"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.

"The Proposal"

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star in this upbeat comedy.  Sandra is about to be deported.  Ryan, who works for her, is manipulated into marrying Sandra.  Problem:  Their business deal turns into love!

 

Great storyline for a comedy.  Throw in a great supporting cast with Betty White, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, and others, and you will be entertained.

 

A definite first-date movie.  PS: Stick around for the funny scenes at the movie's end. Also, "Ramone" may be the hidden star in this movie. 

"Gran Torino"

Clint Eastwood movie about Walter, an old Korean War Veteran and recent widower,  having to deal with change.  After his wife's death, Walter unwillingly becomes involved in a "good versus evil" relationship with his Laotian neighbors and a local gang. Defending his neighbor and befriending the family, help is on its way.

 

Not the normal "Dirty Harry" style movie but a good one.  Hated the ending but understood why it was so.  Check it out some time, should be safe for a first-date movie but would pick one that was more lighthearted than this one for that first-date.

"Land of the Lost"

Will Ferrel plays Dr. Rick Marshall in the movie version of Sid and Marty Krofft's TV series "Land of the Lost".

Good movie with a lot laughs. Safe for a first-date. Check it out when you get a chance.-JM

"Terminator - Salvation"

Another movie in the Terminator franchise.  This one has Christian Bale as John Connor fighting it out with the "Machines".  In this case, a new kind of cyborg that is both man and machine. A lot of action and shoot'em up scenes. A sequel that ends with the likelihood of another episode in the franchise. Enjoyed the action but could have waited for the DVD to rent. Given the choice between "Night at the Museum - Battle of the Smithsonian" and "Terminator - Salvation", would choose Ben Stiller over Christian Bale this round.

"Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian"

Sequel to the "Night at the Museum" movie with Ben Stiller. Entertaining movie that does a great job at bringing the original cast and the new characters together. A definite first date movie. Just be careful as the red-headed Amelia Earhart is a hottie!

"Benjamin Button"

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett play lovers in this sad tale. Brad is Benjamin Button. Cate is his one true love Daisy. The two were meant to be save for one problem - Brad grows younger with age and Cate is like us who get older as we grow.

Long movie that some may find too slow. Safe first date movie but be prepared for almost 3 hours for the story to be told.

"Star Trek"

Prequel to the Star Trek franchise that is a "must see" for movie goers. Lots of action. Does a great job at introducing the main characters into the story. A first date movie that non-Trekkies will enjoy.