Sunday, September 07, 2008

How to Deal (2003)

Here is a case of getting exactly what I expected. I did not really expect much and I definitely did not get much. 1 out of 10

Pineapple Express (2008)

Well Seth Rogan is on a seriously good roll. Looking through his credits out of all of the movies that I have seen of his I do not see a single bad one. Also one can easily see that he is quite the busy man with with 6 movies already done for 2008 and one more on the way. This movie is damn funny. While no where near the level of Superbad (2007) it is still really good. It has some of your usual stoner comedy fare but it mixes in some new twists and throws in plenty of laugh out loud moments. 8 out of 10

Friday, September 05, 2008

Mirrors (2008)

Keifer Sutherland plays a recovering alcoholic who takes a job at an old burnt out department store. When he starts to notice weird things happening around the mirrors of the store he begins investigating the history of the place and makes some shocking discoveries. This has some decent scares and a pretty good creep factor. It will definitely make you try not to look in any mirrors at night. 7 out of 10

I Am Legend (2007)

This is a really good disaster film. In the future a vaccine is developed to cure cancer however after a mutation it ends up killing the majority of people and turning others into dark seekers (zombie type creatures who can only come out at night). Will smith does a great job playing Robert Neville, a scientist who is immune to the disease and is one of the last non affected humans living in the world. He desperately continues to try and create a cure from his own blood that will hopefully be able to turn the dark seekers back to normal. With plenty of action and suspense to spare I highly recommend checking it out. 8 out of 10

Failure to Launch (2006)

Although bringing nothing really new to the romantic comedy genre, this ended up being a good movie. If you are into these types of movies then you will probably enjoy this. It is your typical couple being put together with one person not knowing that it is a fake relationship and eventually the person finds out and... if you feel like you have heard this before then chances are you know where it is going so it ends up being kind of predictable but entertaining nonetheless. 8 out of 10

Hammy's Boomerang Adventure (2006)

This is a short film available on the Over the Hedge (2006) DVD. It's basic plot is the characters are playing pranks on each other while video taping it in a Candid Camera (1953) type fashion. It is on par with the first movie really. 6 out of 10

Over the Hedge (2006)

Although the story here is really now all that great the animation is top of the line. It follows the story of RJ the raccoon who steals food from a hibernating bear and is caught. He then must find a way to return all of what he stole by the time the bear wakes again and thus the "hilarity" begins. It will probably do well with children because it is quite colorful and the story is rather simple. Other than that it just end up being OK. 6 out of 10

The Hitcher (2007)

I honestly thought that this would probably be just a throwaway but surprisingly it ended up being a decent Thriller. A crazed hitchhiker repeatedly stalks and attacks two college students on their way to spring break. Sean Bean does a fantastic job playing John Ryder. John often seems super human with some of the things that he pulls off. It will make you second guess any thoughts you may have of picking up a hitchhiker ever again. 8 out of 10

The Sentinel (2006)

This ended up being a decent action thriller. Keifer Sutherland, Michael Douglas, and Eva Longoria Parker all did good things with there roles. Although nothing amazing it is worth checking out if you are looking for a couple of hours to kill. 7 out of 10

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Finding Neverland (2004)

Unfortunately this did not end up being very good. Even a good cast could not make this survive the 30 minute rule. It was a little slow and too over dramatic for my taste. 1 out of 10

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

OK, so I have heard plenty of the music through out the years but have never seen any of the movies or the stage show. I must admit that the story is decent. However this movie seemed to drag it out a lot longer than necessary. It would often start moving along nicely and then it would hit a brick wall and immediately slow everything down. The music is good for the most part. But the songs and dance numbers would often go on way to long. I will have to check out another version to see whether they handle the story any better. 5 out of 10

Thursday, August 07, 2008

The Eye (2008)

This film has a pretty interesting concept. Jessica Alba plays a blind girl who receives a cornea transplant and then begins seeing things that her donor saw. The special effects are decent and there are a couple of good creepy parts. Overall though it is not very scary and there is plenty of build up for an ending that I feel is really not that great. Worth a try if your looking for an average movie. 6 out of 10

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Air Force One (1997)

For any action movie or Harrison Ford fan this is a must see. Harrison does a terrific job playing the president as he takes on Russian hijackers who have taken over Air Force One. With plenty of action and suspense this will keep you wondering what is coming next. Gary Oldman also does a fantastic job playing Ivan Korshunov (the head hijacker). Definitely worth checking out! 8 out of 10

Grease 2 (1982)

OK let me start off by saying that I was not a big fan of the original Grease (1978). But wow it was a masterpiece compared to this. The music, dancing, story, acting... everything was just plain bad. I could barely make it through the first 30 minutes. Beware, beware. 1 out of 10

Hair (1979)

I had hopes for this one because I have enjoyed similar rock musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) and Tommy (1975) (Both of which I highly recommend over watching this). The music in it really is not all that bad. However even the good music could not save it from the 30 minute rule. The story just was not there and the dance numbers seemed to go on just a little too long. 1 out of 10

Unforgiven (1992)

Another example of a classic highly rated movie and me just not getting along. I felt that this started off rather slowly, did not have much of a story and the acting was way to over dramatic. All this therefore makes this a perfect candidate for the 30 minute rule. 1 out of 10

Monday, August 04, 2008

The Weather Man (2005)

This is not your usual comedy. It starts off a little slow but if you can I recommend sticking with it. There are many humorous moments as you follow the frustrating life of David Spritz (played by Nicolas Cage) as he struggles to impress his father, get back together with his wife, and figure out how to spend quality time with his children all while trying not to get hit by flying fast food. 7 out of 10

Yours, Mine and Ours (2005)

This movie did not really end up being all that bad. It is a humorous family comedy with a little bit of wackiness added in for good measure. Whatever you do not pick this up if you are looking for anything intellectually stimulating just blank out your mind and enjoy the zany gags and craziness. 7 out of 10

Sunday, August 03, 2008

House of Wax (2005)

Now despite what some people may tell you this film really is not that bad. It is not a masterpiece by any means but it has a decent story and the wax effects are actually really good. The acting, however, leaves a bit to be desired but is often good for some laughs. If you are looking for a film that is actually scary you should probably look elsewhere. But if you are looking for something that will keep you entertained then give it a go. 7 out of 10

Murder at 1600 (1997)

A murder at the White House sets the basis for this action film. Wesley Snipes does a great job playing a Washington D.C. cop who is brought in on the case. With many twists and turns this will keep you guessing as to who the culprit is. With plenty of action, thrills and a good mystery this should keep any fan of the genre interested. 7 out of 10

The Bodyguard (1992)

This ended up being a good romance thriller film. Your typical two people working close together, neither one of then wanting to work together to start with, becoming romantically involved type plot. I feel that the more interesting part of the story is the suspense of figuring out who the bad guy is and why they are doing what they are. This portion is what really makes the film and without it it probably would be unwatchable. 7 out of 10

Saturday, August 02, 2008

August Rush (2007)

Personally I have been looking forward to this movie for quite some time now. Freddie Highmore does a terrific job playing Evan Taylor AKA August Rush. He really is a great actor and I look forward to seeing how his career develops and what lies ahead for him in the future. The main theme throughout the film is that all around you there is a symphony of sorts developing and if you take the time to listen you just may be amazed at what you find and you never know where the music may take you. Mark Mancini does a fantastic job with the soundtrack and really keeps you intrigued as to what musical awakening lies ahead. Although not for everyone I highly recommend at least giving this a shot. 9 out of 10

Aquamarine (2006)

This movie is pretty much what you would expect. A teen film about friends and crushes with a mermaid twist. Aquamarine (played by Sara Paxton) has an argument with her father about the existence of love and she swims off to the land to prove her father wrong. Other than that there is nothing really new that it brings to the genre. Just an average movie. 6 out of 10

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Benny and Joon (1993)

This was a pretty cute film. The characters were very interesting and their stories keep you very engaged. Johnny Depp does a terrific job playing the eccentric Sam who falls for the mentally ill Joon played by Mary Stuart Masterson. It really is quite intriguing to see how they each interact with each other and the world. There are many humourous moments and overall it is quite entertaining. 8 out of 10

The Grudge 2 (2006)

Although entertaining this film did not really bring anything new to the genre. The effects used were very similar to The Grudge (2004) and The Ring Series. It for the most part just continues the story where it left off and we find out what happens next in the Grudge saga. It is good to see the story continue but it really is not spectacular. If you are new to the series I would check out the first one and if it catches your attention and you want to see more of the story them check out this. 6 out of 10

Monday, July 21, 2008

The Harrad Experiment (1973)

This just barely survived the 30 minute rule. The story was just kind of weird and trippy. Similarly to The Boy in The Plastic Bubble (1976) with the bad music and bad video production. You probably will not continue watching it for any reason other than trying to figure exactly where they are going with it and what weird thing they will do next. I would recommend it only if you are looking for something really odd but otherwise I would pass. 4 out of 10

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976)

This turned out to not be nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Trust me it was not great though. The music was pretty bad and the video was not very good. It had a very old look to it that made things kind of blurry. The story was alright though even if it was kind of corny with an ending that does not really close things off very well. Over all worth checking out if you are looking for a mediocre kind of film. 6 out of 10

Monday, July 14, 2008

Lean on Me (1989)

I have heard good things about this movie throughout the years but I just never got around to checking it out. It turns out that what I heard was correct because it ended up being terrific. We follow Joe Clarke (Morgan Freeman) as he attempts to regain control over Eastside High School before the state is forced to take over. This movie really is kind of inspirational and the fact that it is based on a true story is pretty amazing. It is definitely worth checking out. 8 out of 10

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

So with this I was hoping for a good gangster action flick. But unfortunately what I got was a slow and drawn out drama that had little for entertainment value. Unfortunately that means that another classic falls to the 30 minute rule. 1 out of 10

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

This movie ended up being OK, the story was good and some of the song and dance numbers were entertaining. My favorite one would probably be "Make Them Laugh". My biggest gripe would probably be that some of the dance numbers tended to go a little too long and would take away from the story line. If you are into classic musicals then you will probably enjoy this. 5 out of 10

Semi-Tough (1977)

I find that Burt Reynolds' films are so often hit or miss that you never know exactly what you are going to get. This one was one of the unfortunate ones that for the most part was unbearable to watch for more than 30 minutes of. 1 out of 10

Vanity Fair (2004)

Perhaps the earlier versions give this story justice but this one was terrible. Slow moving + Over dramatic acting + a terrible story make this a perfect candidate for the 30 minute rule. 1 out of 10

Shampoo (1975)

The story for this one is what made it fail. It was really boring and was not going anywhere fast. Enough said. 1 out of 10

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

More of a comedy than an action movie really. Mainly because the acting is pretty over the top. Leslie Nielsen in a serious role of course does not help. Watching him play a ship captain you can not help but think of him in Airplane! Unfortunately even he could not save this sinking ship and it fell victim to the 30 minute rule. 1 out of 10

Sunday, July 13, 2008

The Omen (1976)

This movie ended up being pretty good but if you are going to see a version I would recommend the 2006 remake over the original. The story line is for the most part identical but the updated special effects is what really makes the difference. In the original they just seem dated and make it funny where it should be disturbing. The story is very good and the creepy ending will leave you wanting to know more. 7 out of 10

Wall-E (2008)

This film is fantastic and can be enjoyed by everyone children and adult alike. The animation is top notch and the story is fascinating. I had heard that there was no talking in the entire film. If you have heard this rumor and are worried about it do not be afraid. Although there is not a ton of talking there is enough to keep the story going without making it uninteresting. It is very humorous and the characters are quite enjoyable. For once there is a highly rated film that is actually good. 10 out of 10

Bird on a Wire (1990)

This movie was just OK. Although it came out in 1990 it has that cheesy 80's comedy with a little bit of action mixed in feeling. The acting and the story were OK but there really were not any stand out moments and overall it is a pretty unmemorable movie. Check it out if you do not have anything better. 6 out of 10

Hancock (2008)

This ended up being pretty good. It has elements of your usual super hero movie however there are several twists that keep the movie and genre from becoming stale. Will Smith does a great job playing the superhero Hancock who wallows in his own misery and causes more harm than good anytime he attempts to do anything heroic. As fate would have it he actually saves Ray Embry (played by Jason Bateman) a PR specialist who is grateful for Hancock's help and thus Hancock's transformation begins. If you are into super hero type movies then I recommend checking this out. 8 out of 10

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

I have read that when this film was originally released it bombed. Supposedly from it being released as a two hour version instead of the intended four hour one. But honestly 30 minutes is all that is needed to figure out that this movie is bad. The story is pretty slow moving and for the most part uninteresting. Even Robert De Niro acting could not save this one. 1 out of 10

The Dead Next Door (1988)

OK let me start with the fact that there is really nothing scary about this movie. In fact it is more comedy than horror. But I suppose that it is not really meant to be that way. The blood and zombie effects were pretty bad and helped to increase the humor level but unfortunately not enough to make it past 30 minutes. Give it a go if you are into Cheesy horror flicks but otherwise pass. 1 out of 10

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Wicker Man (2006)

This movie was pretty weird. It has a good story line and you will probably spend most of the time trying to figure out exactly what is going on. But because of this it will keep your attention. The version that I saw was the unrated version where they dropped the original ending scene and leaves you with a holy crap what just happened feeling. But overall it was a very good film and worth checking out if you are looking for something creepy. 6 out of 10

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)

I was looking forward to seeing this because I heard so many great things. Unfortunately though another highly praised classic has been shot down by the 30 minute rule. I found this to be very very slow moving and what dialogue there was, was way too dramatic. Give it a shot if you generally like supposed classics that are highly rated, but otherwise I would stay away. Perhaps I need to see the first two movies and my opinion will change but as for now it gets a 1 out of 10.

The Burial Society (2002)

This movie seemed like it might be kind of odd and interesting and it did not fail to deliver. With a quirky funny story that follows a Bank Loan Manager who finds himself in a bit of trouble and decides to infiltrate the Chevra Kadisha. With some good twists and turns that will keep you guessing it is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for something a little different. 7 out of 10

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Judge Dredd (1995)

This movie was alright but not nearly as good as I hoped. Not that I really expected too much. It was your typical cheesy sci-fi action movie from the mid 90's. The acting was pretty bad and the story was just passable enough to keep my attention. Do not go in expecting anything major and you may be entertained slightly. 4 out of 10

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Wanted (2008)

Now this is what all action movies should be like. With great action sequences, CG, story, and acting it is a near perfect movie. Based on the acclaimed comic book by Mark Millar comes the story of a Fraternity of assassins who have extraordinary abilities and are able to control their guns with incredible precision. With some great twists and turns and a final fight scene that is one of the best I have seen in a while, I highly recommend this film to everyone even if action films are not generally your thing. 9 out of 10

Friday, June 27, 2008

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)

Another classic shot down by the 30 minute rule. I found this film really boring and overall pretty terrible. The fighting between Martha and George did not seem very real to me and was really over done which made it unbearable. 1 out of 10

Hairspray (2007)

I am glad that they re-made this film because I did not really care for the original and this version is much better. John Travolta is hilarious playing Edna Turnblad and Christopher Walken is great as always. The dance numbers and songs are quit funny and entertaining. The story really has not changed all that much but is pretty good. If you liked the original then you will love this one as well and if you are like me and did not really care for the original you should still give this one a shot because it is surprisingly very good. 7 out of 10

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)

I thought for sure that this would be a 30 minute rule candidate but I was way off. It actually ended up being pretty good. I am generally not a huge fans of musicals especially older ones so this really came as a surprise. I also found out that it is actually based on a true story probably minus the songs and dances though. There are many laughs through out the film and the songs and dances are actually quite entertaining. definitely worth a shot even if you typically do not like musicals. 7 out of 10

Paper Clips (2004)

In 1998 the students at Whitwell Middle School began a project to collect 6 million paperclips. One for each Jew that was killed in concentration camps during World War II. This film follows their project. This ended up being a pretty good documentary. It was touching to see the small community of Whitwell Tennessee come together to put together the memorial. I highly recommend this film even if you are not one that typically likes documentaries. 8 out of 10

Adam and Eve (2005)

Your average National Lampoon style of film here with sex and dick jokes a plenty. Not the greatest movie but there are some laughs here and there and the story really was not all that bad. It had a bit of a romantic tie in that you do not always see in these types of movies. It was a good switch up from the usual formula. If you usually like the National Lampoon movies then you will probably like this one but do not go in looking for the best of the bunch. 6 out of 10

Gunner Palace (2004)

This documentary follows soldiers in Iraq stationed out of one of Saddam Hussein's old palaces. It actually ended up being not that bad. It was good to see things on the war basically from the eyes of the soldiers there. Also it seemed to stay pretty neutral on being for or against the war and just let the soldiers speak for themselves. Definitely worth checking out. 7 out of 10

American Virgin (2000)

I did not really expect anything great from this. But I did expect to at least be entertained slightly. Unfortunately it was pretty bad and fell victim to the 30 minute rule. Even if you are a Mena Suvari fan I still do not recommend checking it out. 1 out of 10

My Favorite Martian (1999)

Nothing to surprising here really. Your usual zany comedy with a bunch of physical gags. Christopher Lloyd does a really good job playing the crazy martian who crash lands here on Earth and attempts to blend in with humanity while he tries to repair his ship. As you can imagine there is nothing brain straining about this one. Just let your mind go blank and enjoy. 6 out of 10

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Citizen Kane (1941)

Wow for a so called classic, this film was actually pretty bad and unfortunately fell to the wrath of the 30 minute rule. For some reason older movies that have been deemed as some of the greatest movies of all time never seem to work for me. From what I read when this first came out it got lots of bad reviews. I really do not know what turned everyone around over time because really it was kind of slow and boring. 1 out of 10

Monday, June 23, 2008

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

I was looking forward to this movie but I had my doubts. After the last Hulk movie did not do so well I thought that this may be another bomb. But it ended up being great. There are several things that they changed from the comics but it did not make the movie bad. Edward Norton did a fantastic job portraying Bruce Banner AKA the Hulk. I have enjoyed the majority of his movies and this is another one to add to that list. Even if you are not a fan of comic books or are not big into the superhero type movies I recommend giving this a shot. It really is a terrific action movie. 8 out of 10

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Passenger 57 (1992)

This was your average Action movie nothing really out of the ordinary here. A decent story with a decent cast. Wesley Snipes plays an Airline Security Expert who just happens to get himself on a plane that gets hijacked. The movie then follows the process of him trying to gain control of the plane... Good enough to keep my attention but nothing too spectacular. 7 out of 10

Monday, June 16, 2008

Along Came a Spider (2001)

This movie was very good. Morgan Freeman does a great job playing a detective who loses his partner during a sting operation and then is brought in on a new high profile case by the criminal. With a lot of action and a bunch of twists and turns it kept me guessing right to the end. Instead of following the usual ideas and plots that sometimes get overused in other films of this type it brought a lot of original content to the table. The Ransom drop scene was great and very original. Apparently it is a sequel to Kiss the Girls (1997) which I have not seen but will definitely have to check out. Even without seeing the first movie I did not feel it was hard to follow or that I was missing anything. 9 out of 10

Never Been Kissed (1999)

I usually enjoy these types of movies quite a bit but unfortunately this one did not meet my expectations. It is not that it was terrible or anything, it was just OK. It is your usual high school teen romance comedy with a twist. Perhaps I should check out the original The Major and the Minor (1942) and see whether that is the better version. Overall if you typically like this type of movie then you will probably like this one as well. 6 out of 10

Friday, June 13, 2008

The Happening (2008)

It is kind of hard to write a review of a M. Night Shyamalan film. What to say really without giving away too much. I have enjoyed pretty much all of his films so far and for the most part he has followed a similar formula for each. Unfortunately this film did not live up to his other films for me. I thought the dialogue was kind of corny and it was all together pretty weird. Although portrayed kind of bizarrely the message behind the film is a good one. If you have enjoyed his previous films you will probably like this one. 7 out of 10

Dr. No (1962)

I have to be honest the Bond films that I have seen so far have been really good. So I thought that I would start at the beginning and watch the series in order. I am hoping that they get better as they go along because frankly this first one was a big disappointment. There just did not seem to be a whole lot of action. The story was alright but was kind of slow at times. Hopefully the next one will be better. Also on a side note Sean Connery certainly has changed over the years. If I had not known it was him I would never have guessed it. 5 out of 10

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Creepshow 2 (1987)

The Creepshow movies are not really meant to be scary. At least that is how I see them. They are for the most part kind of funny. Built around 3 tales with an animated story wrapped around Creepshow 2 if much like the first Creepshow although not as successfully. Unfortunately the stories were not really all that great. For the most part I enjoy the majority of Stephen King's work but this one just is not one of his greatest. The stand out story is probably the Hitch Hiker. With the humorous line "Thanks for the ride lady" used over and over again. Do not forget to play Spot Stephen. 4 out of 10

Funny Farm (1988)

This one has been floating around our Netflix cue for a while now. When it starts to make it's way to the top then it generally would get bounced down in the queue for something else. Well it finally made it's way to the top and shipped. I must admit it turned out to be a pretty good movie. Chevy Chase is playing his usual down on luck type character, who no matter what he does things never seem to go his way. With a fun setting of a rural small town there are plenty of situations that occur for some good laughs. 7 out of 10

Rocky Balboa (2006)

So slightly better than Rocky V but still so much worse than the rest of the series. I am really not quite sure why they decided to make this but it was completely unnecessary and kind of brings the series down as a whole. Sylvester Stallone just looks way to old to make this anywhere near believable. If you are a fan of the series then it is worth checking out just to see where they take the story line. But if you are new to the series, please do not let this stop you from seeing the earlier films which are a million times better. 5 out of 10

Nancy Drew (2007)

OK so perhaps I have missed something by not having read any of the books but wow this was kind of a disappointment. My sister had raved about how excited she was when this was coming out on DVD that I thought it had to be good but how wrong I was. It fell victim to the 30 minute rule and therefore gets a 1 out of 10.

Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)

Whatever you do, do not go in to this one expecting something serious. This is one of those movies that are so stupid that they are funny. Adam Sandler does an interesting job playing an Israeli terrorist who just wants to settle down and become a hair stylist. You will find the usual SNL alumni/Happy Gilmore cast here: Rob Schneider, Kevin Nealon, Robert Smigel, Chris Rock... All in all it ended up being pretty funny in the brain numbing type of way. 7 out of 10

Monday, June 02, 2008

Vacancy (2007)

This movie had kind of a creepy feel but overall it wasn't all that scary and had no real jump out of your seat moment either. The story concept was all right and it was executed well, but there were just somethings about it that could have been better. I would say the stand out of the cast would be Frank Whaley who plays Mason the creepy hotel clerk. I felt he did a very good job portraying his character and I am interested in seeing more of his stuff. 7 out of 10

Snakes on a Plane (2006)

OK so I must admit I was very skeptical about whether this would be any good at all. I even thought that there was a very good chance that it would become a victim of the 30 minute rule. But overall it was not the greatest thing that I have ever seen, but it ended up to actually be watchable despite how outrageous and unbelievable the plot line was. So if you think you might like an action movie with a twist you should at least give it a shot. 6 out of 10

Bee Movie (2007)

This movie ended up really being pretty good. Although the story line was kind of wacky it was a cartoon after all. It was quite humorous and the animation was awesome. The story follows Barry B. Benson voiced by Jerry Seinfeld and his adventure out of the hive after graduating and not quite ready to take his place in the hive's workforce just yet. Once again I find that just because it is a cartoon does not mean that it is only for children. So do not let that sway you from checking it out. 8 out of 10

Friday, May 30, 2008

A Little Sex (1982)

OK so here is another perfect example of a film custom made for the 30 minute rule. 1 out of 10

Festival Express (2003)

An interesting documentary about the 1970 Festival Express tour. While no doubt there is a bunch of good music played through out the film. My one complaint would be that there was a little too much footage of the performances and for the most part showing full songs was not entirely necessary and I feel it would have been better if the songs were partially interspersed better with the commentary about the tour of which there should have been more of. 7 out of 10

My Blue Heaven (1990)

Wow there is nothing heavenly or funny about this comedy. I recommend skipping this one if you have the choice. 1 out of 10

Smile (2005)

A very touching independent film about two girls with the same birthday who live worlds apart. One with a near perfect life in California and the other in China living with a terrible facial deformity. Although the acting is not all that amazing the story really makes up for it. With Sean Astin and Cheri Oteri playing back-up roles that do not let their star power become overwhelming. Although I still cannot help but think of some SNL skits anytime cheri talks. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for something a little different and do not worry it is not entirely subtitled. 7 out 10

Eraser (1996)

A decent action film with a good story. It follows a government agent played by the governator who's job it is to protect high profile witnesses so that they can make it to testify at different trials. With enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I definitely recommend this to any fans of Arnold or of action movies. Do not go in expecting the greatest thing ever and you might just be surprised. 7 out of 10

Necessary Roughness (1991)

I had always heard good things about this comedy. Unfortunately I did not see where all of the hype came from. It was just above average at best and altogether kind of a let down. If you are a big football fan perhaps you will enjoy it more but otherwise I recommend it only if you are bored and do not have much of anything better to watch. 6 out of 10

The Wolf Man (1941)

I am not sure if I am the only one that finds it hard to believe that back in the day people were frightened by some of the classic horror films. I often watch them mainly because they are classics and I find then kind of comedic. This one was more of the same. Tolerable but unfortunately nothing mind blowing. Perhaps it was a break through for it's time but nothing truly amazing for this day and age. But because it is a classic and any horror buff should see it I give it a 7 out of 10.

Amos & Andrew (1993)

Going into this I did not really expect much and what I got ended up being nothing fantastic but nothing wretched either. It was tolerable and kept my attention. Do not expect anything golden if you plan to see this just an OK Comedy with two stars who have some much better pictures. 6 out of 10

Square Dance (1987)

Wow what a snore fest. No more really needs to be said. Easily unanimously voted to use the 30 minute rule on this one. 1 out of 10

Meet the Robinsons (2007)

I had some high hopes for this one. The trailers for it seemed like it would be pretty funny. However it did not turn out exactly the way I hoped that it would. The animation was fantastic however the story is where it did not quite meet my expectations. The jokes were alright but the good ones were just to few and far between. Probably alright for kids but unfortunately for me it ended up being only a 5 out of 10.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

So I must say growing up the Indiana Jones movies were always some of my favorites and they still hold up today. However this movie does slip a little. Let's face it Harrison Ford is looking a little old. Which makes some of the action sequences a little less believable. Over all the story was pretty good and Shia LaBeouf was great. He has really come into his own since the Even Stevens days and I have liked the majority of his work thus far. Overall at it's core its a pretty good adventure film and any fan of Indy will probably enjoy it. But if you are new to the series do not let this film place judgment on the others. 7 out of 10

Monday, May 19, 2008

Lifelock

OK, so I hear the commercials for LifeLock probably at least once a day and I always thought that guy giving out his own SSN was an idiot. Now here is some proof.

District B13

District B13 ended up being a decent film. If you can get past the dubbed English or if you know French you may like this. It has some really good parkour foot chases. The story is just alright but the amount of action makes up for it. If you are looking for an action movie and do not mind it when the words do not match up with the lips there is a good chance that you may like this. 6 out of 10

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Undead (2003)

An Australian Zombie film hmm. I did not have really too much hope for this movie. I generally like horror films and comedy. However this was just somewhere in the middle with really not enough of either to make it really all that great. The jokes were alright but nothing to spectacular. It is alright if you are bored and looking for an OK movie. But if you are looking for a better zombie comedy I suggest Shaun of the Dead (2004) and not this. 5 out of 10

Iron Man (2008)

I had pretty high hopes for this movie and did not disappoint in anyway. It was action packed and funny. The CG was fantastic and the story was never a let down at any point. Robert Downey Jr. did a great job playing Tony Stark AKA Iron Man. Although I have not yet begun reading the Iron Man comic books there is no doubt in my mind that they are just as good as the other Marvel comics that I currently read. If they even half as good as this movie was then they will not be disappointed. I am a pretty big fan of the Spider-Man movies and I enjoyed this film even more than those. There is a scene after the credits so do not forget to hang in there for it. I highly recommend this film to any fan of comic books, action movies, or just about anything. 9 out of 10

High Noon (1952)

Voted #106 in the IMDB top 250. While I do not feel it is quite that good I do feel that it was really good. It was a lot better than what I expected. I am generally not really into a lot of Westerns or a lot of older movies. I am broadening my horizons with these things all of the time and movies like this inspire me to continue to check out different genres that may not be favorites of mine. Gary Cooper plays retiring Marshall Will Kane who finds out that his arch nemesis Frank Miller is coming into town and despite being able to leave town with his new wife (played by Grace Kelly) he decides to stick around for one last show down. Played out in semi-real time, the movie follows Will as he tries to round up a Posse to go up against Frank. Definitely worth a look if you are into old classics or Westerns. 7 out of 10

The Final Cut (2004)

This movie has a really interesting plot. An organic implant has been created that records everything that a person sees and hears and then after they die the footage is edited down and played back at their "rememory". Robin Williams does a great job playing a "cutter" (a person who edits the footage and creates the rememory) haunted by a memory from his childhood. It has some good twists and turns and over all ended up being good. Check it out if you are looking for something a little different. 7 out of 10

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Contract (2006)

So Morgan Freeman and John Cusack together in a thriller that looks to have a decent plot sounds like a good film right? Unfortunately this is not completely true. It was alright but not fantastic and to be honest for a thriller it was kind of a snore. If you are into the cast or thrillers then you might be into it, but do not expect anything ground breaking. 4 out of 10.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Top 10 views of Earth From Space

Here are some fantastic pictures from the ISS of Earth. Enjoy!

Monday, April 21, 2008

One Fine Day (1996)

This film was alright. Nothing too spectacular really about it. Your typical single parent type romance film. It was not terrible but it also was not the greatest thing. If you like a decent romance movie then you will probably enjoy this. 7 out of 10.

88 Minutes (2007)

I have been looking forward to seeing this since I had seen the first trailer for it. I have liked a good portion of the Al Pacino's films despite my initial experience with a brutally awful City Hall. This was a good who-dunnit type movie that kept me guessing with every twist and turn of the story. It was very enjoyable and definitely worth checking out if you are into a good mystery type thriller. 8 out of 10

Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

This film ended up being pretty good. Keke Palmer did a wonderful job playing the roll of Akeelah. She is an actress to keep your eyes on because she is definitely going places. Also I thought Laurence Fishburne did a great job playing her spelling tutor. I know that he has done more things than just The Matrix films but for some reason anytime I see him that is what I always think of. The story was very good and heart warming and progressed at a good pace without becoming unbearably slow really at any point. Definitely worth checking out. 8 out of 10

They Might Be Giants at the Egg

This past weekend Leslie and I traveled to the Egg in Albany to check out They Might Be Giants. For anyone who is unfamiliar with these guys I highly recommend checking them out. They are kind of a quirky Alternative. You may have even heard some of their songs and are not aware of it such as "The Boss of Me" (Malcolm in the Middle Theme). "Istanbul", "Particle Man", "Birdhouse in Your Soul". They put on a really good show and had a good amount of audience participation. They joked around with everyone through out their set and everyone seemed to have a really great time.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Nim's Island

Nim's Island ended up being a pretty good movie. It had a great story and a good cast. I have always liked Jodie Foster's work and this ended up being no different. She did a great job playing a best selling agoraphobic author who gets put into situations that take her out of her safe Purell sanctuary and out into the rest of the world. Abigail Breslin was very good as well. I have not seen much of her stuff but she definitely seems like a child actress who is going places. This is a great movie to take your kids to, or if you do not have any children it is also good for someone who just likes a good heart warming film. 8 out of 10

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

Wow what a snore fest this turned out to be. The first one was alright and at least watchable but we had to put the 30 minute rule in to affect on this. It never really took off or went anywhere. 1 out of 10.

Jacob's Ladder (1990)

I was originally supposed to watch this film for a course that I took in college about the psychology of Death. Although at the time I knew nothing about what the film was about, I never did much research on it to find out much about it I just added to my list of movies to see. It turned out to be rather interesting but probably a film that you would have to see more than once in order to figure out a lot of the little nuances that are occurring through out the story. There was not anything really spectacular about it but it did keep my attention. It's worth checking out if you are looking for something a little different. 6 out of 10

Friday, April 11, 2008

Lost: Via Domus

So I consider myself a pretty big Lost fan. Although I do not get completely obsessive I do watch all of the episodes, participate in any ARG's, listen to a couple of podcasts, and visit the occasional fan site. So when I heard that they were coming out with a Lost video game I knew that I would have to get it. Unfortunately it was not that great. It really did not add anything to the canon and it was rather short and linear with really no action. So if you are a Lost it is interesting just to see things from another survivor's perspective. But other than that you should probably pass on it. 6 out of 10

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Watch Them Die

Here is another group worth checking out. Their guitar work is actually not too bad

Burnt By The Sun

Just found these guys. If your in to Hardcore you should check them out.

Monday, April 07, 2008

The Clearing (2004)

Honestly this movie was kind of weird. The story was alright and there was an OK amount of Suspense. I felt over all it was kind of slow moving and did not really lead to all too much. Also I do not know if it just me or not but Robert Redford and Willem Dafoe kind of look very similar which made things a little confusing. But it was not an awful movie. 6 out 10

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2009)

This film was actually better than I expected it to be. Although not nearly as good as the first two movies. It had an alright story and some pretty good car crashes. For those of you who liked the first two or are in to racing movies you should give it a shot. 6 out 10

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Gears of War 2 at Comic Con

Epic will be giving a sneak preview of Gears of War 2 at Comic Con later this month. More info here.