True Grit

A 14-year-old girl sets out to bring her father's killer to justice.  She enlists the help of an aging US Marshall and a Texas Ranger to track him down.

I love this movie!  I do.  I have seen it twice already and would gladly see it again.  There is absolutely nothing spectacular about it but it totally sucks you in.

The dialogue, a lot of which is verbatim from the original, is so clever and sharp.  Take notice that they don't use conjugations, very cool.

The casting was really amazing too. I was shocked that Jeff Bridges was able to take on the John Wayne role and make it his own and, strike me down for saying so, but I think even better. He is much more unkempt and unsympathetic which as a character makes him more believable.

**** Oscar Worthy


Rated PG-13 (violence)

How do you know

How do you know when a movie is just a complete and total waste of time?

You do now.


* Not-A- Chance


Rated PG-13 (sexual content and language)

Tangled

The legendary tale of Rapunzel is told with the touch of the fairytale masters hand; Disney. You all know the story; Rapunzel and all of her flowing, golden locks is kept in a tower by her evil step-mother until a prince, or outlaw, comes along and shows her the world outside.

Solid addition to the Disney princess movie lineup (although I liked Princess and the Frog better). I think it's kind of dumb they changed the name of the movie from Rapunzel to Tangled in order to attract more boys. But that aside this was a very well done and very fun movie. I thought they went just a little too far on the adult humor side and a little too far away from the classic princess tale, but not a huge complaint. The music is made for Broadway, so don't be surprised to see it there soon (the song on the water at the mid point of the movie is very good). The characters are likable, although I thought the villain wasn't quite evil enough. The look of the movie is beautiful, it's what I always imagined the classic hand-drawn Disney movies to look like in CG and 3D. Fun time at the movies and well worth a visit to the theater.

*** out of 4 - See it

Mega Mind

Metro Man; superhero with super powers. Mega Mind; super villain with super intelligence. The two have been rivals since birth, continuously battling for control of Metro City. As one of their routine scuffles is coming to an end, something unexpected happens...Mega Mind wins, giving the bad guy all he ever wanted, or so he thought.

This was a fun yet average addition to the DreamWorks library of animated films, about at the Monsters VS Aliens level. As with the aforementioned movie, it has a very fun idea with a lot of potential but fails to give in to the moments that could have given it the heart it needed to be solid. It seems like it didn't take itself quite serious enough, maybe in an attempt to keep more Will Ferrel type humor. The visuals are amazing, especially in 3D, and there's some fun and endearing moments. But overall it's pretty forgettable. I also thought Brad Pitt's character was a little under-used. I think it's out of theaters by now, but worth a rental when it shows up at RedBox.

**1/2 out of 4 - Rentable

Tron: Legacy

A young man looking for his missing father is sucked into the same world of vigilante programing and gaming.  His father has been there for the past 25 years and now they must make the journey home.

I do NOT remember anything about the first movie other than the guy got sucked into a video game. Yeah that is it.  I probably should have watched it before I went and saw this but just never got around to it and figured they would bridge the gaps in the sequel.

Soooo..... yeah. Ummmm.... this was dumb.


* Not-A-Chance


Rated PG (for mild language)

The Tourist

Frank, an American tourist traveling around Italy is deliberately singled out by Elise, a mysterious woman that seems to have put him in a great deal of danger.

So I went into this movie expecting the Bourne Identity and got Miss Congeniality.  Ok maybe it wasn't that extreme but it was such a huge disappointment.  It was as though someone forgot to inform Johnny Depp that this was an action flick.

It is extremely slow and as an audience member I felt that I was always ten steps ahead of the story waiting for it to catch up.

* 1/2 Rentable I guess


Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)

Tangled

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.... you know the rest right?

Perhaps you don't?  I realized myself that I don't know a whole lot about this classic fairy tale.  So I was pleasantly entertained by the Disney spin on it.

Again I saw this in 3D. Why? Why does anyone find this necessary? I don't understand this obsession with it -- does anyone know when this fad will be over?

Ok so aside from the unappreciated 3D it was a cute movie.  Smart dialogue.  Funny characters.  The mommy dearest villain is particularly fun.  Not sure this will ever live up to Cinderella or even Beauty and the Beast in terms of favorite princess movies, but it's fun.

*** Must See


Rated PG (no idea why)

Morning Glory

A newly hired producer has a limited amount of time to save her dying morning show from its pitiful ratings not to mention everyone else's job.

This is a cute feel good flick that is 100% forgettable.  Harrison Ford is great as the grumpy news anchor and Rachel McAdams is a little too upbeat but still watchable.

It has a decent cast and again is just feel good fluff -- not horrid but nothing to run out and see.

** Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for sexual content and language)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Harry Potter and friends are back in Part 1 of the adaptation of book seven.

I am assuming that most of you have read the books and don't need me to give you a synopsis of what took place? Good. Ok so I went and saw the midnight showing of Potter and for the first time I was actually surprised when it was over.  In the past the Potter flicks all run way too long -- and I find myself looking at my watch wondering how much longer, but this one was different.  Which is good I suppose, considering that there is probably two hours and forty five minutes more to come in Part 2.

If you are a fan and have devoutly seen all the other films, you of course need to see this one as well.  However if I may add a word of caution for those of you taking little people.  This episode is by far the most bloody, the most violent, and in a few scenes uncomfortably sexual.  So keep that in mind if taking the kids.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence and frightening images)

Megamind

A super villain finally gets exactly what he wants... he wins! However much to his dismay he finds that he needs his nemesis to be truly be happy.

This was actually really clever.  It is a complete satire of what we have come to know as the superhero genre.  I saw it in 3D which is never necessary, and all movies can go without -- nevertheless it wasn't available in the traditional 2D at my local theatre.

Anyway this is pretty cute, not as heartfelt as a Pixar flick, but then what is?  Still it was fun enough that I think the kids will like it while thoroughly entertaining the adults.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG (for action and language)