The AJ Movie Review

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2011-12-31T20:46:00.002-06:00

I honestly don't know how to write the introduction for this review. If you are fuzzy about what the movie is about I would suggest that you watch the trailer a couple of times. To be honest though, that still doesn't give you a complete idea of what this movie is. I can tell you that it is a a mystery movie, well part of it is at least. Having not read the book I didn't know what exactly to expect, but the trailer did pull me in.

This is possibly the best movie of the year. It's high up on my list with Drive. All of the actors performed wonderfully and you felt emotionally invested in the main characters. What I liked most about it is how for the first hour the two main characters are on different, but converging paths. This isn't the first time this has been done before, but the way that it was accomplished here impressed me. I will say a word of warning this movie is rated R for a reason. Some scenes even had me flinching and wanting to turn away.

Overall, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a really good movie. You should definitely ..............GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

2011-12-31T15:43:00.002-06:00

The fourth entry in the Mission Impossible film franchise has hit theaters recently. In this film Ethan Hunt and his team of agents are accused of blowing up the Moscow Kremlin. As in the first film the team is disavowed and they are solely responsible for clearing their names and saving the world, all at the same time. Can they do it in time or is this mission truly impossible....

Ghost Protocol is your standard Mission Impossible movie and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The plot is basically the same as the first movie except it is on a larger world stage. The acting was good on all parts and the CGI effects are what you would expect from a big budget movie like this.

There's nothing negative that I have to say about Ghost Protocol. The fact that it feels like standard spy fiction does make it blend in with all of the other hundreds of movies like it.

If you're an avid MI fan like me you should ...... GO NOW!!!!!
If you're not you should probably RENT IT.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

2011-12-31T15:28:00.003-06:00

The sequel to 2009's take on everyone's favorite late 1800s detective is here and better than the first. This adventure finds Holmes on the trail of his ever elusive adversary Professor Moriarty. This adversary is no ordinary man. In almost every way he is equal to Holmes and in other ways he is superior. It is this edge that makes Professor Moriarty the most dangerous foe Sherlock Holmes has ever had. Two men enter in; one a master detective, the other a criminal mastermind and only one will leave.

A Game of Shadows is in every way better than its predecessor, that in and of itself is no small feat. The acting on all parts was splendid and most of the original cast are here. The plot was better than the first and it moves a lot faster which means watching the original is a must.

To be honest I have no complaints about this movie at all. A Game of Shadows is everything I wanted and more. If you're still on the fence I suggest that you....

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

The Thing

2011-10-17T15:41:00.003-05:00

The Thing is the newest movie in the franchise to come out. Now, there was a lot of confusion as to whether or not this was a prequel or a remake of John Carpenter's The Thing. I can confidently say that this is a prequel. The film takes place in a Norwegian camp not far from the American base in the 1982 film. The main protagonist is Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) an American paleontologist who is asked to go to the Norwegian camp to help study a discovery they have made. This "discovery" turns out to be....well,something.....

The Thing is probably the best science fiction movie that I have seen all year. The acting was great on all parts and the writing was very good. Most of all I liked the blended story that this prequel had. I could see overt references to John Carpenter's The Thing, but I could also detect subtle allusions to one of the greatest science fiction movies, 1951's The Thing From Another World. The story of how they discovered the thing and how certain members of the group reacted towards it reminded me of the 1951 film.

The only complaint that I have with this movie is that the thing was completely CGI. At times the CG monster looked great, but at others it would seem almost cartoon-ish in the way it appeared. This lack of realistic look sort of made it scary, but not as scary as the 1982 monster.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Thing. If you have the chance you should definitely...

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

Super Catch Up Review

2011-09-27T21:05:00.007-05:00

First of all, we at the AJ Movie Review would like to apologize for the lack of content lately. Furthermore we apologize for keeping our followers in the dark about our intentions. For the foreseeable future reviews will continue normally. This post is to update the blog with short reviews of the past six movies that I have seen. Unlike normal reviews I won't give a plot synopsis. I ask you to look on websites like fandango an imdb for that sort of information. So let's begin with the most recent film....

Killer Elite

Killer Elite is the latest in the "based on true events" spy movie genre. With actors like Jason Statham, Robert De Niro, and Clive Owen this movie only slightly disappoints. The acting itself is good and what you would expect from seasoned actors. The overall direction that the film takes is not one of constant action, which to be honest is what I have grown to expect from a Jason Statham movie. It seemed to have filler which was meant to further storyline but it sometimes ends up being dry and boring. With that said the plot isn't convoluted and is easy to follow. Overall the story aspect of it all is actually quite interesting in my opinion.

While Killer Elite was not the non-stop action movie I was expecting, I give it a solid....

RENT IT.

Drive

Drive is possibly the best movie I have seen all year. The acting is very well done and the overall story that the movie tells is simple yet engaging. There is literally not a dull moment in this film at all. What I like most about the film is that it has an overall late 70s early 80s vibe to it that just pushes it over the edge.

If you take one part very good acting, one part engaging story and a shot of nostalgia you have Drive. If you have the opportunity you should definitely.....

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

Straw Dogs

Apparently, Straw Dogs is a remake of a 1971 film of the same name. I remember telling another member of the AJ Movie Review that the preview of this movie looked like a hybrid child of the movies Last House on the Left and the Strangers. Now I know why. Since the film plays out in a similar fashion there is no new ground broken here but you already new that. The acting was well and the duplicity of the main antagonist was done very well in my opinion. With that said there is one part in the film that is not for the faint of heart. I found my self easily one quarter of the way to throwing up. I suppose though that is one of the appropriate responses to that scene. I was very entertained by the film though and rarely ever let my mind wander.

If you can stomach it better than I did, I say...

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

Apollo 18

Apollo 18 is yet another entry in the "found/discovered footage" genre. What I liked the most about this movie was the different setting/subject matter. How many films like this take place on the moon. Yes, you already know how the film ends, but at least with me, it accomplished what it set out to do. There was on point that my heart jumped 3 feet out of my chest. The acting and the effects were good and I thought overall it was a good 8 dollars and 1 hour and 30 minutes spent.

If it is still playing I recommend that you....

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

Conan: The Barbarian

First of all Conan the Barbarian is not a bad movie, but it isn't a good movie either it's just meh. The movie suffers from what I would like to call the Wolverine syndrome. I had a titular character that most people know, love and semi-respect. The main mistake here is that they did not do more with it. The acting was sub par and this was disappointing considering that I have seen the actors in other films and I believe they could have done better. The story was kind of obscure and mostly action driven. I do however like the fact that they included the gritty realism of the time period.

If it is still playing I recommend that you....

.....wait and FX/TBS IT

Fright Night

Fright Night was really good. It was visually stunning and well acted. To that one person (you know who you are) even though it's a remake you should give it a chance. It's late and I need to wrap this all up. It was good....trust me....

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

Captain America

2011-07-24T12:15:00.004-05:00

Tearing through Nazis and Red Skull cultists and into the theatres this weekend is Captain America: The First Avenger. This is the final introductory movie of The Avengers on film series. It stars Chris Evans as Steve Rogers (Cap), Hayley Atwell as Peggy, Sebastian Stan as Bucky, and Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt (Red Skull). It also includes performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones, and Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark.

This may be my favorite of all the Avenger movies so far and my second favorite comic book movie this year (behind X Men: First Class). It tells the origin story of Captain America set nearly 75 years ago in the dark days of WWII. Steve Rogers, an undersized wannabe soldier, is a character that can be easily identified with. He wants to be something that no one will give him the chance to be. Until a certain doctor takes notice and brings him in to be a prospect in a program to create a super soldier to "personally escort Adolph Hitler to the gates of Hell."

On the flip side we soon learn of Red Skull/Johann Schmidt. A Nazi officer crazed with world domination over and above what he believes can be accomplished by Hitler. He has also been a part of a super soldier project just like Cap which resulted in his head being melted down to looking a red skull. He is played well by Weaving and is certainly a villain you don't like.

Captain America has the perfect balance of story telling and action. It gives a realistic explanation behind the suit and the whole thing feels very real.

Furthermore, Captain America ties in with the Avenger universe better and more creatively than any of the other films. It's a big plus if you see Thor before seeing this one. I kinda wish they would've gotten the Thor dvd out beforehand. It ties in so well.

That's about all I'm gonna say...GO NOW and see Cap ya commies!!!!!!

...Oh, and be extra sure to watch til the end of the credits. You see more stuff than you normally do after an Avenger film.

Transformers: Dark of The Moon

2011-06-29T16:55:00.003-05:00

Transformers: Dark of The Moon is the third and final chapter in the Transformers trilogy. The movie begins as all Transformers movies begin, with Optimus Prime narrating. He speaks about the war on Cybertron and the last hope for the Autobots to win the great war. We see that what was supposed to end the war for Cybertron was lost and crash landed into Earth's moon. As the movie progresses we learn that once again Earth is in imminent danger. Sides are chosen and lines are drawn and crossed. As the Decepticons launch their final and most dangerous attack one question is mind. Will Earth survive......?

Dark of the Moon is the best movie in the series. The storyline is good and the subject matter is a lot more dark and serious. It doesn't bring back bad memories of Revenge of the Fallen. The CGI is as good as it has always been, and it looks even better in 3D, although some people say it isn't worth the 3D(Yes I'm talking to you, you know who you are!). All of the major players from the past two films are here and the acting on all parts was good. What I was amazed at was the amount of violence shown. For all of the worried parents out there, this film doesn't contain blood or gore. The violence that I am talking about is contained in the fight scenes with the transformers themselves. With that said the battle sequences were awesome. It really felt like an all out war between the Decepticons and the Autobots.

I don't really have anything negative to say about the film as I was very pleased with it.

Overall, Dark of The Moon is a satisfying conclusion to the current Transformers trilogy. It totally makes up for Revenge of the Fallen and "the twins". If you are a fan of the series you have to......

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

Green Lantern

2011-06-17T15:56:00.005-05:00

Green Lantern tells the origin story of one of the most famous members of the Lantern Corps, Hal Jordan(Ryan Reynolds). At the edges of the universe there is a dark entity Parallax who feeds on the fear of other beings and while his motives are unknown at first his presence threatens the entire universe. The strongest member of the Lantern Corps, Abin Sur was the only Green Lantern able to imprison him. Unfortunately, Parallax breaks free and attacks Abin Sur who narrowly escapes, but is mortally wounded. His ship lands on earth and in one of his final acts he tells his ring to search for his replacement. The ring chooses Hal Jordan, a less than humble test pilot who has great potential, but will he accept this great responsibility or shirk it off as he does with most everything else....

Green Lantern is one of the best superhero origin movies to date in my opinion. The story is simple and not convoluted like some of the more recent superhero films. The acting on all parts are good. The dialogue is a tad bit thin and doesn't get complex or deep, but that is forgivable. Overall, the movie itself is reserved in the way that it plays out. The tone of it reminds me of the first Sam Raimi Spiderman film. The CGI looked mostly realistic and was about as good as it could be for a movie about a member of the Green Lantern Corps. The 3D was awesome and looked good, but at this point I honestly can't see any real discernible difference between the 3D used in this film and the last 3 films I have seen within the last month that used 3D.

I don't really have anything negative to say about the film. This was a solid origin film. I will say that since this film was more reserved, if and when they make a sequel there will have to be more force added to it.

To be honest I really liked Green Lantern and if you have the chance to see it you should definitely.......

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

SUPER 8

2011-06-11T11:59:00.003-05:00

The highly anticipated film Super 8 has finally made it's way to us from film makers J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. It stars Joel Courtney, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Riley Griffiths, and Amanda Michalka. The story focuses on 5 middle school Ohio kids filming a movie for inclusion in an amateur film making contest in Cleveland. While making their movie they pay witness to a huge train crash. After this crash weird stuff begins to take place in their small town. And it's up to the kids to try and solve it.

I think it's best not to get too heavily involved into the plot of the movie. Clearly the film makers want the audience to get into it for the first time while watching the movie. That's when you should really find out what it's about.

Let me say that this may be my favorite movie so far this year. It's superb. The acting is through the roof by all the young actors, even though this is pretty much the first thing any of them have really done.

Apart of the greatness is that Super 8 is clearly a homage throwback to classic Spielberg and other great films of the 1980s. Specifically Goonies, Stand By Me, E.T. (the greatest movie ever), and The Monster Squad among others. Adding to this is the fact that the movie seems to be taking place right about 1979/1980 (except for one thing I thought I saw that would place the time period in the late 1980s).

Finally, Super 8 has probably the best ending of the year, atleast so far. It really made me think of E.T. (the greatest movie ever).

I will say no more but to........GO NOW! ... AND GO BUY E.T. IF YOU HAVEN'T YET (IT'S THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER).

X-Men: First Class

2011-06-03T17:08:00.006-05:00

Hello all!!! I'm back fresh from my viewing of X-Men First Class (from here on referred to as X-Men: FC).

The latest installment in the comic book based movie series finds us at the beginning of the X-Men narrative. We are first introduced to Erik/Magneto (Michael Fassbender) while he is being placed in a Nazi concentration camp during WWII. While being separated from his mother, young Erik exhibits his signature power over metal for the first time, a power that captures the attention of a certain doctor (keep this in mind). Around the same time half a world away in upstate New York we are introduced to a young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Raven/Mystique. Did I forget to mention that Erik's mother was killed right in front of him, by the same doctor who had witnessed his powers earlier. With that said we now have a revenge story running side by side Professor X's story of plowing through academia and his studies of mutation in species. Eventually the two stories converge on the same point and the two mutants make an alliance in the face of a common enemy. Along the way they manage to pick up a few mutants to join their fight(and they meet one very familiar mutant who kindly declines their offer). Through these events the X-Men are born.

X-Men: FC is possibly the best movie in the series. The acting on all parts is done very well and the performances of McAvoy and Fassbender are the best. They make the friendship that Professor X and Magneto shared feel very real. This also makes the bitter break at the end feel all the more tragic. The story was one of the better that I have seen from a comic based movie. More impressive is the fact that the film is imbedded in real historic events. The CG was well done, but at this point that is to be expected from a Marvel film. What I want to say most was that this film was more intense for me than the four preceding X-Men films. In recent reviews and on various websites I have read X-Men: FC being compared to The Dark Knight. In relation to intensity of the film I would have to agree. Overall I still think The Dark Knight is a better film but X-Men: FC gives it a run for its money. I'm interested to see if and how Marvel will expand this part of the X-Men universe by showing how it all started.

As far as the bad I really can only say that First Class didn't have the level of action that I expect from an X-Men film. Because of the great story and the overall intensity of the movie I can overlook that. I do however have a real problem with the way the movie was marketed. The trailer didn't get me interested to go see the movie and I'm afraid that may be the case with many people.

As far as I'm concerned this is an automatic.....GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but I'm sure Allan will have his own opinion....

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2011-05-20T22:59:00.004-05:00

The highly anticipated fourth installment of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, titled On Stranger Tides, has sailed into theatres this weekend. It of course stars Johnny Depp as *CAPTAIN*Jack Sparrow and also includes return appearances of Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Gibbs (Kevin McNally). Joining the new adventure is Penelope Cruz as Angelica and Ian McShane as the legendary pirate Blackbeard.

The basic plot revolves around the British competing in a race against the Spanish to locate the Fountain Of Youth. To accomplish this the King Of England has brought on Barbossa to lead the expedition. However, the race becomes more intriguing when Jack gets involved after a run in with a girl from his past, Angelica, which leads on board the ship of Blackbeard-who is also searching out the Fountain. And the plot thickens from there...

Allan's Take:

On Stranger Tides could be my favorite of series since the original. It's hard to say because I like all of them. It includes all the clever action sequences and humor everyone has come to expect. But what I really like is all the new ideas and creative use of new mythical things. The mermaids were awesome and quite scary at times. All the mythology surrounding the Fountain Of Youth was well thought of and presented nicely. Blackbeard was well conceived and wonderfully portrayed by McShane.

In addition to McShane all the acting was great. It doesn't get much better than having the Depp and Geoffrey Rush in the same movies. Penelope also did well.

I really enjoyed On Stranger Tides and thought it was more than worth the ticket price...GO NOW!

Jared's Take:

On Stranger Tides is possibly the best movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. It rivals the first one for the best storyline of all four movies. I believe the reason for this is the fact that it is not bogged down by a love story that is dragged across three movies. Don't get me wrong though, the first three pirates movies are among my favorite movies of all time. As Allan stated the acting was top notch and what you would expect. The 3D was done very well and if you do go to see it you should go to the 3D showing.

Overall, On Stranger Tides has that sense of adventure that the first movie captured very well. Not only that, but the characters have an overall goal that they are trying to reach.

If you can't tell this is more than a ringing endorsement this is me screaming........

GO NOW!!!!!!!!

Priest

2011-05-15T12:23:00.004-05:00

The graphic novel adaptation Priest has hit theatres this weekend. It stars Paul Bettany in the lead role as Priest. Alongside him is his partner Cam Gigandet as Hicks. They are later joined by Maggie Q as Priestess. Karl Urban plays the bad guy known as Black Hat who has arranged the kidnapping of Priest's niece Lucy, played by Lily Collins. It's this kidnapping of Lucy that forms the basis of the plot.

In this world humans and monstrous vampires have always existed together. These vamps are real monsters. They look more alien than anything in a Twilight movie. There is also a third category: the "familiars," those humans that have been infected by the vamps. They don't turn into whole vamps like what we're used to seeing in the movies. They become hybrids and look and act more like traditional movie vampires. In recent times it was discovered that priests, who could fight as warriors, were the only humans really capable of subduing the vampires. But after the war was over the church and society (the two aren't really separated) placed the priests back into regular life and they came to be treated as outcasts. But our main character Priest comes out of retirement, against the church's orders, upon news that Lucy has been taken by the vamps.

Allan's Take:

I really liked the atmosphere in Priest. It's real dark and gloomy looking all the time, although this has become more common in movies of late. I like Priest and Lucy. The performances of both Bettany and Lily were good, though we don't get to see too much of Lily. I felt indifferent to Priestess and Hicks and didn't really care for Black Hat. At first I thought it was bad acting but I came to the conclusion near the end of the movie that it was script writing for Black Hat. Everything he says sounds dumb and cheesy. So I don't think that Urban had a whole lot to work with.

There's alot of slo-mo action sequences throughout the movie that were okay. They were nothing like what we've come to see from Zack Snyder or anything. Also I don't think it was worth paying extra to see it in 3D. There wasn't a whole lot coming out at the audience.

Overall this was an okay movie. It has some really good parts but the main bad thing from me was Black Hat. He was much cooler when he wasn't saying anything

..............RENT IT.

Jared's Take:

To be honest I was disappointed in Priest. The acting was kind of dry and I did not care about the characters at all. The main place that Priest fails in is character development. This is much the same predicament that last year's Jonah Hex found itself in. I did not feel as if I knew enough about the characters to be emotionally invested in them. They could've all been eaten by vampires and I would not have cared one bit. As Allan stated the 3D was really unnecessary and underutilized. I also have a real problem with the back story of Black Hat and how he became such. It feels as if the people making the film threw that in as an afterthought. The acting of everyone involved was sub-par and what makes it painful for me to say that is that I have seen most of the cast act way better in other projects than they did in this film.

The last nitpick I have about Priest is the fact that it feels like half a movie. I cannot count how many times a movie that has a good premise falls short because the full effort was not put into it to make a good movie. As with most movies like this they always have an ending that lingers with the "promise" that more movies in the series are to follow. Priest is no exception to this and more than likely no sequel will be made. If by some miracle one is I sincerely hope it will be better than this one.

FX/TBS It

Thor

2011-05-06T21:45:00.005-05:00

Marvel Comics' much anticipated Avenger solo film Thor has stormed into theatres this weekend like a bolt of lightening. It stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Son Of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), alongside Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, scientist and love interest. Furthermore Tom Hiddleston brilliantly plays Thor's brother and complicated foe Loki. Plus good performances by Kat Dennings, Jaimie Alexander and Stellan Skarsgård.

Thor is a well made movie in my opinion. I admit that I went into it not really expecting too much. I never really have seen the purpose and necessity of the second Iron Man movie and with that being the most recent of the Avenger movies I saw I was kind of not feeling good about this one. I was wrong (and happily so).

At its core Thor is about father-son-brother relationships. It is also about accepting responsibility and making the right and mature choices. These are lessons and principles that Thor (and Loki) must try to learn and grow through. Thor, by our earth realm standards, is a god. He has immense power but his decisions as he approaches his time of coronation to succeed his father Odin as king cost him that power...and he is banished to earth. His famous Hammer is also cast down to earth but is lodged into a stone and separated from Thor. It's at this time that Thor must forge new relationships with the people he meets on earth, mainly Jane. Will he find his Hammer, regain his power and rise to glory?

That's just half the story. While Thor is on earth we see another plot develop between Loki and Odin. Thor does a superb job of essentially telling two stories without rushing through anything.

From an action and visual standpoint Thor does not fail in the slightest. It is awesome and has cool effects. The entire film is well balanced in how it uses action and character development. All the performances of both major and minor characters are strong.

This is easily my favorite of the Avenger movies so far...............GO NOW!!!

Review: Fast Five

2011-05-01T12:16:00.008-05:00

Fast Five is the newest entry in the Fast and the Furious franchise. Fast Five picks up literally where 2009's Fast and Furious left off. After freeing Dominic Toretto(Vin Diesel) from his one way ticket to federal prison, his sister Mia(Jordana Brewster), and longtime rival/friend Brian O'Conner arrive in Rio de Janeiro to wait for Dom. While there they pick up a job stealing some cars, but they are not alone in this as the one who organized the job is none other than Vince (You may remember him from the first movie). Everything seems to go well and on the morning of the job Dominic shows up to lend a hand. As the heist takes place things go horribly awry and this places our protagonists on the short list of Rio's well known businessman/crime boss Hernan Reyes. Unfortunately for Reyes, the people he's dealing with aren't new to this game and aren't easily threatened and to make things worse for him, they bring along a lot of familiar faces for the ride. To top it all off you have a strong willed federal agent Hobbs(Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) hot on their heels.

Fast Five is quite possibly the best film in the Fast and Furious franchise. It has everything you could want from this type of movie and more. I will be honest and safely say that this movie is not in danger of being nominated for any sort of Oscar or Golden Globe Award. With all of that said though this film works. The acting is par for the course, but all the familiar faces from the past movies are here. The stunt work and CG is some of best I've seen. The car chase sequences are bigger and better than the past four movies combined.

The actually story and path that the movie takes interests me even more. This film has plenty of familiar things, car chases, humor, scantily clad women, and too much more to list. The one place where Fast Five stands head and shoulders above the other films in the franchise is the fact that it attempts to show the more human side of the characters. I noticed more screen time was spent focusing on the protagonists and their interactions with one another than on the action sequences and I have to admit i liked that. I believe that if the franchise continues in that direction it will garner more attention and gain more fans while strengthening the existing fan base.

Overall, Fast Five is one of the best movies I have seen in the past six months and is definitely the best in the franchise. If you're a fan of the series you have to go see this one and if you're not perhaps you should give it a chance and ......

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

P.S. Stay after the credits to see a special scene that will blow your mind!!!!

Scre4m

2011-04-15T16:33:00.009-05:00

Eleven years after Scre3m film makers Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson have returned with the unexpected fourth installment of the Scream franchise. Returning to play their now iconic characters are Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox-Arquette, and David Arquette. Joining the cast are Kristin Bell (Chloe), Emma Roberts (Syd's cousin Jill) Rory Culkin (Charlie), and Erik Knudson (Robbie).

The basic synopsis of Scre4m is at first very simple. Sydney Prescott, now a decade removed from the horror that she survived three times, has returned to Woodsboro on the final stop on her book tour. While there she has the opportunity to reconnect with the now Sheriff Dewey and his wife Gale. And then the phone calls, texts, and killing begins. It grows from there. The main characters are pulled in directions they haven't been before and are wonderfully intertwined with the new cast.

Let me say right now, despite what some have thought, this is not the same thing over again. It really is a new decade with new rules. It's not really following the formula established by prior Scream films. It does parody this past decade's onslaught of horror remakes. It does have characters based on the original Scream but it is different. And you absolutely have to know the first three movies or you be lost right at the beginning. It was awesome and not what I was expecting.

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what to say that won't give anything away. We never get into spoilers at the AJ MR. Let me just say that Sre4m should be very well accepted by the Scream Community. It adds to the Scream mythology without messing up anything that has gone before. And it was really good.........................GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Insidious

2011-04-03T13:53:00.004-05:00

Insidious made its way to theaters this weekend. It's a very simple story about a young boy who, through astro-projection, gets stuck in another dimension. This other world is called "The Further" and is occupied by creeeepy people (aka 'woolly boogers'). It turns out the only way the boy can be saved is by his father joining him in the other world and bringing him back. This movie features performances by Patrick Wilson (Watchmen's Nite Owl), Rose Byrne, Andrew Astor, and Lin Shaye (English teacher in A Nightmare On Elm Street, 1984).

The main thing I liked about Insidious is the genuine scares it puts out there. I feel sorry for the girl sitting in front of me during the showing. She's probably gonna have nightmares for a while. Or maybe she just likes to scream out whenever she gets the chance. I was impressed to see the use of real people in "The Further" instead of CGI stuff like was used in I Am Legend. The creepy stuff seemed well timed and not always predictable. From the poster at the top you read that some of the people who made the two Paranormal Activity movies made this one. That's very easy to see. A lot of the scary stuff you see early on is very similar.

My main problem with Insidious however comes from the basic premise of the movie. You may notice that the opening paragraph of this review sounds very familiar. That's because it's identical to Poltergeist (1982). One reviewer out there in internet land acknowledges this by saying that Insidious is a "love letter" to Poltergeist. I don't know about that. It just seems to be they re-imagined Steven Spielberg's and Tobe Hooper's classic movie and stuck a new name on it. That along really hurts Insidious's rating...

it'll be on one the Encore/Starz channels this summer............FX/TBS It...

Review: The Lincoln Lawyer

2011-03-26T14:25:00.003-05:00

The Lincoln Lawyer is a griping thriller based on the Michael Connelly novel of the same name. It stars Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller a criminal defense attorney who represents wealthy clients that are less than savory. Oddly enough he has no office to speak of as he does all of his dealings out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car. The next case he takes, the one that sets up the movie's events, is that of a wealthy young man named Louis Roulet(Ryan Phillippe). Roulet has been accused of assaulting a woman in her home, that woman turns out to be a "lady of the night". On the surface it appears that this is a straightforward case with Roulet being set up by the prostitute, but as Haller delves deeper into the case he soon finds himself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

The Lincoln Lawyer is a top notch crime drama/thriller. Matthew McConaughey's Mickey Haller is one of the most likable characters I have seen in recent movies. The way that he plays the character is that of a man who knows the injustices of the judicial system. His most prevalent flaw is the fact that he exploits this for the gain of his client's which he mostly thinks/knows are guilty. Even with this glaring negative it's hard not to like him. Throughout the movie Mickey goes through a transformation which betters him as a human being, but that change isn't going to change overnight.

The other character that stood out for me the most was Louis Roulet. Ryan Phillippe was able to start out as a scared young socialite and effortlessly transitions into a more sinister, antagonistic character. The rest of the star studded cast which includes; Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy and John Leguizamo performed well and helped fully immerse me in the story.

The story was well written and the pacing of the film was perfect. Whenever I found my mind on the verge of wanting to wandering off, the film would throw what I thought I knew right out of the window and hook me back in. I have no real complaint about the movie, the actors or the way it all played out.

Overall, The Lincoln Lawyer is one of the best crime drama/thrillers that I have seen in the past few years. If you have the money and the chance to see it you should definitely....

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

Sucker Punch

2011-03-25T17:15:00.004-05:00

This weekend from the "master of slow motion action" Zack Snyder, comes Sucker Punch. A unique tale of a young woman who, due to the actions of her father (or was it her step-father, not sure on that one) is thrown away to an insane asylum. While there she is immediately given the name Baby Doll and added to a group of other pretty girls who are forced to dance for men. All this is directed by an evil orderly. Not a bad way to make some extra money. At first Baby Doll is reluctant but then she comes around. And that's where things take off. Every time Baby Doll starts dancing we are taken on an adventure ride in her mind. The first time we're there with her we learn from the Wise Man that she must obtain certain items in order to break out of the asylum. It's a wild story line.

Emily Browning stars as Baby Doll. The other girls are played by Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jamie Chung. We also get performances by Oscar Isaac (bad guy), Scott Glenn (Wise Man) and Carla Gugino.

The first thing I like about Sucker Punch is the unique story. In 1975 movie watchers received an eye opener with the Oscar Award winning One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. That film brought to light the horrors of many mental institutions. News reports followed over the next decade that brought this problem further to the public eye. People were stuck in there, some needing help some not, that were abused and must have been longing from a way to escape. That's really what I would say Sucker Punch is about: finding a way to escape. It's a concept that isn't limited to mental hospitals either. I think everyone at some point or another in their lives can identify with escaping something or everything. The way all that is told in Sucker Punch is original and brilliant.

Visually the movie is stunning. It may not seem so much so at first because we've pretty much have come to expect that from Snyder. The slow motion action is there and it is well done. You never know what to expect on the different missions. There's all sorts of things Baby Doll and the girls have to contend with. I wonder if there is any symbolic meaning in all the monsters and characters?

I always like to comment on music in movies. The music here is outstanding and very much important in this movie. The soundtrack is made up of new versions of a wide variety of classic songs. Two of which are sung by Baby Doll herself (Emily).

Well I have no real complaints about this movie. I know alot of people out there haven't spoken too kind about it (some people don't like anything)...But it works for me and I think it's probably the best movie out there right now

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

You should be able to check out the soundtrack here: http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/5

The Runaways - A Special Recommendation

2011-02-24T02:25:00.003-06:00

The Runaways is currently airing on the Encore and Starz channels as well as T101 on Direct TV. I highly recommend watching it. It was not reviewed here due to its limited theatrical release. It stars Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie and Kristin Stewart as Joan Jett.

Unknown

2011-02-20T21:45:00.004-06:00

The Neeson (aka Liam Neeson) has returned to play Dr. Martin Harris in his new movie Unknown. Along with The Neeson it stars Diane Kruger as the cab-driver Gina as well as January Jones and Aiden Quinn. The main genres featured in the movie are Mystery, Suspense, and Action. When the American Dr. and Mrs. Harris arrive at a Berlin hotel for an important scientific convention, things get weird. Dr. Harris has to return to the airport to find a lost briefcase. But, in so doing, he and his cab driver Gina have a horrific accident in which Harris ends up in a coma. A few days later he comes to and soon finds that it appears that his identity has been stolen. Not even Mrs. Harris recognizes him.

Overall this was a pretty good movie and a good story. There were alot of twists and turns throughout the plot. I found myself quietly saying "what a twist!" somewhere between 5 and 10 times (in honor of M. Night and Robot Chicken). The audience got to see a significant amount of non-fighting acting, though there was just enough action. I was especially surprised that Diane Kruger was in the movie. I had no idea she was gonna be in it. She's becoming one of my favorites (see Inglourious Basterds).

However, all though I really liked the main plot of the story, the more I think about it, it does seem to borrow quite heavily from 1990's Total Recall. Also too, they didn't really seem to drive it all the way home. It's good, just not on the same level as the now classic Taken.

...I'm going with a RENT IT.

The Rite

2011-01-30T19:22:00.004-06:00

The Rite has hit theatres this weekend. It stars Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins as Father Trevant, Colin O'Donoghue as the young priest in-training Michael Kovak. The film also includes performances by Alice Braga and Marta Gastini. The Rite tells a story, based on true events, that centers around Michael having a crisis of faith and his lunge into a case involving demonic possession and an exorcism.

My main problem with this movie is its relevance. It's a story, although based on true events, has already been told. Doubting priest (in training) that finds himself in a showdown with evil. It's been done before. The first time was in The Exorcist (1973) and it has never really been done all that well since.

The acting was okay. I've seen Hopkins do better. Most of his character's personality seemed to be written much like his character of Abraham Van Helsing in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Colin O'Donoghue did well but nothing too memorable.

I will say the film had some good atmosphere to it. Lots of dark scenery and some spooky looking stuff. Also you really never get to bored and the movie doesn't drag on and on.

The Rite isn't all that bad but it's tough, as others have found out, to follow what William P. Blatty and William Friedkin did nearly 40 years ago. It still hasn't been touched.

FX/TBS It.

True Grit

2010-12-24T19:30:00.002-06:00

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

2010-12-24T14:16:00.003-06:00

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

2010-12-24T11:01:00.002-06:00

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

2010-12-14T21:05:00.003-06:00

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

2010-11-08T21:32:00.003-06:00

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

2010-11-02T11:19:00.003-05:00

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

2010-10-12T22:48:00.006-05:00

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

2010-10-05T22:51:00.004-05:00

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

2010-09-18T14:19:00.004-05:00

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

2010-09-18T13:46:00.004-05:00

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

2010-09-18T13:36:00.001-05:00

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

2010-08-15T18:02:00.003-05:00

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

2010-07-23T21:54:00.009-05:00

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

2010-07-16T22:54:00.008-05:00

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

2010-07-12T12:25:00.004-05:00

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

2010-07-01T16:52:00.004-05:00

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

2010-06-20T16:29:00.005-05:00

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

2010-06-13T13:21:00.004-05:00

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

2010-06-13T12:30:00.003-05:00

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!!!

2010-06-04T15:47:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-31T09:38:00.006-05:00

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

2010-05-22T20:31:00.003-05:00

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

2010-05-22T18:31:00.005-05:00

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

2010-05-22T15:38:00.006-05:00

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

2010-05-16T21:21:00.004-05:00

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

2010-05-08T08:04:00.007-05:00

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

2010-04-30T19:50:00.007-05:00

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

2010-04-27T14:06:00.003-05:00

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

2010-04-16T19:26:00.008-05:00

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

2010-04-16T08:58:00.003-05:00

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

2010-04-05T15:33:00.007-05:00

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?

2010-04-04T20:26:00.004-05:00

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

2010-03-19T17:25:00.008-05:00

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)

2010-03-06T20:44:00.003-06:00

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

2010-03-02T21:23:00.003-06:00

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

2010-02-19T20:16:00.009-06:00

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

2010-02-15T21:31:00.002-06:00

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

2010-02-15T17:22:00.003-06:00

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

2010-02-02T17:41:00.002-06:00

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

2010-01-31T14:25:00.004-06:00

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!

We're Big in Indonesia

2010-01-22T12:34:00.002-06:00

The AJ Movie Review has finally hit the big time! One of our videos (The Spring 2010 Movie Special) has been linked on an Indonesian-based site called ji-wang.org. Click on the link to view the video... or you could just click the sidebar if you want it to be less difficult (and far less cool).

The Spring 2010 Movie Preview Special

2010-01-20T16:42:00.002-06:00

I've been on an editing spree this week, and to prove it, here's our video for the site's Spring 2010 Movie Special. The video is coming a little late though, so the first few movies (Daybreakers, Youth in Revolt, and The Book of Eli) are kinda out of date, but hey, you ain't payin' for this so back off alright? Anyway, click on the sidebar to watch the video or check out our YouTube page to watch this and many more wonderful videos.

End of 2009 Movie Awards Special

2010-01-17T23:04:00.003-06:00

It's finally here! Check out the sidebar or our youtube account to watch the epic two-part end of the year award special/anniversary video. It may be a little late, but the Oscars aren't even for a couple of months now, so lay off.

2010-01-16T23:04:00.002-06:00

The Book of Eli was one of the most suprising movies of the year (so far) as Denzel Washington brings a raw performance that will go down as one his best. It is tough to describe the plot of the film without giving away any spoilers, but just by the trailers, one can tell this was going to be a post-apocalyptic piece, much like Mad Max or the Road Warrior. We only get peices of information as to what happened to cause the world to be in shambles, but it seems as if some type of Nuclear War, or a "Flash" occured leaving the landscape scarred and barren. The time seems to be 30 years or so in the future. Again, it is tough to go through the plot without giving away anything, but I was extremely surprised by the way the movie progressed. It started off extremely slow, but built up to an amazing climax, with an incredible twist that left everyone in my theater (including me) with their mouths to the floor gasping.

The movie is rated R, for the obvious violence...err, i mean EXTREME violence. There is some comedic parts, though short lived, but was woven into the film very nicely. At one part, Eli (Washington) and Mila Kunis character comes across a couple in the desert in an old house which provides for some very brief funny parts. Gary Oldman, the dude that plays Gordon in the new Batman movies, is a fantastic bad guy.

The film, although violent and gorry, does carry a profound message of faith and obedience. Eli has been on a mission for 30+ years and has been faithful to all this time and when his faith is put to the test, his obedience seems to be rewarded by being protected. This movie's plot is heavily rooted in scripture and what it trully means to be able to have faith and hope.

I will be buying this movie on DVD when it comes out. It is that good. The action is incredible, the acting is decent, and the plot and story are all incredible. To this movie, one of the best so far of 2010, I give and SEE IT NOW!!!!

Dual Review: Youth In Revolt

2010-01-10T15:00:00.003-06:00

Youth In Revolt follows Nick Twisp (Michael Cera), a somewhat socially awkward teen who finds Sheeni the love of his life. Fate conspires against the two from staying together. Nick vows that he will do anything that he can do to be with her. In order to do this he creates an alter-ego Francois, who is everything he is not. After that point the fun really begins.

Allan's Take:

This is an age old story that's been told ever since there's been an art form to express it. And even though we've seen it over and over again, it never seems to get old. It is always relevant. I love this movie. It is funny, true and honest. And in it's own quirky way it can be called a Romantic Comedy. The acting is well carried out by everyone in the film. Michael Cera is brilliant. I especially like how they brought in the whole idea of an alter ego. It adds a new depth of originality to comedy.

RATING: At least for the younger generation out there, Youth In Revolt may very well become a generational classic. It's a new twist on an age old story...GO NOW!

Jared's Take:

The story that Youth In Revolt tells is a classic. Sure, its been done before, but never quite like this. The acting was good and the movie had plenty of laughs. I suppose the overall goal of the movie was accomplished. I really have nothing else to say about this movie except I didn't feel as if it reached its full potential.

If you must, GO NOW, but if you can wait...RENT IT!

Dual Review: Daybreakers

2010-01-10T14:49:00.005-06:00

Daybreakers takes place in a world where almost everyone is a vampire. Everything seems to be going well, except for the fact that those who are not vampires, but normal humans, are hunted and harvested for blood. To make things worse the "supply" of blood is running out and a blood substitute needs to be found quickly before things get out of hand.

Jared's Take:

The story for Daybreakers was put together very well. The premise is interesting and I never found myself bored of my mind wandering. The acting was par for the course and never over the top.

I was really only disappointed in the CGI that was used some of the time. Most of the time the CG was really polished and good. There were sometimes that the CG was downright shoddy. The ending was semi anti-climactic, but not anything I can really complain about.

Overall Daybreakers is not the best movie, but I put it up as a strong...RENT IT!

Allan's Take:

LIKES: I like the semi-original story. Although it's based on vampires, this is the first time I've seen a world completely controlled by them just like they're the "normal" people. However, it is easy to see that the same basic idea is also the basis for the 1950s classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers (which has been remade multiple times). Also most of the special effects and CGI were well done. The Spierig brothers have no problem showing blood in a realistic way.

DISLIKES: Although most of the effects were good, there were at least a couple moments were it was bad. So bad it made me cringe. So I can't say this is a great special effects movie. Also too, Daybreakers lacks that sense of 'yeah, I wanna see this movie again'. It was never boring, but once you've seen it...you've seen it.

RATING: This is a good movie, but like I said before there's no real reason to call this a classic...RENT IT.

Review - Sherlock Holmes

2009-12-25T20:25:00.007-06:00

Robert Downing, Jr and Jude Law co-star as Sherlock and Watson in the latest retelling of the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous literary character Sherlock Holmes. The movie, simply titled Sherlock Holmes, features a detective story covering everything from black magic to secret societies that threaten to take over the world. It also features performances by Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler) and Mark Strong (Lord Blackwood...the villain).

The film contains a perfect balance of comedic elements and serious, genuine drama. The story is not very obvious and I couldn't really predict what was going to happen next. The atmosphere is well captured and typical of Victorian London like you've seen in earlier Sherlock and Jack the Ripper movies. The actors do a very good job in bringing the characters to life. I was in particularly impressed with Robert (as I usually am). Many people have been concerned that Sherlock Holmes was going to basically have the same formula as Pirates of the Carribean trilogy. It most assuredly does not. Although both are made by Disney they have separate identities.

The main problem I have with the movie probably has more to do with me than the film itself. I had a bit of difficulty following the story in certain parts because I couldn't understand what was being said all the time. Alot of times people would laugh at something funny I completely missed it, only hearing fast mumbling. I guess it's just me.

Overall this is a pretty good movie. I never got bored and when I got lost I found my way again without missing too much. I don't feel it's a classic just yet but it could become apart of classic trilogy (there'll be others).....for now...RENT IT.

2009-12-18T22:54:00.002-06:00

Avatar is James Cameron’s latest film and comes highly anticpated by his fans and movie fans in general. It tells the futuristic story of handicapped US Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his involvement in an operation to cultivate a valuable rock mineral from the planet Pandora. However, to do this he undergoes a new procedure to live through a body identical to the indigenous race of people. They are tall, blue, have tails and sometimes act like wild animals. During his time as an avatar he tries to be accepted by the natives, develops a love interest and finds himself struggling to maintain and understand his identity. The film’s supporting cast includes Sigourney Weaver (Grace Augustine), Zoe Saldana (Neytiri), Stephen Lang (Col. Quaritch), and Giovanni Ribisi (Parker Selfridge).

ALLAN'S TAKE

THE LIKES: The best thing about this movie was the CGI special effects. It was easy to tell that a lot of time and effort went into this movie to make it look good. A lot of attention was paid to detail. Sometimes it was quite difficult to believe that, apparently, everything on Pandora was generated by CGI. My favorite visual effects were visible during the night scenes. Seeing how the natives lit up their environment and the way it looked was very impressive to me.

THE DISLIKES: However, there are a lot of aspects I couldn’t get on board with. I felt the movie was too long and drawn out in similar fashion to 2012. It lasted about 30 minutes longer than it probably should have. Also it didn’t really care for the political overtones throuhgout the movie. The natives are obviously based on the American Indians with the theme of their civilization being overun by an outside people. Also the US Marines in the film were not represented in a positive way for the most part. Usually for me, political overtones of any kind from any viewpoint are a turn off. One reason I watch movies is to get away from all that kind of stuff.

The overall story development seemed too obvious and too predictable as it follows the usual basic formula with the obligatory love story. Though I will say I think this movie has a better story than 2012. Also the dialogue was not always that good and the acting by the supporting cast didn’t seem consistent.

RATING: This is not a horrible movie but it’s not a classic either. It’s certainly a very well made film from the perspective of CGI and visuals. But story wise it’s just not on the same level as Cameron’s scifi movies Terminator and Terminator 2.

…RENT IT

JAMES' TAKE

AVATAR is trully one of the most amazing films I have seen in a long time. If you have read any reviews of the movie, this will not be any different than what people are calling the film, "Visually Stunning." What enhanced the experiece, was seeing it in 3-D. This was the first 3-D movie I have seen for a major motion picture and was simply blown away. Besides the incredible CGI, the story and characters are well done and they do not get lost in the CGI, like some movies end up (Star Wars 1-3). What i was particularly intrigued by was the terrain and landscape and how it seemed to flow naturally into the story. Jim Cameron had written the movie over a decade ago, if i am not mistaken, and wanted to wait till the technology was ready to make such a film. Well, it was definitely worth the wait Mr. Cameron. Lastly, a lot of blockbuster movies are leaving the films open at the end for sequels, prequals, spin-offs, etc. Without giving away any spoilers, this movie began strong and had an brilliant ending. You almost do not want to ruin a franchise of any kind (Terminator 3) by beating a dead horse. As much as we would love to see the lives of 10 foot tall navu's talking to mother earth and pinning their tails on every thing on Pandora all day, this should be probably left for a one time movie deal.

So here is my rundown:
THE GOOD: Characters, CGI, 3-D is only way to see it!
THE BAD: Too Much Tree-Hugging/Mother Earth references. Also, I wish they would have told us how Pandora was found?
THE UGLY: Sorry, no complaints here.

Final Verdict: GO NOOOOOOOOWWWWWW...and see it in 3-D, and use the bathroom before the movies starts (run time - 2 hrs, 42 minutes). But be sure and recycle your 3-D glasses, for Eywu's sake (Pandora reference...have to see it to get it)!

Review: Armored

2009-12-06T17:38:00.005-06:00

Armored follows Ty Hackett, an rookie armored truck guard for the Eagle Shield Armored Truck Co. We learn early on in the film that Ty has been taking care of his younger brother because their parents have recently died. We are soon introduced to Mike Cochrone, a co-worker who has an almost brotherly relationship with Ty. A little later on in the movie we learn that Ty is having trouble paying all of the bills and that the bank wants to take his parents house that he and his brother live in. As things go from bad to worse a seemingly perfect answer to all of Ty's problems arise. Mike tells Ty that he and a group of armored truck guards he knows are planning to steals a large shipment of money they are to be transporting soon. Reluctantly Ty agrees to be part of the plan, as the plan is carried out things go from good to catastrophic in a matter of minutes.

Armored is a very good heist movie. It has action, a good story and good acting. I always found myself anxious to find out what would happen next. The film was very realistic an never felt over the top. There wasn't a lot of special effects and to be honest this movie did not need them. This movie excels at showing how doing something wrong for good reasons can soon backfire. I also like the fact that it shows to us the power that greed has over some people.

I really can't think of anything negative to say about this film. I loved it.

If you have a chance to see Armored I definitely say that you should....

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

Review: Ninja Assassin

2009-12-06T17:17:00.004-06:00

Let's get to it. Ninja Assassin follows Raizo an orphan who has been taken in by an ancient and mysterious clan of ninja. Through flashbacks that are woven in with the present we are witness to his rise as a top ninja. The present day story follows Raizo and Mika Coretti, the latter is a Europol agent who has stumbled upon the existence of the ninja. We soon learn that this is not taken lightly and her life is immediately placed in grave danger. From their the story begins....

Ninja Assassin is a top notch action movie. Within the first five minutes people die in such creative ways that put the Saw movies to shame. The movie follows a very thin plot. It is never heavy, but I wished that the dialogue could have been better. Ninja Assassin excels at being an action movie, there is rarely a time when someone isn't getting cut up. The action sequenced were top notch. It's about what you would expect from the Wachowski brothers.

Ninja Assassin fails in the story which I talked about earlier. The story itself just serves as a bridge between the times that Raizo is kicking peoples behinds. That's all I have to say about the negative aspects.

This is an action movie with some of the coolest deaths scenes ever. I will readily admit that this movie is not for everyone. But, if you're ready to see bloody ninja on ninja action then you should definitely.....

GO NOW

Review - The Men Who Stare at Goats

2009-11-15T23:15:00.005-06:00

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a movie directed by Grant Heslov and is based off a book by UK journalist Jon Ronson. It tells the story of a journalist named Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) who is dragged down in life by the recent event of his wife running off with someone else. To help deal his feelings of worthlessness he decides to go off and report on site in the recent war in Iraq. During his time there he comes across Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) and soon learns the almost unbelievable story of the US military involvement in remote viewing (aka "psychic spies"). Bob soon gets caught up with Lyn on his "mission" in Iraq. And long the way, mostly through backstory, we meet some rather interesting characters including Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) and Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey).

This movie has a very original story-line. I don't think there has ever been a movie quite like it. It's just the right length and the acting is very good. It's not a true comedy but does have many funny moments to it. I especially liked the main message: that someone who thinks they are down and out in life can bring themselves up and find their true destiny and place in life. The ending was suburb and very symbolic of this.

For those who may be concerned about the 'R' rating, I wouldn't be. It's just about a PG-13. It may be the drug references that give it a 'R'...I don't know. Also this is a definite must see for any and all hippie Star Wars fans that like the band Boston.........GO NOW!!

Dual Review: 2012

2009-11-15T20:17:00.006-06:00

By now everyone has heard that on December 21, 2012 something is going to happen. Unfortunately for us 2012 has already arrived....

2012 is a classic disaster movie that follows Jackson Curtis and Adrian Helmsley. Jackson is a part time writer/limo driver. Adrian is a geologist who through a series of events realizes that the earth is going through dangerous changes. Throughout the movie we follow both of them as their varied paths inevitably criss-cross and eventually join.

Jared's Take: 2012 delivered what it promised. Lots of action, destruction and mayhem. What I didn't expect from it was the human element that it displayed beautifully. There were actually moments that made me feel like crying, no tears were shed though. I was shown the full range of emotions that humans exhibit. The acting was very well done and never felt over the top.

The main complaint that I have about the film is that it was two and a half hours long. I believe that some scenes could have been cut out and it would have not created any continuity issues. Another issue I have with the film is that I never really felt as if the cast was in mortal danger. I don't know if it was the CG or whether or not the acting was not as great as I thought.

Allan's Take: In spite of all the action and the world coming apart, my favorite thing about this movie was the story that takes place between Jackson and his estranged family. (Although we already saw this in Speilberg's War of the Worlds, 2005). Furthermore it was interesting seeing people from different backgrounds and cultures coming together to save the single human race. Even when it would have been easy not to.

On the negative side I didn't think the CGI efx were nearly as good as they could've and should've been. Much of the action seemed a bit too cartoonish for me. Also this wasn't a great big monumental film like I thought it would be, based on the early promotion we saw in the theatres. I also felt the movie was a bit repetitive at times and could probably have been about a half hour shorter than it was. It kinda seemed like they were forcing it into being a 2 hour 38 minute movie.

Jared's Rating: Although the movie was entertaining, I don't think I would be in such a rush to watch it again. Unless you just have to find something to kill three hours with......RENT IT.

Allan's Rating: 2012 wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be but it was still pretty good...RENT IT.

Dual Review: The Fourth Kind

2009-11-07T18:17:00.006-06:00

The Fourth Kind is a movie that tells the story of Dr. Abigail Tyler. She is a mental health doctor that is conducting a sleep disorder study in the town of Nome, Alaska. Since this film is based on "actual events", "real evidence" is shown and heard along with the film. As the film progresses we soon learn that what is occurring may not be a simple sleep disorder. As the film's title implies people in Nome may be being visited by beings not of this world.

Allan's Take: Due to the nature of this film and my response to it, it's best for me to divert from the format we've been using for the last several reviews....I have never been disturbed by a movie before. This one did it. This came from the scenes that were not recreated but actual video/audio recordings from hypnosis sessions. It's more than listening to people talk. The skeptic argument that hypnosis can cause "false memories" doesn't get it done here. Here are some things that happened in the theatre: A) crying B) people leaving feeling ill and/or uncomfortable. People who responded in this way included the younger guys who were there to act stupid. I have never witnessed anything like this in a theatre.

Jared's Take: I believe this film was very well executed. Although the film starts off slow, you really are sucked into the film. The "evidence" is woven into the film seamlessly. The acting was very good and it added to the realism. With all of that said I must warn you, there are elements of this film that are very disturbing. This is the first film that I have sat and watched in the movie theater, in which I found my hand creeping up to my face to cover my eyes. I resisted covering my eyes though and watched the entire film. After the film was over I found that I was highly creeped out. Even now as I write this review I am on edge. This is a film of the rarest kind, it appeals to your emotions and makes you really think.

Allan's Rating: I cannot rate this movie/documentary. It's perfectly made and put together. They accomplished everything they set out to do. But I can't tell people to go see this movie. This subject matter is not for everyone for a variety of reasons. If it's for you then GO NOW but if not then you probably aren't ready for it.

Jared's Rating: This is one of the best films that I have seen all year. If you are interested in ufology in any way, shape, or form this movie is highly recommended. If you can handle the highly disturbing elements that are shown and heard I say.............GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Review - Amelia

2009-10-25T21:13:00.007-05:00

Amelia is based on the true story of Amelia Earhart (through two books about her life) played by Hilary Swank. She was a famous pilot during the 1930s who achieved record setting accomplishments. The infamous part of her career was disapearing somewhere over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to be the first person to fly around the world - an event that has fueled speculation and excitement ever since. Amelia tells this story as well as the tale of her personal life during this period which greatly features her love interest George Putnam (Richard Gere).

The Likes: The first thing that struck me about this movie was the high quality of Richard's and Hiliary's acting as well as that of the supporting cast. Also the film's writing by Ronald Bass and Anna Hamilton Phelan was suberb. The film shows both the positive and negative sides of being famous from the point of view of Amelia and it showed her as more than just a famous pilot. This wasn't an action movie but it did have plenty of exciting sequences. The background visuals were also excellent.

The Dislikes: This really isn't important to the story itself but I would have liked to have seen more things to contribute to the era that the movie depicts. There are things like period cars, fashion, as well as scenes that make NYC seem like a safe place. But you never hear news reports or anything showing that you are in the Depression era or that there are significant political changes taking place in Asia and Europe. There is a theory out there that Amelia was shot down by Japanese fighters.

Rating: This a good movie. Much better than what I was expecting. I give it a strong ...RENT IT.

Dual Review: Paranormal Activity

2009-10-25T13:07:00.004-05:00

Paranormal Activity is a new entry in the Horror film genre. It is an independent film that was made on a reported budget of 15,000. The film is shot from the perspective of the camera that the main male protagonist buys before the film begins. The film takes place over the span of almost a month and tells the story of a new couple that have moved in with each other. We soon learn that strange things have taken place in the house. While the couple are asleep at night the hear strange noises and when they wake up things downstairs are out of place. We soon learn that for the female protagonist, Katie, these strange occurrences are nothing new to her.

Jared's Take: What I like about Paranormal Activity is the fact that it is an independent film that had a low budget and it was still up there wit the big budget films in terms of content. The story was well played and the acting mostly felt natural. Even some of the special effects blew me away. While most Hollywood films rely on special effects to make the movie, this one seems to rely more on the human element. Throughout the movie there is this tension that builds up until the final scene. The final 10 minutes of the movie is where the film really shines.

Since this is a low budget film I will try not to be overly critical of the negatives that this movie brings. The movie fails in the fact that it was way too long. Most of the movie takes place in the couples' bedroom and it is viewed through the camera sitting on the tripod. While this is interesting for the first couple of times it soon becomes tiresome. The human element also runs a little thin as the dialogue soon becomes old and stagnant. I think that Paranormal Activity is a breath of fresh air to the lifeless Horror/Gore genre but it does not deserve all of the hype that it has received so far. The movie failed to scare me at all and it definitely was not the scariest movie ever.

Allan's Take: The best thing about this movie in my opinion is the few moments of genuine suspense. The timing is well done. There is a rather large amount of humor but it fits the story and is not over done. I think that it is also good that this film doesn't seem to glorify anything negative and frowns upon the use of Ouja boards. One thing I was happy to see was the high quality of acting. The fear expressed by the girl seemed genuine. Also the special effects were outstanding and looked real. The sound effects were equally good and at times reminded of the original "The Haunting" (1963).

Onto the negative side. The style of "Paranormal Activity" was once original but no longer is. We were introduced to it about 10 years ago with the "Blair Witch Project" and have seen it more recently with the excellent "Cloverfield". So the idea of seeing a movie completely documentary style no longer carries the same kind of newness with it as it once did. The worse thing about the movie is I felt it is too predictable. About 99% of the time I knew what was coming and therefore never felt scared. This well vary depending on the amount of movies you've seen.

Jared's Rating: Although I personally enjoyed Paranormal Activity, I can't let my feelings affect how I feel it would appeal to others. If you just have to see it then GO NOW, but for everyone that is on the fence...RENT IT.

Allan's Rating: "Paranormal Activity" is not a revolutionary film. It's not worth the super amount of hype it has received. However it is better than many of the genre's movies (the Amityville Horror movies, Haunting in Connecticut). Therefore I'll give it a...RENT IT.

Review - Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

2009-10-23T22:56:00.006-05:00

The Vampire's Assistant tells a very interesting story about two best friend high school kids. One is named Daren (Chris Massoglia) who's the bright kid with a good family and a promising future. The other is Steve (Josh Hutcherson) who comes from a less fortunate family that we learn a little about throughout the film. These two guys sneak off to a small circus freak show and consequently get pulled into the world of the undead and a brewing conflict between the vampires (good guys) and the vampanese (bad guys). Our guide through this world is vampire Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). Along the way we meet interesting characters played by some recognizable actors I wasn't expecting to see. A key thing to point out about the movie is that it is not a true comedy. It does contain some humor but it's equally dramactic.

The Likes: The Vampire's Assistant tells of the most original stories I've seen in a movie in a very loooonnngg time, combining quirky humor with well-placed special fx. All of the characters are wonderful and had a refreshing amount of depth to them. Throughout the movie there is some strong commentary concerning the treatment of people the same as others. Even if some people come across as different. In a way I think this is what this film is about. There is a love story that develops involving Daren but it isn't over done. The length of the film was just right. I never felt bored and never felt there was anything in the movie that was unecessary. The climax was sensational and wasn't just a big fight scene.

The Dislike: The real dislike I had of the movie was the acting of Hutcherson (Steve) wasn't always that great. But not too bad.

Rating: The Vampire's Assistant was a surprise movie for me. It's meant to be the beginning of a series. It could easily be a good trilogy and I hope it is. I'm starting to think of it as the anti-Twilight....GO NOW!!!

Review - The Stepfather

2009-10-18T17:17:00.007-05:00

The Stepfather tells the story of a psychotic man named David (Dylan Walsh) obsessed with having the perfect family. It is based on an original film (1987) of the same name. The basic idea and plot is the same as the first...beginning with David leaving his family that he just murdered and then going off and deceiving another single and/or divorced woman .

Allan's Take: This film is well-made and well acted for the most part. Unlike so many movies today, it wasn't over-ridden with humor.

However, it wasn't that scary and not very suspensful either. Besides bringing in modern technology (cell phones, internet) there is really nothing this movie does that the original does not.

Jared's Take: The Stepfather was mildly entertaining in my opinion. The plot was very thin, but very easy to follow. The parts that I really liked were the points in which people began to die, but then again that's what I expected to see. The last five minutes of the movie really had my interest.

Now for the bad. The Stepfather is entirely to long. I expected this to be like a slasher flick and for about 20 minutes of the 1 hour and 46 min movie I got what I expected. I know that the film centers around a man that wants to find the perfect family and when he doesn't he kills them, but some scenes made me wonder why they were in the movie. The dialogue was not great and the end was too short. If the filmmakers had taken out the sappy stuff between the main protagonist and his girlfriend that would have made the movie infinitely better.

Allan's Rating: If you're interested in this type of story there really isn't a reason to not just watch the original when it comes on tv...FX/TBS It

Jared's Rating: For the price that I paid, I didn't get a whole lot of what I wanted. I unlike Allan have not seen the original so I'm not sure how great it was. Although this movie has some redeeming qualities, please don't waste your money...FX/TBS It

Mini Review: Pandorum

2009-10-18T17:16:00.003-05:00

Yes I know, this movie has been out for a month or so, but hear me out on this. Pandorum is a science fiction movie of the rarest kind. The film centers around two men who are awoken out of a deep sleep on a mysterious spaceship, the Elysium. The main protagonist Bower is the first to wake and he doesn't remember why he is on the ship. He then wakes up Lt. Payton(Dennis Quaid) and the two set about to find out what happened. Along the way the two find out that mysterious creatures have boarded the ship and are hunting humans. We soon find out the horrible truth of what happened on the Elysium. As I said before Pandorum is a rare gem and deserves a chance. The story is good and as the film's tagline states, "Fear what happens next" and...

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

Dual Review - Law Abiding Citizen

2009-10-18T16:36:00.002-05:00

Law Abiding Citizen follows the unfortunate story of Clyde Shelton(Gerard Butler) after his wife and daughter are killed in a home invasion. The criminals who committed the crime were apprehended but the prosecuting attorney Nick Rice(Jamie Foxx) has cut a deal with one of them. In return for testifying against his cohort one of the criminals only receives three years in prison, while his partner gets sent to death row. The story then picks up ten years later as people who had anything to do with the trial, whether they be the criminals involved or public officials, begin dying mysteriously. We learn early on that Clyde Shelton is behind these heinous acts, the only thing that keeps this from being an open and shut case is the fact that while Clyde is in prison, people are still being murdered. It it Nick's job to find out how and why the body count keeps rising.

Jared's Take: Overall Law Abiding Citizen is one of the best movies that I have seen in the past few months. It is clearly head and shoulders above Butler's last movie Gamer. The story is well told and the pacing is just right. The plot is easy to understand and follow. You are never confused or lost. The acting is all around good and you do find yourself growing attached to each character. Hitting on that I want to comment on how I began feeling sorry for Clyde in the beginning, but by the end, I was ready for him to pay for the crimes he had committed. I was really surprised how this character transformed.

What I didn't like about Law Abiding Citizen is that the ending felt just a little bit too rushed. I have some issues about the time frame for the last couple of minutes of the movie and the teleportation like movements for a couple of characters. Other that that though I have no real complaints about the movie itself.

Allan's Take: What makes Law Abiding Citizen a really good movie is it's a clever commentary on the American justice system and the American Dream itself. Also throuhout the story I could never really figure how the targeted officials were being killed, even though you knew who was behind it all. Like Jared, I thought it was interesting to see the transformation of the Shelton. His change in character poses questions to the audience as to what makes up a 'good guy' and what makes up a 'bad guy'.

I didn't really have any problems with the movie except for Butler getting naked. I didn't need to see that.

Jared' Rating: It's a good movie that tries to point out the problems with our current justice system. Even if you aren't a law abiding citizen, I dare you to

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

Allan's Rating: This is a very important movie in my opinion. I could see it being used in a sociology class somewhere. And it's very enteraining as well...

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

2009-09-25T16:23:00.007-05:00

The new film Surrogates has now replaced White Out as the latest movie to be adapted from a graphic novel. It tells an interesting tale about a future where people can have themselves replaced by robots that they can fully control by being hooked up to a computer system. By doing this people can live under the impression (or lie) that they look much more younger, prettier, handsomer, and cooler than they really are. Only a small group of people choose to remain separate from the surrogate society. These people, often referred to as "meat bags", live under the guidance an guy called The Prophet (played by Ving Rhames).

All seems to be going great in the surrogate world...until a homicide goes down. The first one in a very long time. And this is where our main character, FBI Agent Greer comes on the scene. He is played by The Willis. Joined by his partner Agent Peters (played by Rhada Mitchell), Greer sets out to investigate the homicide. This investigation leads them into a conspiracy centered around a new high powered computerized weapon that can kill people while they're wired up to their surrogate robot.

Despite the interesting conspiracy plot, the real story of this movie centers around Greer and his wife Maggie (played by Rosamund Pike). Greer has doubts about continuing to live the surrogate lifestyle while Maggie can only feel happy with her surrogate personality. The heart-ache they both feel begins with the death of their son that occured before the movie takes place. It grows with Greer not feeling any real connection with his wife. This is the main conflict to be resolved.

An important question posed by this movie is whether the world would be a better place if we were exempt from all responsibilty. We hear the words of the surrogate commercial: "Do what you want...Be whoever you want to be". Sounds so good. But is it really? This is a similar theme to Gamer (don't see it!). However, whereas Gamer fell on its face, Surrogates takes off.

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

Trailer Park Coming Soon

2009-09-22T16:39:00.001-05:00

Reviews for Trailers are coming soon!

Review - Jennifer's Body

2009-09-21T11:21:00.004-05:00

From the makers of Juno, comes Jennifer's Body starring Amanda Seyfried as Needy and Megan Fox in the role of Jennifer. The movie is a thriller that takes place in a typical, ordinary high school setting. The story centers on Needy and her life-long friendship with Jen. As is immediately obvious Jen has grown into the pretty girl whereas Needy is a bit more of the average-geeky girl. Through the film the main story is one of how childhood friendships can become strained once adolesence has come around. However, in this story, it goes a step further with the pretty girl becoming a demon that can only survive by eating people (mainly boys).

The main underlining theme in the movie is the relationship of how different high school social roles interact with one another. In the film we see attention drawn to the big football player, the Emo guy, and of course Needy the Geek-girl and Jen the Pretty Girl. It is obvious that this movie was made from a girl perspective for the most part. Even the fact that Jen has become a demon is a metaphor for how evil "pretty girls" are thought of. There is even a brief moment where you have 'city people' relating to 'rural people'.

As always we won't get into any spoilers but I will mention a little bit about how Jen becomes a demon girl. It involves another classic theme: the idea that you can sell your soul to the devil in return for fame and/or a certain ability. It does involve a indie rock band and a sacrifice attempt of a certain girl. You may want to do some research on blues musician Robert Johnson.

From a content stand point this not a very scary movie, although that's always open to interpretation. There alot of funny sequences that are well planned and not over done. The makeup team did a real good job. There are scenes where Jen looks freaky.

I did think this was a very good movie and was impressed with all the themes within it. Also special credit goes to it for a Phil Collins reference...

GO NOW...................

Review - White Out

2009-09-14T20:39:00.005-05:00

Kate Beckinsale stars in White Out, the latest graphic novel movie adaptation. It is directed by Dominic Sena and tells an atmospheric story of a young female US marshall named Carrie Stetko (played by Kate) who is working in Anartica alongside a large, multi-national group of scientists. Her friend that we see from the beginning is Dr. John Fury (played by Tom Skerritt). He is portrayed as a older man with a grand daughter he has never seen, hoping he can get back to the US soon so he can spend time with her.

Things get interesting when Carrie is sent out to investigate the discovery of a dead man who obviously died under very suspicious circumstances. Things get deeper with a sudden appearance of a guy sent by the UN to investigate. His name is Robert Pryce (played by Gabriel Macht). From here the game of trust begins.

At the start of the movie we don't really know too much about the characters. And in a strong way that's where alot of the plot is. We learn more about Carrie through a gradual sequence of flashbacks of traumatic events that expalin the deepness of her character. We also learn more about the other characters that plays into the ending of the film.

White Out also interestingly shows glimpses of the "masked killer - mystery" genre that originated with Prom Night (1980). It's not the main plot of the movie but it's there and I didn't really expect to see it.

The atmosphere of the movie is very effective. The snow and the wind disguise alot of what's happening similar to being in the dark. It reminds me of the atmosphere in The Thing (1982), 30 Days of Night (2007), and The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008).

Although White Out is a good movie, there are some things I would have liked to have had. Mainly more drama and emotion dedicated to the conclusion. The ending was set up well but didn't really get driven home as powerfully as it could have been. Unfortunately, as Johnny Depp tells us in Secret Window: "The ending is the most important part". The ending of White Out didn't get it all the way done for me. But this is a good movie nonetheless...

...RENT IT

2009-09-11T22:21:00.003-05:00

Sorority Row is the latest movie in what has become a long line of remakes of 1980s horror movies. The original movie from which this is based is titled House On Sorority Row and/or Seven Sisters. The original also served as the basis for the 1997 movie I Know What You Did Last Summer (I'm not sure if that's ever been openly acknowledged).

The movie is pretty much what you would expect to see. A prank gone wrong and somebody who knows about it going around and killing the sisters involved. You've seen this before.

There are hardly any scenes in the movie that are original. Most of the acting is bad, atleast in the first 45 minutes. After that it gets a little better. There's alot lame dialogue. Most of the characters act completely dumb. There is two way lame references to Facebook that should have been cut in the editing room. There's alot of lame talk by the sisters about how important their sorority is in life even though people around them are getting taken out. The ending is kinda okay but nothing you haven't seen. I actually figured out who the bad guy was about half way through the movie and predicted the twists at the end.

I'm gonna be kind and rate this movie as an FX/TBS It. It's not the worse movie I've seen but it really serves no purpose.

...FX/TBS IT

Review - 9

2009-09-09T21:40:00.005-05:00

9 is the latest computer animated movie produced by Tim Burton. It is directed by Shane Acker who also serves as co-writer alongside Pamela Pettler. The film tells the tale of an alternate reality where humans have been destroyed by machines during what looks like World War II, as evidenced by the technology you see. The only survivors of the holocaust are a small group of strange machines created by a scientist. Each of these individuals are named by the number on their backs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the title character 9.

The main plot to the movie is the numbered individuals having to hide and fight against this great big machine that possesses the ability to create other machines similar to itself. As the story goes on the viewer is exposed to some of the best animations and visual effects I have ever seen.

Unfortunately the story itself doesn't hold up as well in its effectiveness. The story is a little bit on the thin side and is rushed through rather quickly. I was disappointed that the characters were never fully developed. I know they don't have much of a history but I was never able to get to a point were I could care about them. Throughout the course of the film you see bad situations happen to various characters but I never cared if they lived or died or escaped or whatever. This becomes incredibly unfortunate at the end of the movie. At the conclusion you can sense a potential of it being very powerful. But with the inability to care for the characters it becomes meaningless. But looks really good.

For me 9 lacked a good bit of depth. But I still cannot say that it is a terrible movie. There are some good action sequences in it and some good visualizations. However I don't think that warrants spending any money on this movie. In my opinion it is best to just wait for this one on one the Encore or Starz channels. It also could turn up on FX...

9 - FX/TBS It...

Review: Gamer

2009-09-04T20:08:00.007-05:00

Most of you have seen the ads the past couple of weeks for this movie. In one ad I heard that it was the "Last action movie of the summer". If so, the summer ended on a sour note. Gamer is the newest film starring Gerard Butler and yes he does take his shirt off in this movie. All jokes aside, Gamer, follows Kable an inmate on death row who has agreed to play in a real video game called Slayers. Through a process revealed early on in the movie, players are remotely controlled by normal people, who are fully aware that they are controlling real humans. The agreement is that any prisoner that plays 30 rounds and lives gets freed.

I won't go into further detail because there is no much else to go into. Gamer is thin on dialogue and thin on plot. The idea is somewhat borrowed, but that is forgivable. The premise was a good starting point and could have evolved into a great film. Unfortunately, you are thrown into the world of Gamer without even a text introduction. You have little back story of the main character and you find it difficult to care for him. The acting was sub-par and that is a shame. Many of the main characters are very good actors and their talents were not fully utilized.

The graphics are really good, but they cannot make up for the way the movie played out. Basically, you sit and stare at the screen for about 1hr 47min and wonder what's going on. The story is not hard to follow, but the lack of a plot makes you question why some scenes are in the movie. Gamer is a very violent, hard core action movie, but after all that action you sit through, the ending is very anti-climactic.

I'm going to stop dragging this out and give the movie the rating I thought of right when the credits started to roll.

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

Review - Moon

2009-09-04T15:34:00.003-05:00

Moon is the second movie from director Duncan Jones. It stars Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell, an employee of Lunar Industries who is on a three year contract maintaining a station on the moon that harvests Helium-3, Earth’s answer to the energy crisis. Sam is the only human crew member; however he is accompanied by the ship’s computer/robot HAL 90… I mean GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey). All has gone well so far, but with only two weeks to go on his contract, things begin to get a little strange. Sam starts to have visions, bad dreams, and to top it all off, he rescues someone from out on the moon’s surface who looks strangely familiar.

Now I’m going to stop right there because I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but let me just say this: Moon is one of my favorite movies of this year. It may even be my favorite sci-fi movie of the year (sorry District 9). Sam Rockwell’s performance is what this movie is all about (as he is pretty much the only human character), and he knocks it out of the park. Watching him try to find out what is happening to him is really fascinating. The story of the movie develops so well that you are right along with him, but you never feel left behind. I can really go along with a movie that puts you into the shoes of the character. The special effects in the movie are really well done, especially considering how low-budget they are. The scenes that take place outside are really trippy and fun to watch.

I don’t really have a lot of complaints about this movie, and the ones that I do have are really just nit-picking. The only thing that really felt off to me was that there were instances in which the sound didn’t feel right. I’m not sure if it was a bad mix or what, but some spots sounded weird. But again, they were so far and few between that it never got in the way of the experience. The only other thing that I didn’t like was that there were certain elements of the movie that I wanted to hear more about. There were some areas that I would have liked the movie to have explored but didn’t. I guess that’s really more wish fulfillment than an actual complaint. The truth is, I just wanted the movie to keep going.

I don’t think it’s too difficult to figure out what rating I’m going to give this movie. If you can still find it in theaters, since it has a pretty limited release, you should absolutely…

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

Review - The Final Destination (3D)

2009-08-28T20:03:00.004-05:00

This will not be a very in depth review as there is not much too say.

The Final Destination (in 3D) is the fourth (and hopefully the last film) of the series baring its name. The story is the same as the earlier movies. Except it is not as well written, directed, or acted out as those. I do believe the only reason it got made at all was to put in the 3D and hope people will go see it. That being said the 3D effects are not that great in my opinion. I have seen 3D films in the Georgia Aquarium that were better.

There really isn't anything else I can think to say. I really want to give this movie a "warn people" rating but the fact it's in 3D makes that hard. Not so great 3D is still worth something I guess.

Here's how I'll rate it...If you want to see some OK looking 3D stuff go on and see it. BUT if you know someone who's talking about seeing the regular version, please warn them not to. Perhaps there's not a theatre near them or you that has 3D. In that case, if you think you have to see it...FX/TBS It. Do NOT spend any money on it.

Review - Halloween II

2009-08-28T19:00:00.017-05:00

Halloween II is the latest movie from director Rob Zombie. It is the sequel to his remake of John Carpenter's Halloween which came out to theatres back in 2007. The new movie returns the surviving cast of the previous film.

Unlike the 2007 movie this is a completely original film with a new story and new ideas. The basis, of course, is the same. Michael Meyers is after his sister Laurie. But for what purpose? That is where the new re-imagining takes place. This Halloween movie is unlike any you have ever seen. Michael has a new twisted kind of purpose and motivation that you never have seen. What is the force behind it all? I don't really want to give that away because it's something that wasn't shown in the trailers. But you do see it early in the film and it developes nicely. It is pretty realistic and I have heard about in discussions by psychologists. It really impressed me to see it as the main theme in the movie. It is quiet possible that Zombie was drawing from an earlier concept shown in the Halloween sequels in the late 1980s but it is still quiet different and unique.

Furthermore, the character of Michael Meyers continues to be original. He does move differently and seems to think a little differently than in the earlier films.

From a graphic content stand point I don't think this movie was as quite as violent as Zombie's 2007 film. But it is no walk in the park either. Some of the most intense stuff is early on in the hospital. There is also more of a creepy atmosphere in this movie. Not incredibly scary, but creepy. More dark looking.

I am glad I got to see this movie. It provided the type of entertainment you expect plus it does provide some things to think about. I loved it...

HALLOWEEN II - GO NOW!!!

2009-08-21T17:19:00.008-05:00

Quentin Tarantino's new movie Inglourious Basterds is definitely a Quentin Tarantino movie. It is Nazi Europe meets Pulp Fiction. Filled with extravangant cut scenes to give bring the viewer up to date on certain characters and interwoven story telling, Inglourious Basterds is a war movie like I have never seen.

The movie, despite its title and the images on most of the posters out there, doesn't really center on Brad Pitt's character (Lt. Aldo Raine) and the so-called "Basterds" he leads into Nazi-occupied France. It primarily seems to focus on a young woman named Shosanna Dreyfus (Me'lanie Laurent) who escapes when her family is murdered by a group of Nazi officers led by the so-called "Jew Hunter" Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). These type of Jewish executions is where the Basterds come in. Moving throughout France, the Basterds are a specially organized group of Jewish-Americans determined to turn fear on the Nazis. Their primary means of doing so are killing Nazis while letting some live with Swatiskas engraved on their foreheads for purposes of future identification. This proves to be very effective.

While the movie is a fun-style of movie with a reasonable amount of humor, it does illustrate the fear and trepidation that Jews in Europe must have felt during the era of the Third Reich. Within these scenes lies intense suspense. There are also moments where we get a glimpse of the intense love the Nazi officers had for their Fuehrer.

The performances were well played by all the actors. There are moments when Eli Roth (Sgt. Donny Donowitz) seems outright crazy. He even gets his own cool nickname, "The Bear Jew."

There is one possible downside to the movie. About 50% of the dialogue is in French or German. It is pretty necessary to the story but can be difficult to keep up with at times. However, all the subtitles are in bold yellow so they are easy to see.

Overall I have to say this is an outstanding movie. The climatic scene at the end is classic. Reminds me of when Dorothy and her companions meet the Wizard of Oz. It's a Nazi's worst nightmare.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS...GO NOW!!

Review - District 9

2009-08-19T10:44:00.010-05:00

District 9 is the latest movie from Peter Jackson as a producer. It is directed by Neill Blomkamp and co-written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell. It takes place in present day South Africa and tells the story of a race of aliens resembling insects that became stranded on earth about 25 years ago. The aliens, referred to by most humans as "prawns" ("bottom-feeders") are forced to live in a closed off, concentrated area called District 9. The district soon becomes nothing more than a slum where the prawns are forced to search for food and supplies. The prawns, who are mostly passive, are subjected to strict regulations from the human organization referred to as the MNU. Early on we see MNU, led by Wikus Van de Merwe, serving eviction notices to the prawns. It is this Van de Merwe that becomes entangled in the lives of the prawns and finds himself helping their cause to get back home...but we won't tell you why as to not spoil the details.

When you watch this film it is obvious that this is not a Hollywood movie. This is an independent film which is a good thing. Every now and then a break is needed from seeing the same actors, same special effects, and unnecessary humor. We probably need a few more independent movies. The semi-documentary style in which it's filmed is very nice to see and not overdone or difficult to watch. Also it is interesting to see a movie not having to take place in the United States, as if this really happened it would have to happen in the USA.

The overall theme of District 9 is the question of how would you, and humanity in general, react if another race of intelligent life showed up on earth. Would we help or think of them as second class inconviences? There are obvious parallels drawn between the humans in District 9 and The Holocaust of 70 years ago and other similar events. Which side would you be on?

This movie should definitely be seen...

DISTRICT 9 - GO NOW!!!!!

Review: The Time Traveler's Wife

2009-08-18T19:09:00.006-05:00

I decided to go into this movie with an open mind, having read the novel by Audrey Niffenegger. And we all know that movies are never as good as the novel. The movie centers around the life of Clare Abshire, an aspiring artist, who meets and falls in love with her future husband, Henry DeTamble, at the age of six. The only problem: he is 36. Ok, pause......I know what you're thinking, because I thought it too. He later reveals that he is a time traveler from their future, and they are married. It turns out that he time travels at random, while trying to build a life with his beloved in the present day.

The movie follows the chronological order of Clare's life, while also showing what happens to Henry during his many uncontrollable time travels. Although I know that some details were changed for the sake of moving the film along, I thought that some pretty important details were skipped over. This is one time where I can say that reading the book beforehand filled a lot of gaps that I might have otherwise had.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised, because I was definitely ready for it to not live up to my expectations. Although they were not able to fit all of the details in, an excellent job was done in keeping with the spirit of the book. I speak for all the sappy at heart when I say.............

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

Review: G.I. Joe The Rise Of Cobra

2009-08-08T19:01:00.008-05:00

G.I. Joe is a film based off of the long running franchise. Personally, I have only seen a few episodes of the cartoons and have never read the comics or owned the action figures. I truly have no idea of how the movie stands up against the source material. The movie follows the Joes and their newest recruits, Duke(Channing Tatum) and Ripcord(Marlon Wayans). Apparently, nanobots have been invented and turned into a weapon capable of eating through an entire city. Duke and Ripcord are military officers tasked with seeing that the United State's shipment of these weapons are safely delivered. Along the way a mysterious group steals the nanobots and its up to G.I. Joe to recover the weapons.

If you go to this movie expecting it to be the greatest movie ever made, you will be disappointed. If you go into it with realistic expectations, you may be pleasantly surprised. The story is easy to follow if you pay attention and it makes logical sense. The acting is what you would expect from a big budget effects driven summer movie. The dialogue is fine and well paced. This movie has action from the first moment till the last, so be prepared for a nonstop ride.

The only major complaint that I have is with the CGI components of the film. In this day and age it is possible to have good computer generated components and have them seamlessly added to the film. It appears though as if the people who worked on the CG for this movie barely even tried.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The film has that quality about it like the first Transformers movie, we can only hope that if they make a sequel to this that they don't botch it up. I can only speak for myself with the rating that I give, but I say.........

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

Review: A Perfect Getaway

2009-08-08T16:18:00.008-05:00

A Perfect Getaway follows a newly wed couple while they are on their honeymoon in Hawaii. The main portion of the movie follows them as they hike to a secluded beach. All seems to go according to plan until we learn that a murderous couple is on the loose. Unfortunately for our main protagonists, they just happen to meet up with two very odd acting couples. The tension soon grows as all begin to wonder if the killers are in their midst.

A Perfect Getaway holds your attention for the most part. I seldom ever found my mind wandering to other things. I really did like the story and I can honestly say that this was like nothing that I had ever seen before. The acting was par for the course, there were a few times though in which I believed that some of the actors were trying a little too hard.

With the good you have to have the bad. The movie seems to fall apart at about the third act. The twist is revealed too early and overall it was done just to have a happy ending. The so-called twist that the movie's trailer boast of can be predicted from the start of the movie. In fact, I knew what the twist was going to be once I saw the trailer.

While this movie has some good points, there is just not enough to warrant a go now rating. Bottom Line.......

RENT IT!!!

Review: Funny People

2009-08-03T14:59:00.006-05:00

Funny People is the third film from director Judd Apatow, and it is probably the funniest movie about terminal illness you’ll ever see. The film centers around George Simmons (Adam Sandler), a famous comedy actor who in the beginning of the movie finds out that he has a fatal blood disease, and Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), a budding stand-up who gets hired to write jokes for/assist George as he prepares for what could be his final days. Sounds hilarious, right? Well actually, it kind of is. The film explores the question “What would you do if you got another chance at life?” Would you make changes, or would you continue doing the same things all over again?

I think the dialogue is the best part about Funny People. Many of the characters in the movie are stand-up comedians, comedy writers, or actors and I think Apatow’s experiences in these fields end up making the movie’s dialogue feel very real and very funny. A real love of comedy shows through the whole movie. I was laughing quite a bit during this movie, often times out loud. I also enjoyed watching Ira and his roommates (Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill) interact, but most of all I liked the actual stand-up comedy scenes of the movie. I think those parts of the movie had some of the best laughs. They almost make you want to start writing and performing jokes, until you realize how hard it actually is.

As much as I liked this movie, there were a couple things that took me out of it. The biggest problem I had was the movie’s ability to bounce from comedy to drama. This movie is just as much a drama as it is a comedy. Most of the time, I was following right along with the movie; but other times I felt like I was missing the benefit of some of the jokes because I was still sad from the previous scene. Jumping between comedy and drama is hard, and with this movie it was hit or miss. The only other thing that disappointed me was that I felt this movie was a little too long. At two hours and twenty minutes, this movie would have been well served by a little tightening up.

Overall, I really enjoyed this film. While it has its ups and downs, it is a very good comedy that also makes you think about life. This is a tough decision, but I am giving this movie a solid…

Rent It!!!

Review: The Collector

2009-08-02T12:48:00.010-05:00

The Collector is a new entry into the horror film genre. The basic premise is that a man attempts to rob a house. What he doesn't know at first is that a sadistic killer is in the house torturing the family that lives there. He soon finds out that the killer has rigged the house with many deadly traps. Now the robber has to save the family members and get them out of the house before the killer realizes that he is there.

The premise of The Collector is a new one. I was actually surprised that someone came up with something this original. The story is set up with a killer and someone that serves strictly as an anti killer, if that makes sense.

Now the premise was good, but the execution of that plan was not as good. Think of this movie in this way, if you have seen any of the Saw movies you have seen The Collector. The scenario is played out as a what if Jigsaw came to your house type deal. There are plenty of moments that you cringe at and want to turn away from. That is exactly the place where most horror movies fail. The movie itself is not scary, it just has a lot of bloody, gory and disgusting sequences. They even try to give a cheap scare at the end of the title sequence. I shouldn't be too hard on this movie in particular though as most horror movies now fall under this category. Perhaps this type of movie is an example of what is wrong with the horror movie genre, nothing is created simply to scare you.

The Collector is worth watching at least once, but in my opinion you can wait and.....

Rent It.

Review: Orphan

2009-07-27T18:04:00.010-05:00

Orphan, follows what happens when a couple adopts a nine year old girl named Esther. We soon find out as the movie's tag line implies that there is something seriously wrong with Esther. At first subtle incidents occur which makes the audience wonder about the mental stability of Esther. Soon the couple that adopted her are pitted against each other and elements of their past are revealed. By the end of the movie we realize that Esther is seriously twisted, more twisted than you could ever guess.

The movie itself has a lot of redeeming qualities. I was rarely ever bored and I was always wondering about whatever would happen next. I will be honest, I try to figure out these types of movies and whats going on before the end. I can usually predict what happens next, with this movie though, I couldn't. I was actually pleasantly surprised with the movie. As stated above, I could not have predicted what the true cause for Esther's behavior was, and most likely you will not be able to either.

With most movies though, you do have some bad elements. I mostly don't have a complaint about the movie itself, but with the way the movie was marketed. Orphan is marketed as a horror film, but I am here to say that it is not. It is a mix between a really bad day and a psychological thriller. This film is okay for even the biggest scaredy cats.

Overall, Orphan presented itself well and didn't feel like a colossal waste of time. If you are brave enough you should definitely.......................

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

Review: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2009-07-21T16:43:00.006-05:00

This is a review written by our PR Director, Joshua.

The latest of the Harry Potter series, Half Blood Prince, was comical yet it expressed the dangers of being the “the boy who lived.” Half Blood Prince arrived in theatres on Wednesday, July 15 and the fans of the series arrived at theatres Tuesday night shortly before the clock struck midnight to break the Dark Knight’s and all previous midnight showing records.

Harry Potter arrives at Hogwarts to advance his mediocre magic skills in attempt to fight the rise of the dark arts. He who must not be named rise to power has created fear in the “muggle” community who can’t determine the cause of mysterious deaths and out of the ordinary catastrophic events. The wizarding world, aware of these events and who’s behind them, enters a state of fear. Protecting themselves is more important then ever as this world recognizes Voldemort’s return.

The magical school’s headmaster, Dumbledore, has surprises in store for Harry as he takes him into the depths of the dark arts and tells Harry how he must survive against Voldemort. Equipped with this knowledge and the support of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, Harry is preparing for storm. Multiple encounters with the “Dark Lord” and to have survived everyone, the wizarding world is calling Harry Potter, not only the boy who lived, but the “Chosen One.”

RENT IT: if you are a book fan

GO NOW: if you are a movie fan

Review - Public Enemies

2009-07-02T21:35:00.005-05:00

It is rare to feel blown away by a movie. Many movies are good but few seem like instant classics right there in the theatre. Public Enemies is such a rare movie. I (Allan) cannot speak for the other members of the AJ MR but to me this is the best movie of the year so far. I doubt it will be surpassed in my mind. There has been Oscar talk about it and it definitely derserves it. It could easily get Best Picture or Best Director (for Michael Mann).

It's based on the book by the same title and tells the true story of 1930s bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and 'his girl' Billie (Marion Cotillard). Pursuing Dillinger is Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale). The story is a wonderful mix of action, suspense, a bit of humor, and it also has a reasonable love-story element to it. Johnny Depp's performance is outstanding as is Christian Bales'. All of the supporting roles are equally well given.

There are alot of good things about this movie. I love the atmosphere and the music. It's strange to think of the Great Deppression as a time you would want to live in but this movie makes you want to be there. The clothes, the cars...and the machine guns. There are alot of machine guns in this movie.

When you watch this film be sure to compare Dillinger to Purvis. Are they really different? They're press interviews are very similar in some ways.

I love this movie. I cannot wait to see it again. I love the ending.

PUBLIC ENEMIES...GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!