Movie Review - "Great Debaters"

... movie directed by Denzel Washington about Wylie College's Debate Team's rise to fame. A small college located in Marshall, Texas goes head to head with the national champion Harvard Debate Team.

Good story with enough drama to keep you watching despite knowing the movie's outcome. Would not make a special trip to rent it but not a bad one to fall back on when all else is rented. -JM

Movie Review - "The Mist"

... horror movie that involves a mist filled with creatures that can kill you. Based on a Stephen King novella, story kept me watching mainly to see how the people trapped in the supermarket were going to survive.

Interesting twist at the end of the movie. Worth a rental; just plan for some blood and gore from the creatures' rampage. - JM

Movie Review - "Strange Wilderness"

... comedy with Steve Zahn and others attempting to save a wildlife TV show from being cancelled. Their plan is to capture film footage of Big Foot.

Like other comedies produced by Adam Sadler and Happy Madison Productions, this one fits the same mold. Filled with crude language and sexual humor and a storyline that is wanting, suggest skipping this one or at least for the first date movie. -JM

Movie Review - "Reservation Road"

… drama with Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly, Mark Ruffalo, and Mira Sorvino. Joaquin and Jennifer are a happily married couple.  They have two children - a son and a daughter.  Mark and Mira are a divorced couple who have a son.  They live in separate homes and share responsibility for their son's upbringing.

 

In a twist of bad circumstances, Mark loses control of his vehicle while driving home from a Boston Red Sox game.  Mark and his son are avid Red Sox fans. They were returning home from a late game when Mark lost control and accidentally runs into Joaquin and Jennifer's son killing him immediately. Unfortunately, Mark does not stop and render aid. He drives off.

The remainder of the movie shows viewers the pain and guilt that torments each family with emphasis on the effect the accident has on the fathers.  Good movie that keeps your interest.  Not a bad rental! -JM

 

 

 

 

Movie Review - "P.S. I Love You"

... movie with Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler as a married couple who love one another. Unfortunatley, he dies unexpectedly. Unable to cope, Hillary becomes a recluse and mourns over his death. A year passes, and then on her Birthday, she begins getting letters from her dead husband. Through these letters, Hillary begins to get her life together again.

A romantic movie about two people's love for one another. Great story. Consider it a definite first date movie that should enhance any budding relationship. For romantics, you may shed a tear or two. Check it out some time. -JM

Movie Review - "Cloverfield"

… horror movie about an attack on New York City by alien creatures.  Cannot rate the movie.  Was unable to stay awake and pay attention.  Movie was too hard to watch.  The filming is from the viewpoint of a guy with a camcorder at a party. For those that don't mind watching 84" of home movies, give it a try.  Else, leave this one alone. -JM

 

Movie Review - "In the Name of the King"

… movie based on an action-fantasy game that pits an army of beasts called Krugs against a King and his people.  Burt Reynolds plays the King.  Ray Liotta is the evil Sorcerer leading the Krugs, and Jason Statham is a quiet farmer, named Farmer, who is pulled into the fight.

 

A lot of fighting and background music to keep the scenes moving.  Tries emulate the "Lord of the Rings" in look and feel.  However, was not pulled in to the story.  Wait for a rainy day for this movie; would not make a special trip to rent it.  Too bad as I like Jason in his action movie roles like the Transporter. -JM

 

 

Movie Review - "Charlie Wilson's War"

... movie based on true events about the Cold War, Afghanistan, and a Congressman. Tom Hanks plays Congressman Charlie Wilson, who together with a CIA Agent and a Houston socialite played by Julia Roberts, plot a covert operation to bring weapons to freedom fighters in Afghanistan.

Good movie sparsed with wit and humor about politics. Worth a rental, check it out some time. - JM

Movie Review - "Juno"

... movie about a teenaged girl named Juno and her unplanned pregnancy. After sleeping with her classmate Bleeker (Michael Cera from Super Bad), Juno becomes pregnant. Uncertain what to do, she struggles with a number of options but finally decides to place the child for adoption.

A light-hearted look at teenage pregnancy, the movie has its moments. Quotes:

• "I am dealing with things way beyond my maturity level."
• "I'm already pregnant what other shenanigans can I get myself into."

Consider it a rental for a rainy day. -JM

Movie Review - "Lars and the Real Girl"

... movie with Ryan Gosling as Lars, a quiet recluse who lives in his brother's garage. With virtually no friends or companionship, Lars purchases a life-sized doll named Bianca and treats her as of she were a real person.

Family and townfolk think he is delusional and play along with his imagination. As time passes, Lars begins a transition back to the real world.

Good movie and storyline. Not a blockbuster thriller but a decent movie with entertainment value. Check it out some time. - JM

Movie Review - "There Will Be Blood"

... movie with Daniel Day Lewis as Daniel Plainview, an oil man at the turn of the 20th Century, building his empire in California.

Great acting and a story that keeps things interesting - a power struggle between Daniel and a young evangelist, father and son conflict, and oil companies competing for resources.

Only problem is the ending. Movie starts strong with a steady build up but ends weak, leaving viewers wanting. -JM

Movie Review - "Into The Wild"

... true story about a young man's quest to live free and off the land. Stars Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless, a college graduate that leaves civilization for life on the road.

Living a hobo's existence, he eventually works his way to the "Great Adventure" - a trip to Alaska where he plans to live off the land.

Long movie but well told given the nature of the story. Check it out time. -JM

PS: Be aware of the Brown Bear Wild Potato Root!

Movie Review - "Death at a Funeral"

... another movie that fits the Independent Film Channel and Sundance. Hilarious comedy with an outstanding cast.

Set in a country manor in Britain, family and friends get together for the patriarch's funeral. Unfortunately, Father has another side that no one knew about.

Check this one out first chance you get. You won't be disappointed.

Movie Review - "Darjeeling Limited"

... movie that fits well on the Independent Film Channel (IFC) and Sundance. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman play three brothers on a trip to India. Owen is the oldest brother and is the driving force in getting them together to find their mother, a nun in convent in the Himalayas.

Entertaining movie if you enjoy independent films. Would not say it is an Oscar Winner but it kept me watching to see the end. If you don't like IFC or Sundance movie's, then stay away.

Movie was rated with 4 Stars by the LA Daily News. More like 2 Stars just because I liked the cast.

FYI - The DVD contains a movie short at the beginning titled "Hotel Chevalier" It has Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman as troubled lovers meeting in a hotel in Paris. The short sets the tone for the whole movie.

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