Avatar

It is 150 years in the future. A small moon called Pandora contains a valuable mineral that a demanding conglomerate exploits at all costs. They import mercenary marines to help contain the natives while they mine.

OK so take one part Dances with Wolves, one part Fern Gully: The Last Rain Forest, a dash of the Matrix and a pinch of Aliens. Mix well and add a whole lot of special effects and you have Avatar.

If you are a special effects person, and well even if you are not they are spectacular. The world that is created is amazing. The story however, is basic, simple, and although thoroughly developed totally predictable and done. Again if you have seen Dances with Wolves you know all the plot points.

Also take note that the running time is two hours and thirty minutes. I was done after an hour and a half. Predictability aside, the final battle scene goes on and on, while the entire audience is patiently waiting for the ending that was all too eagerly foreshadowed within the first 45 minutes.


** ½ Rentable (but totally worth seeing on the big screen for the f/x)


Rated PG-13 (for language and violence)

Up in the Air

Ryan Bingham is a corporate downsizing expert who spends his life on the road, or technically in the air. He is just about to reach ten million frequent flier miles when his lifestyle is in danger of drastically changing.

This was done by Jason Reitman, who also did Juno and Thank You for Smoking. So going in I had some preconceived expectations. It didn’t quite live up to those. I thought this would be sharper, edgier, more curt, and more bleak. I was somewhat surprised at how schmaltzy it turned out to be.

The storyline is predictable and methodical, but Clooney is still amazingly entertaining. It has a slightly cynical edge to it but again I was not expecting the sentiment. It still delivered on the ending, however, even if it was conventional.


** ½ Rentable


Rated R (for language and sexual content)

The Princess and the Frog

Tiana is a hard working class woman who desperately wants to open her own restaurant. When a young Prince comes to town a financial opportunity comes her way that just might make all her dreams become a reality. Things get sticky when she is persuaded to kiss a frog.

After a five year hiatus, Disney returns to its roots, with a 2-D traditional animated feature, complete with songs and all. I was pleasantly entertained by the return. The animation, in my opinion, was not up to par. It reminded me of a straight to video type movie, as did the under developed storyline. However the dialogue was fun and kept me engaged for the most part.

What was really fun was the music. The songs were cute and clever and reminded me of what it was like to see a vintage Disney cartoon. So yes, the animation could have been a lot more polished, the storyline a tad more cultivated, but when it was all said and done, it was cute and kids will love it.


*** Must See (it’s Disney)


Rated G

Invictus

The true story of how Nelson Mandela inspired and united the country of South Africa through their national rugby team's run to become the World Cup champions.

This is also definitely a feel-good movie which does a decent job of fulfilling its role. But it feels as though there's something missing to push it into being a "great" movie. Maybe it's that the parallel story lines should each get their own movie instead of sharing one. I feel like I wanted to see more of Nelson Mandela's life and what made him the man he was, yet I also wanted to see more of just how the rugby team inspired and united the country. I didn't get in depth enough with either. That said, the performances by Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon are solid and believable. It seems like director Clint Eastwood didn't dive in quite enough for this one...it's inspiring and well done, but I feel like it could have been much more.

**1/2 out of 4 - Rentable (PG-13 for some language and violence)

The Blind Side

The true story of a young black homeless high school student that is taken in by a white family in Tennessee, which changes the lives of him and his new family for the better.

This is a feel good movie that does it's job. It's acted well and doesn't have too much cheese. Sandra Bullock does a great job as the feisty yet loving mom. The characters are believable and you definitely want to root for them. As Mandy said, not going to be remembered as a great sports movie but is inspiring and leaves you with a good feeling.

*** out of 4 - Possibly theater worthy

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Mr. Fox is forced out of his life of burglary after his wife demands a calmer life for their soon to be family. Mr. Fox agrees and upholds his promise...for a few years. Fox jumps back into the old life with the help of some friends and in the process upsets the local farmers and endangers his family and entire town (..or hill).

Really fun to see different kinds on animation on the big screen, in this case stop-go animation, puppets or clay models moved and photographed one frame at a time, and also hand drawn animation in the upcoming "Princess and the Frog". The artistry, time and effort on display is amazing and inspiring. The story is simple and fun, the comedy is very subtle and adult and as Mandy stated, the voice work is perfectly cast and performed. But overall this is kind of forgettable and a little too long. I kind of lost interest at some points, maybe it had been too hyped for me. Cute and fun, but forgettable.

**1/2 out of 4 - Rentable

New Moon

Edward and Bella continue their love-can't love relationship as Edward decides he must leave her to protect her. While he's away Bella starts to get involved with another Halloween character, Jacob the werewolf.

Alright, so I avoided "The Twilight Saga" until now, having a girlfriend may have influenced me in the viewing of it, as I had no intentions of seeing it before...but I agreed to see it, more out of curisosity to see how any movie could create crazier fans than Star Wars fans...but, congrats Twilight, you did it. I watched the original the night before seeing New Moon, since I hadn't seen it, and actually kind of enjoyed it since my expectations couldn't have been any lower. Despite being extremely over-dramatic and its low production quality, it was bearable. Now on to the movie at hand; the story is ok, the actors are ok, and the millions they made from the first movie improved the production quality this time around. But every aspect of this movie and the first is way too over dramatic. I'm not sure I can remember a fun or comedic scene with the leading man and lady. I'm not sure they even smile in either movie. Their relationships aren't built up at all so it's hard to buy into them or even root for them.

*1/2 out of 4 - Not a chance (PG-13 for violence, sensuality and language.)