Movie Review - "The Seeker"

... fantasy movie that pits Good against Evil. Will Stanton is a young teenager who discovers that he has powers to find "Signs" needed by Good to keep Evil in check. As the seventh son of a seventh son, Will is "The Seeker" tasked with finding five "Signs" that will give him power to fight Evil.

Slow movie with an expected outcome - Good overcomes Evil. I would save this one for a rainy day to rent.

Movie Review - "In the Valley of Elah"

... movie with Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron. Tommy is a retired Army CID Agent; Charlize is a Police Detective. The two partner together to investigate the murder of Tommy's son - a soldier recently returned from Iraq.

Good movie that kept viewers' interested. Even better that the movie is based on true events. Check it out some time; just be aware that the son's death was a violent one. -JM

Movie Review - "Gone Baby Gone"

... drama with Casey Affleck, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman. Casey is a private investigator hired to find a kidnapped child. Ed is a Police detective leading the search for the child. Morgan is a police Captain who assists Casey and Ed in their efforts to find the child. He is also emotionally attached to the situation having lost a child of his own.

A little slow to start but a good movie overall. Watch the story as it unflolds and see if you can figure out the ploy before the movie's end! -JM

Movie Review - "Awake"

... thriller that caps on a rare but real occurrence known as "anesthetic awareness" where patients are under anesthesia but remain conscious.  They feel pain and hear everything around them but cannot voice their pain as they are paralyzed.  

 

Hayden Christensen plays a billionaire investor who is smart and young but has a weak heart.  Jessica Alba is an executive assistant who works for Hayden's mother.  Terrence Howard is the doctor who will conduct a heart transplant for Hayden once a donor is identified.

 

Once you get through the surgical scenes, the story keeps viewers interested and includes a few unexpected surprises.  Good movie, check it out some time. -JM

 

 

Movie Review - "Becoming Jane"

... movie about Jane Austen and her romance with a penniless man which inspired her writing.  Anne Hathaway plays Jane Austen; James McAvoy is her love.  Slow starting movie that picks up slightly as the story progresses.  Safe first date movie but would wait for a rainy day to rent this one. -JM

 

Movie Review - "American Gangster"

... drama with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Denzel plays Frank Lucas, infamous drug kingpin operating in New York City during the late 60's and early 70's. Russell is Richie Roberts, an honest cop determined at breaking the drug traffic problem.

Although you know that Denzel will eventually be caught, the story keeps viewers interested. Good movie especially for a true story. Check it out and rent it some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Michael Clayton"

... movie with George Clooney as a lawyer working for a prestigious law firm in New York City. He is the firm's "go to" man to work deals and sweep things under the rug.

Pulled in to clean up an issue created by one of the firm's top lawyers. The lawyer cracked under pressure after working for six years fighting a class action suit against one of their clients.

Great movie! A must see with a storyline that kept me interested the full two hours. Don't miss this one. -JM

Movie Review - "We Own The Night"

... drama with River Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, and Eva Mendez. River and Mark are brothers. Robert is their father. Eva is River's girlfriend.

River is a night club manager for a Russian fur trader / businessman. Mark and Robert are New York City Policemen. Mark is a Captain and newly appointed lead of a narcotics special investigation unit; Robert is the Chief of Police.

River in his business dealings with his boss, the Russian fur trader, gets involved with busting up a drug ring lead by his boss's nephew.

Slow at times, I am glad to have waited to see this one on DVD instead of the movie theater. Good story with a slight twist in the plot. Check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Hunting Party"

... action movie with Richard Gere and Terrence Howard. Richard is a newsreporter covering wars around the world. Terrence is his cameraman. After years working together, Richard finally breaks down on live TV while covering a massacre in Bosnia. Richard is fired; Terrence is promoted to lead cameraman for the news agency's anchorman.

Five years pass since Richard's breakdown and somehow the friends meet once again in Bosnia. Once onsite, Richard convinces Terrence to partner with him and find a war criminal. Richard says he wants to interview him but really wants to capture him.

Did not expect much at first but was pleasantly surprised. Entertaining movie and worth a rental. Check it out sometime! - JM

Movie Review - "Dan in Real Life"

… comedy with Steve Carrell, Dane Cook, and Juliet Binoche.  Steve is a widower with three young daughters.  Dane is Steve's brother.  Juliet is Dan's girlfriend. Steve serendipitously meets Juliet; neither knows who that they share something in common - Dane!  Great first date movie.  A lot of laughs.  Check it out some time. -JM

 

Movie Review - "Good Luck Chuck"

… comedy with Dane Cook and Jessica Alba.  Dane is a Dentist who was cursed as a child - any woman he sleeps with will fall in love with the next guy who dates her.  Jessica is the girl of his dreams.  Somehow he has to rid himself of the curse so he can keep her.  Funny movie; just be careful with the unrated DVD version. -JM

 

 

Movie Review - "Lions for Lambs"

... movie with Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford. Tom plays a U.S. Senator with aspirations for the Presidency. Meryl is a News Reporter covering the war on terror. And, Robert is a Professor teaching Political Science at a university somewhere in California.

The movie takes viewers through three storylines that are interrelated.

• A Senator and a News Reporter battle wits during an exclusive interview about a new strategy to win the war in Afghanistan.
• A Professor and a gifted Student discuss the young man's plans for school and why he is not trying to achieve at the level he is capable.
• Two of the Professor's former student are in Afghanistan as Army Special Forces Officers supporting the Senator's new war strategy.

Movie has been out awhile but was able to catch it at the discount theater in my area. May be slow in action for some. Directed by Robert Redford, overall a good movie. Check it out some time! -JM

Movie Review - "27 Dresses"

… comedy with Katherine Heigl as a bridesmaid twenty-seven times.  Movie is funny but a definite chick-flick.  Safe first-date movie; just be ready for the guys to be outnumbered by the women at the theater.  Observed a 50:1 female to male ratio this afternoon. -JM

 

Movie Review - "Death Sentence"

... movie with Kevin Bacon as a family man and corporate executive gone vigilante when his son is murdered by a gang of drug dealers. A lot of action and shooting of bad guys.

Once you dismiss the underlying moral of the story it is not a bad rental. Check it out some time. - JM

Movie Review - "The Bucket List"

… movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two men dealing with cancer and their eventual death. Jack and Morgan meet while going through treatment for terminal cancer. With death at their doorstep, they decide to compile a list of things to do before they kick the bucket, and then they proceed to act on their "bucket list".

Good movie, safe for a first-date movie. Check it out sometime! -JM

Movie Review - "3:10 To Yuma"

… modern western with Russell Crowe as the leader of a band of outlaws and Christian Bale as an Arizona rancher in debt.  Their paths cross when Russell is captured and must be escorted to a train station to meet the 3:10 to Yuma.  Christian, buried in debt from an unprofitable ranch, volunteers to escort him for a fee.  A lot of action and shoot'em up scenes.  Story's outcome was expected but still consider the movie a decent rental.  Did wish the ending was different. Check it out some time! -JM

 

Movie Review - "No Country for Old Men"

… shoot'em up movie about a hunter who stumbles on the aftermath of a drug deal gone bad.  Dead people everywhere; he tracks the last man standing, finding him dead but with a suitcase filled with $2M.  Keeping the money turns out to be harder than finding it.

 

Good movie with a lot of shooting.  It was about a fifty-fifty split with other movie goers - some openly dissatisfied and others enjoyed.  Check it out sometime! -JM

 

 

Movie Review - "Heartbreak Kid"

... comedy with Ben Stiller as a reluctant bachelor. After years of no commitment, he finally ties the knot. Unfortunately, he should have waited, meeting the love of his life while on his honeymoon in Mexico.

Funny movie; safe for a good laugh with your significant other. Okay for a budding relationship as it pokes at relationships after the wedding is over. Check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Balls of Fury"

... comedy about competitive Ping-Pong! Christopher Walken plays a crazed Ping-Pong fanatic who hosts a tournament. The best players meet somewhere in South America to play in a tournament where the loser dies - literally.

Funny moments that keep you watching but not one to leave you laughing once the movie ends. -JM

Movie Review - "Eastern Promises"

... drama with Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. Viggo is an underworld criminal in the Russian Mafia; Naomi is a mid-wife who gets involved with the Mafia when an underage prostitute dies on her shift.

Slow movie with twist here and there; else wait for a rainy day to rent this one. -JM

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

Movie Review - "Lake House"

… a drama with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.  Keanu is a construction contractor and architect.  Sandra is career-minded business woman.  Somehow they meet at a lake house and start a relationship.  That is, a relationship separated by time.  He is in the past; she is in the future.  Through a mailbox at the lake house they communicate with each other across time.

Interesting story-line that keeps the audience wondering.  Consider it a first-date movie for DVD.

JM

Movie Review - "Scoop"

… a mystery-comedy with Woody Allen, Scarlett Johannsen, and Hugh Jackman.  Woody is a magician.  Scarlett is an aspiring news reporter.  Together they team up as pretend Father-Daughter to catch suspected murderer Hugh Jackman. 

Although Woody Allen directed the movie, it is not the typical Woody Allen type movie.  Funny remarks from Woody make it humorous.  Scarlett still looks curvaceous and sexy.  For the women, Hugh is the hunk.

Consider it another Independent Film Channel movie to watch on DVD and a first-date movie.

JM

Movie Review - "Nacho Libre"

… a comedy with Jack Black playing a Catholic Brother at a Church-Orphanage.  To help the orphanage, Jack signs up for a wrestling contest.  If he wins, the orphans eat better.

Funny moving for Jack Black fans.  If you are not a fan, then give it a try. You may find yourself laughing by the movie's end.

Another first-date movie.

JM

Movie Review - "A Good Woman"

… a drama with some twist and turns.  Helen Hunt plays a spinster.  Scarlett Johanssen is a newly wed whose husband appears to have a wavering eye.

A slow beginning that ends on a good note.  Consider it an Independent Film Channel movie to watch on DVD.

Another first-date movie.

JM

Movie Review - "Talladegha Nights - The Legend of Ricky Bobby"

... a comedy with Will Farrell and a great supporting cast.

Will Farrell is NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby.  Born to be first, always fast, he is the best in NASCAR.

 

I could not stop laughing at this one - a first-date, first-rate movie to make you laugh!

Movie Review - "RV"

… a comedy with Robin Williams.  Robin is the loving husband and father who must deal with balancing family and work.  Unable to postpone a planned vacation, he finds a way to accomplish both.  He rents a RV and takes his family on a road trip vacation to Colorado where his company is meeting with clients.

Funny moments that keep you interested.  Another harmless first-date movie.

Movie Review - "Casanova"

… comedy about the Italian legend - Casanova.  Heath Ledger plays Casanova, lover of women and life.  Nothing new or exciting about this one.  Save for a rainy day.  Harmless first-date movie.

Movie Review - "Fun with Dick and Jane"

… comedy about a couple dealing with corporate lay-offs.  Jim Carey and Tea Leoni are husband and wife.  Alec Baldwin is the CEO of Globaldyne, the company where Jim works.  Jim gets a promotion as VP of Corporate Communications; the next day the company goes under with Jim and others holding the bag.  Alec Baldwin slips away with over $400M.

Jim and Tea deal with unemployment by breaking the law and stealing.  However, eventually set things straight in a slight of hand move that proves beneficial to the Globaldyne's former employees.  Check it out sometime.  Another first-date movie.

Product Review - "Prime"

… situational comedy with Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep.  Uma is a divorcee in her late thirties dating her therapist's twenty-three year old son.  Meryl Streep is Uma's therapist and the mother of her boyfriend.  The movie revolves around a mother's jealousy, client-patient ethics, and a relationship with an older woman.

Save for a rainy day…

Movie Review - "Pride and Prejudice"

… remake of an old classic with Kiera Knightley.  Follows along the lines of the Jane Austen style novel.  Save for a rainy day that fits the first-date category.

Movie Review - "Rumor Has It"

… a comedy with Jennifer Aniston, Mark Rafalo, Shirley McClaine, and Kevin Costner.  Jennifer and Mark are engaged and must deal with pre-wedding jitters.  Shirley is Jennifer's grandmother; Kevin is an old boyfriend of Jennifer's mother.  Somehow Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter all have something in common!

Harmless first-date movie.  Save this one for a rainy weekend.

Movie Review - "Benchwarmers"

... a comedy that empowers non-atheletes.  Three adult nerds and a wealthy billionaire pit their baseball prowess against child jocks.  The challenge is a single elimination baseball tournament.  The winner gets a baseball stadium.

 

Okay first-date movie.  Funny moments that keep you interested but not a gut-buster.

Movie Review - "Memoirs of a Geisha"

... a movie about one geisha's experience.  Sold as a child, she was schooled in the art of the geisha.

 

Okay first-date movie.  You are safe in renting this one.  Just be prepared for a long movie.

Movie Review - "Into the Blue"

... a movie with Jessica Alba.  She and her boyfriend eek out a living on an island resort in the Bahamas.  She works as a tour guide; he is a dive master and amateur treasure seeker.

 

Somehow they find treasure as well as a load of cocaine and must deal with its owner's attempts to recover.

 

Save for a rainy day.  Guys make sure you use the peripherals when Jessica swims, else you may receive an elbow nudge from your significant other.

Movie Review - "Ice Age 2 - The Melt Down"

… sequel to Ice Age with the original characters (voices).  Ray Romano plays the lead as the mammoth.  John Leguizamo is the sloth.  And, Queen Latifah is the female mammoth.  Other voices you should readily recognize; just listen carefully.

This one is still in theaters.  So, if you are looking for a first-date movie, this one should work.  Give it a "look-see"!

Movie Review - "The Great Raid"

… a war movie about the rescue of WWII POWs.  Benjamin Bratt is the motivated Colonel.  James Franco is his right-hand man.  Joseph Feinnes is the senior POW at the prison camp.

The newly formed Army Rangers are directed to save 500 POWs at Cabatuan Prison in the Philippines.  They must save them before they are executed by their Japanese captors.

An uplifting movie with enough action to keep everyone's attention.  Recommended rental, should not negatively impact a first-date.

Movie Review - "King Kong"

… remake of the classic movie "King Kong".  A modernized version of the movie.  This includes the classic as well as the one made in the 70's.

Naomi Watts plays the heroine; Adrian Brodie plays the hero.  Jack Black contributes as the driven movie-producer.

Overall, not a bad movie despite being over 3 hours.  Recommended rental that you and your significant other can enjoy.

Movie Review - "Cinderella Man"

... drama with Rodney Crowe and Renee Zellweger and directed by Ron Howard. Rodney plays boxer James J. Braddock. Renee is his wife. After hitting rock bottom during the Great Depression, Braddock gets a second chance at the Heavyweight Championship.

Great first-date movie; highly recommended. The men get to see some great boxing action. The women get to see a married couple struggle and overcome hardships.

Check it out!

Movie Review - "Zanthura"

… a "Jumangi-like" movie with a space-theme.  Kids are playing a board game that forces them into wild adventures and life-threatening situations in outer space instead of the jungle.  Somehow everything works out for the better.  Harmless first-date movie.

Movie Review - "Two For One"

… a drama with Matthew MaConaughey and Al Pacino.  Matt is a former college football star who knows the game and can pick winners.  Al is a businessman who manages a sports betting service.

Al Pacino finds Matt working in Las Vegas as a "1-900" customer service representative.  He offers Matt a chance to join his company.  Matt accepts.

Mixed thoughts on this one but still a safe first-date movie.  Give it a chance on the next rainy day weekend.

Movie Review - "Failure to Launch"

... a comedy with Matthew MaConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Matthew is a 35 year old bachelor who chooses to live at home with his parents played by Terry Bradshaw and Jessica Bates.

Matthew's parents hire Sarah, a professional self-esteem expert, to "urge" Matthew to move out and live on his own. Unfortunately, love is in the air.

Funny movie that is a safe-haven for a budding relationship. A new release that premiered this weekend, so check it out on your next first-date!

Movie Review - "Walk the Line"

... a bio-drama about singer Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter. Joaquin Pheonix plays Johnny. Reese Witherspoon is June.

The film takes viewers through the troubled singer's early struggles in life, his rise to fame and fortune, and the personal issues that lead to his downward fall with drugs.

A good movie to watch. Like the singer and like Joaquin's portrayal of the "Man in Black". Check it out some time.

Movie Review - "Weatherman"

... pseudo-comedy / situational film with Nicholas Cage and Michael Caine. Nicholas is the weatherman for a Chicago news channel dealing with issues.

People hate him, his family is falling apart, and his career is taking-off.

Wait for a rainy daay to see this one. Don't try it as a first-date move.

Movie Review - "Elizabeth Town"

...  a situational drama with Susan Sarandon, Orlando Bloom, and Kirsten Dunst. Susan's husband dies while visiting relatives in Elizabeth Town.  Orlando is the young son who has to keep the family together throughout the crisis.  Kirsten is a flight attendant who meets Orlando on his flight to Elizabeth Town.

 

The problem is Orlando's own life is falling apart; he loses almost $1B on a running shoe he designed.

 

Long film but should consider as a first-date movie because the ending will benefit a budding relationship.

Movie Review - "The Man"

... comedy with Samuel Jackson and Eugene Levy (Dad from American Pie). 

 

Samuel Jackson plays an ATF Agent; Eugene Levy is a dental supply salesman.  They meet when an undercover operation goes awry, and somehow become partners in an illegal gun running sting.

 

Funny scenes and banter between the two lead actors.  Fine for a first-date movie but would save it for a rainy weekend.

Movie Review - "Red Eye"

... action-drama with Rachel MacAdams and Cillian Murhpy.  Rachel is on the red eye from Dallas to Miami.  She has to deal with airline delays, pushy passengers, and a terrorist played by Cillian.

 

The ending is not a surprise but had enough scenes to keep me interested.  Overall a safe first-date movie.

Movie Review - "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

... action-comedy with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.  They play a married couple who really don't know each other that well.

 

Brad is a hitman; Angelina is a hitwoman.  They don't know it but they have been hired to kill the other.

 

Great first-date movie because its message is marriage is not the end of the world.

Movie Review - "March of the Penguins"

… a must see first-date movie.  Viewers will enjoy this one.  So, if you missed it at the theater. You are in luck.  It is out on DVD.

First-Choice Movie Rental according to our guest movie critic!

Movie Review - "The Secretary"

… a movie with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhall.  Maggie plays a Temp who likes pain.  James is her boss who "punishes" her when she makes typos.

Interesting, different, a must see for the discriminating gentleman.  But, don't recommend as a first-date movie.

Movie Review - "Munich"

… action-drama that follows the Israeli Mossad, their efforts to track-down and kill the Munich Olympics' terrorists, and the emotional drain the mission has on the assassination team.

Dark settings, explosions, and "James Bond" style killings run rampant throughout the film.  It is a lengthy movie that pulls the viewer into the situation. 

I enjoyed the movie but watched it without my significant other.

Movie Review - "The Exorcism of Emily Rose"

… scary movie that I would save for a first-date that prefers to be scared out of his/her wits.

See it but stay close to one another.

Movie Review - "Match Point"

... a Woody Allen movie that did not feel like a "Woody Allen" movie; Scarlett Johannsen plays the other woman in this drama set in England.

I would saý more about the film but prefer others to give it a look. It is not bad for the first date movie-goer.

Worth a look but I am biased as a die-hard Scarlett fan!

Movie Review - "In Good Company"

... a movie with Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, and Scarlett Johanssen. Coming of age drama about a young businessman and an old corporate veteran.

Things start out rough with Dennis working for Topher. They get worse when Dennis' daughter,  Scarlett, has a fling with Topher.

Worth a look. Check it out when you get the opportunity.

Movie Review - "The Last Place On Earth"

... a movie with Tisha Campbell Martin.  A handsome man meets Tisha while on a quest to scatter his mother's ashes in the Sierra's.  They fall for each other and a relationship blossoms despite a terminal illness that they must face.

 

Watery eyes for some; stiff upper lip for others.  Nevertheless, safe ground for you first-date movie goers.

Movie Review - "Flight Plan"

... is a drama with Jodie Foster as an aeronautical engineer on her way home from Germany to bury her husband. Losing her daughter while the flight is airborne, she must battle passengers, flight crew, and a reluctant air marshall to locate her daughter. Lots of action with a decent plot.

Check it out when you get an opportunity! You and your significant other should have a great time philosophizing over the movie's situations over an espresso at Starbucks.

Movie Review - "The Pink Panther"

... is a remake of the classic 60's movie with Kevin Kline playing the Commissioner, Steve Martin as Inspector Cleauseau, and Jean Reno as his sidekick "Ju Ju".

Lots of laughs with a gut busting scene with Beyonce Knowles at a music recording session. Did not want to see it but was dragged to theater by the family. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised.

Check it out sometime. Your relationship will not suffer.