for the zeal for life that she seems to have lost. She spent four months in Italy, eating and enjoying life (Eat). She spent four months in India, finding her spirituality (Pray). She ended the year in Bali, Indonesia, looking for "balance" of the two and came upon someone who kept her interest (Love). Although I did not read the book prior to viewing the movie, I totally enjoyed it. There were times when I believed that the word Cry should have been added to the title, because I definitely did my share of crying also. As Julia goes through Elizabeth's journey, you will find yourself going through a journey also. A wonderful journey of self-discovery. I believe that if you have read the book already, you may be alright with waiting until it comes out on DVD. If you haven't I definitely say.........

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Salt

Salt is a new action thriller staring Angelina Jolie as CIA agent Evelyn Salt. It tells the story of Agent Salt and the accusation by a Russian defector that she's a Russian spy that's gonna assassinate people. Through out the movie she's on the run. And while she runs there are alot of twists and turns. Salt also features performances by Cotton Weary, aka Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The best thing about this movie was the convincing acting performance by Angelina Jolie. I consider this possibly her best performance since Girl Interrupted. The quality of the other actors was good but hurt by some awkward writing and editing. Sometimes what they had to say didn't really fit the scene. There are some good action scenes but most of them aren't that believable. But I guess that's true in most movies.

The main problem I have with Salt is I was able to figure out what was gonna happen and who the bad guy(s) were gonna end up being. That really hurts a movie based heavily on plot twists. Overall, Salt is not a bad movie but it's not that great either. I would definitely give it a watch but save your money...

...FX/TBS IT.

INCEPTION

Inception is the latest movie from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. It's a drama suspense film with some high quality action scenes. It stars Leo DiCaprio as the main character named Cobb. It also features a high quality supporting cast of Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Arthur), Ellen Page (Ariadne), Tom Hardy (Eames), Ken Watanabe (Siato), Dileep Rao (Yusuf), Cillian Murphy (Robert Fischer, jr.), Marion Cotillard (Cobb's wife Mal) and other great actors that pop up like Tom Berenger and Michael Caine.

The basis of the movie, put simply, is Cobb and his partners Arthur and Araidne are able to get into people's dreams and steal info. This largely done as espionage . But this is not the story really being told. Cobb has been falsely(?) accused of murdering his wife Mal. During the course of the movie she only exists in his dreams. Cobb wants to be able to get back into the US so he can see his 2 kids. But how to get past customs at the airport? Do a job for Siato against Fischer in which Siato agrees to make a 'simple phone call' on the plane to get past customs with no problem. This movie gets deep. Dreams within dreams within dreams deep.

I loved this movie! Inception has one of the most original and interesting stories I've seen. And it has acting through the roof performed by everyone on the screen. Chris Nolan knows how to get the best out of his players. It was wonderful for me to see DiCaprio and Murphy on the screen at the same time. I really enjoyed seeing Gordon-Levitt in a serious role. My main image I still had of him in my mind is from '3rd Rock from the Sun'. The way the movie feels makes it easy to tell this is a Nolan film. There are some specifics you can compare to his Bat-movies. The story changes quickly so try not to get up and go to the bathroom,etc while watching it because when you come back you won't know if what you're seeing is real or a dream or a dream within a dream. Furthermore I must state this film has one of the best final scenes I've ever seen! I think this is the best movie of the summer.

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Predators

Predators is the latest movie based off the original classic 1987 film Predator. It stars Adrien Brody alongside Alice Braga. A key thing about this movie is that it ignores all the other sequels that have been released since the original film. AJ MR team member Jared saw the new movie on opening weekend, his review follows:

Predators is a top notch sequel to the long running franchise. The thing that sets this one apart from the drab and unnecessary sequels of the past is this one was especially made to be a sequel. You can tell that time and effort was put into making this a good Predator movie. The cast performed well and they were a good ensemble. You could really feel the tension between the different characters. The CGI was good and never unrealistic. Even the Predator's thermal vision got a new upgraded look which just added to the authenticity of it all.

The main thing that I was pleased with was with the way the first film was constantly referenced. Now, when I say that I don't mean that the characters talk about the original film every five minutes. There are subtle references that are sprinkled in along the way. Thebackground music is the same as the original and even some of the character's lines and actions are throwbacks to the original. And for those of you who have payed close attention to the original, stay for the beginning of the end credits, you should be in for a surprise.

Overall, Predators was a long needed jump start to the franchise that captures the magic of the original movie. If you have the time you should definitely..... GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get Him to the Greek - Quick Review

The comedy "Get Him to the Greek" was released to theatres about a month ago. It tells the story of a music business guy named Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) who's gotta get British rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) all the way from London (and everywhere inbetween) to LA's Greek Theatre for a concert to help generate money for the ailing music industry. Aldous is an out of control star with drug/alchohol problems who's inclined to party every chance he gets.

The humor involved is not bad. Though it's often strange and comes out of left field sometimes, it has it's funny moments. The main thing I liked about this movie was the direction it took in the final half hour or so. It became a little serious (without being too much) and address the issue of substance abuse and overcoming it. It also show the process of mending relationships and has a positive ending.

It's a good movie, would've been great if it had been just a little bit funnier (and maybe not so awkward).....RENT IT.

Jonah Hex

Jonah Hex is the latest comic/graphic novel series to be converted into a motion picture. It stars Josh Brolin in the lead role of Jonah. Also there's Megan Fox as the town hooker and John Malkovich as the bad guy. I'm not really bothering with specific character names because they don't really matter in this case.

The only things I really thought were good about this movie was the acting by Malkovich and some of the visualizations that were used off and on. There were times when it looked kinda cool. But that's really all.

The movie itself didn't really have much of a story to it. It picks way too late in what all is going on and doesn't explain hardly anything about the characters. Therefore you don't really care about the good guys or anything. The whole time I was thinking that surely the comics must be better (most of the time they are). Sadly, but perhaps not too surprisingly, Megan's acting just was not existent. But what's worse is that her character really served no real purpose in the movie. She was just there. I guess to look at.

It's not often that I think a movie is a waste of time but this is one of those times. Malkovich was good but there are plenty of other movies you'd be better off watching him in.

STAND OUTSIDE YOUR LOCAL THEATRE and WARN PEOPLE!

Review: A-Team

Lifted Directly from Wikipedia:

"A crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team."

The movie version of the 80s classic tv series The A-Team has finally come to the big screen. With this new big screen adaptation of the classic series come new faces. Liam Neeson is Hannibal, Bradley Cooper is Face, Quinton Jackson is B.A. Baracus, and Sharlto Copley plays Murdock. The A-Team shows us how they came to be. We are first introduced to them in Mexico before they ever knew each other. Twenty minutes later we are moved forward 8 years and 80 missions later to Iraq. As the story progresses they find themselves accused of a crime they didn't commit. They rally together to clear their names and as the film tag line says, "There is no plan B"....

The A-Team delivered exactly what I wanted from it. It had over-the-top, non-stop action just like the television series did. The new cast seemed to do fairly well in the parts that they played. There really seemed to be this genuine element of teamwork. What I liked about this movie is that it goes in depth to show how it all began and how they became a unit. To be honest it was the perfect A-Team movie. I have no complaints about it. If you liked the tv series then it is required viewing. If you are like Roger Ebert and didn't like the tv series, then why would you see the movie. For everyone else I recommend that you....

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review: Splice

The newest experiment gone horribly awry movie is Splice. The movie's central figures are Dren, the "not quite human" entity created by Clive(Adrien Brody) and Elsa(Sarah Polley). We follow the two latter figures as they go from scientist who have created a completely new and legal life form to rogue scientist who have become parents to something that grows more and more human by the second. We are also shown Dren's complete life cycle as she ages rapidly. Along the way the movie tries to pose the question of what it means to be human. As things take a turn for the worse we see the humans acting less and less human and Dren becomes......something else.

Splice is a good horror/SciFi film, with more emphasis on the Sci-fi aspect. The film had a good premise and for the most part it played out wonderfully. The CGI was good and about what you expect for a movie these days. What I want to point out and what I said earlier was the fact that the movie does try to bring about the question of what it means to be human. With Dren for instance, she is first this small infant like being that doesn't look remotely human, but as she grows she resembles a human more and more. She even goes through the rebellious adolescent phase. With the two other leads we witness their humanity being constantly compromised and slipping from their grasp by the end of movie. Splice also takes an eerie look at where science could take us in the next few years.

Splice stands up pretty well to some other Sci-fi movies, but in truth I have seen better. I don't have any specific gripe other than the way it was advertised. I went in with the idea that I was going to watch people die at the hands of some horrible creature for two hours. I was sorely mistaken, and a little disappointed by that.

Overall, Splice is a good science fiction movie that die-hard fans of the genre will like and appreciate. For everyone else though I suggest that you....

RENT IT.

New Video Posted!!!

Hey Everybody! I wanted to let you know that we just posted another video previewing some of the movies that are coming out in the first half of the summer. Part two of the video will be out soon taking a look at the movies coming out in July and August.

Our Youtube page

Also, be sure to indulge in and enjoy the brand new background music (recorded by yours truly) playing in the video.

Thanks for watching!

psst... Jared would never do this, but since I have no shame I'll say it. you should really tell us what you think about these videos by rating them and leaving comments (you know, all that constructive criticism mumbo-jumbo). Also, if you subscribe to our channel, we'll give you pri... we'll make you a... we'll be your friends.

Review-- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia follows Dastan a orphaned street kid who catches the eye of the king of the Persian Empire. The king takes Dastan in as one of his own and he is raised in the palace as a prince. We then join a grown up Dastan(Jake Gyllenhaal) as he and his brothers prepare to attack the city of Alamut. During their attack on the city Dastan stumbles upon the fabled Dagger of Time and our story goes from there....

Prince of Persia is an all around good summer movie. It has something that will appeal to everyone. The plot is good, although it starts off a bit slow, and it makes sense and is easy to follow. The film is acted very well and includes actors Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, and Gemma Arterton. The CGI and effects are very well done. This film serves as the foundation for a good epic movie. I do see a well made franchise coming from this movie.

The only gripe that I have about the movie is the slow start that it takes in the beginning. The pacing could have been better but it didn't make or break the movie.

Overall Prince of Persia is a movie that would be enjoyed by most movie goers. If you have a chance you should....

GO NOW!!!!!!!

Review: MacGruber

First of all I want to point out the false advertising campaign that has been carried out. A recent trailer for this film stated that they were not showing the best parts of the film, unfortunately they lied....

MacGruber is a "comedy" film based on the popular(and actually funny) SNL sketch that parodies MacGyver. The film revolves around a stolen nuclear missile that was stolen from a Serbian convoy. It is up to MacGruber and team to recover the missile before it is used....

I noticed before the movie started that only five people were in the theater. Fifteen minutes into the movie the couple sitting a few rows in front of me left and never came back. I should have known then what I was getting myself into.

MacGruber is honestly one of the worst movies that I have ever seen. For the most part the movie is not funny at all. I believe this is partly due to the film relying entirely on crude and sexual humor, which is fine in small doses. That may have gotten them a few laughs along the way, but after a while it becomes tiresome and sometimes downright awkward. The story isn't the most original, but that is forgivable.

What is not forgivable is a comedy movie that only makes me chuckle a few times. The jokes that were delivered were repeated multiple times and many of them were run into the ground. What makes it even worse, is in most instances you can tell that the actors are really trying to be funny. It is painful to see them fail 90% of the time. Don't get me wrong there are few genuinely funny moments, but they are far apart and they do not justify this polished piece of fecal matter.

With recent blockbuster comedies such as Tropic Thunder, The Hangover, and the more recent Date Night I expected much better from a movie that was a spin off of SNL sketch. See this train-wreck if you dare, but you have been warned....

Stand Outside Your Local Theater and Warn People........Please!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mini Review: Date Night

Date Night is comedy that follows the crazy night of Phil(Steve Carell) and Claire(Tina Fey) Foster. We see early on in the film that the couple has become stagnant and that the spark in their relationship may be on the verge of dying. Phil decides to try to liven thing up a bit by taking his wife to a New York City restaurant on their normal date night. They soon find out that they will not be able to get a table at the restaurant that they really wanted to eat at. To resolve this situation they pose as a no show couple to get a table. This mistake will place them in the cross hairs of some very unsavory people and the night quickly takes off....

I'll be quick, Date Night is a fun comedy. It is very well acted. The story is well written and you are guaranteed to have a blast. If it is still playing at a theater near you I suggest that you....

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review - Robin Hood

Ridley Scott's Robin Hood is the latest telling of the story of the famous thief from the Middle Ages of England. It stars Russell Crowe in the lead role as Robin Longstride, Cate Blanchett in the role of Maid Marion, and Oscar Isaac as King John.

One of the main things about this version of Robin Hood that I liked is it gives us a greater understanding of the character of Robin and where he came from. Typically in other movies/stories of the man we start off knowing that he is a thief that famously steals from the rich and gives to the poor. But in Scott's film we get to see the background of Robin and how he came to be perceived as the famous outlaw that we know today.

Furthermore, the acting was superb. Especially in the case of Oscar Isaac in the role of King John. He was really good. He brought a wonderful performance of arrogance, ignorance, and pure intensity conjured up by the former. In addition the direction of Ridley Scott is great and what we've come to expect from him based on his previous efforts.

Musically speaking I liked the fact that although they used music from a few centuries after the movie's time setting, they didn't throw in 20th/21st Century songs in there (nothing wrong with a little Bryan Adams but still).

The main problem with the movie was the lack of a *wow* ending that we got out previous historical epics Braveheart and Scott's Gladiator. It's somewhat forgivable since the main guy in the movie did not, nor was suspected to, die. You kind of know how it's gonna end.

On occasion I got a little confused about what exactly what was happening and where it was happening. It kinda jumps around alot. I recommend reviewing the background of the historical Robin Hood(s) before sitting down to watch the movie. It'll make a little more sense.

Robin Hood is a good movie, perhaps the best of the Robin Hood movies so far. But I'm still waiting for what I feel could be the definitive one...RENT IT.

Other Related Movies: Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (1991)....The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938)....Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993)

Review ~ Just Wright

The minute that I saw the previews for this movie, I just knew that I had to see it. I mean, with rappers Queen Latifah, Common and of course Paula Patton? Not to mention countless NBA players, and the timeless Phylicia Rashad, along with basically the only sport that I understand, basketball!

Leslie Wright is a woman who is not having a lot of luck in the love department, always selected to be in the friend category, never moving toward being the girlfriend. Common portrays Scott McKnight in this romantic comedy, who happens to be the star player on the New Jersey Nets. He is Leslie's favorite player and the Nets are her favorite team. As luck would have it, there is a chance encounter at a gas station, and that ladies and gentlemen is where the movie takes off. In walks Morgan, (Paula Patton) Leslie's godsister, who thrives in the spotlight, intent on being the classic NBA trophy wife. The kind of woman that commands a second look, she catches McKnight's eye. As their relationship heads towards the altar, Scott endures a career-threatening injury, that causes Morgan to leave. Leslie is intent on pushing him down the road to recovery, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Even though the movie definitely had some cheesy moments, for me, it was a breath of fresh air. It was nice to see a different spin on your basic rom-com's of this decade. I'm pretty sure you all know me by now, and my take on rom-com's, but come on, take a deep breath, admit that this movie is just wright for you and .......................

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dual Review: Iron Man 2

This years summer movie season opener is the sequel to 2008's smash hit, Iron Man. I suppose by now that I don't have to go into any background as most of you know what the deal is. Most of the cast from the first movie are back and we even have a few new faces added to the fray. Iron Man 2 picks up just after the ending of the last movie, after Tony Stark has revealed to the world that he is Iron Man. We soon learn that there is a Russian scientist, Ivan Vanko, who has a vendetta against Stark. To make matters worse we learn that the miniature arc reactor keeping Stark alive is causing complications and that the US government wants the suit. How does he deal with all of this you ask....he turns to alcoholism, which soon places himself and others in danger. Will our hero find what it takes to turn everything around? Only time will tell....

Jared's Take:

Iron Man 2 has everything that you would expect from a big summer movie. It has action, comedy, romance, and everything else in between. The acting was good and on par with the first movie. The special effects and the CG were very well done and you could tell that a lot of work was put into them.

I do have a few minor complaints about the movie though. The plot seemed to be watered down a bit. What I mean by this is that it had rather odd pacing. There were these big action sequences and they would be followed by a 10 min lull. I realize that you can't have an explosion every five minutes and still have a good movie, but I at least wish that the scenes in which there were no action were a little more interesting. I also think that the final fight was way too short.

As I write this review my thoughts do turn to The Dark Knight and how Iron Man 2 stands up against it. TDK's story was much better, but IM2 and TDK are two different movies. It's like comparing apples and oranges. TDK is more dark and serious and it forces you to reflect upon the struggle against good and evil. IM2 is a more light-hearted and fun film. It still has everything that you would expect from a good superhero film.

Overall Iron Man 2 was an enjoyable movie that should be seen by all. You've probably guessed what rating I'm gonna give it.....

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Allan's Take:
This is kind of a difficult movie to review. I really wanted it to be good, at least as good as the original. However, while sitting in the theatre watching it I kept thinking that Chris Nolan has quite possibly risen the bar of comic movies to an extremely high level that's unrealistic to obtain in most movies. He's at least laid out the basis of what I want a comic movie to be.

I really didn't see the point of the specific use of villains and other characters that are used in the movie. They just seemed to be thrown in there at random but they have to get as much Avenger stuff in there as possible, I guess.

Despite all of the above I still think that Iron Man 2 should be seen at some point just to keep up with all that's happening in the Avenger world. I hope Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers movie take Marvel to a new level in the comic-movie genre

.....FX/TBS IT...

A Nightmare On Elm Street

A Nightmare on Elm Street is the latest horror remake. It stars Kyle Gallner as Quentin, Rooney Mara as Nancy, Katie Cassidy as Kris, and Jackie Earle Haley as Fred Krueger. This is the first time that legend Robert Englund hasn't taken on the role of the disfigured villain who comes after his victims in their dreams.

The main impressive thing about this remake is that it really is an original take on the story of Fred Krueger. It isn't just a rehash of the same things we've seen before. Although there are some scenes that are obviously rooted in the original (and some not so obvious). Haley's performance as Freddy is, quite honestly, brilliant. It really makes a huge impact on the film. It's really good how they show Freddy as more of a human being than just a monster. It's very reminiscent of the reboot of Jason in Friday The 13th and Zombie's take on Michael Meyers. He's out to get you, but he's also angry and vengeful.

One special note that should be made is, as far as blood in all goes, it's not as graphic as Craven's original 1984 movie. It's a bit more psychological and verbal. Also too they left out some of the deeper themes that were in the original. Such as the mother-daughter role reversal, alcoholism, divorce...all those things aren't present in the remake

Now onto the negative stuff. Although it's not overridden with a whole lot of CGI, there were a few moments when it's easy to cringe. There's a couple scenes in particular near the end when they probably would been better off just using old fashioned special effects. But it's not that bad.

Furthermore the ending, while not all that bad, isn't quite on the same level as the final 15 minutes of the original.

Honestly this movie was a bit of a surprise...RENT IT.

Review: The Losers

The Losers is the newest comic book turned into a movie. The movie follows well...The Losers, an elite task force. Through an unfortunate series of events there ties with the government are cut and they find themselves stranded in Bolivia. Their fearless leader Clay(Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is determined to get his team back to the states. All seems lost until a mysterious woman Aisha(Zoe Saldana) offers them a way home. There is one catch though, upon their return to the states they must find and kill the person who placed them in their current situation. This as we find out is easier said than done....

Jared's Take: The Losers is the perfect summer action movie, it has action, humor, and serious moments blended into one. The cast felt perfect together and the movie was acted very well. The CG, when it was used, was not over the top and it was believable.

Now for the bad. The story is a bit rushed at the beginning you get a very fast introduction to each of the characters, but I wish that they went a little deeper into the character bio. You never feel fully invested in the characters and their plight. I also believe that some of the scenes that were shot could have been left out as they served no real purpose.

Overall, The Losers was entertaining at best and is at least worth seeing once. Hopefully, as the series progresses the movies will get better.

Rent It.......

Allan's Take

Likes: I really liked the different uses of lighting and how it helped transition different scenes. The action is good. There's a lot of particular things you see that I haven't seen happen in a movie before. A good bit of it you see in the trailer though. Also the acting was good once I got use to it and understood what each character was supposed to be like (I haven't read the book).

Dislikes: The only real problem I had with "The Losers" was following the story all the way through. I kept getting a little lost but then picked up on what was happening later. That may be due to own feeble mindedness though.

Rating: Although this is pretty entertaining movie worth seeing, I don't see it as a classic. At least not yet...RENT IT.

Review - KICK ASS

Kick Ass has finally hit theaters. Based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar & John Romita, jr., it stars Aaron Johnson in the lead title role of Dave/Kick Ass. He's joined by Nicolas Cage (Damon/Big Daddy) and Chloe Moretz (Mindy/Hit-Girl) among others. The trailer makes it seem that the entire story is based around a regular high school guy that decides to go out and fight crime like a comic book hero. However, that's really only the beginning of a rather deep, multi-layered, well thought out story. Unfortunately, I have not read the book at this point so I can't really comment on how it compares to the movie.

I honestly loved everything about this movie. The story is original and much better than I thought it would be. It takes different characters with different backgrounds and blends them together in a way that really works and does not ever get confusing. It balances story telling with hardcore action. As the movie progressed it went in different areas that I didn't really see coming.

The performances by all the actors was superb. I've never been a huge fan of Nicolas Cage but he really pulled through in this one for sure. Chloe as Hit-Girl was awesome. Aaron (Dave/Kick Ass) really brought out what it's like to be a regular guy wanting to do good. Not to be famous or popular, but to help others.

A quick note on the musical score - it's very good and does seem to be inspired by the score from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. It really does add to the movie and is much better than what was heard in the Clash of the Titans remake.

I'm putting Kick Ass up there as my top movie so far this year. It will be interesting to see if it can get topped in my mind later on. We'll see. There's along way to go with some promising summer films coming out. This movie may not be for every single person out there but it is for alot of people that don't think they would like it...

GO NOW!!!!!!

Summer Movie Calendar

I have been thinking lately of what the summer holds in terms of potential blockbusters and wanted to come up with a calendar of the movies I will be potentially seeing. I know this is not a review, but I thought it would be good to post so everyone knows when the big ones are coming out.

Again, this is just my list of ones I am very interested in seeing. I am sure there are others that may pop up on the radar!

May
Iron Man 2 - 7th
Robin Hood - 14th
McGruber - 14th
Prince of Persion - 28th

June
A-Team - 11th
The Grownups - 25th
Knight and Day - 25th

July
Eclipse - 2nd (If my wife lets me go with her)
UPDATED: The Last Airbender - 2nd
Inception - 16th
Predators - 19th
Dinner for Schmucks - 23rd

August
The Other Guys - 6th
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - 13th

Time will tell to see which ones flop, and which ones top!

Have a great weekend.
James

Review - Clash of the Titans - 3D

Well, when I first heard that this movie was being made, I was honestly excited. I remember watching the original as a kid over and over and it brought so many memories. But honestly, from the onset, I had my reservations. Anytime a movie has been redone, updated, or "rebooted," they are taking a big chance at it actually making some sort of a dent into the box office. Most of the curious fans, like me, wanted to see how this version would compare. I had even read mixed reviews and I decided to at least give it a chance. Now, I have to pick my movies very carefully because I do not get to go as often as I like. I was very much disappointed. This review may sound very bad, but I could hold back. Sorry in advance for my rants below.

This movie was just lame. There, I said it. It was lame. I am usually a nice guy and all, but this movie just fell into the category of "Let's Remake a Classic with Update Special Effects to make a buck!"

SPOILER ALERT...

Let's start with the story. Persius, played by Sam Worthington, portrays a demi-god (half human/half god) son of a unknowing Zeus, one of the head gods who is attempting to stop Hades from totally destroying the quant village of Ares (i think). He has a few tasks he must complete, like how to make friends with three blind witches and how to tame a very badly animated Medusa before taking on the Kracken (Hade's pet sea monster). The Animation was so bad, I actually prefer the animation from the 1980's version-Yes, even claymation.

The characters were less than stellar. You only get to know a few becuase of the of how quickly they die in the movie. There were several you wish had bigger roles like Andromeda and the two comedic warriors who actually survived. Liam Neeson did a fantastic job of getting some cool Halloween outfits and make up, that's for sure. Furthermore, his line "Release the CRACKEN!" will go down as the most predictable line in all movies.

I wish they had done more with Pegasus. I mean seriously. In the old version, the animal played a much bigger role. In the few shots you see of him, you can't help but picture Falcor, from the Neverending Story franchise.

I did laugh, only once though, when the mechanical owl from the old version was pulled out of a trunk, for not apparent reason other than to satisfy old fans like myself. I think I even said outloud, "Well, that scene was totally useless."

Again, if you read this far, you wont mind this major spoiler alert. The Kracken was too easy to defeat. Come ON Persius!!! Use your sword a little!

I know I am ranting, but the people who made this tried to make this a movie blockbuster and failed miserably. Here is a good idea for a movie: Have the Kracken from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise battle the Kracken from Clash of the Titans.

Oh yeah, if you think i forgot to mention 3-D. Well, it did not help it out all.
It was still L-A-M-E. This movie may take the box office #1, but I am sure How to Train Your Dragon - 3d will take over after a week.

Here is my final verdict in reverse order:
The Ugly - poor story, predictable, and no thought whatsover to how
The Bad - "Release the CRACKEN!"
The Good - I have another pair of 3-D glasses for sale...$13.50.

FX IT!!!!

It would be good if you had absolutely nothing else to do...Tivo it and watch it after you catch up on your episodes of Alf.

UPDATE: I thought FX was the lowest rating, but I was wrong.
NEW RATING: STAND OUTSIDE YOUR THEATER AND WARN EVERYONE!

Review ~ Why Did I Get Married, Too?

Three years ago, when I happened to see a movie titled "Why Did I Get Married?", my immediate thought was, there should definitely be a sequel. Tyler Perry did not disappoint, as shown this weekend, with the release of the long-awaited sequel, "Why Did I Get Married, Too?". Everyone returns to continue the story of these married couples, who reconnect yearly at a special getaway. Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry & Jill Scott return, as do Malik Yoba, Tasha Smith, Richard T. Jones and Michael Jai White. Set three years later, the story seems to start right where we left off, although there are obvious changes. Many of the couples face the same challenges as before, and some of them are hiding quite a few secrets it seems. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster, from laughs, to cries, to talking back to the screen. And as the previews states, one of the couples will NOT make it, though definitely not in the way you think. I must say, I think that this is one of his best movies. It is well worth the money.

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review: Repo Men

Repo Men is the newest Sci-Fi/Action movie this spring. The movie takes place in a distant, but realistic future where your life expectancy can be greatly increased by artificial organs. This increase in life expectancy comes at a price though, usually a six figure price. But, the people who sell the organs state that payment plans can be made that fit your lifestyle. With any thing that you make payments on, you can fall behind in payment. In this world that can place you in a life threatening situation. This is the exact situation that Remy(Jude Law), the Repo man that the story follows, finds himself in. As the movie's tag-line says, For a price, any organ in your body can be replaced. But it can also be repossessed.

I'll be honest with you I am very conflicted in what I think of this movie. Having only seen it 5 hours ago, I am torn on how I feel about it. Repo Men has a very good premise and is set in a future that is fantastic, yet believable. The execution of this premise is for the most part very well done. The acting felt real and organic, you could believe that these people exist in the real world. Although the movie started off slow the full range of emotions were covered. There were moments when I laughed, was mad, or wanted to shed a tear.

The main complaint that I have with Repo Men is the ending. It is not about how the ending was executed or acted, but literally how the movie ended. That is really my only complaint, but it is only an opinion and not anything I can fault the movie for.

Overall: I loved the movie, but hated that ending.....

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review - Alice in Wonderland (3D)

Alice In Wonderland is finally out in theatres. It's the latest movie from Tim Burton and the latest in 3D format. It stars Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, and Mia Wasikowska as Alice. It also features the voices of Matt Lucas, Michael Sheen, and Stephen Fry. The story itself is obviously based on the characters created by Lewis Carroll in his books Alice's Advetures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. However the story itself is pretty much original. Alice, now about 18, ventures back down the rabbit hole and back into Wonderland to find that the Red Queen has taken full control of society. Only Alice herself can free the Wonderland's residents of her evil reign. But will she?

Along with Shutter Island, this is one of the best movies I've seen in a while. It is visually stunning. But, in addition, it has the element of good story telling. Something I think many of the 3D movies of recent times have been in lack of. The acting is wonderful. Not just Johnny either. Everybody was impressive. Overall I think the Cheshire Cat (voiced by Fry) is my favorite. Creepy but friendly. The movie was just the right length. Everything about the movie I liked.

The only complaint I can come up with is there was no, as far as I could see, cameo by Gracie Slick anywhere (you know the song).

Alice In Wonderland is a definite GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and for an added bonus...check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0JvF9vpqx8

Review - The Crazies

The Crazies is the latest in what seems to have become a whole genre of horror movie remakes, and the latest of a George A. Romero film. It tells the story of a small rural town in Iowa that has become the victim of strange, violent behavior of many of its residents. The behavior spreads like a plague and soon the military becomes involved in a quarantine procedure. It stars Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, and Joe Anderson.

The Crazies is much better than I thought it was going to be. I always pay close attention to the quality of the acting. The acting was very good and always believable. Many movies that have been made look good with fancy graphics and efx, but fall apart with bad acting. The Crazies combines both acting and graphics to make a good film. I also like the commentary the movie has on society and the way people interact and get along with one another. This is usually seen in Romero's stories. This movie also contains some real good individual scenes and suspense. This seems hard to really get to work these days.

The only complaint about the movie was the predictable ending. It was pretty much what you would expect and what you have seen before. It looked really cool, but it's been done.

Overall this is a good movie. I would definitely recommend that you RENT IT.

Review: Shutter Island

This is truly the year of stalled movies. I have seen the trailer for this movie for about 10 months now. The release date for this movie has been pushed back at least twice by now. Anyway let's get down to business....

Shutter Island is the newest film by acclaimed director Martin Scorsese. It takes place on a post WWII pacific northwest island. The story is centered around federal marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio). He has been called to the island because a patient has escaped from the mental institution located there. Accompanying him is his new partner Chuck Aule(Mark Ruffalo). From the moment they arrive on the island there is an air of deception and distrust. As they dive deeper into investigating the disappearance of this patient we become intimately acquainted with the past of Daniels. We learn the true reasons of why he is on the island and what he hopes and thinks he will accomplish while he is there....

Shutter Island is a suspenseful drama of the highest caliber. I've glanced at some reviews that call it drawn out and boring, but I don't feel that way. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I never felt bored. The movie gives you a real good look into a 1950s mental institution. The acting is some of the best that I have seen in the past couple of months. All of the actors performed their parts well. The story took twists and turns, but was never confusing.

Overall, Shutter Island has been the best movie that I have seen this year. My only real complaint was some of the editing that was done. There were instances where the footage was edited in a choppy way. It was clearly not a clever trick to enhance the movie. But, let me say now that if you dare, you should...

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(On a side note my co-workers were speculating about how the movie would turn out. I told them how I thought the movie would turn out and they hoped that it wouldn't. It turns out that I was .....................................)

Review ~ Valentine's Day

Truthfully, I really wanted to see this movie, but I went in prepared that it might turn out like last year's romantic comedy fiasco, He's Just Not That Into You. It had some of the same ingredients: an all-star cast, romance, comedy, a lot of hype, and a huge promotional blitz. The movie begins on, what else, Valentine's Day, the main day in the life of love. It shows different couples and singles in the different stages of their romances, or lack thereof. Then the drama ensues!

It is easy for a movie of this magnitude to get lost in the cast, with the script thrown in as an afterthought. The writers of this movie did a great job at making sure the storyline flowed, and I must say, the best lines were given to Taylor Swift. (Check out her scenes with Taylor Lautner, they were my absolute favorite!) The ensemble cast was great, including Julia Roberts, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher, Anne Hathaway, Dane Cook, Patrick Dempsey, Jessica Alba, Shirley Maclaine, Queen Latifah, Topher Grace, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner and I could go on and on. I laughed a lot during this movie, and was completely captivated by it. I know, I know, I love mostly all chick flicks, but I must say, this is one the best movies by far. So go ahead, give a great ode to love and.......

....... GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Review - Wolfman

After much delay (note the date on the poster), The Wolfman has finally made its way to theaters. It stars Benicio Del Toro as Lawrence Talbot/Wolfman, Emily Blunt as Lawrence's love interest Gwen Conliffe, and Sir Anthony Hopkins as Lawrence's father Sir John Talbot. Based on the original 1941 movie of the same title, The Wolfman follows the tragedy of Lawrence becoming a werewolf and committing unspeakable actions. All this takes place against the backdrop of Victorian era England (London and elsewhere).

I really was impressed with the acting in the movie. Although it does feature a great deal of special effects and CGI, the acting by all players was good and believable. I was happy that the transformation scenes were long and drawn out. Lately there's been too many movies involving werewolves were the transformations just happen out of nowhere. The change scenes here were more reminiscent of An American Werewolf In London. They seemed very painful and horrifying. (It should be noted that both movies share the same award winning effects man, Rick Baker).

Another thing that I really liked in the new Wolfman was the discussion of Lycanthropy as a mental illness. They incorporated the use of an asylum which added to the already dark atmosphere. There's also a clever Jack The Ripper connection.

The only thing I think they could have done better on is the development of the relationship between Lawrence and Gwen. It did cause the movie not to reach its full potential at the conclusion. That being said the new Wolfman could be just a little bit better. It is good. But it doesn't quite fit into the elite group of werewolf movies (American Werewolf In London, The Howling, The Wolfman '41, and Silver Bullet). But it is good and you should definitely RENT IT.

Review ~ When In Rome

You know the saying...when in Rome.....do as they do! Kristen Bell stars as a single art curator, who is known for her bad luck in the love department. While attending her sister's impulsive wedding, in where else, Rome, she wanders to a love fountain. Instead of tossing a coin in, she decides to take a few for good measure. Here is where the wonderful drama that rom-com's (romantic comedies) are made of, begins.

Now, while we all know that romantic comedies can be somewhat predictable, sometimes it's nice to know that we can depend on that. While Jon Heder, Dax Shepard and Danny DeVito make for unusual love interests, it is Josh Duhamel that provides the films eye candy. There are a some ups (be on the lookout for the yellow car), and downs (predictable romantic comedy). It was at times what I consider stupid funny. However, I must say that I enjoyed the movie. Overall.......

GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Dual Review: Legion

Legion is the newest entry in the apocalyptic thriller genre. The film takes place at a diner in the middle of nowhere (I guess it's somewhere in the southwestern United States). Everything seems normal, you have your normal diner crew and a few passersby who have stopped there.
Suddenly things go haywire and a mysterious man shows up in a cop car. He tells those at the diner that the pregnant waitress's unborn child is the key to humankind's salvation, (That sounds awfully familiar). And so the adventure begins...

Jared's Take: Legion is a good movie theater movie. By that I mean that it is good to see with a group of friends. The movie has a few redeeming qualities, but I won't spoil them for you. The acting is what you would expect so there is no complaints about it. The CG is really good and it shows that considerable care was taken into making it.

Where Legion fails, in my opinion, is the fact that there is really no solid resolution to the conflict. This gripe deals specifically with the child and his (I'm assuming the child is a he) purpose. The rest of the story seemed mostly driven from one fight to the next and that made it seems as if there was no story.

Overall Legion was okay, but i say FX/TBS It.

Allan's Take:

Likes: One of the main things that impressed me about this movie was the good special effects. The fx were consistently well done and convincing unlike those of "Daybreakers". Also the acting was very believable. The dialogue was about things that are necessary in the given situation and, although there some mild comedic moments, it was pretty serious stuff.

Dislikes: Overall I wasn't incredibly impressed with how the story itself unfolded. It didn't really explain in any real detail why specific things in the movie were happening and certain characters.

RENT It!