Underworld: Awakening

This one of my favorite vampire franchises and I was extremely excited for this one, the fourth in the series (even thrilled after watching it because it hinted to another movie).  The only thing that was a little "off pudding" was that Scott Speedman did not return to reprise his role of Michael.  Another actor, with a similar look and build stood in for him.  The good thing is that the movie is not based on Michael's character at all, involves him, but not about him.  When the movie opens, we discover that the human world has discovered the existence of Vampires and Lycans.  Seeing the two as a virus and a curse, they begin to eliminate as many members of each species as they humanly can.  In this pursuit, Michael and Selene are captured.  

Twelve years after her capture, Selene is aroused out of her frozen state (think Demolition Man) and gathering her senses she tries to meet up with who she believes is Michael.  She believes it is Michael because she can see what he sees and understandably so, she feels that is the only being she is connected to.  When she finds who released her, she is surprised at the discovery that it was a 12 year old girl who freed her, and this girl is now the subject of inquiry by both the Lycans and the company who held them both prisoner.  Selene immediately senses the need to protect this young girl who is neither vampire or lycan but a combination of them both, which has only been seen in Michael.  Who is this young girl and why is she so valuable?

This is another wonderful chapter in the Underworld series and if you are a fan, I recommend you watching it.

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Next up is "The Blitz."

A Dangerous Method

This movie traces the intertwined history of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Sabina Spielrein and Otto Gross.  The story begins with the hospitalization of Sabina Spielrein, vividly played by Keira Knightly, who is overcome by a psychotic break and brought back to herself with the assistance of Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender).  Dr. Jung uses methods to treat Sabina taught to him by his mentor Dr. Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), who is also a trusted colleague and close friend.  Dr. Jung is aware of Sabina's desire to go to medical school and encourages her to do so.  After continuing to see each other, Dr. Jung and Sabina begin an affair that was strongly encouraged by Otto Gross (Vincent Cassell) who had openly admitted to having numerous relationships with his patients.  

Soon, their worlds begin to unravel, Sabina lost in her desire for Dr. Jung, Dr. Jung's desire for Sabina and feeling trapped by his loyalties to his wife and family along with his disagreement with Dr. Freud about the possibility of helping patients to find themselves.  Dr. Freud has his own demons surrounding his Jewish heritage and the fact that he believes that Dr. Jung feels that he is superior.  Freud also strongly disagrees with the spiritual side of psychoanalysis that becomes apparent that Dr. Jung is beginning to believe in.

The subject matter is extremely interesting and so I was intrigued.  Although, all of the key players in this film portray their characters with passion and true believability, the movie itself seemed to drag along and I could not wait for it to end.

I give it a 5 out of 10.

Next up is "Underworld: Awakening."

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

This third entry in the Harold and Kumar series (I didn't know that they had a second installment) we find that the pair are no longer best buds.  Harold is married and has a successful career in the financial field and Kumar has continue to abandon his medical career and sits at home getting high, over and over.  Harold is trying to impress his father-in-law and make certain that it is the best Christmas ever for his wife's family.  He has even volunteered to decorate the beautiful tree that his father-in-law has grown from a seed.  The tree is burned to a crisp after a visit from Kumar, who was dropping off a package that was mistakenly delivered to their old apartment.  Thus begins their adventure, where the two meet old acquaintances and realize how they have missed each other in an attempt to find a tree.

I was in stitches, particularly with Neil Patrick Harris who reprises his role, as himself.  He is hilarious.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "A Dangerous Method."

Tower Heist

With the roster of actors starring in this film, I thought it would be comedy gold; despite hearing the reviews that it received when it was initially released in 2011.  I was horribly disappointed.  With the heavy hitters of comedy from Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy and Matthew Broderick, my hopes were high.... maybe the critics were mistaken, maybe I would still enjoy it, maybe.... well it is a pure comic flop.

The gist of the movie, a group of devoted employees of one of the priciest residential locations in New York have been wronged by the penthouse tenant.  Bernie Maddox wronged.  They decided to exact their revenge by robbing him blind and getting their pensions back.  Trying to accomplish this on Thanksgiving Day during the Macy's Parade.
Just was disappointed by the entire film.  It is a definite skip.

I give it a 1 out of 10.

Next up is "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas."

The Vow

Here's a beautiful love story inspired by a real couple who experienced the similar twist of fate.  A young, lucky in love couple Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) who have a terrible car accident that wipes the past five years of Paige's memory.  The past five years that include her meeting and falling in love with her husband.  Both Leo and Paige are devastated by her injury, Paige feels scared and unsure about what her current life has presented to her.  She is an artist and free spirit, the exact opposite of the law student and apple of her parents' eye that she remembers.  She also remembers being engaged to another man.  Leo is crushed by his wife's failure to remember anything about their love and their life.  He is determined to return things to normal, as soon as possible despite the apparent destructive impact that it eventually has on the couple.

Can she eventually remember how they fell in love? Or is their love doomed?  It is a beautiful love story and worth the watch.  I was drawn even more into the film because it was inspired by a real life couple and what they have endured.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Tower Heist."

Psych: 9

I initially had so much hope for this movie, the description read well and had me intrigued.  I love independent and small production films just as much as the big blockbusters.  It also included Cary Elwes... my favorite from "Kiss The Girls" and "The Princess Bride," so it had to have some type of substance to it right?  I was sadly mistaken.    The biggest failure of the film is that there was too much going on.  There was a serial killer, a crazy lady, a spooky hospital as a backdrop, a creepy doctor, an intrusive but noneffective detective and way too many loose ends.  All of this and it felt like the movie kept dragging.  I kept looking at the clock.

Meet Roslyn, a beautiful yet fragile young woman who takes on the night shift at a recently closed hospital.  Her job is to collect and organize the files to have them relocated to another location for storage.  She is told that it is a boring job and she would be the only one there besides the security guard and the doctor completing the same job that she was about to begin on the Psych floor.  She wanted this shift so that she could spend more time with her husband.  Their relationship is horrible, there is a serial killer on the loose and she believes her husband might be him.  Then there are other crazy things going on and you have no answers at the end of the movie.  You sit there wondering why did you spend the ninety minutes watching.

I give it a 2 out of 10.

Next up is "The Vow."

Cowboys and Aliens

I have eagerly been awaiting this movie to show up in my movie list and it did not disappoint.  With an all star line up, this movie was truly entertaining until the closing credits.  In the opening, you meet a cowboy in the desert, wounded and unable to recall anything about himself aside from the fact the he can speak English.  This cowboy (Daniel Craig) makes his way to a fading rural town and instantly runs into trouble.  Taking down the town bully (the son of a bitter old colonel) much to the happiness of the town and eventually being recognized for being on a wanted poster.  He learns of his name as he awaits his fate with federal agents.  His name no longer a mystery, but his past and the odd metal bracelet that he is wearing remains so.  

The town soon becomes tangled in a war with aliens and their only salvation is the mysterious cowboy Jake Longeran wearing the bracelet.  To save themselves, they all join  sides despite their differences and ride off into the sunset to make everything right with the world again.  The movie also stars one of my favorite actors of all time, Harrison Ford.  The rest of the all star cast includes Adam Beach, Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Keith Carradine and Clancy Brown (Some names you may not recognize, but once you see their faces you realize that you have been watching their movies for a long time).

It is a great action and adventure movie with a ton of Sci-Fi mixed in.  

I give it a 9 out of 10.

Next up is "Pysch 9."

The Green Hornet

Here's a comic look at a classic radio show about a young man turned avenger.  Seth Rogen  plays Britt Reid, son of a newspaper giant who recently passed away and bequeathed everything to Britt.  Before his father's death, Britt was a typical rich kid slacker, hanging out and partying every night and simultaneously disappointing his father.  Upon his death, Britt decides to fire everyone his father employed, not knowing that he also terminated his the guy who makes the best cup of coffee in the world.  Asking for a favor, Britt asks Kato (Jay Chou) to show him how to make coffee.  What Kato shows him is the coffee maker that he designed, Britt is astonished and Kato shows him everything that he created while employed by Britt's father.

After an evening out, they run into a little trouble and thoroughly enjoying the adrenaline rush that came along with it, they decide to become masked avengers, appearing to work on the dark side, but in all actuality they are trying to clean up the streets.  Britt uses his newspaper to publicize his alter persona of The Green Hornet.  They encounter lots of bad guys, learn about each other, loyalty and friendship along the way.

It is an entertaining film, but that is about it.

I give it a 6 out of 10.

Next up is "Cowboys and Aliens."

Crush (2009)

This is an Australian film about an American student Julian (Christopher Egan), studying abroad in Australia so that he can compete in Martial Arts competitions.  He is your typical handsome guy, great group of supportive friends and a beautiful Aussie girlfriend.  From time to time, he works as a house sitter and before a big fight, he is asked to sit at a wonderfully large estate while the family is away for three months.

While there he meets a mysterious and beautiful young woman named Anna (Emma Lung), who Julian believes is the owner's niece stopping by to use the pool.  He is immediately drawn to the beauty who is the opposite of his girlfriend, but soon things get carried away and he finds himself spiraling out of control.  Then the movie makes such a sharp left turn in another direction, I had to actually rewind just to make sure that there was a proper lead in, there was not.  So I have to say, I was pretty disappointed.

I give it a 3 out of 10.

Next up is "The Green Hornet."

Just Cause (1995)

Every now and then I love to revisit a movie that I feel is an oldie but a goody and this film starring Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne is one of those films.

Sean Connery portrays Harvard professor Paul Armstrong.  A former lawyer who has not practiced or seen a courtroom in over 25 years, but a strong advocate for revoking the death penalty.  After a scholarly debate over that particular topic, an elderly woman approaches him for help regarding a death penalty case involving her grandson, Bobby Earl (Blair Underwood).  He was convicted of murdering a young white girl based on a forced confession garnered by Sheriff Tanny Brown (Laurence Fishburne), whom despite the color of his own skin, is apparently just as vicious towards young black men and a white police officer.

After some prodding on behalf of Professor Armstrong's wife, he decides to see what new information he can get to either justify the conviction or exonerate Bobby Earl.  Armstrong is met with local opposition in the town who believes that Bobby Earl is truly guilty.  There are some great twists and turns in this movie and that is the reason why I still love to watch it from time to time.  The great story is backed up by fine acting performances as well.  Blair Underwood is great as Bobby Earl and Ed Harris' performance as the maniacal Blair Sullivan is so creepy, that is so good.

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Next up is "Crush."

Vampires Suck

So twelve years ago when I was pregnant with my first child, my husband and I had decided to see every movie that summer that we could.  We were too well aware of the fact that our adult movie nights would soon be a thing of the past.  One particular movie we saw, was Scary Movie.  We never paid attention to any of the previews that came out about the movie, we were just excited to finally get out of the house.  Low and behold, we literally left the movie theater with stomach pains from laughing so hard.  It was clever and hysterical. 

So there have been numerous attempts to repeat the same formula that the Wayans brothers used to drive audiences to tears, but I have yet to watch one that could capture the same magic.  This movie, unfortunately does not make the cut either.  This spoof on all things vampire was simply predictable and despite a few laughs here and there, it is not a film to rush home to watch.  The primary focus of the spoof is "Twilight" with hints to "True Blood" and the television series, "The Vampire Diaries."

I give it a 4 out of 10.

Next up is the 1995 film, "Just Cause."

Strictly Sexual

Moving away from horror and into the drama genre, here is a independent film dedicated to the taboo of casual sex, you know the one without all the feelings involved? Well what this movie explains yet again is that it is impossible.  Feelings will always be involved for at least one of the two.

Meet Donna (Amber Benson) and Christi Ann (Kristen Kerr), two roommates who are unlucky in the love department but still are looking for those blow your mind sexual experiences.  They come up with the idea of picking up male prostitutes to entertain them for an evening.  Meet Stanny (Stevie Long) and Joe (Johann Urb), couple of regular guys who recently moved to California in search of new work in construction. They come across each other in a hotel bar, the ladies mistaking the guys for gigolos and the guys thinking how lucky they are meeting up with California girls. 

The following morning, everything comes out uncomfortably when the girls try to pay them for their services.  Each are taken aback by the stark reality that these guys are not male prostitutes.  Low and behold, the idea comes about of hiring the guys simply for the purpose of sexual satisfaction.  But can this novel idea really work out without feelings coming into the mix? No.

It was a clever little movie and I actually enjoyed it, despite some of the horrible acting at certain parts.

I give it a 6 out of 10.

Next up is "Vampires Suck."

Blood Creek

So I love my horror and when there's a horror flick that seems pretty interesting despite not having a major release in the States, I always try to watch it.  This is the case with this movie, especially seeing that it starred Henry Cavill (our new superman, yummy), Michael Fassbender and Dominic Purcell.  Pure man candy!  Thought it would be a true feast for my eyes.  

The movie opens during World War II and you meet a German family trying to make their way while living in West Virginia.  The family receives a letter which details that they were chosen to host a German professor, Richard Wirth (Fassbender) who wanted to conduct research about Viking ties to the area.  They gladly accept, unknowing the horrors that are about to befall them by welcoming this man in.  He is a Nazi scientist who believes that his occult practices will allow him the life immortal.  They subsequently become prisoners in their home.

Seventy years later we meet the Marshall brothers, Evan (Henry Cavill) and Victor (Dominic Purcell).  Evan is a paramedic trying to support his dad and his brother's family since Victor has been missing for the past two years.  Suddenly, Victor shows up just as mysteriously as he disappeared, and asks for Evan's help.  Where has Victor been?  He has been held prisoner with the same German family and tortured.  He is out for revenge and his vengeance leads Evan and himself on a dark journey into the occult.

It was an interesting movie, but not the highlight of my year.

I give it a 6 out of 10.

Next up is "Strictly Sexual."

Dream House

This creepy thriller belongs in the same family as the movie "The Sixth Sense." Deals with a past that is haunting the main character and the sudden realization that in an instant makes everything around them make sense.  The premise is quite simple, a loving family of four moves into an quaint and idealistic home... their dream house. The husband and father, Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) has stepped away from his job to spend more time with his family and write a book.  Libby (Rachel Weisz), his wife is more than thrilled to have more time with her husband and two beautiful girls.

But something is not quite right, the girls begin to see a man outside their home and they soon find out that grizzly murders had taken place previously in the house.  A man is believed to have murdered his wife and two children.  Will desperately tries to find more information about what has occurred to put his family at ease, but the more he finds out the more disturbing the facts are surrounding their dream house.  Who is this man that supposedly killed his family and why is he still lurking about as a free man?  Will their mysterious neighbor (Naomi Watts) from across the street help to shed some light on what happened in the house?

You will have to watch to answer those questions, although it is not a plausible scenario, it is a good thriller and worth the watch.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Blood Creek."

Blue Crush 2

In this sequel, we meet Dana (Sasha Jackson) a young girl still devastated and haunted by the death of her mother.  Although her memories of her mother have faded, she still has her mother's treasured possessions, her surfboard and her journal.  Dana truly believes that she is like her mother in every way, a "free spirit."  Her father, on the other hand, totally disagrees and pushes Dana to accept the fact that she will be sent of to college soon, following in her dad's footsteps.  Dana has a hard time accepting this and after reading one of her mother's final journal entry; where she discusses taking Dana to her homeland of South Africa and taking her to a variety of surfing destinations, she decides to make the journey for herself.


Leaving a simple note for her dad, Dana arrives in South Africa a mere 23 hours later.  Trying to make it to the beach, she catches a ride and meets a young South African woman named Pushy (Elizabeth Mathis) who is a fellow surfer.  Pushy welcomes Dana into her family, which is made up of a bunch of ex-pats and locals.  Pushy also encourages Dana to follow mother's journey and surf each location.


This movie is nothing like the original and the acting is pretty bad, well very bad. I would not even recommend it for anyone to watch.

I give it a 1 out of 10.

Next up is "Dream House."

What's Your Number?

Haven't had a chance to review a romantic comedy in a while and finally one did happen to pop up for viewing.  "What's Your Number?" is a rom com starring Anna Faris and Chirs Evans.  Faris plays Ally Darling, an unlucky in love gal. One who is consistently trying to change and alter herself to fit the needs and desires of the opposite sex.  Living across from her is her gigolo of a neighbor Colin Shea played by Chris Evans (a.k.a. Captain America, just had to throw that in there). Both are witnesses to each other's relationship ups and downs; and when Ally comes across an article discussing the average of the number of men that women have slept with is 10.5, she feels a little disheartened because her number is 20.


Instead of going for the next guy in hopes of finding true love she decides to try and rekindle some sort of romance with the previous twenty.  Discovering how difficult it is to locate some of these guys, she enlists the help of her neighbor.  Soon Ally finds herself on a path of loser after loser.  All of the potential suitors of her dating past are not promising whatsoever.  She is still holding out hopes for her high school boyfriend, who was "the one" that got away.  Is he really the one for her, or could love truly be just across the hall?


Cute and funny, but it is not something that you need to set the DVR for.  

I give it a 6 out of 10.

Next up is "Blue Crush 2."

Hereafter

This movie is about the experience of death, but not the morbid and horror side to it, but the spiritual experience that one goes through.  Directed and produced by the legendary Clint Eastwood, the film follows three characters and their different experiences with the spiritual realm of death.  In the first scenario, you meet Marie Lelay (Cecile de France), a French news reporter, who has a near death experience after almost drowning during the tsunami in Thailand.  She struggles to get back to her own normality after her experience. She loses focus at work and takes some time off to work on a political novel.  But she keeps delving back to her experience in Thailand and pursues informing herself about the subject matter.  Then you meet Marcus and Jason (Frankie and George McLaren), twin boys who struggle with the drug dependent mother for their own sense of normal.  Jason is the strongest of the two, he looks out for both his brother and mother.  Unfortunately, Jason meets a tragic end and Marcus is left struggling for answers and how to move on without his brother constantly by his side.  Finally you are introduced to George Lonegan (Matt Damon), a reluctant physic.  Everyone George touches, gives him a glimpse at someone that person has lost in their life.  Once profiting off of his gift, he eventually feels cursed by it and tries his hardest to live a normal life.  He is eager to meet that special someone, but due to his ability that has become a difficult challenge in itself.


It is a difficult subject matter, but each scenario is beautifully portrayed and eventually all the story lines do tie in together.  The question is how, but you would have to watch the movie to understand that.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "What's Your Number?"

Tell Tale

So yes... we have seen this before.  A transplant recipient experiences something that directly ties him or her to their donor.  An intriguing concept, but in this particular film, it drags on.  Josh Lucas plays Terry Bernard, the lucky recipient of a heart and the doting father to a daughter who is stricken with one of the unluckiest genetic diseases, a degenerative disorder that turns her internal soft tissues (cartilage) into bone.  He is a single father trying to make the best of the situation he is dealt.  Further complications arise with his attraction to his daughter's doctor, Elizabeth Clemson (Lena Headley), and his visions of the brutal murder of his donor and his wife.  He keeps getting a glimpse of what had happened that fateful night.  


Soon his heart is acting on it's own, truly feeling the thoughts and emotions of the donor, he begins to seek and take revenge on all who participated in the donor's murder.  There are a couple of twists, but they are foreseen and extremely predictable, which is the one thing that I loathe about a movie.

I give it a 4 out of 10.

Next up is "Hereafter."

Contagion

So what influence does this politically charged movie have on a person? Teaches you to really wash your hands and food.... and speaking of food, to prepare it properly.  We all went through the hype and propaganda of the dreaded H1N1 (hyped up Swine Flu), that was further thrown of the fire of fear by various governmental agencies and the media.  My son caught it and handled it like any other bug, without any of us getting a vaccination.  What most people fail to realize is that the flu, which alters its beloved genetic makeup each and every instance, kills millions every year.


The most fascinating star of the movie is that actual bug itself, how sophisticated this microscopic organism truly is and how quickly it can devastate a community, city, state, country and the list goes on.  The film is a window to the future, we have yet to experience such devastation from a pandemic in this modern day and age, but it is not to say that it could not ever happen; which I believe is the true message behind the film.  However, I know that there are those lovely doomsday folk who see movies like this as the truth and continue to live their lives in fear of what might happen.  To me, that is not a life.  This is a star studded cast, with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, and Kate Winslet.  Each giving great performances, which does make a truly good film. 

I give it a 9 out of 10.

Next up is "Tell Tale."

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift

Family movie night typically includes a high dose of CGI created characters full of humor and the latest entry in the Ice Age franchise does not disappoint.  This chapter in the daily lives of our favorite prehistoric creatures, Diego the saber-toothed cat, Manny the wise Woolly Mammoth and Sid the unexplainable sloth is aligned with a true star studded cast this go around.  Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Queen Latifah, Wanda Sykes, Niki Minaj, Drake, Keke Palmer and Peter Dinklage all contribute their voice talents to expand this ensemble cast.


Squint, our beloved prehistoric squirrel has once again caused some worldly trouble chasing his beloved acorn.  This time, he has caused the major divide that created the seven different continents.  Truly hilarious in Squint form, but his true destructive masterpiece occurs at the close of the movie.  Manny is now separated from the loves of his life, his wife Ellie and daughter Peaches.  He is determined to get back to them and is, of course, aided by his allies Sid and Diego.  They meet challenges along the way, but in the end all is well (it's a kids' movie remember).  There are true laugh out loud moments and it is a true crowd pleaser.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Contagion."

Faster

Meet the Driver... Dwayne Johnson aka "The Rock." He, alongside of his brother, was double-crossed.  Because of this, his brother was murdered in front of his face.  After spending a decade in prison, he is hell bent on revenge.  His mission is to kill all of those involved in his brother's murder.  He will not stop or slow down until he has completed his goal.  In his rear view, he has two veteran cops played by Billy Bob Thorton and Carla Gugino, along with a sophisticated hired assassin with emotional issues (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) trying to stop his deadly path. Entertaining film, reminded me of "Get Carter" and Sylvester Stallone's gritty performance.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Ice Age 4: Continental Drift."  

The Big Year

This is a true feel good comedy about all things birding... if you have no clue what that is, just google it and you'd be so very surprised about how big of a world birding truly is.  It is  also a story of friendship, new loves, old loves, and family.  You meet three men from varying backgrounds, all on the same quest of having a "big year." Meaning that have the highest number of bird sightings of different types of birds.  There is the returning champion, Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) who is trying to top his previous record, and to ensure that no one else can best him.  He is so dedicated to his passion for birding that it jeopardizes his current marriage to a beautiful and devoted wife who just wants to start their family.  You have the corporate CEO, Stu Priessler (Steve Martin) who just recently retired and finally committed to having his "big year" much to the chagrin of his former employees.  He has the support of his loving wife, who has encouraged him to finally do something for himself.  Finally, you meet the narrator of the film, Brad Harris (Jack Black).  Brad is a divorcee who moved back home with his parents and just can't seem to commit to anything but birding.


The movie gives a humorous view to the world of birds and birdwatchers down to the various lengths they go to just to catch a glimpse of a rare bird.  The three gentlemen meet, interact and compete against one another as they try to conquer the challenge of having the biggest year.  Stu and Brad forge a kinship and share the goal of both besting Bostick.  It is such a enjoyable film and worth the watch.

I give it a 8 out of 10.

Next up is "Faster."

In Time

This sci-fi movie stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried as two young people on opposite ends of the social hierarchy.  Here is a world where everyone stops aging at 25, when you hit the ripe old age, your time clock begins giving you just one year until you drop dead unless you earn more time.  Time essentially becomes the new currency.  The wealthy have decades even centuries of time at their disposable.  Living life at a leisurely pace.  Those less fortunate, live day to day. Earning and borrowing time to stay alive.  Each social class lives in particular zones that are heavily guarded by the Timekeepers.


Will Salas (Timberlake) is a hard-working young man determined to live a good life and to help his mother (Olivia Wilde).  He knows how to hustle and works every angle to earn mere minutes to extend his time and his mother's.  At a chance encounter he meets a wealthy man who is well into his eighties but of course looks like he is 25, Will saves his life.  For there are those who steal time for their own benefit.  This wealthy man truly believes that no one is meant to live forever and this notion stirs something within Will; and Will is even more surprised when he wakes up with 100 extra years added to his life.  With this new found time, he embarks on a journey to try and right the ways of the world, where everyone has their fair share of time on this earth.  Meeting Sylvia (Seyfried) on this journey they learn a lot about themselves, their world and what they can do to balance the scales.  A modern day Robin Hood meets Bonnie and Clyde.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "The Big Year."

The Thing (2011)

This is a book adaptation and also a film remake.... so was it any where as intriguing and suspenseful as the original film from 1982 starring Kurt Russell?  I liked the original so much more, not that this one was horrible by any means.  The great thing about computer technology and the digital arts is the fact that you can create such a unique world and scary aliens.  This version was heavy on the CGI and the one thing that saved it was the simple twists and adjustments to the original screen play.  They kept the film in 1982, but this version used computer technology to make this alien encounter that more realistic.  I liked the fact that they had mostly Norwegian characters with a couple of Americans, and I also liked the fact that Kurt Russell's character is now a woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).  This film is not a time waster, but if you loved the original, don't expect to see that again.

I give it a 6 out of a 10.

Next up is "In Time."

The Help

So here is another book to film adaptation following my review of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo."  However, the one difference between the two outside of the genre, is that this film version was dead on, 100% on the money, capturing the true personalities within the book and passionately portraying them on screen.  Each actress cast in their role for this film gave a breathtaking performance as they breathed life into the characters that you grew to love in the novel.  Beginning with Octavia Spencer's Oscar deserving portrayal of Minny Jackson, she was everything that I had envisioned the character to be and I am sure that I am not alone saying that they Academy Award was well deserved.  


For those who have yet to read the novel, it is a period piece taking place during the Civil Rights movement and located in one of the states that fought to keep everything "separate but equal," Mississippi.  You meet Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis) helping her boss, Mrs. Elizabeth Leefolt (Ahna O'Reilly), get ready for bridge.  This is a time when "the help" took car of everything to make a household a success, from cooking, cleaning, serving, and raising their bosses' children.  During this bridge party, you meet Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) who is the most uptight and haughtiest woman in Jackson, and the one woman in all of Jackson that other women want on their good side.  There is also Jolene French (Anna Camp) and of course, our other main character, Ms. Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone), the only unmarried one of the bunch.  Skeeter wants to be a writer and her own person, she does not want to define herself by her husband, but this type of thinking is truly her own.  None of her friends and her mother can understand why she isn't trying to find a husband.  Skeeter also had a close bond to her housekeeper, Constantine and truly always looked at her as a part of her family.  After a particular comment from Hilly regarding having a separate bathroom for the maids outside of the house and registering the pain in Aibileen's face, Skeeter becomes intrigued in understanding the plight and point of view of "the help."  So much so, that she begins to write a book under the guidance of a publishing company in New York, where she dreams of beginning her career in writing.  Aibileen is reluctant in sharing her opinions with Skeeter because she knows what would happen to her if anyone found out that she contributed.  But because of Mrs. Leefolt's treatment of her own daughter, her own flesh and blood, Aibileen begins her story.  Soon she is joined by Minny and eventually others as Skeeter eloquently writes the book that soon is in the hands of many of Jackson's residents.  You see the roots of change trying to spread and grow in Mississippi and the relationships that have developed and continue to grow.


Just like the book, this movie had me laughing, crying full of hope and joy.  It is a must see.

I give it a 10 out of 10.

Next up is "The Thing (2011)."

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

I have anxiously awaited the arrival of this film in my On Demand listing.  I read the entire trilogy and based on the great reviews of this film version, my mouth salivated at the opportunity to watch the movie.  Is it a good movie? Yes.  Is it better than the book or even on the same level? No.  As with any film adaptation of a novel, and to avoid having a five hour movie, there are things that are left out.  There are also slight variations of the characters, in particular the main characters that left me with the question.... why? I am assuming that it is the garner the adoration of the audience to each of the characters.  To make both Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander more likable and agreeable.  


For those of you, who have yet to read the books or even seen either this version or the Swedish version in film, here you go.  Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a respected journalist, whom at the beginning of the film has just been nationally embarrassed and convicted of libel against Hans-Erik Wennerstrom (a multi-millionaire businessman), looking to escape his unpleasant reality he is offered an opportunity to pen the biographical book of Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) and his family.  Blomkvist is initially not interested until hearing that Henrik is solely looking for answers to the disappearance and believed murder of his beloved niece Harriet Vanger.  Henrik also dangles the fact that he alone has the information to truly take down Wennerstrom.  Mikael is hooked alone by the bait of Wennerstrom.  You meet the troubled Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), an investigator of sorts, but more so a hacker who was recently hired via her company to do a background check on Blomkvist.  You get bits and chunks of her troubled existence and every day struggles, in particular those of her current guardian Nils Bjurman (Yorick van Wageningen).  When Blomkvist needs an assistant, he is pointed in the direction of Lisbeth and their team work begins.  What the eventually discover is more horrific than originally anticipated.


It is an excellent movie, especially if you have not read the books.  However,  if you have read the books, you truly do wish that the film shows the true characters as they were initially written.  I will also say that Rooney Mara's performance, far exceeded my expectations.  She was phenomenal as Lisbeth.

I give it a 9 out of 10.

Next up is "The Help."

Wake

Meet Carys (Bijou Phillips).... a young woman, obsessed with feeling some type of emotion after struggling to cope with the death of her sister, who goes to stranger's funerals to see if she can actually cry.  She attends the funeral of a young woman named Anna and after hearing the woman's mother speak, she begins to move out of the pew, then she hears the voice of a charming and handsome young man.  He speaks of the true spirit of Anna and Carys is instantly drawn back in, she actually feels some emotion and cries.  What does this mean? After the service she views the body and an unfortunate incident happens.  During this occurrence she comes face to face with the handsome, young man who introduces himself as Tyler (Ian Somerhalder).  She eventually finds out that he is the fiance of Anna.


But they are strangely drawn to each other, she has not told him the truth about why she was at the funeral and she suspects that the handsome Tyler actually had something to do with Anna's death.  Could everything really be too good to be true? Torn between her emotions and logic, her heart and her brain, what will happen with every one's secrets finally come out? It is a cute and quirky movie, that I truly enjoyed.  

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo."

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Never saw the first film, but it was so popular that I am very familiar with the characters.  In this long, overdue follow up, we meet Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) as he is released from prison after being convicted of insider trading.  The sad part about his release is that there is no one there to meet him and take him home.  Move up a couple of years, right before the burst of the real estate bubble and we are introduced to a young couple, Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf) and Winnie Gekko (Carey Mulligan).  Both are idealistic and in love with their chosen fields.  Jake is a trader on Wall Street for a major bank lead by his mentor Louis Zabel (Frank Langella) and Winnie runs her own non-profit online newspaper. After seeing Winnie's father give a speech, Jake is intrigued by Gordon Gekko and uses the fact that he is engaged to Gordon's daughter to get in good.  Gekko also sees an opportunity in Jake to get back on good terms with his daughter, but more importantly to exact his revenge and make a miraculous comeback on Wall Street.  


There are several poignant events that occur in the movie and ultimately Gekko does get his revenge but at what cost?  It is a great movie and although I am not at all in love with the financial world of Wall Street, it was an interesting view.

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Next up is "Wake."

Quarantine 2: Terminal

The first version of this movie was a unique spin on the Zombie genre, with the residents of an apartment complex contracting a rabies like virus turning them into the creature that   dines on the flesh of the living. In part two, the backdrop moves from the apartment complex to the small plane and subsequent airplane terminal.  Jenny (Mercedes Mashon) is your heroine, a plucky flight attendant who is not living up to her daddy's expectations and becoming a pilot just like him.  She is working the red eye with her best buddy.  The number of passengers is limited because of the late flight, but includes a young kid, a young female war veteran, a European couple, an uptight couple, an elderly couple, a cute guy and the overweight pain in the rear.  Your typical flight, except they are unknowingly exposed to a virus that takes them over one at a time, slowly but surely.


Not as good as the first, but not a total time waster.

I give it a 5 out of 10.

Next up is "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps."

Fright Night

This delicious remake of one of my favorite horror films from my youth, was actually surprising... surprising because I truly enjoyed it.  There have been several remakes, as of late, and some of them should have simply stopped at the idea of the remake.  What made this movie successful is that they did update the plot and gave it a modern take.  The plot of the movie, however, remains the same.  Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) suspects his new neighbor is a vampire.  He becomes suspicious not of his own accord, but because his former best friend gave him the heads up shortly before he disappeared.  After viewing footage that confirms his buddy's claim and that this footage has something to do with his disappearance.


Once Jerry the vampire (Colin Farrell) lures his attractive neighbor into his home and Charley hears her screams, he tries to save her, unsuccessfully.  Charley tries to convince his mom (Toni Collette) and his girlfriend Amy (Imogen Poots) that they are in grave danger.  Here's where the plot changes, unlike the 80's version.  Mrs. Brewster becomes very well aware that she is living next to a vampire and the second change is the involvement of Peter Vincent (David Tennant), who is nicely updated as a famous magician and illusionist working on the Las Vegas strip. 


Although we are quite well aware of how the movie plays out, it is still an enjoyable ride and fun to watch.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Quarantine 2: Terminal"

In The Name Of The King

What do you get when you have a cast filled with numerous celebrities from Burt Reynolds, Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani and Ray Liotta?  A bunch of folks who needed a job.  This film is a typical medieval fantasy film based on the classic tale of good versus evil with a little magic thrown in.  Burt Reynolds is horribly unbelievable as a king, but Ray Liotta still shines as a nutty bad guy, this time a nutty warlock Maji. I have nothing left to say about it....

I give it a 2 out of 10.

Next up is "Fright Night."

The Guard

This is a delicious comedy starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle.  I have been a fan of Brendan Gleeson since his performance in "Lake Placid" as the dry witted and overly sarcastic Sheriff.  In "The Guard" he also plays a law enforcement officer.  This time however, he is a crass, bitter, funny, tired, in your face and often offensive.  He plays Sergeant Gerry Boyle in the Irish Garda (police force) and comes across a transferred employee and a dead body.  Unaware of what the crime is truly indicative of, he heads off to Dublin to get apprised of a rather large drug shipment arriving somewhere in the area.  To try and capture these international criminals, the United States FBI have become involved and agent Wendell Everett is in charge.  After a rather bumpy interaction between Boyle and Everett, them team up once the connection is made to the death in Boyle's jurisdiction.  Boyle struggles with loneliness, a dying mother, a taste for prostitutes and his duties as an officer.  All in all, he is truly good guy or as Everett tells him "you are either incredibly stupid or incredibly smart."


Phenomenal performances across the board, it was a true delight to watch and I strongly encourage if you have a chance, sit down and enjoy it.

I give it a 9 out of 10.

Next up is "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale."

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Such a cute little movie.... pretty funny too, especially according to my children.  Here we see the quartet on a mission to head back home to their beloved New York City.  They are still in Africa awaiting the penguins and monkeys return.  Unbeknownst to them, the penguins and the monkeys are gambling themselves rich in the South of France.  Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman decide to go to the South of France and get them moving on heading back to New York City.  Of course, King Julien, Maurice and Mort are in tow as well.  Being chased by France's Animal Control lead by a vicious and overzealous Captain Chantel DuBois, whose one mission is to have the head of a lion on her wall; all of the animals hitch a ride with a failing European circus.  Then the real adventures begin.  You meet a whole new gang of characters in this rip-roaring third installment in the Madagascar series.

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Next up is "The Guard."

My Future Boyfriend

A made for TV movie, thought since I was in the mood for romance, I'd give this one a whirl.  Wish I didn't.  Anyway, this movie begins with Pax played by Barry Watson (I won't even elaborate on his true name) making a discovery a thousand years into the future.  A romance novel and a wad of cash.  After reading bits of the novel he becomes curious as to what "love" is and "passion."  He uses a time machine to travel back to the meet the author of the book that he is now enthralled with.  


Traveling back he meets the author Elizabeth Barrett (Sara Rue) and of course, they fall for each other.  Although his naivete is cute sometimes, it did not help the movie at all.  Guess I was truly looking for more of that passion that was referred to in the book to shine in the movie.  

I give it a 3 out of 10.

Next up is "Madagascar 3."

Sexting a.k.a. Textuality

So it looks as if this movie has two names, according to my movie que with Comcast it is listed as "Sexting," and according to IMDb it is called "Textuality."  Anyhoo... this movie is based on how communicating with the opposite sex has changed in the modern age.  Long ago from actually coming to visit or placing a phone call to someone you are interested in, you are bombarded with smartphones and Facebook statuses.  Jason Lewis plays Breslin, a financial advisor who recently was left standing at the alter alone and now a major player juggling the affections of three women.  Meet Simone played by Carly Pope, a free spirit, blogger and artist who is also juggling three men and a fourth that she sees as her soul mate.  Breslin and Simone crash into each other, literally, and sparks fly.  Both deciding to eliminate all the extras in their lives.  But how can love truly play out in this modern world?


The fact that the movie has two names, should give you a hint of the "watchability" of this film.  

I give it a 3 out of 10.

Next up is "My Future Ex-Boyfriend."

Texas Killing Fields

This mystery is based loosely on true facts surrounding a murder spree in Texas.  The story opens with two detectives called to the site of a murder in Texas City, Texas.  Detective Brian Heigh (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Detective Mike Souder (Sam Worthington) discover that the body of this young girl is somehow connected the disappearance of another young woman whose car lies on the outskirts of the Texas fields, an area that happens to lie outside Heigh's and Souder's jurisdiction but also happens to be the area that Souder's ex-wife Detective Pam Stall works.  She calls to Brian for additional help, but meets resistance from Souder because he truly believes that their case has no correlation to the other. 


Throw into the mix a troubled young girl played by Chloe Grace Moretz and you have a interesting scenario.  The movie was pretty good, but they did drop the ball on one scenario.  When you have multiple story lines running in a film, you have to make certain that you finish them out.  In this film they leave you hanging with one scenario.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Sexting."

TiMER

This quirky romantic comedy is about a new found way to find love in the modern world.  Just imagine if there was a device that could pinpoint the exact moment and person that you would spend the rest of your life with.  Would you buy it?  Meet the TiMER, an electronic device that is literally impaled into your wrist and counts down the days, hours, and minutes until you meet "the one."  When you make eye contact with your destined love one, the device chirps.


Meet Oona (Emma Caufield) and her step-sister Steph (Michelle Borth).  They each had the device put on their wrist at the age of consent, 14 (just when puberty begins to peak).  Oona's Timer reads blank because her "one' has yet to purchase a timer and Steph's Timer reads 14 years into the future.  So for them, they personally feel screwed by the entire process.  So much so that Oona becomes obsessed with finding the one and making sure that each person she dates, she subsequently takes to the TiMER store to have one implanted.  Steph is the opposite.  She knows that she will meet the "one" in her future, but chooses to fill the void of the 14 years she is facing by sleeping with random men.


It is a cute and funny movie that really drums the message that love is the only deciding factor when it comes to meeting your soul mate.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Texas Killing Fields."

Last Night

"Last Night" is an intimate look into a young marriage over the course of a day.  You get some background information from a party that the lovely couple (portrayed by Keira Knightly and Sam Worthington) attends the night before.  Joanna is a writer, currently working the freelance market, but truly hoping to produce book worthy material.  Michael is a young business man who has to travel over the next couple of days for work.  At the party they attended together it becomes obvious to Joanna that Michael is attracted to fellow and new coworker Laura (Eva Mendes).  Joanna confronts Michael with her intuition and an argument ensues.  He admits that his coworker is attracted to him, but nothing has ever happened as a result.  Joanna humbly acknowledges that she truly does not have anything to worry about when it comes to her husband.  Or does she?


During their time apart, Joanna runs into a previous love, Alex (Guillaume Canet).  Alex is a French writer that she met during her time spent in France.  She has never told her husband about this relationship and questions why has she kept him a secret?  Is it because she holds out some sort of hope for a future with Alex?  And a simple train ride away, can Michael truly avoid his growing desire for the beautiful Laura?  It is an interesting and dramatic look at the complexities of relationships.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "TiMER."

Taking Lives

This thriller stars Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland and Oliver Martinez.  FBI profiler Illeana (Jolie) is called in to help Canadian authorities solve a mysterious murder.  A body has been found with the head smashed in and hands chopped off.  While consulting with fellow officers Paquette (Martinez), Duval (Jean-Hugues Anglade) and Leclair (Tcheky Karyo) another homicide victim surfaces, this time with a witness. Costa (Hawke) has witnessed a horrible crime.  He is an unwilling participant in a series of events that has allowed Illeana to profile this killer as one who takes on the lives of his victims.  Living their life, paying their taxes, their rent and other daily activities until he is bored and ready to move on to the next life.


Illeana has assessed most of this information based on a brief meeting with the mother of the potential suspect. After meeting Costa during the initial police interview, she grows fond of her one and only witness.  Will this fondness cloud her judgment as she tries to capture the suspected murderer?

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Last Night."