"Ten Minutes"

A short story by Zeke Rutledge recently published on Associated Content:
Ten Minutes: Short Story About a Decorated Veteran's Return Home.

Not bad, may be a good start for a movie!

"Couples Retreat"

Comedy about four couples who agree to go on a tropical-island vacation for marriages needed "help".  One couple is there to work on their marriage; the others are there to enjoy a fun vacation.  However, once there, they realize the resort's therapy sessions are not optional.

 

Funny movie, first-date all the way.  So what if it is about relationships in trouble, you are fine.  Great cast with Vince Vaughn, Jon Favereau, Jason Bateman, and others....  Also, gotta like Jean Reno in his role as marriage guru!  And, Vince's son in the movie will have you going!

 

PS:  Look for the line "Honey,... I will be the biggest ass you have ever seen!"

"Zombieland"

Terror-Comedy about a loner who teams up with three other "zombie-virus" survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. Actors include Amber Heard, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, Ruben Fleischer, Emma Stone, and a brief cameo by Bill Murray.

 

Once you get past the blood and terror, the movie will have you laughing in the aisle.  Safe first date movie only if your blossoming relationship can stand a blood and gore comedy!  Check it out some time.

"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"

Romantic comedy based on the theme from "A Christmas Carol" with Matthew McConaughey as Connor Mead, womanizer who swears off marriage and commitment.  Invited to his brother's wedding, he meets an old flame Jenny Perotti, played by Jennifer Garner.  He still has feelings but remains steadfast in maintaining his playboy reputation until he is visited by the ghost of his Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), who taught Conner about the ways of women.  Uncle Wayne's ghost warns Connor that he'll be visited by three ghosts - past, present, and future girlfriends.

 

Safe first-date movie, ending was expected.  Mainly watched to see how the storyline played out.  Glad to have waited till it came out on DVD versus paying a premium at the theater.  Check it out when you get a chance. 

"Soul Men"

Singing trio Marcus Hooks, Floyd Henderson, and Louis Hinds break apart in the 60's.  Marcus moves on to be an R&B Legend; Floyd and Louis team up as a duo, "The Real Deal," and become one hit wonders.  Over 40 years later, Marcus suddenly dies and a high-profile tribute at the Apollo Theater is planned in his memory. Floyd, who is bored in retirement, convinces Louis, an ex-con, to team up again as the "Real Deal" for Marcus.  What follows is a cross-country road-trip to get to the Apollo in five days.

 

Slow going, slightly picks up in the middle, and then it kinda stays there.  Save it for a rainy day.  Wait for a much later date!

"Secret Life of Bees"

Set in the mid 60's, Dakota Fanning pays Lily Owens, a 14 year-old girl who has trouble dealing with the loss of her mother.  She runs away with her only friend Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson, to a South Carolina town that holds secrets to the past. Taken in by the the Boatwright sisters (played by Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sophie Okenedo), Lily finds peace in their world of beekeeping.

 

Good movie, safe for a first date. Check it out some time.

"Gigantic"

Independent Film Channel style movie with Paul Dano (brother in "Little Miss Sunshine") and Zooey Deschanel.  Paul sells mattresses.  Zooey's Dad buys one.  Zooey stops by the store to coordinate delivery.  Zooey falls asleep on the mattress.  While asleep we learn that Paul, who is not married, wants to adopt a Chinese baby.  Not certain why but he has wanted to all is life.  Zooey wakes up 2+ hours later, provides a shipping address and leaves for work.

 

Storyline comes and goes with some interesting scenes but was disappointed given the 3.5 star rating.  Still like Zooey and her acting, just the movie is missing something.  Save it for a later day.

"Outlander"

"Beowulf meets the Predator" like the movie cover says.... Jim Caviezel plays a space age soldier who is stranded in the Iron Age when his spaceship crashes to Earth. On a quest to kill a "dragon", he becomes a Viking tribe's prisoner, then its savior.

A lot of action with blood and gore scenes fitting a man versus dragon battle. Entertaining movie but suggest a different movie for at least the first-date.

"Post Grad"

Young college graduate, played by Alexis Bledel, has planned her life....  Good grades gets her a scholarship, which leads to a degree and then a dream job at a publisher.  Except, she does not get hired.

 

Good story and safe first-date movie.  Supporting cast and the storyline make it entertaining.  Check it out some time.

"Paul Blart - Mall Cop"

Comedy with Kevin James playing a mall Security Guard.  Down on his luck at work and in love, Paul comes into the limelight when he pits his wits against a group of thieves.  The thieves secure the mall and take hostages in a plan to steal security codes from the stores.  However, they did not plan on Paul Blart!

 

Funny movie that takes on a "Bruce Willis Die Hard" feel, just add a few pounds to Bruce.  Safe first-date movie, check it out when you get a chance.

"The Time Traveler's Wife"

Movie with Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.  Eric travels through time without warning. Somehow in his travels, he meets Rachel as a young girl. As they meet again and again over time, they relationship grows into love.

 

A definite "chick-flick" as wells as a first-date movie.  Entertaining storyline, safe for the budding relationship!

"Julie & Julia"

Movie with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep as Julie Powell and Julia Childs, respectively.  Julie is an aspiring writer working a day job.  Inspired by Julia Childs, she decides to cook Julia Childs' 524 recipes (in 365 days) and blog about her experience.

 

Entertaining movie based on true events.  Nice job running parallel storylines of Julie and Julia.  Safe first-date movie. Ending good have been better, else it was a good movie.

"500 Days of Summer" (Spoiler Alert)

Movie with Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt that can easily fit the IFC and/or Sundance Channel programming format.  Great story about a guy unlucky in love, Joseph, meeting the woman of his dreams, Zooey.

 

A lot of flash backs that take you to different points in their relationship.  But don't worry, it does not detract from the movie.  Great supporting actors, a solid story, and two leads that mesh well together.  Don't miss this one; it is a first-date movie even if the two do not get together (spoiler sorry).  That said, liked the surprise ending. Check it out.

"Nothing But the Truth"

Drama with Kate Beckinsale as a news reporter jailed for not revealing her source despite the threat to national security.

 

Good movie with a surprise revelation about her source.  Even better that it is based on true events.  Safe first-date movie.

"The Ugly Truth"

Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler play opposites in a movie about the ugly truth about love and relationships.  Made number 1 this weekend, knocking out Harry Potter, so decided to test the waters and checked it out.  Funny movie but would wait after the first-date before seeing this one.  References about sex and descriptions about "what men are really want" may cut short a budding relationship.

"Defiance"

Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell play brothers in a movie set in World War 2 just after the Nazi invasion of Poland in September 1939.  The Bielski brothers escape the slaughter and begin organizing a partisan group.  Disagreement between Daniel and Liev over what to do with the group leads to a fallout between them.  Subsequently, they part company - one stays to organize the group and the other joins the local Russian partisans to fight the Nazis.

 

Good movie, just would wait for this one when it comes to a first date movie.

"Doubt"

Father Flynn, played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, is trying to implement a progressive school environment in the 1960's.  Sister Aloysius Beauvier, played by Meryl Streep, is the school's Principal who is a strict disciplinarian. The winds of change are marked by the school's first black student, Donald Miller. However, doubt arises when Sisters James and Aloysius observe Father Flynn paying too much attention to Donald. Sister Aloysius begins to investigate the truth and seek Father Flynn's removal from the school. Without proof save her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius matches wits with Father Flynn.

 

Save this one for a rainy day.  A good movie but not one to bring to a first date.

"The International"

Clive Owen and Naomi Watts play Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman, respectively.  They are set on bringing to justice one of the world's most powerful banks suspected of illegal activities including money laundering, arms trading, and the terrorism. Finding themselves in a live or die situation, they put their lives at risk as the bank will do anything to protect its interests.

 

Slow movie to kick-off, did pickup midstream but the ending could have been better. Save for a rainy day.

"Valkyrie"

Movie with Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, an Army officer set on saving Germany from Hitler.  He does this by changing a pre-planned Operation named Valkyrie that will launch in the event Hitler is killed.

 

Good movie based on true events.  Unfortunately, as history reminds us, the Operation is unsuccessful.  Not a first-choice for a first date movie but still a good one.

"Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen"

Transformers sequel with Shia LeBouf and Megan Fox.  Action and a lot of "Michael Bay" destruction scenes.  Not a big fan of sci-fi but was entertained.  Some corny scenes but Megan's "too hot to handle" looks more than made up for them.  Okay first-date movie; just be careful guys and don't pay too much attention to Megan.