Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs

The sub-zero heroes are back. Scrat is still trying to nab the ever-elusive nut (while, maybe, finding true love); Manny and Ellie await the birth of their mini-mammoth, Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some dinosaur eggs; and Diego the saber-toothed tiger wonders if he's growing too "soft" hanging with his pals. On a mission to rescue the hapless Sid, the gang ventures into a mysterious underground world, where they have some close encounters with dinosaurs, battle flora and fauna run amuck - and meet a relentless, one-eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck.

I'm usually a huge fan of animated movies. However, I never really got in to the Ice Age franchise. I thought that the first one was pretty good. I thought that the second one could have easily been a straight to DVD sequel. I can't really put my finger on why. It actually bothers me that I don't like these more because like I said before, I tend to always love animated movies with these kinds of characters and humor. This one definitely fell in line with the others. I would say it was better than the second one though. Its watchable and if you are taking kids to see this they are pretty much guaranteed to love it.

I can't really say if I would recommend checking this out. I'm admittedly biased to not being that big of a fan of the franchise. I also saw this in 3D and it is definitely another one of those movies that isn't worth the extra money and what not because there wasn't remotely that big of a difference.

Orphan

The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate and John, taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate's fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther. Almost as soon as they welcome Esther into their home, however, an alarming series of events begins to unfold, leading Kate to believe that there's something wrong with Esther--this seemingly angelic little girl is not what she appears to be. Concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries to get John and others to see past Esther's sweet facade. But her warnings go unheeded until it may be too late...for everyone.

I am completely surprised with how much I enjoyed this movie. This was a really well done creeper. The girl was scary as hell and the build up of tension was exactly as it should be for a scary movie. For the record - I called the twist two months ago when I saw the preview, but its pretty crazy how it all pans out. This is probably one of the three best scary movies (out of 100 it feels like) in the past year with The Strangers and Drag Me To Hell.

I fully recommend that everyone check this movie out. Its probably the biggest surprise of the summer in terms of enjoyment.

Nothing Like The Holidays

It's Christmastime and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents' home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother's safe return from combat overseas. For Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez), coming home has rekindled feelings for an old flame, although she can't seem to forgive him for leaving. His older sister Roxanna, a struggling actress, has been chasing her Hollywood dreams for years with little to show for it. And much to the dismay of their mother Anna (Elizabeth Peña), eldest brother Mauricio (John Leguizamo) brings home a high-powered executive wife (Debra Messing) who would rather raise capital than a child.In the course of one eventful week, traditions will be celebrated, secrets revealed and major life decisions made. It all begins when Anna announces to her children she is divorcing their father Eduardo (Alfred Molina). The shock waves from this familial upheaval prompt Roxanna, Mauricio and Jesse, each in their own way, to reevaluate the past and rethink the future. But when the Rodriguezes learn that one of their own is facing a true crisis, they instinctively pull together: Old resentments are forgotten, familial bonds are re-affirmed and the healing power of laughter works its magic as the family discovers they are much stronger than they ever realized.

This movie is literally like This Christmas for latinos. Its the same song and dance with the numerous children and their issues coming home for the holidays and everything magically works out because of the Christmas holiday. The only problem is that while This Christmas had a hook that made you care about the characters, Nothing Like The Holidays did not. Every cliche is pushed to the max and you find yourself bored watching it.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this out. Its not even that good of a simple holiday movie to be honest.

Whatever Works

An eccentric New Yorker (Larry David) abandons his upper class life to lead a more bohemian existence. He meets a young girl from the South and her family and no two people seem to get along in the entanglements that follow.

This movie started off really funny. Larry David played his usual over neurotic character. He would randomly refer to the audience watchting the movie and would go off on his phobia of germs and sickness. Unfortunately, the movie got stale really fast and I really didn't care what was going on as the movie went on. They turned the movie more towards Larry David's love interest and it never really hooked me.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this movie to anyone. If you have netflix or whatever and its free go ahead and check it out. If you have to pay to rent it - you should probably just wait for cable.

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) again joins with the Autobots against their sworn enemies, the Decepticons.

Instead of Transformers 2 this will forever be referred to by me as Transfomers 2 Much. Holy crap! Why couldn't they just make a simple sequel. Instead they crammed in too much action. There were numerous points where there was so much happening that I had no clue what was going on. Too much robots. What was wrong with the ones we had already been introduced to? What in the blue hell was the need for the robot that somehow turned in a human? Especially, since it was basically for one part of the movie never to return? Too much blah blah story. The autobots work with the government . . . . but the government wants them out? Sam goes to college. I got that in the preview. Why did we need a 30 minute build up of that. Too much time on Sam and the girlfriend. As well as they played off of each other in the first one - at no point have I ever actually given two craps about whether or not they love each other. Too much of the parents. They were the funniest part of the first one. Why couldn't we just leave it alone with them being in the beginning? They really need to end up being part of the big battle and what not? Too much annoying complimentary characters. Including the aforementioned parents - the complimentary characters were great in the first one. This one consisted of the overexposed parents, John Turturo in the most stupid way to possibly be written in, the most annoying college roommate ever, and two sidekick autobots that made me want to scream every time they were on screen. Seriously. They made Jar Jar Binks seem awesome. Too much forced humor. What made the first movie so enjoyable besides the effects was the sarcastic humor running throughout. This one was filled with stupid humor. The two Jar Jar robots talking ghetto? The bad ass Devastator robot having wrecking balls for testicles? Even with all of my ranting this is a watchable movie . . . . . as long as your expectations are really low. The first movie was one of my favorite movies of all time. Needless to say - I had pretty high expectations for this movie.

I don't really think it matters whether or not I recommend this movie. Everyone will be seeing it at some point regardless. Just be sure to have low expecations because this is nowhere near as good as the first one. Its essentially a massively overdone sequel in every way possible.

Cheri

An adaptation of the 1920s novel by French author Colette about the lingering effects of a romance between a middle-aged woman (Pfeiffer) and a wealthy young man (Friend). Set in 1920s Paris, where the young son of a wealthy courtesan (Bates) is educated in the ways of love by a middle-aged friend of the man's mother. When he is forced to give up the six-year relationship after marrying someone else, the young man can't forget her and retreats into a fantasy world.


I watched about 15 minutes of this movie when we had it at my theatre to see if I would bother ever watching it again. I fell asleep almost instantly. From what I remember it was one of those old English type movies and was a total snooze fest.


It wasn't enough to capture my attention for 2 minutes much less 15 so no I probably wouldn't recommend anyone checking this out unless you happen to be in to those old English type movies.

The Proposal

When high-powered book editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she's actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), who she's tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family (Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White) and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences.

This movie is beyond predictable. You have pretty much seen the movie just by watching the 2 minute trailer. There are no swerves or surprises. The characters are beyond cliche. However, I found myself laughing out loud a lot more than I expected. Even though the whole movie is completely textbook, Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock played off of each other incredibly well. Ryan Reynolds plays the same role he always does and his line delivery was as perfect as always. Sandra Bullock returns to the kind of role that made her big in the first place and is definitely back where she belongs. Her going back and forth between being completely stoic, fighting off tears of sadness, and then being completely over the top silly was great.

I never thought I would say this going in, but I would definitely recommend this movie. Even though it is beyond formula it is a fun watch and a great date movie.

Drag Me To Hell

Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is an ambitious L.A. loan officer with a charming boyfriend, professor Clay Dalton (Justin Long). Life is good until the mysterious Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) arrives at the bank to beg for an extension on her home loan. Should Christine follow her instincts and give the old woman a break? Or should she deny the extension to impress her boss, Mr. Jacks (David Paymer), and get a leg-up on a promotion? Christine fatefully chooses the latter, shaming Mrs. Ganush and dispossessing her of her home. In retaliation, the old woman places the powerful curse of the Lamia on Christine, transforming her life into a living hell. Haunted by an evil spirit and misunderstood by a skeptical boyfriend, she seeks the aid of seer Rham Jas (Dileep Rao) to save her soul from eternal damnation. To help the shattered Christine return her life to normal, the psychic sets her on a frantic course to reverse the spell. As evil forces close in, Christine must face the unthinkable: how far will she go to break free of the curse?

This is pretty much the most "fun" horror movie I have seen in a long, long time. Its rated PG-13 so there is no excessive gore or unnecessary nudity. However, it isn't totally lame like the Japanese remakes that we seem to get treated to once a month at the local theater. This movie makes you jump right out of you seat and then laugh your ass off at yourself for jumping out of your seat. The movie is really campy and you find yourself cracking up at the silliness and nasty sight gags during most of the "attack scenes". Its not a good movie in terms of being well made but it is a completely enjoyable thrill ride.

I would strongly recommend everyone checking this movie out. Its guaranteed to make you jump out of your seat numerous times and laugh out loud even more often.

Land Of The Lost

Will Ferrell stars as has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, sucked into one and spat back through time. Way back. Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic creatures from beyond our world - a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy known as the Land of the Lost.Sucked alongside him for the adventure are crack-smart research assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and a redneck survivalist (Danny McBride) named Will. Chased by T-Rex and stalked by painfully slow reptiles known as Sleestaks, Marshall, Will and Holly must rely on their only ally - a primate called Chaka (Jorma Taccone) to navigate out of the hybrid dimension. Escape from this routine expedition gone awry and they’re heroes. Get stuck, and they'll be permanent refugees in the Land of the Lost.

This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I stared at the screen for an hour and a half with a disgusted look on my face that I couldn't get off for another hour and a half of mumbling how horrible it was. And I have always been a big fan of Will Ferrell. I love Danny McBride too. I liked the tv show. This was just plain atrocious. It was so bad I don't even want to rant about it. I don't want to spend one iota of time referring to this piece of garbage.

Don't see this movie. Ever. Seriously. Its a lock for worst movie of the year and might make my top 10 of all time turds.

Imagine That

In Imagine That, Eddie Murphy stars as a successful financial executive who has more time for his blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter (Yara Shahidi). When he has a crisis of confidence and his career starts going down the drain, however, he finds the solution to all his problems in his daughter's imaginary world.

This is another one of those movies that is just kind of there. I can't believe how many of the summer releases this year have been like this. I only found it cute because the moments where he is playing with his daugher remind me of playing with Stinka. Eddie Murphy plays the same role he has played a thousand times before and the movie couldn't be more predictable if it tried.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing out to see this. Its watchable and kids would enjoy it but you could easily wait for rental or cable with this one.

My Life In Ruins

In My Life in Ruins, Georgia (Nia Vardalos) has lost her kefi (Greek for "mojo"). Discouraged by her lack of direction in life, she works as a travel guide, leading a rag-tag group of tourists as she tries to show them the beauty of her native Greece while waiting to land her dream job. Opening their eyes to an exotic foreign land, she too begins to see things in new ways—finding her kefi and possibly love in the process.

This was actually a pretty cute movie. It was also pretty much just a variation on My Big Fat Greek Wedding with much less laughs. It was enjoyable but was mostly just kind of there. Its one of those movies that there really is no reason to get out there and see it, but down the road if you catch it in passing isn't a total waste of your time. You pretty much know the whole movie before it even starts, but doesn't make you start listing other things that you could be doing.

I'd recommend people check this one out on rental or definitely on cable. Its a decent watch but there is no urgency towards seeing it necessary whatsoever.

Year One

When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers (Jack Black and Michael Cera) are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world in Columbia Pictures' comedy Year One.

I thought for sure that Land Of The Lost was a lock for worst movie of the year. There was no way that it could be topped. Then I went to see Year One. How in the blue hell could a movie with the actors in this and directed by Harold Ramis be this horrible. I couldn't even watch the whole thing. I left about half way through when Michael Cera had to rub oil on an overly fat/hairy Oliver Platt's chest. Why is it so hard to make a quality comedy!?! The Hangover is completely hysterical. Its simple and its balls out funny. This (preceeded by Land Of The Lost) is one of the most unfunny movies I've ever seen. The really insulting thing is that it could have been funny . . . . . if it went with high brow smart writing. Instead, there would be a one liner or a scene that could have been funny (like the cavemen experiencing the wheel for the first time) but the scene goes way too long and then falls in to juvenile fart humor.

I wouldn't recommend anyone seeing this ever. I couldn't even finish it. I'm not sure if its the worst movie of the year over Land Of The Lost yet because I think I expected more out of that one but if its not number one this is a lock for number 2.