"The Sitter" Works Well with Others

"The Sitter" stars Jonah Hill (Superbad) as a dropout, going nowhere guy, who grudgingly agrees to babysit to help out his mother. Directed by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express) this is a raunchy, drug-filled, and profanity laden comedy. The villain acted by Sam Rockwell (The Green Mile) is a cocaine using psychopath with some strange personality issues. The kids in the film add not only the cute factor but some entertaining lines. This movie had me laughing the whole time. Though a little cliche, with a everyone learns a lesson in the end kind of mentality, its great old school rap and rock music, and crazy situaltional humor made for a good laugh and an entertaining time at the theater.


Final Grade: B+

"50/50" Gives One Hundred Percent

50/50 is a film based on a true story that follows an average 27 year old who learns he has a rare form of cancer and his struggle dealing with it. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception) who plays the cancer stricken young man. His best friend and comic relief is played by the funny guy Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet). The title is fitting not only because of Levitt odds of living from this cancer but also how the movie seems to play out. There seems to be a fine balance between the dramatic and comedic that left me feeling almost exhausted after seeing this one. It was nice to see Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) make an appearance as a grief councilor to Levitt. This film had a great soundtrack and with such a great cast and some other good supporting actors this is one that I would enjoy seeing a few more times in the near future. Some may be not appreciate all the vulgarness and drug use but it seems to help balance the tension that Levitt seems to deal with in the film. Overall one of my favorite films I've seen in recent months.


Final Grade: A

The Bar Closed Early for "The Rum Diary"

Johnny Depp ( Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) stars in this film as a failed novelist turned reporter. After arriving in Puerto Rico he is greeted by some disturbing scenes of unrest and poverty in the country. He is put on a somewhat dead end position for the paper and he strives to right to the heart of the problems in the country. While on his drunken misadventures for the truth his is aided by Michael Rispoli (Kick-Ass) who plays the always present and always drunk companion. Also joining in the the drunken debauchery at times is the poorly managed Giovanni Ribisi (Avatar). Depp is drawn towards a seedy deal headed by Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight). Seeing Eckhart in this role was interesting because his personality seemed similar to his character as Two-Face which I found rather enjoyable. Depp and Eckhart also share a love interest in actress Amber Heard (Zombieland). The scenes of Rispoli and Depp enjoying some drunken merriment were some of the best, but overall the movie seemed to progress slowly and the payoff by the end was rather inconsequential. Heard seems to be type casted as the one dimensional love interest and continues to be so in this film. This film did have some good moments but not enough to credit its two hour run time, which ended with a lackluster cliche and text to tie off some loose ends. This is one I would say is worth waiting to see at a matenee showing or the discount theatre. 

Final Grade: C

"Hanna" is Disturbingly Chilling

Hanna stars, Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) as the pale complexioned title character. Her father played by Eric Bana (Star Trek [2009]) sends her to kill an agent played by Cate Blanchett ( The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Ronan is a highly skilled child who joins society as an innocent person who does terrible things. This films use of music not only through its soundtrack but also the chilling song one of the antagonist whistles through the films adds to the eeriness of this film. This film is full of violence but it avoids violence for the sake of entertainment, it is only used to show the necessity of the actions that Hanna is taking. And when seeing the end of this film I was left with some feeling of confusion and dissatisfaction, but I don't believe the movie could have ended any different. Another interesting feature of this film is its similarities to the film Run Lola Run. In many of the scenes Hanna is running around to some techno beats and it seemed very reminiscent of this film. This is a good movie but it is not one to watch if you are feeling in a rather pleasant mood as this movie will leave you feeling a little sullen. But none the less worth a watch. 

Final Grade: C+ 

"30 Minutes or Less" was Right on Time

30 Minutes or Less is a classic example of a comedy, with some crazy dialogue and a crazier storyline. It stars Jessie Eisenberg (The Social Network),Aziz Ansari (Get Him to the Greek), Danny McBride (Your Highness), and Nick Swardson (Grandma's Boy). This film revolves around Eisenberg who gets a bomb strapped to him by McBride and Swardson, and he consults his best friend played by Ansari to try and help him rob a bank to get the bomb taken off. There is not a lot to say about this movie than if you want something to sit back, relax, and have a few laughs this is a good choice. Also I was a biasedly impressed by the soundtrack because it has a song by one of my favorite artist in it, Kid Cudi. Overall an enjoyable film that if you get a chance to see one night is worth the 90 minutes to see. 

Final Grade: B-

'Terrible Bosses' Employs Great Humor

I have now seen this movie twice and each time I laughed from beginning to end. This movie is one of the raunchest films I've seen in a while and is the best comedy I've seen in a while. Full of a great cast, my favorite being Jennifer Aniston, who I loved in Office Space. She has the dirtiest lines in the movie which will had me holding my mouth wide open more times than I expected. Also making the cast more enjoyable are Jason Bateman best know for TV show Arrested Development, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx who costared together in Miami Vice both make an appearance, both having some great 'aha' moments. Rounding out the cast are Kevin Spacey (American Beauty) and Charlie Day from the hilarious show Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia also add to this great cast of characters. This movie is full of drug, sex, and murder but puts a new twist on it. So for those who are always looking for something new to laugh at and aren't afraid of some vulgar language should rush out to see this one. 

Final Grade: A+

"Captain America: The First Avenger" Recruits Awesomness.

I finally had a chance to go out and see the last installment in the Avenger series before the Avengers movie is officially announced at the end. Directed by Jumanji  director Joe Johnston. This film was surprisingly better than I expected, and was excited to see The Loser actor Chris Evans play the Captain. This movie is full of some awesome fight sequences and some good special effects. Seeing The Matrix Agent Smith. Hugo Weaving play the villainous Red Skull. As always he never disappoints as a great villain. Also joining the cast was long time actor Tommy Lee Jones famous for movies like Men in Black played the sharp tongued commander. Overall a great movie that rounds out a great set of Marvel movies. For those who don't watch many movies, make sure you stay for after the credits as the first official Avengers preview is finally revealed. 

Final Grade: A-

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon is Fully Charged

Director Michael Bay brings us another great installment in the series. It is full of action, adventure, and of course explosions. Shia LaBeouf reprises his role as Sam and again and teams up with the Autobots to try and save the world. Sadly for some his now ex-girlfriend played by the beautiful Megan Fox. In this film she is replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley who is new to the big screen. The two act well enough to seem to have chemistry but aren't much better. The soundtrack is great and the movie kept me on the edge of my seat. This film is filled with the best fight scenes and special effects in the entire season. Seeing it in 3D really shows off just how well the fight scenes were made as the action makes you feel like a part of it all.   Also the story seemed to break away from other movies of similar style. Overall a must see and a great entry in the series and if you can see it in 3D for the full effect.

Final Grade: A

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" Not That Strange

Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) returns again for his fourth adventure to find the Fountain of Youth. Before his journey can even begin he is side tracked but quickly set back on course. On this journey he is forced to work with an old fling played by Blow co-star Penelope Cruz . Though she plays the part well, at times it is nearly impossible to understand her dialogue. This movie has some great sword fights, and some witty dialogue. This movie seemed mostly straight forward and the few attempts at a plot twist were transparent.The classic Pirates soundtrack returns and adds to the grandeur of the film. Its a great movie to add to the series but doesn't seem to stand out much from the others.
 
Final Grade: B-

"The Hangover 2" is Unforgettable

Zack Galifianakis and crew are back in another night of raunchy fun and forgotten misadventures. Realizing how successful the first movie was the writers made a nearly identical story just with new events shaping it. So if you liked the first movie this will seem familiar, yet still enjoyable. The only bad thing to say is that it is so unchanged from the original. This movie is dirty, full of profanity, and just some down right uncomfortable conversations. I would say go see this if you want a good laugh that only the crew of the Hangover could deliver.

Final Grade: B+

Mark's Minute Reviews

It has been a hectic couple of weeks with school, work, and other crazy things going on. I know it has been a while for a review so I'm going to write a few shorter reviews for the movies I've seen recently. Mainly im cutting out character bios. Hope you enjoy these reviews as much as I enjoyed these movies.

Tron Legacy: The 3D Experience
Great Soundtrack put together by my favorite two french techno artists, Daft Punk. It continued to make my head bob and my feet tap throughout the whole movie. The acting was nothing special but this movie did have some great special effects and some wicked choreography going on. And the 3D is the only way I could imagine seeing it as this film seems a perfect fit for the technology. Overall an enjoyable film that anyone should watch if they have the opportunity.
Final Grade: B

I Love You Phillip Morris
This was an interesting role to see Ewan McGregor in as he wouldn't necessarily be my first casting choice. But both him and Jim Carry do some great acting in this strangely dark comedy about two gay lovers that meet in prison and try to live an extraordinary life like two extra ordinary people. Full of some good laughs and some moments that will make the pious cringe. A movie that many should watch but few will do to its subject matter.
Final Grade: B-

The Ghost Writer
Apparently I was on a Ewan McGregor spree here with this strange conspiracy theory film. We see McGregor playing a "ghost" to the Prime Minister as he writes his memoirs. The movie takes a dark turn as some dirty secrets from the past are stirred up and some people will do anything to keep them hidden. The ending is a bit surprising and a little unsettling, but seems to work for the film. Though interesting it seems to lack enough substance for an outstanding film. This is one to watch on a late not when there's not much else on.
Final Grade: C

Take Me Home Tonight
Let me just say if you love the '80s you should go see this movie for the music alone. This movie is an '80s film made in the 2000s. It looks and sounds like its from the '80s and the story is too. The main character was a little ironic as it was Eric from That '70s Show, Topher Grace. This is a funny movie full of teenage angst and a bit overdone love story. This movie is a bit more on the comedy side and less on the romantic which is a nice change from recent films of this category. A great movie with lots of great laughs.
 Final Grade: B+

'Your Highness' is a Royal Laugh

Your Highness is brought  to us by the director of Pineapple Express, David Green. This is a comedic film full of dirty jokes and drugs.  The cost is full of some familiar faces such as two veterans of Green's Pineapple Express, James Franco and Danny McBride. These two play princely brothers who must go off to say Franco's soon to be bride. On their journey they run into a female warrior, played by Natalie Portman. All three play interesting roles and McBride and Franco's dynamic as brothers results in some great laughs.  On their journey they run into some foul beasts and meet some even stranger creatures. This movie is full of profanity, nudity, drugs, and some funny situations. For some this will become a classic comedy that will be seen many times over and for others it will be seen as a foul film that should be avoided. For those who enjoy humor similar to Pineapple Express and films of this nature will find this a nice addition.

Final Grade: B-

'Paul' is Out of This World

Paul is a alien encounter movie that decides to be funny. Directed by Greg Mottola (SuperBad) is full of some familiar faces and hilarious moments. The story takes off with two friends (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost) from England come to the U.S. to come to comic con in California. Deciding to go on a road trip they run into an alien voiced by Seth Rogen (Green Hornet, Pineapple Express ) who seems to be already adept at being human like. They then go on a mission to help him get back home. This movie is full of science fiction movies references, some that only the true nerd would get. This movie had many funny moments and had a few more famous faces to round out a nearly perfect cast like Sigourney Weaver, and Jane Lynch. This is one that will have you laughing and laughing more at the jokes and references made in this one. This is one worth seeing if you enjoy a science fiction movie that is one of the funniest movies of I've seen in a while.

Final Grade: A

The 'Adjustment Bureau' Needs No Fixing

George Nolfi writer of Bourne Ultimatum steps into the director role of this film of love and the crazy things it makes people do. Matt Damon (Bourne trilogy, True Grit) is a politician who seems to be just going through the motions of life when he meets a girl one day played by Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) and they have a short encounter that seems unimportant. After this everything goes off the deep end when Damon sees behind the 'curtain' and learns the actions of people are manipulated by an agency. From here things become unclear to Damon and then the girl from before come back into play and he wants to be with her, but the agency disagrees with this. This movie is full of action, an intriguing story, and some good acting. This movie brought up some good points on ideas of religion and free will, though it tries to do so from a distance which seems at times a little ridiculous. This movie is definitely worth seeing as it brings a new feel to a usually overplayed love story.

Final Grade: B+

'True Grit' Gets Down and Dirty

This film directed by the Cohen brothers (No Country for Old Men)  Features two big name actors, Jeff Bridges (Tron) and Matt Damon (The Bourne Trilogy), in roles that for Damon didn't seem at first fitting but turned out for both to work out well. This movie has Hailee Steinfeild in her first major film , as the grieving daughter out for revenge o the man who killed her father. This movie though it has a serious story seems to be more comical than I expected. You get Bridges as a Marshall who is a drunk who seems to be a little off his game. Mix in Damon a Texas Ranger who seems to just be out trying to make a name for himself. Steinfield has a sharp tongue and says what's on her mind which makes for some great lines. For a western there isn't as much gun toting as I expected but when these scenes do happen I was holding my breathe waiting to see the outcome. This was a great film with great actors. There never seemed to be a lull in action and had me interested the whole time. This is a must see that I wish I had seen even sooner.

Final Grade: A

"Brutal Legend" is Viciously Awesome

Brutal Legend created by studio Double Fine, famous for making Pyschonaughts, bring us this game that brings great justice to the music genre of metal. This game features the voice of Jack Black (School of Rock) as Eddie Riggs, a groupie who is sent back in time to save a suppressed civilization. As the game gets going we see a landscape that has an interesting mix of large expanses and some interesting landscape full of metal structures. The game is full of some interesting characters. What really made the game stand out was its use of the metal and rock genre. Throughout the game the music keeps the game moving and your heart pumping. One moment that really stuck in my mind was in a flashback scene the game uses Ozzy's "Mr. Crowley". I literally shivered and hand to watch this scene over and over. The control scheme is easy to learn and very comfortable. The control of the vehicle could be tweaked as i was running into walls more than I'd like to admit. For me the game play was fun but I was not a fan of the stage battles, as it's similar to a real time strategy game and not my favorite genre. Other than that the game was really enjoyable and if you like metal music and epic tales this one is worth playing.

Final Grade: B-

30 Second to Mars' "This is War" Album Achieves Victory

This is a group who until now have somehow ignored. They are a alternative rock group that seem to know what there doing.  A friend suggested this album and am now hooked. This is there third album released. The CD has some awesome tracks and an overall great sound. The instruments are great and at times the beats are so engrossing and rhythmic I feel like I'm somewhere else when hearing it. This would be great music to hear when working out or going on a long trip. The only weak point I can speak of is the vocals at times could use some touch-ups but are otherwise acceptable. One of my favorite tracks is Kings and Queens. It has a nice beat that carries you through a nice song. Another track that caught my ear was Hurricane it has an awesome synthesizer that pulls the whole song together and keeps you mesmerized. Closer to the Edge is another song that has an almost epic ballad sense to it that makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs, and once I learn the words I probably will. This is a great CD that if you haven't heard and enjoy some good alt. rock you should check this out.

Final Grade: B+

The Temper Trap has a Soothing Sound

Temper Trap is a alternative rock group that has some a nice smooth sound that seems to draw you in. I first heard them in a diet coke commercial and decided to listen to the whole album. I was somewhat impressed by their vocalist range and a sound that sounds familiar yet unique. Though Nothing over the top good still a good band. My favorite song on the album is Sweet Disposition. This tune really reminds me of Sigur Ros if they sang in English. This song has great lyrics and great instrumentals. Another good track on the album is drum song. There aren't any lyrics but just a nice drum track and the guitars let loose a little with this one. If you need something to relax a night away to check this group out.

Final Grade: B

"Go" a Smooth CD

Many may recognize the singer here as former lead sing of Sigur Rós, Jonsi. I finally decided to check out his solo debut album after hearing his melodic voice on a car commercial the other day. For those who listen to Sigur Rós, this album has a very familiar sound but has become a little more streamlined and sound less experimental. The starting track Go Do seemed to be the most distinct track with an almost pop sound to it. For those unfamiliar with the band all the lyrics are in Icelandic. So I can't go into how much the lyrics are truly saying and trying to find a translation is valid but usually can be misunderstood and I feel doesn't do the music true justice. The vocals are very melodic and Jonsi has always had a voice I find comforting in a unique way as he sings in a voice that seems soulful yet it rings like falsetto at times. A great CD to listen to when you need to relax. This is one you should listen to if your looking to broaden your music horizons.


Final Grade: B

Darksiders Unleashes Awesome

Darksiders created by Vigil Games.  This game is a pleasant mix of an RPG in the style of a Legend of Zelda Game with a fighting style similar to God Of War. Though similar to these it has a unique feel that stayed mostly fresh. My only real complaint was if there where more unique finishes and more button inputs. I seemed to wear out my B button after all the finishes I had to do. The story line was a nice twist on the biblical Armageddon story. Being able to he one of the Horsemen of the apocalypse. The graphics are nothing over the top and more interaction with the environment would be nice. The fighting seemed mostly fluid, though weapon switching could use more integration. Overall a great game that I am looking forward to the sequel. It had 20+ hours of game play and many things to collect, including my favorite an armor set that not only looks awesome but changes game play quite a bit. If you have slept o this game it's definitely worth renting or buying.

Final grade: B+

"Due Date" Was Right On Time

Due Date created by, Todd Phillips director of The Hangover brings us another quirky film that is full of a lot of laughs. The film starts off with Robert Downy Jr. (Iron Man) Trying to get back to LA at the airport he runs into Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover)who is playing an inspiring actor who has gone through a recent loss and is hoping to make it big in LA. After some shenanigans on the plane the movie really gets started as this duo have to team up and drive all the way to California. Along the way some crazy things happen and Galifianakis has some great lines that seem awkward but are hilarious. The movie had me laughing the whole time and never seemed to have any slow downs in the script. Jamie Foxx makes an appearance as a friend of Downy. His character seemed as though it may be important but really didn't develop much farther. The film seemed at times almost too insane but never went to far. A great film that should be seen as soon as possible.

Final Grade: B

"Sons of Anarchy" Revolts Against the Mundane

Sons of Anarchy is an FX series that has been on for three seasons and the fourth is do out this year. Now I've never really been into the whole biker gang story but I gave this show a chance. The cast includes some interesting characters such as Ron Perlman who's voice is probably more familiar than his face as he is the voice of Hellboy. He is the president of the club as of now. Another familiar face to some is Katey Sagal who played Peggy Bundy in Married...With Children. Here she steps far out of these shows as a hard nose women who takes nothing from anyone. She seems to be the women who can pull anyone's strings. The rest of the cast is rounded out with some less familiar faces, but all are great at what they do. The show portrays the inner workings of the motorcycle club and what it entails. There is murder, guns, sex, and lots of drugs. But then we see love, and guilt as many difficult decisions have to be made. I have only finished the first season but I am glad to jump into the second season. Even if motorcycle gangs don;t seem interesting to you this show goes beyond that and makes a show that will have you biting your nails and feeling as though you too are part of this distortion of a family.

Grade so far: A

Star Wars: Force Unleashed 2 Chained Down by Mediocrity

Lucas Arts gives us another installation in this series. The first game seemed promising but was too short and the game play was simplistic but glitchy at times. The second had plenty of room for improvement but seemed promising. The story starts off with a clone of Starkiller breaking out of the facility he was made. The opening scene was exciting and opened up what seemed to be a great game. From there the story seemed uninteresting and not necessarily important. The control scheme seemed a little more fluent than the first, but the dual light-sabers looked a the second seemed only cosmetic. The cut scenes looked good and the graphics overall were nice the game play rang generic. Overall a good looking game with mediocre game play. It was worth renting but was still to short with 6 hour main game play with some extras that aren't that fulfilling.

Final Grade: C

"Dragon Hunters" Can't Defeat Mediocrity

This was produced and released originally in Europe. This movie came out in 2008 and seemed to be a film never heard of . Originally when viewing this I thought it had a lot in common with How to Train Your Dragon but after some time i realized that Dragon Hunters came out first, but when comparing the two, How to Train Your Dragon perfects the style and makes this movie seem even more mediocre. The movie had good music and a unique animation style but the praise stops there. The story seems very generic. People go on a quest to save the world and do so in an unlikely way. The girl who is the protagonist is just irritating  and overly talkative. She also tries to play on emotions but leaves you just feeling frustrated.The hero is voiced by Forest Whitaker, who is famous for the Last King of Scotland. He is a quite hero who can do great things but is not seen as the archetypal champion. His companion is a neutral character who at times fills the role of antagonist. But as all movies of it's nature, he learns his lesson and becomes redeemed. This movie doesn't have much action and though it has beautiful scenes they fail to really draw you deep into the plot, which is very surface level. And the ending seems very strange and disjointed. On a side note, why there are bunnies everywhere in the end is still racking my mind. I wouldn't suggest this if your looking for a good animated movie, see How to Train Your Dragon Instead. This could be a good way to entertain children or to spend a rainy night and there is nothing better to watch around.
 
Final Grade: C+

"The Other Guys" Take Center Stage

Adam McKay (Anchorman, Step Brothers) brings us another gut busting comedy. This film is full of some great actors who are hilarious. The film starts off with Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) and Dwayne "Rock" Johnson playing hero cops who seem unstoppable. After a hilarious accident two unlikely officers step up, enter Mark Walhberg and Will Ferrel. Ferrel plays the cool headed but sometimes emotional cop who is the brains but no street smarts. Walhberg plays the testerone driven cop who is looking for action and is pushed by pure ambition and raw emotion. As Ferrel investigates a seemingly pointless case they get caught up into something much deeper. Ferrel has some great lines exchanged with his wife played by Eva Mendes (Hitch) . This movie was laugh out loud funny. Full of great jokes that point out the juxtaposition of Ferrel's attempts to be serious and Walhberg's tenacity make for some great scenes. The rest of the cast setup some great situation humor that left me gasping for breath. Most of Walhberg's scenes seemed like he was shouting or talking in a monotone way. But for him it somehow works most of the time. At one Ferrel points out how ridiculous Walhberg's character is making for a good laugh. Even when the movie seems serious it still manages a good laugh. This movie does a great job of making a satire of the police force and the bureaucracy of the law system. This movie has some great laughs and is worth seeing. These two actors are definitely a great match-up. This is a must see.

Final Grade: A-

"Diary of the Dead" Tells a Fascinating Story

George A. Romero (Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead) brings us another great horror movie. In this riveting film a group of students from Pittsburgh run from a wide spreading zombie invasion. The cast aren't A-listers but this adds to the credibility of the film. Shawn Roberts (Resident Evil: Afterlife) makes an appearance but the rest of the crew do not seem to be familiar faces  that stand out. The shooting style of this film is what really ties the movie together. Shot in a documentary style with two free hand cameras, we really get to see what people are feeling. This movie did not have to many jump out and scare you moments, but had constant suspense that had me biting my nails and sitting on the edge of my seat. The acting at times did seem a little disjointed. The professor who rode along with them had one of the strangest characters who's acting seemed hit or miss. The ending is very interesting and I'm not going to say much here but it was original and polishes off the movie well. I didn't here much about this film around it's release but if you like horror movies this one is worth the time to watch.

Final Grade: B-

Strange Wilderness, Just Plain Strange

Fred Wolf (Grown Ups, Without A Paddle, Joe Dirt) directed this movie. This movie definitely fits the mold of many of Wolf's his movies and for such makes this more average. In this film starring some familiar faces like Steve Zahn (The Perfect Getaway) who plays a son who try's to go out and film big foot so he can keep his dead fathers show on the air. Before heading out he hires a crew including Superbad actor, Jonah Hill. Another crew member Kevin Hefferman (Super Troopers) joins in to the crazy shenanigans that unfold.  As they go on the journey to find Bigfoot crazy things start to happen. This film was made by Happy Madison studios and we see many of the actors that show up in many of their movies such as Allen Covert (Big Daddy). The humor at times seems pointless and not funny. But at other times it had me laughing hysterically. Many of the gag reels where repetitive but lasted long enough to stay funny. this movie is filled with lots of yelling, profanity, and drug use. If you find these annoying then avoid this one. If not this movie may be worth watching at some point.
 
Final Grade: C+

"Last Air Bender" Steaming Pile of Special Effects

M. Night Shyamalan, who has directed Signs and The Village brings us his take on the semi-successful nickelodeon series. The only really familiar face is Slumdog Millionaire star is Dev Patel. The main characters seem to stick out as they are some of the few white characters.The action seems very slow and choppy. The plot though followable at times was disconnected and the time line was rushed. The special effects where fun to see but weren't enough to hold the movie together. The bending was fun to see but all the fighting seemed to slow. The fighting seemed turn based instead of actual action happening. There were beautiful scenes put forth but the slowness of them made it seem fake and overly acted. I only saw a part of the original cartoon series so I personally don't know the whole extent of the changes. But in watching it with an avid fan of the cartoon, he was left writhing in agony at the plot holes and the changing of the personalities of many of the characters. Nicole Pelts plays Katara, one of the last water benders, her character is quieter and a little more passive in the movie. Patel plays an exile prince of the fire nation. Noah Ringer who is a new actor plays the main character Aang. Aang seemed dampened and more serious than in the series. None of the acting was great but seeing Shyamalan recent films their was not much hope for this movie either. This movie was worth renting to pass the time but not much more than that. If you haven't seen this don't rush to do so now. For those who have seen it or saw it in theaters may still be feeling the pain of another disappointing movie from Shyamalan . Hopefully he can redeem his career soon.

Final Grade: D

"Youth in Revolt" Goes Against the Usual

This was directed by Miguel Arteta, a relatively less known director. In this tale of extreme teen love we see Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno), playing the good boy trying to be bad. He comes up with an alter ego to do his skullduggery. This movie seems to be a spirited version of Fight Club but through a teenager. The movie has some intense language and sexual themes but they do potray the teenage mind quite well at 16. The cast was packed with some familiar faces. Steve Buschemmi from both the Sopranos and Boardwalk empire makes an appearance as Cera's father in the movie. Also in the cast we see Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) make an appearance, he plays a trailer trash boyfriend to Cera's mother. In any movie Galifianakis he adds a vibrant dynamic and usually a few good laughs. Another famliar face is Cera's father played by Steve Buscemi (Resevoir Dogs , and the voice of Randall in Monsters Inc.)The movie is full of crazy twists and puts a twist on the classic teenage love. We get to see a teenager who after being walked on his whole life he finds a girl he finds worth fighting for and sacrifices his old life to be with her. Overall this movie was a fresh take on an over done genre. At times it seems a little strange how the plot progress especially towards the end but doesn't take much away from the movie. If you have been putting this off, I would suggest renting this soon if you don't mind a quirky film, that pushes what is acceptable in society.

Final Grade: B+

"The Spy Next Door" Needs to Go Into Hiding

One of Kung Fu's greatest Jackie Chan (Rush Hour series) stars in this family and romance film. Directed by Brian Levant, who also directed The Flinstones, Are We There Yet, and Jingle All The Way. Knowing this movie is directed by Levant is hard to believe as most of his films seem to be of this mediocre quality.his film starts off with the revealing of Chan being a secret agent but stepping down to pursue what he hopes to be a normal life. To try and woo his love interest he offers to watch her children during an emergency out of state calls her away. The movie attempts comedy but at times is hard to follow. Chan is usually at his best in action movies and here he stepped out of that role. He does have scenes where he flexes his acrobatic and fighting skills but thy aren't enough to make a great movie. Also making an appearance is George Lopez and Billy Ray Cyrus, both are forgettable roles and don't add much to the film. While he speaks it's hard to understand Chan at times. The three children all seem to have some form of a complex. The oldest is irritatingly disrespectful, the middle child is a lier and socially awkward, and the youngest is rambunctious. These three seem at times intolerable. The villains are supposed to be Russian but just sound abysmal. In a completely expectable way Chan works with them and gets them to gain new respect for their mother an helps to solve some of these problems while having to step back into his agent role to try and save the day. Overall an average movie that is a little below average.
Final Grade: C-

"Resident Evil: Afterlife" Lacks A Pulse

Paul Anderson who also directed Death Race and Pandorum, brings us this fourth film in the series based on Capcom's video game series is a crazy action movie. For this one you need to leave your brain at the door. The action sequences are great but at times look fake and over done. Milla Jovovich renews her role as Alice, a bad-ass with oversized guns who takes no crap from the undead. The supporting cast shows the return of Ali Larter as Claire Redfield. The rest of the cast is changing so fast there isn't anyone who stands out in the survivors. Being a fan of the games seeing Wesker was bittersweet. Wesker is played by Shawn Roberts who had a strong presence and excellent gun skills but his character seems to lack the substance his video game persona has. This could be due to Roberts not playing a role of this caliber before. The story is usually easy to follow but at times the progression is choppy. This movie is nice for fans of the games as it has the most reference to the games to date, extra focus was put in from the fifth game.This movie does fit nicely in the series but seems disappointing for some of it's continuity issues.  Such as the lack of needing to reload ever or guns appearing out of nowhere. But all the technical issues aside this is a fun movie to watch to see some good zombie killing and stunning weapon choreography. The ending seems to point towards another movie in the series, but it doesn't seem to be a good idea after seeing this one. If you have seen the other three this one does work to answer a few questions that where left looming.This may be worth renting if you have a free night and don't mind seeing an average action movie.

Final Grade: C

"Family Guy: It's a Trap" Catches You in Funny

Seth MacFarlane brings this third installment of the Family Guy Star Wars series. The scrolling text really setup what is another good satire. Many jokes point out that this installment seems unnecessary, but do it so its still funny. Early on there are a few repetitive jokes that are funny but grow a little irritating. Great jokes point out some of the flaws in the original series and go places many wouldn't dare tred but they keep it funny enough so as not to really offend even the loyalist fan out there. Many jokes left me reeling and barely able to catch my breath before the next scene. It was fun to see characters from American Dad show up for some funny scenes. Some jokes seemed obscure and only for the true pop culture gurus. Overall though worth the rental. If you have time get this, its well worth the time.

Final Grade: B