"The Fighter"

... movie based on a true story of two brothers played by Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg who are professional boxers.  Christian plays Dicky Eklund who boxed Sugar Ray Leonard in the prime of his career.  Mark plays his younger half-brother Mickey Ward, a boxer struggling to get a shot at a title but is running out of time as he gets older.

 

Good movie that sets the stage for the climax by detailing the many issues that they are dealing with - drug addiction, terrible manager/promoter who is also their mother, jail time, injuries, and large family (nine children).

 

Would not recommend as a first date movie but would recommend renting it first chance you get, especially to watch the struggling boxer do all he can to reach his goal – a title!  Not a Rocky boxing movie but still a good one.  Moreover, it is a true story!

"Three Days"

... Russell Crowe plays a Community College Professor who is dealing with his "wrongfully" accused wife's life sentence for murder.  He does everything he can legally to clear her name, then turns to the dark side to break her out.

 

Movie starts out slow, then picks up when Russell begins plotting the break out.  A few twists and turns that can leave viewers wondering will they succeed...  Check it out and find out,.. a worthy a first date movie since it is about a Man willing to do anything for the Woman he loves.

"Battle for LA"

... movie with Aaron Eckhart as Staff Sergeant Nantz, a decorated Veteran plagued with the loss of his men while in Afghanistan.  On the verge of retirement, he is pulled back into action when Aliens attack the Earth,  In the US, the military takes its stand to hold the invaders in Los Angeles!

 

Slow start but picks up when the fight starts.  Would hold as a first date movie, also would have been content waiting to watch it on DVD.  Like the spin on the reason why the aliens attack – water is used for fuel for their spaceships.

"Switch"

... comedy with Jennifer Aniston and Justin Bateman as good friends living in New York.  However, Jennifer's biological clock is ticking and she desires a child.  With no serious relationship, she decides to seek a sperm donor.  Justin, her hypochondriac friend, supports her decision but secretly does not like it.  So, when opportunity arises as well as too much alcohol, Justin switches the donor's sperm for his!

 

Safe first date movie with funny moments.  Entertaining but glad to have waited for the DVD instead of seeing at the theater.  Do check it out when you get a chance!

"Morning Glory"

... comedy with Rachael MacAdams, Harrison Ford, and Diane Keaton.  Rachael is young TV News Director that loses her job in an reorganization but quickly bounces back by taking on a jobs for TV morning show, Morning Glory.  Hired on by Jeff Goldblum, Rachael must turn the show around else it will be canceled.  To get things started, she brings on News Veteran Harrison Ford with a chip on his shoulder against "pandering to the TV audience".  Diane Keaton is his co-start in the show and it is readily apparent the two do not get along.  Regardless, Rachael must make the show a success!

 

Safe first date movie, light-hearted comedy with an ending that you know will be for the better.  Check it out and rent it when you get a chance.  Not a gut buster comedy but still a safe first date movie....  For more details, check it out on IMDB.  

"City Island"

Andy Garcia stars in this "dramedy" (drama – comedy).  Andy plays Correctional Officer Rizzo from the City Island (Bronx, NY).  He has a wife, daughter, and a son. They live in City Island, a fishing village in the middle of the Bronx!  Things seem like normal save for a few skeletons in the closet.  Below is the short list of the skeletons:

• Andy wants to be an actor.
• Andy, his Wife, Son, and Daughter all smoke but don't think the others know.
• Andy has another Son who is a felon in the prison where he works. His Son does not know who his Father is.
• No one else knows about the Son in prison.
• The Daughter was in college but was suspended.  She works as a Stripper.
• Andy's other Son who is in High School really likes fat women.

Bottom-line:  A lot of interesting things to play out in a movie... done really well!  Another IFC-style movie that is funny!  Check it out when you get a chance; safe first date movie.

"The Wrestler"

Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei in a movie about an aging pro wrestler way past his prime and his personal struggles in dealing with money, family, and health issues.  Mickey wrestles for a living but must give it up because of heart problems.  Marisa is an exotic dancer who befriends Mickey in his retirement.  Without a steady income, Mickey takes a job at a Supermarket but can only stand it for so long...!

 

IFC-style movie that is slow in action.  Would no recommend as a first date movie.  But, if you like independent films, you should be okay watching this one.

"The Town"

Ben Affleck directs and stars in a Cops and Robbers movie set in Boston.  Charlestown is a neighborhood in Boston known for producing bank robbers.  Ben masterminds a bank robbery that goes smoothly save for a hidden alarm triggered by the Bank Assistant Manager.  Ben sees the Manager trigger the alarm but does not tell his buddies.  Ben also notices that the Manager his an attractive woman.

 

Do rent this one when you get a chance; liked the storyline.  Moreover, Ben's interest in the Bank Assistant Manager and their interaction make it a safe first date movie!

"Social Network"

... movie with Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Interesting story of how Facebook started.  Was surprised to learn that Napster founder Sean Parker, played by Justin Timeberlake, played a pivotal role in the Company's success!

 

Good movie but would hold as a first date because both Mark Zuckerberg and Sean Parker started their companies because of ex-girlfriends!

"Devil"

... movie with twists and turns that keeps you guessing.  Religious myths, five people stranded in an elevator, and eventual death is the setting of this movie.  Not a big scary movie fan but in this case, actually liked storyline.  Would hold as a first date movie unless you know your date likes movies that keep you guessing!  Check it out when you get a chance!

"Dinner for Schmucks"

... comedy with Paul Rudd and Steve Carell as a Corporate Analyst trying to climb the corporate ladder and an IRS agent who preserves dead mice, respectively!  Paul has the chance to be promoted if he can find the biggest "Schmuck"" and bring him to a dinner party.  Funny moments with chuckles to be had.... Not a gut buster but enough to keep watching till the movie's end.  Hold this one as a first date movie.  Some may like this humor, others may not.... better to wait till a later date instead of the first date! 

"Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps"

.... Sequel to the 80's Hit "Wall Street" that brings back Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko -  stock trader and investment banker sent to jail for insider trading.  With no money and a daughter that wants nothing to do with him, Gordon makes do with his life.... until he meets his daughter's boyfriend played by Shia Lebouf.  A few twisting and turning of the plot with scenes of greed and deception.  Liked Josh Brolin in his role as a foil to Shia Lebouf, else the movie had an expected story book ending.

 

Safe first date movie but would hold for a later date. Did not have the same feel that Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas brought in the first movie!

"Expendables"

... action movie with a host of aging action-hero actors in a "B-Movie" storyline.  Tough to watch, ended up stopping it after thirty minutes.... Too painful to endure.  More painful to see the actors agreeing to do this movie!  Won't list the actors out of respect for their earlier movies.  Not a first date movie!

"Eat Pray Love"

... Movie with Julia Roberts as a woman trying to find herself through food, meditation, and finally love.  Based on the book written by Liz Gilbert.

 

Tread lightly when choosing this one.  Story is interesting mainly because it is about a real life person; however, it is tough to "stay attentive" at times.  Some may like it, others may not... for a first date movie though, would hold off on renting this one.  Wait till later when the two of you can sit in front of the TV for over two hours in silence.

"American"

... movie with George Clooney as an American contracted by "covert operatives" to support their field activities.  In this case, build a weapon and deliver it on time per the specs provided.  A tired George Clooney accepts the assignment but indicates it is his last one then he is done.

 

Action in the first 5 minutes was fast, then it slowed down... A LOT!  To the point of skipping the ending and turning the DVD back in.  However, enduring the slow action, was able to see the movie to its end.  Too bad.... should have returned it.

 

Action was too slow to recommend as a first date movie.  Be wary of this one!

"Salt"

... Spy-Thriller with Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber as CIA Agents working on ferreting out a Russian mole.  That is, the Russian mole is Angelina Jolie.  Her mission is to kill the Russian President in order to place blame on the United States!

Fast action, lots of twists and turns, a safe first-date movie.  Just be prepared for an ending that sets the stage for sequels in the future - think "Salt" franchise.  Will see how the storyline plays out....

"Easy A"

... Emma Stone and a host of characters in a movie about a high school girl who gains a reputation as an "easy girl". Emma plays nice girl Olive who tells a little lie to her best friend in order to avoid a camping trip!  Olive lies about having a date that lasted the whole weekend... and loses here her virginity to a "Community College Guy".  The lie spreads, gets out of control, and the truth must get out.

Safe first date movie.  Glad to have rented it instead of watched at the Movies.  Ending was expected but still liked it mainly because I am an Emma Stone fan!

"Going the Distance"

... Drew Barrymore and Justin Long in another "Girl meets Boy Genre" movie.
Drew is a Newspaper Intern working in New York. Justin is a Music Promoter.
Over an incident at the Centipede Arcade Video Game they meet and become
fast friends, lovers, and .... yada, yada, yada! Funny moments, great
scenes with a funny Christina Applegate playing the married and more mature
sister. Even throw in Charley from "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" playing a
friend of Justin's. Liked the movie, especially the lovemaking scene in the
dining room. Safe first date movie, do rent this one!

"Karate Kid" (2010)

... remake of the 80's classic Karate Kid. This time Mr. Miyagi is played
by Jackie Chan and Danielson is played by Jaden Smith - son of Will and Jada
Pinkett Smith. Also, the setting is not Southern California; it is China.
Some similarities to the original storyline with changes made to better fit
the characters instead of the story! Does not have the charm of the
original but consider it a safe first date movie. (Still like the
original).

"Centurion"

... Picts attack a Roman frontier fort and kill everyone save for one Centurion named Quintus Dias.  He is tortured and beaten but somehow escape his captors.  While on the run he is saved by General Virilus' legendary Ninth Legion.  Quintus joins the Ninth Legion on its mission to attack the Picts and kills their leader, Gorlacon.  However, things don't turn out as planned.  Quintus survives a brutal Pict ambush that decimates the Ninth Legion.  Only a few survived the attack and must now evade the Picts....

Good movie with a lot of bloody fight seasons.  But,it is also the reason not to recommend it as a first date movie.  Do rent it though, just wait till you are past the first date!