Movie with Nicholas Cage as a hardened hitman ready to retire. A lot of action but tends to fizzle out at the end. Suggest holding off for a rainy day to watch. Has a "B" movie feel, suggest skipping it as a first date movie. Don't want to give the impression that "B" movies are your thing.-JM
Web log that provides periodic reviews of movies using a new rating system in 2024. Formerly, movies were rated as a "first-date" movie and/or "first-rate movie rental". In 2022 and 2023, we rated movies on a Beer basis. See details in the sidebar below. Beginning 2024, we now use a simpler rating system - Thumbs Up/Down!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"The Express - The Ernie Davis Story"
Movie about Syracuse University running back Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Rob Brown plays Ernie Davis and Dennis Quaid plays his coach. Inspiring story! Safe first date movie. Check it out when you can.-JM
Saturday, January 24, 2009
"Charlie Bartlett"
Movie with Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, and Robert Downey Jr. Anton plays wealthy teenager Charlie Bartlett who has been expelled from private schools and, as a last resort, is sent to public school. Robert Downey Jr plays Principal Gardner of the public school. Hope Davis is Charlie's mother.
Somehow Charlie's honesty and well meaning intentions set him as the school "psychiatrist" providing advice to students. Dark comedy of teenage angst but with a different angle. Did not expect much but enjoyed the movie. Safe first date movie.-JM
"Swing Vote"
Kevin Costner plays a simple working man named Bud Johnson. Bud leads a quiet life in Texico, New Mexico until he becomes the deciding vote in the Presidential Race.
Both candidates work to get Bud's vote, even to the point of changing party platforms.
Funny moments with a message that each vote matters. Kinda drags at times.
Don't make a special trip to rent it. But, still consider it a safe first date movie.-JM
"Max Payne"
Mark Wahlberg plays video game character Max Payne, a NYPD Detective, bent on solving the murder of his wife and child.
Promising story but could not get past the demons and dark fantasy theme. Slow to watch, would not recommend as a first date movie.-JM
Saturday, January 17, 2009
"My Best Friend's Girl"
Comedy with Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, and Jason Biggs. Dane and Jason are best friends. Jason and Kate are dating. Jason thinks its serious. Kate does not.
Jason asks Dane to go on a date with Kate, be a jerk, and maybe Kate will realize Jason is a suitable boyfriend.
Dane goes out with Kate but the plan backfires. Kate and Dane get physical!
Not a first date movie. Starts slow but picks up after the first 20 minutes. Save it for a later date or an already established relationship. -JM
"Righteous Kill"
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are two NYPD Detectives who have been partners for 30 years. They team up with rival detectives, played by Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo, to solve a string of murders.
A vigilante is on the loose. His modus operandi - single out criminals, kill them, and then leave a hand-written poem on the scene.
Action comes and goes but overall it is slow. Good rental but not enough to rate it as a first-date movie.-JM
A vigilante is on the loose. His modus operandi - single out criminals, kill them, and then leave a hand-written poem on the scene.
Action comes and goes but overall it is slow. Good rental but not enough to rate it as a first-date movie.-JM