Angels & Demons

When Langdon (Tom Hanks) discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati - the most powerful underground organization in history - he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization's most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican's only hope for survival.

Every review of this movie will ultimately involve it being compared to The DaVinci Code. There's simply no way around it. So, I might as well start by saying that this movie was better than The DaVinci Code. I read both books and also enjoyed this book a thousand times better. However, it ran in to the same problem as its predecessor in that all of the "suspense" in both books came from intense conversations. Unless you are Quentin Tarantino it is impossible to convey that kind of dramatic dialogue to film. Ron Howard is a phenomenal director. Tom Hanks is the greatest actor of our generation. I still think that neither one of them should be associated with the stories of Robert Langdon. This movie was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too talky just like the first one and it ends up making the movie too smart for its own good. They definitely did a much better job of unfolding the story in this one but there were too many scenes where I could have taken a nap simply because I barely understood what they were talking about and wasn't made to care too much either.

I would somewhat recommend this movie to people. Its not a great movie. Its definitely not a bad movie. I want to say its good but then I feel like I'm rewarding it more than it should be. Its somewhere between OK and good.

Funny People

Judd Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in Funny People, the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience.

This movie was completely great . . . . . . . for the first 2/3 of the movie. It was more of a drama than a comedy, but I was totally in to the characters and the one liners were all perfectly delivered by the great cast and were hilarious. I was really impressed with Adam Sandler actually acting and not being over the top silly like he always is. The relationship between him and Seth Rogen seemed very genuine. You really felt for Sandler as he coped with death coming. You were excited when he found out that he wasn't going to die. And then the movie just kind of hit a wall and had no idea where it wanted to go. It just sort of stopped and treaded water. It was so disappointing considering how in to the first 2/3 of the movie I was. I ended up not caring what was going to happen with Adam Sandler and Leslie Mann and was generally annoyed at how it turned out.

I fully recommend that everyone check out the first 2/3 of this movie. Its awesome. Just be sure to stop watching after Adam Sandler ends up being okay because it becomes rather pooptastic from there on.

Shorts

Shorts is set in the suburb of Black Falls, where all the houses look the same and everyone works for BLACK BOX Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, whose Mr. Black's BLACK BOX is the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget that's sweeping the nation. Other than keeping his parents employed, however, Mr. Black's BLACK BOX has done nothing for 11-year-old Toe Thompson, who just wants to make a few friends...until a mysterious rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, hits him in the head and changes everything. The Rainbow Rock does Mr. Black's BLACK BOX one better: it grants wishes to anyone who holds it. Before long, wishes-gone-wrong have left the neighborhood swarming with tiny spaceships, crocodile armies, giant boogers...and outrageous magical mayhem around every corner. But it's not until the grown-ups get their hands on the Rock that the trouble really starts. Now Toe and his newfound friends must join forces to save their town from itself, discovering along the way that what you wish for is not always what you want.

This is an enjoyable off the wall kids movie. It could have pretty much been called Spy Kids 3 with it having the same look and feel as the other movies. Its heavy on the sight gags and silly makeup/effects. This one was actually told in a non-linear fashion which actually made it slightly more interesting than it would have been. The best part of the movie was that the bad girl (Hellvetika)had a theme song that they kept playing for her and I haven't stopped singing it since.

If you have kids - they will enjoy this. You will not enjoy it as much as them but you've definitely suffered through much worse on their behalf.

Four Christmases

When upscale, happily unmarried San Francisco couple Kate and Brad find themselves socked in by fog on Christmas morning, their exotic vacation plans morph into the family-centric holiday they had, until now, gleefully avoided. Out of obligation—and unable to escape—they trudge to not one, not two, but four relative-choked festivities, increasingly mortified to find childhood fears raised, adolescent wounds reopened... and their very future together uncertain. As Brad counts the hours to when he can get away from their parents, step-parents, siblings and an assortment of nieces and nephews, Kate is starting to hear the ticking of a different kind of clock. And by the end of the day, she is beginning to wonder if their crazy families' choices are not so crazy after all.

Vince Vaughn has always killed me. He really has the best sarcasm delivery ever. This movie was no different. He had me laughing out loud numerous times and the couple finding out embarrassing things about each other through their families was great too. The only problem I had with this movie was that while it was hysterical for the first hour - it really hit a wall when it decided to get all serious and what not. I realized then that I was just enjoying the laughs and not the movie as a whole because once the laughs stopped I wasn't as in to the characters.

I'd still recommend that people go and check this one out. Its good laughs for the holiday season.

Star Trek

The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew's maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before!


At no point was I ever anywhere near being a "Trekkie". I have always been a huge fan of science fiction but always found Star Trek to be too much. I was also a die hard Star Wars fan. I loved the characters and chemistry of Star Wars along with the science fiction. I always found Star Trek too be too nerdy and silly. This movie changed all of that for me. It was awesome! The special effects kicked ass. The young up and coming cast filled with "the guy from that movie" or "the girl from that show" was so well cast and played off of each other exceptionally well. And the story managed to tame down the nerdiness. It was heavy science fiction but done in such an action packed way that you don't have to have a PhD in order to understand what's going on. It was also written in that sarcastic kind of a way that you find yourself laughing thoughout the movie and the references to catch phrases from Star Treks past was priceless.


I couldn't possibly recommend this movie more. I loved it and as I said I've never been a big fan of Star Trek, but I definitely will be moving forward with this cast and director.

Bruno

Sacha Baron Cohen's gay Austrian supermodel Bruno comes to the big screen with similar hijinks and celebrity interviews as seen on "Da Ali G Show."


The first thing that I can't help but wonder after seeing this movie is how in the blue hell it didn't get a NC-17 rating. I mean really . . . . . a penis speaks after spinning and slapping about. I would think that would be the bottom line guideline in terms of rating. Its inevitable that this movie will constantly be compared to Borat, which I absolutely loved (and as a bit of a history lesson was the movie that started this blog site people. Show the love!), so I'll go on record as saying that I didn't find this movie nearly as funny as Borat. Don't get me wrong, there were some really big laughs in it. Unfortunately, this movie played a hell of a lot more like that one "oh my god - why am I watching this" scene from Borat with the naked wrestling and running. 3/4 of this movie are more scenes like that. I found the other 1/4 very funny but really wasn't too entertained by the over pushing of the rest of the movie. I can't really recommend that anyone see this not.


This is one of those movies where you really have to know who you are recommending it to before doing so. I know people that would love this movie and I know people that would think I was out of my mind if I told them to see it. Just be forewarned that this movie is beyond raunchy in a full frontal male nudity kind of way and see at your own risk.

My Sister's Keeper

Sara and Brian Fitzgerald's life with their young son and their two-year-old daughter, Kate, is forever altered when they learn that Kate has leukemia. The parents' only hope is to conceive another child, specifically intended to save Kate's life. For some, such genetic engineering would raise both moral and ethical questions; for the Fitzgeralds, Sara in particular, there is no choice but to do whatever it takes to keep Kate alive. And what it takes is Anna.Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) and Anna (Abigail Breslin) share a bond closer than most sisters: though Kate is older, she relies on her little sister--in fact, her life depends on Anna.Throughout their young lives, the sisters endure various medical procedures and hospital stays--just another part of their close-knit family's otherwise normal life. Sara (Cameron Diaz), a loving wife and mother who left her career as an attorney to care for her daughter, is sometimes lost inside the single-minded caregiver she has become in her efforts to save Kate. Her strong, supportive husband, Brian (Jason Patric), is often rendered powerless and passive by his wife's strength and determination. And their only son, Jesse (Evan Ellingson), drifts, at times all but forgotten as Kate and Anna take center stage.Until Anna, now 11, says "no." Seeking medical emancipation, she hires her own lawyer (Alec Baldwin), initiating a court case that divides the family and that could leave Kate's rapidly failing body in the hands of fate.

I watched about 20 - 30 minutes of this movie while at work the last two shifts. From what I saw, the performances all seemed pretty solid and it showed all the different fractures that a family can make when going through things like what is shown in the movie. I'm sure that overall its a pretty good movie. I just don't for the life of me understand how anyone can watch it. It was possibly the saddest 20 - 30 minutes of my life. It was just downright gut wrenching. This is just an all out assault on your heart and tear ducts. The only good thing that came from watching the brief parts of this movie emotionally was that I realized that things could be so much worse.

So I guess that if you are down in the dumps about your life you should go check this one out. It will definitely help you get your head out of your ass. Outside of that - its really just two hours of your life spent crying.

Up

Up is a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell.

There are few things in life that you can count on. One of those things is that Pixar doesn't do bad movies. This is their tenth movie and if I was to rank all ten movies in order (I believe I smell a self-challenge there) the last place one would still have been one of the best movies to come out that particular year. Up is no different. In fact, Up might be the most touching of all the stories that Pixar have brought to life so far. Only Pixar could pull off a movie about a 78 year old man having to let go of his lost love that keeps the audience going back and forth between being about to cry and then laughing out loud all while being amazed by the beautiful animation. This is easily one of the best movies of the year so far. As for the 3D part of the movie, it wasn't a necessity whatsoever. I'm sure the movie would be just as amazing in 2D.

I don't just recommend that everyone check this out. I stamp it as a must see by all. Just be warned that it is incredibly sad at times.

The Ugly Truth

The battle of the sexes heats up in The Ugly Truth. Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl) is a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.


This is a great date movie. The chemistry between Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler was awesome. Even though you know damn well where this movie is going to end up from watching the commercial for it, the connection between the two of them makes you completely enjoy the short ride to get there. This movie also had a great collection of supporting characters that provided a lot of humor to go with Gerard Butler's great one liners. There is a restaurant scene in this movie with Katherine Heigl wearing vibrating underwear that is beyond hysterical. Just that one scene is worth the price of admission alone.


I fully recommend that people check this out. Its a great date movie for both guys and girls. Its also one of the funnier movies to come out in a summer full of comedic duds.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Who is Don Ready? Salesman? Lover? Song Stylist? Semi-professional dolphin trainer? Ready is all of the above, except for a dolphin trainer. When he's asked to help save an ailing local car dealership from bankruptcy, Ready and his ragtag crew descend on the town of Temecula like a pack of coyotes on a basket full of burgers. Selling, drinking, selling and going to strip clubs is their stock and trade. And they do it well. What Don doesn't expect is to fall in love and find his soul (cue heartfelt piano).


I watched exactly 23 minutes of this movie. It was stupid. Just plain stupid. Its another one of those sophomoric comedies that is pretty much targeted at an audience that is either too young or just old enough to see it. There were one or two one liners that made me chuckle but it was more the awkwardness of how they were thrown in there than actually being funny. This movie is literally built around Jeremy Piven's ability to launch in to convincing monologues. It gets old after about . . . . . . .23 minutes.


I wouldn't recommend anyone checking this bad boy out. Its another of those dime a dozen comedies that end up not being too funny.

G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra

From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite G.I. JOE team uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro and the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization to prevent them from plunging the world into chaos.

I was so geeked out when I heard that they were making this movie. I was a HUGE G.I. Joe fan when I was a kid and loved placing the names of all the characters with the marketing stuff that was coming out. There were a couple of years there where I used to carry my Snake Eyes figure with me everywhere. He was a favorite of mine on par with Yoda, people!!! Then, I saw the trailers for this movie and figured it was going to be horrible. However, I'm not sure if its because they made me have such low expectations or what but this was a simple summer popcorn movie action flick that ends up being easily enjoyable. Snake Eyes was worth the price of admission alone. The action was over the top and the script was beyond corny. However, its fun. Its not going to be winning any awards or gettting critical acclaim whatsoever, but its just plain fun. And for those of you that are G.I. Joe fans, this movie actually did an awesome job of laying the groundwork for character development with the intent of this becoming a movie franchise. The build up of the the villain trio of Cobra Commander, Destro and Zartan was great to the old school fans of the cartoon and toys. The only bad thing with this stuff was that I really wish they would have gone with a different mask for Cobra Commander. Just the geek in me talking out loud here.

I would recommend people checking this out. Its in no way a "good" movie, but it is a surprisingly good time at the movies considering how bad it looked. To quote my friend, "they should really kill the guy that put together the trailer for this movie."

The Taking Of Pelham 123

In The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages.

This is one of those great summer popcorn movies. There are good guys that you root for. There are bad guys that you love to hate. There is some good chases/action. The tension is tight enough to keep your eyes stuck to the screen. Its movies like these that make going to the movies in the summer so fun. John Travolta as the bad guy was completely worth the price of admission alone. Denzel Washington could have brought more to the movie, but the character was written pretty lame and restricted.

I would definitely recommend people checking this one out. Its a really fun watch and a nice break from reality for two hours.

Aliens In The Attic

Aliens in the Attic is an adventure/comedy about kids on a family vacation who must fight off an attack by knee-high alien invaders with world-destroying ambitions--while the youngsters' parents remain clueless about the battle.

Unless you have gone to see this movie with kids and are only there for their viewing entertainment - this is a truly horrible movie going experience for you. This movie is blatantly for kids and adults who are used to watching movies/television with their kids. If it wasn't for Stinka being such a wonderous part of my life - this movie would have been beyond painful. However, I was able to laugh at parts and just be happy that she was loving the movie. This is one of those movies that Hollywood makes just to make money off of parents having nothing else to do on a rainy day in the summer with their kids.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone who doesn't have kids check this out. If you do have them - go ahead and take them and just keep reminding yourself that its only an hour and half and enjoy the 3 - 4 laughs.

I Love You, Beth Cooper

Buffalo Grove High School valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust) has had quite an academic career... on paper, at least. Superlative student, conscientious young gentleman and patently obvious dork, Denis has played it safe and made it all the way to graduation day without ever having really experienced some of the joys of higher learning: breaking curfew, destruction of property, over-consumption of alcohol, fist fights, late nights, fast cars or faster women (actually, women of any sort). But all of that is about to change, and all by uttering five little words: "I Love You, Beth Cooper."

This is yet another of those movies that is just kind of there. It can't really decide what kind of movie it wants to be. It pulled up short of being a pushing the envelope sex comedy. But it went a little too far to be considered a teeny bopper movie. Its basically a movie that is meant for the type of nerdy guys that the main character is. Outside of that, there really is no hook that gets you with any of the characters and I found myself pretty bored and not caring. I laughed a couple of times but it was too few and far between to be considered a funny movie.

I wouldn't really recommend this movie to people. Its not that its flat out horrible. Its just not that good.