182: Eclipse

Eclipse (PG-13) - 2010 - Runtime: 124 minutes
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Director: David Slade

Ah finally! The last movie for the project, even though I finished this almost three weeks ago. It's hard motivating yourself to get through these reviews sometimes, but hey, I'm here. Well, it's funny that I'm ending on this movie because Maggie ended her project with one of my favorite books, and I'm ending mine with one of her favorite books. I have not read the books and I think that's fine - they're not exactly up my alley and I've listened to a decent amount of the audio books when we've traveled, so I'm pretty hip to what's going on.

I was trying to look for my review of New Moon, which I did see during my project, but I never wrote a review! I'm so disorganized and I can see Maggie shaking her head in shame. Well, I can say that I enjoyed the first movie. Most people have such visceral reactions to this material - intense love or hate - and I find myself on the fence. The movies themselves are entertaining, but not to die for. And while I enjoyed the first movie, the second movie seemed rather dull. Not a whole lot happened in my opinion and it felt like New Moon was just setting up for an epic climax in the third book. And for the most part Eclipse is pretty epic and entertaining - and it's probably the best movie of the series so far.

I won't rehash the plot here, most know the love triangle going on and the stakes involved for all the characters, so let's get right to it. This movie was fun and also funny. The story lends itself well for a good time - the vampires and wolves have to team up to eradicate a new threat of newbie blood suckers (who apparently are really insanely powerful). I liked it and there's a lot of good comedy that comes out of this relationship. I just wish there was more of that, but I wasn't too disappointed because the movie never really slows down - it pretty much flies by.

As for the acting? Pretty good. I don't know why people think these three actors can't act. I think it's really just the material - the characters are a bit flat at times and I've definitely rolled my eyes a few times at the dialogue. But they're decent actors, they just need to get some more movies under their belt. I particularly love Bella's dad - he's my favorite and I think he's probably one of the most complicated characters in the whole story. He's played really well by Billy Burke.

As I said before, the movie is epic and very entertaining. It's a good summer flick that has some good action as well as romance (duh!) and actually, it's funny, too! So nuts to all those out there that think the human race is doomed because of this franchise, but it's all pretty harmless fun.

Rating: See It!

182: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (PG) - 2010 - Runtime: 118 minutes
Starring: Logan Lerman, Pierce Brosnan, Brandon T. Jackson
Director: Chris Columbus

I really love Greek mythology. Especially when it's expanded upon and creates its own unique myth (see: The God of War games). I don't know, something about the gods and the old titans I just really dig. So I was looking forward to checking this movie out - I haven't read the books, but I heard they were good, if not great. Alas, this movie was major suckitude and I don't think I'd want to check out the books after watching this one!

Percy Jackson is just a normal, breathing underwater for 10 minutes high school kid who finds out very quickly that he's a demigod (or, for those too dimwitted and slow, as the movie assumes, half man, half god). He's Poseidon's son and has been accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, the source of Zeus's power. So it's up to Percy to figure out what the hell is happening and of course, have some good looking chick and annoying side kick tag along to help him. The formula already is a bit thin and after the first half an hour, I grew tired. The movie started off nicely - you get right into the story, but after that it's dull.

My problems are thus: I hate it when they re-tell stories - for example, Medusa is still alive? Didn't Perseus (aha, see what they did there?), the son of Zeus kill her already? What the what? I hated that the writers were too lazy to tell a unique story. Instead, we get the always clever (read: never) looking into the mirror trick, kind of. Second, the movie felt like a video game. And not in a good way because it seemed to play out like this: find three hidden pearls! Once you get the pearls, you will face a boss - Medusa, a Five Headed Dragon, etc. etc. It's too stilted and just doesn't flow right. I can't explain it better than that! Third, the villain isn't all that menacing and you never really feel like the world is in danger. The movie is so far removed from the real world from the very beginning that when it's threatened, it doesn't seem real. Plus! SPOILER! You never find out how the dude stole the lightning bolt in the first place! Sure, I'm glad he didn't monologue, but this is very important effing information! I suppose Zeus just left it on the porch on Mt. Olympus? This is just another example of the laziness of the writing!

Okay! So I would definitely avoid this one. It tries so hard to be hip to the new generation. Like the way to get to Hades in hell is found in a cave near the Hollywood sign or the entry point to Mt. Olympus is through the Empire State Building's elevator. Thanks for giving us instantly recognizable landmarks! Because making things up is too hard. Sigh.

Rating: Avoid Like the Plague!

182: Sex and the City 2

Sex and the City 2 (R) - 2010 - Runtime: 146 minutes
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristen Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall
Director: Michael Patrick King

I won't add too many words to what is already becoming the worst movie of 2010. I don't consider myself a fan of the show or the movie, but they were enjoyable and fun distractions. Pure entertainment. So I actually didn't mind that they were forging ahead with the next movie, despite the fact that everything wrapped up pretty nicely in the last movie. I think the characters a so well developed that I didn't mind seeing what would happen next. God, was I wrong. This movie takes a big ol' dump on the show and the movie and what they established with the characters.

The plot is pretty outrageous as it gets - Carrie whines a lot about her aging - she wants to be forever 21 and the rest of the girls have some problems, too. But for some reason, they're big enough to justify going all the way to the middle east for some R&R. There's a lot of side plots and distractions along the way that don't really go anywhere, but just add more noise to this movie. It's utterly dull and I found the characters becoming just flat caricatures of themselves by the end of the movie where they need to rush to the airport in order to not sit coach, which is the ugliest sins of all, apparently. So yeah, the movie is as bad as everyone has said and you don't need to watch it because it'll ruin the memory you had watching those four gal pals sexin' it up in the city. It's kind of like when Brett Favre retired. Much sadness ensued, but next year, we saw him again in a different uniform and it pretty much ruined his legacy - it's not like he's winning MVP awards or Super Bowls for that matter. And he did that twice! Let's just hope they get the message and bury this franchise before it gets even worse.

Rating: Avoid Like the Plague!

182: Green Zone

Green Zone (R) - 2010 - Runtime: 115 minutes
Starring: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan
Director: Paul GreengraSS

I had been really excited to see this movie when I first heard about it. I really have enjoyed Greengrass's work. I think the last two Bourne movies are just fun action flicks that keep you on the edge of your seat. But I'm glad this isn't just "Bourne in Iraq" because that's what the trailer was pushing. In fact, it's more of a drama than an action movie and it's a good movie that focuses on the beginning of the war in Iraq.

Matt Damon plays Officer Miller, a man charged with finding WMDs in Iraq, but keeps coming up empty handed in his search. Instead of following orders, he decides to figure out on his own, with a little help from the locals, what the hell is going on. What he finds is, of course, a massive conspiracy. I remember a customer coming up to me and asking me if the movie was any good and I said, yeah.

The customer starts to raise his voice, "Well, it's not about that Democrat bullshit that the war was bad, right? I mean, what's with movie makers and their desire to take down Republicans any chance they get? They're so full of it!" That, at least, was the gist of it.

I replied, "Well, the movie does take the viewpoint of the truth that there was no WMDs in Iraq and that the President and his staff all lied about the war." I was so mad I could have said much, much more but sometimes these people are just looking for an argument and are too stubborn to see another point of view. And what's with painting the Republicans as victims in this whole scenario? I was baffled. I don't think anyone in their right mind would say the Republicans are victims of anything. Same goes for the democrats, too. It's just idiotic to think that.

Any who, aside from the rant, I really found this movie to be quite good. It's worth a rental, if you can swallow the massive conspiracy involving the imaginary WMDs. Matt Damon is awesome because he's playing a man on a mission and damn anyone who gets in the way. The movie reminded me a lot of Body of Lies, another decent war movie, but Green Zone is much more simple and straightforward. There aren't that many twists in the plot and it has a very linear structure. The action, when it happens, is fast and satisfying and at the end, the movie gives you a good sense of the frustration and futility involved in the war.

Rating: Rent It!

182: The Book of Eli

The Book of Eli (R) - 2010 - Runtime: 118 minutes
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis
Director: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

I had heard good things about this movie and I am a sucker for these kind of movies, as evidenced by my other reviews. But after a co-worker of mine absolutely hated this movie, I was more hesitant to check it out. Thankfully, I gave it a shot and this was a wonderfully executed, great sci-fi action movie. It's a great set up and the action is swift and satisfying.

Washington plays a man on a mission from God: to deliver a bible, one of the only of its kind in existence after the world went to hell due to wars, etc. to the west. The movie doesn't delve too much into what happened, which is a good thing. Of course, the bible is seen by Gary Oldman, the evil dude who controls a small town, who thinks he can control more and more people if he has the Word of God by his side. It's a bit heavy handed with all the religious allegories and motifs, but it really isn't distracting to what's really important: the action. I have to say the action here is shot brilliantly and really is fun. There's some slow motion effects, but it's not unrelenting and awful. In fact, after seeing the whole movie, it all kind of fits together. I don't want to spoil anything, but I thought the ending was perfect and fitting for the story they were telling. It's very satisfying and worth a second viewing to catch all the subtext.

It's a great sci-fi movie and if you love post-apocalyptic-themed movies, you cannot go wrong with this one!

Rating: Rent It!

182: Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 2010 - Runtime: 108 minutes
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover
Director: Tim Burton

When I first heard about this movie, I was intrigued. The more I heard, too, the more I wanted to see it. It wasn't just a re-imagining of the old tale, but something built upon the first book. I found the idea of Alice going back to Wonderland a more refreshing take and I thought Burton would make it magical (I know, corny, right? What can I say, he's a great director!). But once it came out and the mixed reaction it received I was more hesitant and it wasn't only until it came out a few weeks ago that I finally sat down to watch. Boy, am I glad I did not pay money to see this stinker!

Alice in Wonderland has been so ingrained into our pop culture that it would be hard to find somebody who doesn't know the story. And the new movie has that figured out, at least. Alice is all grown up and finds herself at a crossroads in her life - she is about to be forced to marry a dimwitted douche bag and she's all but an outcast among her peers. Fortunately, she wanders off through the forest and falls into Wonderland where things have gone horribly wrong. This is the set up for what Burton has in store. But it's a rather dull story and it doesn't get going until half an hour in and you're thinking the whole time, haven't I seen this movie before? The story gets a bit better after that, but it's too late. I had already lost interest and was just waiting the movie out. It's like the movie didn't have a purpose. I feel like the movie was more to show off its visuals and the craziness of Tim Burton, rather than tell a proper story. Johnny Depp dials it up as the Mad Hatter, but I would have rather seen a more demented and darker sadistic Hatter that the earlier books and movies only hinted at. Wonderland should be a scary place for an eighteen-year-old girl, but this movie treats it like some theme park.

Sigh. And the movie just rolls along not actually caring to stop and take a breath. There's just this inevitable climactic battle scene that it wants to get to at the end and damn if anything is going to be interesting along the way. The acting is okay, but I felt the movie was too big for its own good. That's to say, I only saw Helena Bonham Carter, not the Red Queen. Johnny Depp was his usual self and like one of my co-workers has said, I just wish him and Burton would have sex already (they're teaming up again for another movie called Dark Shadows, sheesh!).

So I would most definitely avoid this movie. It might be a dull distraction, though on a very dull day indeed, but you can find much better entertainment than this movie. In fact, I think this will be Tim Burton's least memorable movie. I'm sure in five to ten years most people will forget about this one. It's DOA in my book.

Rating: Not Worth Paying For!

182: The Road

The Road (R) - 2009 - Runtime: 111 minutes
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce
Director: John Hillcoat

I absolutely loved the book this movie was based on. I'm a sucker for any movie dealing with post-apocalyptic themes (Children of Men, 12 Monkeys are among my favorite movies!). And Cormac McCarthy's book is strangely intoxicating. I read it in one sit through when I picked it up at the library. It's a short read and I recommend it to anyone who loves sci-fi. Suffice to say, The Road had a lot of high expectations to live up to. And it delivers - it's got the desolate tone the book has and I found myself just as riveted to it as I did that one night I read through the book.

The plot is simple - something has happened to the world where it's now desolate and abandoned. Only gangs survive and here we find a man and his son travelling through the country to find safety? Shelter? We don't know and it's pretty apparent that they don't know either. They have no names but  the movie flashes back to better times before the boy was born. It's here we get a sense of purpose for the dad - he will do anything to protect his only son. It's a great story - and the movie is pretty faithful to the book. What I got from the book (and the movie) was the utter sense of dread. You just don't know how long these two can last. It's a credit to the author and the director to create that sense of foreboding.

The acting is pretty solid and at times the kid can get a little bit annoying. He's a bit too whiny and high pitched compared to how I read him in the book, but that's a minor gripe into what's really a good movie. If you have any interest in the subject, read the book first by all means (it's only 200 pages or so and so thoroughly engrossing that it's easy to finish as soon as you start) and then watch the movie. It's too bad that this got shoved to the wayside because I think it's a great story and a solid movie all around!

Rating: Rent It!

182: Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness (R) - 2010 - Runtime: 117 minutes
Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone
Director: Martin Campbell

When I first saw the trailer I scoffed. "Is this Mel Gibson's version of Taken? This will be a fun trainwreck, then!" But the more I saw of it, the more I really did want to see it and when it got here on DVD, I couldn't resist checking it out. To my disappointment this was a trainwreck of a movie and fairly disappointing. I've talked to quite a few people who loved it and they say it's a thinker of an action/suspense movie. But I have to disagree: the movie is dead in the eyes and seems to wander around aimlessly, looking for some signs of life.

Mel Gibson plays Thomas Craven who is picking up his daughter for the holidays. Not soon after, as she's vomiting up blood and rushing out the door to the hospital, she's brutally shot and killed by what seems to be a random burglar. This was probably the coolest part of the movie - I think his daughter gets shot with a sawed-off shotgun and it's a gruesome as you think it is. It's great and I thought, hell yeah, let's get this mother started! But no! God no! There's lots of meandering around the next day by Thomas, who seems to be at a loss at what to do. Slowly, and very slowly, he starts to find clues as to who murdered his daughter. Surprise! It has to do with her shady work at some big corporate fat cat place that has ties to the government. It's really not a complicated plot - you pretty much figure out what's going on half way through. But the problem is: there's this other guy (Ray Winstone) who's been hired by the government and/or the big wig corporation to stop Craven from finding out the truth. But he doesn't, instead he kind of helps him along the way. What the hell is that all about? I don't know because this guy has no background, he just comes and goes as he pleases in this movie.

And that's the big deal: there's just not enough character in this movie. I just didn't see Thomas Craven as a man hell-bent on getting revenge, even at the end when he's tying up loose ends with his gun. And I would have liked a little more plot twists - it was all too easy and nicely wrapped up in the end to justify a whole movie with all of these supposedly conspiracy-laden big wigs (or fat cats, I'm still deciding). And Gibson was laying that god-awful Boston accent on pretty thick, too. Yeah, this movie takes place in Boston. And with most movies that take place around this area, it's full of itself. I hate that - they reference all of these places as if everyone in the world knows about Cambridge and Somerville and Brockton (why do I know the names of these cities? I looked it up on Wikipedia specifically for this article). It's too self-indulgent for me and I was getting more and more frustrated as Craven plodded along, contemplating what he should do next and supposedly mourning his daughter at the same time. I just didn't buy any of what this movie was selling.

So please skip this one for the love of all that is holy and good! At least with Taken there was a fantastic pace and you really had the sense of revenge on Neeson's mind. It may not have been as logical, but it was way more fun than this dull movie.

Rating: Avoid Like the Plague!

182: Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2 (PG-13) - 2010 - Runtime: 124 minutes
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell
Director: Jon Favreau

No movie can withstand the amount of hype that Iron Man 2 had surrounding it. That's probably why there's so much disappointment with this movie. Certainly Favreau and company had a lot to live up to - Iron Man was a great movie (maybe not the greatest superhero movie, but most definitely in the Top 10). But I think after all is said and done, the best parts of this movie outshine some of the more mediocre parts. In fact, I think when The Avengers comes out and whatever the hell else Marvel is doing with their characters, I think Iron Man 2 will be fun to watch as it signals the start of a massive Marvel-dictated mega-universe encompassing several movies.

I may be reaching a bit on that last statement, but this is one of the many reasons I love watching this movie. There is a lot going on, but I never found myself scratching my head. I don't think I need to reiterate the plot, it's pretty much Iron Man to the rescue as he battles his own decaying body and Russian counterpart. Some of the best parts of the movie were not even main plot points. In fact, seeing Samuel L. Jackson (whom I've had enough of already, but he gets a pass this time around) hint around at what's in store for other Marvel franchises only has me hooked into being first in line for their next movie. Some may argue that it's cheap advertising or what have you, but I think it's smart and I'm super excited. Another part of the movie I liked? Sam Rockwell. I'll admit I have a thing for this guy - he's yet to disappoint me in a movie and I just thought his over the top portrayal of an impotent rival of Tony Stark was perfect. He never got too annoying and I can't wait to see what they do with his character in a future movie. Mickey Rourke was wonderful, too but sometimes I didn't think he was as menacing as he could be. But his character is super cool and thought all of the action scenes were just plain awesome. As, of course, the dialogue. Which only gets better because Downey has this character nailed down. He's so good and Cheadle actually plays a better Rhodes than Terrence Howard.

The movie is a little bit louder and more raucous than the first, but generally, there's not much difference between the two. Which is why I think most people thought it would be way bigger and more badass than the first. But it's not. Most everyone has probably seen it, but I think it's definitely worth a second or third viewing!

Rating: See It!

182: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PG-13) - 2010 - Runtime: 116 minutes
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley
Director: Mike Newell

Hollywood and video games don't necessarily mix and to my knowledge, there has not been a really good movie that's based on video games (I wouldn't consider Resident Evil good. Decent, but not good). Many people have tried, but there seems to be a curse and the notorious director Uwe Boll  has built his reputation off of bad movie adaptations, only adding to this legend. I don't think the curse has been lifted, but Prince of Persia does a very good job at being a movie that invokes the spirit of the video game, rather than adapting it directly.

Gyllenhaal, despite being extremely white, plays Destan, an orphan in Persia who has a lot of street smarts. One day after being chased by some royal guards, the king takes notice of his skills and adopts him as one of his own. Fast forward twenty some years and the kingdom of Persia is about to invade an innocent city that holds an ancient secret - the sands of time, a device that can replay the past. There is a lot going on in the movie, but it's not too hard to follow. There's never a point where I was totally confused as to what's going on. It moves at a brisk pace and there's never a dull moment. I was completely into the world they created. Which is funny, because I was totally expecting this movie to be dead in the eyes and just a bunch of fancy effects.

The movie has a lot of heart, though and Gyllenhaal is charismatic as the lead. Arterton, whom I'm already in love with, plays the princess well, too. Kingsley as the bad guy is good, although he seems kind of shoved to the side as a character. Alfred Molina is the comic relief and fortunately, he's funny for the most part, but more importantly, not annoying like those two "urban" Autobots in the second Transformers movie, or the extremely annoying roommate. And everything just works in the movie, from the action to the reversal of time, to the badassness of the assassins. It's too bad it never really took off at the theaters because I'm clamoring for more of this world. I think Newell (who directed one of the Harry Potter movies) has done a fantastic job of creating this supernatural world.

While I wouldn't say it's an earth-shattering event movie of the summer, it's quite good and delivers the promise of what all good summer action movies have: fun entertainment. I love the Prince of Persia video games and by far, this is the best video game movie I've seen.

Rating: See It!

182: Leap Year

Leap Year (PG) - 2010 - Runtime: 100 minutes
Starring: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode
Director: Anand Tucker

I'll admit this didn't look like a bad movie. It seemed like a good premise for a romantic comedy, but could it deliver? And I love Amy Adams - she's adorable in most everything and talented, too. As for Matthew Goode? Oh, you never heard of him? Well, he's quite the versatile actor, he's been in several movies (Match Point, Watchmen, A Single Man, and a favorite hidden gem of mine, The Lookout). Unfortunately, the movie never seems to find any steady ground to get some laughs or cheers - it's quite a mess and all over the place.

Adams plays Anna, a women who has it all - the perfect boyfriend, a great job, etc. etc. Of course, she can't be just a girlfriend forever and her dim-witted, but successful, boyfriend hasn't gotten the clue to marry her. So, being the gung-ho person she is, she takes her father's little anecdote of a story and puts it in practice - she can propose to her boyfriend only on Leap Day, in Ireland. And only then apparently. What this movie seems to avoid is the nagging question of why she just doesn't sit him down and talk about marriage. Any sane person would have done this. But of course, that would ruin the movie. And of course, her trip to Ireland is met with all kinds of disasters, save one man named Declan. Of course, they're destined and the movie seems so long to actually get to that point.

It's a pretty dull movie that I can't even recall what happened in it. Like I said, there's not a whole lot to think about - the movie plods along and the scenes where there's supposed to be a spark are anything but fun or at least watchable. I wouldn't say there wasn't any chemistry between the actors, but it seems that the story was trying to hard to push them together, rather than letting it unfold. The movie was too high concept - a plot conjured up in business meetings without one thought as to how to make it a good movie. If you're looking for a romantic comedy, look elsewhere - this one is DOA.

Rating: Avoid Like the Plague!

182: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (PG-13) - 2010 - Runtime: 123 Minutes
Starring: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Verne Troyer
Director: Terry Gilliam

Don't let the title fool you, this movie is by far Gilliam's most accessible movie ever, slightly more so than 12 Monkeys (one of my Top 20 movies of all time!). When I first heard about the movie, it sounded completely absurd and something that would be too artsy. But instead, this movie is quite fun and filled with lots of whimsy and of course, imagination, duh! And while I don't think it's a great movie, it's still good and worth checking out, even if you're not a fan of Gilliam. Plus it's Ledger's last movie and he's in it throughout except for three scenes in which Farrell, Depp and Law step in to play his role.

The whole premise of the movie is simple: Doctor Parnassus (played impeccably by Plummer) made a deal with the devil to win over souls and in turn become immortal, in which the good Doctor actually beats the devil. But the devil is shrewd and offers a deal for Parnassus to be young again so he can win over the love of a young lady (isn't it always about some girl?) but in return he must give away the soul of any child when they turn 16. Of course Parnassus has a kid and has kept it secret from her about her impending fate. It's with this backdrop that Ledger's character comes swinging into the story (quite literally) and sets up the final deal with the devil: first to five souls wins. Now you're probably wondering where the whole imaginarium gets thrown in. Well, it's hard to describe but he's a travelling carnival of sorts where you can explore your own imagination. It's a pretty cool set up and every time the movie travels into someone's imagination, it becomes filled with the offbeat characters and sets that Gilliam is known for.

The story is actually pretty good and Ledger is wonderful as the mysterious Tony. I couldn't say the same for his stand-ins: they pale in comparison to Ledger's unique performance. The rest of the cast is just as good, Plummer plays his part brilliantly and Waits as the Devil himself is too good. I thought Troyer might be a out of place, but he fits in nicely as pretty much the straight guy in the group. The movie's a lot of fun and whisks by in no time - it's about two hours and it did not feel that long.

While not exactly an earth-shattering event movie, Imaginarium is a quirky, but surprisingly simple, story that captures Gilliam's creativity at its best. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one to anyone who is looking for an adventure story. It's wonderfully cast and beautiful to look at, but most of all, it's just a fun movie.

Rating: Rent It!

182: Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass (R) - 2010 - Runtime: 117 minutes
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Director: Matthew Vaughn

Oh my god this movie is aptly titled! I had expected great things from this movie and it delivered. It's sure to be a cult classic in ten years and it's too bad that a lot of critics didn't like it. I feel like this movie is more for my generation than the older crowd. There's so much to love here that it's going to be hard writing a review without gushing too much. But by far, it's the best movie I've seen so far this year.

Dave Lizewski is your typical geek who pretty much lives through pop culture - comic books, movies, etc. He finds himself questioning what direction he's taking in life and decides to don a mask and name himself a superhero - Kick-Ass. His first encounter with real crime leaves him on the edge of death - but leaves him with a renewed sense of energy and direction - and a pretty ridged body because of all the reconstruction the doctors did on his bones. His next encounter with a group of thugs ends up becoming a You Tube sensation thanks to an onlooker's camera phone. Soon, everyone is talking about his alter-ego but there's trouble brewing with the local mob boss who happens to think Kick-Ass is a real threat because of some other super-hero type wannabes played by Chloe Moretz and Nicolas Cage.

It's a great set up for some over-the-top action and funny moments. Aaron Johnson plays the geek well but doesn't make him out to be a one-note character or stereotype. I truly believed every bit of his performance and as for the rest of the cast? Just frickin' awesome! I don't like Nicolas Cage too much, but he's really good at playing the geek dad bent on revenge and Chloe Moretz? She steals the movie - from her foul mouth to her fantastic set of moves and style - it all works and there's some great scenes that I truly believe are some of the best action sequences I've seen in a long time. No joke! Mark Strong is great as the villain (as he was in Sherlock Holmes) and Mintz-Plasse plays another geek who gets overshadowed by everyone else in the movie. It's too bad because I think there's a lot of potential for him to be an awesome character in this world.

Which leads me to the ending - it's pretty much perfect and there's a whole lot of build up to it that you're itching for it to come and it pays off! Plus! The movie is perfectly set up for a sequel which I hope they do because this could become such a great franchise. The humor is there, the action is well-choreographed (and I can actually see what's happening!) and the characters are people I want to learn more about. It's such a good movie and I wouldn't hesitate to call this the best movie of the year!

Rating: See It!

182: Date Night

Date Night (PG-13) - 2010 - Runtime: 88 minutes
Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey
Director: Shawn Levy

I had been anticipating this movie ever since I saw the trailer last year. It seemed like another fun movie with some light action and of course, the always hip and cool Tina Fey and Steve Carell. Throw in a bunch of cameos from Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Kristen Wiig, William Fichtner and Mila Kunis and it's guaranteed to bring the laughs. And so it did, just maybe not as big as I thought they would.

Carell and Fey play a couple who seem to have hit a brick wall when it comes to their relationship. Every week they have a date night, but it ends up always being the same experience. Until one night when they decide to mix it up. All hell breaks loose when they're mistaken for another couple who seem to be in a lot of trouble. It's a good setup and the movie is pretty good but, like most other reviews have said, the comedy is elevated to whole other level because of Fey and Carell. They're really good together and they have such good comedic timing. The same goes for the supporting actors - Wahlberg plays the macho know it all that seems to always be shirtless. And Franco and Kunis play the real couple who's identity had been stolen - they're great as a couple of misfits - it's probably one of the best and funniest scenes in the movie.

The action was pretty good, too and the plot serves itself well - I was invested as to where the movie was going, even if it was a bit predictable. I laughed a lot and that's always good, right? I wouldn't say it's the funniest movie I've seen this year (Hot Tub Time Machine and She's Out of My League are taking those honors)  If you haven't seen it, you should check it out!

Rating: See It!

182: Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans (PG-13) - 2010 - Runtime: 106 minutes
Starring: Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson
Director: Louis Letterrier

I don't care what people say, this movie was just pure popcorn fun. You don't have to think to much, the action is stellar and the cast is pretty good (and good lookin' - I'm looking at you Gemma Arterton). I'm really glad I did not see this in 3D. I think it would have been too distracting. I can't imagine watching any movie that was retro-fitted with 3D. Thank god they abandoned that choice with Iron Man 2!

So the story is about Perseus, the illegitimate child of Zeus. If you don't know the story, well, you must have not paid any attention in English, because it's your typical, dad is a god and wants you to save the world from his brother who happens to be lord of the underworld story. The plot's not necessarily the best part of the movie, but it's sufficient and I think Ralph Fiennes is thoroughly creepy as Hades. Liam Neeson is pretty spot on too and Sam Worthington has pretty much took over Gerard Butler's sandals after he abandoned the action genre because he wanted to beef up his estrogen fanbase.

The action scenes are great - particularly the giant scorpions and the kraken. Both were pretty slick-looking and had me engaged. I love the world they created with this movie - Greek mythology is always fascinating and I thought the movie did a good job at blending the cheese with the serious action. Like I said, it was a fun ride that was definitely worth seeing on the big screen.

Rating: See It!

182: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (PG) - 2009 - Runtime: 88 minutes
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Zachary Levi
Director: Betty Thomas

I was just as surprised as everyone else I talked to at how much I enjoyed the first Alvin movie. Granted, I enjoyed, not loved, the movie. The chipmunks were cute and Jason Lee used to be a skateboarder, so I have to watch whatever he does. So I was at least mildly interested in the sequel and this one was not even half as good as the original.

It's like they took the formula that made the first movie a success (lots of song and dance numbers, followed by cute CGI chipmunk shots and a disgruntled Dave) and threw it out the window. Dave is completely absent from this movie save for a few scenes. The songs (which, although I do not like musicals, had their charm in the first movie) are brief and rarely seen. And there's just not enough of the cute chipmunks messing around. They took the fun out of the movie, which is the only thing this movie had going for it. I feel sad that kids got roped into this sequel, because it's by far one of the worst I've seen compared to the original. The brilliant David Cross couldn't even save this one! Usually he's good for a few laughs in these popcorn movies (I absolutely loved him in She's the Man!) but he's just flat - picking up a paycheck, I guess.

There's not much else to say except that Zachary Levi does a pretty good job at playing the dork, but once again, there's not enough character moments to truly enjoy - they rushed through this movie like it was their business to get to the end. I know for sure I'm going to skip the third for shizzle.

Rating: Not Worth Paying For!

182: Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 2010 - Runtime: 100 minutes?
Starring: John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke
Director: Steve Pink

I was hotly (yes, hotly!) anticipating this movie - I was gonna pay money for it, but lo and behold! Maggie got us some free tickets to a screening last night! And holy hell, this movie was effin' hysterical! It's by the same guys who wrote Sex Drive (a very underrated comedy from 2008) and She's Out of My League, one of my favorite movies so far this year! They've been batting a thousand in my mind, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Sean Anders and John Morris have in store for us in the future!

John Cusack pretty much reprises his role from a host of eighties movies. But instead of having a happy ending and getting the girl, Adam is too much of a jerk to sustain any kind of relationship, whether it be with the women in his life or his friends. Okay, dull! Right? Sorry, I'll finish this quick - somehow Adam gets together with his old high school buddies (and one severely isolated man-boy that is Adam's nephew), somehow managing to travel back to 1986 via hot tub. And hilarity ensues. I don't know where to begin - it's just a crude movie (in the good sense of crude, watch for lots of bodily fluid jokes, albeit done in good taste! Not really, though) with a bit of heart. But it all meshes together pretty well to make a funny movie. It's great because like The Hangover, you're compelled to travel along with these lovable dinguses to find out what they can do to change their misfortunes, which basically started on the very same weekend in 1986!

Rob Corddry is great as the insane and wild Lou who knows nothing except for sex and alcohol. Craig Robinson, perhaps one of the funniest dudes working in H-wood today, is great, too. And Cusack is pretty good. Maggie said this must be his idea of redemption from making 2012. Funn-ee! The only thing that I could conceivably say bad about this movie is under-utilizing Clark Duke (from Sex Drive, the aforementioned great comedy from 2008. See it!). It's a problem of his character, really. He's pretty much the straight guy (along with Cusack, but even more so) who gets some good lines, but never really has a chance to be awesome like I know the guy is. Too bad, but otherwise a great, great movie! There's some great running jokes (Crispin Glover as the one-armed bellhop is too much!) and I hope it does well, these guys need to keep pumpin' out the funny.

I would pay money to see this. Twice! It's that good! Go see it this weekend!

Rating: See It!

182: Brothers

Brothers (R) - 2009 - Runtime: 104 minutes
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaall, Natalie Portman
Director: Jim Sheridan

I had been wanting to see this movie when I first saw that provocative trailer. It sounded like such a good story - brother against brother and the lady between them. Throw in some crazy gun-toting creepiness from Tobey Maguire and what seemed to be some promising, as Maggie would put it, "boning" between two very hot actors and that's a saucy recipe for movie greatness. Alas, this movie is not what was advertised and I was somewhat disappointed as to where it went.

Tobey Maguire plays Captain Sam Cahill, who is forced back to Afghanistan. His brother, Tommy (Gyllenhaal) is just released from jail and is a bitter disappointment to his father. After being shot down, Sam is taking as a POW and forced to do some horrific things. Tommy and Sam's wife, Grace bond over the supposed loss of Sam and things get more and more complicated as Sam comes back from the dead. I don't want to spoil anything for people who want to see the movie, but the film focused more on Sam's struggles than the relationship developing back home. It's somewhat jarring as the trailer is totally deceptive to this fact. It's not a bad movie, I just wish they could have "gone there," but the movie is just a tame (despite the R-rating) tale of the demons that haunt veterans.

It's hard to delve into the problems of the movie without giving away too much about the plot, but I would have been more satisfied in the end if they had revealed Sam's capture and his subsequent imprisonment as a flashback near the end. I think that revelation would have been, well, quite revelatory. It's too bad - I enjoyed the performances and the premise, I just think it was hit and miss with this one. I would rent it if you're on the fence - it's not a long movie and it went by fairly quick, which is always a plus in my book.

Rating: Rent It!

182: She's Out of My League

She's Out of My League (R) - 2010 - Runtime: 104 minutes
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T. J. Miller
Director: Jim Field Smith

Holy balls this movie was hilarious! I had a chance to see this as a sneak preview and I would totally pay money to see it again. This movie is in the same vein as Knocked Up and Superbad where there's a lot of crude jokes but the characters have a lot of heart and seem genuine. It's by the far the funniest film so far this year (I know, that's not saying much, but I really, really laughed my ass off!).

The movie is pretty straightforward - the geeky guy somehow lands a dream date with the girl of his dreams. Things get hot and heavy and then a little hairy (in more ways than one) and it seems like this movie might be destined to hit the dump bin. But the movie is endearing and so are the characters. I saw a review from the guys doing At the Movies (terrible film snobs and pretentious douchebags, BTW) and they totally trashed this movie. My guess is that they already had the review written in their minds before entering the theater. There is a lot of laugh out loud scenes and some real honest issues being addressed about self-esteem and body image and all that (it may not be that deep, but those moments are there).

But the real scene stealer is what I would consider the next Jason Lee - T. J. Miller. He sounds a lot like Lee and he has all those one liners that caused everyone to laugh in the theater. His role is so similar to Brody from Mallrats that it was hard to not compare Miller to Jason Lee. And even though that was in the back of my mind, I still thought he was surprisingly fresh and funny. Kudos to that guy and I hope he has a long career.

Not to say that the rest of the cast gets left the crappy lines. Shockingly, all of Kirk's friends are pretty funny and are really good at dishing out the funny. I've always been a fan of Baruchel since the tv show Undeclared (another Apatow-produced gem) and he's only breaking out now - he's the main voice in How to Train Your Dragon coming out next week and he's co-starring with Nicolas Cage in the Sorcerer's Apprentice this summer. So I'm excited to see where his career goes. And Alice Eve, while being a pretty good lookin' gal, does hold her own against the dude-fest on screen.

I'm just so impressed with this movie - it's a must buy for me and check it out in theaters - it's needs some love at the box office!

Rating: See It!

182: The Box

The Box (PG-13) - 2009 - Runtime: 115 minutes
Starring: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella
Director: Richard Kelly

I don't care what the critics say, this movie was pretty good. Despite its flaws, I found myself enjoying Richard Kelly's third effort. The movie stars Cameron Diaz (an actress whom nobody likes - at least, when you talk to my customers) and James Marsden who play Norma and Arthur Lewis, a family in the 70s struggling to get by. They find themselves at wit's end when Arthur's attempt to become an astronaut fails. And then along comes Arlington Steward (Frank Langella), who offers them an opportunity. There's a box with a button and if they push the button, they will receive one million dollars (queue Dr. Evil), but someone they don't know will die. Needless to say, they push the button (no, that's not a spoiler alert). And all hell breaks loose. Kind of. Well, not really.

I think that's the main problem. Instead of a big bang of drama and a satisfying ending, the movie ends with a dull whimper. It's a tad disappointing because the set up is too good. I wouldn't say I wasted my time with this one - I appreciate the tone and vibe Kelly was establishing. It was an enjoyable movie despite those hurdles and I totally loved the creepiness Langella brought to his character. There's a lot of weird stuff happening in this movie and some of it doesn't make that much sense (which is partly why I enjoyed it - I like that sense of the unknown). So high expectations shouldn't be had with this one. It's not Kelly's best, but it's just good enough and worth a rental just to see what the hell happens.

Rating: Rent It!