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