1408

Oh yeah! Cusack is back! I love his films. This one is about Mike Enslin (Cusack), a writer who travels the country to visit locales noted for their haunted nature. Only, in all the years that Enslin has been doing so, he’s never seen anything unusual. He’s a burned-out, atheistic skeptic. While checking the mail one day he receives an anonymous post card warning him not to stay in Room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel, which is exactly what he plans to do. It will make a nice final chapter, he reckons, for his next book, Haunted Hotel Rooms.

This is not a horror film. It's not a slasher gorefest. Thank goodness it's just a good old fashion scary movie! (BTW that's why I like the Blair Witch Project). Add to that I was the only one in the theater today watching this. ("I want my mommy!" was uttered by me more than once)

The manager of the Dolphin, Gerald Olin (Sam Jackson, in a small but effective role), doesn’t want Enslin staying in the room, which — since 1912 — has been the final resting place for 56 guests, many of whom have met grisly, self-inflicted deaths and others, untimely natural ones. Olin closed the room to the public in the 70s, but because of some manufactured loophole in a civil rights law, he’s forced to allow Enslin to occupy 1408, though he ominously warns him that no one has ever survived an entire hour. It’s not phantoms or specters, he says, it’s just an “evil -BLEEP- room.”

The real success of 1408 is the spot-on casting of Cusack — he’s convincing, he's real, and you find yourself pulling for him and cheering him on. If you like scary movies, this is a must see!

I guarantee you won't make it an hour with out getting the toast scarred out of you! Check into to room 1408!

Transformers

Transformers. This movie is more than meets the eye. I was a little too old for the Transformers cartoon when it came out and I missed that whole ride. I was thinking this movie might be a pile of junk. But I was pleasantly surprised.

Just like the recent Die Hard movie, I thought this film was a great “thrill ride” as any Summer Blockbuster should be! Shia Labeauof (Sam Witwicky), who recently starred in the thriller, Disturbia, does an excellent job as a high-energy high school student with only two goals in his life. A car and a girl.

As we learn in the movie, “A car picks the man.” So a yellow and black Camaro picks Sam. He then chases after his girl (Megan Fox). Her last name is rather fitting. But his plans are soon interrupted when he finds himself in a tug of war between an alien race of robots known as the Autobots (good guys) and the Decepticons (bad robots). The Decepticon motto is “Punish and Enslave.”

Transformers has more high-octane action than Paris Hilton, a stunning visual style, includes just the right amount of humor, has a very excellent cast of supporting characters. Sam’s parents are hilarious!! Don’t be deceived however, this is not a kids movie. Its PG-13 for language, violence, and sexual innuendo.

So transform a dull evening into a fun one and check out Transformers!

1-18-08

1-18-08

HP: Order of the Phoenix

No not Hewlett Packard -- Harry Potter of course! I am saving Transformers to see with a friend. (BTW...Don't buy the toys if you have kids, they are a parents nightmare!) So in the mean time I saw the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series.

Unfortunately it was same old same old standard Harry Potter fare. Something amusing happens to Harry's "muggle" family, (if you don't know what a 'muggle' is then you probably won't see this film and can stop reading now), then Harry is attacked and gets in trouble, there's a big mystery, tension with his friends, blah, blah, blah, big boss battle at the end and everyone lives happily ever after. Nothing new under the sun except perhaps an exceptionally annoying female character who tries to take over Hogwarts.

Let me just say, I hate annoying characters! Give me evil, silly, funny, strong, powerful, cunning, or even dull characters, but I can't stand two hours of an annoying over the top character. I understand that's what the film makers were shooting for, and they hit the mark, but good grief an annoying character makes for an annoying movie!

If you are a Harry Potter Movie fan, you'll go see this. If you are a fan of the Books, you'll go see this and probably hate it as it falls short of full filling the rich story found in the book. Most book-to-movies are like that though. But basically I think it is great to see your favorite characters (and annoying ones) come to life on the big screen. So check it out, you little owls!

New Family Member

Well My oldest son has been asking for a dog since he was four. We told him he could have one when he turned eight and his little brother turned four. Say hello to Lacy!

How about those blue glowing "Zombie" dog eyes??

Ratatouille

This latest animated film from PIXAR was anything but cheesey!

I haven't enjoyed an animated film this much since the Incredibles. And I think it is no coincidence that Ratatouille is directed by the same man that directed the Incredibles, Academy Award winning director Brad Bird!

The story of course is about a country rat wanting to rise above the squalor, garbage eating, and thieving that his family and friends thrive on. He finds himself in the kitchen of a once five star restaurant in need of a little inspiration. He teams up with the kitchen garbage boy (see the irony!) and together they have to outwit the head chef, skinner (Sir Ian Holm), and impress France's greatest critic, Ego (Peter O'Toole).

The film had a great story, character depth, suspense, drama, love interest, self discovery all mixed with a perfect blend of humor! It was a perfect meal for a movie goer and though it may have been a tad slow for kids at a couple of points, I still thought it was fabulous! This might be the first film I give a five star rating in over two years.

Grab the kids and buy them the snack pack, or make it a date night movie and check out this delicacy of an animated film!