Next - ACE Train Movie Review

Cris Johnson is a Las Vegas magician who possesses the unique ability to witness the events of the immediate future moments before they happen. As a child Cris was subjected to a series of cruel experiments by government scientists and doctors, but a change of name and a new identity allowed the tortured psychic to elude detection and start a new life away from the prying eyes of his former captors. Though his clairvoyant vision only extends a few minutes into the future, it has still allowed Cris to eke out a living as a low-rent Las Vegas magician while earning a little extra cash at the blackjack tables. Up to this point in his life Cris has never used his power for anything substantial, but when he experiences a vision of Los Angeles being incinerated in a nuclear holocaust, the small-time magician realizes that he could hold the key to saving millions of lives. But as low as he has tried to lie in recent years, Cris has never completely escaped detection by the government. Now, as terrorists prepare to unleash the ultimate horror on an unsuspecting city, FBI counter terror agent Callie Ferris sets out to capture Cris and convince him to use his exceptional gift to prevent the nuclear nightmare from becoming a terrifying reality.

The idea was interesting, but the plot was not. Nicolas Cage has made some great films and some duds. This one goes into the later group. There were just too many inconsistencies and things that didn't make sense. To me, the main plot was one of those things that didn't make sense - the government wants Cris to use his ability to save millions of lives, but Cris does everything in his power to not help. Just freakin' help already! The other big thing that I didn't understand was the fact that Cris could see 2 minutes into the future, so the people trying to capture Cris needed to wait 2 minutes before they acted on their plan. However, since Cris can perpetually see 2 minutes into the future, wouldn't he still be able to see the plan in action before it happens and react accordingly? Maybe I missed something, but I don't feel the need to watch it again.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Complete List of All My Movie Reviews

I have collected all of my movie reviews (407 to date) in a single list using Google Docs: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p7HOdSNxDv6-JExLmLY2fIQ. The default sort order is by my rating, but there's a tab on top which will allow you to view them alphabetically. As I post a movie review on this blog, I will update the spreadsheet as well, so it will always be up to date. I'll keep a link to the spreadsheet at the top of my blog for easy access - just look up and there it is ;-)

Shrek the Third - ACE Train Movie Review

Shrek and Fiona's fairy-tale wedding has gone off without a hitch, yet just as the beaming newlyweds prepare to enjoy their blissful "happily ever after," the sudden death of King Harold finds everyone's favorite ornery ogre being reluctantly fitted for the royal crown. Troubled to learn that not only will he be compelled to rule Far Far Away, but that he and Fiona are also expecting a little ogre, Shrek determines to track down his new bride's rebellious cousin Artie - the one true heir to the throne - in order to focus on fatherhood without the added distraction of having to preside over the kingdom. As Shrek sets out with faithful companions Donkey and Puss in Boots to locate the medieval high-school slacker and bring him back to become the reigning sovereign of Far Far Away, handsome snake Prince Charming slithers back to the castle in the company of the dreaded Captain Hook to stage a diabolically timed coup and assume control of the throne.

The first two Shrek films were brilliant and hilarious - this one was not. Apparently, all the good ideas were used in the first two films, but how could they pass up a big payday by releasing a third? The story was mundane and there weren't many funny scenes. My biggest laugh came from the scene where the Gingerbread Man got scared and pooped out a gum drop. Of course, that could mean that I have issues, but more likely it's an indication that the movie just wasn't very funny. The worst part was that the end left the storyline open for another sequel. If they make another film, I sure hope they take the time to make a quality, imaginative product ala the first two films.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Superbad - ACE Train Movie Review

Operating under the assumption that by procuring alcohol for an upcoming party they will finally be able to break their longstanding losing streak with the fairer sex, socially inept high school seniors Evan and Seth set out to secure the adult beverages that could get them off of the geek list before they even attend college orientation. Evan is a bright young student whose outward sweetness belies his suffocating fear of heading off to college without his lifelong best friend Seth - a hormone-driven mischief-maker who wasn't accepted to the same school as Evan. But Evan and Seth both know that college is a place of personal reinvention, and that if they are able to make that first leap together they will have forged a bond powerful enough to last a lifetime. Meanwhile, Evan and Seth's friend Fogell acquires a hastily rendered fake I.D. that instantly endears him to a pair of truly irresponsible cops.

The name of the film is fitting as it truly is super bad. To be clear, that's not bad as in good. Most teenage boys will love this movie and think it's the best thing ever. The rest of us, however, might not have the same fondness for the silliness and vulgarity that is on full display during the film. Sure, there are some funny parts and the main characters are likable nerds, but it's mostly a waste of time. I'd put this in the same category as Napoleon Dynamite - if you liked that film, you'll probably enjoy this one as well. Otherwise, you can safely skip it.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Live Free or Die Hard - ACE Train Movie Review

It's the beginning of the Fourth of July weekend, but New York City Detective John McClane isn't celebrating. He's had yet another argument with his college-age daughter and received a crushingly routine assignment to bring in a young hacker, Matt Farrell, for questioning by the FBI. But for McClane, the ordinary has a habit of exploding into the extraordinary - abruptly hurtling him into the wrong place at the wrong time. With Farrell's help, McClane slowly begins to understand the increasing chaos surrounding him. An attack is underway on the vulnerable United States infrastructure, shutting down the entire nation. The mysterious figure behind the scheme, Thomas Gabriel, stays several moves ahead of McClane as he implements his incredible plans, known to uber-geeks like Farrell as a "fire sale" (as in, everything must go!)

If you're a fan of the Die Hard films, this one won't disappoint. Like the other films, there is plenty of action, suspense and Bruce Willis a$$ kicking. A lot of things get blown up, people get shot at and blood is never far away. The plot is different than the other films (which is good) and is very modern in its technological focus. At the end of the day, it's good to see Bruce Willis back playing the character of John McClane. He was made for this part and I wouldn't mind seeing Die Hard numbers 5, 6, and 7 in the future. If the quality can remain this high, why not?

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

License to Wed - ACE Train Movie Review

Sadie Jones has always longed to marry the man of her dreams in her family church. Though she found her lifetime companion in Ben Murphy, Sadie is distressed to learn that St. Augustine's has only one wedding slot available over the next two years. While Sadie and Ben do qualify for the slot, charismatic St. Augustine's minister Reverend Frank won't wed the couple until they agree to attend his two-week prenuptial course. Now, as their wedding date draws near, Sadie and Ben must attend every one of Reverend Frank's exhausting classes and complete a series of rigorous homework assignments designed specifically to test their dedication to one another and ensure that their union will have a sound foundation.

This is a hilarious film. For me, it's a grab bag with Robin Williams as sometimes he's funny and other times he's just silly. He's definitely funny in this film as is the whole cast of characters. Fans of The Office (TV show) will notice a lot of familiar faces - maybe they filmed it near where they shoot the TV show, but several supporting characters are borrowed from the cast. John Krasinski (from The Office) and Mandy Moore have great chemistry, both comically and romantically. They create a lot of the funny moments with their expressions, timing and reactions. The robot babies were the icing on the cake and secured this film as a one to watch at least once.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Riding Giants - Movie Review

Riding Giants traces the origins of surfing and specifically focuses on the art of big wave riding. The film begins with a historical overview, starting at its Hawaiian beginnings, then moves on to focus on the dangerous lure of big wave surfing (surfing waves that can reach up to 70 feet). The documentary chronicles the evolution of riding at Hawaii's Waimea Bay in the 1950s, the revolution of lighter boards, and tow-in surfing to allow for "riding giants". Three surfers who are part of this multi-generational evolution are spotlighted: Greg Noll is shown as a fearless big wave rider during the 1950s and 60s; Jeff Clark who discovered Mavericks in Northern California and surfed there alone for years; and Laird Hamilton, the contemporary surfer who brings tow-in riding to the limelight.

Even if you're not a surfer (I'm not), you will be able to appreciate this film. The history of surfing is interesting and the way it's told in this film is extremely engaging. This isn't you're typical history lesson. The people who are profiled are very colorful and the waves that they ride are even more of a sight to see. The pictures and videos of the waves and the men riding them are worth the price of admission. The camera angles are incredible and waves themselves are awe inspiring. These guys must be crazy to surf at some of these places, but it certainly makes for a good show. A must see!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Laird Hamilton, Greg Noll, Jeff Clark

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

SJ Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche - 11/30/07

This was the annual "take my brother to see the Avalanche for his birthday" game. It was the first game I had attended at the arena this year and I was very impressed with the new technology they had on display. They completely replaced the giant, 4-sided scoreboard hanging above center ice with a new, high definition one. They also replace the banner ads between the first and second levels with a screen that wrapped all the way around the arena. This opened up a lot of possibilities for getting the crowd going with cool graphics and huge moving images. Finally, they replaced the old sound system with a much better, and easier to understand, one. Below is a picture of the new technology during construction.

Oh, and the game was good, too ;-) The Sharks got off to a fast start with a power play goal from Joe Thornton two minutes in. Five minutes into the second period, Thornton scored on the power play again to increase the lead 2-0. The Avalanche got their first goal shorthanded when Milan Hejduk beat Nabokov with 3:30 left in the period to cut the lead in half. The Sharks struck back quickly when Mike Grier scored 1:30 later to increase the lead back to 2 goals. The Avalanche wasted no time in making it a 1 goal game again when Andrew Brunette scored 1:30 later. After that flurry of goals to close out the second period, neither team scored in the third and the Sharks held on for a 3-2 victory.

Overall, it was a very physical game and both teams looked pretty good and had many scoring chances. The Sharks just played a little better and were fortunate to get a great game from Joe Thornton. One other note, during one of the breaks in the action, a guy in our section won a dance-off with a person in the competing section which meant our whole section received a $10 Dave & Buster's gift card. Not bad for some other guy's work (he was wearing a USA flag shirt, so I think he might have had an unfair advantage). Go Sharks!

Score: W 3-2
1st Period
SJ - Joe Thornton(PP) (Milan Michalek)
2nd Period
SJ - Joe Thornton(PP) (Milan Michalek, Sandis Ozolinsh)
Avs - Milan Hejduk(SH) (Paul Stastny, Scott Hannan)
SJ - Mike Grier (Joe Thornton, Kyle McLaren)
Avs - Andrew Brunette(PP) (Paul Stastny, Joe Sakic)
3rd Period
None

SJ SOG: 29
Avalanche SOG: 20
Winning Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov
Losing Goalie: Peter Budaj

Tickets: Section 221 Row 4

Meet the Robinsons - ACE Train Movie Reivew

When Lewis meets a mysterious boy from the future named Wilbur Robinson, the two travel forward in time where Lewis discovers the amazing secret of the Robinson family. Lewis is a brilliant twelve-year-old with a surprising number of clever inventions to his credit. His latest and most ambitious project is the Memory Scanner, which he hopes will retrieve early memories of his mother and maybe even reveal why she put him up for adoption. But before he can get his answer, his invention is stolen by the dastardly Bowler Hat Guy and his diabolical hat - and constant companion - Doris. Lewis has all but given up hope in his future when a mysterious boy named Wilbur Robinson whisks our bewildered hero away in a time machine and the two travel forward in time to spend a day with Wilbur's eccentric family. In a world filled with flying cars and floating cities, they hunt down Bowler Hat Guy, save the future and uncover the amazing secret of Lewis' future family.

This film was cute, but very, very corny. It's yet another example of a kid's film that offers very little for the poor parents that have to sit through it. As usual, there was a good lesson to be learned for kids and I'm sure they would think some of the corniness was funny, but there were several times I rolled my eyes and thought, "You've GOT to be kidding me." It was certainly not a Disney classic by any stretch of the imagination, which is exactly what it was missing - imagination. Everything in the film had been done before and done better. I'll give it points for great animation, likable characters and the ending with Rob Thomas' song, but it's definitely not a must see.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Sicko - ACE Train Movie Review

Activist filmmaker Michael Moore turns his attentions toward the topic of health care in the United States in this documentary that weighs the plight of the uninsured (and the insured who must deal with abuse from insurance companies) against the record-breaking profits of the pharmaceutical industry. Moore interviews a number of people who have been left broke by medical bills even though they were fully insured, and explains how the corporate drive for profits has left numerous people in financial and medical disarray. After hearing that detainees in Guantanamo have access to free health care, Moore assembles a group of World Trade Center rescue workers to travel to Cuba in order to get the medical help they need for ailments they incurred in 2001.

Michael Moore is a very good storyteller and his documentaries are definitely interesting to watch. Sicko is no exception, but it wasn't quite as good as Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. I suppose the topic just wasn't as controversial as the others and didn't capture my full attention. Moore does his best to make it interesting and keep the shocking statistics flowing and for the most part, he did a good job. Of course, as with any documentary, it's a portrait of one side of the argument. He presented a few arguments against his point of view, but they were a weak attempt at creating the illusion of a fair and balanced portrayal of the health care debate. This documentary should be watched for entertainment purposes only, not as a basis to form opinions.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Michael Moore

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Nineteen Eighty-Four - Book Review

The year is 1984; the scene is London, largest population center of Airstrip One. Airstrip One is part of the vast political entity Oceania, which is eternally at war with one of two other vast entities, Eurasia and Eastasia. At any moment, depending upon current alignments, all existing records show either that Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia, or that it has always been at war with Eastasia and allied with Eurasia. Winston Smith knows this, because his work at the Ministry of Truth involves the constant "correction" of such records. "'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.'"

In a grim city and a terrifying country, where Big Brother is always Watching You and the Thought Police can practically read your mind, Winston is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. He knows the Party's official image of the world is a fluid fiction. He knows the Party controls the people by feeding them lies and narrowing their imaginations through a process of bewilderment and brutalization that alienates each individual from his fellows and deprives him of every liberating human pursuit from reasoned inquiry to sexual passion. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.

I know that this book is thought of as a classic and has introduced words like Big Brother and Orwellian to the English language, but I just didn't find it to be a page turner. Sure, the idea of a government completely controlling all aspects of every citizen sounds intriguing, but there's only so much conspiracy talk I can handle before it becomes stale, depressing and boring. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a complete snoozefest. I was able to appreciate the imagination of Orwell and the time it must have taken to create the frightening world of Oceania, complete with its own language. I suppose my main gripe was with the length of the book. It tended to drag at times and would have been much better with a little more editing.

When the book was released in 1949, I'm sure the "Big Brother controls all information" message in the book would have hit harder than it does today. Now, there are a lot more information sources than there was back then, so the thought of Big Brother controlling all content and changing historical references to suit their needs seems a lot more far fetched now than it would have back then. Of course, you never know, Big Brother could have created all the new media sources to spread their messages quicker and broader. If that's the case, I just committed thoughtcrime and the Thought Police will be knocking on my door any second to snuff me out - crap!

Seriously, I think this book is worth a read if you haven't ever read it. If nothing else, it should make you realize that our government is not that bad and you should also learn some new vocabulary words. However, if you're depressed or believe in government conspiracy theories, steer clear of this book - it will only make your outlook of the world worse.


Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I read it again: No

Nineteen Eighty-Four
by George Orwell
Hardcover: 330 pages
Released: 1949

Ratatouille - ACE Train Movie Review

It's hard being a rat with culinary aspirations, but Remy is convinced he has what it takes to break the stereotypes and follow in the footsteps of star chef Auguste Gusteau. As fate would have it, Remy is currently situated in the sewers directly beneath Gusteau's elegant restaurant. Soon Remy teams up with a young chef with little talent named Linguini. Together they are able to create some fabulous dishes, but they live in fear that someone will discover their secret and object strenuously to a rat being in a kitchen. When Remy's passion for cooking turns the haughty world of French cuisine upside down, the rat who would be king of the kitchen learns important lessons about life, friends, and family while questioning whether he should pursue his culinary calling or simply go back underground and return to his life as a sewer rat.

For what it was (a very "safe" kids movie), it was excellent. The animation was clean and colorful. The plot was straightforward and easily followed. The characters were funny and memorable. There was a good lesson to be learned and I think kids would love this film. For adults, there's not a whole lot in this movie that's targeted toward the older set, but I found it light and entertaining. It's not a must see for adults, but I think it's one that adults can enjoy if they watch with the right frame of mind.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Patton Oswalt, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - ACE Train Movie Review

Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine are two New York City firefighters whose longtime friendship has endured many a five-alarm fire. All that widower Larry wants is to ensure that his two children will be taken care of if anything should happen to him on the job, and all that single blaze-battler Chuck wants is to carry on with his carefree life of non-commitment. Having once rescued Larry from certain death in a particularly fearsome inferno, beholden Chuck feels forever indebted to his brave friend and has vowed to repay the favor when the time is right. When Larry discovers that the only means of circumventing the civic red tape that could throw his children's futures into jeopardy is to take Chuck as his lawfully wedded husband, his obligated pal reluctantly agrees to step up to the alter with the understanding that the arrangement will be a well-kept secret between themselves and the justice of the peace. A potentially fatal flaw in their presumably foolproof plan is soon revealed, however, when an overzealous bureaucrat decides to question Chuck and Larry's partnership. Subsequently forced to embark on a mandatory honeymoon and pose as starry-eyed newlyweds, Chuck and Larry quickly discover just how important it can be to stick by a friend in his or her time of need.

Lame, lame, lame, lame, lame. I was really looking forward to watching this movie since the previews looked so funny. However, if you've seen the previews, you've already seen all the funny parts. I would have thought that Adam Sandler and Kevin James would have had better chemistry, but it seemed forced. Instead of creating a comedy, they seemed to just be making a political statement. Granted, I agree with gay rights and everything this film ended up standing for, but this wasn't supposed to be a "message" movie - it was supposed to be a freakin' comedy and it wasn't funny. Maybe Sandler has finally run out of funny material because he missed on a lot of his jokes. This movie is probably not as bad as I've rated it, but I was just very disappointed. Now I have to watch Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore to get the bad taste out of my mouth.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - ACE Train Movie Review

As the story opens, Sue Storm (The Invisible Girl), and Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) prepare for their upcoming, superhero-studded wedding celebration. But Reed cannot stay focused on the nuptials - he's distracted by wire reports of a bizarre, comet-like object hurtling toward the Earth with tremendous force, triggering brownouts, blackouts, tropical storms and various other climatological disasters. When the said object hits the island of Manhattan, destroying much of the city in its wake, its identity becomes resoundingly clear: "it" is actually a "he" - a psychotic villain known as The Silver Surfer who intends, for some unascertainable reason, to destroy much of the Earth - just as he obliterated dozens of planets before it. Feeling compelled to rally their old gang and save the day, Sue and Reed summon Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) to take on the Surfer - and end up battling not only him, but an obnoxious Army general and the cantankerous Victor Von Doom, who has broken out of his icy prison that held him captive at the end of the first movie.

This film wasn't as good as the first one (which wasn't that great to begin with). The plot was weak and underdeveloped. It was too short to truly do a story of this scope justice. The actors did a pretty good job with a marginal script, but there were plenty of lame scenes and bad jokes. The special effects were OK, but the Silver Surfer seemed overly rigid - maybe by design. Overall, I just wasn't very impressed and can think of many other movies based on comic books that are way better than this one. Nothing really stood out about this film, so add it to the pile to forget.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Transformers - Movie Review

Long ago, on the planet of Cybertron, a massive, powerful alien race divided into two factions, the noble Autobots, and the devious Decepticons. They fought for the sole access to a talisman known as the Allspark, a cube with the capacity to grant infinite power, and eventually the Autobots smuggled it off the planet's surface, hiding it in an unknown location on Earth. Now, hundreds of years later, the Deceptacons have come looking for it, and if the Autobots don't find it first, the Earth will be enslaved or destroyed by the evil aliens' use of its massive power. The Autobots don't know where the cube was hidden, but the information may be stored in the most unlikely of sources, as a gangly young Earthling named Sam Witwicky who's just picked up his first car, has a strange connection to the Allspark's history, making him the unlikely ally of these enormous creatures, as they fight for humankind's survival and the chance to return home.

I grew up with Transformers - watched the cartoon and played with the toys. This movie brought back a lot of good memories. However, this film was a little different than the cheesy Saturday morning cartoon I remember watching. The plot was gripping, entertaining and even funny. The special effects, though, were really the star of the show. The way that the Autobots and Decepticons moved and transformed was simply amazing and the fight scenes were out of this world (ok, bad pun intended). Anyway, this film is a sight for your eyes as well as your mind. The interaction between the transformers and humans looked so real, I was taken back to childhood daydreams where our car could transform into a cool robot - a friendly robot. This is a must see movie, even if you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between Optimus Prime and Megatron - by the end, you'll be able to.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Surf's Up - ACE Train Movie Review

Cody Maverick may be a relative amateur when it comes to hanging ten, but he's sure he has what it takes to surf his way to superstardom. With a little help from his cantankerous King Penguin mentor, ex-surfing legend Big Z, and a little encouragement from star Pen Gu Island lifeguard Lani, there may be hope for this tuxedo-clad wave twister after all.

This is a kids movie through and through. There's very little here for adults, so if you're not watching it with kids, don't bother. I was a little bored at times, but could see that kids would enjoy the nutty characters and might feel empowered by the message that anything is possible if you keep trying and work hard to persevere. Overall, the penguins were cute and the underlying message was good, but the story was dull (at least it's less than 90 minutes long).

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, James Woods, Jon Heder

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Blades of Glory - Movie Review

Their medals stripped after getting into a highly publicized fight at the World Championships, star figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy are barred from ever competing in the sport again. Upon discovering a loophole that will allow them to perform together in the pairs figure skating category, the two athletes determine to put their differences aside in order to pursue their gold medal aspirations.

This is exactly the type of movie you have to expect from Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. If you expect anything other than awkward and random humor, you'll be disappointed. It had some very funny moments and some cringingly embarrassing moments. Of course, it was over the top and completely ridiculous, but they made it work and it was pretty entertaining. If you're in a silly mood, enter the world of Chazz Michael Michaels.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Evan Almighty - Movie Review

Shortly after television anchorman-turned-U.S. congressman Evan Baxter relocates his family from Buffalo to Northern Virginia, God reveals to him that a devastating flood is coming and the planet is about to be cleansed once again. Later, when Baxter accepts the responsibility of building a great ark and his rapidly changing physical appearance begins to draw media attention, his skeptical family attempts to discern if his actions are driven by delusion or divine intervention.

For being the most expensive comedy film ever produced, this one did not live up expectations. It wasn't very funny. I don't think it was Steve Carell's fault that it wasn't funny, but the writers. The plot was so-so and the characters weren't engaging. Overall, it was just a strange piece of work and not one you should waste your time on.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Knocked Up - ACE Train Movie Review

Twenty-four-year-old entertainment journalist Allison Scott is on the fast track to the big time, but an alcohol-fueled hookup with responsibility-shirking slacker Ben Stone finds her professional priorities taking a back seat to having a baby. Now, as overgrown kid Ben attempts to assume the responsibilities of fatherhood, he makes the brave decision to stand by Alison. In order to make things work between the pair, however, there's going to have to be some compromise, and when Allison and Ben decide to take a shot at love, they quickly find that building a relationship from scratch isn't nearly as easy as making a baby.

These types of movies are typically really silly and dumb without much of a plot beyond the usual adventures of stoned and drunk losers. However, this film breaks that mold. Yes, there is plenty of idiotic behavior, but it centers around an actual plot. Not just any plot, but a really deep and complicated one. There's a delicate balance between silliness and real content that this movie navigates perfectly. I certainly laughed a lot and could really relate to all the drama surrounding the pregnancy and birth of the child. Maybe that's why I liked it so much, but it's definitely one to see (even though it is over 2 hours long).

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Fracture - Movie Review

Ted Crawford is an engineer who lives with his wife Jennifer in the couple's lavish Southern California home. One day, after carefully planning out the details to ensure that there is no way he can be convicted of murder, Ted shoots his wife in a blatant attempt to murder the woman. When head hostage negotiator Rob Nunnaly arrives on the scene to speak with Ted, he is shocked to find that the victim of the shooting is in fact his longtime lover. Though Jennifer survives the trauma of being shot in the head at close range, she hovers comatose between life and death as star prosecutor Willy Beachum reluctantly accepts the case while preparing to leave the Los Angeles criminal court system behind for a more promising career at a posh private law firm. Though the D.A. vehemently resents Beachum's lofty plan for departure, the hotshot young lawyer remains convinced that he can expedite the apparently open-and-shut case and be on his way to greener pastures in one week's time at the very most.

This was a pretty good mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. It's unique in that you know who committed the crime from the very beginning. However, that's not the mystery. The biggest question is what happened to the murder weapon since it appears the prosecutor can't make a case without it. The answer turned out to be very surprising and ingenious. While I was surprised and impressed at the ending, I thought the film focused too much on the missing weapon and didn't have enough other twists and turns to be great. Anthony Hopkins did a good job, but I kept seeing similarities between his character and Hannibal Lecter - murdering sociopath. Overall, though, it's certainly worth a look and provides a good payoff in the end.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, Billy Burke

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Harry Potter Series - Book Review

The story opens with the conspicuous celebration of a normally secretive wizarding world. For many years, it had been terrorised by the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. The previous night, Voldemort discovered the Potter family's hidden refuge, killing Lily and James Potter. However, when he attempted to murder their infant son, Harry, the killing curse he cast rebounded upon him. Voldemort's body was destroyed, but his spirit survived: he was neither dead nor alive. Harry, meanwhile, was left with a distinctive lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, the only physical sign of Voldemort's curse. Harry is the only known survivor of the killing curse, and Voldemort's mysterious defeat causes the wizarding community to dub Harry, "The Boy Who Lived."

Harry is brought to his only living relatives, the cruel and non-magical Dursleys, consisting of Uncle Vernon, a bad-tempered uncle with hardly any neck; Aunt Petunia, a long-necked woman who appears to absolutely loathe Harry; and Dudley, their spoiled, overweight son. They attempt in vain to rid him of his magical powers, hide his magical heritage, and severely punish him after any strange occurrences.

However, as his eleventh birthday approaches, Harry has his first contact with the magical world when he receives letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which are delivered by owls. However, his uncle intercepts the letters. On his birthday, Hagrid, Hogwarts' gamekeeper, appears and informs Harry that he is a wizard and has been invited to attend the school. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, which is mostly spent at Hogwarts. There he learns to use magic and brew potions. Harry also learns to overcome many magical, social, and emotional obstacles as he struggles through his adolescence, Voldemort's second rise to power, and the Ministry of Magic's corruption and incompetence. After facing many obstacles, making countless friends, and losing loved ones, Harry Potter confronts the Dark Lord for the last time.

This is an amazing set of books and are completely worthy of all the attention they have received over the years. J.K. Rowling has an unbelievable imagination and attention to detail. She created a whole new world complete with it's own language, customs, animals, games, etc. It was so convincing that it seemed real and was easy to get lost in the books and lose track of time. I waited until the final book was released before I read any of them and I read all of them to/from work on the train over the span of a couple months. I actually looked forward to the train ride knowing that I would find out a bit more about the world of Harry Potter.

These books are responsible for getting kids excited about reading, but they certainly are worthy of adult eyes as well. They cover many different topics and issues with underlying messages that are mature in nature. I'm sure kids and adults will get something different out of the books and that's the beauty of the way they are written - everyone will read them with a unique perspective and interpret them differently. These books are a must read for anyone looking for some entertainment and adventure. Don't just watch the movies - read the books so your mind can create the complex world that Harry Potter inhabits. You might be surprised at how addictive the written word can be.


Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Would I read them again: Yes

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone (June 1997, 309 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (July 1998, 341 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban (July 1999, 435 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire (July 2000, 734 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix (June 2003, 870 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince (July 2005, 652 pgs)
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (July 2007, 784 pgs)

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - Movie Review

Chuck Barris grows up dreaming of success in show biz and winning the hearts of beautiful women, but early on, he meets with plenty of resistance from both women and the television industry, despite writing the hit tune "Palisades Park" and scoring a job with Dick Clark on American Bandstand. The 1960s proves more fortunate for Barris; he meets the love of his life, Penny, and sells ABC on the idea of The Dating Game. However, after the show has made him wealthy and successful, Barris is approached by the mysterious Jim Byrd, a CIA agent who wants to recruit Barris as a covert operative. Barris finds the notion of playing spy games intriguing and agrees, but soon discovers what Byrd and his partners really want is for Barris to assassinate uncooperative figures around the world. Soon, Barris finds that his life has been all but taken over by Byrd and another CIA agent, the mysterious and sexy Patricia. As he hops the globe killing people in the name of American security (using his status as a Dating Game chaperone as a cover), Barris learns that the KGB has discovered his not-so-little secret and that his own life is in great danger.

This film was a little too "out there" for my taste. It was based on Barris' autobiography which he claims is completely true. However, I think Barris' imagination got the best of him while he was writing his life story and he embellished some (or most) things. Some of the scenes are so over the top that they're laughable and it was difficult for me to watch since I had a hard time believing any of it happened. Even as a work of fiction (which I'm convinced it is), it was too scattered and lacked a central, driving plot that pulled everything together. It was just a hodgepodge of outrageous claims and goofy acting.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Perfect Stranger - Movie Review

Rowena is a prominent New York journalist who writes using a pseudonym to entrap some of the tri-state area's most corrupt individuals, using a network of informants, acquaintances, and digital gadgets. When her latest expose is buried at the behest of her paper's corporate backers, she walks off the job and into a personal quagmire. Her childhood friend Grace is murdered when she threatens to reveal she's been sleeping with married advertising mogul Harrison Hill. With the help of her loyal techie friend Miles, she goes undercover - and online - to find the smoking gun that will indict Hill. But Rowena soon finds herself caught in a web of manipulation, deceit, and false truths.

With Bruce Willis and Halle Berry starring in this film, I would have thought it would get more buzz, but I had never heard of it when I saw it on the video store shelf. It was a pretty good suspenseful thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end when all the secrets are revealed. It was one of those films where things happen early on that don't seem to make sense at the time, but make perfect sense once you're given a little more information. There were certain times when I was sure I knew who the killer was, but I was taken by surprise which I was happy about - it wasn't obvious. The actors did a great job providing drama, suspense and intrigue, while not showing their hands too early. Overall, it wasn't great, but it was good enough to see once.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

We've Been Simpsonized!

There's a fun website where you can upload a picture of yourself and it creates an image of what you would look like as a character on The Simpsons. I created characters for myself, Shawnna & Kaitlyn and put them together into one image below. Let me know how close you think the image below looks like us and Simpsonize yourself here. Email the results to yourself and post the URL in the comments section of this blog.

Vacancy - Movie Review

A vacationing couple makes a terrifying discovery about the motel room they have just checked into. Their car broken down and their prospects for finding a tow-truck driver at such a late hour slim to none, David and Amy Fox decide to make the best of their situation by resting out the night at a nearby motel. Left with few choices of entertainment for the evening, the pair soon settles down to enjoy one of the low-budget slasher films sitting atop their motel room VCR. Upon realizing that all of the films seem to have been shot in the very same room they currently occupy, David and Amy suddenly become the stars of a particularly sadistic fright flick. As hidden cameras track their every move, the hapless couple attempt to turn the tables on their would-be killer before they meet the same grim fate as the poor souls being butchered on television.

With a little more work, this could have been a great horror film. As is, the movie contained some really good, original ideas. However, with an 80 minute film, it's difficult to really explore those ideas and complete the thought. That's where this film failed - it was too short and didn't seem complete. The actors were perfect for their parts, although it was a little odd to see Luke Wilson in a scary movie. I really liked the look of the bad guys - subtle, but effective. The ending was indicative of the shortness of the film and seemed incomplete. Overall, it's worth a look if you're in the mood for a scare, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, Frank Whaley

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Ex - Movie Review

Tom is an aspiring chef whose wife Sofia has just quit her high-paying job to stay home with their new baby. When it becomes abundantly clear that they can no longer maintain their New York City lifestyle, the family picks up and moves to Sofia's hometown in Ohio, where Tom is hired to work at her father's ad agency. It is there that Tom meets Chip, the agency's wheelchair-bound golden boy, who also happened to have a one-night stand with Sofia while the two were cheerleaders in high school. Suddenly, Tom finds himself sabotaged by Chip at every step as the nefarious paraplegic schemes to steal Sofia from him and destroy any chance he might have of success at the agency.

This was an OK comedy. There were some really funny parts, but there were also some fairly boring sections. I like all the main actors from their previous projects and they had pretty good chemistry in this film, but there wasn't a magic spark that would make this movie a must see. It was really just a so-so comedy and wasn't much different than the majority of comedies out there. It was also very short, so the characters didn't have time to be fully developed and the plot was pretty weak. Overall, I'd say that if you like the actors, you might rent it and watch it once, but don't bother adding it to your permanent DVD collection.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

I'm a Published Photographer!

I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by the Editor of Schmap Guides (online travel guides) who had seen one of my photos online and wanted to include it in their new guide to Monterey and Carmel. The photo, shown below, is a picture of the Monterey Bay Aquarium I took from my kayak as Shawnna and I kayaked in the Monterey Bay a couple of years ago. Apparently, the editor stumbled upon my photos on Flickr and thought the aquarium photo was good enough to include in their guide. I gave them permission to use my photo and now you can see it in the Schmap Monterey and Carmel Guide. Here's the link straight to the page with my photo. National Geographic, here I come ;-)

Bridge to Terabithia - Movie Review

A perpetual outsider both at home and at school, Jess Aarons just never seems to fit in no matter how hard he tries. When his goal to become the fastest runner in middle school is unexpectedly thwarted by newly arrived classmate Leslie Burke, who enters in an "all boys" race and leaves her competitors in the dust, Jess soon strikes up a friendship with the imaginative outsider. Their bond is soon cemented thanks to Leslie's love for storytelling and Jess' skill as an artist, and the two lonely kids create a secret kingdom called Terabithia that is only accessible by swinging over a stream on a nearby rope. Though Jess and Leslie may be considered outcasts by their classmates, their adventures in Terabithia find the pair doing battle against the dreaded Dark Master and his malevolent creatures while plotting revenge against the schoolyard bullies. Now, thanks to his adventures in Terabithia and his friendship with Leslie, Jess finally finds the confidence needed to stand tall and be himself.

For a kids movie, this was an excellent film with a good message. It was very imaginative and whimsical. The kids who played the main characters were absolutely perfect for their parts and did a great job making their characters memorable. The plot was fantastic and provided a great lesson for kids that it's OK to be different and not follow the crowd. The fantasy world, Terabithia, was very creative and could have easily given Harry Potter a run for its money if it was built out a little more (the original book was published in 1977 and didn't have any sequels). There was a "heavy" twist to the plot which might not be appropriate for very young children, but it was certainly a unique film that's worth viewing.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Open Water 2 - Movie Review

It was a perfect setting for a relaxing weekend at sea, but sometimes even the best-planned trips can take an unexpected turn for the worst. After diving into the ocean and realizing to their horror that they have forgotten to lower the safety ladder, the friends who had set out for a simple weekend getaway realize that they have become helplessly stranded in the middle of the ocean. The sheer sides of the yacht are impossible to climb, and now the group is growing increasingly desperate. As the grim reality of their helpless situation slowly begins to dawn on the doomed friends, hydrophobic Amy struggles to maintain her composure after realizing that her baby daughter Sarah is helpless and alone aboard the boat. Now treading water as panic begins to set in, the once inseparable friends fast begin to turn on one another as exhaustion begins to set in and the vast ocean threatens to swallow the entire group without a trace.

This sequel was pretty much just as bad as the original. Again, it was "based on true events," but who knows what's fact or fiction. What I do know is that it was boring and lacked a good ending. Not to ruin it for anyone, but it ended with two possible outcomes that didn't wrap anything up. It was a completely bogus way to end a poor, uninteresting film. So little happened in the 90 minute movie that I was glad to see it end and certainly hope they don't make another.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eric Dane, Susan May Pratt, Richard Speight, Jr.

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Half Dome Hike - Sept. 3, 2007

On September 3, 2007, Dad, Dan, Kelley and I hiked half dome. The actual hike was almost identical to the Half Dome hike from last year, so I won't bother going into the details. Here is the high level synopsis:

• We started the hike at 6:15am
• Made it to the top at 11:45am
• Spent 1 hour on the top
• Finished the hike at 6:15pm

Here's the updated list of Half Dome summits:

• Dad - 9
• Dave - 5
• Dan - 3
• Kelley - 2

The real drama occurred the next morning as we were sleeping after the long hike. At about 5:15 in the morning, I woke up to a woman yelling, "Go away! Seriously, leave me alone!" She was banging on a garbage can and making a lot of noise. My first thought was that it was a domestic dispute, but when I got up and looked out the tent cabin window, I saw a large, female grizzly bear directly behind our tent cabin, about 10 yards away. She was just standing by a tree, looking around. About 5 second later, I found out why, when 2 grizzly bear cubs made their way down the tree. They meandered over to the mother and proceeded to walk away from our tent cabin

(the picture to the right shows the view from our tent cabin window. The center tree is where the cubs descended and the other tree has a light attached which is how we saw the action). A few minutes later, I saw "the woman" walking back past our tent cabin with a couple other people talking about how she was walking to the bathroom alone and how she just wanted to get back to her tent cabin. That must have been extremely scary for her. I'm glad we followed the rules and put all of our food in the bear locker. I had never seen a grizzly bear at Yosemite before and I wouldn't mind seeing one again - just not so close. Over the next 15 minutes, I heard a few noises that sounded like shotgun blasts. If that was what I was hearing, I'm pretty sure they weren't intending to strike the grizzlies, but to just scare them away from where the people are. That sure was a memorable way to end our trip.

If you want to see what it looks like on the top of Half Dome, check out this video. Of course, a video shot from my phone can't really do it justice, but it's better than nothing.

For another perspective of this trip, Dan's version of events can be found here

The Lives of Others - Movie Review

It's 1984, and Capt. Gerd Wiesler is an agent of the Stasi, the East German Secret Police. Weisler carefully and dispassionately investigates people who might be deemed some sort of threat to the state. Shortly after Weisler's former classmate, Lt. Col. Grubitz, invites him to a theatrical piece by celebrated East German playwright Georg Dreyman, Minister Bruno Hempf informs Weisler that he suspects Dreyman of political dissidence, and wonders if this renowned patriot is all that he seems to be. As it turns out, Hempf has something of an ulterior motive for trying to pin something on Dreyman: a deep-seated infatuation with Christa-Maria Sieland, Dreyman's girlfriend. Nevertheless, Grubitz, who is anxious to further his career, appoints Weisler to spy on the gentleman with his help. Weisler becomes deeply emotionally drawn into the lives of Dreyman and Sieland, and becomes something of an anti-establishment figure himself, embracing freedom of thought and expression.

This is a German film that is completely in German with English subtitles. There is a lot of dialog, so if you want to know what's happening, you have to pay attention and be prepared to read a lot. If that doesn't bother you, you'll be rewarded with a very good foreign film. The story is deep and intense, while the characters are well developed which results in a movie that is interesting and captivating. The subject matter is obviously not very happy, but it's definitely a good learning experience (i.e. learn from past mistakes, so you don't repeat them). It's amazing to think the Berlin Wall came down just 18 years ago in 1989. While this wasn't a documentary, it did provide an insight to the kind of power that the Stasi (East German Secret Police) held back then - scary. If you'd like to experience something new and are prepared to spend 2 hours reading (or learning German), this one is worth a look.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Zodiac - Movie Review

The true story behind the murders that many crime scholars believe to be the most perplexing series of unsolved crimes in modern history comes to the screen in chilling detail. A relentless serial killer is stalking the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, leaving citizens locked into a constant state of panic, and baffled authorities scrambling for clues. Though the killer sadistically mocks the detectives by leaving a series of perplexing ciphers and menacing letters at the crime scenes, the investigation quickly flatlines when none of the evidence yields any solid leads. As two detectives remain steadfast in their devotion to bringing the elusive killer to justice, they soon find that the madman has control not only over their careers, but their very lives as well.

I read the Zodiac book several years ago, so I already had an interest in this subject. I find it fascinating that a serial killer can leave so many clues and go out of their way to taunt police, but never get caught. The film starts off with a bang, gets a little dull in the middle, but finishes strong. If you have any interest in true crime, you'll love the attention to detail the filmmakers display as they present the facts of the Zodiac killer case as close to reality as possible. The acting was OK - Robert Downey Jr. was hard to understand and Jake Gyllenhaal overacted a bit. However, it was morbidly fascinating to get into the mind of a psychopath who murdered people seemingly at random and struck fear into the community with taunting letters that were published in local newspapers. While the film presented the facts of the case, it did end with a theory as to who committed the unsolved crimes. Nobody was ever charged with the murders in real life, so you can draw your own conclusions.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

I Think I Love My Wife - Movie Review

Richard Cooper is a high-powered investment banker with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children. Though on the surface it would appear that Richard could want nothing more out of life, his thoughts always seem to drift toward sex. Richard's daily life has gradually devolved into a blur of mind-numbing banality, and these days sexual fantasy has become his sole means of escaping the constant pressures of work and fatherhood. Though Richard never had any real intention of cheating on his faithful but preoccupied wife Brenda, a chance run-in with his old friend Nikki finds his steely resolve fast turning flimsy. It's not long before the smitten Richard and the smoldering Nikki are meeting for clandestine lunches, and temptation begins to turn Richard's once-predictable life upside down. As his uncontrollable fantasies begin to lead him down the dangerous path of infidelity, the man who once kept his libido safely in check finds it increasingly difficult to refrain from acting on his impulses.

Chris Rock is a funny guy and I love his stand-up comedy routines (Bigger and Blacker is classic). That being said, he should stick to stand-up. Either that or he should get better roles in better films. Yes, Rock is funny in this film and yes, I laughed out loud at certain parts, but overall, it was a dud. The plot was boring, predictable and not very imaginative. The acting was not bad, but the characters weren't interesting. I could recognize some of Rock's stand-up material being used as part of the dialog, but it wasn't as good in movie form - better on stage. Overall, there's nothing about this movie that would make me want to see it again and I would really only recommend it to Chris Rock fans who would see it anyway.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

300 - Movie Review

The massive army of the Persian Empire is sweeping across the globe, crushing every force that dares stand in its path. When a Persian envoy arrives in Sparta offering King Leonidas power over all of Greece if he will only bow to the will of the all powerful Xerxes, the strong-willed leader assembles a small army comprised of his empire's best fighters and marches off to battle. Though they have virtually no hope of defeating Xerxes' intimidating battalion, Leonidas' men soldier on, intent on letting it be known they will bow to no man but their king. Meanwhile, back in Sparta, the loyal Queen Gorgo attempts to convince both the skeptical council and the devious Theron to send more troops despite the fact that many view Leonidas' unsanctioned war march as a serious transgression. As Xerxes' fearsome "immortals" draw near, a few noble Greeks vow to assist the Spartans on the battlefield. When King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors fell to the overwhelming Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae, the fearless actions of the noble fighters inspired all of Greece to stand up against their Persian enemy and wage the battle that would ultimately give birth to the modern concept of democracy.

Wow, talk about an action packed film. There are some serious battle scenes that are HUGE. Once the Persians and Spartans start to fight, it's a fight to the death and there are plenty of arms, legs and heads being lopped off left and right. The cinematography of this film is original and very cool. It definitely has the look of the comic book on which it was based. The scene with the severed head spinning in the air was wicked and the scenes with the sky full of arrows descending on the Spartans were incredible. I'm not always a big fan of these "historical" films, but it was kept short enough and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout. I think it's now pretty obvious that Frank Miller's comic books are natural movie scripts (see Sin City). Another job well done and a definite must see.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Disturbia - Movie Review

Kale is a high-school senior who has yet to come to terms with the fact that his father is gone, the tragic victim of a fatal accident. As Kale's mother struggles to pay the bills by picking up extra shifts at work, her son's behavior grows increasingly erratic. When an altercation at school finds Kale placed under court-ordered house arrest, the homebound student teams with newly arrived girl-next-door Ashley to investigate the suspicious neighbor whom Kale believes to be an elusive and wanted serial killer. Their attentions focused intensely on the man they believe to be a murderous maniac hiding in broad daylight, Kale and Ashley trespass down a dangerous path while attempting to discern whether his suspicions are grounded in fact or just a combination of deep depression and suffocating cabin fever.

For a suspense thriller, there wasn't a whole lot of suspense or thrills until the last 15 minutes of the film. By then, there wasn't enough time to answer all of the burning questions (even the basic "why" and "how" questions went unanswered). This film should have been billed as a teenage drama as that's really what it was - attractive neighbors strike up a relationship and do some detective work while horsing around. If they shortened the first 1 hr 15 min and extended the last 15 minutes, it could have been a really good, creepy movie. Instead, it was just an average drama.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Little Children - Movie Review

Sarah is a suburban outsider who, unlike the other playground moms, isn't afraid to approach the dreamy but long-absent father whom smitten housewives have taken to calling the "Prom King." Long days at the local community pool with their respective children soon find Sarah becoming acquainted with local husband and father Brad - who seems to share in her seething discontentment with life in their quaint commuter town. An English literature major who never envisioned a fate as a soccer mom, Sarah has a growing dissatisfaction with her successful husband that parallels Brad's increasing frustration with his inability to pass the bar and connect with his wife, Kathy, a successful documentary filmmaker. It's not long before the dejected pair is meeting for a series of illicit afternoon trysts as their unsuspecting spouses work and their children lie quietly napping. Meanwhile, after the community is riled by the return of a convicted sex offender who leaves the concerned parents scrambling to protect their young ones, an attempt made by Sarah and Brad to legitimize their clandestine relationship by dining together with their respective spouses begins to awaken Kathy's suspicions about the fidelity of her husband.

This was definitely a film that's hard to categorize. There were so many different plots and undertones such as drama, comedy, suspense, romance and even some horror thrown in. In the beginning, it was difficult to determine exactly what was going on and what the connection between everyone was. As the film progressed, most of those relationships were revealed and a beautiful spiderweb had been created. The journey to reach the end was filled with feel-good romance, puzzling mysteries and sickening actions. It was a very strange movie, but in a good way. All the actors seemed to be perfect for their parts and the chemistry between them worked well. The film was original and entertaining enough that I'd recommend watching it, but be prepared for some pretty random scenes. Once you start to watch it, expect to be drawn in and make sure you have enough time (2 hrs. 15 min.) to finish it since you won't want to walk away in the middle.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Number 23 - ACE Train Movie Review

Walter Sparrow is a middle-aged dogcatcher whose wife Agatha has bestowed him with an obscure mystery novel detailing the investigation launched by a tough-talking gumshoe named Fingerling whose every move seems to be overshadowed by the enigmatic eponymous number. After noting a series of alarming parallels shared between the fictional detective and himself, Walter is quickly drawn in to the story as the hard-boiled private investigator murders raven-wigged moll Fabrizia and pins the crime on her unsuspecting lover. Back in the real world, fiction seems to merge with reality as Walter and Agatha's close friend Isaac begins to ingratiate himself ever deeper into the couple's relationship and Walter begins experiencing a gruesome series of visions in which he violently murders an unfaithful Agatha. His mind fast descending into a dark and violent whirlwind of madness, Walter enlists the aid of Agatha and the pair's adolescent son Robin in seeking out the author of the mysterious tome and uncovering the sinister truth behind the so-called "23 enigma."

I was a bit leery about a film with Jim Carrey playing something other than a total goofball. However, I thought his performance was one of the best things about this movie. Not once did I ever think he was trying hard not to make a joke or do something stupid - he actually looked like a natural for a dramatic role. The plot was pretty interesting since it was based on a phenomenon some people believe in to the point of obsession. Check out some of the 23 facts here. However, the ending was a little disappointing and far-fetched. I thought it was a bit of a cop-out to explain all of the events that happened in the movie the way that they did. Overall, though, it's definitely worth a look if you like psychological thrillers and want to see Jim Carrey do something other than make silly faces.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Last King of Scotland - Movie Review

In the early 1970s, Nicholas Garrigan, a young semi-idealistic Scottish doctor, comes to Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, he soon meets up with the new President, Idi Amin, who promises a golden age for the African nation. Garrigan hits it off immediately with the rabid Scotland fan, who soon offers him a senior position in the national health department and becomes one of Amin's closest advisers. However as the years pass, Garrigan cannot help but notice Amin's increasingly erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. Realizing his dire situation with the lunatic leader unwilling to let him go home, Garrigan must make some crucial decisions that could mean his death if the despot finds out.

This was a very interesting, puzzling and brutal film. The fact that it was based on a real person (Idi Amin) made it that much better. It was a bit puzzling because, at the beginning, I wasn't sure if Idi Amin was supposed to be a good guy or ready to snap at a moments notice. Now I realize it was done on purpose and looking back, it was brilliant. The brutality didn't come until later in the film when the real Idi Amin reared his ugly head. Forest Whitaker did an amazing job and clearly deserved the Academy Award for best actor. The special features includes footage of the real Idi Amin and shows that Whitaker was spot-on in his performance. It was a fascinating and horrifying film that should be viewed as a warning of what can happen when someone with a hidden agenda is given virtually unlimited power.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Gillian Anderson

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Hills Have Eyes 2 - Movie Review

An isolated desert research camp has been mysteriously abandoned, and now it's up to an elite unit of soldiers to uncover the truth about the scientists who vanished without a trace. Their attention soon diverted by a distress signal emitting from a distant mountain range, the squadron quickly regroups and sets out to investigate. Unbeknownst to the soldiers, however, is the fact that these are the very same hills where the Carter family recently fell prey to a flesh-eating pack of hideously deformed mutants. As the ranks of the cavalry unit steadily begin to dwindle, it soon becomes obvious that their guns provide little defense from an evil driven by hunger to commit the ultimate crime against humanity.

This film is very similar to the first The Hills Have Eyes. There's a bunch of people who get killed in a number of ways and it's not just the hill people doing the killing. The death scenes are particularly gruesome with eyes being gouged out, arms being cut off and heads being beaten to a pulp. There's nothing terribly original in this movie especially since the first film was very similar. The ending left it open for another film in the series, but I'm not that excited about watching another one. There was some suspense and a few surprises, but it was mostly just a straightforward plot with vicious slayings thrown in. If you liked the first one, you'll like this one as well.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Michael McMillian, Jessica Stroup

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Robots - Movie Review

Rodney Copperbottom is an idealistic robot who wants to convince his electronic brethren to come together and work toward making the world a better place. As the story unfolds, Rodney faces opposition from an evil corporation headed by Big Weld and finds some unlikely allies in the form of a ragtag group of misfit robots called the Rusties.

This was a fun and clever animated film. The entire world that was created was very imaginative and pretty impressive, especially the beginning sequence when Rodney traveled to Robot City. Throughout the film, they made use of many childhood toys and made reference to lots of pop culture which was fun to see and provided many, "Oh, look at that" moments. Not only was it an entertaining film that would be good for kids, it had an underlying message of perseverance through tough times and helping others that are good life lessons.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Voices of Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Robin Williams, Mel Brooks, Drew Carey, Amanda Bynes

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Premonition - Movie Review

Linda Hanson was an average housewife with a loving family, but when a policeman comes knocking on her door with news that her husband, Jim, was involved in a fatal car accident, Linda's world slowly begins to unravel. While her grief is at first overwhelming, Linda assumes that the whole thing was nothing more than a vivid dream when she wakes to find her family still very much intact. With each passing day, however, Linda's reality shifts and her circumstances grow increasingly surreal; one day Jim is dead and the next he is right there by her side. As her investigation leaves her convinced that her husband's death wasn't a dream and that her picture-perfect life may not have been quite as flawless as she thought, Linda embarks on a mind-bending journey to prevent her grim premonition from becoming a reality. Now, in order to save the man she loves, Linda will have to piece together a perplexing mystery that seems to span two separate planes of reality.

This was a pretty good psychological thriller. In the beginning, you'll have a lot of questions and as the film progresses, you'll have even more questions. It's not until the final 15 minutes where the answers start to flow, but it stops short of spelling everything out for you. I'll admit that the overall concept is a bit of a stretch and relies on the viewer to accept what they see, but it's entertaining enough to not have to be completely realistic. It's not a great film, but certainly one of the better ones I had never heard of (either I was MIA when this came out in the theater or there wasn't much buzz).

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

A Prairie Home Companion - Movie Review

As if the result of some strange mass-media fluke, the popular radio program "A Prairie Home Companion" somehow managed to survive the television age to entertain its audience every Saturday night from the stage of the historic Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN. Week after week, hangdog host Garrison Keillor serves as unflappable emcee to an amiable hodgepodge of radio-friendly acts that include the likes of popular country duo Yolanda and Rhonda Johnson and singing cowboys the Old Trailhands. This is one show where the under-the-line antics are nearly as entertaining as the program itself, though, and in between the efforts of down-on-his-luck private dick and backstage doorkeeper Guy Noir to discover the true identity of a mysterious blond and aspiring teen singer Lola to find her true voice before a live audience, there's still plenty of fun and mystery to be had at the old Fitzgerald before the final curtain falls on "A Prairie Home Companion."

Wow, talk about a boring film... Everything was so subdued, it seemed like there was no action whatsoever. I did like the look of the film as a throwback to a time long past, but that's about the only thing I liked. The plot was uninteresting and didn't appear to have a point. There were a ton of famous actors that starred in the film and proved once again that it's tough to make a good film when there's so many big names in the room for some reason. There's not much else to say other than there's nothing blatantly bad about the movie except for the fact it was boring, so I guess the acting was fine, but the writing was the problem.

Rating: 1.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Garrison Keillor, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, Lindsay Lohan, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Tommy Lee Jones

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Messengers - Movie Review

Roy and Denise Solomon have decided to give up life in Chicago and relocate their family to a secluded North Dakota sunflower farm. While the tranquil sway of the lush yellow fields at first offers a welcomed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the big city, the family soon begins to suspect that they are not alone on the farm when teenage daughter Jess and her three-year-old brother, Ben, begin to see a series of menacing apparitions that are apparently invisible to adult eyes. As Jess and Ben's encounters with the malevolent spirits grow increasingly violent, the parents of the tormented teen soon begin to question their daughter's sanity. Soon, the dark history of the family that once lived in the remote farm and the troubled past of the frightened Jess begin to merge as she struggles to warn her parents about the terrifying confrontation with the supernatural that is about to unfold.

This is a pretty straightforward horror film. The first half of the movie sets everything up and the second half provides all the action and thrills. The twist at the end was good and surprising, but overall, the movie was just too simplistic. By contrast, "The Ring" was very complex, intense and scary. This film seemed to copy the creepy movements of the creatures from "The Ring," but that's where the similarities end. I think the fact that it's less than 90 minutes long speaks volumes about just how shallow this film is - there's no time to really develop the characters and tell a good story. It seemed rushed and I didn't care enough about the characters to be concerned about their well-being, which takes away from the scare factor. Overall, this movie missed the mark of a good horror film.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.