"Movie Mania"

Reel Review: "Scott Pilgrim vs the World"

2010-08-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

I originally had no intention of seeing this movie, but I saw it anyway! Michael Cera once again plays a nerdy guy, but this time around that nerdy guy is Scott Pilgrim. Let me start off by saying that this movie kind of takes place in a video game type of world. At leasts that's how I interpreted it! Anyway, Scott Pilgrim plays the bass guitar in a band called "Sex Bob-omb!" When the movie begins he is dating a high school girl named Knives, but the relationship ends when he meets a girl named Ramona Flowers. The two of them awkwardly fall in love, but somehow they wind up in bed together on their first date! Unfortunately, if Scott wants to continue dating Ramona he must defeat her "Seven Evil Exes!" The movie is of course cheesy, but the whole "Seven Evil Exes" thing makes it even cheesier. Like I said though, it's like a video game, so I guess defeating the "Seven Evil Exes" is how someone would win. There are only a few well known actors, or at least a few that I know well. Michael Cera can of course play the geek, but I'm definitely ready to see him do something else. Anna Kendrick did well in a small role as Scott Pilgrim's sister. Chris Evans played one of the "Evil Exes," and was probably my favorite of the seven. The actor who stole the movie though was Kieran Culkin. He played Scott Pilgrim's gay roommate and was hilarious! One last thing I want to mention is that the movie was very well edited. This film certainly won't be for everyone, but to be honest, I kind of enjoyed it!

Rental of the Week: "Sixteen Candles"

2010-08-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

Now I'm not a HUGE fan of John Hughes movies, but since I am celebrating my 16th birthday this week, I figured "Sixteen Candles" would be good to recommend! Molly Ringwald, who most of my generation might know from "The Secret Life of the American Teenager, stars as a sophomore named Samantha (Sam) Baker. If you couldn't infer from the film's title, Sam turns 16 on the day the movie takes place. Unfortunately her older sister is getting married soon, and the entire family forgets all about her birthday. Of course Sam has a love interest at school who just happens to be a very popular boy named Jake. Even though it seems Sam's chances with Jake are slim to none, there is another boy who is interested in Sam. Ted (Anthony Michael Hall) may be a geek, but he still has his eyes on Samantha... Do I need to continue? There are many subplots rather than one main storyline, but it's probably worth your time if you want a good laugh!

Rental of the Week: "Old Yeller"

2010-07-29T10:27:00.001-07:00

so many good dog movies have been released over the years, but my personal favorite is "Old Yeller!" The 1957 Disney classic is based on the book "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson. Growing up in Texas during the 1860's, a young boy named Travis has been given the responsibility of taking care of the family ranch while his father goes off on a cattle drive. Travis' mother and younger brother help him tend to the farm, but perhaps the most help comes from a stray yellow dog. At first, Travis wants nothing to do with the stray, but soon the dog, Old Yeller, becomes a loyal friend and helps protect the family farm. In my opinion, "Old Yeller" is the best dog movie out there, and I guarantee it will not only make you cry, but smile as well!

Rental of the Week: "That Darn Cat"

2010-07-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

So this week I'm going to be recommending a cat movie and a dog movie. Obviously, today's recommendation is a cat movie. "That Darn Cat" stars Hayley Mills as the owner of a siamese cat named "DC" (Darn Cat)! Her character, Patti, has an older sister named Ingrid (Dorothy Provine), and both girls are home alone throughout the film, for their parents are traveling during the time in which the movie takes place. But let's not forget "DC," who, like most cats, happens to be a prowler. One night during his "rounds," the cat begins to follow a bank robber named Iggy. "DC" follows the robber all the way to an apartment in which he and his partner, Dan, are holding a bank teller hostage. The bank teller, who's name is Margaret, is able to take of "DC's collar and sneak her watch around his neck. On the watch she has written a (call for help) message, but she is only able to scratch H-E-and part of an L on the back of the watch before Dan notices something suspicious. However, "DC" leaves the apartment with the watch around his neck, and the men no nothing about it. As Margaret hoped, "DC's" owner finds the watch and realizes that that a call for help has been scratched on the back of the watch. Patti immediately goes to the FBI and teams up with an agent named Zeke Kelso (Dean Jones) to solve the case. How exactly do they find who they're looking for? Well, let's just say it involves FBI following "DC" around! But will "DC" lead them to the robbers? You'll have to watch the movie to find out! Now, this may sound like a mystery, and it is, but even more so it is a comedy! Trust me, you will laugh until you cry!

Reel Review: "Ramona and Beezus"

2010-07-25T16:31:00.001-07:00

It is rare these days for a family, friendly film to hit the big screen, but the new movie "Ramona and Beezus" may just fit into that genre. Based on a book series by Beverly Cleary, the film stars newcomer Joey King as Ramona, and Disney star Selena Gomez as Beezus. The two girls are sisters in the movie, but in reality that would be impossible because Selena comes from a mexican descent and Joey does not. Despite the fact that they don't look like sisters, they kind of pull it off (Joey more so than Selena)! Ramona, who is a young third grader, has an extraordinary imagination, and as a result, she lives a life of irre, sponsible fun. John Corbett stars as Ramona's father, who seems to understand her excessive energy, but not as well as her Aunt "Bea," who's played by Ginnifer Goodwin. Though, Beezus just sees Ramona as a pest, no one misunderstands her more than her teacher, Mrs. Meachamaka Sandra Oh ("Grey's Anatomy"). I wouldn't say that there is a specific plot, although, on top of Ramona's mischievous antics, her father has lost his job and is having a hard time finding a new one. Also, Aunt "Bea" is falling in love with her high school sweetheart (Josh Duhamel) who is back in town. Though Selena has more of a minor role than the trailers and previews led us to believe, her character also has a sub-plot in which she is falling in love with her childhood friend, Henry. As a whole, this film is cute, but is VERY slow paced. I think it it worth seeing, but you certainly don't have to rush out to a movie theater. Also, it may be family, friendly film, but in my opinion it is more of a mother/daughter flick. It could even be considered a chick flick. One of the most recent family films that I would say is a true family film is "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl," which stars Abigail Breslin. Though "Ramona and Beezus" is family friendly, in my opinion "Kit Kittredge" is a much better movie!

Rental of the Week: "Bonnie and Clyde"

2010-07-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

"Bonnie and Clyde" is certainly not a "feel good" flick," but it's still worth watching! Faye Dunaway stars as Bonnie Parker, an innocent waitress living in Texas during the middle of the Great Depression. One day, a man named Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) shows up at her house and tries steal her mother's car. For some reason, Bonnie is fascinated by Clyde, and instead of reporting him to the police for theft, she decides to join him as his partner in crime. Their tag-line is as follows... "We rob banks!" And yes, they rob banks! The couple are quickly joined by a naive gas station attendant named C. W. Moss. Clyde's older brother, Buck, and Buck's wife, Blanche also join the group that becomes known as The Barren Gang. Whether you're rooting for the gang, or you're against them, the entire movie will keep you on the edge of your seat in suspense. Oh, and I guarantee the ending will leave you speechless!

Rental of the Week: "Comes a Horseman"

2010-07-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

So I've been wanting to recommend a classic western, but then I realized that I'm a not big fan of westerns and haven't watched that many, but now that I've seen "Comes a Horseman," I think I'll give westerns another shot! The movie stars Jane Fonda as a single woman named Ella Conners. Ella is a cattle rancher, and she is being pressured into selling her failing cattle farm by her not so nice ex-lover, Jacob "J. W." Ewing (Jason Robards). Ella has no intention of giving up her farm, so she turns to her neighbor, Frank Athearn, for help. Frank, who is played by James Caan, agrees to help Ella, and eventually the two fall in love. Unfortunately, it seems that "J. W." will stop at nothing to get her land, but will he ever get? You'll have to watch the movie to find out! The movie also stars Richard Farnsworth, who won an Oscar for his supporting role. Overall, it's definitely worth your time, especially the last ten minutes!

"Inception" Reel Review

2010-07-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

In his follow up to "The Dark Knight," Christopher Nolan presents a complicated film about the world of dreams! Let me give you two key terms that should give you a better understanding of things… Term #1 - Extraction (which is the action of taking out something)! Term #2 - Inception (which is the starting point of an institution or activity)! Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the lead role as man named Dom Cobb. Cobb specializes in the dangerous skill of extraction, in which he steals valuable information or ideas from deep down in a person's dream! So what does that mean? Well, I just mentioned that the term "extraction" is the action of taking out something! And in this case Leo's character is able to extract information from a person when they're most vulnerable… which is when they're dreaming! Okay, if you didn't understand that, maybe you'll understand the skill of inception! Now remember I said that inception was the starting point of an institution or activity, and in the movie, inception refers to planting an idea into someone's head, and making them think that they came up with the idea themselves. Oh, and of course this process is done to a person while they're dreaming. Whether or not inception can be done, Cobb has give his best shot, for if he succeeds his employer has promised him a way home. You see, not only does Cobb's job keep away from home, but he's been accused of killing his late wife, so I'm guessing he can't go back to America until his name is cleared, but you see he really needs to get home because he has two little kids, and they're waiting on him to return. Hopefully now you understand why it's so important for him to succeed in performing inception, but of course he can't do this alone, so he put's together a team that consists of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page. Gordon-Levitt's character, who's name is Arthur, is the Point Man, and he has to… well I'm not really sure what he had to do, but the Forger, who is played by Tom Hardy, had to somehow or another forge a person's identity in a dream to I guess get more information, but I really don't know! Ellen Page, who you might know from "Juno," played the architect, and her job was to construct the world of the dream… if that makes any sense! Anyway, I'm making it seem REALLY complicated, and trust me, it is complicated, but I think that those who are able to understand the film will really like it! I think I understood, but at the same time I was second guessing myself throughout the majority of the movie, and even more so after the movie, I think I was able to follow along though! So, I liked this, but if I hadn't been able to understand it I don't think I would have! Pretty much all of the performances are strong, especially Leo's and Joseph's, and I really feel like both are able to pick good roles and even good movies for that matter! Joseph starred in "G. I. Joe" last year, and in interview that I saw, he said something on the lines of how it was more of a movie to just go in and watch and enjoy ride, but wasn't supposed to be the next Oscar contender, and it think it's good when actors can admit that a movie they're starring in may not be the greatest movie. Which brings me Leo… I saw an interview in which he was talking about this movie, and he said some close to, it's not best movie ever made, but it's one of the most unique, which totally true! As for the rest of the actors, like I said, most all of the performances were strong, and I really thought Ellen Page did a great job, so she's on her way, if not already, um to being top rate actress! As for whether or not you should see it or skip... SEE IT... and if you don't understand it... SEE IT again and again until you do!

Rental of the Week: "No Time For Sergeants"

2010-07-12T13:23:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite actors of all time stars in today's rental recommendation, "No Time For Sergeants!" Before starring in "The Andy Griffith Show" and my personal favorite, "Matlock," Andy Griffith starred in this hilarious comedy as a gullible hillbilly named Will Stockdale. The movie begins as Will is drafted into the Air Force, and due to his... lack of education, he drives everyone nuts! He especially gets on the nerves of his sergeant, Orville King. However, Will does make one friend named Ben Whitledge, who's goal is to be transferred into the infantry like his older brothers and older relatives. Will quickly proves himself to be a trouble maker, so Sergeant King puts him in charge of cleaning the latrine. Will doesn't understand that cleaning the latrine is a punishment, so to impress the sergeant, he cleans the place until it's spotless. When Sergeant King inspects the latrine he so impressed that he dubs Will PLO (Permanent Latrine Orderly)! Once again, Will has no idea that PLO isn't a real position, or honor for that matter. Will continues to clean the latrine, as well as to stay out of trouble, but he never gets classified. However, Sergeant King pulls some strings so he'll be transferred without being classified. He mainly does this to get rid of Will, but his plan soon backfires when Will blurts out the truth to the captain during an inspection. Will doesn't realize what he's done, but Sergeant King is threatened by the captain that if he doesn't get Will classified with all the others in his squad, he will no longer remain a sergeant. Sergeant King only has a week to get Will classified, but is even possible? You'll have to watch the movie to find out! Now I like this movie a lot, and there a many funny moments that will keep you laughing. The movie was originally a Broadway play, which was actually based on a book. I've starred in a production of "No Time For Sergeants," so it's easy for me to follow the story, but for anyone who has little knowledge of military life, it may not be that easy. I highly recommend this to veterans, for my veteran grandfather loved both the play and the movie! There are many good performances in this, including a small role played by Don Knotts. My only problem with the movie is that Andy Griffith looks a lot older than the other actors, but I'm glad he played the part anyway!

Rental of the Week: "Singin' in the Rain"

2010-07-08T12:17:00.001-07:00

I've been waiting all summer to recommend a musical, and "Singing in the Rain" is certainly a musical that I recommend! The 1952 film stars Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. My generation may know Debbie Reynolds from the Disney Channel "Halloweentown" movies, but if you really want to see her shine, this is the movie to watch. Now, for me it takes at least fifty minutes to really "get into" the movie, but once you're in, you're in. The film takes place in the late 1920s and follows the story of a silent film star named Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly). Don stars in silent films for Monumental Studios along with his usual leading lady Lina Lamont, who is played by Jean Hagen. The two are made out to be romantically linked to increase their popularity, which in turn increases the popularity of their films. Just like present day celebrities, Don is flocked by fans when he goes out in public. One day, he finds himself surrounded by a mob of fans, and decides to hop in a passing car, which is being driven by a girl named Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). To his surprise, she doesn't recognize him right off the bat, nor does she think silent film stars can act. Kathy claims that she is a stage actress, and isn't impressed with Don's accomplishments. Eventually she drops him off, and he finds his way to a party in which the guests are shown a talking motion picture by the head of Monumental Studios, R.F. Simpson (Millard Mitchell). Not many people are impressed with the idea, but soon the entertainment arrives as a group of chorus girls enter to perform a number. Don immediately spots Kathy, who pops out of cake to kick off the performance. Furious with Don's amusement, she throws cake at him, but accidentally hits his leading lady, Lina, instead. This causes tension between the two girls, but Don later makes up with Kathy when he finds her working on the set of another Monumental Pictures production... and of course, they fall in love. Lina, however, thinks that she and Don are together, but he continuously tries to explain that they are only an on-screen duo. The two are soon paired up to do a talking picture, due to the success of a rival company's "talkie," "The Jazz Singer." The film is called "The Dueling Cavalier," but there are many problems including sound issues and Lina's squeaky voice. A test screening proves the movie to be a disaster, but Don, his best friend, Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor), and Kathy come of with a brilliant idea that would help to improve the film. They persuade R.F. to turn "The Dueling Cavalier" into a musical, which leads to the name change of "The Dancing Cavalier." The only problem is that Lina can't sing, however, Kathy can, and it is decided that she will dub Lina's voice for the film. But can they keep the dubbing a secret from Lina? And will Kathy go with out recognition? You'll have to watch the movie to find out! I highly recommend this film, but personally I like musicals with more memorable music like "The Sound of Music" or "Annie." "Singing in the Rain" does have something over all the other classic musicals though... the dancing is superb! It's also stands apart because most of the songs weren't originally written for the movie. My favorite numbers are "Good Morning" and of course, "Singing in the Rain!"

June Trivia Answers

2010-07-05T20:31:00.001-07:00

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Review

2010-07-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

Bella, Edward, and Jacob are all back for the third installment of the "Twilight" movie franchise, "Eclipse!" But having to choose between Edward and Jacob isn't all that Bella has to worry about this time around! Victoria's back, and she's still seeking revenge! But now Victoria has created an army of newborn vampires to help get the job done! And this could only mean one thing... the Cullens and the wolf pack will have to team up to destroy Victoria and her vampire army once and for all! So to start things off I just want to say that I DID LIKE this movie! It was of course a lot better than "Twilight," but I'm not sure that I liked it as much as "New Moon!" To me, the first two books and I guess movies of the franchise have more specific plots than "Eclipse" and even "Breaking Dawn" for that matter! In "Twilight" the overall plot is established, and in "New Moon," we're introduced to the werewolves and the Volturi and what not, so I guess what I'm trying to get to here is that "Eclipse" just kind of ties up all the loose ends before "Breaking Dawn!" I'm honestly confusing myself here so I'll try to explain what I'm trying to explain! "Eclipse" just doesn't have a specific plot to it! It basically just picks up right where the last one left off really, but the love triangle continues to heat up, Edward continues to talk Bella into marrying him, Bella continues to talk Edward into changing her, Victoria continues to try and get her revenge, the Volturi continue to… Okay, you get the idea! Now, I do have to say that the newborn vampires gave it something new and fresh, and we also got to see a lot of flashbacks this time around that helped us learn a lot about the past of some the characters! There was also a lot more action this time, which I think will help guys to enjoy it more, but there's also enough mushy gushiness for it to still be a chick flick! Now I will say SEE IT because I really did enjoy this, but since it doesn't have a specific plot, I don't think I liked it as much as "New Moon!" Honestly though, the whole series has a mindless plot, and I feel like they're releasing these films so quickly and so close together because they know that eventually people are going to realize that they're crazy for liking this! Okay that was a little harsh, but this is just not a well thought out series, and I could go on for days about how "Harry Potter" is so much better than this!

Alex's Rental Recommendation - "The Wiz"

2010-06-25T14:31:00.001-07:00

I think “The Wiz” is a definite must see, well, if you’re into that sort of thing! This 1978 classic originated off of the 1975 Broadway musical featuring an entirely African-American cast. Now, I know most of you are probably thinking about “The Wizard of Oz” which was released in 1939 and was the base of the idea of the Broadway musical. “The Wiz” basically has the same theme for example, Dorothy ends up in Oz and meets numerous and unique characters along the way. The movie pretty much has the same outstanding characters as the original, Dorothy Gale (Diana Ross), Aunt Em (Theresa Merritt), Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross), The Good Witch (Lena Horne), and well, I think you get the picture! “The Wiz” begins in an apartment in Harlem, New York and young Dorothy becomes trapped in a snowstorm and is taken to Oz. Another difference in “The Wiz” and “The Wizard of Oz” is that when Dorothy is first introduced to the wonderful world of Oz, the munchkins are graffiti upon the walls of the park that she is in. When “The Wiz” was released, it wasn’t the best movie in the theater, but I would recommend it because of its tremendous celebrity cast along with the outstanding musical and dance numbers! And especially if you’re looking for a classic remake of a wonderful Broadway play, this is the movie for you!

Music Mania: "Books Turned Movies"

2010-06-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Rental of the Week: "The Barefoot Executive"

2010-06-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

Kurt Russell stars in today's rental recommendation alongside a chimp! I actually really like this movie, and I hope you will too! It follows the story of Steven Post (Kurt Russell) who is a mailroom clerk at a fiction television studio called UBC network! One day, Steven notices that his girlfriend's chimpanzee can pick which TV programs will receive the highest ratings each day! Okay, so how can a chimp do that? Well, if he claps his hands while watching a program, then the show will be a hit, but when he "blows a raspberry" during a show, the program will receive low ratings! Steven uses this to his advantage and pretends that he can predict hit shows! When a show that he predicts will become a hit... becomes a hit... Steven is promoted and eventually becomes the company's vice president! But unfortunately some folks are curious about how Steven is predicting these hit shows and decide to do some hilarious investigating! But how long can Steven hide his secret from not only the world, but also his girlfriend? Yeah, so the plot may sound cheesy, but this is a great comedy that actually takes some thought! Henceforth, the younger crowd may not understand the business side of the film, but they will laugh their heads off at the movie in general!

"Toy Story 3" Review

2010-06-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

It's been 15 years since the original "Toy Story" hit theaters, and 11 years since "Toy Story 2" was released, but now the wait is over, and "Toy Story 3" has arrived! The little Andy we all knew and loved has grown up and is headed to college! The big question is, will he take with him the toys that haven't been played with in years? Of course not! And that's when Woody and the gang wind up at a local daycare center known as Sunnyside! They quickly meet many new toys including a big pinkish teddy named "Lots-O-Huggin" Bear! They also meet Ken, who is immediately attracted to Barbie, and vice versa, because the two were literally made for each other! As for my new favorite characters, I really liked Mr. Prickle Pants, Buttercup, and Trixie! Why? Well, they weren't evil! Now, I don't want to give away any of the plot, but I have to address the fact that some of these new toys weren't as friendly as we were led to believe! However, I had already figured that out by watching the trailers! It not only made the plot feel weak since there was an evil toy in the last movie, but it also eventually got kind of weird! At this point it feels like I'm am going to start bashing the movie, but all I want to say is that I liked the beginning and the ending of the film better than the middle... if that makes any sense at all! I just felt like the beginning and the ending had that warm feeling that the first to films had! However, I don't want to compare this to the first two movies of the series because I don't think they can be topped... at least for me anyway! SEE IT, but don't get your expectations beyond reason like I did!

Rental of the Week: "Toy Story 1 & 2"

2010-06-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

So should "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" be considered as classics? Well., I think they should be, and if they're not already, they will be in years to come! "Toy Story" was the first full-length computer animated feature that changed animated movies forever! The story follows a group of toys owned by a young boy named Andy... oh, and I guess it would be essential to mention that these toys come to life when humans aren't around! In the first film, Woody, a cowboy doll voiced by Tom Hanks, is replaced as Andy's favorite toy by Buzz Lightyear, who is voiced by Tim Allen. The two toys start out to a rough start, but manage to become best friends by the end of the flick! Of course these two aren't the only toys in the toy box! There's Hamm, the piggy bank, Slinky, the slinky dog, Mr. Potato Head, the Mr. Potato Head, and a dinosaur named Rex. In the sequel, new characters come to life like Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl, and Bullseye, Woody's trusty horse! Both movies were critically acclaimed and it goes with out saying that I enjoy them as well!

First Reactions: "The Karate Kid"

2010-06-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

Rental of the Week: "The Story of Seabiscuit"

2010-06-16T19:52:00.001-07:00

"The Story of Seabiscuit" is certainly a feel-good flick that I highly recommend! The 1949 movie stars Shirley Temple as an Irish girl named Margaret O'Hara. Margaret has come to America with her uncle, Shawn O'Hara, who is played by Barry Fitzgerald. Shawn is an Irish horse trainer who has been hired in the US by a man named Thomas Millford. Shawn is hesitant to train horses due to a recent race accident in Ireland that resulted in the death of his nephew, who was Margaret's brother. However, Shawn is an expert in judging horses on whether or not they have racehorse potential, and he convinces Thomas to keep an unprepossessing horse named Seabiscuit. Unfortunately, Thomas is talked out of the idea by his other trainer, George Carson. As for Thomas' jockey, Ted Knowles, he finds himself falling for Margaret, who is spending her time studying to be a nurse. Ted later talks to Shawn about pushing Margaret to liking him, but Shawn will only intervene if Ted will buy Seabiscuit. Ted agrees to the deal, but when he talks to Thomas about buying the horse, Thomas ends up giving into Shawn's faith in Seabiscuit instead. Sadly though, Seabiscuit performs poorly in races. Determined that Seabiscuit has excellent potential, Shawn convinces a racehorse owner from California to buy the horse. The owner, Charles Howard, buys Seabiscuit from Thomas along with Ted's racing contract. Shawn eventually makes Seabiscuit a winner, and Ted eventually woos Margaret, but if you want to know anything else, you're going to have to watch the movie yourself! I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a feel-good feature! I've never seen the re-make of the film, but I doubt it can top this!

"The Karate Kid" Review

2010-06-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

In 1984 the original “Karate Kid” was released, but today I'm reviewing the new re-make starring Jayden Smith and Jackie Chan! Let me first start off by saying that this a true re-make of the original “Karate Kid!” Jayden Smith stars as 12-year old Dre Parker, who’s been living in Detroit, Michigan for his whole life! But when his mother gets job in China, he says goodbye to Detroit… and America for that matter! Once in China, Dre finds himself surrounded by bullies who are trained in Kung-Fu! Oh, but eventually Mr. Miyagi, I mean Mr. Han comes to the rescue! Okay, I know I said it’s a true re-make, and it is, but of course there are some differences! So what are the pros and cons of these differences? Well I did like the fact that we actually had a karate “kid,” but 12 year olds are just too young to be fighting over a girl! Oh, and I was really looking forward to seeing Jackie Chan play Mr. Miyagi, but instead I got him play Mr. Han! Personally, I was disappointed in the name change, but I’ve talked to a few other people who said that they were fine with the idea, because who could replace Pat Morita?
I was impressed with the new training techniques though! I think that some people will miss the wax off wax on thing from the original, but the new techniques not only gave us something new and fresh, but they also gave us something unexpected! So, was the movie predictable? I don’t think so! It’s a lot like the original, but I’m glad they moved the story to China because it gave it a whole new setting and environment! As for the actors, Jayden Smith had a big role to fulfill, and you know what, I think we have ourselves a good little up and coming actor here! Jackie Chan also had a big role to fulfill, and he certainly fulfilled it! I loved Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and you know this movie just made me love her even more! You just really can't go wrong with this film... besides the fact that it's a little long and violent for a kid's movie, but I still say SEE IT!

Rental of the Week: Walt Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"

2010-06-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

I definitely want to recommend different genres of classic movies, so today I'm recommending "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!" Take note that this movie was released in 1954 and computer graphics didn't quite exist at that time! You also might want to take note that you need to pay very close attention when you watch this particular movie. I even recommend doing on little research on the plot as well as using sub-titles! The film is based off of a well-known novel of the same name by Jules Verne. The movie takes place in the 1860s and rumors of a sea monster that has been attacking ships traveling in the Pacific Ocean are flying about! One of the main characters, Professor Aronnax, and his assistant, Conseil, are traveling to Vietnam's largest city, which was at that time called Saigon. The hold up of ships (due to the "sea monster"), however, strands the professor and Conseil in San Fransisco. While in San Fransisco, the American government invites Professor Aronnax to join a crew who will be exploring the Pacific Ocean in search of the so called "see monster!" The professor decides to join the expedition on which he and his assistant meet a crew member named Ned Land. The journey lasts for months until finally the "sea creature" strikes the ship! Somehow or another, the three main characters at this point, Professor Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned, all wind up falling over board during the "attack!" The three of them drift off away from the destroyed ship, and they eventually discover that the "sea monster" is really a submarine shaped like a fish! The men find the submarine empty and decide to take a look inside. Unfortunately though, they are caught and captured by the crew and the submarine's captain, Nemo. I guess it's reasonable to say that Captain Nemo holds the three men hostage on his submarine that he calls the Nautilus. Nemo befriends the professor, while Ned and Conseil make plans for escaping. One of their attempts had me cracking up, but also on the edge of my seat. When the submarine (Nautilus) gets stranding on a reef, both Ned and Conseil are allowed to search the nearby coast for specimens. Ned attempts to escape, but Conseil is too scared for they were told cannibals roam the island. The next thing we know, Ned is running for his life! The two later discover the coordinates to Nemo's secret island base, Vulcania! Ned sends off messages in bottles that contain the coordinates, with hopes that someone will find them before they reach the island. So, does someone find the messages? Well, you'll have to watch the movie to find out! I do like this movie a lot, but I don't recommend it for your next "family movie night!" It's not that the movie is dirty or anything, it's just hard to follow unless you really pay attention, so pay attention and enjoy the sci-fi flick!

"June Trailer Reel"

2010-06-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Rental of the Week: "Yours, Mine, and Ours"

2010-06-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

Throughout the summer I'll recommending older, classic movies! Today's pick is the hilarious comedy, "Yours, Mine, and Ours!" Trust me, you will truly "LOL" when you watch this movie! The flick is actually based off of a book, but it will probably make you think of movies such as "Cheaper By the Dozen," or TV shows like "The Brady Bunch" or "7th Heaven." The movie stars Henry Fonda, who was named the 6th "Greatest Male Star of All Time" by the American Film Institute in 1999. Fonda plays Frank Beardsley, a Navy warrant officer who just happens to be a single father of ten kids! Lucille Ball ("I Love Lucy") plays Helen North, a nurse who works at the naval base to which Frank has been assigned. Helen is also a single parent, but she only has 8 kids! Okay, the whole "only has 8 kids" thing just feels weird saying! Oh, did I mention these people are Catholic? Both Frank and Helen take turns narrating the movie along with a few other characters. Sometimes the actors even talk directly to the camera! This is called "breaking the fourth wall!" Now, of course Frank and Helen eventually fall in love, but they are both nervous about telling one another something. I'm sure you can guess what that "something" is! Well, when the couple finally reveals to each other how many kids they have, it makes perfect since for them to get married... even if the children don't like the idea! As it could predicted, the kids all fight at first, but sooner or later they bond together as one big happy family! La di da da! Okay, so maybe it's predictable, but there is one that I kept second guessing about! That one thing ended up happening! Predictability aside, this is a very funny movie! In particular, there are two scenes that had me cracking up! Over all though, this film is definitely worth watching! As for it's 2005 re-make, well it's worth watching if you want to compare the two!

Emmy's Review - "Prince of Persia"

2010-06-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

When I went to see Prince of Persia I had very low expectations. I figured the movie would be a predictable, usual movie. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the movie started taking strange twists. The movie was obviously corny at parts and some things could have been changed in the plot, however it was a good movie to just go out and see!

Plot - Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a ragamuffin picked up from the streets by the Persian King Sharaman for his bravery and daring. He grows up as his son, along with his two foster brothers, Seso and Garsiv and life is a veritable bed of roses until he is sent by his Uncle (Ben Kingley) to plunder the beautiful city of Alamat, ruled by the feisty Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton). This is the beginning of a nefarious plot of treachery and intrigue where the conflict centres around a mystical dagger that has the power of unleashing time travel and world destruction. Who is desperate for the dagger? And who can save the world?

Rental of the Week: "To Kill a Mockingbird"

2010-05-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

All summer long I'll be recommending older, classic movies! Now, I realize that most people don't care to be sitting around watching a movie on a nice summer day, but today's recommendation is good to watch on one of those rainy days! In my opinion, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a great film to kick off this whole classic recommendation theme! It's actually based off of a novel by Harper Lee of the same name. Half of the movie focuses on a mischievous pair of siblings. There's 6 year old, Scout (Mary Badham), and her older brother, Jem (Philip Alford).
The two kids are being raised by their father, Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck). Not only is Atticus a widower, but he is also a lawyer. The movie takes place in Alabama during the Depression-era. If you read a quick summary of this movie it might read: A lawyer living in the south during the 1930s, defends a black man against a rape charge! Okay, whoa! Let's get back to the kids... Both Scout and Jem, along with a neighborhood friend, embark on many adventures in the little fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. The movie mainly focuses on when they spy on the neighborhood "boogieman," "Boo" Radley. The siblings' care-free life eventually changes when their father defends a black man, Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), who is being falsely accused of raping a white woman. Keep in mind that the movie takes place in a time when racism was accepted and the "N" word was used freely. Though Atticus is practically shunned by many of the white people in the community, he doesn't give up. His children begin to get curious about why they are being treated differently. Atticus simply takes the opportunity to explain to them why racism is wrong. A good bit of the movie takes place during Tom's trial. Actually, the movie holds the title of having the most famous (and best) court scene of all time... I kind of agree! The court scene would probably be the only part
that might bore someone. Of course, I can't give away anything about the outcome of the trial. You'll have to watch the movie if you want to know what happens. As for what really makes this movie special... the kids! It's interesting to see how much fun they have without televisions, video games, computers, etc. So, is this appropriate for kids? Well, younger children won't understand about the trial, but they'll love seeing all the mischief that Scout and Jem get into. Adults who like good, not just enjoyable, but good movies, will like this. I will say that you actually have to pay attention to keep up with what's going on! So when a rainy day comes along this summer, be sure to sit down and watch "To Kill a Mockingbird!" Even if it doesn't rain, watch this movie!

Spoof it Up!

2010-05-29T08:43:00.001-07:00

Spoof it Up becomes our new segment!

"Shrek Forever After" Review

2010-05-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

It's been nine years since the original "Shrek," and since then there has been "Shrek 2," "Shrek the Third," a TV Christmas special called "Shrek the Halls," "Shrek the Musical on Broadway," and now the final chapter has arrived. Whether you call it "Shrek Forever After," "Shrek: The Final Chapter," or even "Shrek 4," the film is still the fourth and allegedly final installment of the series. Shrek has finally made it to his happily ever after, but it's not exactly "ogre" enough for him. He has kids to take care of, a wife to please, and he's also a celebrity these days. So who is there better to solve his problems than the sneaky Rumpelstiltskin? Shrek makes a deal with Rumpel in which he must give up a day of his life in order to have a day that he can return to being the ogre he once was. Of course, there's always a catch to a deal that's too good to be true, and Rumpel takes away the day Shrek was born. So what would things be like if Shrek never had been born? He would never have met Donkey, Puss in Boots, nor his wife, Fiona. So, what if? That's exactly what you'll find out when you see this movie! As you can tell, the plot is a little weak; however it's not as weak as you'd think. Overall, it reminded me of a few other movies like "The Santa Clause 3," in which the main character, in this case Shrek, is fed up with life, but doesn't realize how good his life is until it's gone. I went into the movie with very low expectations because this was the fourth time filmmakers have had to try and please audiences. When the first film released, I feel like everyone was wrapped up in the idea of something new and fresh that appealed to both kids and adults. The same goes for the second one, but not that many people were crazy about "Shrek the Third." I personally thought the third one was fine, and I feel the same way about this new one. It lacks the adult appeal that the first two movies had, but simultaneously, it is still a cute movie! It probably would have made a better straight to DVD release, for it did not continue the story, but instead, ended it on a happy note!

Music Mania: "Dreamworks Animation"

2010-05-16T12:06:00.001-07:00

Critic's Round-Up: "Iron Man 2"

2010-05-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

"Iron Man 2" Review

2010-05-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

The ever so obnoxious, self-centered, narcissistic Tony Stark is back! If you're unfamiliar with the first movie, "Iron Man," Tony Stark (played by Robert Downing Jr.) is the head of Stark Industries, which is basically a weapons manufacturing company. Now Stark may be a genius, but he doesn't quite have a clue. Luckily though, he has a superb assistant who goes by the name of "Pepper" Potts! Pepper, who is played by Gwyneth Paltrow, gets a promotion in the new movie and becomes the CEO of Stark Industries. Stepping in as Tony's new assistant is none other than Scarlett Johansson. So if Tony is no longer the CEO of Stark Industries, and he has a personal assistant to wait on him 24/7, what exactly does he do? Oh wait, he's Iron Man! This time around Iron Man has himself a new foe to fight off, Whiplash aka Mickey Rourke! But he doesn't have to do it alone. That's where his friend "Rohdey," or as some like to call him, War Machine, steps in. Oh, and they also have some help from Black Widow, who is really Tony's assistant, who is really Scarlett Johansson. So does that make any sense? Well for fans of the "Iron Man" series or comic book junkies, it might! But as for the average movie goer, not so much! Now I wasn't a huge fan of the first "Iron Man," but after seeing this one I immediately had to go back and watch it again. Why did I do that? Well it wasn't because this new one was so good that I decided to give the first one another try... I just wanted to compare the two! So what is my comparison? Well, I really don't think I liked one of them better than the other, but there were certain elements that I liked better in each one. I felt like the first "Iron Man" did a better job of keeping the movie's humor consistent, while "Iron Man 2" did a better job of keeping the movie's action sequences consistent! My biggest problem with the first "Iron Man" was that it didn't keep my attention as good as "Iron Man 2" did. In the first film we were just kind of being introduced to Iron Man and the whole film led up to on big action scene. But with the new one, there were about 3 or 4 action scenes, which still wasn't enough to satisfy me. I mean, I left wanting more, and when I say that, I don't mean it was so good that I could have watched another hour or so... I just felt like it wasn't enough, and maybe I was the only one that felt like that because apparently I was the only one who wasn't crazy about the first movie!
As for the actors... Robert Downing Jr. was of course great! I think he does a really good job in the role of Tony Stark. I don't think his smart-aleck attitude got as many laughs as I though it would. Gwyneth Paltrow is also very good in the role of "Pepper" Potts! I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but there was actually a moment in the movie when I thought we were going to lose "Pepper!" Mickey Rourke nailed that Russian accent! I was really happy to see him in this film because he and Robert both have really made comebacks in their careers. Scarlett Johansson actually surprised me! I was a little disappointed that she didn't get very much screen time as Black Widow, but maybe they'll include her more in "Iron Man 3," if they make an "Iron Man 3," which I'm sure they will! Don Cheadle stepped in for Terrance Howard to play "Rohdey" in the movie, and I would have to say that he did a good job! Was he as good as Terrance? Well I don't know! I don't think he played the role exactly like Terrance did, but he still managed to give a decent performance. Oh, and let's not forget Samuel L. Jackson! He plays this guy who is trying to recruit Iron Man to join the Avengers, which is another comic book series that's kind of a collaboration of superheroes. But anyway, yeah, it's Samuel L. Jackson! So do I recommend this movie? Well it wasn't enough to satisfy mean, but I think it's still worth checking out! Be sure and stay after the credits, and keep your eyes open for Stan Lee!

Help us pick a new segment!

2010-05-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

We need help picking our new summer segment! Which of the following would you like to see:

Let us know by leaving us a comment on our Facebook page! The new segment will premiere at the end of May!

Summer 2010!

2010-05-02T06:13:00.001-07:00

"Beauty and the Briefcase"

2010-04-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

So I just watched the new ABC Family original movie, "Beauty and the Briefcase" starring my girl, Hilary Duff! Yes, I'm a really big fan of Hilary, but I have to look past my obsession and critique this movie for what it is... a chick flick! Duff plays Lane Daniels, a fashion journalist who is working undercover to write an article about dating businessmen. I was confused by her portrayal of Lane, for I couldn't decide if she was ditsy or just desperate! To some she might come over as desperate since she has a list of characteristics that her "magic man" must have. However, the editor of "Cosmo" magazine loves the idea and gives Lane a chance to write a cover story. The catch being that Lane has to date men only in the workplace. At first the task seems easy because there are "so many men" in the business world. Unfortunately, the guy that has all of the characteristics on Lane's list isn't a businessman! Okay, so you see where this is going. Well maybe not! Just remember that things are not always as they seem. I definitely recommend this movie to women, especially women that like movies with shirtless men and sex talk! I guess the best part of the movie for me was the suspense of finding out which guy she would end up with. Oh, did I mention there's a twist or two! Sadly though, it was predictable that there would be a twist. Anyway, this movie is a fun chick flick and should satisfy most Hilary Duff fans. Although I would have to recommend that you check out her last movie, "According to Greta" before watching this one. She can act, I promise!

"Amish Grace"

2010-03-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching the fantastic new Lifetime Movie Network TV movie, "Amish Grace." It's a film based on the true story of how a gunman took the lives of five Amish school girls in the peaceful Amish community of Nickel Mines. The movie stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who many will recognize from the "Father of the Bride" films. She plays Ida Graber, one of the Amish mothers who tragically loses her daughter in the unexpected schoolhouse shooting. Though her performance is strong,
Tammy Blanchard's portrayal of Amy Roberts' is truly the performance that stands out. She plays the wife of the gunman, Charles Roberts, and there is just enough grief and confusion in her face that sums up the whole character. My favorite aspects of the film were the reporters and how they handled the tragedy. The movie was actually adapted from a book, which was of course adapted from the true story that occurred only a few years ago. So why was such a good movie only made for television? In my opinion, a theatrical film would have focused on the wrong parts of the story. However, with this TV release, the focus was on the struggle of how the Amish community forgave Charles Roberts, despite the pain he caused and the sin he committed. It's definitely worth checking out if you like a good movie adaptation of a true story!

Our New Segment!

2010-03-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

"Alice In Wonderland" Review

2010-03-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

Unless you're familiar with the story of "Alice In Wonderland," Tim Burton's new rendition may get a little confusing. In this version, all the creatures of Wonderland, or should I say Underland, are trying to find a girl named Alice. Now we know that there has been an Alice who has visited "Underland" before, but we're not sure if the Alice the movie introduces us to is the one that all of the creatures are looking for. So to be certain, the creatures try to re-create everything that
happened to the real Alice. For example, she falls down the rabbit hole, she shrinks, she grows, and of course, she attends the tea party. So why do the creatures need Alice to return to

Underland? Well, to make a long story short, the Red Queen has taken over and the White Queen can't do anything about it! And since the Red Queen controls the Jabberwocky... I think I'll stop there. The movie's really not as complicated as I've made it sound, but I think it probably would have been better to have named the film "Return to Wonderland" or something. Aside from the fact that it's more of a sequel/continuation of true "Alice In Wonderland" story, I still really enjoyed it! There has been some controversy surrounding the whole dark tone of the film and how kids won't like it, but I really don't think kids are going to have a problem with the darkness of the movie. However it's probably going to be over a young child's head and there's not enough pre-teen humor for tweens and teens to really latch on! It's definitely a movie for mature audiences, and when I say that I don't mean it has inappropriate nonsense, but rather a more serious style that may not be what everyone is expecting! Johnny Depp returns for another eccentric role (the Mad Hatter) that he pulls off with ease! This was actually his 7th film with Tim Burton, I believe! Also joining Tim Burton again was Helena Bonham Carter, who played the Red Queen. Despite an over sized head, she delivered a very good performance! Starring in her first movie with Tim Burton was Anne Hathaway, and based on her performance it could possibly be her last film with Tim Burton! The performance that really stood out though was Mia Wasikowska's portrayal of Alice! I would say SEE this movie, but I'm taking into consideration that like most Tim Burton movies, this will only appeal to a certain audience, and it's not going to be every body's cup of tea I guess I should say. Oh, but be sure and SEE IT in 3-D!

Rental of the Week: Black History Month

2010-02-27T13:24:00.000-08:00

In honor of Black History Month, each weekend we'll present a special "Rental of the Week" that honors African American triumphs! This week we're recommending the 2007 musical re-make of "Hairspray"! The movie stars a number of well known actors and actresses including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walker, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney, and the newcomer of the bunch - Nikki Blonsky! Nikki plays Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenager living in Baltimore during the

1960s, who inspires to be a dancer on the local Corny Collins Show. She's got all the right moves, but she's not quite the right size according to the show's manager, Velma Von Tussle, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Corny Collins, played by James Marsden, however, sees past Tracy's size and puts her on the show after an open audition. Her charisma not only impresses Corny, but also the show's heart throb, Link Larkin, played by Zac Efron. Not impressed is Link's girlfriend Amber, played by Brittany Snow, who happens to be Velma's daughter. Tracy loves being on the show, but she wishes that her black friends such as Seaweed, played by Elijah Kelley, could dance with her instead of just during the monthly "Negro Day" hosted by Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah). However, Tracy seems to be alone in her efforts to integrate the show. Before long though, Tracy has the

support of her parents - Edna (John Travolta) and Wilbur (Christopher Walken) - along with the support of her best friend Penny (Amanda Bynes)! Even Link comes around eventually! In the end, against Velma's wishes, Corny Collins declares the show officially and forever integrated! It's a really fun movie filled with tons of great music and lot's off great dancing! The movie became the highest grossing musical film when it was released back in 2007, but was over run by "Mama Mia" and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" a year later!

2nd Annual Oscar Predictions

2010-02-21T12:23:00.000-08:00

Whitt and Emmy return for Movie Mania's second annual Oscar Predictions as they predict who will win what at this year's Academy Awards!

Rental of the Week: Black History Month

2010-02-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

In honor of Black History Month, each weekend we'll present a special "Rental of the Week" that honors African American triumphs! This week we're recommending the movie "No More Baths"! I saw this back when I was in fourth grade when a copy of the film was sent to all the elementary schools in the county. I've tried my best to get my hands on a copy these past few weeks, but so far, no luck! Fortunately, the movie made a lasting impression and I remember it very well! It follows the story of a few kids who spend their free with the elderly man of the neighborhood, Jake, who is played by Jim Mapp. Most parents are fine with the kids hanging out on Jake's land and helping him with his garden. Others, however, are a little concerned, and unfortunately, it's because Jake is black! If I remember correctly, the parents who are uncomfortable with their kids being around Jake strike up a deal with a land developer who threatens to take Jake's land away from him. What the racist parents didn't see coming though, was a protest! Not just any protest though! When Jake is arrested and taken from his home, the neighborhood kids decide to protest the situation by no longer taking baths... hence the title, "No More Baths"! It's been a while since I've seen the movie, but I would love to see it again someday! So even though it may hard to find a copy the movie, do your best because it's definitely not one to miss out on!

"Star Struck"

2010-02-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

Disney Channel releases yet another let down! The newest Disney Channel original movie - "Star Struck" wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but it still wasn't great! Let's face it, Disney Channel will never be able to make movies like they use to. The film stars Sterling Knight from the Disney channel series "Sonny With a Chance"! I don't mind Disney using their TV show stars in their movies, but not if they're playing the same exact role they play on their TV show! In "Sonny With a Chance," Knight plays a famous teenager and in "Star Struck" he plays... a famous teenager! The movie's previews made it seem that his character, Christopher Wilde, would be a self-absorbed celebrity, but oddly enough, his character he plays on "Sonny" was much more self-absorbed. It never really focused on the fact that he was a vain pop-star, but instead, that he was a pop-star desperate to be left alone by the paparazzi! Also starring in the movie was fellow "Sonny With a Chance" star, Brandon Mychal Smith, and "JONAS" star, Chelsea Staub. Newcomer, Danielle Campbell, played Jessica Olsen, a normal teen who somehow winds up spending a day with Christopher Wilde while on her vacation in Hollywood. Most teenage girls would freak out if they could spend a day with the sensational star, but not Jessica! Her feelings toward Christopher could be compared to my feelings toward Miley Cyrus! Eventually though, a predictable storyline unfolds as she falls in love with the pop star. However, they simply can't be together because the paparazzi would destroy they're relationship. But the paparazzi can't stand in the way of love can it? Of course not! So you see where this is going... The movie wasn't as bad or as cheesy as some of Disney Channel's latest films, but for once I want Disney to do something that doesn't involve music and someone that is famous! Though "The Cheetah Girls" was not meant to start a line of music incorporated movies, Disney took the movie's success and turned into a collection of fan-fed films rather than quality movies like they used to make! The music featured in "Star Struck" wasn't exactly all that catchy, and I'm not actually sure that Sterling Knight can REALLY sing. The biggest let-down was that the two leads never kissed, but there were plenty of fake-outs! We all know what that means... a sequel! SKIP IT!

"Valentine's Day" Reel Review

2010-02-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

So "Valentine's Day"... Well, basically we are following a group of people struggle through the most romantic day of the year - Valentine's Day!

The movie wasn't really meant to have a big story line, it was mainly just for entertainment! And honestly, I would have to say that I was pretty entertained. The really neat thing about the film was getting to see how all of the characters connected in the end.

Another thing I really liked was that every age group was addressed throughout the movie...

There was...

an older couple...

a middle-aged couple...

a young-adult couple...
a teenage couple...

There was even a toddler couple...

So actor analyzation... You're pretty much star struck when you watch this movie, so the acting doesn't really matter! I would have to say that Ashton Kutcher had the most screen time in this film. He played the florist, so most of the movie centered around him. Jennifer Garner also had a lot of screen time, and let me just say, that girl can sure tear up a pinata!

Taylor Swift made her acting debut in this film! She played sort of the ditsy character, and I thought that she did a pretty good job. I was a little disappointed that some of the most talented actors and actresses, such as Julia Roberts and Kathy Bates, were barely in any scenes! As for Julia Robert's niece, Emma Roberts, who is also known as my future wife, she deserved much better than the guy they chose to play her boyfriend! But like I said, the acting didn't matter, and once again, everything was mainly for entertainment.

But all these women that like Patrick Dempsey may be a little surprised by his character in this particular movie. I'm just telling you ahead of time!

The theater experience for this movie was actually really good! People were laughing, clapping, and maybe crying, I don't know, but everyone was really getting into it and seemed to enjoy it! As for me, I would have to say that I enjoyed it as well and even though it might not be the most critically acclaimed film, it was still very entertaining! SEE IT!

Rental of the Week: Black History Month

2010-02-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

In honor of Black History Month, each weekend we'll present a special "Rental of the Week" that honors African American Triumphs! This week we're recommending an Emmy Award Winning TV movie, "The Color of Friendship"! There are not many well known actors in this movie, but it's probably better that way. The true story follows an African American family from 1977. The father, Ron Dellums, played by Carl Lumbly, is a congressman who is outspoken against the South African apartheid system. His daughter, Piper, played by Shadia Simmons, wants to invite an African exchange student to their home. Though her father is against the idea, her mother, Roscoe Dellums, played by Penny Johnson, talks him into it. The family assumes that they are going to be hosting a student who will be black, but when a white student shows up instead, they try to be welcoming despite their surprise. However, the student, Mahree Bok, played by Lindsey Haun, was just as surprised to learn that she would be staying with a black family. Where she comes from in South Africa, the apartheid system is not questioned, and her father just happens to be a South African police officer who supports the system. Both Piper and Mahree are upset, and Congressman Dellums states that the situation of having a racist South African stay at their house is like "being a Jew and having Gestapo over"! Eventually though, the congressman gets used to the idea, and Mahree learns to overcome seeing strange black people as threats! The two girls become best friends, but Mahree still doesn't understand that the apartheid system in her own country is wrong. One day, Steve Bikio (a black South African fighting against apartheid) is killed by African police, and Mahree finally learns the connection between her experiences in America and the situation in South Africa. When she returns home from America, she proudly signifies her decision to side with the black liberation movement. The Disney Channel movie was met with overwhelming praise when it was released back in 2000, and was shown frequently through 2001. For some reason though, the station stopped airing the movie until 2006 when it began airing annually in February to coincide with "Black History Month"! The movie has aired on the channel a few times this month, so be sure and check your local listings for showings.

Oscar Reactions!

2010-02-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

Well, the Oscar nominations have been announced as of February 2nd, and the biggest surprise was that "The Blind Side" was nominated for Best Picture! Also suprisingly in that category were Disney Pixar's "Up" and "District 9"! Of course there were ten slots for Best Picture rather than five this year, which left open space for more popular movies. Though it's interesting to see those type of films nominated, "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker" are the two we need to keep our eyes on! Other categories with unsure outcomes include Actress in a Leading Role- Meryl Streep or Sandra Bullock? Shoe-ins for wins include Mo'Nique for Actress in a Supporting Role and Christoph Waltz! For a full list of Oscar contenders head to http://www.oscar.go.com/nominations/nominees

Rental of the Week: Black History Month

2010-02-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

In honor of Black History Month, each weekend we'll present a special "Rental of the Week" that honors African American triumphs! With this week being "Superbowl Week"- the movie we're recommending is "Remember The Titans" starring Denzel Washington. It's based on the true story of T. C. Williams High School. In the 1970s, two schools in Virginia, one all black school and one all white school, integrate to form one big high school - T. C. Williams High School. The story follows the high school's football team, the Titans. When the Caucasian head coach is replaced by an African American coach (Denzel Washington) from North Carolina, tensions rise when players of different races are forced together on the same football team. However, much tension is eased when the team is taken to a training camp in Gettysburg, Virginia. Though the team overcomes the idea of an integrated school, the rest of the town does not. Fortunately, as the football season progresses, the Titans' success causes the community to accept the changes. Aside from many hardships along the way, a perfect season leads to a closer team and community. You can never go wrong with a football film, and this one is definitely worth watching!

February Trailer Reel

2010-02-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

It's our monthly "Trailer Reel" show and we check out the trailers for "Dear John," "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," and "Valentine's Day"!

Season 3 Premiere!

2010-01-20T20:25:00.000-08:00

Movie Mania is back for Season 3!

Our New Show!

2010-01-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Be sure and check out our new show, "American Idol Weekly" where we have weekly discussions/recaps of everything American Idol! It all begins January 15 at http://www.youtube.com/user/americanidolweekly! Plus, during the premiere, we'll have a look at what you can expect from Movie Mania's third season, which premieres January 20!

"According to Greta"

2010-01-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

"According to Greta" was screened at film festivals as just "Greta" but with the Los Angeles release on December 11, it was entitled as "According to Greta"! Now the version I saw was just entitled - "Greta" - but I highly doubt there's any difference! Either way, this was a really good movie! Of course anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge Hilary Duff fan, which is why I saw this movie, but I'm not just recommending it because of her. Hilary plays Greta, a seventeen year old who's been sent off to stay with her grandparents for the summer! Greta may be relieved to get away from her mother and her mother's 9th husband, but she's not excited to be living with her grandparents. Following in her suicidal father's footsteps, Greta plans to die before she turns eighteen. She's made a list of all the ways she would like to die, but she has also made a list of all the things she wants to do before she dies! She wants to eat a bug, get in a fist-fight with a grown man, lose her virginity, and maybe get a tattoo... At first, her grandparents have a hard time deciding if she's serious or just being dramatic... and after a while, I found myself wondering the same thing! To be honest, there wasn't a point in the whole entire movie where I wasn't on the edge of my seat in suspense! You just don't know what she's going to do next! Now I know Hilary, and I have seen her work, but I've got to say this was the best performance of her career! I actually found myself forgetting that she was Hilary Duff... and that normally doesn't happen... I'm not hating... I'm just saying! The movie also stared Academy Award Winner, Ellen Burstyn and Academy Award Nominee, Melissa Leo, both gave great performances as well. Then there's Evan Ross, Diana Ross' son, who played Greta's love interest... with a criminal record I might add. He actually wasn't half bad, though I never care too much for any of Hilary's on-screen lovers! The movie only had a limited theatrical release, but the DVD is set to hit stores on January 19! If your like me and can't wait until then... it's on YouTube! It's a suspenseful movie with a lot of good humor! So SEE IT for yourself to find out life "According to Greta"!

The Best and Worst of 09!

2010-01-01T11:08:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! Yep, 2010 is here and with it comes a line-up of brand new movies! But before we begin anticipating all the new films hitting the big screen in 2010, let's reflect on some of my favorite (and least favorite) movies of 09!

"The Blind Side" was a movie that I didn't review on the show, but I'm telling you now that it's a "must see"! The majority of the time you can't go wrong when you make a football movie, but in - "The Blind Side"- football isn't the main focus! It follows the story of Michael Oher, a teenager that's bound to fail in life until a wealthy go-getter, Leigh Anne Tohuy (Sandra Bullock) takes him in and eventually makes him a successful member of the family! Now it's based off of the true story of the real life Michael Oher who currently plays professional football for the Baltimore Ravens. But like I said, football is just the eye catcher of it all, the real light to the movie is it's story of rags to riches! Although I probably would have chosen a different actor here and there, and maybe lightened up on the southern accents, this movie is well worth any one's time. It was definitely my favorite movie of the year and the only one in which I found myself clapping before the movie was even over!

And then there's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"...

Now I wasn't a huge fan of the first film, but I was even less of a fan of the second one. First of all, robots should cry... or fart for that matter! But then there's the fact this movie was probably made so that Michael Bay could prove to us that he could make the loudest film ever! Well, he succeeded! But he also succeeded in making my least favorite movie of the year! This movie had my lowest rating of 2009 - 2 out of 5 - and I probably should have classified it as "not good enough for a rating"... but I've never done that before! Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox returned playing... oh who am I kidding there's no acting in the movie! Any way, Shia LaBeouf finds himself in the middle of a war between the Autobots and the Decepticons... enough said! Whether this was a good movie or not, it's currently the highest grossing film of 09... what is this world coming to?

"AVATAR"

2009-12-31T10:39:00.001-08:00

James Cameron returns with his new film, "AVATAR"! Now the story follows Jake Sulley, a former Marine who's wounded legs restrain him from walking. He's come to a moon known as Pandora to take his twin brother's place in the AVATAR program. However, other humans have come to Pandora for another reason! There's a little gray rock that covers Pandora that could sell for millions! But if anyone plans on mining, they'll have to get through Pandora's population of blue natives known as the Na'vi. Jake's duty is to learn about the Na'vi through his AVATAR, but eventually he finds himself in love with one of the natives! So in the end, Jake will have to choose between his duty to the humans, or his loyalty to the Marines...

Now I didn't set out to see this movie for its storyline, I was simply going to get a glimpse of its amazing visual effects! I remember seeing movies like "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and thinking how cool the special effects were, but now that I've seen "AVATAR", special effects in movies like "Narnia" look like dirt! Everything just looked real! Not fake-REAL! It was AWESOME!

I will have to agree with everything I've read about this movie being like Pocahontas! I mean the native falls in love with the foreigner and there's a war, but the big difference- in Pocahontas they call a truce and in "AVATAR" it's a fight to the finish! But once again, it's not about the storyline, it's all about the AMAZING visual effects! SEE IT! (And don't worry about the 3-D it wasn't a huge deal)

Disney's "The Princess and the Frog"

2009-12-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

The wait if FINALLY over! Disney returns to 2-D, hand-drawn animation with their new film, "The Princess and the Frog"! Filled with tons of new songs by composer Randy Newman and plenty of new characters that can join the Disney family, this movie was a great start in what should become a string of successful animated features. Disney is already in the works for "Rapunzel" which is set to hit theaters next holiday season. But this time, our princess is a girl named Tiana! She will fit right into the Disney Princess family, although, her dream isn't to "meet her prince charming and dance off into her happily ever after"! Being inspired by her father, she dreams of owning her very own New Orleans restaurant, and she's "Almost There"... she just needs the money! Tiana is voiced by Tony Award winner, Anika Noni Rose, who also stared in the movie "Dreamgirls" back in 2006. Tiana's dream is put on hold when she meets Prince Naveen... except when she meets him... he's a frog!

This is the kind of movie that Disney is supposed to be making, but did it live up to previous animated features? In my opinion, Disney will never be able to create hand-drawn animation masterpieces like "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Lion King" because the new generations are not as fascinated by the hand-drawn creations as people were years ago.

The key isn't necessarily hand-drawn animation, it's good quality, family movies... which is exactly what Disney has done with "The Princess and the Frog"! Though it lacked memorable music, it is a great film that the entire family will enjoy! When I say it lacked memorable music, I mean that unless you have the soundtrack and you've been listening to it non-stop, you probably won't be able to leave the theater singing any of the music in the movie. The one song that stuck out to me was the song "Down In New Orleans" which was played during the beginning of the movie and performed by Randy Newman himself. If any Oscar nominations are in store, that will probably be the song that will be nominated. I would have preferred for Alan Menken, who composed many of the songs for Disney's previous animated musicals such as "The Little Mermaid" to have written the movie's music, but Randy Newman was fine. As for the movie's characters, I didn't find them to be that likable! Tiana was so determined to open up her own restaurant to a point you find yourself saying, forget the restaurant and fall in love with the prince. And as for Prince Naveen, you weren't exactly "on his side" until about mid-way through the film. Other characters such as Mama Odie, the fairy godmother figure, and the villain, Dr. Facilier, weren't very impressive either. The two characters that stood out the most were the movie's two goofy sidekicks that reminded me of Timon and Pumba. Ray and Louis were humorous characters that won't just catch the children's attention, but grown-ups as well! I think any age will enjoy the movie, but unfortunately it mainly appeals to a range of 6 to 8 year olds. I would have only changed one thing about the film, but I can't say what it is because it might ruin the ending! Other than that, be sure and SEE IT!

"Disney Animation Celebration!"

2009-12-12T15:37:00.001-08:00

In honor of Disney's release of the new animated movie, "The Princess and the Frog", we discuss some of the best of Disney animation and how 'The Princess and the Frog" will play out among the rest!

Countdown to Christmas!

2009-12-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

"It's A Wonderful Life"

"Babes in Toyland"

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"

"Elf"

Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

"The Nativity Story"

"Olive the Other Reindeer"

"Jingle All The Way"

"Eloise At Christmastime"

"Frosty the Snowman"

"The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause"

"The Santa Clause 2"

"The Santa Clause"

"The Polar Express"

"Home Alone" & "Home Alone 2: Lost In New York"

"Annabelle's Wish"

"To Grandmother's House We Go"

"A Christmas Story"

"I'll Be Home for Chirstmas"

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

"The Ultimate Christmas Present"

"White Christmas"

"Christmas with the Kranks"

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

"Miracle on 34th Street"

December Movie Trailer Reel

2009-11-30T17:21:00.000-08:00

We check out the trailers for Disney's "The Princess and the Frog", "Avatar", and "Alvin and the Chimpmunks: The Squeakel"!

"Skyrunners" Review!

2009-11-28T21:05:00.000-08:00

"Skyrunners" is the first ever "Disney XD" original movie! The "Disney XD" channel was launched back in February in hopes of gaining a male audience. With shows on the "Disney Channel"- such as "Hannah Montana"- that are mostly geared toward girls, "Disney XD" features shows and movies that are mainly geared toward young males. Now this movie stars an already "Disney XD" star, Kelly Blatz from the hit show "Aaron Stone"! Kelly plays Nick, a nonchalant high school senior who sleeps in only boxers! His younger brother, Tyler (played by Joey Pollari), is just a freshman who hasn't quite hit puberty and still sleeps in pajamas! One night, while driving home, these two teenage boys come across a UFO! Oh yes, now you see where this is going! At this point in the movie, I was still thinking, well this could turn out to be "okay"... maybe I was wrong! Now once the boys take home the UFO and manage to hide it from their mother, the media, and secret agents of some sort, Tyler takes it for a spin in space! (Oh my word!!! A teenager in space!!!) Now of course, since he is just hitting puberty and went into space, some sort of weird superhuman abilities are thrust upon him! He grows taller, gets hairier, and his voice even changes! Sounds like normal male puberty to me! But did I mention this all happens overnight! (Gasp!) And let's not forget that he also can hear others thoughts! At this point in the movie, everything seems to be focusing on the most disturbing word in the English language... PUBERTY! But, not for long... because there are all of a sudden aliens among us! Yes, the most realistic looking aliens that I have ever seen in my entire life are going to destroy the world! (That was all very sarcastic by the way! Except for the part about these aliens destroying the world!) So, the brothers somehow destroy all of the aliens with a bomb of some sort... or so they thought... but I don't want to ruin the ending! Anyway, this movie wasn't good! Although it wasn't terrible, the ages that will be watching this movie will find it to be way too awkward, due to the fact puberty is mentioned so many times! I think this would have made a much better "Teen Nick" movie for the teenage "Nickelodeon" channel, for teens can handle all the aspects of puberty while younger kids (let's say ages 6 to 11) probably wouldn't understand or would feel very uncomfortable... I think I even felt a little uncomfortable! SKIP IT!!!

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

2009-11-25T18:14:00.000-08:00

It's the movie that everyone has been waiting for... but was it any good? After the mega-hit movie, "Twilight" based off of Stephanie Meyer's bestselling novel, the sequel - "New Moon" - has been on high anticipation for quite some time. Now "Twilight" didn't quite hit the 5 star point for many people, including myself, but "New Moon" is a different story (no pun intended)! Not only was I anxious to see this, but I was excited! Just by the trailer you can tell that this time around, they stepped everything up a notch! A new director, a new budget... a big budget, and a few new additions to the cast that make it even more appealing! This movie was simply AMAZING! I know that sounds weird for how low expectations were from a lot of critics, but this was just a 100 times better than "Twilight"! The biggest difference being- the special effects! "Twilight" captured the more artistic side to the story, but this time that wasn't the case! The acting was better, the special effects were better, the whole movie in general was just better! Just take my word for it!

Twilight Phenomenon

2009-11-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

Disney's "A Christmas Carol"

2009-11-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

Charles Dickens' timeless tale of an old miser who must face Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come, as they help to bring kindness to his otherwise cold heart. The Ghosts remind him of the man he used to be, the hard truth of what the world is today, and what will happen if he does not strive to be a better... man. Set around Christmas, the most joyous day of the year, Scrooge realizes the sharp contrast of his own personality.

November Movie Trailer Reel

2009-11-02T17:46:00.000-08:00

We check out the trailers for Disney's "A Christmas Carol", "2012", and the highly anticipated, "Twilight Saga: New Moon"!

"Michael Jackson's This Is It"

2009-10-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

On this episode of Movie Mania, we talk to a true MJ fan about the new movie, "This Is It"! Plus, we have a few Halloween movie reccomendations!

"New Moon" Sneak Peek!

2009-10-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

"Where the Wild Things Are"

2009-10-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

Misunderstood at home and at school, mischievous Max escapes to a land populated by majestic, and sometimes fierce, creatures known as the Wild Things! Be sure to check out our coverage on the film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are"! Plus we discuss our favorite movies based off of books! The movie in itself isn't what you'd expect from being based off a children's story, but then again, it's much better that way! This movie wasn't quite as good as I had hoped that it would be, although adults that enjoy heartwarming films might enjoy it! My parents... not so much!

The Reel Deal: October Edition

2009-10-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

We discuss topics such as the re-release of the "Toy Story" films and how "Michael Jackson's This Is It" concert movie will rank up against previous concert movie releases.

October Movie Trailer Reel

2009-10-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

We check out the trailers for "Where the Wild Things Are", "Amelia", and Michael Jackson's This Is It"!

2009-09-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

"FAME! Remember my name!" I have been anticipated this movie for awhile and had very high expectations! For the most part, they were lived up, but it was totally the opposite of what I had expected! This movie was a music filled drama, but felt a bit like a documentary! A good documentary though! It was only rated PG, but needed to be PG-13 for a few inappropriate elements. The only disappointment I had was that it didn't feature a performance of the song "Fame"! But other than that it was all good in the hood! (I had to say that since the film takes place in NYC)

Lydia's Rental of the Week - "Ghost"

2009-09-26T15:43:00.002-07:00

Sam Wheat, a investment banker on the rise, is killed by what seems to be a random mugging, which in actuality was a premeditated act that got botched. The love for his girlfriend, Molly, and being out of sorts because of his untimely death, he doesn’t go on to heaven but instead stays behind as a ghost, lingering around Molly, frustrated that she can’t hear or see him. That is until he finds Oda Mae Brown, a scam-artist of a psychic who in fact learns herself that she really does have the gift after meeting Sam. Now, with Oda Mae’s help, Sam needs to protect Molly from the same people who killed him before it’s too late. This 1990 hit is a film with multi-layered genres, such as Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Thriller and Drama. It’s also filled with multi-layered talent such as Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg and Tony Goldwyn. Whoopi won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal as Oda Mae Brown. And Patrick Swayze does an amazing performance in the lead role as Sam Wheat. Sadly, Patrick just passed away recently and it is a real loss. He will be dearly missed by so many and will always be remembered, especially in this role which catapulted his career to major stardom at the time!

Movie Mania- The Reel Deal: September Edition

2009-09-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

We talk about Disney's latest "purchase" as well as look back on some of Patrick Swayze's greatest work! Oh and we also reveal what the name of the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie is going to be! Check out in this month's REEL DEAL!

September Movie Trailer Reel

2009-09-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of each month we like to check out the trailers for movies coming out in that month! So here's the September Movie Trailer Reel!

2009-08-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

"Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie" is the latest Disney Channel original film. After two seasons of a tv show, "Wizards of Waverly Place" has it's own movie! Okay, so first of all, the tv show has very low standards, in my opinion. It's a very silly comedy, but the movie is the total opposite! Originally, when I heard about the series in 2007, I had hoped it would be a serious tv series. The movie is everything I could have wanted for the series, and more! The movie, along with the series, stars Selena Gomez as Alex Russo, and average teen who happens to be wizard. She and her family own a sandwich shop in a new york city substation. Her older brother, Justin, played by David Henry, is the intelligent, responsible child. Max, her younger brother, played by Jake T. Austin, is just like any other immature tween, but can sometimes make sense of things. Now at first I wasn't sure why they needed a movie so early in the series, then, I heard about the plot! In the tv show, it's said that the three wizard siblings will one day have to battle in a wizard's tournament, for only one wizard of every family can keep their powers. And of course, the winner of the tournament get to keep their powers! Disney channel led us to believe that this was going to be a silly movie about a family of wizards who take a summer vacation to the place where the parents, Jerry and Theresa Russo, played by David Deliuse and Maria Canals Barrera, first met, a Caribbean Paradise. Of course a problem has to occur, Alex Russo, accidentally casts a spell wishing that her parents had never met. (This was after her mother wouldn't allow her to go to a beach party). The next thing you know, the parents have never met, nor do they remember any of the kids, and unless the three wizards can find a way to reverse the spell, the Russo family will never exist, and they'll disappear! Towards the end of the movie, after the wizards fail to get "The Stone of Dreams", they decide to head to battle in the Wizard Tournament that will give one of the full powers to reverse the spell. I was actually glad to see the movie was good for something... to find out which wizard get to keep their powers! I will say that one wizard does indeed win the competition, but nothing good lasts for long! I was very disappointed in the ending, but over all, this was probably my favorite Disney Channel movie of the year! If only the series were as good! It was silly, well, not as silly as the show, it had great special effects, well, better special effects than the show, and it had a nice moral about sticking together as a family!

"Bandslam"

2009-08-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, I'm recommending that you SEE "Bandslam"! The movie stars newcomer Gaelan Connell, who plays Will Burton, a music fanatic and a huge fan of David Bowie. Will lives a miserable life due to being ashamed of his father, who killed a child while driving drunk. Students even refer to Will as "Dewey" or "DWI" (Driving While Intoxicated)! Fortunately, Will's mother, Karen, played by Lisa Kudrow (Friends), finds a new job! The two pack up and move, leaving their old lives behind. At his new high school, the buzz is all about "Bandslam"- a "battle of the bands" competition in which the winning band gets a record contract. Will first meets a bookworm, Sa5m (the 5 is silent), played by Vanessa Hudgens(High School Musical) and they become awkward friends. But soon he meets the very attractive, Charlotte, played very well by Alyson Michalka (78Violet- formally Aly and AJ). She's a gifted singer/songwriter, who eventually asks Will to be her band's manager, due to his knowledge of music. Charlotte's plans are to beat out her ex-boyfriend's band in the "Bandslam" competition. Will takes the opportunity and turns the band into a fantastic group that he names "I Can't Go On, I'll Go On"! Do they have what it takes to win "Bandslam"? It's a little movie that made a big impression on me! At first, you think, oh Vanessa Hudgens, a music incorporated movie, just another HSM type film. Though the movie is appropriate for young high school musical fans, this film is on a whole other standared. Unlike the HSM movies, the film doesn't just stereotype high school students in a sense of jocks, brainiacs, and other nonsense that doesn't exactly exist as HSM portrays it. Vanessa Hudgens does a fantastic job as the character Sa5m, bypassing all her performances in the HSM movies. Gaelan Connell definately made a name for himself with his performance as Will. Lisa Kudrow from "Friends" was great as the mother that has a hard time parenting and being a friend to her son at the same time. Then there's Aly Michalka who blew me away as a young girl who is trying to please her sick father with a lifestyle that he approves of. I feel like most HSM fans of Vanessa Hudgens will come expecting what they won't get... a happy-go-lucky film with happy rainbows and sunshine! This is more of a movie that teens will enjoy because it's not like most movies about teens. It's clean, quick-witted, and great for anyone who knows what a good drama is! I give "Bandslam" a 4 out of 5 rating, for I enjoyed it, but a few parts were a bit predictable! Oh, and if I didn't mention it, there was a sneak-peak at "New Moon" before the movie began that should satisfy all "Twilight" fans!

Happy 15th Birthday to Whitt!

2009-08-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

First Fan Review- "Julie and Julia"

2009-08-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

See what Carolyn Rains has to say about "Julie and Julia"!

2009-08-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

"When You Wish!"
The Maury County Arts Guild will be kicking off the 2009-2010 season with “When You Wish: A Disney Celebration”. This spectacular musical event celebrates the magic and music of Disney, featuring songs from Snow White, High School Musical, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, Enchanted, Sleeping Beauty, and many many more. Show dates are scheduled for July 24 - August 8, 2008. Shows will be Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM and Sunday afternoons at 2 PM. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Ticket can be reserved by calling (931)381-9494 or emailing artsguild@charterinternet.com Tickets can be purchased online at http://artsguild.tix.com

2009-07-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan stars in the new ABC Family original movie, "Labor Pains"! First thing's first, I am NOT a fan of Lindsay Lohan! The first fifteen or twenty minutes of the movie are painfully awful! As the movie progressed though, things started picking up and it wasn't half bad. Originally heading to the big screen, the movie follows the trying times of Thea Clayhill, played by Lohan, who is on the verge of losing her job as a secretary to an "out there" publisher! She can't "afford" to lose the position, so she lies about being pregnant. The "out there" publisher is one of the main reasons that the beginning of the movie was so ridiculous! But soon, the publisher is called out of town, leaving another fellow business man in charge. When the temporary boss takes charge, he decides to publish a book about the hardships in a pregnancy. He puts Thea in charge, believing she is really pregnant. Soon, Thea finds herself with a raise and promotion! The story line seemed typical at that point, but before I knew it, Thea had become fond of her new "pregnancy" life, and began to really think she was pregnant. That I didn't see coming. The movie reminded me of "Baby Momma"- which I loved, but it was totally different. If you can get past the beginning then you'll find yourself with nice TV movie!

"The Dark Knight" 1 Year Anniversary

2009-07-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a whole year since "The Dark Knight" hit theaters and became the second highest grossing movie of all time!

"Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince"

2009-07-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

"Once again, I must ask too much of you Harry!"- Hey Movie Maniacs! Well, the highly anticipated, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" has finally arrived after a delay last summer that pushed the movie from November 2008 to July 2009! Opening the same weekend as "The Dark Knight" did last summer, the 6th installment to the most successful movie franchise of all time is expected to be another smash-hit! With high expectations for the movie, I had a good feeling going in to see it. When I came out... well the feeling was just... a little confused! Unlike the previous Harry Potter movies, this one lacked explanation. Fans of the book will have a better understanding due to their prior knowledge, but just plain ole movie goers might find themselves a tad bit bewildered!

ABC Family's "10 Things I Hate About You"

2009-07-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

ABC Family presents their newest series, "10 Things I Hate About You!"

This series is based on the 1999 movie, "10 Things I Hate About You"- but doesn't seem to be quite as promising! The show stars Lindsey Shaw (also seen in Nickeloden's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide") as Kat Stratford, Meaghan Jette Martin (also seen in Disney Channel's "Camp Rock") as Bianca Stratford, and Larry Miller (seen in the original "10 Things I Hate About You" movie) as the overprotective father, Dr. Walter Stratford.
Why should ABC Family even consider trying to make a TV series based on a 97 minute movie? Don't be upset that the show is not exactly like the movie. The show runs a half hour on television, but in the half hour I wasn't very impressed. With a weak plot, I found no complete interest. One sister wants to be popular... the other could care less! Typical right? I do give credit to Lindsey Shaw's performance though! ABC Family has only been able to pull out one successful show, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"- they need to stop while they're ahead!

If you missed the series premiere on ABC Family and are still interested, it's free to check out on iTunes!

Rental of the Week- "The Bad Seed"

2009-07-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

"The Bad Seed" was a fairly good movie, nicely written and planned out. Based on the Broadway play (which itself was based on the novel), it contains most of the original plot line, but due to the Hays Code, the films ending is different to that of the novel and play. Props to the incredible acting of Patty McCormack (Rhoda), Evelyn Varden (Rhoda's mother), and Eileen Heckart (Mrs. Daigle).

Plot- "The Bad Seed" follows the story of 8 year, Rhoda Penmark, who appears to be an angel from Heaven above! But soon, we learn that she is murdering sociopath...

Movie Mania- "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"

2009-07-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ice Age is back... can you believe it? This time it's "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and even after two previous movies, Scrat is still chasing down his acorn! I found out about this third installment last summer, but never understood why it was necessary to have another one! They can't just keep bringing in new characters and think that will give the franchise a new boost of energy! The new characters in this movie did not join the original Ice Age family though, which leads me to believe we've seen the last of these characters! That's a relief after this one! The movie didn't feel like a movie to be honest! It felt as if it were a TV show! Besides the point of a weak plot, the movie had inappropriate humor that some parent would not appreciate! I think that the first Ice Age was the best of the three, they need to stop while they're ahead!

Movie Mania- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

2009-07-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Whitt's Review-

Hold on to your seats Movie Maniacs... this is going to be a bumpy review! After the 2007 blockbuster hit- "Transformers"- Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are back for the sequel. This time around... well your guess is as good as mine. The movie's conflict seems to start too early, which gives us no time to understand the plot line. That is, if there was a plot line. With a fan base of 14 year old boys, it's obvious that non-stop action and Megan Fox was perfect! Well, being a 14 boy, I found that neither one was very interesting. I became numb to all of the violence and Megan Fox wasn't all that great either. The best performance came from Julie White, who played Shia's character's mother. Other than her, there was really no acting in the film at all. I enjoyed the first movie a lot better... mainly because it was all new and exciting, where this time around it was all familiar!

Whitt's Review - Disney Channel's "Princess Protection Program"

2009-06-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

Disney Channel presented their newest original movie on June 26. "Princess Protection Program" follows the story of Carter (Selena Gomez) - whose father is an agent for PPP, which stands for Princess Protection Program. Demi Lavato stars as Princess Rosalinda, who is rescued from her country, Costa Luna, after an evil dictator attacks the royal throne. Lavato convincingly portrays the character, and I was very impressed to see her in a different type of role. On the other hand, Gomez plays the typical teen, which is not any different than what we've seen her play before. As the movie progresses, Princess Rosalinda disguises herself as a normal American teen, as order of the PPP. She then moves in with Carter and her father for safety, thinking that a rural Louisana home would be the last place the evil dictator, Magnus Kane, would ever look to find her. I found that Magnus Kane was not a convincing villain. He seemed too silly and stupid to be afraid of. Carter and Rosalinda, now disguised as Rosie, start off on the wrong foot, but eventually become BFFs! Very predictable! The movie also revolves around the idea of a homecoming queen at the high school the girls attend. I was bothered by the fact that masquerade masks were involved, for we've seen Selena in another movie ("Another Cinderella Story") involving a masquerade party. Lavato's character wound up in and incedent involving an overflowing yogurt machine... Selena was involved with the same situation on an episode of "Wizards of Waverly Place" in the show's first season. The climax of the movie was very disappointing, but what can you expect. I was very pleased with Disney Channel's last original movie, "Hatching Pete"- but I wasn't so crazy about this one. I can recommend it to kids and perhaps fans of Gomez and Lavato, but as for anyone else... SKIP IT!

Movie Mania (Season 2 Premiere) Summer Movie Coverage

2009-06-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

This is the Season 2 premiere of our show! You might wondering where's season 1? Well you can see most of our webisodes on our Facebook page!

Movie Mania: "Disney Pixar's Up"

2009-06-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

"Spoof it Up!"

2009-05-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

In this segment we attempt to spoof movies! Key word: attempt!

Check out our superhero spoof!

"Debate/Challenge!"

2009-05-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Our monthly "Debate/Challenge" is a debate and/or challenge that we ask our viewers to participate in!

Recent "Debate/Challenges!" -

Edward vs Jacob "The Twilight Saga"

Favorite Christmas movies!

Most anticipated movies of 2010!

Favorite Romantic movies!

Oscar Predictions!

"Music Mania"

2009-05-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

In this segment we check out music videos from movies, movie stars, and even monthly themes!

Alex's bio:

Hey guys, I'm Alex!(:I'm the host of "Music Mania!" I enjoy just hanging out... ya know? Some would say that I am obsessed with Sanjaya Malakar and Michael Jackson, but I'm just fine with that!(: And I'm kinda new to this sorta thing... haha. But yeah, Movie Mania makes me happy:]

Whitt's Bio

2009-05-06T01:29:00.000-07:00

Hola, I'm Whitt aka the Host of Movie Mania! Other than movies, I enjoy singing, theater, and writing! I've also taken an interest in video editing as well! For those of you who are clueless, I not only host Movie Mania, but edit all the webisodes! Special thanks to all of the fans!

"Critic's Round-Up

2009-05-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

In this segment, Whitt rounds up a few of his friends, including his BFF, Emmy, to give their opinions of a movie!

Emmy's Bio:
Hiya, i'm Emmy, and that's what's up. I enjoy being myself. I love flamboyant sundresses, and when my hair is looking good :) I wear converse with everything, and i'm truthful as can be. I love singing, acting, playing my guitar, and watching some movies! Movie Mania is absolutely great, and I hope you enjoy us critics!

"The Reel Deal"

2009-05-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is the Movie Mania segment where we give you the latest and greatest movie news, or as we like to call it, "The Reel Deal"!

Alex's Bio:

Hey guys! I'm Alex(:I'm the host of "The Reel Deal"! I enjoy just hanging out..ya know? Some would say that I'm obsessed with Sanjaya Malakar and Michael Jackson and I'm just fine with that.(: And I'm kinda new to this sorta thing..haha. But yeah Movie Mania makes me happy :]

"First Reactions!"

2009-05-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

We head out into theaters to get movie reviews straight from movie goers or in other words the "First Reactions!"

"Rental Recommendation!"

2009-05-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

In this segment we give you a rental recommendation that we're sure you'll enjoy! If you have any suggestions, email us at moviemaniawebisodes@gmail.com!

Recent Recommendations:

"Yours, Mine, and Ours" (1968)

"To Kill a Mockingbird"

"Black History Month"

"Favorite Movies of the Decade"

"The Bad Seed" (1956)

"Ghost" (1990)

"Edward Scissorhands" (1990)

Halloween Movie Recommendations:

"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (1966)

"Hocus Pocus" (1993)

Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993) & "Corpse Bride" (2005)

"Halloweentown" (1998)