Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience

The Jonas Brothers head to the big screen— in 3-D—in a high-energy Walt Disney Pictures rockumentary feature film event. The film blends excerpts from the Brothers' red-hot "Burning Up" concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor—giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick.


I didn't see this. I probably never will. I was lucky enough that WW and friends took the bullet of making sure that Stinka and company got to check this out. Based on their combined thoughts of the adults the movie is somewhat watchable and nicely short. The children obviously loved it and thought it was just like the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana concert movie last year.


Needless to say - my recommendation pretty much means nothing regarding this. If you have kids in to the Jonas Brothers, take them to the movie and you will be considered royalty for at least a day. If you don't (or aren't in to themselves for some reason) why would you ever bother checking this out?

Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li

Powerful forces are converging on the streets of Bangkok. They are warriors, some of whom possess extraordinary abilities, all of whom are determined to see their side prevail. Some fight for us; the others for unlimited power. Now, they are preparing for the ultimate battle - of terror versus beauty, light versus darkness, and good versus evil.


This movie is pretty much garbage. Who honestly didn't expect that though? Its about 15 years too late as far as I'm concerned and while I admit that I remembered a lot of the characters, I really couldn't care less. This is the type of action movie that was made for the 80s. Even the fight scenes were disappointing. The worst part of the movie was the two cops in the movie. They might have been the worst acted cop cliche performances ever.


I would not recommend that anyone check this out. I really don't think too many people were going to anyway but it really is poop.

12 Rounds

The story centers on a New Orleans police detective (Cena) whose girlfriend is kidnapped. Harris plays an FBI agent and Gillen is taking the kidnapper role.


Can you tell how lame this movie is from the plot summary above? I knew this movie was going to suck and it totally did. The bottom line is that Stinka is a huge wrestling fan and John Cena is her favorite. She was so psyched to see this movie and totally loved it. The movie is essentially an 80s action throwback a la Segal, Stallone and Schwartzenneger with horrible acting, a totally predictable story line with a textbook bad guy and lots and lots of explosions.


I really wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. The only reason I was barely able to get through it was because Stinka was enjoying it so much. Outside of that - I would have pulled the plug 15 minutes in and I still would have known everything that happened.

The Pink Panther 2

The Pink Panther 2 stars Steve Martin as he reprises the role of intrepid-if-bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese) is forced to assign Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts. Martin is joined by his co-stars Jean Reno (as Ponton, his partner) and Emily Mortimer (as Nicole, the object of his awkward affections).

Wow! This was pretty disappointing. I know that this remakes of the Pink Panther completely pale in comparison to the originals, but I found the first one hysterically funny in a family film kind of a way. I actually saw it in passing the other day on tv and was laughing my ass off. This one . . . . . not so much. There were a couple of laughs, but nowhere near the first one. This sequel actually played as completely flat as I expected the first one to. This is really sad considering how laugh out loud funny (although stupid) the first one was. How do you lose something so simple?

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Kids might like it but there weren't even enough laughs to keep them fully interested.

Inkheart

Mortimer "Mo" Folchart and his 12-year-old daughter, Meggie, share an extraordinary gift for bringing characters from books to life when they read aloud. But there is a danger: when a character is brought to life from a book, a real person disappears into its pages. On one of their trips to a secondhand book shop, Mo locates a book he's been searching for since Meggie was three years old, when her mother, Resa, vanished into its mystical world. But Mo's plan to use the book to find and rescue Resa is thwarted when Capricorn, the evil villain of Inkheart, kidnaps Meggie and, discovering she has inherited her father's gift, demands that she bring to life his most powerful ally, the Shadow. Determined to rescue his daughter and send the fictional characters back where they belong, Mo assembles a small group of friends and family--some from the real world, some from the pages of books--and embarks on a daring and perilous journey to set things right.

Although Brendan Fraser really has become one of the most annoying, type cast actors, I was still able to enjoy this movie. It wasn't a great movie by any means. It was definitely watchable though. Even though, Helen Mirren was more annoying than Brendan Fraser and you pretty much knew everything that was going to happen - it accomplished the one really important thing for a fantasy movie to do. It took you to the other world and got you in to it. Pulling that off in fantasy movies is more important that getting you hooked in to the characters. If they would have done both - I would have absolutely loved this movie. Pulling off the one made it enjoyable enough to watch though.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out. Kids will like it and the parents won't bu writhing in pain watching it with them.

Confessions Of A Shopaholic

In the glamorous world of New York City, Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is a fun-loving girl who is really good at shopping—a little too good, perhaps. She dreams of working for her favorite fashion magazine, but can't quite get her foot in the door—until ironically, she snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine published by the same company. As her dreams are finally coming true, she goes to ever more hilarious and extreme efforts to keep her past from ruining her future.

This might be the worst litmus test failure ever . . . . . and it wasn't even at a theater! I was watching this movie online in my home and couldn't make it 20 minutes in to the movie. This might seriously be the most annoying "chick" flick of all time. It was grossly overacted and over the top and I can pretty much tell you everything that happened in the rest of the movie even though I will never watch the rest of it.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Ever. Its just plain painful and a total waste of time.

Madea Goes To Jail

After a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea (Tyler Perry) in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. A gleeful Joe (Tyler Perry) couldn't be happier at Madea's misfortune. But Madea's eccentric family members the Browns (David and Tamala Mann) rally behind her, lending their special "country" brand of support. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway (Derek Luke) is on the fast track to career success. But Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle - defending young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington (Keisha Knight Pulliam) - and asks his fiancée and fellow ADA Linda Holmes (Ion Overman) to fill in on his behalf. When Candace ends up in jail, Madea befriends the young woman, protecting her in a "motherly" way as only Madea can.


I apologize but I think that Madea is one of the funniest characters ever. I could watch her for hours. I know that at this point it is just plain insulting that Tyler Perry is using this Eddie Murphy like silliness to get butts in the seats for his movies or television shows at this point but I don't care. Its hilarious. This movie is no different. When its about Madea the whole audience is cracking up. When its about Rudy from The Cosby Show being a strung out junkie - nobody cares. I wonder if I was the only one that can still only see her lip synching on those classic episodes where the family sang to the grandparents. Anywho, I digress. This movie was basically half great and half snooze fest. On top of the laughs - Madea delivers a speech on how everyone should just stop playing themselves as victims when they are responsible for where they are in life that was nothing short of phenomenal.


I'd recommend this movie to anyone that is a Madea fan . . . . . . . or obviously a Tyler Perry fan. Even though the non-Madea down time is rough, it all comes roaring back the second she gets back on screen. If you aren't - I would stay as far away from this one as you did the others and try to find a sense of humor, people! How can anyone not find Madea hilarious!?!

Friday The 13th

Searching for his missing sister, Clay heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins that lie in wait behind moss-covered trees. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay pursues what few leads he has, with the help of a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are about to find much more than they bargained for. Little do they know, they've entered the domain of one of the most terrifying specters in American film history—the infamous killer who haunts Crystal Lake, armed with a razor-sharp machete... Jason Voorhees.

This was actually one of the better relaunch/remake movies to come out in a while. It was essentially a Friday The 13th that went back to the core of the original three movies before they started getting so absolutely ridiculous. It was an hour and a half of crazy killings. I remember back in the day when the best part of these movies was wondering how Jason was going to kill the victims and this movie was just like that. Its your typical horror movie where you have to throw any sense of logic/continuity out the window, but its pretty good once you do that.

I would recommend anyone who likes horror movies check this bad boy out. Its a throwback to the horror movies that weren't too smart or pulled their punches. This is the kind of horror movie that I grew up loving.

Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood stars in Gran Torino. Eastwood plays retired auto worker Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. The people he once called his neighbors have all moved or passed away, replaced by Hmong immigrants, from Southeast Asia, he despises. Resentful of virtually everything and everyone he sees, Walt is just waiting out the rest of his life...until the night his teenage neighbor Thao tries to steal his prized '72 Gran Torino, under pressure from Hmong gang-bangers. But Walt stands in the way of both the heist and the gang, making him the reluctant hero of the neighborhood--especially to Thao's mother and older sister, Sue, who insist that Thao work for Walt as a way to make amends. Though he initially wants nothing to do with these people, Walt eventually gives in and puts the boy to work, setting into motion an unlikely friendship that will change both their lives.

This movie is easily one of the best movies to come out in 2008. I can't believe how much I was sucked in to this movie right from the start. Clint Eastwood plays the greatest "old school" old man role I've ever seen. His remarks and anger are equal parts powerful and hysterical to the viewer. Watching him warm up to what he once hated more than anything was amazing. This movie made me appreciate and respect WW's father more than I already did and it speaks volumes on how detached our generation and more importantly the generation after ours (the kids) are in today's world. Its remarkable what a difference a generation can make. This movie was nothing short of phenomenal.

I don't just recommend that everyone check this out . . . . . it gets the Must See stamp, people. Get out there and check this one out.

The International

In The International, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing – even murder – to continue financing terror and war.

Oh my god this movie was horrible. I can't believe how completely lame this movie was. I'm still stumped. I watched the first 45 minutes of the movie and was going to try to tough out the rest before I found out that there was another hour to go. This is the most boring espionage/suspense movie I've ever seen. The worst part is that they totally lose you right off the bat. This is one of those movies where they try to get you all involved by abruptly starting the movie. Its one of those where if you weren't there to see the studio opening you would think you walked in 15 minutes late. From there, you are stuck watching all the characters be high strung and go blah blah blah having no clue whats going on.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Its horribly done and insanely boring for a "suspense" movie.

Fired Up!

Shawn Colfax (Nicholas D'Agosto) and Nick Brady (Eric Christian Olsen), the stars of the Gerald R. Ford High School football team, are dreading the prospect of another summer at football camp. When Nick hatches a scheme for the two to join their school's cheerleaders at cheer camp instead, they find themselves awash in a sea of young women. It all goes great until Shawn falls for Carly (Sarah Roemer), the head cheerleader who sees right through them.

I saw the preview for this and figured it was yet another one of those envelope pushing sex comedies (a la College, Sex Drive or Zach & Miri). I really don't like movies like that. The humor gets lost once you stop alluding to things and start actually showing them. It goes from watching a comedy to watching soft core porn and it ends up being simply not funny. I was working in the booth this week and decided to give this movie the 15 minute lithmus test as to whether or not I will end up ever bothering with the rest of the movie. I started watching about 30 minutes in to the movie and ended up watching most of the last hour of it. I was shocked at how it didn't push the envelope and how many times I was laughing out loud. It is by no means a good movie. Its pretty dumb honestly, but it does have a lot of laughs. Its kind of like that movie Bring It On from a couple of years ago. They actually refer to that movie numerous times during this one.

I would actually recommend that people check this out. I never thought I would be writing that. Its pretty funny in a silly way based on the parts I saw and worth checking out for some big laughs.

Crossing Over

Immigrants from around the world enter Los Angeles every day, with hopeful visions of a better life, but little notion of what that life may cost. Their desperate scenarios test the humanity of immigration enforcement officers. Crossing Over explores the allure of the American dream, and the reality that immigrants find – and create -- in 21st century L.A.

This is one of those movies that is just kind of there. Its not bad. Its not great. Its watchable. I found myself wondering how the hell they got this cast in to this movie that was never released wide. I also found myself wondering why this cast couldn't manage to make this movie any better. All of their performances are just like the movie . . . . . they are just there.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone paying to see this even via rental. If you happen to catch it on cable go ahead and check it out because there is no "need" to see this whatsoever.

He's Just Not That Into You

An all-star cast is featured in the stories of a group of interconnected, Baltimore-based twenty- and thirtysomethings as they navigate their various relationships from the shallow end of the dating pool through the deep, murky waters of married life. Trying to read the signs of the opposite sex, each hopes to be the exception to the "no exceptions" rule.

This is your textbook date movie. It has a portrayal of every type of "dysfunctional" relationship and pretty well developed characters. You find yourself rooting for some of them and hating some of them. You also know damn well how its all going to turn out and that makes the 2 hour plus running time a pretty big stretch. Even with the long running time, it is definitely a watchable and enjoyable movie. I love how its based on the age old premise that girls are told that if a boy treats you like crap it means he likes you. I have always thought that is the dumbest thing you could possibly tell a little girl and could totally see it screwing them for life. The opening scene of this movie where this is shown/explained is about as classic as the orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally.

I would recommend that people check this movie out. Its really not that painful of a movie for the guys that only go to see it because their girlfriend/wife wants them too and the women will love it.

Revolutionary Road

Based on the celebrated novel by Richard Yates, director Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road is the story of a young couple (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) trying to find fulfillment in an age of conformity. Trapped in a world of encoded convention, they dream without faith, as lies and self-deceptions build to explosive consequences.

This was one of the more powerful movies I've ever seen. It was done in such a way that it was an intense as a great horror or action blockbuster movie even though it was essentially a stream of fights between a couple. Honestly, this movie played out more like an off-broadway play than a movie. The chemistry between these two actors was amazing and I can't remember the last time that my eyes were that glued to the screen of such a "plain" movie. I can see them both getting nominated for their awesome performances and this should be in a dead heat with The Dark Knight for Best Score. Normally I would never acknowledge something like that but the random light piano playing really kept your nerves on end with the tension.

I strongly recommend everyone check this movie out. It is not a feel good movie by any means but is an incredibly powerful character drama that shouldn't be missed.

Defiance

Based on an extraordinary true story, Defiance is a tale of family, honor, vengeance and salvation in World War II. The year is 1941 and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. Managing to escape certain death, three brothers take refuge in the dense surrounding woods they have known since childhood. There they begin their desperate battle against the Nazis. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as brothers who turn a primitive struggle to survive into something far more consequential – a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones by saving thousands of others. At first it is all they can do to stay alive. But gradually, as whispers of their daring spreads, they begin to attract others – men and women, young and old – willing to risk everything for the sake of even a moment's freedom. Tuvia (Craig) is a reluctant leader and his decisions are challenged by his brother, Zus (Schreiber) who worries that Tuvia's idealistic plans will doom them all. Asael (Bell) is the youngest – caught between his brothers' fierce rivalry. As a brutal winter descends, they work to create a community, and to keep faith alive when all humanity appeared to be lost.

I really liked this movie. I kind of expected it to be long and dragged out but was pleasantly surprised. The sibling rivalry between Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber was great and the overall context of the story really brings you in to the movie. The build up of the different philosophies between the two brothers and how they interweave at times was very well depicted. I think the best part of the movie was how they managed to turn the forest they were hiding in into one of the main characters.

I would strongly recommend that everyone check this movie out. Its not a must see by any means but is a high quality watch if you have the time.