Letters to Juliet

Directed By: Gary Winick
Written By: Jose Rivera and Tim Sullivan
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Egan and Gael Garcia Bernal
Rated: PG

MY RATING: C +

Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, a researcher and writer on vacation in Italy who stumbles upon an unanswered "letter to Juliet" that captures her heart.  Sophie becomes determined to find the two lovers in the letter to see where life has taken them.  She's joined on vacation by her inattentive fiance who's too wrapped up in his love for cuisine that he doesn't mind her setting off on her own adventure.  Charlie (Christopher Egan), now in Italy with his grandmother because of Sophie's interference, finds Sophie (Seyfried) and tries to convince her to leave well enough alone.  However Sophie makes her way to his grandmother Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) and they immediately have a connection.  Claire tells Sophie of her plans to find her long lost love Victor, and the three set off on a road trip around Italy to help Claire find her true love.  Naturally there's nothing like a road trip to bring two people closer together, despite Charlie and Sophie's attempts to avoid their chemistry.  In the end, who will find true love?

With a backdrop like Italy who cares about the rest!  Such a beautiful place and it immediately sets the right tone.
Letters to Juliet was a cute little film though!  "Cute" meaning it had a "they lived happily ever after" ending and nothing too complicated in between.  It had the usual predictability but very few romance films are surprising these days.  But we're not looking for suspense are we ladies?  We want romanticism, beautiful lines spoken by the lead actor that make you say "awww" and of course lots of chemistry.
Letters to Juliet got the job done but I wouldn't put it at the top of my list.
I loved Vanessa Redgrave in her role but I also just love her.  She puts you at ease so for her to play the sweet, passionate, laid-back grandmother in search of her long lost true love, it was a perfect fit.  Such a sweet story!  Then she's joined by her handsome grandson Charlie, played by Christopher Egan, who's her protector and companion.  I was wondering where did this charming actor come from?!  Mmm mmm!  He did a great job as the cynical but kind-hearted leading man.  Hell I fell in love with him!
But Amanda Siegfried, I'm not sure why but I'm not a huge fan of hers.  For her to be an actress she comes across very emotionless a lot of the time.  There were moments between her character Sophie and Charlie where I wanted to shake her to get a bigger smile out of her.  She's cute and has the big doe eyed thing going on but that's about it for me.  I'm not quite sure what makes her such a great actress, sorry.  I feel like someone else could've done a better job with the role.  Nonetheless I was still able to enjoy the movie.  Nothing was bad about it but it wasn't terribly impressive either.  It was very simple, sweet and cute.  The locations were beautiful and they all lived happily ever after.  Bellissimo!

So I say check this one out but there's no rush.

Rango

Directed By: Gore Verbinski
Written By: John Logan
Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy and Alfred Molina
Rated: PG

MY RATING: B+

Wretched desert wildlife mixed in with twisted animated humor.

Basically the premise of this movie is that Rango (Johnny Depp) is a pet lizard who dreams of being an actor and having a more exciting life.  While on a road trip, safely in his fish tank in the back of his family's station wagon, the car swerves to avoid hitting an armadillo and Rango and his tank go flying out of the back window of the wagon.  Rango's wish is granted.  He is now stranded in the hot dessert with a new life ahead of him.  He meets another lizard, a hard workin, gun slingin, take no mess woman named Beans (voiced by Isla Fisher) and she points him to her town called Dirt.  Rango gets to Dirt where they're having a water recession and decides he'll reinvent himself as a tough guy.  They elect him the sheriff of their town and Rango (Depp) makes it his mission to help them.  Meanwhile, Beans (Fisher) notices there's some funny business going on with the missing water so she and Rango team up with some other rough & tough citizens to crack the case.

Very creative storyline!  I love how water was like money to the animals.  This was a REAL western but cartoon style.
I kept waiting for the characters to make it to the big city or something nice and sweet but no.  The whole movie took place in the desert.  There were guns, drinkin (cactus juice), a recession, real old-fashioned hard knock livin' ... with animals.  Let me tell you, these were some ROUGH lookin animals.  No cute and cuddly cartoon creatures in this movie!  I spent half the movie trying to decipher the different species.  I'm still baffled on quite a few.  One in particular had an arrow going through the back of his head, exiting out the front through his eyeball and apparently wasn't phased by this.
But let me backtrack and get to the star of this movie ... JOHNNY DEPP the master!
Man he is brilliant just like they say!  There is nothing this man can't do as an actor!  He was so hilarious as the voice of Rango!  For adults there were some very funny scenes and lines delivered by Johnny Depp.  I was crackin up but I'm not sure how much my little one could appreciate it.  Depp added so much to his character Rango.  The movie would not have been the same with any other actor doing the voice. 
Then there's the animation which was outstanding!  Everything looked so realistic!  This new digital age is amazing to me!  I spent the beginning part of the movie marveling at how life-like everything looked.  I mean the water looked like real water! 

This movie starts off very sweet, cute and funny but then gets darker and a little violent.  Children are loving this movie but I think it'd be too much for anyone under 7 years old.  They say "go to hell" about 3 times in the movie and towards the end a villain is introduced that is seriously mean.  He's a rattlesnake named Jake (Bill Nighy) and the end of his tail was turned into the barrel of a gun.  He was not to be messed with.  There is a point in the film where he tells another character (I don't want to give too much away) to look into his eyes so he can watch them die.  I thought that was mighty harsh for a cartoon character.  I think he'd be way too scary for some younger children.

Overall I thought it was a pretty clever new animated movie!  The story lagged a little in the middle where I felt an action battle sequence went on a little too long and towards the end when Rango (Depp) has a moment of self discovery but other than that great job on the script.  This movie is very funny and entertaining with adult humor mixed with childlike physical comedy.  Remember I said its a western though.  Don't expect any pretty scenery in this movie.  It's dirt roads and desolation like in the old days, a true tribute to old westerns.

(Note to Parents: This is not for children under age 7.)
 
I'd say see this one.

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Directed By: Brad Peyton
Written By: Ron J. Friedman and Steve Bencich
Starring: Bette Midler, James Marsden, Christina Applegate, Chris O'Donnell, Nick Nolte and Katt Williams
Rated: PG
 
MY RATING: C-
 
In this sequel the evil cat Kitty Galore (Bette Midler) has separated from her former feline organization MEOWS and has hatched a plan to take over the world.  So Diggs (James Marsden) is forced to join forces with Catherine (Christina Applegate) and gather all their fellow dogs and cats to stop Kitty Galore and save the world. 

Ridiculous?  Yes ... but still hilarious.  It's just shear silliness!  Granted as an adult I think you have to be on something to get the full effect but the kids love it.  My child was all into the "plot."  She was explaining what was going on and I'm thinking, "are you serious?!" I'm sorry, yes this is serious dramatic acting and a complicated plot, let me pay full attention.  But as ridiculously silly (should be a new genre) children's movies go, I did enjoy this.  We're big animal lovers in our house so we get a kick out of any movie with talking animals.  And the "Cats & Dogs" movies are the funniest!  The people behind the scenes must have so much fun making these movies as outrageous as they can.
But why see this sequel if you've seen the first one?  Well, Katt Williams the comedian does the voice of a pigeon and his lines are so funny.  His voice alone is funny!  The star is Bette Midler as Kitty Galore.  She's purrrrfect!  (Sorry I couldn't resist)  She does the villain role so well.  Besides the actors, they did a good job once again humanizing these animals and making it almost believable that they could be secret agents of the world ... I said almost.  I just love seeing their secret locations and gadgets!  So funny!
They also added a hysterical nod to a famous classic movie that I was too busy laughing at to hear most of the dialogue.  All I can say is it involves a cat in prison restraints.  So ridiculous you have to laugh! 
Of course at the heart of the movie there's a lesson about love and good conquering evil.  Yes there's a message for the kiddies!
My little one loved this movie and watched it 3 or 4 times in a row so I'm sure your child will love it as well. 
(I'm sorry its too silly to take seriously but it was definitely entertaining and funny.)

I say you can only see this for free on t.v.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Directed By: Jon Turteltaub
Written By: Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Matt Lopez
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina and Teresa Palmer
Rated: PG

MY RATING: B-

A nice, little magical Disney thrill ride. 

The Sorcerer's Apprentice begins with a young boy named Dave who stumbles into an antique store while on a class field trip.  There he runs into Balthazar (Nicholas Cage) who's been searching for a new apprentice.  Balthazar gives Dave a metal dragon which comes to life and wraps itself around Dave's finger forming a ring.  Balthazar knows he's now found his new sorcerer, but a battle ensues between him and Horvath (Alfred Molina) leaving them trapped in an urn for 10 years.  Dave holds on to the ring without a clue of what he is to do with it.  Fast forward 10 years, Dave (Jay Baruchel) is 20 years old and a college student studying Physics.  Balthazar and Horvath have both escaped the urn and are searching for Dave but for very different reasons.  Balthazar reaches Dave and convinces him to be his apprentice and learn the art of magic so they can stop Horvath's plan and save their city. 

Now I found this one to be entertaining and packed full of action.  Pretty good for a kid's film.  I enjoyed the special effects employed for the sorcerers powers.  Very imaginative illusions.  I was also very pleased with Nicholas Cage as the master sorcerer Balthazar but his apprentice (Jay Baruchel) I'm not so sure about.  I kept wondering when he'd become more dark, mysterious and intimidating.  All of the other sorcerers in the movie were intense and daunting but Dave (Baruchel) was a little too timid and unassuming for my taste.  Alfred Molina as Horvath was the perfect villain but Dave was no realistic match for him.  He did however have the sweet, sensitive side that works for the heart of the film and he delivered the charm and humor that appeals to the younger audiences. 
The film took place in New York City which added depth and kept it grounded, gritty and mysterious.
I didn't think there would be much of a story like many other action, adventure films these days but there actually was a nice little plot to follow - or plots.  There were two stories at play here: the race to gain a nesting doll called a Grim Hold (entraps sorcerers) and the training of Dave the apprentice.  I'm not sure which story was more entertaining but by the end neither mattered, only the defeat of Horvath (Molina).
So if you're looking for an adventurous family film that's visually entertaining with a simple, easy to follow plot then you'll definitely have a good time with this one.

I say see it but there's no rush.

Little Fockers

Directed By: Paul Weitz
Written By: John Hamburg and Larry Stuckey
Starring: Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Owen Wilson and Jessica Alba
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: C+

"Little Fockers" - a little absurd.

This third sequel picks up with Greg (Ben Stiller) and Pam (Teri Polo) Focker married with 5 year old twins.  Gaylord Focker (Stiller) is still a nurse but with new home improvements and private school looming he decides to take a side job with a pharmaceutical company.  Finally inside Jack Byrnes' (Robert De Niro) sacred "circle of trust," this new secret may prove to be problematic.  Also a sexy pharmaceutical rep named Andi Garcia (Jessica Alba) steps in to add friction to Greg and Pam's marriage.  All of this goes on while the Fockers are planning a huge birthday celebration for the twins which includes Greg's parents, Roz (Barbra Streisand) and Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) and a visit from Uncle Kevin (Owen Wilson), Pam's ex lover.  With everything that's going on it's up to Greg (Stiller) to keep his family together and show Jack (De Niro) that he can be the man of the house.

After seeing "Little Fockers" if I have to pick a favorite of the three it would be Meet the Fockers.  This one was good and entertaining and funny but I would put it last when up against the other two.  Unfortunately they changed Directors (Jay Roach did the first two) and lost some of the magic. 
I wasn't crazy about Jessica Alba's performance.  She had some funny moments but overall I feel like they could've cast someone else in that role.  If her job was to be annoying however then she succeeded with that.  I was also disappointed because I wanted to see more of Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand.  I loved them and their chemistry in Meet the Fockers and this time they didn't show up until near the end of the film. 
But Little Fockers certainly delivered some jaw dropping moments.  Ben Stiller definitely kicked it up a notch with the physical comedy this go round.  There were a few scenes that left me saying "did they really just do that?!"  Normally I'm not a huge fan of physical comedy, especially "potty humor" but this one did a pretty good job.  I guess where the script was lacking they decided to go for the physical gags instead.  With the addition of the "little Fockers" I can't say they did anything for the movie one way or another.  Of course the kids were cute but nothing spectacular in the acting department.  Owen Wilson played his character to a tee though.  I think I enjoyed his character best in this film versus the other two.
But these films are really about Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) and Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and this one delivered plenty of great moments between the two of them. 
Overall I wasn't thrilled with the story.  This one lost some cohesiveness.  But just as a slapstick comedy it definitely delivered the laughs.

I say see it but there's no rush.

Love and Other Drugs

Directed By: Edward Zwick
Written By: Charles Randolph and Edward Zwick
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt and Hank Azaria
Rated: R

MY RATING: A -

Funny, romantic, sexy.

Love and Other Drugs follows a womanizer named Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he enters the pharmaceutical sales world and uses his charm to succeed.  Along the way he meets Maggie (Anne Hathaway) who's a solitary free spirit.  They decide that putting their two personalities together will be the perfect recipe for a no strings attached relationship.  Of course they realize things aren't so simple and end up on an emotional roller coaster that leads the two of them to grow up and face life and love head on.   

What a nice story!  Very well written!  I like what the Writers did using the pharmaceutical industry and pitting it against the patient.  What happens when a pharmaceutical rep falls in love with someone who relies on drugs to fight their illness?  Very fascinating! 
 Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway were great together!  Boy was there chemistry between the two of them!  They had some hot, hot scenes!  Don't expect a timid Anne Hathaway this time around.  She certainly showed versatility and much more strength and vulnerability.
Everyone was great in their roles.  I laughed out loud quite a few times.  Of course comedy giants, Oliver Platt and Hank Azaria as expected were good and added nice flavor to the film.  I was even surprised that Azaria took more of a backseat role and didn't steal the show like he normally does.  Also pleasantly surprising was actor Josh Gad who played Gyllenhaal's brother in the film.  He provided the majority of my laugh out loud moments.
Oh and Gyllenhaal delivers a speech at the end of the film that'll just melt your heart, ladies. 
This was my kind of movie for sure!  Love and Other Drugs shows how love can evolve in the real world.  Sometimes the niceties aren't there but you learn to wade through the muck together.  Yes the endings are sappier in the movies but we wouldn't have it any other way. 

This is a film I'd surely like to see again!

So I say see it, you'll enjoy it!

Black Swan

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
Written By: Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder
Rated: R

MY RATING: A 
 
Dark, twisted, sensual, melodic.
 
Natalie Portman plays Nina Sayers, a ballet dancer in a New York City ballet company.  Ballet is her life and her smothering mother (Barbara Hershey) intends to keep it that way.  Nina's life begins to change when the director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) considers her for the lead in the next production of "Swan Lake."  As she prepares for the role she becomes more and more obsessed and slides deeper into the dark side. 

Black Swan, in one word ... wow!  In two words, wow and memsmerizing.
How can you sum up a film like this?
It was so original, artistic, dark, romantic, dramatic, sensual, sexual, chaotic, psychotic ... and I loved every moment of it!
Natalie Portman sure tackled this role!  She showed her sweet, vulnerable side but underneath was a dark, demented side that she balanced so beautifully.  What a surprise role for her!
The entire cast was great though.  I enjoyed seeing more unfamiliar faces.  I was able to focus more on the story and less on the actors.  But in case you forgot, Barbara Hershey reminded us that she is an excellent actress.

This was well written and the musical score was just beautiful.
If you're a fan of classical music then you will enjoy being taken away by the composition of this film.
This film takes you on an artistic journey.  I'm so excited by the creativity!  Its not the same ole, same ole story being told again as a remake or a sequel.  This is fresh and new and chilling!
It makes you take a look at humanity and all of our flaws. 
Darren Aronofsky also did an amazing job of keeping us wrapped up in Nina's (Portman) perspective.  When she was losing her mind and sight of reality we couldn't tell fact from fiction either.  I loved it!  Favorite movie of 2010!

I say see it, see it!

The Town

Directed By: Ben Affleck
Written By: Peter Craig and Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall
Rated: R
 
MY RATING: B+
 
A nice twist on heist movies.
 
In The Town, the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown there is infamy surrounding generations of robbers.  Longtime friends Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck) and James Coughlin (Jeremy Renner) are falling right in line.  During a bank robbery some missteps occur and they're forced to take the bank manager, Claire (Rebecca Hall) hostage but only for a short period of time.  After Claire's release Doug (Affleck) volunteers to keep an eye on her ensuring that she doesn't deliver any incriminating information.  But Doug soon finds himself entangled in secrets and lies that could destroy the relationships that mean the most to him.

This movie started off action packed and pretty much did not let up much.  Very nice script!  There's also a love story that adds a twist to the plot.  Between the robberies and the story you're in suspense throughout most of the film.
The cinematography keeps it very gritty and raw.  The colors stay muted in gray, blue and black showing there's no life left in their town.  And the cast was a perfect compliment with a mix of heavy hitters like Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) with some fresh new faces like Rebecca Hall.  I loved Ben Affleck in his role as well.  He carried this film nicely. 
Though the plot was fairly predictable its still an intense joy ride that pits bank robbers against the FBI with a brotherly bond also at stake.  Great job for Writer/Director Ben Affleck!

I say see this film, it's definitely entertaining!