Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

It's the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus and assorted monsters have walked out of the pages of high school student Percy Jackson's Greek mythology texts and into his life. And they're not happy: Zeus' lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Even more troubling is the sudden disappearance of Percy's mother. As Percy adapts to his newly discovered status as a demi-god (his father is Poseidon), he finds himself caught between the battling titans of Mt. Olympus. He and his friends embark on a cross-country adventure to catch the true lightning thief, save Percy's mom, and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.


This was a fun watch. Is it a "great" movie or a well done movie? Not necessarily. Its a simple, fun watch. You can tell that it was the same director as the first Harry Potter movie because I felt the same way watching this as I did watching that. Another appropriate comparison would be Night At The Museum. Its the same kind of effects with historical (Greek mythology) references throughout the movie that actually make it educational at certain points. I had read the book and although they changed a lot of stuff, it was still lots of fun to watch. Are you getting my emphasis on its level of fun? Good. Just don't overanalyze it and enjoy it for what it is instead.


I would recommend this movie for people to check out. Its got good action, good character development, an easily followable story line even though its somewhat complicated material and kids and adults are sure to have fun watching it.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine follows a group of best friends who've become bored with their adult lives: Adam (John Cusack) has been dumped by his girlfriend; Lou (Rob Corddry) is a party guy who can't find the party; Nick's (Craig Robinson) wife controls his every move; and video game-obsessed Jacob (Clark Duke) won't leave his basement. After a crazy night of drinking in a ski resort hot tub, the men wake up, heads' pounding, in the year 1986. This is their chance to kick some past and change their futures – one will find a new love life, one will learn to stand up for himself with the ladies, one will find his mojo, and one will make sure he still exists!

I'll admit I didn't have too high expectations for this movie. I thought it might be good for a few small laughs - most of which were in the ads - and thats about it. I ended up being very surprised. The story of the movie is ridiculous. There is no effort put in to the time travel angle and it just sort of happens. I found myself actually appreciating that because it would have just been a lame attempt at science fiction and what not and taken away from the laughs. Instead they just sort of had it happen and went with it. The 80s nostalgia was HILARIOUS! The posters on the walls, the way every one was dressed, the music, and the ski patrols thinking that they were "Russkies" from watching Red Dawn too much was priceless. The relationships/dialogue between the four guys was great. However, I found that my favorite part of the movie was that there was a bellhop that was missing an arm in the present but had the arm in 1986 and the anticipation of the numerous times that it might have been when he loses it (both by the audience and the movie cast on screen) was hysterical.


I never thought I'd be writing this, but I highly recommend the everyone check this movie out for big laughs. There are some really raunchy sight gags and scenes so be warned. However, they don't ruin the overall movie.

She's Out Of My League

Kirk (Jay Baruchel), an average Joe, can't believe his luck. Though he's stuck in a seemingly dead-end job as an airport security agent, against all odds Molly (Alice Eve), a successful and outrageously gorgeous babe falls for him. Kirk is stunned. So are his friends, his family and even his ex-girlfriend. Now he has to figure out how to make the relationship work, even though he's the first to admit "She's Out of My League."


I thought for sure that this would be one of those "sex" comedies that would push the envelope too far and end up being disappointed. Not sure if it was based on what I was expecting or not, but I ended up really liking this movie. There were two sex related scenes that I wouldn't feel comfortable with the kids seeing, but outside of that the envelope wasn't pushed. The yapping back and forth between the group of friends was incredibly real and very funny. The supporting characters always make or break a movie like this for me and the ones here did a good enough job to make this a fun watch.


I would recommend people checking this movie out. I found it to be a lot funnier than I expected and enjoyed it a lot.

The Crazies

David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) is sheriff of Ogden Marsh, a picture-perfect American town with happy, law-abiding citizens. But one night, one of them comes to a school baseball game with a loaded shotgun, ready to kill. Another man burns down his own house…after locking his wife and young son in a closet inside. Within days, the town has transformed into a sickening asylum; people who days ago lived quiet, unremarkable lives have now become depraved, blood-thirsty killers, hiding in the darkness with guns and knives. Sheriff Dutton tries to make sense of what's happening as the horrific, nonsensical violence escalates. Something is infecting the citizens of Ogden Marsh... with insanity. Now complete anarchy reigns as one by one the townsfolk succumb to an unknown toxin and turn sadistically violent. In an effort to keep the madness contained, the government uses deadly force to close off all access and won't let anyone in or out – even those uninfected. The few still sane find themselves trapped: Sheriff Dutton; his pregnant wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell); Becca (Danielle Panabaker), an assistant at the medical center; and Russell (Joe Anderson), Dutton's deputy and right-hand man. Forced to band together, an ordinary night becomes a horrifying struggle for survival as they do their best to get out of town alive.


I really enjoyed this movie. I always feel like that makes me some kind of a sicko with all the violence and the killings but I have always liked zombie type movies. Even though they aren't necessarily zombies in this movie and its a biological weapon that a government plane's crash landing caused the whole thing, it still has that same feel. The infection starts . . . . . it spreads and gets worse . . . . . few are left uninfected . . . . . . they run from infected people. The government also trying to contain (aka kill everyone) just adds a whole other exciting level to the whole thing. There was one problem that I had with the movie. The biological weapon took over people based on being ingested through the water supply. At one point, the main guy kills one of the "zombies" by stabbing her open palm with a knife that has already been stabbed through his open palm. I'm just shooting here but wouldn't that direct blood transfer be enough for him to have the disease. I figured that was eventually going to play out and never did which led to me of course ranting about the silliness of that. Regardless,


I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone in to horror movies or zombie movies. They aren't necessarily zombies but you enjoy the same ride anyway.

Green Zone

During the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Damon) and his team of Army inspectors were dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission. Spun by operatives with intersecting agendas, Miller must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil for answers that will either clear a rogue regime or escalate a war in an unstable region. And at this blistering time and in this combustible place, he will find the most elusive weapon of all is the truth.


This was a really good political suspense drama. I had been knocking this movie for the last couple of months based on the ads for it that it was The "Bourne" Zone. It had the same actor, director and film style. Who were they trying to kid. (Side note - same thing goes for the forthcoming Robin Hood. Felt like I was watching a trailer for Gladiator with him wearing green and shooting arrows instead . . . . Gladiator Hood?) I could not have been more wrong. This movie was nothing like the Bourne movies but equally as enjoyable. Usually, heavy political action movies tend to fall short. This one did not. It was very believable with great performances across the board. You could totally buy Matt Damon in this role.


I would definitely recommend people checking this bad boy out. Regardless of whether you find the movie to be fact or fiction, it is definitely entertaining as hell.

Remember Me

In Remember Me, Robert Pattinson plays Tyler, a rebellious young man in New York City who has a strained relationship with his father (Pierce Brosnan) ever since tragedy separated their family. Tyler didn't think anyone could possibly understand what he was going through until the day he met Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through an unusual twist of fate. Love was the last thing on his mind, but as her spirit unexpectedly heals and inspires him, he begins to fall for her. Through their love, he begins to find happiness and meaning in his life.


This movie is nothing more than a wannabe Nicholas Sparks book/movie. Its all about family issues with the dad being emotionally disconnected, the sister being some kind of artistic savant and the brother having died a couple of years ago until a new love interest shows up and everything becomes okay but suddenly the main character dies at the end to gut wrenchingly remind us just how fragile life is. However, this movie makes Nicholas Sparks look beyond generous with the mudslide, car accident, or cancer deaths. I'm going to go ahead and spoil a major point of this movie because I think it is inhumane not to for anyone who would be devastated by it. The dude ends up being in one of the towers on the morning of 9/11. What the f were they thinking!?! I can't get over how many people are going to have a "girls night out" and go see hottie Edward from Twilight and get punched in the stomach over the loss of a brother, sister, father, mother, husband, wife, son or daughter on that day. I knew about it going in and still couldn't believe what I was watching as it all panned out. This is not the type of thing that you can throw in a movie and not let people know. This is not a proper swerve/sudden ending! You go in to see a "heartwarming romance" and have wounds torn back open and pounds of salt poured in to them.


I wouldn't recommend anyone seeing this movie. Its a textbook sapfest with a unecessary gut shot of an ending that will open a lot of wounds and thoughts after watching a movie that is totally not worth your time or money.

The Last Station

After almost fifty years of marriage, the Countess Sofya (Helen Mirren), Leo Tolstoy's (Christopher Plummer) devoted wife, passionate lover, muse and secretary—she’s copied out War and Peace six times...by hand!—suddenly finds her entire world turned upside down. In the name of his newly created religion, the great Russian novelist has renounced his noble title, his property and even his family in favor of poverty, vegetarianism and even celibacy. After she's born him thirteen children! When Sofya then discovers that Tolstoy's trusted disciple, Chertkov (Paul Giamatti)—whom she despises—may have secretly convinced her husband to sign a new will, leaving the rights to his iconic novels to the Russian people rather than his very own family, she is consumed by righteous outrage. This is the last straw. Using every bit of cunning, every trick of seduction in her considerable arsenal, she fights fiercely for what she believes is rightfully hers. A tale of two romances, one beginning, one near its end, The Last Station is a story about the difficulty of living with love and the impossibility of living without it.


I gave this movie the 30 minute lithmus test the other day. The movie did not remotely catch my interest at all. I will probably not be bothering to watch the rest of it. This is one of those movies that you know is "well done" and they were smart enough to cast Helen Mirren in it for the buzz that would come. At this point, she is like Judi Dench and by simply appearing in a movie will basically get nominated for lots of awards. There just wasn't anything that really hooked me in the part that I watched and I could kind of guess where things would end up just from the fraction of the movie that I had watched.


Since I didn't see the whole movie, I don't really think its my place to recommend or not. Just know that I have given this my stamp of "well done" movie that wasn't interesting enough for me to finish.

The Book Of Eli

In the not-too-distant future, across the wasteland of what was once America, a lone warrior must fight to bring civilization the knowledge that could be the key to its redemption.


Um . . . . . . . uh . . . . . . I don't really know how I felt about this movie. It was really good at times and then at other times it was about as entertaining as watching paint dry. Denzel Washington was good and Gary Oldman was awesome . . . . as always. I just feel like the directors were too high on themselves and the movie too often. It had this kind of annoying holier than thou attitude and made it king of annoying for big portions. The Max Max element was there and there are numerous points where this movie is crazy violent. The religious belief debate between Denzel and Gary Oldman is great. It was the dreary bla bla bla talking parts that held this movie back from being really great. Its still watchable but not as much as one would have hoped.


I would lukewarmly recommend this movie to people. If nothing else, its the first movie that has come out this year that didn't make me want to stab myself in the eyes. Just be sure to keep your expectations pretty low.

When In Rome

An ambitious young New Yorker (Kristen Bell), disillusioned with romance, takes a whirlwind trip to Rome where she defiantly plucks magic coins from a "foolish" fountain of love, inexplicably igniting the passion of an odd group of suitors: a sausage magnate (Danny DeVito), a street magician (Jon Heder), an adoring painter (Will Arnett) and a self-admiring model (Dax Shepard). But when a charming reporter (Josh Duhamel) pursues her with equal zest, how will she know if his love is the real thing?


This is one of those movies where you literally saw the whole thing just by watching the trailer for it. I really don't remember too many things that I hadn't seen footage of prior to sitting in the theater. Its totally formula in every way. However, it is somewhat watchable due to the supporting cast. I happen to find Kristen Bell pretty annoying and there was nothing to change my mind regarding that in this movie. I did like the absurd cast of characters that fall in love with her. They made it just above tolerable enough to make it to the end of the movie.


I really wouldn't recommend that anyone rush out there to see this. Ultimately, it is just a big waste of time. However, if you feel the need that you must see it based on the commercials it is just above tolerable.

Youth In Revolt

Starring Michael Cera and based on the acclaimed novel by C.D. Payne, Youth in Revolt is the story of Nick Twisp – a unique, but affable teen with a taste for the finer things in life like Sinatra and Fellini – who falls hopelessly in love with the beautiful, free-spirited Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday) while on a family vacation. But family, geography and jealous ex-lovers conspire to keep these two apart. With Sheeni’s encouragement, Nick abandons his dull, predictable life and develops a rebellious alter ego: Francois. With his ascot, his moustache and his cigarette, Francois will stop at nothing to be with Sheeni, and leads Nick Twisp on a path of destruction with unpredictable and uproarious consequences.


Yet another shining example of why NOT to go to the movies in January. This comedy isn't remotely funny. Michael Cera plays the same damn character again and has morphed in to being pretty damn annoying. If you see this, you basically just sit there for an hour and half asking yourself why are you watching it.


I wouldn't recommend that anyone wasting their time with this one. Its one of those movies that will just make you annoyed that you can never get those 2 hours back.

Shutter Island

From Martin Scorcese, two U.S. marshals, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), who are summoned to a remote and barren island off the cost of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island's fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane.


I loved this movie. I am absolutely shocked at how much I loved this movie. For the record, I called the big surprise twist 6 months ago when I first saw the trailer. I won't say what it is becuase if you don't expect it or have guessed it already it is one hell of a twist. However, I figured that knowing what was going to come would completely desensitize me towards giving a crap about the movie. I was dead wrong. Scorcese's film style in this movie made me unable to look away. I was so into watching the story unfold even though I knew where it was going to take me. That's awesome filmmaking, people! And even though it wasn't a scary movie there are 1 to 2 times in this movie where even the strongest minded of people will jump out of their chairs. This movie is one of the biggest rarities in Hollywood. Its a "psychological thriller" that sucks you in psychologically and is actually thrilling to watch.


I very strongly recommend that people check this movie out. Its the best movie to come out this year as far as I'm concerned.

From Paris With Love

A personal aide to the U.S. Ambassador in France, James Reese (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) has an enviable life in Paris and a beautiful French girlfriend, but his real passion is his side job as a low-level operative for the CIA. All James wants is to become a bona fide agent and see some real action. So when he's offered his first senior-level assignment, he can't believe his good luck - until he meets his new partner, special agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta). A trigger-happy, wisecracking, loose cannon who's been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack, Wax leads James on a white-knuckle shooting spree through the Parisian underworld that has James praying for his desk job. But when James discovers he's a target of the same crime ring they're trying to bust, he realizes there's no turning back...and that Wax himself might be his only hope for making it through the next forty-eight hours alive.


This is one of those movies where its as if they someone were able to transfer testosterone to film and then shoot it up there on the screen. This is literally a shoot em up movie. They basically go to one place, shoot the crap out of it, go somewhere else, shoot the crap out of that place, go somehwere else . . . . . and you pretty much get the drift. John Travolta is funny as the bad ass and there is a little bit of a story line thrown in there for you to follow but its essentially 90 minutes of shooting stuff.


I would recommend this movie to action junkies. I am sure that you would love it. Its not quality across the board by any means but is 90 minutes of satisfactory action.

Alice In Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is a magical and imaginative twist on one of the most beloved stories of all time. Johnny Depp stars as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska as 19-year-old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

This is one of those tough to review movies. Was it watchable and entertaining? Yeah. Was it a great and worthwhile movie? Not really. It was a visually intriguing movie that sped along on a fun little story. However, it was completely pointless across the board and basically a giant excuse for Johnny Depp to play the Mad Hatter. That's pretty much what I expected and it met my expectations because Johnny Depp was lots of fun to watch (honestly - when the hell is he not?). Helena Bonham Carter was also a lot of fun to watch as The Red Queen which was a surprising bonus because I'm not a big fan of her at all.

Would I recommend this movie? Still not so sure. If you just want to watch Johnny Depp play the Mad Hatter or see a movie similar to the two Narnia movies - then yes. If you are looking for a great movie or - even worse - have really high hopes for this movie, then no.

The Wolfman

Lawrence Talbot's childhood ended the night his mother died. After he left the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor, he spent decades recovering and trying to forget. But when his brother's fiancée, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt), tracks him down to help find her missing love, Talbot returns home to join the search. He learns that something with brute strength and insatiable bloodlust has been killing the villagers, and that a suspicious Scotland Yard inspector named Aberline (Hugo Weaving) has come to investigate. As he pieces together the gory puzzle, he hears of an ancient curse that turns the afflicted into werewolves when the moon is full. Now, if he has any chance at ending the slaughter and protecting the woman he has grown to love, Talbot must destroy the vicious creature in the woods surrounding Blackmoor. But as he hunts for the nightmarish beast, a simple man with a tortured past will uncover a primal side to himself... one he never imagined existed.

The best thing you can do regarding this movie is keep your expectations as low as I did. It ends up being a decent watch by doing that. This movie got pushed back over and over and every time that a big release like this gets pushed around like that you should always have bottom of the barrel expectations. The four main actors all put forth decent performances. And the Wolfman attack scenes were a lot more violent and gory than I expected. However, you would think that they could do a better job on the makeup in today's day and age. I was definitely disappointed by how Del Toro looked once he was the Wolfman although the transformation effects were pretty good. Weird way to screw the pooch there.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out. Again, its not bad. Its not great though either. Its a middle of the road movie that can be somewhat enjoyable as long as you don't have high expectations.