Movie Review - "Atonement"

… tragic story with Keira Knightley and James McAvoy as lovers torn apart by a lie.  A lie perpetuated by Keira's younger sister.  Once you get past the multiple flashbacks, the story keeps one's interest.  Definite first date movie but would wait to watch once released on DVD. - JM

 

Movie Review - "The Kingdom"

… action movie with Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, and Jason Bateman play FBI agents sent to Saudi Arabia to find a killer.  Consider a safe first date movie.  Check it out sometime.  - JM

 

Movie Review - "Once"

… movie about two musicians, who get together to write songs.  One is a street musician; the other works as a keyboardist.  Their efforts lead to romance despite their differences.  Check it out sometime; consider it a safe first date movie. -JM

 

 

Movie Review - "National Treasure: The Book of Secrets"

… sequel to National Treasure with Nicholas Cage as Dr. Benjamin Franklin Gates, historian and treasure hunter.  Safe bet for a first date movie with an interesting storyline that keeps you watching.   Enjoyed the movie; just plan for another movie in this franchise based on the President's comment about Page 47 in the Book of Secrets.  Check it out; you won't go wrong. -JM

 

 

Movie Review - "Superbad"

… comedy about three high school nerds trying to make an impact on the female persuasion as they closeout their senior year. First point, would not recommend it as a first date movie. Second point, unrated version has a lot of explicit language. Third point, could not stop laughing once "Mclovin" and his Cop friends came into the picture. Bottom-line: Movie is not safe for a budding relationship/first date. It is funny for those who are comfortable in their current relationship. -JM

Movie Review - "I Am Legend"

... drama with Will Smith as a doctor trying to find a cure for a virus that killed billions of people. Isolated in New York, he lives off the "land" in order to conduct research that may someday save what is left of humanity.

Slow start but picks up as the movie progresses. The ending is a let down leaving viewers wondering if the movie is done. Wait to rent the DVD versus watching on the big screen. -JM

Movie Review - "Waitress"

… movie with Keri Russell as Jenna, a small town waitress, caught in a loveless marriage.  Trying to runaway she saves money to enter a Pie Contest that will net her $25,000.  Story is okay with a slight twist in the end but nothing earth shattering.

Save this one for a rainy day when you can't find anything else at the rental store.  Would consider this a safe first-date movie but Guys, be prepared to fight yawning! - JM

Movie Review - "Enchanted"

... Disney movie about a young maiden who finds her Prince Charming with a twist. The movie starts in animation but shifts to normal film once the young maiden is thrown into a well by her evil step-mother prior to her wedding the handsome prince!

Fun to watch with enough laughs to keep me chuckling. Harmless first-date movie for a budding relationship. - JM

Movie Review - "Kickin It Old School"

… movie about with Jamie Kennedy as a Break Dancing Thirty-Something Year Old.  In a coma for 20 years after a freak fall while bustin' a move when he was 12 years old, he wakes up and is forced into the Present.  Has some laughs to keep me interested.  Okay for a First Date Movie. - JM

Movie Review - "Hitman"

... movie that brings the video game to the big screen. Not recommended as a first date movie. 'Nuff Said! - JM

Movie Review - "August Rush"

…great movie for the holidays.  Consider it a must see.  A story about a musically talented boy and his struggles to find his parents.  Tough for a boy of eleven placed for adoption at birth.  Impossible when they do not know you exist!  Don't miss this one!
- JM

Movie Review - "Beowulf"

… computer animated movie of the Danish tale of Beowulf.  The graphics were interesting and life-like at times.  Once you get used to the animation, it is a good telling of the story.  The 3D effects kept me interested and luckily did not get a headache from watching.  Check out some time. - JM

Movie Review - "Game Plan"

… fun movie with Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson playing a football star quarterback.  After an outstanding season and into the post-season, the Rock is bound for fame and glory with a sure win at the Championship Game!  Only he finds out that he is not a single-man but a Daddy who must cope with the new responsibility while preparing for the big game.  Fun movie to watch; I did not wait to rent it choosing to see it at the theater.  Check it out; it is a safe bet for a first-date movie. - JM

Movie Review - "We Are Marshall"

… movie about a small university in West Virginia and its struggles to rebuild the football program.  After losing the team, its staff, and support personnel from a plane crash,  Marshall University and its townsfolk work together to triumph over tragedy. Matthew McConaughey does a great job playing an eccentric but impressionable football coach.  Inspiring movie.  Check it out sometime.  - JM

Movie Review - "Next"

… drama with Nicholas Cage and Jennifer Biels.  Nicholas can see the future.  That is, he can see what will happen in the next two minutes as long as it affects him directly.  This is the norm for him until he sees Jennifer in his premonitions. His ability to see the future becomes much longer than the next two minutes.

Sounds like a boy meets girl movie except there is a twist that involves the FBI, Terrorist, and a Nuclear Bomb!  Check it out and find out what the storyline is about.  It is worth a rental.

- JM

Movie Review - "You Kill Me"

… dark comedy with Ben Kingsley, Luke Wilson, and Tia Leoni.  Ben is an alcoholic hit man with a drinking problem.  Sent away for rehab he joins an AA group.  Luke becomes his sponsor.  Tia and Ben meet at his part-time job - a helper for a funeral home.  Funny movie that keeps you watching.  Enjoyed it. - JM

Movie Review - "Perfume"

… drama set in pre-revolution France about a man with an acute sense of smell.  From a terrible childhood to indentured servitude, the man is driven to collect all smells.  Not a gory movie but one that keeps you watching based on the storyline.  Good movie; ending could use more but still worth a rental. - JM

Movie Review - "Darwin Awards"

… movie with Joseph Feinnes and Wynona Ryder.  Detective who faints at the sight of blood is fired; seeks employment with an insurance company.  He is partnered with Wynona playing an insurance adjuster.  Together they investigate accidents that could be considered for the Darwin Awards Competition.  Good story.  Check it out some time! -JM

Movie Review - "Last Legion"

Thought it was going to be a fight'em and beat'em up type movie like "The 300".  More on the lines of a prequel for King Arthur and Excalibur.  A good story but would wait for DVD to rent it.

- JM

Movie Review - "Mister Bean's Vacation"

Slapstick style comedy starring the British comedian Mr. Bean.  A kid flick that the younger crowd should enjoy. Watched it mainly on a whim.  Would wait for it on DVD.

- JM

Movie Review - "Nanny Diaries"

A recent college graduate named Annie gets mistaken for a Nanny and is hired by a rich family.  Watched it mainly because Scarlett Johansson is the Nanny.  A worthy first date movie.

- JM

Movie Review - "Bourne Ultimatum"

Third movie in the Bourne franchise.  A must see for fans.  Don't miss it.
- JM

Movie Review "Apocalypto"

… movie produced by Mel Gibson about a Central American tribe's struggle against Mayan slave traders.  Gruesome scenes and edge of your seat moments, a great movie to watch especially the evade and escape scene.  However, due to the violent nature of the movie, consider this for a mature relationship.

- JM

Movie Review - "Surfs Up"

… animated movie with a number of big name voice overs providing life to the characters.  Not a bad one to watch for a cartoon.  Should be safe for any first date.  Use it as a fallback in case things are to going well at dinner!

- JM

Movie Review - "Ice Harvest"

… drama with John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton.  Lawyer and his accomplice steal $2M plus from the Mob.  Great story that keeps you interested.  Check it out; I liked the ending.

- JM

Movie Review - "Dream Girls"

… movie with Jamie Farr, Eddie Murphy, and Beyonce Knowles.  A parody that hints of the 60's singing group "The Temptations".  Great cast, music, and story-line.  See it when you can; you won't be disappointed.

- JM

Movie Review - "Night At The Museum"

--- movie with Ben Stiller and Robin Williams.  Ben is a divorced Father who needs to take a steady job to retain visitation rights for his son.  He takes a job as a Night Watchman at the NY Museum of Natural History.  But, he finds out the job is more than maintaining security!  Things come alive at night!

Another good for a rainy day movie.  Once you get over the embedded "Why can’t we all get along" message, it is an entertaining movie.

- JM

Movie Review - "Sentinel"

--- drama with Michael Douglas and Keifer Sutherland as Secret Service Agents.  Assigned to protect the President and the First Lady, they must battle with terrorist plotting to kill the President while dealing with their own troubled personal/professional relationship.

Kept me interested; should be a good for a rainy day.  Give it a chance!

- JM

Movie Review - "Spiderman 3"

… Marvel Comic's characters return for episode 3 of the Spiderman franchise.  Long but entertaining once you get through old storylines and Hollywood's tendency to squeeze as much revenue as it can from a successful movie "chain".  Check it out some time.

PS.  Bourne Ultimatum is due 3 August; save a seat for this one.  This is a movie franchise that I don't mind watching.

- JM

Movie Review - "Strange Relatives"

... comedy about a writer who discovers he is adopted weeks before his marriage. He finds his parents but they are not what he expected. Things get bad, then worse, and then hit bottom. Expectedly all ends well. Fine rental for a rainy day. - JM

Movie Review - "Meet the Robinsons"

… animated movie for the family.  A baby is left on the door step of an orphanage by his mother.  As the baby becomes a boy, he struggles to find out what happened and why.  Somehow he creates a memory machine that allows him to remember what he saw as a baby.  The rest of the story takes viewers back in forth from the present to the future and the past.  In the end, things turn out well.  What do you expect, it is a Disney cartoon. 

Wait to see this movie, preferably when your first-date evolves to married with children.  - JM

Movie Review - "Fly Boys"

… aerial action-movie with old school flyboys pitting Allies against the Axis in World War I.  Enjoyed the flying scenes but a little on the "hooky-side" when it came to the story.  No matter, you feel like jumping in a Sopwith Camel and taking on the Red Baron.  Hang On Snoopy, Hang On! - JM

Movie Review - "Blood Diamond"

… drama with Leonardo Decaprio as a diamond smuggler and Djimin Dijaou as a father searching for his family in war torn Sierra Leone.  A lot of action with an underlying political statement against the diamond industry. Regardless, it is an entertaining movie.  Watch it when you can. - JM

Movie Review - "Goal"

... movie about a kid from the barrio and his struggle to be a proefessional soccer player.  It has an expected ending that speaks of success and dreams coming true.  Regardless it is a good movie that leaves you satisfied.  Watch this one!

- JM

Movie Review - "Shooter"

... action-drama based on the book "Point Of Impact" by Stephen Hunter. A modernized version of the story about a Marine sniper that is duped into planning an assassination. There are differences between the book and the movie, but it is still worth a look.
-JM

Movie Review - "Stranger Than Fiction"

… comedy with Will Farrell as an IRS auditor who keeps hearing a voice tell a story about him.  The voice is narrating his life as it happens and it is driving him crazy.

Great story-line with a happy ending.  Another first-date movie that leaves you unscathed in your relationship.

- JM

Movie Review - "Departed"

… cops and robbers movie worth watching.  Great performances all around for Jack Nicholson, Leonardo Decaprio, and Matt Damon.  And, kudos to Mark Wahlberg playing the "Southie" street-wise cop.  Watch this one you get a chance.

- JM

Movie Review - "Casino Royale"

The Bond franchise continues with Casino Royale.  I expected the standard spy-movie stuff and am not a big Bond fan.  Luckily I did not see that. 

The new Bond did a great job of being a James Bond.  Not the playboy Bond but a military special forces type ready to strike at a moments notice.

Don't miss this one.

Movie Review - "Breach"

… drama based on true events about an FBI Agent turned spy.  Long movie but enough intrigue to keep you watching.

- JM

Movie Review - "The Prestige"

… a movie about magic and illusion.  Two magicians compete for the ultimate performance. Who will win the audience's attention.

Enjoyed the movie with great acting from Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, and Scarlett Johansson.  Check it out some time.

- JM

Movie Review - "The Gridiron Gang"

… story based on true events about a Juvenile Detention Center Counselor and his efforts to start a football team in order to motivate kids to leave a life of drugs, crime, and gangs.

Motivational to watch.  A harmless first-date movie that shows you can care.

- JM

Movie Review - "300"

… the story about Leonidus, the King of Sparta, and his small group of warriors battling two million Persians led by the God-King Circes.

Blood, gore, and guts abound.  Great fighting scenes but may be too brutal for a first-date movie.  Skip it for the first-date but get away and watch this one when you can.

I am Spartacus!

- JM

Movie Review - "Music and Lyrics"

… a first-date movie with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.  Singer and recording artist from the 80's meets aspiring writer.  They team up to write a hit song and grow to become more than co-workers.

Ending is expected, events to get there are expected, and everything is expected to go well.  But, who cares….  It is a first-date movie that is harmless to any new relationship.

- JM

Movie Review - "Babel"

… a movie with some big name actors/actresses.  However, I could not provide a recommendation.  Too slow a beginning that I opted to watch something else.

- JM