Red Tails

Directed By: Anthony Hemingway

Written By: John Ridley and Aaron McGruder

Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Nate Parker and David Oyelowo

Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: B+

Historic action in the skies with heart and importance!

Red Tails follows a group of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program.  Despite their skills they face segregation during World War II and are not allowed to participate in combat.  With nothing but time on their hands they constantly train in hopes of one day putting their skills to use.

They finally get their chance when Colonel A.J. Bullard’s (Terrence Howard) constant efforts pay off and they get their first mission.  Disproving all of the negative stereotypes the pilots turn out to be some of the best in the air.  This is an action packed movie with lots of flight sequences.  At the same time this one delivers heart through the bond that the pilots share.  

Pros: The acting - especially Terrence Howard, Nate Parker & David Oyelowo, the action - great flight scenes and the realism which transports the audience right to World War II times.  There’s also comedic relief thanks to a job well done by Ne-Yo.

Cons: The love story between “Lightning” (Oyelowo) and Sofia (Daniela Ruah) was unnecessary, rushed and therefore felt a little unbelievable and out of place. 

(Note to Parents: There is profanity and some graphic violence.) 

I'd say definitely see this one and tell others to see it too!

The Adventures of Tintin

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Written By: Steven Moffat

Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Daniel Craig

Rated: PG

MY RATING: B+

A high tide of adventure for children and adults alike!

This film begins with news reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) purchasing a model ship, the Unicorn, at a street market.  When a gentleman named Mr. Sakharine (Daniel Craig) shows a peculiar interest in the ship Tintin uses his research skills to find out why.  Soon he and his dog Snowy are racing against Mr. Sakharine to find answers.  Along the way they meet Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) who drunkenly masters Sakharine’s ship and agrees to help Tintin and his four legged companion.  Captain Haddock reveals that his ancestor Sir Frances Haddock was forced to abandon the original Unicorn ship and now he proves to be the missing piece to the puzzle.  So the trio sets off on an air, land and sea adventure that is truly entertaining.

Pros: Superb animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy and Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock.

Cons: Storyline a little hard to follow at first.   

I'd say this is definitely worth seeing for the great animation and action! 

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1

Directed By: Bill Condon

Written By: Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner

Rated: PG-13

MY RATING:  B+

Romantically wild and over the top fun for fans of the series!

Breaking Dawn Part 1 begins with Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) marriage to Edward (Robert Pattinson). Of course Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is not happy about the event and noticeably missing from the festivities. Later on their honeymoon Bella and Edward finally consummate their marriage. Defying what is known, Bella becomes pregnant which puts her life in danger and the lives of everyone around her. With the impending birth all bets are off, including the treaty, and it’s werewolves versus vampires. Everyone has choices to make in this film and you’ll have to check it out to see the paths they take.

Now I must admit that I am a fan of the series so my opinion is not completely unbiased. To be a fan of the Twilight series you have to put aside reality, good dialogue and sometimes good acting and just go on the romantic journey with Bella, Edward and Jacob. We know it’s silly but we don’t care and this time around I was not disappointed.

I wasn’t overly impressed with the wedding scene, visually or otherwise. Also there were moments when Bella looked as if she was terrified but yet she went through with it and we’re supposed to believe it was romantic. Um not so much. The honeymoon even got off to a shaky start for Bella (Stewart) but the scenery made up for it. Beautiful location! Then I was disappointed again when it came to the love making scenes. Not much was shown so they leave a lot to the imagination. But when Bella (Stewart) reflects on some of the moments with Edward (Pattinson) I thought it was beautifully done.  

The story really begins to take off however when Bella realizes she’s pregnant, 2 weeks into their honeymoon. From that point on I enjoyed the story and got a lot of what I was waiting for in some of the other Twilight films. The tension between Edward and Jacob (Lautner) was great as always. And I loved the werewolves! I think they do a great job capturing their essence!  The last 15 minutes of the film were the best and of course I won’t ruin them for you.

All in all it was one of my favorites of the series, maybe my favorite but I’m still trying to decide. Can’t wait for Breaking Dawn Part 2!

(Note to Parents: The scenes are very sexual and in my opinion more for children 16 and older.) 

I'd say if you’re a fan of the series then definitely see this one!

Puss in Boots

Directed By: Chris Miller

Written By: Charles Perrault (characters), Brian Lynch, Will Davies, David H. Steinberg, Tom Wheeler and John Zack

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis and Billy Bob Thornton

Rated: PG

MY RATING: B

A cute kitty cat comedy for the whole family!

In “Puss in Boots,” we learn how Puss (Antonio Banderas) grew up to be an outlaw. We also learn of his former bond with childhood pal Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis). Joined by Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) the trio sets out on a journey to find the magic beans which will lead them to the goose who lays the golden eggs. They each believe the golden eggs will solve all of their problems but of course it’s never that easy.

Antonio Banderas brings this cartoon kitty to life like no other. When Puss in Boots was first introduced in Shrek 2 he quickly became my favorite character. Now I wasn’t sure if he had enough weight to hold up his own movie but the writers certainly did a good job with this one.

Puss in Boots offers lots of comedy, action-adventure and of course a little heart. You can’t help but love this kitty!

Kitty Softpaws, voiced by Selma Hayek, proved to be a match indeed for playboy, Puss in Boots.

I enjoyed the story and thought the script was well done. I mean it wasn’t the most heartfelt story like classics, The Lion King and Finding Nemo but it was good enough. Definitely funny so it doesn’t disappoint with that either. There is a “dance fight” scene in the movie that did go too far on the silliness meter for my taste but I’m sure the kids will get a kick out of it. All in all it was a cute little movie. Still love Puss in Boots!

So I'd say if you have kids then it’s definitely worth seeing!

If you don’t have kids but are a fan of animated movies then check it out but there’s no rush.

The Rite

Directed By: Mikael Hafstrom
Written By: Michael Petroni
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Collin O'Donoghue, Ciaran Hinds & Alice Braga
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: C+

It's Anthony Hopkins in a creepy role, what else needs to be said?

Based on actual events.  In The Rite, Michael Kovak (Collin O'Donoghue) is an American seminary student who has lost all faith.  He is about to give up on being a priest when his mentor sends him to Italy to take a course in exorcisms.  Once in Italy, Father Xavier (Ciaran Hinds) who is teaching the course, learns of Michael's lack of faith and sends him to work with exorcist Father Lucas Trevant (Anthony Hopkins).  Through working with Father Lucas, Michael witnesses things that shake him a little but nothing he can't explain.  As his journey continues however he can no longer deny the presence of the devil and resurrecting his faith in God is the only thing that can pull him through.

I enjoyed this film but it wasn't that memorable for me.  It's difficult to critique the storyline since it's based on actual events. However I thought there were holes missing in Michael Kovak's backstory or maybe a clear enough picture wasn't painted.  There were many flashback scenes that in the end had no impact on the story.  Other than that I enjoyed the rest of the script. The exorcism scenes were quite disturbing as they should be.  Now I know they were trying to give Anthony Hopkins a Hannibal Lector type of role but this one didn't quite hit the mark.  Don't get me wrong, Mr. Hopkins did a great job but it wasn't as memorable as his Hannibal Lector character.  I did however love the arch that Michael (O'Donoghue) went through.  This story I believe is relatable to many people.  I even shed a tear towards the end of the movie.  Job well done on the makeup effects, special effects and use of locations.  Visually perfect.  As a drama this would be great, but did it scare me? Not so much.  However this is still a good exorcism movie to put on the list.


So I'd say see it but there's no rush.

The Haunting in Connecticut

Directed By: Peter Cornwell
Written By: Adam Simon & Tim Metcalfe
Starring: Virginia Madsen, Martin Donovan, Elia Koteas & Kyle Gallner
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: C +

Well told story but not haunting enough for me. 

The Haunting in Connecticut is based on a true story.  It follows the Campbell family who relocates to Connecticut in order to get their very sick son, Matt (Kyle Gallner), the Cancer treatment he needs.  They find the perfect home but not soon after they move in, Matt starts witnessing strange events.  It is quickly discovered that their new house used to be a funeral home.  Desperate to get her son the help he needs, Sara Campbell (Virginia Madsen) is willing to overlook that simple fact.  However Matt is no so lucky when he starts having visions of the dark past locked inside the house.  As things escalate more and more the question becomes will the Campbells all escape the house before it's too late?

This one is pretty hard to critique because it is painted with the brush of being "based on a true story." Of course I had many moments where I wanted to yell at the screen, get out of the house! I never understand why the family doesn't leave as soon as strange things start happening. However, being that these are supposed to be actual events I had to let that be.  Although I must say they did a good job of making the audience relate to the mom's perserverance and anguish in wanting to help her dying son.   
Now on to the horror elements. The ghosts were visually somewhat disturbing. I grimaced a little here and there.  Nothing made me want to turn away so it wasn't terribly gory. With a PG-13 rating I guess that's to be expected.  Not much suspense for me either. I felt the "jump" scenes were pretty predictable so nothing really got me.  My main issue was the unrealistic looking special effects used in a climactic scene at the end.  If I'm spending all of my time focused on how divorced the actor is from the special effect he's supposed to be physically connected to then that's not good.  Luckily that was a small fraction of the film because the rest held up fairly well.  At the end of the night I was not disturbed by this film at all, which is what I like after watching a horror film.  But I was entertained.  It was nowhere near one of the scariest movies I've seen but it was a little creepy and kept me intrigued throughout.  The actors were good. The story was good. The make-up effects were great!  All in all, not bad.    

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

Whistling in the Dark

Directed By: S. Sylvan Simon
Written By: Robert MacGunigle, Harry Clork and Albert Mannheimer
Starring: Red Skelton, Conrad Veidt and Ann Rutherford

MY RATING: B +

A great way to mix comedy with mystery!

Whistling in the Dark begins by introducing us to members of the Silver Haven cult group.  Their mission is to con rich people out of their money.  One woman in particular has left her inheritance to the Silver Haven but they can only receive it once her living heir dies.  Leader Joseph Jones (Conrad Veidt) decides to have the woman's heir murdered to speed up the process.  Who better to enlist  than a popular radio crime solver named Wally Benton a.k.a. "The Fox" (Red Skelton)?  Jones kidnaps him to have him devise a murder plot and for extra insurance he also kidnaps The Fox's fiance and friend.  Now Wally (Skelton) has to figure out how to escape and save everyone involved. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this classic!  It certainly was more of a comedy but I can see why Red Skelton was one of the comedic geniuses of his time.  I laughed out loud many times and it's hard for jokes to grow with the times.  Red Skelton delivered some hilarious lines though!  Also Conrad Veidt was perfect as the creepy, vindictive cult leader.  There's a line in the movie where Joseph Jones tells "The Fox," "Remember you only have to kill one person to save three." Perfect!  That sums up the stress thrust upon Red Skelton's character and the tension that builds throughout the movie.  Not to worry, there's plenty of comic relief. 
I also loved the integration of the radio programming with the story.  I'm always fascinated with how radio shows were the only form of entertainment back then and this film definitely gave a window into that world.
The set for the Silver Haven mansion wrapped the story up in the cold, haunting background it needed. 
As a classic this one definitely holds up!  I thought it was resolved a little too easily but that tends to be the case for a lot of films of it's time.  They only had an hour and 18 minutes to tell a story, not the 2 plus hours used today. 
But overall less can be more.  Whistling in the Dark ... very entertaining!

I'd say definitely check this one out!

Bridesmaids

Directed By: Paul Feig
Written By: Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellen Kemper
Rated: R

MY RATING: B +

A hysterical new comedy from the female perspective that can rumble with the big boys!

Bridesmaids is about two childhood best friends, Annie (Kristen Wiig) and Lillian (Maya Rudolph) who have been through everything together.  However, Annie is struggling with her love life and life in general while things seem to be running smoothly for Lillian.  Just as Annie relies on the fact that she'll always have her best friend, Lillian breaks the news that her boyfriend has proposed and they're now going to be planning her wedding.  Naturally Annie is asked to be the Maid of Honor and she's then introduced to an interesting bunch of ladies who will serve as the bridesmaids.  One in particular - the beautiful, well-off Helen (Rose Byrne), is trying to steal the spotlight and make Annie's life miserable.  Though way out of her league, Annie is determined to show Lillian just how much her friendship and wedding mean to her. 

Let me say I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard during a movie.  At one point I was in tears thanks to the talented Melissa McCarthy who did a splendid job as the rough around the edges, brash, soon-to-be sister-in-law, Megan.  I know this was supposed to be Kristen Wiig's film, serving as writer, co-producer and main character but I'm sorry Melissa McCarthy stole the show.  Every time she was on screen she dominated but that is also a credit to the script.  She could not have accomplished the humor without the lines on the page.  For the most part I thought the script was pretty darn good.  Loved the dialogue!  What grabbed me the most was the realism.  When you wished a character would say something in a scene, they actually did.  That was gratifying.  They also tackled vulgar humor in a tasteful way.  Of course there were things added in for comic value that I felt could've been eliminated and the story got off to a slow start.  This is one of those films where you know the premise ahead of time so you're ready to just get to it and it takes a tick to get there.  I also wasn't quite in love with the pacing.  Scenes of absolute hilarity are followed by more serious, heartfelt moments and it didn't always make for a smooth ride.  The jokes outweigh anything else though and if laughter is what you're looking for then this is the film to see.  All in all I was pleased and it lived up to the hype. 

So I say this one is definitely worth seeing for some good laughs!

Faster

Directed By: George Tillman Jr.
Written By: Tony Gayton and Joe Gayton
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Carla Gugino and Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Rated: R

MY RATING: C+

Vengeance was good but could've been kicked up a notch.

Faster follows an ex-con (Dwayne Johnson) who's newly released from prison and on a mission to avenge his brother's murder.  He receives a list of all of the people responsible and he plans to take them out one by one.  After finding and killing the first person on his list he leaves a trail for police to follow.  At the same time a crazy hit man (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is out to kill him.  So who will be "faster" and reach their goal first? 

I loved seeing Dwayne Johnson in a R rated film and he's good as a bad ass!  In this film it was more about his body language and the intensity in his eyes because he barely had any lines.  Throughout the
majority of the film he was alone in his car and when he did come across other people he didn't have much to say.  Job well done as a menacing figure.  The story that was given to his character was very interesting.  I thought it was nicely developed but I needed more from his dramatic scene when we finally learned how his brother was killed.  For me his reaction wasn't big enough for the moment but it also didn't ruin the film either.  This leads me to my only other issue - for what Dwayne Johnson's character had been through I felt like his victims got off too easily.  I wanted more!  Nevertheless I was entertained and into the whole story.  Billy Bob Thornton brought a nice element to the table as the washed up detective hoping to redeem his reputation before retirement.  I'm not sure the hit man character (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) was necessary for the development of the story but he added suspense so why not.  Faster had plenty of action, lots of blood and even a little twist which all made for a pretty good action movie.  Overall I was pretty pleased but there was nothing super impressive either ... besides Dwayne Johnson of course. 

So I'd say see it but there's no rush. 

Devil

Directed By: John Erick Dowdle
Written By: Brian Nelson (screenplay) and M. Night Shyamalan (story)
Starring: Chris Messina, Logan Marshall-Green, Jenny O'Hara, Bokeem Woodbine and Jacob Vargas
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: C

Pretty good as a thriller but definitely not a horror.

Devil begins with Detective Bowden (Chris Messina) arriving on the scene to investigate the death of someone who allegedly jumped
from a high rise building.  Inside the building five strangers get onto an elevator which breaks down in between floors.  Tempers rise leading to strange events and even murders.  A security guard (Jacon Vargas) watching it all unfold on camera tells the story his mother told him about the Devil whom he believes is inside the elevator disguised as a passenger.  Now it is up to Detective Bowden to figure out who the murderer is before they all lose their lives.  The question then becomes, is the Devil real and if so how do you defeat him?

This one is pretty tricky because I liked it but had some minor issues.  Number one I was disappointed that it wasn't scary at all.  I wouldn't classify it as a horror movie.  The Devil is mentioned and in question but it's more like a murder mystery/thriller.  I'll even say it was suspenseful.  I jumped a couple of times, but it was missing some things.  I just felt like the story could've been developed more.  There was one flashback sequence involving one of the five elevator passengers but I would've preferred to have learned about more of them.  The story just felt rushed.  I mean it was only an hour and twenty minutes long!  They definitely could've added more.  But I liked the premise and it actually will make you take a look at your own life. 
At the end it was just okay.  Pretty entertaining but also a little disappointing. 

I'd say this is worth checking out but there's definitely no rush.

Eclipse

Directed By: David Slade
Written By: Melissa Rosenberg
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke and Xavier Samuel
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: B

Finally, werewolves and vampires together, oh my!

Eclipse picks up with Bella (Kristen Stewart) finishing her senior year of high school with plans to marry Edward (Robert Pattinson) and become a vampire soon after.  She's also walking a fine line trying to maintain her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner), Edward's natural enemy.  At the same time mysterious killings begin happening in Forks causing the werewolves and vampires to team up against this new threat.  With Edward and Jacob both willing to fight for and protect Bella, her final decision could do more harm than good.  But for now they must all get along to take down a common enemy then the saga shall continue.

Much better!  This third film in the saga was a culmination of what the first two were building on and I enjoyed the payoff.  This one offered lots more tension within the love triangle between Bella (Kristen Stewart), Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob (Taylor Lautner).  The gloves came off and all cards on the table, leaving Bella with a choice to make.  It's getting good!  The action was brought back to the story too!  This time there was a nice battle amongst werewolves and vampires.  I never get enough of the effects used to create the hulking, menacing werewolves either!  It was also helpful to learn the backstories of Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) and Angela (Christian Serratos), they added more depth to the story. 
Then of course there was the addition of the "newborns," humans newly transformed into vampires, and they proved to be great adversaries in this third film.  I pretty much enjoyed this one all the way through.  I did feel like the love triangle was a bit over the top but I guess that's to be expected from a vampire romance.  I just feel like not too many people would put up with the things that Jacob did but I understand Edward (Pattinson) at the same time. 
Overall I really enjoyed this one and Twilight redeemed itself after New Moon.  Still Team Jacob!

So I'd say definitely check this one out!

New Moon

Directed By: Chris Weitz
Written By: Melissa Rosenberg
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Billy Burke
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: C-

Second time around, disappointing.

New Moon picks up with Bella (Kristen Stewart) preparing to celebrate her 18th birthday.  So the Cullens throw Bella a small birthday party at their house.  This proves to be a bad idea.  During the party Bella accidentally cuts herself throwing Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) into a blood thirsty rage that threatens her life.  Of course Edward (Robert Pattinson) is there to protect her but the event is cause for concern for the Cullens.  Bella is assured it was a one time incident but Edward takes precautions and he and his family decide to leave town ... and Bella.  With Edward gone, Bella falls into a deep depression that only the companionship of Jacob (Taylor Lautner) can break.  Just as she and Jacob get closer he begins to act strange and disappears on her too.  Later Bella learns that his secret is a family lineage of werewolves which is passed down to him.  She decides to stick by her friend, whom she's now come to depend on.  Then Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre) returns for revenge leading Edward to take drastic measures for his true love, Bella.  This begins the infamous love triangle.  Whose side are you on? 

Sad to say but I was let down by this one.  I mean it wasn't a total bust, the werewolves were definitely worth seeing but there wasn't much else.  I'm sorry but the entire middle section of the film just dragged.  Maybe it reads better in the novel but on screen I didn't want to watch Bella's (Kristen Stewart) depression drag on and on.  It just wasn't the same without the vampires, especially Edward (Robert Pattinson).  Also the dialogue was even more ridiculous this time around.  I laughed a lot at the sheer silliness of the things that were said.  I actually felt too old to be watching this movie.  However I certainly peeked at Taylor Lautner's abs.  Other than the eye candy and the werewolves, things did not pick back up until the end of the film.  I know the relationship between Bella and Jacob had to be established but it just wasn't as fascinating as the one that bloomed with Edward. 
All in all it's worth seeing to stay on top of the growing Twilight story but the first one was definitely better. 

So I'd say see it so you keep up with the story but there's no rush.

Twilight

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke
Written By: Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay) and Stephanie Meyer (novel)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Taylor Lautner and Cam Gigandet
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: B

I'm sure the book is way better but this first film is sure to please as well.

In this first Twilight movie Bella (Kristen Stewart) moves to the town of Forks, Washington to live with her dad, Charlie.  She starts high school and learns about a strange group of pale faced foster siblings known as the Cullens.  One in particular, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) is mysterious and sexy and catches Bella's eye.  She's told not to waste her breath however because the Cullens pretty much keep to themselves.  Fate takes over putting Edward and Bella side by side in biology class and it becomes apparent that Edward has a reaction to Bella too.  An event draws them closer until they cannot deny their chemistry for one another.  But Bella (Stewart) notices things about Edward (Pattinson) that lead her to question his existence.  She digs deeper, does some research and realizes she's not dealing with a mortal man but instead a vampire.  The two become entangled and fall head over heels in love which puts everyone at risk.  The question then becomes, can a human and a vampire have a relationship without anyone getting hurt?

Now when I saw this film I was not trying to become a Twihard and only wanted to see what all the hype was about.  I got roped in by the publicity but this first film actually kept me interested.  I got drawn into the character of Bella (Kristen Stewart) and wanted to see how her life would change in the town of Forks.  So by the time the weird Cullens were introduced I was just as intrigued as Bella.  When Edward (Robert Pattinson) walked in I was mesmerized by him as well.  Sure things get weird for awhile but you're along for the ride, waiting to see what's going to happen next.  The music takes you away as well and keeps you on the journey.  Then there's action too!  A trio of nomadic vampires enter the town and they are not there to play nice.  They definitely gave me what I was looking for!  But of course Twilight is mainly known for the romance between Bella and Edward and this film was a great introduction to that.  Yes it's hard to relate to their whirlwind romance but we're not dealing with ordinary circumstance. 
I mean this is just the type of film that you either fall in love with or you hate it.  Nothing about it is realistic so you can't be too critical.  Also all of the human characters are supposed to be teenagers so don't expect the best dialogue.  Leave that to the ancient vampires.  I think this is a nice, youthful, romantic, vampire love story set against beautiful scenery with some pretty good effects added in. 
At the end of the day after seeing this film I hate to admit it but I'm now a Twilight fan.  Team Jacob!


So I say if you're into romance and vampires then definitely check this out!

Race to Witch Mountain

Directed By: Andy Fickman
Written By: Matt Lopez and Mark Bomback
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig
Rated: PG

MY RATING: B -

Action-packed race?  Yes.  Nothing else super impressive though.

In Race to Witch Mountain Dwayne Johnson plays Jack Bruno, an ex-convict cab driver.  While on route one day two young passengers suddenly appear in his cab and pay for a very interesting ride.  Of course Jack (Johnson) learns that these are no ordinary kids but in fact beings from another planet (disguised in human form) who now need his help to save their planet and ours.  Along the way they elicit the help of a scientist and UFO expert, Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino) and together they head to Witch Mountain to find the aliens' lost spaceship and help them return home. 

A very nice little thrill ride for kids, I must say.  It's definitely non-stop action and I can't say I've seen this many special effects in a rated PG movie.  Everyone was effective at their job.  Dwayne Johnson was protective, rough around the edges and funny.  The kids (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) were innocent, intelligent and analytical, the way any good alien would be.  It's kind of hard to balance being newly human and a super intelligent being from another planet at the same time.  They did a decent job though.  Its also difficult to make things in an alien movie seem realistic.  You kind of just have to go along for the ride not expecting too much, especially from a kid's film. 
This one was entertaining for sure but felt a little rushed at the end and too smooth throughout.  There weren't enough conflicts and everyone seemed to go along with this excursion a little too easily.  It was more like, yeah sure aliens show up in Las Vegas everyday ... well maybe they do. 
Bottom line, this is a Disney film so just keep an open mind and see it for the action and you'll have a good time.

I say see it with the kids, you'll all enjoy it!

Jumping the Broom

Directed By: Salim Akil   
Written By: Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs
Starring: Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: B +

Surprisingly good!

Jumping the Broom begins with Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) at the end of a relationship with a no-good man.  She vows not to give up her goodies again until she meets the man she's going to marry.  So she prays to God to send her a clear sign when she meets the next man who's "the one." Enter Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso), a handsome, successful, great guy who sweeps Sabrina off of her feet.  After six months of dating, Sabrina accepts a job offer that will relocate her to China.  Jason doesn't want to lose her so he proposes and she says yes.  Now it's time to prepare for their wedding and bring the Taylors and the Watsons together for the first time on Martha's Vineyard.  Sabrina's family comes from wealth and her mom, Mrs. Watson (Angela Bassett) is very pretentious and snooty and dead set on having their wedding go perfectly.  But she's up against Mrs. Taylor (Loretta Devine), the blue collar worker who's overprotective of her only son Jason (Alonso) and not happy about the rushed nuptials.  Bringing the two families together proves to be very interesting and even unlocks a family secret that could jeopardize the big day. 

Let me say I was pleasantly surprised by this one!  It got off to a little bit of a shaky start for me when we were introduced to Sabrina (Paula Patton) and Jason's (Laz Alonso) relationship.  We were just thrown into one of their date nights and the next thing you know he's proposing.  I would have liked a little more background on their relationship but once the wedding weekend begins all is forgiven.  Also Paula Patton's acting started off too fairy tale princess-y for me.  All she needed in the beginning was a ball gown and a wand.  But like the plot, she smoothed out once the initial setup was done.
Angela Bassett was great as the bougie mother, Mrs. Watson and just perfect for the part!  Of course Lorette Devine was not to be messed with either as Mrs. Taylor!  The best scene between the two of them occurred during the wedding rehearsal dinner.  Great dialogue and verbal sparring between the two of them!  But I will say I was surprised by how funny this movie was!  I was cracking up!  Of course Mike Epps who played Willie Earl, was responsible for the majority of my laugh out loud moments.  But I also thought he did a good job as the wise uncle who could put Mrs. Taylor (Devine) in her place. 
Overall this was a sweet story with morals and values.  I loved that Sabrina (Patton) and Jason (Alonso) were abstaining from sex until they were man and wife, a great example needed these days.  Also Jason was a true gentleman which we don't always see but I'd love to see more of ... especially sexy ones like Laz Alonso. 

I was very entertained by Jumping the Broom and would actually watch this one again!         
 
So I'd say see it!

Mars Needs Moms

Directed By: Simon Wells   
Written By: Simon Wells & Wendy Wells
Starring: Seth Green, Joan Cusack, Dan Fogler, Elisabeth Harnois and Mindy Sterling
Rated: PG

MY RATING: B

Extraterrestrial family entertainment!

Mars Needs Moms is about a boy named Milo (Seth Green) who misbehaves and doesn't show enough appreciation for his mother.  One night his mother is abducted by Martians and he gets caught up in the ship and taken with her.  Once aboard their spacecraft he learns that a Martian called Supervisor (Mindy Sterling) controls everything and is responsible for his mom's captivity.  Luckily he meets another human named Gribble (Dan Fogler) who knows how the Martians operate and may be the key to helping Milo save his mom.

Surprisingly I quite enjoyed this one!  It does start off a little slow and was losing my attention here and there within the first 15-20 minutes but after that I was thoroughly entertained.  This was a very nice, original story, but that tends to happen when it's developed as a book first.  Even so, the writers did a good job of transferring a children's picture book to the big screen. 
The entire movie was done using motion capture technology which I initially thought was unnecessary.  I thought it would've been better as a "regular" cartoon or a live action movie but as I got further into it I realized it was perfect.  They were able to create a limitless, believable world in space that wouldn't have been possible any other way. 
Actor Dan Fogler was great as Gribble.  He was funny and lovable, just what the character needed.  Elisabeth Harnois did a good job voicing the Martian "Ki."  She was the refreshing element their planet needed.  Then there's Mindy Sterling from the Austin Powers films, she was great as the controlling old "Supervisor." I found it amusing that she was speaking a Martian language but was easily recognizable.  She had the same yell as in Austin Powers, "bring out the Fembots!" 
At the heart of this movie though is a message about appreciating our loved ones every single day that they're in our lives.  Now who wouldn't appreciate a story like that?  Very sweet.  Another one the whole family can enjoy!

I say this one's worth checking out!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt
Written By: Pierre Boulle and Rick Jaffa
Starring: James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow and Freida Pinto
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: A

This is the much needed resurrection of the Planet of the Apes films.   After the 2001 version with Mark Walhberg and Helena Bonham Carter we so needed this one.

In this modern day version of Planet of the Apes James Franco plays Will Rodman, a scientist working at a company called Gen Sys (pronounced genesis).  Gen Sys is a genetic therapy pharmaceutical company doing tests to try come up with new drugs to help with some of humanities illnesses.  One of the experiments involves ALZ 112 and a chimpanzee nicknamed "Bright Eyes."  The ALZ 112 increases the ape's intelligence and could be a cure to Alzheimer's, among other brain disorders.  But just as the scientists are ready to introduce the new drug "Bright Eyes" breaks loose at Gen Sys and seems to go crazy, killing employees and destroying things, until she is taken down herself.  Later Will Rodman (Franco) learns that "Bright Eyes" had a baby that no one knew about and her mistaken rage was really motherly instinct.  The ALZ 112 project is shut down and the orphaned chimp now needs a home.  Will (Franco) steps in as a temporary solution and takes the baby chimp home to meet his father Charles (John Lithgow) who is suffering from Alzheimer's.  Will and Charles get attached to the baby ape and name him Caesar (Andy Serkis) and so the journey begins and leads to the Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Man oh man this movie was great!  First off let me say that Andy Serkis is BRILLIANT at what he does!  He has to be THE BEST motion capture performer there is!  Also hats off to the special effects team that pulled this off!  I mean wow!  I am very critical when it comes to special effects.  I feel like special effects should seamlessly fit into a film, adding to it, not distracting the audience from the story and Rise of the Planet of the Apes accomplishes this and then some.
I was not looking forward to this film actually because I'm getting tired of the remakes but thank god this movie revived the classic tale.  The story was great!  I love how the writers intertwined the traditional story with our modern day struggles with issues like Alzheimer's which effects so many people today.  They also brought heart to the apes of the film.  I cried three times during this movie and held back tears in a lot of other scenes.  But don't mistake this for a sad tale.  It has humor, lots of action, drama and of course great special effects.  Anyone would enjoy this movie.  I saw a man sitting a few seats down from me, on the edge of his seat through the entire film and that summed up how I felt while watching this movie.  There was not a dull moment.  Also it was great to see John Lithgow and he was wonderful in his role as the dad suffering with Alzheimer's.  This movie was near perfect to me.  They better win some awards for the special effects. 
Now my only issue was with the script towards the end.  I don't want to give anything away but I felt a piece was missing with Will (Franco) when he had to deal with some issues with Caesar (Serkis), who by that point was like a son to him.  I just felt like they could've added an extra couple of minutes to show him "dealing" with things and it would've made the film that much better for me.  But aside from that this was a great movie! 

So of course I say this is definitely worth seeing!  Skip Cowboys and Aliens (sorry) and go see this!

Soul Surfer

Directed By: Sean McNamara
Written By: Sean McNamara, Deborah Schwartz, Douglas Schwartz & Michael Berk
Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and Carrie Underwood
Rated: PG

MY RATING: C

Surfer? Yes.  Soul?  Could've used a little more.

This film is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost an arm in a freak shark attack accident.  The film begins by showing Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) as a little girl growing up on the beaches of Hawaii with her family of surfers.  Her mom (Helen Hunt) and dad (Dennis Quaid) were both surfers so it was natural that she would be born with the ability and passion for the sport also.  Fast forward to Bethany (Robb) as a teenager living a carefree life surfing and spending time with her friends and family.  With the help of her mom (Hunt) and dad (Quaid) she trains for an upcoming surf competition, a competition that her childhood bestfriend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson) is also training for.  While out training one day she is bitten by a shark and loses an arm.  Bethany perseveres and learns to live her daily life with this missing limb and also finds the will to continue surfing.

This was a sweet, cute movie, nothing more, nothing less.  The surfing scenes were about the most action you'll get in the film.  The most impressive things were that the surfing was real with the real Bethany Hamilton doing the stunt surfing for AnnaSophia Robb. Also the great special effects job they did to make AnnaSophia Robb appear to have a missing arm. 
It took a little while for the shark attack to happen while they set up Bethany's (Robb) life and relationships.  For me it took a little too long and when the moment happened it was pretty predictable.  I was looking for more of a surprise.  Also everyone was so calm during and after the shark attack which didn't fit.  But it turns out that the real Bethany Hamilton actually remained calm so I guess I can't critique that too much.  I'm just used to things being exaggerated for entertainment sake and in this film the Hamiltons were very much involved and wanted the film to be as close to real life as possible which I think takes away from the film a little. 
Also this was our introduction to Carrie Underwood as an actress and I think she did an okay job.  She wasn't great and she wasn't bad.  She played Sarah Hill, Bethany's Christian youth leader but her spiritual role wasn't enough for me.  Maybe they didn't want the movie to be too preachy but for the real life Hamiltons to hold their Christianity so dear to them I don't think Soul Surfer painted a clear enough picture of that aspect of their lives. 

But overall it was a cute movie for the whole family.  I mean it's worth making the kids watch it for the inspirational message.  There were good scenes where Bethany (Robb) realizes her purpose in life and comes to terms with why the accident happened to her.  I even teared up a couple of times.  It was more like a good Hallmark movie but not one of the best "based on a true story" films I've seen.  I'll say I pretty much got what I expected from this movie: a cutsie, family film that's pretty entertaining and not too complicated. 

So my recommendation is if you have kids then definitely see it, but there's no rush.  If you don't have kids you can check it out on cable.  I wouldn't say skip it because it's worth knowing Bethany Hamilton's story. 

Cowboys & Aliens

Directed By: Jon Favreau
Written By: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby
Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde
Rated: PG-13

MY RATING: B -

This film takes place in 1873 in Arizona Territory.  Daniel Craig plays a man who finds himself in a strange town with no memory of how he got there or who he is.  To add to his confusion he has a strange contraption strapped to his wrist that is a clue to his mysterious past.  While in the town of Absolution Jake (Daniel Craig) and the townspeople experience terror when they're attacked by an object from the sky.  People go missing and Jake's strange bracelet seems to be a clue.  So a group led by Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) sets off into the dessert to find their people before it's too late.

This was a solid movie for me.  I was definitely entertained!  They focused more on the western aspects of the film rather than the sci-fi and that held it's weight for the story.  I found myself involved in the characters and emotionally attached to a few which means a pretty good script.  There also was plenty of action and good ole western brawls.  Then of course there's payoff when we finally get to see those aliens.  I won't say much but if you're a fan of alien movies then you'll enjoy what Jon Favreau did with these.  The special effects were great!  I was not disappointed in this area and that's big for me.  There were some holes in the Ella Swenson character played by Olivia Wilde.  From her first appearance on screen she seems out of place.  As you go further into the film you learn more about her but you're still left with questions.  I also wasn't feeling the chemistry between her and Jake (Daniel Craig), it was just okay. 
Looking for Harrison Ford to be some kind of Indian Jones character?  Not this time around.  His job was to be mean throughout most of the film intimidating other characters yet he hardly did anything but talk so towards the end of the film I was a little annoyed by him.  There's also a point where a tribe of Native Americans enter the story and at first it's a little weird but later their presence is justified and adds to the story.  The film felt a tad bit long with a running time of 1 hour and 58 minutes, but only by a little bit.   

Bottom line you don't go to see this type of film for top-notch acting and writing.  There were a couple of over-the-top moments but that's what you expect in a film like this.  Cowboys & Aliens delivered exactly what it was supposed to - a clear, easy to follow storyline, great action, some suspense and great special effects.  The costumes and set design were great too!   
So because these characters had weight and there actually was a real story I'd say this was one of the better action movies I've seen this summer. 

I'd say you should definitely see it but there's no rush.

How Do You Know

Directed By: James L. Brooks
Written By: James L. Brooks
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson
Rated: R

MY RATING: C-

How do you know when you're in love?  Not by watching this film.

In this newest James L. Brooks film Reese Witherspoon plays Lisa, a softball player on the USA olympic womens softball team.  After helping her team win a gold metal she is cut from the team because of her age.  She also starts dating Matty (Owen Wilson), a cocky, womanizing star baseball player.  Meanwhile businessman George (Paul Rudd) is dealing with legal problems at his father's (Jack Nicholson) company and a recent breakup.  One of Lisa's teammates had given George (Rudd) Lisa's number so he decides to give her a call and she finds herself in a love triangle.  Now she must figure out "How Do You Know."

I was so looking forward to this film because it's written and directed by James L. Brooks who also did As Good As It Gets, one of my all time favorite films.  But it was no where near on that level, even with Jack Nicholson.  The dialogue was great!  Brooks has a way with the english language but as a romantic comedy the romance fell very short for me.  I don't know what it was but something was missing for me.  There was no chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and her two leading men (Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson).  The guys were great!  Paul Rudd's character reminded me of his role in Clueless, I just loved him.  He was adorable and his usual funny self.  Owen Wilson was no surprise either and stole the show delivering some of the funniest moments.  But I wasn't a fan of the Lisa character Reese Witherspoon played.  She was emotionless throughout the entire film.  By the end I didn't think she needed to be with anyone and actually could use some therapy.  George (Rudd) was too good for her and Matty (Wilson) was too much of a jerk.  So what did I enjoy about this film?  Again, the dialogue, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson.  But as far as romantic comedies go, this would be towards the bottom of my list.  I can't say that I would watch it again but it held my attention enough the first time around.

So I'd say eh this is one you can wait for t.v. to see if nothing else is on.