Hotel For Dogs

Hotel for Dogs stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle in a smart, funny comedy adventure that shows how far love and imagination can take you. When their new guardians forbid 16-year old Andi (Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce (Austin) to have a pet, Andi has to use her quick wit to help find a new home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and using Bruce's talents as a mechanical genius, transform it into a magical dog-paradise for Friday – and eventually for all Friday's friends. When barking dogs make the neighbors suspicious, Andi and Bruce use every invention they have to avoid anyone discovering who let the dogs in.

I am an admitted movie addict. The rule basically is that if I see the preview for it - I have to see the movie. God bless Stinka because if it wasn't for her I don't know how I would justify seeing this Nickelodean movies. What am I going to do in a couple of years? Anywho, this is your textbook family movie with kids and animals in it. The dogs are cute and funny. The kids have to stick together through the rough times and there is the inevitable happy ending. If you have kids - take them to see this. If you don't - run for the hills.

I wouldn't remotely recommend this movie to anyone without kiddies. The kiddies will love this movie though so if you have them you should definitely rent this. Stinka gave it a huge thumbs up.

The Uninvited

In the suspense thriller The Uninvited, Anna (Emily Browning) returns home after spending time in a psychiatric facility following her mother's tragic death and discovers that her mother's former nurse, Rachel (Elizabeth Banks), has moved into their house and become engaged to her father, Steven (David Strathairn). Soon after she learns this shocking news, Anna is visited by her mother's ghost, who warns her that Rachel has evil intentions. Together, Anna and her sister (Arielle Kebbel) must convince their father that his new fiancee is not who she pretends to be, and what should have been a happy family reunion becomes a lethal battle of wills between stepdaughters and stepmother.

Can we please stop with the Japanese remakes of PG-13 horror movies? The zone is so beyond flooded with them. And for the love of God - if you are going to make a "horror" movie . . . . make it rated R!!! Anywho, this movie could have actually been somewhat decent if they decided what kind of a movie they wanted to make. Without going to much in to spoiler territory, this movie is part Hand That Rocks The Cradle, part Sixth Sense, and then part Grudge/Ring. It would have been a fine movie if they wanted Elizabeth Banks to play the crazy lady moving in on the family. It would have been fine if the main girl ended up in a Sixth Sense type situation. It would have been fine if the freaky images that the main girl saw a la The Grudge/The Ring guided her to the end. However, the fact that they tried to mash all three together made this movie utterly absurd. I was even okay with the Hand That Rocks The Cradle/Sixth Sense combo. It was the creepy/freaky images portion of this movie that left you staring at the screen with a "What the hell" face on when the credits started rolling. Side note . . . . . nothing says getting back at your future stepmother that you suspect of killing your mom like taking the batteries out of her vibrator. That's like Revenge 101.

I wouldn't really recommend this movie to anyone. Its really not worth it . . . . .even for the "horror" junkies.

Bride Wars

Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) are best friends who since childhood have planned every detail of their respective weddings. At the top of their bridal "must have" list: a ceremony at New York's ultimate bridal destination, the Plaza Hotel. Now, at age 26, they're both about to get married; they're about to realize their dreams; and they're about to live happily ever after. Or maybe not... When a clerical error causes a clash in wedding dates - they're now to be married on the same date! - Liv, Emma and their lifelong friendship are put to the ultimate test. Liv, a successful lawyer who is used to getting what she wants, including the perfect job and the perfect man, won't settle for anything less than the perfect wedding she has dreamed of for years. Emma, a schoolteacher who has always been good at taking care of others, but not so much in looking after herself, discovers her inner Bridezilla and comes out swinging when her own dream wedding is imperiled. Now, the two best friends who'd do anything for each other, find themselves in a no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners struggle that threatens to erupt into all-out war.

Once again . . . . . I have a problem. That problem also includes seeing most chick flicks. I won't do Sex & The City or movies about traveling pants, but the funny trailered chick flicks fall in line with my movie going illness. This is your textbook chick flick. Its also pretty much everything that you saw in the trailer but longer. The movie really is completely silly and dumb, but there are some pretty big laughs spread throughout that make it somewhat watchable.

I wouldn't recommend anyone rushing out to rent this because its not that funny, but the laughs do make it somewhat worthwhile if this is up your alley.

Frost/Nixon

For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans.Likewise, Frost's team harbored doubts about their boss' ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation's greatest disgraces? Or would Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who'd built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity--ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth. Frost/Nixon not only re-creates the on-air interview, but the weeks of around-the-world, behind-the-scenes maneuvering between the two men and their camps as negotiations were struck, deals were made and secrets revealed...all leading to the moment when they would sit facing one another in the court of public opinion.

This was an exceptionally well done movie. The direction was great. The script was well written. The performances were phenomenal. I definitely see Frank Langhella getting nominated for a best actor oscar. The supporting roles of Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt were awesome. I'm not, nor will I ever be, a history/government buff. However, this movie completely sucked me in to wanting to learn more. The build up between Frost and Nixon was better than most boxing heavyweight fights. It was done so well that you are literally sitting on the edge of your seat for the final day of their interviews even though you know fully well how its going to turn out.

I fully recommend everyone checking this movie out. Its an excellent movie and is probably one of the best ones to come out last year.

The Wrestler

Back in the late '80s, Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey.Estranged from his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and unable to sustain any real relationships, Randy lives for the thrill of the show and the adoration of his fans. However, a heart attack forces him into retirement. As his sense of identity starts to slip away, he begins to evaluate the state of his life -- trying to reconnect with his daughter, and strikes up a blossoming romance with an aging stripper (Marisa Tomei). Yet all this cannot compare to the allure of the ring and passion for his art, which threatens to pull Randy "The Ram" back into his world of wrestling.

There's always one every year. Sadly, this was the one for me this year. The Wrestler is this year's winner of too much buzz ruining a movie for me. I know that Mickery Rourke's performance was great in this and the behind the scenes wrestling and has beens trying to hold on to past glory was awesome. Unfortunately, I found myself watching this movie wondering why everyone thought it was so great. I know that its my own fault and I hate it but it manages to happen to at least one movie every year. I actually named it the Mr. Holland's Opus effect years ago. I couldn't help wondering how Entertainment Weekly had this as their number one movie of the year the whole time watching it.

I'd still recommend people checking this out because Mickey Rourke's performance was really good but try to keep your expectations in check unlike me.

Notorious

Notorious is about the life of rapper Christopher Wallace a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. In just a few short years, The Notorious B.I.G. rose from the streets of Brooklyn to become one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. B.I.G. was a gifted storyteller; his narratives about violent life on the streets were told with a gritty, objective realism that won him enormous respect and credibility. His stories were universal and gave a voice to his generation.

This was an interesting watch for me having lived through all this stupid drama involving east coast vs west coast and remembering everyone talking about all this stuff. Outside of that part of watching it - this was a pretty crappy movie. It was totally overdramatized and sappy at the end. It also took waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to get to the parts that everyone wanted to watch. There was no reason for this movie to be two hours long.

I wouldn't have really recommended anyone rushing to check this out in theaters. It would probably make a decent rental though.

The Reader

The Reader opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from "The Odyssey," "Huck Finn," and "The Lady with the Little Dog." Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life – this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives.

Every year there is that movie that comes out that you know is a very well done movie, you know that it was made for award consideration and will probably get it, but you just don't really care for it or about it at all. This is that movie this year. Essentially, it was Kate Winslett having sex with a 16 year old for the first hour with him occasionally reading to her. The second hour was her on trial for Nazi war crimes and the guy being devastated by it . . . . . but still choosing to send tapes of him reading to her. I could see people finding artistic enjoyment in this movie, but personally, I didn't.

In theaters, I wouldn't really recommend people checking this out. With all of the amazing movies that are presently out there for award consideration - this was definitely the worst one and could pretty much wait for rental. Now that its on video, it won't hurt to check it out.

The Spirit

Adapted from Will Eisner's comic book series, The Spirit is written for the screen and directed by Frank Miller. It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as The Spirit (Gabriel Macht) to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His arch-enemy, The Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) has a different mission: he's going to wipe out Spirit's beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront... all the while facing a bevy of women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. Surrounding him at every turn are Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson), the whip-smart girl-next-door; Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson), a punk secretary and frigid vixen; Plaster of Paris (Paz Vega), a murderous French nightclub dancer; Lorelei (Jaime King), a phantom siren; and Morgenstern (Stana Katic), a sexy young cop. Then of course, there's Sand Saref (Eva Mendes), the jewel thief with dangerous curves. She's the love of his life turned bad. Will he save her or will she kill him?

This movie was downright horrid. I couldn't even make it through the first twenty minutes without pulling the plug. For the record - it was 18 minutes. This movie was incredibly schlocky and over the top. I get that its based on a graphic novel and what not but this was just plain visually silly. The opening fight scene between The Spirit and The Octopus was what made me end up leaving. I hate to admit it but I think Samuel Jackson has reached the plateau of most annoying/hated actor in Hollywood. I wanted to throw my soda at him.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Its a big piece of dung thrown up there on the screen and is a complete waste of your time . . . . . even the 19 minutes I watched.

Not Easily Broken

Not Easily Broken is an drama about love and family adapted from the book of the same name by renowned pastor and author Bishop T. D. Jakes.

I barely made it 20 minutes in to this movie. This is nothing more than a Tyler Perry knock off with a lot of over dramatic characters and waa waa about relationships. Even though I've reached a point where I'm getting tired of the constant flow of TPs, this movie made me remember how good their quality is at least. It was downright painful just watching that small portion of the movie.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Just wait like a month and there will be a new Tyler Perry movie out if these kinds of character dramas are up your alley.
Posted by Mr. Cinco

Yes Man

Jim Carrey stars as Carl Allen, a guy whose life is going nowhere—the operative word being "no"—until he signs up for a self-help program based on one simple covenant: say yes to everything...and anything. Unleashing the power of "YES" begins to transform Carl's life in amazing and unexpected ways, getting him promoted at work and opening the door to a new romance. But his willingness to embrace every opportunity might just become too much of a good thing.

This was a pretty funny movie. It wasn't as funny as I had hoped. I was pulling for something in the ballpark of Liar Liar. This was full of good laughs but not hysterical. It actually turned out to be a really good date movie. Jim Carrey and Zoey Deschannel were really good together and his zaniness played off of her greatly.

I would recommend people checking this one out. Its not a must see but is a worthy watch because even though its not all out hysterical, the laughs were pretty good.

Doubt

It's 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A vibrant, charismatic priest, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), is trying to upend the schools' strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep), the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the community, and indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James (Amy Adams), a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her guilt-inducing suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without a shard of proof besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn which threatens to tear apart the community with irrevocable consequence.

This was some of the most top notch acting I've ever seen. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was awesome as always as the younger priest who wants to update some old school customs. Amy Adams was great as the nervous new nun under a very strict rule. Meryl Streep was phenomenal as the strict principal of the school. She really took me right back to my grammar catholic school days. I saw Sister Helen Edward right up there on the screen. All three of them seem like locks to be nominated for oscars in my eyes and you might as well engrave Meryl Streep's name on the one for Best Actress.

I strongly recommend that everyone check out this movie. It could serve as a textbook for excellence in acting.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still is a reinvention of the 1951 classic. Keanu Reeves portrays Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor's appearance, a woman (Jennifer Connelly) and her young stepson get caught up in his mission – and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described "friend to the Earth."

This movie was pretty much poop. It had all the potential in the world . . . . . at least from a visual effects standpoint but ended up totally missing the boat. These were the kind of visual effects you would find on a NBC miniseries. Add in the fact that there really is no emotional hook whatsoever along with the always atrocious Keanu Reeves, there really isn't much to write home about regarding this one. Even the big robot guy with the laser eye that could have been so awesome comes across as just plain silly. Daryl Hannah looked more intimidating in Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman than the robot did in this.

I wouldn't really recommend this movie to anyone. It would even be a tough sell for rental.

The Tale Of Despereaux

Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, raucous laughter aplenty and gallons of mouth-watering soup. But a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, the princess filled with longing and the townsfolk despondent. All hope was lost in a land where sunlight disappeared and the world became dreary gray. Until Despereaux Tilling was born... A brave and virtuous mouse, Despereaux is simply too big for his small world. Though tiny, wheezy and saddled with comically oversized ears, Despereaux refuses to live a life of weakness and fear...believing he was destined to be celebrated in the tales of chivalry he so adores. When he's banished from his home for not following the rules that society expects of a mouse, Despereaux befriends fellow outcast Roscuro, a good-hearted rat who can't bear to look in the mirror and hopes to live far from the grim underground of his kind. While Despereaux begins his noble quest to rescue Pea--a princess who can't see beyond her distorted view of the world--his pal Roscuro receives a painful rejection from her highness that sets him on a course of self-destruction. Along their parallel adventures, the two encounter colorful characters from a serving girl who wishes to be a princess to the evil leader of the sewer rats, who plots revenge on humans from his fiefdom in the subterranean shadows he relishes but Roscuro can't abide. From the highest turrets of the glittering castle to the dankest dark of Dor's sewers, friendships will be tested as Despereaux and Roscuro embark upon a journey that will change the way they look at their world--and themselves--forever. In this tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption, one tiny creature will teach a kingdom that it takes only a little light to show that what you look like doesn't equal what you are.

Was that plot summary long enough for you? Therein lies the problem with this movie. There was way too much going on and way too much information crammed in to your brain for a kids movie about a curious mouse. The other problem with this movie was that it wasn't just about Despereaux. I went to see this with two ten year olds and two six year olds. When I tell you that the difference for the five of us between when the movie was about Despereaux's tale and the movie was about one of the other three parralelling tales was like night and day. We loved Despereaux but couldn't care less about all the others. Despereaux was cute and entertaining (especially for kids) while the other tales were way too involved (and way over the kids heads). It wasn't necessarily a bad movie. It was just too much for a kids/family movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone rushing to see this out with the kiddies. You're probably better off waiting to see if the other family fare is more entertaining.

Bedtime Stories

Bedtime Stories is an adventure comedy starring Adam Sandler as Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman whose life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. When he tries to help his family by telling one outlandish tale after another, it's the kids' unexpected contributions that turn all of their lives upside down.

This is one of those movies where you essentially saw the movie by watching the trailer for it. There was nothing different or unexpected whatsoever. Its basically a watered down Adam Sandler movie so that younger kids can enjoy it. Stinka loved it and honestly that's all that really mattered to me while watching this. There were your usual, occasional laughs during the movie and it wasn't unbearable by any means. It was actually pretty watchable for adults, but this movie was blatantly made for the kids and they will definitely end up enjoying it.

I would recommend taking the kiddies to check this one out. You probably won't enjoy it nearly as much as they do but you can enjoy the smiles on their faces.