Tangled

When the kingdom's most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) hides out in a mysterious tower, he's taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn's curious captor, who's looking for her ticket out of the tower where she's been locked away for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with a super-cop horse, an over-protective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. This is easily the best Disney "princess" movie since The Little Mermaid and Beauty & The Beast. The songs are great and catchy. The background character support tons of humor. The animal sidekicks (chameleon and horse) completely steal the show. The chemistry between the two main characters is great and you have no control over rooting for them. The animation was also very well done (although this is yet another prime example of how 3D is nothing more than a price hike for the most part). I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I would absolutely recommend this movie to everyone. Kids will love it (especially the girls!). Adults will love it too.

Black Swan

Black Swan follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter's professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her. This was an incredibly well done movie on many different levels. The way it was filmed and the use of cameras kept you very involved in the story as it developed. The sound that would creep up whenever something weird was going to happen to Portman was as exciting as the smoke monster noise on Lost. The parallel of the ballet performances story being the same thing happening to Portman's character was so well written. All of this doesn't come close to being the best part of the movie though. That would be the constantly unnerving psychological suspense that keeps you hanging on to every scene dying to know how its all going to play out. There are just random what the hell moments throughout the movie that keep you on the edge of your seat. Its great to see Portman back to the great acting that she is capable of. She never should have let George Lucas direct her through romantc dialogue scene. Both her and the movies should be up for a lot of year end awards. I absolutely loved this movie but can't really recommend it to everyone. It is totally not a mainstream movie. Its very artsy and is a complete mindscrew at times, but this type of movie would have to be your cup o tea to enjoy it like I did.

Fair Game

As a covert officer in the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division, Valerie (Naomi Watts) leads an investigation into the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Valerie's husband, diplomat Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), is drawn into the investigation to substantiate an alleged sale of enriched uranium from Niger. But when the administration ignores his findings and uses the issue to support the call to war, Joe writes a New York Times editorial outlining his conclusions and igniting a firestorm of controversy. Soon after, Valerie's covert status is reported by a high-profile Washington journalist. With her cover blown and her overseas contacts placed in mortal danger, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life collapse. After years serving the government, Valerie--a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record--now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her family. I liked this movie alot. I was expecting one of those political suspense movies but got a political drama that turned in to a pretty powerful family drama with the wife and husband's reaction to how things played out. Both performances were great, the pacing was really good and it was done well enough that someone with zero interest in politics was still hooked by the movie. Those of you with interest in politics will probably like this movie even more. I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out. It didn't open too wide, but its a good enough movie for the trip to the theaters.

All Good Things

Inspired by the most notorious missing person's case in New York history, All Good Things is a love story and murder mystery set against the backdrop of a New York real estate dynasty in the 1980s. The drama portrayed in Jarecki's film was inspired by the story of Robert Durst, scion of the wealthy Durst family. Mr. Durst was suspected but never tried for killing his wife Kathie who disappeared in 1982 and was never found. The trailer made this movie look like a really good/creepy suspense movie. Unfortunately, it totally wasn't. First, it took waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to actually go anywhere. Then it got really good for a bit in the middle with the two main characters fighting and the tension really started to build and then I don't know what the hell happened. I suddenly felt like I was watching a different movie and lost all interest in how it turned out. This would have been a much better made for tv half a movie. I wouldn't recommend anyone checking this one out. It disappointingly ends up just kind of being there.

The Tourist

The Tourist revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.


This movie was fun. But not the type of fun you would expect. It's really not too actiony at all. And at times I definitely felt as though I should be bored - but I wasn't because a good amount of tension and intrigue was there without being able to "see" it taking place. Not sure if that makes any sense. The chemistry between Depp and Jolie was very believable. There was good laughs sprinkled in with the witty script and it was nice to see Depp playing a "normal" guy for once. No makeup. No crazy costumes. Just him. I feel like you would have to go back to 21 Jump Street at this point to find that.


I would definitely recommend people checking this out. It's a nice, light watch that you can just kind of sit back and enjoy for a little less than two hours.

Yogi Bear

Jellystone Park has been losing business, so greedy Mayor Brown decides to shut it down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors -- and, even worse, Yogi and Boo Boo will be tossed out of the only home they've ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove that he really is "smarter than the average bear" as he and Boo Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith to find a way to save Jellystone Park from closing forever.


This was a rough one. I pretty much expected it to be just like Alvin & The Chipmunks, but it was worse. Why do they insist on taking things that I liked from my childhood and killing them? Don't get me wrong. Young kids will probably love this. Unfortunately, there is next to nothing there for older kids or teh adults that take them. It was very forced, you want to kill the actual "actors" in the movie and I probably would have outright left if it wasn't for the one or two laughs from Boo-Boo.


I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this out. Again, what did I expect? Not much. Kind of got less though. Sad.

Skyline

In the sci-fi thriller Skyline, strange lights descend on the city of Los Angeles, drawing people outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the earth.


Holy nosedive, Batman!!! This movie had a very simple premise. Aliens invade. Humans fight back. Not that tough of a concept. Somehow they royally botched it though. It started out like Independence Day . . . . . turned in to Starship Troopers and ended like Cabin Fever. What is Cabin Fever? Exactly!!! For those of us tortured enough to see it, it was a horror movie that without about 10-15 minutes left it seemed as if the directors just kind of filmed what they wanted for their own senses of humor at that moment sans script. That is really the only way to describe how this huge turd ended. I just kind of sat there with my mouth wide open for a good 5 minutes after it was over.


I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Actually, I'm wrong. You should see it. I want to have friends that have the same WTF feeling I have right now.

How Do You Know

Lisa (Witherspoon) is a woman whose athletic ability is the defining passion of her life, having been her focus since early childhood. When she is cut from her team, everything she has ever known is suddenly taken from her. Not knowing what to do, she stumbles toward regular life. In this mode, she begins a fling with Matty (Wilson), a major league baseball pitcher, a self-centered ladies man – a narcissist with a code of honor. George (Rudd) is a straight-arrow businessman whose complicated relationship with his father, Charles (Nicholson), takes a turn when George is accused of a financial crime, even though he's done nothing wrong. Though he may be headed to jail, George's honesty, integrity, and unceasing optimism may be his only path to keeping his sanity. Before Lisa's relationship with Matty takes root, she meets George for a first date on the worst evening of each of their lives: she has just been cut, and he has just been served. When everything else seems to be falling apart, they will discover what it means to have something wonderful happen.


I gave this movie the 20 minute lithmus test and barely made it. I can't believe how annoying and unhooking this movie was. Look at the cast. Look at the director. I am usually a sucker for romantic comedies. However, this movie was so bad that I found myself rooting against the characters after only 15 minutes. Just plain bad.


I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering to watch this. I know I will never bother watching the rest of it because I couldn't care less if any of the build up I saw works out for any of them.

The Fighter

The Fighter is a drama about boxer Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, Micky's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.


This was a really entertaining movie. I wouldn't go putting it on my top ten list or throwing Oscar buzz out there for the movie though. The performances yes. The movie no. Christian Bale should probably be a lock for Best Supporting Actor. Melissa Leo also could easily be nominated. Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams were also good but didn't have to bring as much to their characters as the other two. You really get hooked in to the crazy family dynamics in this movie and root for Mark Wahlberg's character to make it and for Christian Bale to make a turnaround.


I would definitely recommend people checking this one out. It is one of the few movies out there for the holiday season that are actually worth the time and money.

Hereafter

Hereafter tells the story of three people who are touched by death in different ways. George (Matt Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cecile De France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus, a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might--or must--exist in the hereafter.


I'm not sure if it was that I had low expectations for this or not, but I ended up really liking it. I liked how there were three completely seperated stories that came together. I liked the rotating through them during the whole movie making the paths crossing that much more enjoyable. I liked the three very believable performances from Matt Damon, the french woman and the kid. I really liked the tsunami effects in the opening scene. That was some amazing stuff.


I would definitely recommend people checking this out. I feel that every other Clint Eastwood movie is good. Mystic River was amazing. Changeling not so much. Gran Torino was awesome. Invictus not so much. Ecen though this movie isn't remotely as good as Mystic River or Gran Torino, this movie is one of Clint's better efforts.

The Switch

Jennifer Aniston stars alongside Jason Bateman in this offbeat comedy as Kassie, a smart, fun-loving single woman who, despite her neurotic best friend Wally's (Bateman) objections, decides it's time to have a baby. Even if it means doing it by herself... with a little help from a charming sperm donor (Patrick Wilson). But, unbeknownst to her, Kassie's plans go awry because of a last-minute switch that isn't discovered until seven years later when Wally finally gets acquainted with Kassie's cute--though slightly neurotic--son.


This is one of those movies that I was confused about. I enjoyed it - mostly because of Jason Bateman and the kid - but the movie really is one of those just kind of there movies. Jennifer Aniston continues to play Rachel from Friends. Juliette Lewis is beyond annoying as the best friend. Jeff Goldblum is annoying and useless. But there was something about Jason Bateman and the kid and their connection that made me care where it was going even though you pretty much know from the trailer how its going to go.


I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out. Its not a must see by any means but there are much worse things out there.

Jackass 3D

Johnny Knoxville and his buddies are up to their daredevil comic antics again. And this time they're coming at ya' in 3D.


This movie is just like the others and the tv show. When it is the funny gags, there are few things that make me laugh harder. The high five, jet stream, midget bar fight and electric avenue bits made me belly laugh. Tears were streaming down my face. Unfortunately, the other half is filled with some of the grossest stuff I've ever seen. The shitting, peeing, sweat drinking and penis play are things that I would love to not have in my memory forever. Especially with the 3D and the slow motion. Some of that stuff is life scarring. A perfect example of the clash is the porta potty bungee bit. Hilarious stunt and priceless watching the look on the dude's face is more than funny enough. Then you find out that it's filled with feces and it starts flying all over the place.


Regardless, I fully recommend this to those of you who have enjoyed the others. The rest of you should stay as far away as possible.

The Next Three Days

Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.


This movie was a great story and a fun ride. Sure it is beyond unlikely that someone would b able to pull this off. However, it is a movie like Taken, Edge Of Darkness and Death Sentence where u find yourself indentifying with the main character and "buying in" because you would want to do the same thing for your loved ones.


I would definitely recommend people checking this out. The tension was great and made it a really enjoyable watch.

Morning Glory

When hard–working TV producer Becky Fuller (McAdams) is fired from a local news program, her career begins to look as bleak as her hapless love life. Stumbling into a job at "Daybreak" (the last–place national morning news show), Becky decides to revitalize the show by bringing on legendary TV anchor Mike Pomeroy (Ford). Unfortunately, Pomeroy refuses to cover morning show staples like celebrity gossip, weather, fashion and crafts – let alone work with his new co–host, Colleen Peck (Keaton), a former beauty queen and longtime morning show personality who is more than happy covering morning "news." As Mike and Colleen clash, first behind the scenes and then on the air, Becky's blossoming love affair with fellow producer, Adam Bennett (Wilson) begins to unravel – and soon Becky is struggling to save her relationship, her reputation, her job and ultimately, the show itself.


This movie is formula in every way. And even though I heard nothing but the worst reviews/buzz going in, I kind of enjoyed it. I thought that the three main characters were all very real. I fully bought in to Rachel McAdams trying so hard character and found myself rooting for her to pull it all off. There was good chemistry/banter between all the morning show on screen talent and behind the scenes talent.


I would recommend people checking this out. Its not nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be and there are much worse things that you could be seeing at theaters.

127 Hours

127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet?

This was a powerful movie. I have every intention of buying this a couple of months from now and any time I think things are really bad and overwhelming, I'm going to pop this movie on and know that things could always get worse and you can never give up. It's like really that motivating. The story that it was based on is remarkable. The direction by Danny Boyle is awesome between the different camera angles on James Franco and the memories he's going through while being pinned there . Please be warned that towards the end of this movie, it gets BEYOND gruesome to watch. It's like a scene out of the Saw franchise in the middle of this movie. I could barely watch considering that it was "real".

I would absolutely recommend that everyone check this bad boy out. I have no doubt that this will be up for a bunch of awards at the end of this year. It is a very inspirational watch.

Love & Other Drugs

Hathaway portrays Maggie, an alluring free spirit who won’t let anyone - or anything - tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie (Gyllenhaal), whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie’s evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love.

This movie should have been called Sex & Other Stuff. Good lord. I can't remember the last time I saw this much casual nudity is a non-college sex comedy. Seriously. Anne Hathaway really wants to shed here Princess Diaries image apparantly. Anywho, this ended up being a pretty good "date" movie with two really screwed up people slowly but surely falling in love with each other. I bought the characters and their outlooks on lives and the curve balls that you get thrown. I enjoyed the movie.

I would recommend people checking this out. It's not a great movie but is a good watch.

Burlesque

Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club's proprietor and headliner. Burlesque's outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day. Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician. With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal...

This movie features some of the lamest acting ever. Christina Aguilera is a phenomenal singer/dancer but no acting ability. Cher . . . . . . . . . is like a billboard for botox and has to be 704 years old at this point. The only good performance on an acting level - as always with him - was Stanley Tucci. That all being said, I for some reason really enjoyed this movie. I liked the performances. I liked the flow of the really simple story. I'm sure it helped that I had really low expectations for it.

I would strangely recommend people checking this out. Its nowhere near up to the level of recent musicals greatness (excluding Nine), but I still enjoyed it. Keep your expectations low. As for the PG-13 rating, this is easily as close to nudity throughout a movie I've seen with a PG-13 rating so be warned if you were interested in taking older children.

Faster

After 10 years in prison, Driver (Dwayne Johnson) has a singular focus - to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment. Now a free man with a deadly to-do list in hand, he's finally on his mission...but with two men on his trail - a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) just days from retirement, and a young egocentric hitman (Oliver Jackson-­Cohen) with a flair for the art of killing and a newfound worthy opponent. The hunter is also the hunted. It's a do or die race to the list's finish as the mystery surrounding his brother's murder deepens, and new details emerge along the way hinting that Driver's list may be incomplete.

This movie is exactly what you expect. They waste no time building up a story and just kind of throw it to you inbetween The Rock (you can try calling him Dwayne Johnson all you want - I ain't buying) knocking people off his payback list. Is it good? I wouldn't go that far. I'd be willing to say it's O.K. There definitely could have been A LOT more action than they had here and the big swerve towards the end could not have been less surprising if they tried. I really think that what holds this movie up is The Rock. This guy is just fun to watch. He always has been.

I wouldn't really recommend that people check this out. It's not really worth the trip to theaters or the money. I would wait for dvd or cable.