Knight and Day

A woman mistakenly gets involved with a rouge CIA agent.  To save her own name as well as some highly sought after technology she travels the globe as a unwilling side kick to the super spy. 

This was really mediocre.  It was actually pretty well cast and kind of fun to watch, but the story itself has multiple upon multiple holes that seem to be glossed over by simply drugging the main character. Yeah it is a tad odd.  I am still not exactly sure how the title comes into play and the characters are oddly developed. Again Tom Cruise was really good in this.  I like to see him in a comedic role. Granted it is weighted down by the action packed story line, nevertheless, this is leaps and bounds better than Killers.

Not anything to rush out and see, but it is OK for a summer night.

** Rentable

Rated PG-13 (for violence and language) 

Toy Story 3

Andy is grown up and heading off to college. As he's cleaning out his room, his ever-faithful toys led by Woody and Buzz are accidentally donated to Sunnyside Day Care Center, which appears to be toy heaven, until their roll as new recruits is revealed. Woody leads their great escape from day care and their journey back to Andy.

Pixar goes 11 for 11, quite the batting %. I don't think that theirs a trilogy that delivers so well in each movie as the Toy Story trilogy. Maybe The Godfather trilogy? Maybe the original Star Wars trilogy? Lord of the Rings? Although some have issues with the 3rd and final chapter in those trilogies. In this case Toy Story 3 delivers just as well if not better than its predecessors. Of course the technology has advanced and the film just looks better, the animation is better, etc. But the story is so much fun and so well crafted, it's arguable that this is the best movie of the trilogy (however I might call part 2 the best, I'd have to see 3 again to confirm). The opening sequence is a great homage to the opening of the original Toy Story. The middle of the film is as good as any prison-break movie around. But the ending is where this movie really nails it. It is in my opinion the perfect ending to this trilogy, and had me on the verge of tears...yes, toys almost had me in tears. It's what sets Pixar apart; the heart they put into their movies. The old characters are just as lovable as before and the new ones are fun and engaging. Well done Pixar, very well done.

(As always there's a very well done Pixar animated short that plays before the film. It's called Night and Day, a very different short that is an interesting mix of 2D and 3D animation.)

**** out of 4 - Oscar Worthy (Rated G)

The A-Team

In a movie version of the popular 80's tv show, The A-Team, an elite group of Army Rangers is blackmailed in their heroic rescue of stolen US property. The group is sentenced to prison, subsequently break out, then regroup to exact their revenge.

This movie was a lot of fun. There's a lot of campy, over-the-top action as well as some cheesy dialogue but somehow it all works rather well. The characters are all very likable, have lots of chemistry and are very entertaining. The portrayal of the way the team executes their near impossible plans with reckless precision is done very well and a lot of fun to watch. The ending almost got a little too over-the-top for me but it fit the movie and was also entertaining.

*** out of 4 - Must see (PG-13 for lots of violence and language)

Toy Story 3

The Toys are back although their numbers have dwindled over the years as Andy has grown up.  They patiently stay in their toy chest hoping to be remembered by the boy that they adore and maybe be played with once again.  As Andy is packing for college they are shipped off to a Day Care full of children with the promise that they will be played with everyday.  The Day Care, however, isn't everything it seems and soon our hero's decide that they must escape and get back to Andy.

I can't really say enough about how fun, clever, and entertaining this movie was with just the right amount of sentiment.  Sequels always fall short, but not here.  The story is fabulous.  The animation amazing.  If I must find something to criticize I guess it would be that the 3-D isn't needed.  I saw it in 3D and just find the glasses annoying.  Although this is a technical masterpiece, as with all Pixar flicks, it is really all about the story and you will be just as entertained without the irritating head gear.

**** Oscar Worthy

Rated G

The A-Team

A random foursome of Army Rangers is jumbled together in a frantic escape from Mexico.  Years later, they are continuously called upon to complete impossible missions.  Their loyalty to their country is second only to each other,  which comes into question when they are all sentenced to prison after a covert operation goes wrong.


"In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit.  These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground.  Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune.  If you have a problem,  if no one else can help,  and if you can find them,  maybe you can hire, The A-Team."


OK that is all I remember about the actual television program from the '80's. Well that, and the fact that Mr. T. was in it.  So going into this movie I had very, very low expectations.  This seemed to work in my favor as I was more than entertained by the movie.  I really liked the editing and how they talk through their ridiculous plans while cutting back and forth with what actually happens.  It made it ever so slightly believable and much more comical without being too campy.  There is some misguided casting (Jessica Biel) and over the top moments, but for a summer "B" action flick, it was a lot of fun. 


*** See it.

Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia, the successful video game series makes the leap to the big screen. Prince Dastan; once a homeless orphan, now an adopted Prince of the Persian Empire is leading armies in the expansion of Persia. A holy city under Persian rule is suspected of dealing arms to enemies of the empire. As Dastan leads a raid on the city, a magical dagger comes into his possession which can turn back time. A weapon that will prove most useful, as he has just been accused of the murder of his father, the King of Persia.

So overall this is a fun movie, but it has it's issues. I don't understand the reason everyone has British accents, even our star Jake Gyllenhaal...who is an American playing a Persian...I guess the same reason why all Hollywood portrayals of ancient Romans have British accents...sounds more historic I guess. Anyway, minor complaint. There is a LOT of action, but a large amount of it suffers from the Bourne Supremacy Syndrome, where the camera is flying around so fast and so close to the action that you're confused as to what's going on and who's doing what. There's some good acting as well as some boxed up performances. Gyllenhaal and Kingsley seem a tad underwhelming in their roles, while Alfred Molina does a great job as a merciless gambler and Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) is likeable enough as the princess. The story isn't the greatest but it's not bad. We just don't come to really root for the characters. At one point I remember thinking, "This needs a Captain Jack Sparrow-type character", a character that just makes each scene fun. But the running time is good, just under 2 hours, so you're never really getting sick of things and it keeps you interested enough til the end, which has some nice moments.

** out of 4 - Rentable (PG-13 for violence)

The Secret in Their Eyes

A retired court employee decides to write a book about an old murder case that he believes was never properly solved.

This movie won the Oscar this year for Best Foreign Film. It is an Argentinean film in Spanish with English subtitles. I am not going to say much about this, other than, go see it. It was amazing and I don't remember the last time I was so engaged in a movie. It probably isn't in any mainstream theatres, but if you have an independent theatre near you, take the time to go see this film. If you can't find it, Netflix it. It will be well worth the effort.

**** Oscar Worthy

Rated R (for language and violence)

Killers

Ummmmmm......yeah, don't.

* Not-a-Chance