This movie was incredible! I mean when I first heard about it, I could already see where it was going (ala 24 season three where Tony Almeida’s wife Michelle is kidnapped and used against him), but to actually see it…woof! And it’s based on a book! Hm…might be worth looking at (of course it wouldn’t really change my opinion of this film). I thought Ben Foster, who normally plays these kinds of fruity teenagers, was a bona fide psycho here! I mean he was a full on monster (especially at the end!) and its incredible acting. It’s just an amazing tribute to his ability being able to do this kind of character (the kind that watches someone die because he’s psychologically imbalanced). Not to say he was the only great character…just the most indelible. Bruce Willis was great as an ex-hostage negotiator dealing with his personal demons based on a … Continue reading →

This movie was hilarious…but in a different sense (obviously) from The Pacifier. It’s so familiar to those who enjoyed “Get Short” (especially if you see it right before you go to the movie) but it’s also a whole new medium for Chilli Palmer (John Travolta). See now instead of getting into the movie business, he’s getting into the music business…and has to deal with all the cutthroat deals going on (again a natural profession for a former shylock (loan shark)). I really enjoyed Cedric the Entertainer as a record producer who hangs out with a bunch of “killah ganstas” but has a degree from Yale (or Harvard or someplace like that). It was especially great when he rails on a Russian Mafia boss for a good minute and a half because the boss called him a N-word. Of course the epitome of what Cedric rails against is Vince Vaughn as … Continue reading →

You know, I have to say I enjoyed this movie a whole lot better than I thought I would. I mean I knew I was going to see it as soon as I saw the trailer, but it touched me how genuine some of the moments were. The basic story is that Lt. Shane Wolf (Vin Diesel) has to protect 5 kids (ages ranging from 16-3) while their mother is helping the government after the father is murdered for some satellite program he invented. We quickly learn that Vin never had any sort of normal childhood because he was raised almost entirely in the army which leads to several enjoyable moments where he has to cope with reality as the kids experience it everyday including life at a kindergarten through 12 grade school, girl scouts, and diapers (the 2 youngest kids are both still in diapers). Aside from the comedy, … Continue reading →

This movie was pretty funny…for a movie about mid-life crises. I mean seriously, I hope my life never gets as depressing as Miles’ or Jack’s. Of course Jack’s occupation is a big key to why he’s having the crisis…being an actor isn’t easy unless you make it big. Although I do appreciate the irony (at least I think it’s ironic) that Jack’s biggest role was as a Doctor on a soap opera, when in real life, Thomas Hayden Church’s biggest (or at least the thing everyone remembers him for) is the janitor on “Wings” (TV Series …. Lowell Mather …. 1990-1995). Actually both of their occupations can wind up being really depressing around the age of 40. If an actor doesn’t have regular acting jobs or an aspiring writer can’t get his work published, they really begin to question why they’re here. Of course that’s just the plot of the … Continue reading →

WARNING: If you want a sweet and charmingly happy movie review about a happy elf, this will not be it. Hehe! Fun movie. Walking out at the end, my thoughts resided the most on the fact that the movie mostly for Jim Carrey fans, especially since I heard that the movie heavily rewrites the overarching plot behind the first three books (from which the film was adapted). If that’s so (I’ll find out as soon as I read the books), then fans of the book won’t like it (obviously). And since it is equally impossible that I will finish the books before the movie disappears from theatres as mysteriously as Count Olaf’s leg, I’ll just tell you what I liked. This is an odd first thing to mention, but I loved the end title sequence. I don’t know if it was really stop-motion work, but it looked incredible either way. … Continue reading →

This movie was incredible. From the original music and the passionate, love story to the incredible effects and the mind-blowing singing, this movie takes the skeleton of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original, long-running, award-winning musical and brings it to life! Emmy Rosum, Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson are incredible as the leads (Christine, The Phantom, and Raoul respectively), and their singing is unparalleled for a movie musical. The entire scope of this movie musical really shows the rising trend that began with Chicago (or at least the mainstream recognition began with Chicago, I’m sure I’m forgetting some movie musical that really opened the door) and just continues to rise. Masquerade was incredible. I loved Gerard Butler’s mask (even though I really wanted the giant skeleton head from the stage) because it was so similar to what I expected as well as being just an incredible mask. Of course the simple mask … Continue reading →

Faithfully adapted from John Grisham’s novel “Skipping Christmas,” this movie deals up a healthy helping of Christopher Columbus Christmas Magic (as I like to call a lot of his movies). Actually just Home Alone. But you get the idea.

My parents couldn’t understand this movie…they wanted something funnier. I kind of liked it and I understood that it would be a Wes Anderson comedy, so the humor would be more implied or indirect, as in Meet the Tannenbaums and Rushmore (actually I haven’t seen Rushmore, so I’m guessing). Yeah for Henry Selick claymation! I knew it the instant I saw it on the big screen! Ok for the uninitiated, he directed Nightmare Before Christmas (one of the greatest Disney-but-not-Disney movies of all time) and was almost directly responsibly for it’s claymation style (aside from Tim Burton’s hearty participation). Does a very nice job for a sequel. Very enjoyable. What I really enjoyed is the fact that it deals with Jack Brynes’ (Robert DeNiro) inability to “trust” anyone due to his years spent with the CIA.

A remake? Didn’t even know it. Fun to watch. Giovanni Ribisi’s character was really good. I don’t know how I feel about Dennis Quaid anymore. I don’t know if he’s any good or just bad. Oh yeah! Awesome cameo from that Brother of the Cruciform Sword from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Actually it’s not really a cameo since he got the monologue about wandering the desert. I never knew that if your right hand is dominant that you take longer steps with your right foot. That was a fun and interesting fact to learn.