New Site

I've moved my blog off of blogger and on to a site of its own. The new site has all the reviews posted here, plus about 150 new ones that I had written prior to starting this blog, as well as other features.

The new site can be found at: http://www.moviefodder.com

Raising Victor Vargas

Release Year: 2002
Review: A nice coming of age story about a teenager living in the Lower East Side learning to deal with his ego, family and girlfriend, despite the challenges of living in a in poor neighborhood and a difficult family situation. Using unknown actors and filming on location in New York, there is a real authentic, gritty feel which makes it more believable and easier to connect to the characters. Unfortunately the story just didn't go anywhere. The conflicts felt lacking and plot lines just seemed to die without really fleshing themselves out. 'Raising Victor Vargas' has a great feel to it, but lacks anything else that would raise this above being an average coming of age story.
Rating: 3/5

12 Rounds

Release Year: 2009
Review: '12 Rounds' is meant to be an all out, in your face action movie, but is more a low-rate bore. Danny Fisher, played by John Cena accidentally arrests a criminal mastermind who then seeks revenge on Cena by kidnapping his girlfriends, forcing him to play a 12 round game to win her back. The plot sounds an awful lot like a 'Die Hard' movie, and that is exactly what this film is trying to emulate. Cena is hardly Bruce Willis, and the games challenges are uninspired. It's a sparse plot that is badly acted which tries to save itself with explosions. Save yourself the time and just watch any of the Die Hard movies again.
Rating: 2/5

Interiors

Release Year: 1978
Review: Woody Allen's first completely dramatic film, about the struggles of a family coping with a controlling mother who is going through a mental breakdown. Allen takes a decidedly different tone than in any of his previous work. Gone is the familiar silliness and playfulness that viewers of Allen's work are accustomed to, replaced by a very frigid, somber, and unabashedly serious film. The writing is crisp, and Allen's wit and philosophy shine through, but there is very little to laugh at. The lack of humor is not a problem, but the sheer bleakness and steady onslaught of emotion filled tirades are a bit draining and I feel some of the meaning is lost in this almost over calculated and sterile drama. The movie is, however, wonderfully acted, and paired with Allen's talent with dialog, individual scenes are profound and work perfectly in isolation. As a whole, I felt as though Allen was trying too hard to make a purely dramatic film and it suffered for it.
Rating: 3/5

Funny People

Release Year: 2009
Review: I was able to see an early screening of this film, so my review is based on a cut which may be different than the one that is released. 'Funny People' is one of those comedies with a heart. So often lesser comedies just go with the obvious joke, immature physical humor, or anything else for a quick laugh. Judd Apatow has been among a few filmmakers changing the expectations of comedies, elevating them to more than just mindless entertainment. With this latest film Apatow continues to push the bar higher, turning in one of his best films yet. About Ira (Seth Rogen), a struggling young comedian just starting out befriending the aging, disenchanted star George Simmons (Adam Sandler). After coming down with a rare, terminal, illness George is forced to reevaluate his life and the choices he has made. The film toes the line of becoming sappy, but it never gets too sentimental. It remains hilarious throughout and filled with some of the funniest people in the industry showcasing what they do best. Rogen breaks from his normal routine and plays a different kind of character much more akin to his role in 'Freak and Geeks' than anything he has done since and Sandler delivers what is probably his best performance ever. This is a nicely rounded comedy, which is full of original humor, genuine heart and believable acting and it puts most other comedies released this year to shame.
Rating: 5/5

Inkheart

Release Year: 2008
Review: A surprisingly imaginative and entertaining family film, 'Inkwell' blurs the real world with fantasy by allowing book characters to be read into the real world by 'silvertounges'. Unbeknownst to him, Brendan Fraser's character Mo, is a silvertounge, who accidentally reads a villain out of the book 'Inkwell' and inadvertently reads his wife into the book. The adventure to correct this mistake ensues, which features cameos from an assortment of characters from famous literary works. It's quite possible that I like the source material more than the movie, but I must admit I had never heard of the book the film is based on. It's not at the level of the best fantasy films, but 'Inkwell' is a solid movie, that is both fun and original.
Rating: 4/5

What Happens in Vegas

Release Year: 2008
Review: As so many romantic comedies repeatedly remind us, to the point of noisome, "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", and in like all the rest of the dime a dozen comedies, this movie proves that that this just isn't the case. Nothing is original in this predictable comedy. The premise is idiotic, the characters loath-full and the jokes nearly non-existent. It's not that this is a completely terrible comedy, what brings it down is its tired, familiar, plot and its inability to try anything new.
Rating: 2/5

You Don't Mess with the Zohan

Release Year: 2008
Review: What Adam Sandler was thinking with this film is beyond me. 'You Don't Mess With the Zohan' is an uninspired, unfunny and altogether train-wreck of a movie. It was as if it were an exceptionally bad SNL skit went on for two hours. The character's were not funny and were pretty detestable all around. The jokes were immature and obvious, the physical humor childish. There is very little to say that is positive about this film. It seemed like there was no effort put into it at all. It was a complete waste of time.
Rating: 1/5

Up

Release Year: 2009
Review: 'Up', Pixar's latest picture, only furthers the almost unfathomable string of truly remarkable films that the company somehow turns out. Every year I expect Pixar to slip up and not be able to live up to their previous greatness, and every year I'm left in awe at the quality of film they are able to produce. 'Up', like all other Pixar films, is on a different level than any other animated features. They have mastered the perfect blend of humor, heart and humanity that exude from all of their films and make each one enjoyable to an audience of any age. Going into 'Up' I wasn't excited by what seemed to be a pretty dull premise, but it turned out to be a very sweet, honest and uplifting film. More than just being a kids movie, it takes a serious look at life and how you spend your time in it. While this message might be lost on young kids, there is plenty of fun to be had for them as well, with talking dogs and a flying house. This is Pixar's magic. Their ability to create quality films that transcend genres and that are both meaningful and entertaining is astounding.
Rating: 5/5

Baby Mama

Release Year: 2008
Review: 'Baby Momma' brings the welcome change of having two women as the leads in a comedy, and while it was a good effort, the movie felt too generic to be anything memorable. There was a lot that could have been done with the premise of surrogacy, but it always felt like they went for the easy joke rather than really pushing any boundaries. Amy Poehler tries too hard as the white trash surrogate mother, and is more annoying than funny. It was good enough to make me look forward to Tina Fey's next film, but I'd hope that this was just an awkward first film and not indicative of all her future work.
Rating: 3/5

Swing Vote

Release Year: 2008
Review: 'Swing Vote' tries to parody the election process and the value of a politician's word by pinning the results of the election on the vote of one everyday American. Unfortunately what could have been an interesting plot with an endless supply of political humor is stifled by thin characters, safe jokes and a very generic feel. Kevin Costner's character, the average, blue collar worker is nothing but a low life who I can't imagine much of America would identify with, or embrace as they did in the film. Just as bad, is the Costner's daughter, who is supposed to balance out her simple father by being the voice of reason, but just comes off as annoying. Nothing is really said about politics and there wasn't that many laughs. It felt like this was a comedy just going through the motions.
Rating: 2/5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Release Year: 2009
Review: The sixth installment in the JK Rowling's wizard franchise. In preparation for watching the movie I read through all the books again and watched all the movies. It was probably a mistake to read the books again since the films should be viewed as a separate entity, and missing parts in the movie from the book seem glaring if you have just read them. None the less, this was the best of the Potter movies thus far, viewing it strictly from a movie perspective. It told a cohesive story with just enough humor, action and suspense. The acting of the young wizards, while still not up to par with the greats cast in the adult roles, has improved vastly since the first films. Above all the other improvements is the cinematography, done by Bruno Delbonnel (who also did Amelie), which is absolutely stunning. As I've said for all the other films, the Potter franchise still isn't at the top tier of fantasy films, but its getting closer with each installment.
Rating: 4/5

JCVD

Release Year: 2008
Review: A completely unconventional heist movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as himself. JCVD basically plays a fictional version of himself, although everything leading up to the events of that day could be biographical. The aging, washed up and broke action star finds himself in the middle of a very real bank hostage situation. The juxtaposition of reality and Hollywood fiction are an important theme throughout the film. Credit is due to French director Mabrouk El Mechri for rooting JCVD in a very realistic character. While the film is shot very stylistically, everything seems very natural and realistic. JCVD is nothing more than a man, not a super hero like he is in the movies. He is flawed, he can get hurt and above all he doesn't try to be the hero. To Van Damme's credit he plays the role very well. Even though he is playing himself, the role allows him to show that he is a decent actor and can play a different kind of role. The film isn't without its flaws, but even without the intrigue of JCVD playing himself, the movie holds up as a compelling thriller.
Rating: 4/5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

Release Year: 2007
Review: The best in the franchise to date, 'The Order of the Phoenix' is the first of the films which feels comfortable being an entity in of itself. While missing a lot of content from the book, the movie still manages to feel complete and has a satisfying story arch. The best aspect of the film is the introduction of the Order members who are all played by talented actors, easing the acting load on the younger and far less talented school age wizards. It's still not at the top level as a stand alone film, but its a step in the right direction for the series and certainly does the book justice.
Rating: 4/5

The Promotion

Release Year: 2008
Review: With a familiar plot, The Promotion, relies on its two stars Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly to turn the battle for the promotion into a fresh comedy. Unfortunately the director Steve Conrad fails miserably. The talents of both Scott and Reilly are squandered in this borderline narcoleptic mess. The 'battle' for the promotion is little more than a slap fight and the comedy muted by refrain, as this film to takes no chances. Very little is funny, and nothing new is tried. This was an odd case of a film starring two of the top comedic actors working feeling like it should have been straight to DVD and forgotten about.
Rating: 2/5

Whatever Works

Release Year: 2009
Review: This film is pure, unadulterated, Woody Allen. Every single one of Allen's favorite motifs are crammed into this little gem of a comedy. Oozing with his signature style, Allen has gone back to his roots filming in Manhattan and proving to all the doubters that he still, unquestionably, has the comic genius that he had when he began his career four decades ago. Perhaps the days of Allen acting out his neurotic, self-deprecating, pessimistic character are over, but he has found the perfect replacement in Larry David who carries the torch admirably. Some of the acting seemed a bit stiff, and the entire film felt more like a theater production, but it doesn't matter. It's all about the dialog and the wit, intelligence and cynicism with which Allen writes penetrates through and dominates. It's as if all the philosophy Allen has ever tried to convey about love and life in his past works was all tied up in a neat little package in this film and it can all be boiled down to 'Whatever Works'.
Rating: 5/5

Year One

Release Year: 2009
Review: I had high hopes for this film for a long time seeing as it matches the great comedic director Harold Ramis with two of the most enjoyable actors working today in Jack Black and Michael Cera. I was disappointed when I heard such negative reviews, but I decided to go in with my new, lowered, expectations and give this movie a fair viewing. I'm glad I did. It's by no stretch of the imagination a great comedy, nor is it a terrible one. The plot is almost non-existent, but that isn't really the point. Many people tried to make comparisons between this film and 'Life of Brian' or 'History of the World: Part I', but really this is trying to be a completely different film altogether. The entire premise of taking place place in the year 1 AD is completely negligible, its simply a vehicle for Cera and Black (and many other funny people in smaller roles) to do their shtick in a slightly different setting then we are used to. Both Cera and Black have very clearly defined personalities and acting styles and they really don't try anything new here. If you don't like them, you will not like this movie. Some of the jokes might fall flat, but if you do like watching Cera and Black just do their thing, its an enjoyable film.
Rating: 3/5

Smart People

Release Year: 2008
Review: Smart People is a film about a college professor who is too self absorbed and pompous to make any sort of connection to his students, girlfriend, family or anyone else. The film takes a decidedly depressing tone and is relentless in it's onslaught of bleakness. There was nothing new in its approach or plot and the execution left me with the feeling that this was a cheaper knockoff of similar 'indie' films. There is scarce character progression of a person who is so miserable that it drags the entire film down. There is not much to the film. It starts of bleak, it remains depressing and at the last second tries to pull up from its nose dive into despair, but comes up woefully short.
Rating: 2/5

Marley & Me

Release Year: 2008
Review: Based on a book of the same name, 'Marley & Me' is a sweet story about a man and his dog. I haven't read the book, so while I had a general idea of where the story was going, I was going into the movie fresh. More than being about the relationship between the man and his dog, the film seemed more like a story about a man's everyday struggles of life and raising a family that just happened to also have a problematic dog. For the most part the film was austere, not funny or charming. The movie features a dog, so of course there were some adorable moments, but it didn't quite offset the often uncomfortable tone set throughout the movie. Also inescapable throughout the film is the impending ending which anyone who has ever owned a dog dreads, and the film doesn't soften the blow at all, almost reveling in the inevitable heart-wrenching ending. The tender moments in the film are rewarding, but overall depressing feeling this film doesn't quite make them worth it.
Rating: 3/5

Rescue Wings (Sora e: Sukui no tsubasa resukyû uingusu)

Release Year: 2008
Review: A Japanese film based on an Anime series about the first woman rescue helicopter pilot. While its a recent film, I couldn't help but feel that what I was watching was a bad 80's action adventure television show. There was very little to the plot. It was simply a very dull film. There was little emotion and the only action was helicopter rescue missions which all looked exactly the same and got old quickly. Unless you suffer for insomnia and are looking for a new treatment, I'd skip this one.
Rating: 2/5

Get Smart

Release Year: 2008
Review: It was an admiral attempt at a reboot, but wasn't anything that pushed expectations. The film always seemed to be teetering on the brink of the absurd and corny, but managed to maintain itself just enough to be a moderately enjoyable action comedy. Steve Carrel did a fine job of playing the oddball agent without putting too much shtick into the performance. Get Smart certainly didn't perform well enough to make me look forward to a sequel but delivered a, completely mediocre, but overall enjoyable movie.
Rating: 3/5

Hotel For Dogs

Release Year: 2009
Review: A tried and true family movie starring dogs. It's hard for a dog movie to be absolutely terrible, and this one certainly wasn't. It also wasn't anything special. The same tired plot points and obstacles that are in countless other family movies are prevalent in the film. The entire film felt tired, forced and lacked any imagination. I have a hard time believing even young children won't be bored by the stale story. Hotel For Dogs is peddling cheap knockoff family entertainment and is void of any heart. It is an exploitation film for children and little else. The dogs are cute though.
Rating: 2/5

The Hangover

Release Year: 2009
Review: Great comedies need to both be original and push boundaries. 'The Hangover' definitely pushes boundaries. At times it might have pushed them too far, and was just crude for the sake of being crude. Many of the great comedies over the last few years all seem to both take risks but also had a heart. This film took risks, but there wasn't much else there. It was a funny film, no doubt about it, I just wish there was a bit more too it. 'The Hangover' felt like the the dim-witted jock of the new Apatow-comedy generation family. None the less, if all you are looking for is a laugh there are plenty to be had.
Rating: 3/5

The Up Series

Release Year: 1964-2005
Review: A documentary following the lives of fourteen children from Britain coming from various walks of life in attempt to measure the impact of social class on their lives. The series starts introducing the kids at the age of seven, and revisits them every seven years for updates on their lives. The series is a fascinating, voyeuristic, view on how average people live, work and age. It is engrossing to be able to watch the lives of these people unfold. Expectations from the childhood are either realized or go tragically awry. The every day struggles that face everyone, such as the struggle to find steady work, marriage problems, and raising a family are all explored in the film simply by taking a look into these people's lives. The 'Up Series' is an important documentary which sheds light on human growth, the impact of class background and a slew of other human behavioral issues. Besides its importance, the documentary is also sheer entertainment. Once you watch one you will want to watch the entire series out of curiosity. The participants are all unique and interesting in their own way, its hard not to have a favorite. This is a monumental documentary and should be required viewing as so much can be learned about life from it.
Rating: 5/5

Special

Release Year: 2006
Review: A small film with a lot of thought, 'Special' is about a mundane meter maid who is mentally impaired to believe he has super powers after taking trial anti-depressant medication. The plot was fascinating to me even before watching the film, and the execution was even better than I had expected. While the plot is often light and comes across humorous, you began to understand how sad the story really is. Underlying are powerful messages of individuality, the corruption of drug companies and the tragedy of those with mental illnesses. 'Special' is a frequently funny but altogether moving film which shouldn't be overlooked.
Rating: 4/5

The Player

Release Year: 1992
Review: A movie buffs movie, delving in the cut-throat world of Hollywood in the form a mystery. Griffin Mill(Tim Robbins) plays a ruthless Hollywood studio script reviewer who becomes paranoid after receiving death threats. The film is brimming with references to classic movies, and movie jargon is found throughout. This quick insider banter is often poking fun at the industry itself, and the Hollywood studios are often the butt of the jokes. Being a Robert Altman film, a director who is well respected by actors, and seeing that its a film about Hollywood, there are countless cameos from a slue of popular actors of the time. I enjoyed these constant Hollywood references and the way that Altman meandered around the chaotic sets dropping in and out of conversations, in a way that he had become famous for. These references and quips were the highlight of the film. I appreciated the what the film did with the plot, and the payoff was satisfying, but ultimately I found nearly everyone in the film, particularly Griffin, so loathsome that I didn't enjoy the experience moment to moment.
Rating: 3/5

Mulholland Dr.

Release Year: 2001
Review: A very difficult movie to digest, 'Mulholland Dr.' is none the less captivating and absolutely engaging. The plot is difficult to describe, but its roughly about an actress who is starting out in Hollywood who meets an woman who has amnesia after a car crash. What the movie is actually about is the key question to ask yourself through out the film, and one that no one has really been able to say with any certainty. The non-linear, often chaotic and always stylized film making employed by Lynch is nothing short of masterful. I often review movies stating that I didn't like them "moment to moment". 'Mulholland Dr.' is enjoyable second to second, scene to scene. There are countless stunning scenes that are flawlessly executed and instantly classic. It is hard, at times, to keep your jaw from dropping as you watch them unfold. As soon as the film finishes you will want to watch it again. Don't try to over think the plot, but enjoy the films beauty. 'Mulholland' is truly a remarkable piece of film making.
Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Release Year: 2005
Review: The fourth film in the series, and the best up until this point. The young actors, who marred the previous chapters so much with their poor acting, are starting to come around. They've developed their talent and feel comfortable with their characters, allowing the director to put more focus on them, creating richer scenes. Normally, I take issue with the amount of material they leave out of the films, but this time around they managed to compress the essence of the book very well into an entertaining movie, despite axing a few of my favorite characters completely. My biggest problem with the translation from the page to the screen in this case is the way that Professor Dumbledore is played. In the books he is always very calm and put together, but in this film he is played very angry and frantic which was distracting in every scene he was in. This film does take a much more ominous tone and is full of dark imagery and themes which seem to only make this into a more compelling movie. The film succeeds at capturing the magic of the books and transitioning them into a movie, and is without a doubt an improvement on the franchise.
Rating: 4/5

Fargo

Release Year: 1996
Review: A sort of odd comedy that could only be described as 'Coen-esque', "Fargo" is a bizarre, but oddly endearing film about a kidnapping that goes terribly wrong. For the most part the film was enjoyable, but certain aspects prevented me from really getting behind it. The whole mid-western accent and personality seemed a bit gimmicky, and while the mid-west is where the story takes place, and people from that part of the country may very well be like that, it felt too much like a running joke that eventually went stale. The ever present gloom and misery caused, not only by the circumstances of the plot, but also the setting in the bitter cold and the gray, dull tones, began to ware on me and made some scenes uncomfortable. There were some very funny moments, and the main character, Marge (played by Frances McDormand), is always entertaining and charming. 'Fargo' isn't my favorite Coen brothers movie, but it was certainly worth watching.
Rating: 3/5

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Release Year: 2004
Review: Another year in the fantastic world of Harry Potter and another attempt at reining in the boundless imagination of JK Rowling into a two and a half hour feature film. With each successive film they seem to be getting closer to producing a more sound and compete representation of the book. With this attempt they took more liberties with the plot than any of the other two by far. As the books get longer, it becomes harder to cram all the plot points into a concise children friendly movie, even without all the needlessly long Quidditch action scenes. Building upon the trend started in the previous film, the child actors are given even more acting time, and while they've made some improvements they're lack of acting ability is painfully apparent and is the biggest downside of the film. It feels like the films are going in the right direction, but haven't quite gotten to the level that the books deserve quite yet.
Rating: 3/5

Reservoir Dogs

Release Year: 1992
Review: One of Quentin Tarantino's best films, 'Reservoir Dogs' is a unique take on a botched robbery. One of the interesting things about the way Tarantino approaches this heist film is that you never actually see the crime. In fact, much of the movie is about what you don't see. For a good portion of the movie you are left in the dark, just as the group of burglars are, as to what went wrong. Tarantino masterfully guides the story, not in a linear sequence, but in a sequence that reveals just enough of the story to keep tension high, and the plot exciting. Besides a visually and stylistically brilliant film, 'Reservoir Dogs' also explores the theme of trust and the nature of good and evil. The payoff of this theme in the film's climax is one of the most memorable in Hollywood endings, and the commentary on the subject is profound. Tarantino, working on a small budget, manages to make a film which almost never leaves a single room of a warehouse feel more exciting than a big budget blockbuster. However wonderful his directing was, this film wouldn't have worked had it not been for a superb ensemble cast, each of who made their character believable and every scene enthralling. Everything about this film exudes Tarantino. Highly stylized and perfectly executed it is one of the best heist films around and is endlessly watchable.
Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Release Year: 2002
Review: Once again it's difficult to get past the liberties the film takes with the film plot. After just reading the book even subtle discrepancies seem glaring. However, putting this aside and only taking the film in as an entity in of itself I'm still left wanting. My biggest gripe is with the acting which, given the young actors experience, is unsurprisingly poor. However, each has established themselves firmly as their character. It's very hard to think of Harry Potter and not think of Daniel Radcliffe at this point. In the first film there was very limited acting given to the Hogwarts students, undoubtedly because of their inexperience. Instead, the first movie felt like a picture book, where most of the story telling was done through imagery rather than dialog. This film gives a bit more trust to the actors and the scenes are beginning to feel a bit more complete. Overall it was a good attempt to condense the book into a film under three hours, but it still felt a little cheap and a bit empty.
Rating: 3/5

Angels and Demons

Release Year: 2009
Review: I hadn't read the book, so I approached 'Angels and Demons' with an open mind. It certainly isn't a perfect film, but overall it was an enjoyable action adventure. A sort of, slightly more intellectual, 'National Treasure'. A lot of the plot is fascinating, owing of course to the source material, but it did seem that some of it was dumbed down, and parts were over sensationalized, to fit the mold of a summer blockbuster. Ron Howard was very careful to tip toe around the potential controversy the film's subject could ignite and tried to stay as neutral as possible on religion. The entire premise can basically be broken down to the long standing debate of science versus religion, so the film certainly had the opportunity to spark some anger. The pandering to stay politically correct wasn't much of a detriment, but the fact that it was so obvious didn't do much to forward the plot either. The best part of the film is just taking in the beautiful locations which the film was shot in Rome. 'Angels and Demons' may not be a memorable movie, but it was entertaining, interesting and if nothing else, a nice bit of eye candy.
Rating: 4/5

Star Trek

Release Year: 2009
Review: It seems to be the trend reboot popular franchises, setting a distinctively different style to the familiar material. 'Star Trek' continues this trend admirably. JJ Abrams creates an incredible ensemble cast which, while staying true to their roots, are fresh and undoubtedly their own. While the entire plot serves as a vehicle to reintroduce characters and explain the reboot, it none the less is exciting from beginning to end. The way in which they handle the reboot is very clever, clearly pandering to the fans of the original but should leave everyone happy. Every cast member is interesting in their own regard, and has set up their legacy in the franchise nicely. Taking on material as beloved as 'Star Trek' and coming out with something that feels new and quite capable of standing on its own, is an accomplishment. Regardless of whether or not you are a Star Trek fan, this is an enjoyable, exciting and all together well thought out summer movie.
Rating: 4/5

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Release Year: 2001
Review: The first chapter in the Harry Potter saga. Being a fan of books its hard to objectively review the films since I like the source material so well. It's hard not to fault the film for leaving out large chunks of the plot. The wonderfully detailed wizard world seemed to be truncated without all the small tidbits of information Rowling carefully worked into the books. Also missing was the inner dialog and subtle emotional queues the characters give which are spelled out for you in the book, and are largely lost on the very young cast. Important parts of the plot seemed to be glossed over with a quick montage and orchestral music. However, the film could not cover everything. Even with its liberal trimmings the film comes in at nearly two and a half hours. All things considered the film stays remarkably close to the book and successfully introduces the rich cast of characters and the imaginative wizarding world. In the end I appreciated the film, but wished there was less time spent on flashy scenes like the Quidditch match and more time spent on character development.
Rating: 3/5

Born Into Brothels

Release Year: 2004
Review: A documentary spotlighting the turmoil facing the kids who live in the red light districts of Calcutta. A group of children are given cameras and photography lessons and we get to know how amazing these children are, through their photos and their interviews, despite their abhorrent circumstances. The children aren't given much of a chance, despite their talents most boarding schools will not even contemplate taking them in because of their parents illegal profession. It is hard but to be overcome with sorrow over the plight of not only the children featured in this film, but those that are born into the poorest regions all of over the world. It's harsh reality that despite this documentary winning an Oscar, many of the children featured never make it out the red light district. It is a sad, but inspiring, peek into true poverty and the hope that can be found within it.
Rating: 4/5

The Sea Inside

Release Year: 2004
Review: Based on a true story about a quadriplegic, named Ramón Sampedro, 28 year campaign to end his own life. Javier Bardem gives a remarkable performance as Ramón, imbuing him with a charisma that makes us not want to see him die, which is an essential part of the film. While the film is emotional, and well acted it did get a bit dull. Unlike 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly', which deals with a similar situation, this film didn't keep me engaged. It felt a bit repetitive at parts, and never really stretched itself to make itself really gripping. However the right to die debate is handled wonderfully, and this film will make you think hard about your stance on it regardless of your side.
Rating: 3/5

My Father (Ma-i pa-deo)

Release Year: 2007 (Korea)
Review: This is an emotionally charged film from Korea based on a true story about an American adopted Korean man, James(Daniel Henney) , who joins the army in search of his birth parents. After being stationed in Korea he manages to locate his father who is on death row for murder. Through repeated visits to his father James learns to love him despite his past. The cast did a great job handling this emotional and sensitive subject. While the plot was interesting and engaging what I missed out on was the motivation behind Jame's actions. However, this is based on real events, so the film only had so much liberty. It also felt as though the film sacrificed itself in some areas in order to shove in some needless comical or overly emotional scene. I enjoyed the film, but can't give it a higher rating simply because I could not connect with the main character or understand his motivations.
Rating: 3/5

Do the Right Thing

Release Year: 1989
Review: A film full of visual style, painting a vivid, if not exaggerated, portrait of a 'typical' neighborhood in Brooklyn. Spike Lee uses vibrant colors and music and language that are full of style to create an array of interesting characters simply living their lives on a particularly hot day in the city. At the heart of this film are the racial tensions that drive the plot from beginning. This film is aptly named 'Do the Right Thing', but it is presented more as a question in the film rather than a statement. What is the right thing to do? Lee carefully constructs a brilliantly intense climatic scene in which the hatred that had been simmering all along finally erupts and the result will affect each viewer differently. Who was right and who was wrong, or if there is really a clear cut answer to that question is the essence of this film. Regardless of your opinion this film will evoke strong emotions and will make you question even your own stances on racial issues, and this is what makes this film so great.
Rating: 4/5

The Day The Earth Stood Still

Release Year: 2008
Review: A remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic, 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' tries to market itself to a modern audience with state of the art special effects and a new message that would resonate with the current audience. The original film had an underlying messages about the cold war that was meant to speak to its generation. The current adaptation replaces these messages with the current crisis facing our environment. Unfortunately this message is far to heavy handed and preachy, coming off more as a green-peace propaganda piece, rather than a sci-fi blockbuster. Not only did it fail on delivering its message but it wasn't a fun movie either. If all you are looking for are aliens and explosions there are far better movies out there that will deliver it. The acting is painful, and the plot points felt generic and forced. It was if the film didn't know if it wanted to be a cerebral thriller with a message or a mindless alien flick with lots of eye candy and it ended up failing miserably at both. I admire its aim, but can't applaud its effort.
Rating: 2/5

Observe and Report

Release Date: 2009
Review: A mall security cop with some serious mental issues gets obsessed with a girl and does anything to protect her. I had high hopes for 'Observe and Report' as I do with all movies starring Seth Rogen. Unfortunately this film largely missed the mark for me. It seemed like they were channeling 'Taxi Driver', complete with a monotone, self important narration given near the climax. Where it fails is that this is a comedy with extremely dark undertones, that doesn't generate the laughs. If a film is going to go in the direction of being overly offensive it had better deliver on humor, but for the most part this film did not. Instead of being funny it was more disturbing, which created an awkward feeling throughout the entire film. It was as if the film maker knew they had us trapped for the next two hours and they were just going to torture us by being as offensive as they possibly could. There were good ideas at the heart of it, but the writing was too weak to deliver. Sometimes less and is more, a point that was clearly overlooked while making this film.
Rating: 2/5

Fast & Furious

Release Year: 2009
Review: I haven't seen the previous films in this series, so I had no connection to the prior plot lines or characters. There isn't much to this film. There are nice cars that people, who apparently have super-human driving abilities, race to do mostly nefarious activities. Not seeing the first one and not being a fan of cars I'm not the target audience for this movie. There is plenty of action and a paper thing plot. I think it accomplishes what it set out to do, which is to appeal to its large audience. If you liked the previous films you will probably like this one. If you didn't, or don't think this is your type of movie then don't expect to be surprised with a meaningful subplot.
Rating: 2/5

Ghost Town

Release Year: 2008
Review: Ricky Gervais stars in this comedy about a man who, after a brush with death, can communicate with all the ghosts who are stuck wandering around New York city with unfinished business. A man, Dr. Pincus, is miserable and doesn't get along with the society surrounding him. Because of an event (technically dieing) he is forced to meet a girl who breaks him out of his shell and he falls in love with her. This is a by-the-books romantic comedy, there is no doubt about it. Fortunately, despite the fact that this is very formulaic, Ricky Gervais is just bitter and sarcastic enough to provide many laugh out loud moments. There is nothing all too memorable about the film, but it is moderately funny and worth the watch if you're in the mood for a light, familiar feeling film, that will provide a few laughs.
Rating: 3/5

Wicker Park

Release Year: 2004
Review: Wicker Park is a complicated plot of love and obsession that slowly unwinds before you. It follows Matt, a young, but successful man in search of his lost love. The plot is interesting, but can get convoluted at times. The biggest fault of the film is that it is ultimately too conventional. There was little ever doubt where it would eventually go. For most of the film the director plays up the tension of Matt almost coming in contact with his love interest, but falling just short. This is expected to happen so it loses some of the suspense. However, the acting was well done and story was compelling enough to make it an enjoyable film that explores the limits of what should be done in the name of love.
Rating: 4/5

Gremlins

Release Year: 1984
Review: One of my all time favorite monster movies and a classic 80's film, Gremlins shows us how adorable furry pets can terrorize a town. Feeding off the fears of foreign products in the United States, Gizmo is purchased from a Chinese junk dealer by a crackpot inventor as a gift for his son. Lacking the discipline needed for caring for the fluffy creature, the careless acts of the new owner spawns mutant forms of the pet which are out to kill everyone in the small town. If nothing else the sheer cuteness of Gizmo makes this film memorable. This is a hilarious monster movie that doesn't take itself too seriously with just the right mix of gore and wry humor.
Rating: 4/5

His Name Was Jason: 30 years of Friday the 13th

Release Year: 2009
Review: I remember watching the early Friday the 13th every Halloween and having nightmares for weeks after. Friday the 13th has always been my favorite slasher series with Jason representing everything a great monster should be. This is a television documentary that tries to sums up the entire run of the franchise with actor interviews and and plenty of of the best clips from the films. It was a nice look back at the films and certainly made me want to go and rewatch a few of them. One of the problems I had with it was that it tried to convince us that the franchise was a cohesive story with each film tying into the others, but this is clearly not the case. Friday the 13 is, and will always be, an exploitation film. The film makers weren't concerned about making a seamless sequel, they just wanted to make a few bucks and scare the audience. There is nothing wrong with this, its what we expect and is why we love them. This isn't a top rate documentary, and was clearly made for television, but is a good nostalgic watch.
Rating: 3/5

Postal

Release Year: 2007
Review: Uwe Boll is back at it adapting yet another video game into a film and once again produces a colossal failure of anything resembling entertainment. I believe Uwe was trying to push the limits on what is considered decent and shock the viewers into entertainment. This might have worked out had it been more tongue in cheek, or at least been either funny or meaningful. Unfortunately all this film provides is the offensive without any of the laughs. I don't consider myself up-tight and enjoy my share of gross out or offensive humor, but there is none to be had here. It's not about Uwe crossing any lines or being offensive, there is just nothing there beyond that. This film has nothing going for it. There is no interesting plot to speak of, no laughs and the action is lacking. There is no reason to waste your time watching this garbage.
Rating: 1/5

Sweet and Lowdown

Release Year: 1999
Review: A mock documentary about the life of a gifted, yet flawed, jazz musician Emmet Ray. Woody Allen constructs this film in a way to make you believe that the story your seeing unfold is about a real person, where most of what he learn about Emmet is through Jazz lore that is often distorted and contradictory. This is a brilliant way to show that its not all about what happens, but how its remembered. Sean Penn gives a great performance as Emmet and Allen delivers one of his best films of the 90's in this heartfelt, and often very funny, film.
Rating: 4/5

Desperately Seeking Susan

Release Year: 1985
Review: A romantic comedy set in New York City in the 1980's, Desperately Seeking Susan follows the adventure of Roberta, a straight laced house wife who obsesses over the free spirited Susan. This film has the rare trait of being produced, written and directed by females giving a unique take on the familiar romantic comedy genre. Unfortunately the film never really pushes the bounds of the genre, seeming to not want to wander too far from the well worn path of so many similar films before it. Madonna and Rosanna Arquette both give strong performances, but weren't given enough to work with. There are some fun moments, but on a whole there were too many cliche scenarios and standard plot points to make this a great film.
Rating: 3/5

Annie Hall

Review: The greatest of Woody Allen's works. This cerebral comedy optimizes the post modernism that characterizes a majority of Allen's films. The quick, witty, dialog pops and the chemistry between Allen and Keaton is remarkable. It seems people either adore Allen's whiny, self deprecating humor, or love it and this film is no different. While a romantic comedy at its core, Allen breaks convention at every turn, turning the genre on its head. Stylistically and thematically it refuses to be boxed into a genre stereotype. Annie Hall strives to show that love is necessary, but ultimately a doomed concept. With his sarcastic quips and pessimistic, but brutally honest, outlooks on life, Woody Allen created an all time classic which set the bar for not only the rest of his films, but the genre itself.
Rating: 5/5

I Love You, Man

Review: 'I Love You, Man" is a romantic comedy with a twist. The main relationship is the platonic friendship of two straight men. When Peter Klavin realizes he has no close friends he goes on a mission to find a best man for his wedding and stumbles into a friendship with Sydney. The film pairs the always likable Paul Rudd with Jason Segel for the third time. The film is written and directed by John Hamburg who also wrote 'Meet the Parents' and 'Zoolander', so the film had a lot in it's favor and it delivers. There is nothing groundbreaking in the execution and the plot doesn't have much to it, but the film is consistently funny. Rudd and Segel have a good comedic chemistry and just watching them fool around together is enjoyable. While it's not going to be the best comedy of the year, it also doesn't disappoint. It gets the laughs in.
Rating: 4/5