Vantage Point

For an hour and a half we see the same scene replayed over and over but each time from a different...Vantage Point. About the second to last time they rewind the scene to play it again I was thinking to myself--"If they rewind this one more time, I will be over it." I was ready for the film to move forward. With each replay, we get more and more pieces of the puzzle till it all comes together in the end.

Was this gimmicky style interesting enough to hold my attention? To get me involved in the story and the characters? Well Like I said, about one more time and I would have been frustrated. But as it was, the story was easy to follow. It was a simple plot and unfolded nicely so that you didn't have to think to hard. In fact the script was almost too tidy. They throw in a little twist here and there but again, easy to keep up with.

The film stars, Dennis Quiad as secret service agent, Thomas Barnes, Matthew Fox as agent Kent Taylor, Sigourney Weaver as a news producer, Forrest Whitaker as a tourist, and William Hurt as the president. The President is in Spain for a summit against global terror. (And surprise, the terrorists are there too!) But before he can say a word, he is shot on stage. That event is replayed over and over based on about seven or eight different people's perspective.

I thought it was an interesting idea, but some people will find the "rewind" annoying while others will be teased and engrossed while waiting to see where it will all lead. The actors did a good job, although there was no room for getting to deep. They each had their single motivation and followed it to the end. They try to add a little depth, the tourist has family issues, the secret service guy has taken a bullet for the president before and is just coming back on the job, the Spanish cop (Eduardo Noriega) is worried about his brother, and the news producer is dealing with ornery reporters and camera men.

Overall it was a good story, with a very intense ending! If you don't mind the replaying of the opening scene and find it alluring, then you will enjoy this movie. So check the batteries in your cam corder and check out Vantage Point!

Lindsay Lohan

"Are you not entertained?!?"

-Maximus (Russell Crowe, Gladiator) speaking to the

crowd watching the gladiator spectacle.

Jumper

I liked everything about this movie, I liked the concept, the story, the characters, the special effects and the cinematography. I liked everything...everything except the dialog. It was very weak.

The film stars Hayden Christensen (David Rice) Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars, Rachel Bilson (Millie), and Samuel Jackson (Roland). The story involves a boy learning that he has a special power to "teleport" himself anywhere that he has seen before. (Cool huh? I wish I could teleport to Baskin Robbins for a chocolate shake and then back to the TV room in time to catch the next episode of LOST.)

But unfortunately, his fun and games come to an end when he learns that there is a religious sect that calls themselves Paladins. They hunt down and kill Jumpers, because they feel they are an abomination and all turn into bad people. (What? Come on, would Hayden Christensen turn into someone evil? No way!)


David Rice gets his girl friend, Millie involved in the battle and he also finds another Jumper to reluctantly help him fight the Paladins. There is also a small sub-plot involving his mother who left him when he was five.


As I mentioned, this was a pretty good story, and didn't have many problems with it other than the character dialog was sub-par.

So if you're looking for a night of light entertainment, Jump over to the theater and check out Jumper!

Fool's Gold

A fool and his money are soon parted. Was that the case when I purchased a ticket to Fool's Gold? My honest answer is...Maybe. I mean on one hand it's Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, the cute and funny couple from How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days. Could they recapture the chemistry for this movie? They try and succeed mostly, but overall the film never really takes off. At first I was onboard, hoping McConaughey would channel his character from Sahara and it would be an entertaining and exciting adventure. But at several points in the movie, I lose interest. Even with a supporting powerhouse actor like Donald Sutherland (Nigel Honeycutt), he didn't bring his "A" game as a dottering old rich man.

Benjamin (McConaughey) and Tess (Hudson) Finnegan are married treasure hunters on the brink of divorce, but they can stay together if they find one last famous treasure that they have been searching for the past few years.

They are out of money, but find an friend in Nigel Honeycutt and his pop tart daughter. The film tries to build a backstory with Nigel and his daughter's tenuous relationship. Meanwhile a rapper/gangster (Kevin Hart) provides the suspense and comic relief as he races to find or take the hidden treasure from the Finnegan's.

The movie had it's fun moment's but I have to recommend you check out Fool's Gold on cable some lazy Sunday or Saturday afternoon!

Rambo

If the first John Rambo movie was titled FIRST BLOOD, then this latest installment should have been called MORE BLOOD (and gore). Good grief, this was the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan the whole freaking movie.

I have always loved the Rambo series. A story about a man who is trained to survive and kill whenever he is pushed. He has to come to terms with who he is and what he is. In this (final?) film he comes full circle.

We find our sullen hero catching snakes in Burma for the local deadly cobra snake show. John Rambo hates his life, his job, his boss, and the world. He cares for nothing and no one. Until a group of missionaries shows up and wants him to take them up the river to deliver medicine and aide to an embattled tribe of people who are being ruthlessly attacked by the thuggish military.

Rambo tells them he will not help them and they should go home. (Ahhh the reluctant hero bit). But one of the missionaries, Sarah Miller (Julie Benz), is persistent and keeps coming back to challenge Rambo and his pessimistic view of the world. Of course she quickly convinces him to take the job and the non-stop killing begins.

Rambo still kicks butt with a bow, and carries a big knife, but I really missed his clever jungle tactics, and his surprise attacks on the enemy. In this movie, he joins forces with a group of mercenaries and everyone, good and bad use guns and bombs, and sometimes pigs to rain violent, gory, and bloody death on each other. Don't get me wrong, I love a good shoot out, but this was ....pardon the pun... overkill.

All in all it was a decent story, with a bit of over the top acting, and way to much killing. But if you are a RAMBO fan and can handle the senseless violence, then by all means strap on your head band and check out RAMBO!

Heath Ledger April 4, 1979 - January 22, 2008

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said.

I first saw Heath in A Knights Tale - A whimsical medieval fantasy. I am looking forward to his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight. (If they got all the shots they needed). Godspeed Heath.

Cloverfield

We have seen this viewpoint before. The Blair Witch Project brought us an interesting vantage point from the lens of a handheld camera. It gave us a fresh perspective to the horror genre and it also gave many people something else; nausea. It doesn't bother me at all, but several people can't stand the constant shaking and swinging motion of the handheld camera.

So if the Blair Witch Project, and Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum gave you motion sickness, you'll probably want to stay away from Cloverfield. That said, this was a very fun and intense movie. A thrill ride as the non stop action constantly comes at you.

The movie begins and ends with Rob (Michael Stahl-David) and Beth (Odette Yustman) filming each other on their cam-corder. The first is a "Good Day" at Coney Island, this memory is slowly erased as Lily (Jessica Lucas) is throwing a going-away party for Rob, her boyfriend's brother, and Rob's friend, Hud (T.J. Miller), is coerced into documenting the event on Rob's camera.

The party is interupted as the building suddenly shakes. They go to the roof for a look and see a massive explosion rock New York's harbor. From that moment chaos and panic ensues bringing back memories of September 11th. Rob, Jason (Mike Vogel), Lily, Hud and party guest Marlena (Lizzy Caplan ) set out together to rescue a trapped Beth while the city is attacked by some unknown monster.

I was impressed by the acting abilities of these unknown actors. They delivered their lines so naturally, and the comments by Hud, who is behind the camera most of the movie were hilarious. This film has already set a box office record, so you don't need me to tell you to go check out Cloverfield!!

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) is in this movie, but it's no Lord of the Rings. It does have an all-star cast though. Action Hero, Jason Statham, Burt Reynolds as the King (he's no Sean Connery), Leelee Sobeski, she's no stranger to wielding swords having played Joan of Arc in 1999. (She's put on a few pounds since then as well), Ron Perlman, most famous as Vincent in the TV series, Beauty and the Beast, also makes a great Hellboy, finally Ray Liotta rounds out the B+ list as the arch villain. Sure he makes a great bad guy... in a mob movie.

This movie is based on the PC game; Dungeon Siege. I played the game but I mostly remember the red-headed female warrior on the cover of the game box. Why wasn't she in the movie? The story is about a farmer, who every one calls..."Farmer" (rolls eyes). He is a hardworking man with a loving wife (Claire Forlani) and son. One day the wife and son are off to market in a nearby town. That's the day the Krug attack. What are the Krug? Basically men in rubber monster suits that were likely borrowed from the set of The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Normally mindless beasts, the Krug have been organized and given weapons by the evil wizard Gallian (Liotta) who has them under his control. Meanwhile the king's nephew (Matthew Lilliard) is trying to usurp his throne. Farmer joins the kings forces to take on the Krug and rescue his wife.

I know I've been slamming this film pretty hard and if you are not a die hard fan of the fantasy genre, then you won't see this film. But overall I enjoyed the movie well enough for a matinee. It wasn't so bad that I found myself wishing I was at home watching Oprah. The acting was a little forced at first, but they seemed to come into their roles later in the film. And it's always fun watching Statham kick butt in his fight scenes.

If you have found yourself having withdrawals, since the Lord of the Rings, and need a fix till Peter Jackson produces The Hobbit, or you played the Dungeon Siege game and want to see that world come to life then check out a film with possibly the record for longest title; In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale.

Charlie Wilson's War

Holy Cow this movie was fabulous! (In my humble opinion). Even more so because it is based on a true story. It is a political drama about a Texas congressman's covert fund raising to support Afghanistan's war against the soviets in the late eighties.

I give it a four stars must see for the well told story of the war, the no-holds-barred depiction of the main character's lives, and the spot-on acting of Tom Hanks (Charlie Wilson), Julie Roberts (Joanne Herring), and Philip Seymour Hoffman as CIA agent Gust Avrakotos. They played their roles with fervor and the characters had great depth to them. THAT is how you develop characters Hollywood! Kudos to the writers Aaron Sorkin (screen play), George Crile (book) and director Mike Nichols!

The movie hops from scene to scene following Charlie Wilson's life, starting with a club rife with strippers and hot tubs, to his office in Washington, to social parties, to Afghanistan, to meetings abroad, and back to his office. Normally that would make me crazy, but it was so well edited that you don't really get distracted by it. The transitions are smooth and keep the story moving merrily along.

The most chilling scene in the whole film comes at the end of the movie (I don't want you to miss it). They are at a party celebrating Russia's withdrawal from Afghanistan and Gust, the CIA agent takes Charlie outside on the balcony to talk to him. Basically he says to Charlie that, "Yes all the people are cheering that this is a good thing, but....we'll see." This is clear foreshadowing of 9/11 and at that moment you hear the roar of a jet plane engine passing overhead. I still get chills just writing about it. No horror film has ever elicited such goose flesh on myself as that scene.

If there is anything bad that I could say about the film (and I'm not) it's that the whole story just flows so smoothly. There is no major crisis or hardship that jeopardizes the characters and their goals. Oh they try, when Charlie's lifestyle is scrutinized by the justice department, but it is never a real threat and Charlie just blows it off. Nor are their any suspenseful moments that lead to a dramatic victory. I guess what I am saying is that for a drama....there was very little drama. But I enjoyed the story and the characters so much; I didn't really care.

I found it slightly ironic that Hanks plays a character named Wilson. Go on....think about it. Remember Castaway? WILSON!!! Foreshadowing? I know it's a stretch, so shut up! ;)
And go check out Charlie Wilson's War!

Aliens Vs Predator - Requiem

I LOVE the Aliens and Predator franchises! So when I heard they were creating the first Aliens vs Predator movie, I was as thrilled as Rosie at a HoHo convention. I was totally on board and couldn't wait to see it. Maybe I was as over hyped as a Hilton, but the movie was a huge let down!

Sure it had its moments, but overall I was disappointed. I think they tried to make too much out of it and they tinkered with Alien doctrine. In addition, I wanted Aliens running through the city streets! The first AVP takes place in the isolated arctic.

So I was skeptical when I saw the trailer for Requiem, here we go again (and here goes my money) I thought. But at least this time I do get my Aliens running through the streets! I have to say this film was a bit better than the first AVP, however I was taken aback by a few choices the writer made. Maybe I am getting old, but I feel there are a few images/scenes that Hollywood should shy away from. For example, in the opening scene of POTC - At World's End, they don't show a young boy get hanged, but Disney IMPLIES that he does indeed swing from a noose. Likewise in AVP-R we have a young boy and his father out hunting together when they are assaulted by the spider-like "face-huggers" (Have you hugged an Alien today?)

Subsequently as we all know, face-huggers beget... that's right, "chest-poppers". Now that's something I didn't need to see happen to a young boy! Why couldn't it have been two adult hunting buddies? I know, I know spoilersville, but it doesn't take two plus two to figure out what was going to happen to them, and I may be sparring some of you the horror! Wait! Isn't that why we go to these type movies in the first place? There's another part later in the film that deals with pregnant ladies, I'll spare the belly-popping details (oops-too late!), but I didn't care for that either. (I am getting too old).

So what about the rest of the film? Well it was mediocre. I mean the fight scenes between the predator and the aliens was pretty good, but the acting was sub-par. There was no Arnold to save the day, and while Reiko Aylesworth, (Kelly) did her best Sigourny Weaver impression, it still fell a little flat.

If you are a huge fan of the Predator and Aliens franchise, then by all means, check out AVP-R, otherwise go see National Treasure and catch AVP-R on cable or rental! Cheers!

NT: Book of Secrets

This movie rocks! If you liked the first National Treasure then you'll like this one as well. Yes, the critics will tell you that some of the acting and lines are a little forced, and that it's the same formula as the first movie, (but if it anit broke why fix it?), but who cares what dumb critics think, only MY opinion matters, I'm the only one that you come to for movie reviews right?

Right. Well in this film, Benjamin Gates has to defend his family honor, as his great great grandfather is accused of helping plot the assassination of Lincoln. Ed Harris plays the villain, Jeb Wilkenson who coerces Ben Gates into locating a lost city of gold. I think the film is confused as to whether we should loath this villain or not (at least I was). But it all comes out in the wash at the end.

Like the previous film, watching it makes me feel really stupid. Like maybe I should have paid more attention in U.S. History class rather than shooting spit wads at Johnny. These movies make history...exciting!

If you are seeking a treasure of a movie over the holidays, then check out National Treasure 2: The Book of Secrets!

Mer-ee Kris-muhs

Mer·ry Pronunciation[mer-ee]
–adjective, mer·ri·er, mer·ri·est.

1. joyous in disposition or spirit.

Christ·mas Pronunciation[kris-muhs]
–noun

1. the annual festival of the Christian church commemorating the birth of Jesus.

I AM LEGEND

An excellent film, albeit a bit depressing at times. You can't stop Will Smith, he continues to be prolific on the screen in a variety of movies over the past few years.

Legend is about the near extinction of the Human Race. A virus has turned everyone, except Robert Neville, a military scientist, into zombies that hide in the dark. Colonel Neville and his dog Sam seem to be immune to the virus and he is determined to find a cure and restore humanity to its earth polluting, religious and political infighting, and genocidal glory. (Thanks Will!).

This film reminds me a lot of Tom Hanks' Castaway. Will spends several years alone and begins to fantasize and talk to manikins. The transformation of Manhattan to an overgrown deserted ruin is very impressive on the big screen. It makes me go "How'd they do that?"

This is a great film based on a great book. Check out I AM LEGEND! But only during the day, please!

EVEL KNIEVEL

Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel

October 17, 1938 - November 30, 2007

Goodbye my friend! Gods Speed!

He was a childhood hero of mine.

Hitman

It was driving me crazy. Timothy Olyphant, who plays Agent 47 in the movie based on the video game, Hitman; I had seen him in something else but could not remember what it was. I wracked my brains the whole movie, but could not pull it out. Thank goodness for the Internet Movie Database (IMDB). Timothy Olyphant played one of the main characters in the HBO original series Deadwood. He played the part of Seth Bullock.

So now that that’s out of the way, what did I think of the movie? Well I never played the game Hitman, but its premise sounded interesting. A group of young orphans raised by a super secret organization to be world class assassins that travel all over the world taking out warlords, weapons dealers, and political figures, all for a price.

The assassins aren’t given names as they are raised, just a number and a bar code tattooed on the back of their bald heads. (I wonder if they will ring up as a can of vegetable soup at the market?)

The movie doesn’t go into detail about their upbringing other than a series of flashes of children in class, learning martial arts, and of course wielding guns. It starts out easy enough with Agent 47 receiving jobs via his talking laptop and carrying out assassinations. Then he gets a job to wipe out the Russian president. Everything goes well, but suddenly there are reports that the president survived the assassination with just a scratch. We know he was really killed so their must be a double. At this point the plot becomes increasingly convoluted and confusing with a series of twists that I just could not follow. People come out of the woodwork to kill Agent 47, including an Interpol agent who has been tracking him for three years, to the Russian FSB, and several of his fellow assassins from his own organization.

He also hooks up with a female named Nika, who seems to know about the cover up of the president’s death. They develop a love-hate relationship which is also confusing because he spurns her advances. It never says, but I suppose it has something to do with “a warrior distracted is a dead warrior.”

Despite the confusing plot, I found myself enjoying the film none-the-less. It of course has the obligatory assassinations, and plenty of fighting and shooting. I also like the character of Agent 47 even if it was a bit two dimensional. Timothy Oylphant (what a last name!) always brings a certain intensity to the roles he plays, and that comes across very well on screen. So if you are a fan of the game HITMAN, a Timothy Olyphant fan, and don’t mind a mind-boggling plot, then pack your heat and head to the theater to check out Hitman!

Beowulf

I did a paper in college on Beowulf. His story is one of my favorite pieces of literature. In my paper, titled, "The Defense of Grendel", I showed how it was really King Hrothgar, his people, and Beowulf that were the true monsters of the land. I got an 'A'.

And that is what I give this movie as well an 'A'. It was fun to see this epic tale brought to life on the big screen!! The computer animation was superb, and visually stunning. But it looks so real I have to wonder why they didn't just film it live action, and CGI the monsters like the Lord of the Rings.

This is a great movie and if you have any interest in this genre, it is a must see. And even though there were a couple of times I thought I was watching Shrek and expected to see the Ginger-Bread man or Puss-in-Boots, don't load up the kids for this one. Despite being computer generated it is plenty gory and the script is rife with sexual innuendo. Otherwise Check out Hollywood's latest hero, Beowulf!

Lions for Lambs

A professor and his student, a reporter and a senator, and two soldiers, all performing on three separate stages; a university campus, Washington D.C., and a battlefield in Afghanistan, in the new movie Lions for Lambs.

If nothing else this movie presents the issues the whole world is thinking about everyday and like the websites asks; What do you stand for? Are you apathetic or will you do something to help make a difference?

As I left the theater I was emotionally moved by the three pronged assault to my sensibilities. The thoughts, the emotions, and the re-examination of my beliefs. But as the Hollywood glitz and the dazzling performances, by Streep, Cruise, and Redford wore off, I began to wonder if I had just been exposed to the screen writers own form of propaganda. In the movie Meryl Streep’s character, reporter Janine Roth decides Senator Jasper Irving's story he is pushing on her is pure ‘propaganda’ and is using her to grease the skids for his eventual bid for the White House.

Now I wonder if the film itself is not just a big work of propaganda itself disguised as a geo-political thriller. It’s nothing more than a liberal public service ad. I won’t ruin the ending for you, but how it ends is not the typical triumphant, everybody lives happily ever after, ending that you would expect.

I don’t have a racist bone in my body, but it is no coincidence that the two soldiers are Black and Hispanic, again shoving the immigration, and social issues that our great country is currently dealing with in my face. The film asks; How long will our country remain great? We must have a “win” at all costs, claims Tom Cruise’s character.


Despite this, the film at least makes you think. It makes you look in the proverbial mirror and
ask—What do I stand for? Will I play the XBOX 360 all day while Rome burns or will I get off my ass and make a difference, and for that I applaud the film.

Bottom line is, if you want to go out for a fun night on the town and escape the realities of life for a couple of hours, don’t go see Lions for Lambs. But if you want to have everything you stand for challenged, if you want a film that stirs you heart and makes you think hard about the current direction of your life and our world then you must check out Lions for Lambs. Think about it!

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

The trailer for this movie was quite riveting (aren't they all?), and thus I was compelled to see this period piece. As a bonus of course is the stunning Cate Blanchett reprising her role as queen from an 1998 Elizabeth. Along with with the indelible Geoffrey Rush again playing Sir Francis Walsingham. Finally Clive Owen adds a bit of roguish dash as the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh.

This film is about the time when Queen Elizabeth, the virgin queen, fought off the Spanish armada and saved England and protestants everywhere. The movie plays as a series of scenes strung together by an overbearing musical score, rather than a flowing story. Still some of the scenes are well done, some are interesting, and others droll. Despite the enrapturing performance by Blanchett, it's not enough to give this one a "must see." But definitely rent it when it comes to DVD.

There is a love triangle between Sir Walter Raleigh, the queen, and a court lady-in-waiting known as Bess (Abbie Cornish). There are plenty of political intrigues, involving the king of Spain and the house-arrested queen Mary of Scotland. And the CGI ship battle was adequate.

I must also say that the costumes, especially the queen's , were stunning. If you like historical pieces (albeit slightly skewed) check out Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Cell Phone Fun

Downtown Spook

Resident Evil: Extinction

A hot chick kicking lots of undead butt, what's not to like about the third installment of the Resident Evil series? Milla Jovovich returns as Alice, the beautiful uber genetically altered female.

These films remind me of the Underworld series starring Kate Beckinsale, they need to catch up with the Resident Jones' and make a third Underworld, this formula seems to work. Unlike Milla's last kick-butt movie, Ultra Violet. (Can't remember why it was such a stinker but it was)

Extinction fast forwards a few years, with Alice out on her own hiding from the Umbrella corporation's satellites. In fact they believe her dead. The "T" virus has spread globally and only a hand full of humans remain. As my friends at GirlsOnFilm put it; "It's Mad Max meets Zombies."

Alice catches up with this rag-tag fleet of humans in the desert being led by Claire Redfield (Ali Larter-HEROES) and helps them fight off a few thousand undead crows. After helping them escape extinction, she returns to the Umbrella hive where she has a big boss battle with the evil scientist behind the zombie creating virus. The final battle wasn't as over the top as in Resident Evil: Apocalypse, but it seemed to lack something. Even so, I liked it!

If you are a fan of the Resident Evil games, the previous two films, or just have a passion for zombies in general--the be sure to check out Resident Evil: Extinction at the movies before it is well....extinct.