Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.

This movie was a lot of fun. It had many flaws if you are looking for a well made movie, but the performances of Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law were great. The chemistry between the two of them was amazing. Right off the bat, they played off of each other phenomenally well. There was a winding story line that if you really end up analyzing it would probably make the movie stupid and sucky. However, I chose to just enjoy this for the holiday popcorn movie that it was and really enjoyed it. I also liked that they had the gusto to not only put this movie out there, but to be blatantly building towards a built in sequel all along as well. I'm already looking forward to it.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out. Its a great watch as long as you don't over analyze it. Just enjoy the ride. Downey and Law were really great together.

Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

There have been many great movie sequels. There have even been prequels. Now, get ready for the world's first "Squeakquel," in which Alvin, Simon and Theodore finally meet their match – and maybe more – in the newly arrived female trio, The Chipettes.

This movie is exactly what you would expect it to be. Its a replica of the first one. They sing some current songs. There are a few chuckles for the adults and kids are guaranteed to love it. The best part of the movie is that its like an hour and 20 minutes long.

If you liked this first one, you will enjoy this one just as much.I would recommend that anyone with kids (or adults that liked the first one) bite the bullet and check this out. Its too short to be overly painful and they will absolutely love it.

An Education

It's 1961 and attractive, bright 16-year-old schoolgirl, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is poised on the brink of womanhood, dreaming of a rarefied, Gauloise-scented existence as she sings along to Juliette Greco in her Twickenham bedroom. Stifled by the tedium of adolescent routine, Jenny can't wait for adult life to begin. One rainy day, her suburban life is upended by the arrival of an unsuitable suitor, 30-ish David (Peter Sarsgaard). Urbane and witty, David instantly unseats Jenny's stammering schoolboy admirer, Graham (Matthew Beard). To her frank amazement, he even manages to charm her conservative parents Jack (Alfred Molina) and Marjorie (Cara Seymour), and effortlessly overcomes any instinctive objections to their daughter's older, Jewish suitor. Just as the family's long-held dream of getting their brilliant daughter into Oxford seems within reach, Jenny is tempted by another kind of life. Will David be the making of Jenny or her undoing?

This was a really good character drama. Every character seems very genuine and you could totally see Jenny and her parents being "seduced" by David. You know that somehow its going to fall apart and feel for all of them as it does and watching them deal with it.

I'd definitely recommend people checking this movie out. Its a great watch. I wouldn't put in on my 10 best list like a lot of critics have, but it is absolutely not a waste of your time.

The Blind Side

A homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, Oher (Quinton Aaron) is taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential on and off the football field. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own.Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

This is easily the feel good movie of the year. I had laughed watching the marketing of this movie and can't remember the last time that a movie reached every possible demographic like this. They had the whole Oprah/female circuit with the story of the mom. Its about football so the guys are in too. They pushed the hell out of the funny little brother so kids are in as well. And then when you factor in how senior citizens LOVE true stories, there is nobody that wasn't looking forward to seeing this movie. I am a HUGE football fan and leading up to last years draft this was actually one of the guys I wanted the Jets to move up and draft based on the film I had seen of him. That was before I knew all the background story. Now I might go out and get myself a Michael Oher jersey. How can this story not make you feel great to be a human being? Every performance in this movie was on point. This is easily Sandra Bullock's best performance to date.

I am giving this movie the stamp of must see. It is a fabulous movie. It is a great story. It makes you laugh, cry and leaves you feeling good.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Mr. and Mrs. Fox (Clooney and Streep) live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson). But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers - Boggis, Bunce and Bean - who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr. Fox at any cost.

I really enjoyed this movie. The animation was nothing short of phenomenal. The characters' voices were perfectly cast and the story was beyond quick witted and fast paced. The only problem with this movie is that its an animated movie that really isn't for kids. Its not that the kids won't like it. They probably will just because of the different kind of animation. However, the quick banter and story will probably shoot right over their heads. That being said, I liked it alot and could really see any adults taking kids to see this enjoying it much more than their children.

I would recommend people checking this out. Just be warned that if you are going simply to take your kids to the new animated movie, you should probably check out one of the other ones. If you are going so you can both enjoy the movie - and maybe you could get more entertainment than the usual child's fare -than this is the one for you.

The Men Who Stare At Goats

Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy’s thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to accompany him on the search. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django's New Earth Army and Hooper's personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible.

I think this movie was ruined by my high expectations. The marketing for it made it look laugh out loud hilarious. It was not. Honestly, it was only watchable because of the talent involved. I was able to push through thinking that it would get better. It never really does though. It ends up just kind of being there. The only good laughs in the movie come from how downright silly whats going on is. It was a major disappointment.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this movie out. Its ends up being one of those movies that is just kind of there and I really can't figure out how this cast was gathered for this movie at all.

Brothers

Shipped out to Afghanistan, Sam is presumed dead when his Black Hawk helicopter is shot down in the mountains. At home in suburbia, the Cahill family suddenly faces a shocking void, and Tommy tries to fill in for his brother by assuming newfound responsibility for himself, Grace, and the children.But Sam is not dead; he and a fellow soldier have been captured by Taliban fighters. In Afghanistan's harsh, remote Pamir Mountains, Sam is subjected to traumas that threaten to rob him of his very humanity. At the same time that Sam's sense of self is being destroyed overseas, Tommy's self-image is strengthening at home. And in the grief and strangeness of their new lives, Grace and Tommy are naturally drawn together. Their longstanding frostiness dissolves, but both are frightened and ashamed of the mutual attraction that has replaced it. When Sam unexpectedly returns to the States, a nervous mood settles over the family. Sam, uncharacteristically withdrawn and volatile, grows suspicious of his brother and his wife. Their familiar roles now nearly reversed, Sam and Tommy end up facing the ultimate physical and mental challenge when they confront each other.

This is one hell of a character drama. All three actors put forth great performances and were completely believable. I could never imagine having to go through what Tobey Maguire's character went through and the dementia that something like that would cause. As a movie goer, this is one hell of a heavy watch though. You feel exhausted and spent after watching it because it is so real and jarring.

I'd recommend people checking this out. Just be warned that it is a very heavy watch. With this being such a down year for acting, I could see some of them maybe being considered for awards.

New Moon

In the second installment of Stephenie Meyer's phenomenally successful "Twilight" series, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of—only to find herself in greater peril than ever before.

Let's be perfectly clear that these movies are blatantly made for the fanbase. These are not stand alone movies that should be reviewed based on merit or Academy consideration. This movie was made to win only the MTV Movie Award, people! Its just like the first one with absolutely horrid acting and even worse writing. But again - none of that was a factor when making this movie. This movie was made for the die hard fan base and although some of them may be willing to admit how cheesy the movie is - absolutely none of them are or will be disappointed.

I would never recommend this movie to anyone outside of the Twilight fan base. It is a downright awful movie. If you are a fan though and by some remote chance in hell haven't seen it already - go right ahead and do so. You'll love it and will immediately start counting down to seven months from now when the third one comes out.

The Princess & The Frog

The Princess and the Frog is a tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. The Princess and the Frog marks the return to hand-drawn animation.

Disney has finally gone back to its roots with awesome success. Disney was at its best when it would churn out one of these a year. They had that amazing stretch with The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty & The Beast. Then it kind of faded a little bit with The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan and Tarzan. They were all still great and then Disney fell in love with Pixar and stopped making these types of movies that inevitably become classics just because of the mix of great storylines for kids, awesome sidekick characters and original music/dance scenes mixed in. The Princess And The Frog returns to that formula in every way. They can go ahead and get these characters walking the streets of Disney World. Its not quite on par with those four absolute triumphs that I mentioned, but its pretty close and thats very impressive considering the long layoff. I hope that Disney can capitalize on this and keep making these types of movies to go along with Pixar's greatness. It would be awesome to have an Up and a Princess And The Frog every year.

I fully recommend this movie. Its a great trip to the movies for kids and adults. Probably the best universal option that you'll have for the holidays.

Bandslam

Aly Michalka and Vanessa Hudgens join Gaelan Connell, Scott Porter and Lisa Kudrow in the music-driven comedy Bandslam. When gifted singer-songwriter Charlotte Banks (Michalka) asks new kid in town Will Burton (Connell) to manage her fledgling rock band, she appears to have just one goal in mind: go head-to-head against her egotistical musician ex-boyfriend, Ben (Porter), at the biggest event of the year, a battle of the bands.Against all odds, their band develops a sound all its own with a real shot at success in the contest. Meanwhile, romance brews between Will and Sam (Hudgens), who plays a mean guitar and has a voice to die for. When disaster strikes, it's time for the band to make a choice: Do they admit defeat, or face the music and stand up for what they believe in?

Never in my life have I been more embarassed or shocked to write something like what I'm about to write. Here goes. I loved this movie. Its out there. I can't take it back. Everyone reading this will know now. I loved Bandslam. Its beyond formula. Its beyond cliche in every way possible. Its a girly teeny bopper movie. And I loved it. This will forevermore be on my top ten list of guilty pleasure movies. I don't know if I loved it just because Stinka loved it so much (her favorite movie of all time now knocking off Step Up 2 The Streets) or not, but I can't tell a lie when it comes to movie reviews. I loved Bandslam.

Even with my above admittal, I can't fully recommend that everyone go and check this out. It is not a good movie. I just loved it. If you have kids - they too will love it. If you are a teenage girl - it will challenge Step Up 2 The Streets for your fave of all time.

Ninja Assassin

Raizo (Rain) is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them...and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge. In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles), Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi (Rick Yune), to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive...and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.

Even though you just read the incredibly long plot summary, this movie is one of those where it is what it is. You can try to explain the "story line" all you want. Its got ninjas in it and its got lots of action/violence. Mission accomplished. They weren't trying to win an Academy Award here and anyone going to check this out doesn't want to see anything like that.

If you want to see a movie with a "story" about a ninja that kicks a lot of ass - this is a great movie. If you aren't in to that kind of stuff - then avoid this. Pretty simple concept.

The Fourth Kind

The Fourth Kind is a provocative thriller set in modern-day Nome, Alaska, where—mysteriously since the 1960s—a disproportionate number of the population has been reported missing every year. Despite multiple FBI investigations of the region, the truth has never been discovered. Here in this remote region, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) began videotaping sessions with traumatized patients and unwittingly discovered some of the most disturbing evidence of alien abduction ever documented. Using never-before-seen archival footage that is integrated into the film, The Fourth Kind exposes the terrified revelations of multiple witnesses. Their accounts of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details, the validity of which is investigated throughout the film.


I found this movie to be annoyingly filmed and stupid. I could, however, see how someone could enjoy this. The fundamental divide exists in how much you buy in to the "never before seen archival footage". I didn't buy it at all. That just made the movie all the more insulting. I just kind of feel like they tried to make the movie too smart and ended up making it dumb instead. It starts with Milla Jovovich introducing herself as . . . . . . Milla Jovovich and how she will be playing the part of Abigail Tyler. She then tells the audience that they will be going back and forth between "archived footage" and the actors. WHAT!?! It kinds of takes away from the movie when you are blantantly telling me that its a movie. I knew that it was a movie going in but I found myself unable to enjoy any of the parts that weren't "archived footage" because of this stupid introduction. As for the "archived footage" it seemed like some of the most bogus crap I've ever seen. Maybe its because I'm not really in to all that alien abduction hoopla and what not. I could see someone who is really liking this a lot more than I did.


I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. It could have been so much better if they just made it as a normal movie or a home video, archived video type thing. Instead they mushed the two together - even airing them both simultaneously at times - and made it a pretty big turd.

Astro Boy

Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive "blue" energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human, and gains the strength to embrace his destiny. Ultimately learning his friends and family are in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers and returns to Metro City in a valiant effort to save everything he cares about and to understand what it means to be a hero.

This movie is a decent watch. Not much more than that though. The animation pales in comparison to other recent fare. The story line of robot vs. human is interesting but would probably not make as much sense to the children as the adults. This might make this movie a bit of a tough sell for those of you just trying to take your kids to the theater for a couple of hours. The voices are good and the action is pretty decent, but for the most part this movie is just sort of average at best.

I wouldn't really recommend people checking this out unless you really have nothing to do and have some extra money/time to spare. Its not horrible. Its just kind of there though. You can go ahead and wait for rental on this one.

Did You Hear About The Morgans?

Did You Hear About the Morgans? follows a highly successful Manhattan couple, Meryl and Paul Morgan (Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant), whose almost-perfect lives have only one notable failure – their dissolving marriage. But the turmoil of their romantic lives is nothing compared to what they are about to experience: they witness a murder and become targets of a contract killer. The Feds, protecting their witnesses, whisk away the Morgans from their beloved New York to a tiny town in Wyoming, and a relationship that was on the rocks threatens to end completely in the Rockies... unless, in their new BlackBerry-free lives, the Morgans can slow down the pace and rekindle the passion.

This movie was so beyond not funny. I sat there for 40 minutes and didn't so much as smile at some of the most set up punchlines that were completely lame. I wondered whether to stay or not but then I thought about it and knew damn well that after another hour plus of country bumpkin mishaps these two were going to fall back in love and probably choose to stay in Wyoming . . . . . . . still without any laughs for the audience. Add to that the fact that I can't stand Sarah Jessica Parker and the weight of there being so many better things I could be doing with my time so I pulled the plug.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering to waste their time on this. Its not funny. Sarah Jessica Parker sucks. And the movie couldn't be more formula if they tried.

Armored

A crew of officers at an armored transport security firm risk their lives when they embark on the ultimate heist... against their own company. Armed with a seemingly fool-proof plan, the men plan on making off with a fortune with harm to none. But when an unexpected witness interferes, the plan quickly unravels and all bets are off.

This is yet another dictionary definition of you saw the movie by seeing the commercial. Its a tough guy, testosterone movie with some guys feeling guilty and some guys feeling greedy. Its formula in every way and there isn't a single non-cliche character in this.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone unless you have a desire to see a mindless good guy vs bad guy movie. That really is all that this movie is and there's no way you don't know every second of the movie by watching the commercial.