Movie Review - "21"

... movie with Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, and Laurence Fishburne. Jim and Kate are MIT students who are part of a team of card counters. Kevin is an MIT professor and the leader of the team. As they amass money from their winnings, an old school Vegas Casino security thug, played by Laurence Fishburne, closely monitors their activity to catch them in the act.

Inspired by true events, the movie makes for an interesting story. Check it out when you get a chance. It has a decent ending. -JM

Movie Review - "Mamma Mia!"

… musical about a young bride seeking out her father before her marriage day.  Amanda Seyfried is the young bride, Meryl Streep plays her mother, and Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgard are the potential fathers.

 

It is a musical so be prepared for the corniness.  That said, enjoyable movie and a definite first date movie.  If you like ABBA, you won't be disappointed with the music scenes. Check it out at the theater when you get a chance.-JM

 

 

Movie Review - "Wanted"

… action packed movie with James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman.  James is a stressed out corporate worker.  Angelina and Morgan are part of a secret group of assassins.  After an attempt on his life, James discovers that his father was killed by a rouge assassin and is urged to leave his job and join Angelina and Morgan to avenge his father.

 

A lot of shooting, blood, and fighting.  The movie has a couple of twists to keep viewers interested; a good one to see on the big screen.  Be careful first-date movie goers as the fighting and violence may cause your significant other to think less of your ability for choosing movies. -JM

 

Movie Review - "Vantage Point"

… action movie with Dennis Quaid as a Secret Service Agent protecting the President on a trip to Spain.  Terrors strikes with an assassination, explosions, and policemen and agents chasing the plotters.

 

Good movie that uses the points of view of those involved to build the story.  Once you get past the numerous "rewinds", the movie's plot unfolds nicely.  A lot of twisting and turning but still a good rental.  Check it out some time. -JM

 

Movie Review - "Batman - The Dark Knight"

... another in the Batman franchise with Christian Bale as the Dark Knight, Heath Ledger as the Joker, and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent - All-American Hero and Gotham's District Attorney. Gary Oldman plays Lieutenant Gordon and Maggie Gyllenhall is Batman's and the DA's love interest.

Good movie that gets away from the "DC Comic" look and takes you to a storyline that keeps you watching. Heath Ledger does not look like his normal good guy self, doing a convincing job as a maniacal villain. Check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Mama's Boy"

... comedy with Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder, Diane Keaton, Jeff Daniels, and Anna Faris. Jon plays a late twenty-something year old son who lives at home with his mother, played by Diane Keaton. Jeff Daniels is Diane's boyfriend; Anna Faris is Jon's "essential component" in his plot to drive his mother's boyfriend away.

Good movie with a little spark of the Napoleon, not a bad rental. Check it out some time.-JM

Movie Review - "10,000 BC"

... action movie filled with prophecies to be filled, fights with beasts, and triumphs over captors. Follows a familiar storyline of hero overcoming many obstacles to save his loved one.

Good movie with a lot of action. Great job taking the familiar storyline and setting it in 10,000 BC. Not sure about its historically accuracy, still consider it a first date, first rate rental. Check it out.-JM

Movie Review - "In Bruges"

... edgy comedy with Colin Farrell as a stressed out hitman, Brendan Gleeson as his controller, and Ralph Fienness as their boss.

Colin and Brendan are sent to Bruges, Belgium to wait for instructions from Ralph after a failed hit gone wrong.

Fits well on the Independent Film Channel and Sundance. Funny moments with crazed hitmen, a midget, and others. Ends with irony but still a decent rental if you like IFC.-JM

Movie Review - "Meet the Spartans"

… movie that spoofs the original - "300".  Look-alike actors appear throughout the movie with Carmen Electra playing the sexy but naughty Queen.  Funny moments with a number of twists to the original's key main scenes.  Don't make a special trip to rent this one; save it for a rainy day when nothing else is available. -JM

 

Movie Review - "Cleaner"

... suspense/mystery with Samuel Jackson as a former cop turned "cleaner" - somone who cleans up a crime scene after the evidence is gathered. Other main characters include Ed Harris as a detective, Eva Mendez as the wife of a missing person, and Luis Guzman as an internal affairs detective.

Good story to keep you interested. Unfortunately, my significant other figured out the mystery well before the movie's end. Check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Fool's Gold"

... movie with Mathew McConaughey and Kate Hudson as a divorced couple with issues. One of which is an obession to find lost treasure from an old Spanish fleet that sunk way back when.

Funny moments with expected action/comedic scenes. Enjoyed the movie despite knowing how it would end. -JM

Movie Review - "definitely, maybe"

... movie with Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin playing father and daughter, respectively. The movie is a romantic comedy that gives viewers the impression that Ryan is unhappy with his current situation; he and Abigail's mother are soon to be divorced.

To perk up his spirit, Ryan's daughter urges him to tell the story of how he met her mother. In telling the story, Ryan discovers true love by remembering past relationships.

A movie for romantics, it is a definite first date movie. -JM

Movie Review - "Drillbit Taylor"

... comedy with Owen Wilson as a budget bodyguard hired by three highschool freshmen to protect them from two bullies. Nicknamed Drillbit Taylor, Owen is a homeless bum masquerading as a bodyguard so he can swindle as much money as he can from his clients.

Glad that I did not pay a premium to see it at the theater but enjoyed it as a rental. Check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Over Her Dead Body"

... comedy with Eva Longoria as a ghost, Lake Bell as a psychic, and Paul Rudd as Eva's grieving widower. Through a turn of events, the ghost, the psychic, and the widower must deal with each other - specifically, the ghost does not want her husband and the psychic to fall in love.

Not a gut-buster that makes you laugh at every moment. It has its funny moments, check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Spiderwick Chronicles"

… fantasy movie about unseen creatures that movie about the world.  One scientist discovers them, studies them in great detail, and finally documents his findings in a book.  A book that holds the knowledge to control all others.

 

Not a big fantasy fan but did enjoy the movie.  Others noted that the movie did not follow the book, but it still entertained.  Easily a first date movie that leaves a budding relationship intact. -JM

 

Movie Review - Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

... another movie in the Indiana Jones franchise. Indiana Jones continues as a College Professor but is pulled unexpectedly back into the field by circumstances beyond his control. His friend Oxley and old flame Mary are kidnapped by the KGB. Approached by Mary's son, played by Shia LeBouf, Indiana accepts and thus begins the adventures.

Good movie with action to keep you watching. A little twist with alien space beings, else still follows the Indiana Jones genre. Check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Witless Protection"

... comedy with Larry the Cable Guy and Jenny McCarthy. Larry plays a small town deputy looking to advance his career and eventually join the FBI. Jenny is a sexy waitress and Larry's girlfriend.

Funny moments and inline with other Larry the Cable Guy movies. Not a bad rental but would not make a special trip to rent it. -JM

Movie Review - "Jumper"

... action movie with Hayden Christensen and Samuel Jackson pitted against one another. Hayden plays a Jumper, a person who can teleport themselves anywhere in the world. Samuel is a "Palladin(?)", a fanatical group that seeks out Jumpers and kills them.

Diane Lane has a cameo but important role in the movie. She plays Hayden's mother who left him when he was 5 years old.

Good movie directed by Doug Linan; same Director that brought you "The Bourne Identity" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith". -JM

Movie Review - "Semi-Pro"

… comedy with Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson and an American Basketball Association basketball team's efforts to place fourth in the league.  Why fourth?  The top four teams will move to National Basketball Association, the remainder will dissolve.

 

Funny moments to keep you watching.  It is not an Oscar winner but makes you laugh.  If you like Will Ferrell's movies, then rent it some time. Else, give it a chance and check it out if no other movies are available. - JM

 

Movie Review - "Hero Wanted"

… movie with Cuba Gooding Jr and Ray Liotta.  Cuba is a widower in mourning; Ray is a Police Detective.

 

Cuba is depressed over his wife's tragic death, living each day without direction.  That is, until he saves a young girl from a car crash, and then meets a woman who reminds him of his wife.  To impress the woman, Cuba puts a scheme in place to meet her.  Unfortunately, things do not go as planned.

 

Good movie with a few twists and turns to keep the story interesting.  Check it out some time.  - JM