New In Town

New In Town

Who's in it: Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr., Siobhan Fallon

What's it about: After a long career as a leader in a big business, Lucy(Zellweger) is being sent to Minnesota to begin leading a dying business. She's met by Blanche(Fallon) who helps Lucy to her new home and offers her a warm homecooked dinner. Here she meets Ted(Connick Jr.). Ted is the local union representative. She doesn't find this out until after she's had an outburst of argument with him. She begins to fall for Ted after he saves her from a snow dune out in the middle of nowhere. The widowed Ted begins to fall for Lucy as well, but her knowing that she must fire everyone at the plant she's the head of, leaves him wondering what kind of woman Lucy really is.

What I Think: I was able to watch this at South Carolina Business Week 2009 with over 200 people in the auditorium. Even though the sound was a bit off and, with all of those kids, hard to hear, I got the whole movie. I loved Zellweger's character. She was so funny with Connick Jr. Not to mention how much I love Connick Jr. already! The two were a perfect couple on the big screen. As for the story, it was entertaining. I liked the entirety of it really. It was serious, but completely funny at the same time.

10 Items or Less

10 Items or Less

Who's in it: Morgan Freeman, Paz Vega

What's it about: A man referred to as Him(Freeman) shows up in the small town of Carson. He's studying the people of Archie's Ranch Market in order to play a role in an upcoming movie. He meets one of the store clerks, Scarlet(Vega), who is Hispanic. When a ride never comes for Him, Scarlet offers him one but has to take him to her job interview beforehand. The two become very acquainted and let each other in on every aspect of their lives. Him and Scarlet try to make her life a little bit easier by finishing some quarrels and allowing her to live the life she always wanted.

What I Think: This was quite the good film despite what I was expecting. It's not a very well known movie to the public. Freeman was wonderful, but I love him in everything. Vega did very well as her role of Scarlet. One of my favourite things about this movie was that Morgan Freeman's character didn't have a name. I just figured that he played himself in the movie. One thing that was really awful about the movie was that the time spent was insanely improbable. I don't think that the time was thought through very well at all. It seemed like they were going on for days, but the two were actually only together a few short hours during the movie.

Taken

Taken

Who's in it: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen

What's it about: Bryan(Neeson) is a distant but loving father to his only daughter Kim(Grace). All of her life, he's never missed a birthday, but his job caused him to miss most everything else. After the divorce from his wife Lenore(Janssen), everything has been different. Kim now has a rich stepfather and suprises her with a tour of Europe for her birthday. Bryan allows this but only on the condition of Kim keeping in close touch with her while she's away. When she leaves, Bryan gets a call from her and someone has kidnapped her friend and her. Bryan must now search the area and find his daughter before she is sold into the market as a prostitute.

What I Think: This movie had a whole bunch of action! Like ridiculous things that I would love to learn. The things that Liam Neeson had to perform were just perfect and I loved it! Grace played a very realistic and interesting character. I don't know if Janssen's character was supposed to act a bit uncaring, but I really didn't buy her character. The way that she would say things made me feel like she was part of it the whole movie until the end. The was that Neeson was pretty much the only person that really mattered the whole movie was very interesting. I watched the movie again to make sure that I could understand more concepts.

House Bunny

House Bunny

Who's in it: Anna Faris, Hugh Hefner, Emma Stone, Colin Hanks

What's it about: Shelley(Faris) has been living at the Playboy bunny mansion with Hugh Hefner(Hefner) for a long time. She has always dreamed of being the centerfold of one of the magazines. After she turns 28, she is led to believe that she is kicked out of the mansion. When she moves out of the mansion, she becomes the house mother at Zeta Alpha Zeta sorority. She meets Natalie(Stone) and her friends and decides to teach them how to be traditional college party girls. When Shelley meets Oliver(Hanks) all of her 'tricks' to win a man's heart don't work. She finds herself desperate to learn all that she can to be in love.

What I Think: This movie was really funny. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but it was enjoyable. Faris plays these kind of characters really well and I enjoy her in most of her movies. Hanks was great! I thought that he really brought out the character of Oliver and Shelley. Now, the main sorority girl, Natalie was only part of the piece. There were several different girls in Zeta Alpha Zeta, but I only named Stone's character because she played the biggest part. Hefner has got it made baby! Huge mansion, a magazine, attractive women, a clothing line, and now a movie (along with others).

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Who's in it: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Peter Cullen, Tony Todd


What's it about: Now that high school is done and over with, Sam Witwicky(LaBeouf) is on his way to college. Mikaela(Fox) is left in their hometown with her recently released father working in a garage. Sam starts to see ancient writings that his grandfather did. Now, Optimus Prime(Cullen) needs Sam to find a long lost relic before The Fallen(Todd) does. By using the clues from various robots and listening to stories older than the human race itself, Sam must now find the powerful object that could save the robot race.


What I Think: The first of the Transformers movies was great. This sequel completely blew the first one out of the water. The graphic and special effects were so freaking amazing! the story was outstanding... There aren't even words to describe how awesome this movie was. Mr. LaBeouf will be forever remembered as Sam Witwicky of Transformers. I loved everything about the movie. The setting was awesome. The detail was perfect. The comic relief was timed perfectly between scenes. Fox was gorgeous as always, but I thought that she played a much better character in this movie than the first one. Loved the settings of the deserts.

Up!

Up!

Who's in it: Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer

What's it about: Carl(Asner) has been very lonesome since his wife died. Everything around him is becoming skyscrapers, but he refuses to allow his plot to go with the flow. When he finally plans to take the house to his wife's dream vacation spot, he blows up thousands of balloons and lets them fly, lifting his house from the ground. Little did he know that a local wilderness explorer, Russell(Nagai) was on his porch when he lifted off. With his new pal, they travel to South America in attempt of dropping the house where it should be. In South America, they run into Carl's childhood hero, Charles Muntz(Plummer), who is now a desperate hunter. They must help hide the endangered bird, while keeping themselves safe.

What I Think: Pixar never ceases to amaze me. I love them to death! The animation was perfect and I didn't see anything wrong with the movie at all. The previews were to make the movie look like a comedy, but it was actually quite dramatic! There was a time or two in where I almost cried. It was a very entertaining and even educational movie. The setting of South America was interesting and I thought that the incorporation of the bird in the movie was unique. The detail was exquisite and I loved the fine details of Carl and Russell.

Because I Said So

Because I Said So

Who's in it: Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Gabriel Macht, Tom Scott

What's it about: Daphne Wilder(Keaton) has been alone for a long time. This keeps her completely in the business of her daughter, Milly(Moore). While Milly's getting older, Daphne's becomings more concerned. So concerned that she put a personal ad for her daughter. Daphne meets two men that meet her standards for Milly. Jason(Scott), a well known architect and Johnny(Macht), a jazz singer and single dad. Milly begins to fall for both, but she doesn't know that her Mom set them up with her.

What I Think: I learned very quickly that this is not a movie to watch with your little sister. I've liked Moore in most of her movies, and this one was just another of her great ones. I enjoyed the secretive side of Keaton. The Macht and Scott were perfect. They were both great looking men and they played their roles so well. I was really impressed by Keaton's performance as a completely crazy mother obsessed with her daughters life. I also loved how the movie ended. The setting of movie was pretty entertaining. I loved the interior design of both places.

The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project

Who's in it: Heather Donahue, Josh Leonard, Michael Williams

What's it about: Three film student friends, Heather(Donahue), Josh(Leonard), and Mike(Williams), head into the woods around Burkittsville, Maryland. This is where legend has it that the Blair Witch lives. The trio go in making a documentary, but little did they know it would be of their last days. They lose the map and start to make circles in the woods. When Josh goes missing, Heather and Mike try their best to keep their sanity. Everything is on film and they are determined to find the Blair Witch and discover what else is behind the legend.

What I Think: This was a pretty scary movie. I had to double check online and make sure that it wasn't real. In a way I kind of wanted it to be real so I wouldn't feel as if I wasted my time watching the movie, but wanted it to be fake because that would be frightening. I enjoyed that the actors were acting out of instinct. They didn't really have to act but portray certain emotions and I thought that they did extremely well! The setting was a great place to be for the movie. I didn't like that alot of the movie was black, but I did like the different angles and the movement of the camera.

A Far Off Place

A Far Off Place

Who's in it: Reese Witherspoon, Ethan Randall, Sarel Bok

What's it about: Nonnie(Witherspoon) has lived in Africa her whole life. Her family tries to save elephants and stop poachers. When some tourists come to stay at her house, she meets Harry(Randall), a snobby city boy. When a band of poachers attack Nonnie's house while she's roaming the night, she is left with no family and nobody except Harry and her best friend Xhabbo(Bok). Together they are forced to cross the Kalahari desert to the closest town, which is 2000 kilometers away. They spend 2 long months living off of the talents of Xhabbo and the faith of their souls.

What I Think: I watched this movie with my family while we were visiting more family in Ohio. I saw Witherspoon and was blown away! She was so young, but she still has the same mannerisms that she has today! I liked Randall and thought that he was really funny. Bok had a funny way of talking but I thought he was really cool. The story was kind of weird, but it was alright. I wish I could get tan like that without spending time in the desert! The setting was very... sandy.

Star Trek

Star Trek

Who's in it: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana

What's it about: After his father died as commander of the U.S.S Enterprise, James Kirk(Pine) has never even planned to be part of the Starfleet. He joins anyways and shoots to become a captain after only three years. He beats a simulation created by Spock(Quinto) and is put under suspension. After there is a distress call out in space, Kirk is snuck onto a ship. It turns out that Spock's home planet, Vulcan, is under attack by Nero(Bana). Spock is left as captain and Kirk as first officer. Kirk disobeys orders from Spock and is therefore left on a frozen planet. Here he meets Spock Prime(Nimoy). Kirk gets back onto the U.S.S. Enterprise and become captain. Then it's his turn to try and defeat Nero and his ship.

What I Think: I thought that it was great that they incorporated Nimoy into the movie. I bet that he loved being in it! Pine did an amazing Captain Kirk! I also thought that Quinto did awesome as Spock. He even looked almost exactly like the original! This is seriously one of the best movies I've seen all year! I was told my John at Blockbuster to see this movie and I think I might actually go and see it again before it gets out of theatres!!! The effects were the bomb!!! I really am anticipating a sequel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Jumper

Jumper

Who's in it: Hayden Christensen, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Samuel L. Jackson

What's it about: David(Christensen) learned that he could teleport when he was a teenager. When he became aware of this power, he ran away from home and didn't look back. Until now. He learns that he's not the only one with this power when he meets Griffin(Bell). Now a man named Roland(Jackson) is after them and wants them dead. David is forced to go back to his hometown to save the ones that he loves. Especially Millie(Bilson), who was his teenage love.

What I Think: I thought that this movie was pretty good. I love everything about the story. The acting was great and setting was great. The first time that I saw this movie I wasn't completely impressed with the special effects, but now I'm liking them more. I hope that there is another movie following this one sometime soon. Christensen and Bilson made a great couple I thought. Also, Diane Lane was in there and I loved that. She's been appearing in alot of movies lately and I'm glad. I really like her.

Get Smart

Get Smart

Who's in it: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway


What's it about: Max(Carell) and Agent 99(Hathaway) are teamed together in order to stop a plot to blow up the president. The Russians are supposedly building nuclear weapons and Max and Agent 99 need to find where they are building the weapons. At first they aren't friendly with each other, but they find that they might actually love each other. When Max is believed to be on the Russians side, he and Agent 99 are separated. Even though everyone is surprised when the real truth comes out, Max and Agent 99 are put up against their toughest fight yet.


What I Think: Carell was hilarious and Hathaway was sexy and funny. The scene at the party was awesome! The story was a bit lacking for me but all of the funny things made up for it. The acting was pretty good. I liked the action scenes. Carell is just crazy and everyone loves him! Hathaway has come a long way from being in Princess Diaries. I think that she should be in stuff like this more often. She's much older now and she needs to be in more adult humour movies. Loved how this was based on the original series!

S. Darko

S. Darko

Who's in it: Daveigh Chase, Briana Evigan, James Lafferty, Ed Westwick

What's it about: After Donnie's death, his family was completely devastated. His youngest sister, Sam(Chase), and her best friend, Corey(Evigan) have decided to make their way to California and work for Corey's father. They break down in the middle of nowhere and are picked up by Randy(Westwick). They two girls decide to stay in his town until their car is fixed. When the town loony, Iraq Jack(Lafferty), starts claiming the world will end in a few days, strange things begin happening. 'The Philosophy of Time Travel' leads Sam into the world of Donnie and she wants to make everything right.

What I Think: This sequel didn't even slightly compare to Donnie Darko. Sometimes I wish that sequels would be as good or better than their predecessors. I thought that Chase didn't do a good job as the sister of Donnie. I think that Gyllenhaal was the best. Corey would've been better as the sibling. I thought that the effects weren't that good either. I thought that Lafferty was the best character and actor in the movie. He was the reason the movie was the way that it was. I only wish that it would've been better.

Little Nicky

Little Nicky

Who's in it: Adam Sandler, Harvey Keitel, Rhys Ifans, Tommy Lister, Robert Smigel, Patricia Arquette

What's it about: Nicky(Sandler) is one of the three sons of Satan(Keitel). After his father announces that he will be ruler of Hell for another 10,000 years, his brothers, Adrian(Ifans) and Cassius(Lister), go the Earth to make their own Hell. This causes their father to begin deteriorating. It's up to Nicky to go to Earth and bring his brothers back and save his father's life. He is helped by a dog named Beefy(Smigel). While on Earth, Nicky meets Valerie(Arquette) and falls in love with her. Together with Beefy, Valerie, and a few other friends he makes, Nicky is going to get his brothers back to Hell and save his father.

What I Think: Again with Adam Sandler and I love it! The story was pretty good. Since I'm Catholic, I thought it was going to be blasphemous. It was very blasphemous but I wasn't offended in any way. I loved that Ifans and Lister being completely opposite of of Nicky and how they didn't even remotely look alike. That made it even funnier. The way that Sandler's voice and face was looked ike it would be hard to stay that way and I thought that was some true talent. Keitel as Satan was hilarious! They made it so that you kind of sympathized with Satan and his family and I kind of thought that was cool.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Who's in it: Sean Connery, Naseedruddin Shah, Peta Wilson, Tony Curran, Stuart Townsend, Shane West, Jason Flemyng, Richard Roxburgh

What's it about: After being recruited by M(Roxburgh), a group of six men and one woman are sent to find the Phantom who's been terrorizing Europe. Allan Quatermain(Connery) is a hunter, Captain Nemo(Shah) is a transportational genius, Skinner(Curran) is an invisible man, Dorian Gray(Townsend) is invinsible, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(Flemyng) is a monstrous genius, Tom Sawyer(West) is an American spy with a hunters eye, and Mina(Wilson) is a vampiric scientist. Together they have to do everything in their power to stop him before the Phantom markets off his evil machinery.

What I Think: This is pretty much the first movie I can remember seeing Connery in. Everyone is always talking about him but I never know who he is. I really liked Townsend! His character was so confident and he was just really good looking. The story was really entertaining. I loved pretty much everything about it. The twists were perfectly placed. The personalities of each character were so specifically supposed to make you come to conclusions about the movie and then prove you wrong. One thing that I didn't like about this was that the movie title didn't mention Mina. It says specifically "Gentlemen". Without Mina they wouldn't have been able to defeat the bad guys at all if you think about it. The female needs recognition too. Men can't always do it by themselves.

Kabluey

Kabluey

Who's in it: Lisa Kudrow, Scott Prendergast

What's it about: Jobs come and go for Salman(Prendergast). He gets a call to come to Leslie's(Kudrow), his sister-in-law, house in order to help her with her two sons while her husband is at war in Iraq. The two boys are a huge handful and one threatens to kill Salman, and is serious. Salman gets a job working at BluNeXion, an Internet website. His job is to stand on the side of an old road and give out flyers. The costume he is required to wear gets him a job at a children's party. Here he connects with his nephews as another person. When, Salman learns that Leslie is cheating on his brother, he is determined to prove that his brother is the one for her

What I Think: I found this movie just browsing the shelves. I had never heard of it before, but when I walked by, the case just jumped into my arms. I wasn't sure why, but I was immediately drawn to the movie. I had one of the strongest connections with Prendergast and his character. I felt like I truely knew him in real life. The story was really good and the music that was associated with the movie was perfect. Kudrow was in a different element I thought and I was impressed with her talent and flexibility. Prendergast wrote, directed, and starred in the movie and I found that truely impressive. He did an amazing job and I hope to see him in more movies. The cover art was very intelligent. It might not look like much, but the colour scheme and using complimentary colours is was really jumped out at me.

Valkyrie

Valkyrie

Who's in it: Tom Cruise, David Bamber

What's it about: The war against the Allied forces is starting to take a toll on Germany. Colonel Stauffenberg(Cruise) lose his right hand, two finger on his left hand, and his left eye. Battered and bruised, he joins a band of men who are plotting against the life of Adolf Hitler(Bamber). Stauffenberg has changed Operation Valkyrie to help the group take over Berlin and get rid of the SS army. A bomb is set off in the presence of Hitler in an attempt to kill him. With everyone thinking the dictator had been blown to bits, Operation Valkyrie is put into effect. However, Hitler is very much alive and the plan starts to go south after this is revealed and proven true.

What I Think: I love movies about WW2, the Holocaust, or Hitler. I know that might sound weird, but it amazes me how quickly a population can follow such a wicked man and believe his every word. Cruise did a wonderful job as the confindent Stauffenberg. I think that they could've found someone who looked more like Hitler but Bamber did an amazing performance with the personality of Hitler. The action in the story was really great. I was just watching with amazement. The plan that Stauffenberg had and the way that all of it fell into place was just great. Loved the action filled scenes.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Who's in it: Kevin James, Keir O'Donnell, Jayma Mays

What's it about: Hypoglycemia has always kept Paul Blart(James) from being in the police force. Until he can get over his illness, he works as a Mall Security Cop. He is chosen to train the new recruit to the security team, Veck(O'Donnell). Paul meets a new young woman, Amy(Mays), in the mall who sells hair extensions. After Veck puts his plan to take over the mall into play, it's up to Paul to save Amy and the other hostages. With the police and the SWAT team ready for action on the outside, Paul takes action on the inside against Veck and his thugs.

What I Think: This movie was absolutely hilarious. James just has everything that you need to be funny. His look, his voice, his personality, all is just hilarious! O'Donnell worked well with all of the other people involved and I loved his full confidence in his character. The stunts that were done during the movie were great. The mall setting really worked with the story. All of the stunts and characters just belonged there. I thought that the story lacked a little bit in connecting with James, but I think all in all it was a good movie.

Walk the Line

Walk the Line

Who's in it: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon

What's it about: Johnny Cash(Phoenix) started his love for music as a child. During his lifetime, he climbed through many obstacles and came out of top of the muscial charts. On his tours around the United States, his favourite childhood singer, June(Witherspoon), sang along with him. Even though he had a family back home, he feel in love with June. She didn't like him like that though. His desperate attempts to make her fall in love with him went on for the majority of his music career. He wrote songs that related to the way he felt and what he did. They were his way of communiating his love towards her.

What I Think: I don't believe in cheating or being unfaithful. Usually, I hate movies that have that in it. However, I really enjoyed this movie. I liked learning about the life of Johnny Cash. I have lost a small bit of respect for him though. Witherspoon did a great job. I thought that she portrayed June very well. Her clothes were very cute I thought. I loved her voice as well as Phoenix's voice. I loved him playing Johnny Cash. The music was great! The vintage clothing and setting were superb for this story.

Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye

Who's in it: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan

What's it about: The death of Jerry's(LaBeouf) brother gets him into big trouble with the government. A phone call with a woman's voice leads him on a journey with Rachel(Monaghan). Her son is in danger and she will do just about anything to make sure he is safe. On their race against time, Rachel and Jerry go through many life threatening situations. When the two find out who's behind the calls and events they are in a rush to stop everything that's in the mastermind's plan.

What I Think: Shia LaBeouf has been in so much lately. I'm glad he has. I really liked Monaghan in this movie. She's been a good many things lately as well. I found it kind of weird that the two had a small romantic connection, but it was cool. I really enjoyed the story. Twists kept coming and I kept becoming more enthralled with the movie. I was impressed with the obvious thought and time that went into making this movie. The action and the explosions were great. I'm not always so interested with movies, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat.