Reel Review: "Scott Pilgrim vs the World"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

"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"

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

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"

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"

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

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Review

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"

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"

Rental of the Week: "The Barefoot Executive"

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

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"

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"

Rental of the Week: "The Story of Seabiscuit"

"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

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"

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"

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

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"

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"

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!

Spoof it Up becomes our new segment!

"Shrek Forever After" Review

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"

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

"Iron Man 2" Review

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!

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Summer 2010!

"Beauty and the Briefcase"

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"

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!

"Alice In Wonderland" Review

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

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!