American Gangster (2007)

This Movie Is About: the real life story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) who became the drug lord of Harlem in the 1960s all the way up to the mid 1970s. He bought directly from Vietnam and flooded the streets with his miracle drug, Blue Magic. It's pretty much the rise and fall of this guy who started out as a driver and a body guard who became the biggest name in Harlem during that time. But this story is also about the detective that went after him. Detective Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) was given the chance to start his own narcotics division to crack down on the increasing drug activity in New Jersey and New York. The story pits two people from opposite sides of society and morals together only to show how we are not all that different and what we think is wrong might be perfectly right for someone else and vice versa.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: this is a straight up drama with so content that it will blow your mind out. People might think that this is a gangster shoot 'em up movie but it isn't. It's very slow and deliberate which might sour some people but for those who appreciate cinema and the style and message this film tries to capture, this film will be a pleasure to watch. Denzel and The Crowe both give top-notch performances as they both try to out smart the other while at the same time having to deal with the same social problems that plagued the 1960s and even up 'till today. This movie is highly entertaining for almost the entire thing even though there are lots of dialogue and exchanges and by the third act you are just strapped to your seat. It is probably one of the best third acts I have seen in film for a long time.

What's Hot: The characters themselves are so well thought out that it's a beauty to watch. Frank Lucas and Ritchie Roberts start out at exactly the opposite ends of the specturm. Frank is a great family man and has real good ethics and morals when it comes to family while Ritchie is a great cop and his ethics are iron-clad when it comes to the job when he's a shitty husband and even worse father. Through out the film their paths criss-cross in a certain way which leads them to a compromise with each other and their views on society. As much as this is a crime film about a famous gangster, a major element of the film is the black culture during this time and how it was rising up but in the wrong way. This film does well in bringing to life that problem with the African American community during this time trying to rise up and be strong. Because they were taught to live a certain way, the bad kind, that's all they knew how to do, so when they took that to the next level, it was natural for most of the to turn to drugs and violence. Now, I'm not going to pretend I knew what was happening at this time and I'm not sure if this movie captures the true essence of Harlem in the 1960s but it sure felt real and the story benefited greatly by using that as a back drop.

What's Not Hot: This movie started 40 minutes too late. I don't mean the film didn't start on time, I mean there was a whole bunch of set up with Lucas and Roberts that weren't really needed or perhaps could have been incorporated as the story moved along. During the beginning, there was a lot of characterization and explanation of how these guys go to where they were but I didn't really care because they weren't doing anything. Plus, I didn't live in the 1960s in Harlem so I don't really have that connection with these characters. It wasn't until Frank went to Bangkok did things start to pick up and once you're in the story, you're in it for good.

Last Comments: American Gangster is a unique drama that ties together action, suspense, crime and social commentary all into a nice package filled with great acting and care for the characters. Even though these were true events, I felt that the actors made the characters their own and really got into the role. All the supporting characters were excellent as well especially when Frank gets his entire family in on his operation, it really adds to the stakes when the family starts to interferes with Frank and we get to see how his tolerance for family begin to fade. This is the same arc for Roberts as well and these two characters ask the question of what is right. That question does not have an answer during that time and still doesn't have one today. What gives the law the right to say what's right anymore. Especially with Vietnam, America was vulnerable. The government proved to everyone that they can make mistakes so why can't everybody else? And indeed they do make mistakes and it's up to these two characters from different parts of town to come together and figure out what is the best way to move society forward in a positive and relatively mistake free step.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 8.5 (Mark Jacobson: article, Steve Zaillian: screenplay)
Direction: 7.5 (Ridely Scott)
Acting: 9.0
Cinematography: 8.0
Music/Sound: 7.6

Entertainment Value: 8.5

Waitress (2007)

This Movie Is About: Jenna Hunterson (Keri Russell who is in a rut. When I say a rut I don't mean like a bad day and that she needs to do something to turn it around. This kind of rut is one of those life long ruts that there is pretty much no way to get out of. She is married to pretty much the worse guy in history. You'll hate him in the first five seconds you see him. Other than that, she's working at a pie shop in some small town and the only friends she has is these two girls Don, and Becky who are also not really happy with their lives. The only upside for Jenna is that she's a pie genius. That is, she makes the best pies the world has ever seen. She invents pies in her head as a way to escape from the harsh realities of life. Just when she thought her life couldn't get any worse, she finds out that she's pregnant and no matter how many pies she bakes, she can't get over the fact that she's carrying the child of a man she hates. Life couldn't be any worse for Jenna until she meets her doctor, Dr. Pomatter (Nathan Fillion). The two start up a unusual relationship to say the least and all the pies in world isn't going to get Jenna out of this mess.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: the characters are some sweet. When I say they're sweet by no means do I mean this is a cute movie. In fact, Jenna is probably the most life-hating bitch you will see on screen. Which makes sense if you see her husband. This is countered by Dr. Pomatter who is the sweetest person you will ever see and the fact that he is everything Jenna has ever wanted in a man really sets up a situation where there is a lot of drama. The issues of true love VS. real life responsibilities is something we all think about and a real problem for many people and this movie captures that essence and puts it into a story where it's entertaining to watch but also easy to get emotionally attached.

What's Hot: The pies themselves are clever and even though I have not tasted pie or a pie fan in general, they do capture Jenna's frame of mind. And sure, some people may think that this is a device to get some inner monologue in there, but it works because that's who she is. It also makes sense because all she wants to do is enter the pie baking contest and win her future. Makes sense to me. The characters that surround her add that extra layer to the movie as they all have their own ways of dealing with life's problems and all have their separate stories which intercut with Jenna's. Overall, it's a very satisfying experience.

What's Not Hot: Jenna's husband, Earl, is such a bitch that it sometimes gets annoying to watch. I mean, you want a good antagonist and he is that but sometimes they went over the top with him that it's bordering of unbelievable. But that is just something minor and perhaps a personal thing. The climax and how things ended is a bit undeserved and a bit out of the blue. The resolution makes sense and it creates a positive feeling but I just felt that it needed a bit more time to get to where it ended. It's not a big deal but because this movie did such a good job making this character appealing and me getting so emotionally attached, I wanted her to over come more of a obstacle in the end.

Last Comments: Waitress takes a small town girl in a small town with small problems in comparison to some of the other epic movies out there and brings it to the common people. The comedy is apparent in the set up and Jenna has that endearing quality you can't help but fall in love with. Everything wraps up a bit too nice in the end but it's expected for this genre. I wish people give this movie a look especially for people who enjoy these kind of movies because it can really be a surprise hit for some!

Breaking It Down:
Story: 8.0 (Adrienne Shelly)
Direction: 7.0 (Adrienne Shelly)
Acting: 8.2
Cinematography: 7.0
Music/Sound: 6.5

Entertainment Value: 7.8 (not an average)

Enchanted (2007)

This Movie Is About: a girl Giselle (Amy Adams) in her fairy tale land Andalasia, who has always wanted to meet her prince and live happily ever after. One day, when she's alone in her tree house singing with the animals and dreaming of her prince. Prince Edward (James Marsden comes by just in time to save Giselle from an evil troll. The two fall in love and promptly decide to get married. Thus is the norm in this animated fairy tale land. But you see there's a catch. Prince Edward has a evil step mother, Narissa (Susan Sarandon), who has been sitting in as queen and if Prince Edward ever gets married, his bribe will become the new queen. Well no evil witch is going to step down as queen to some peasant girl. So what does she do? She disguises herself as an old hag and lures Giselle to a well before her wedding and pushes her through it. Giselle lands on the other side in a disturbing new world, ours. She meets Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey) the only person in New York that will help her. Now, she must wait around until Prince Edward comes and rescues her while adjusting to this new life.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: this is the first real solid fairy tale Disney has put out in a while. We all grew up with some real classic films and kids these days have to re-watch those films in order to get the full experience. So it's about time for Disney to step up and recapture some of that magic they had in the good ol' days. Although this film isn't a classic by comparison, it does do a lot of things right and some extraordinary things that they couldn't do in the past because of technology. Premise is funny enough with animated characters falling into our world and seeing their perspective on the real and how the perception of love of the two worlds are so different and how both aren't right by itself and no matter the philosophy, true love wins over anything.

What's Hot: This is the closest thing to a classic Disney movie I've seen in a long time. It has all the classic elements. The run away hero, the companions and the animals which are cute but play a vital role along the way. The reluctant guy who will end up with the princess but isn't sure. Then you have the music. Sure the songs aren't written by Elton John or anything but they aren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. There are some great songs in here accompanied by grand dance routines which are even more satisfying because they are done with live actors. Something I bet the kids were all dying to see. The love story is nice and clever and they could have totally cheaped out done something safe but instead they pushed what they were going for and it came off in the end.

What's Not Hot: I'm afraid that this film just isn't that appealing to the more mature audiences. I'm not saying grown ups won't like this movie because some will definitely enjoy watching this film just as much as their children but people who are not able to go see a live actors acting like cartoon characters or believe in fantasy worlds or things just happening that you don't see every day shouldn't do see a movie. Some people just have a hard time imagining this situation and will claim that this movie isn't worth watching because it's not realistic. Well, heck, it's a fairy tale straight up. it doesn't matter if it's animated or live action or in this case, both. Some people wont' be able to accept that style and tone and some people will not be able to accept the nice bow tie ending. It's very standard Disney and if you can't take that, then this movie is not for you.

Last Comments: Enchanted really tries to bring back the old school feel of fairy tales back in the golden days of Disney and although this little spin on the standard genre doesn't quite please the general audience like Shrek it does have a nice feeling to it. It's a pleasure to watch and it's an uplifting film which we could all use in the winter with all the gloomy weather. The music and dance is incorporated quite nicely in this film and the character arcs are fantastic although predictable. It's not a masterpiece by any means but it is a movie that does what's required right. It dazzles with some special effects that most fairy tales lack and really brings the fairy tale world and our world together quite beautifully. The story isn't very deep and although the theme of true love is prevalent and nice, it's purely for children and something more mature audiences may have a problem connecting with.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 8.2 (Billy Kelly)
Direction: 7.0 (Kevin Lima)
Acting: 7.5
Cinematography: 9.0
Music/Sound: 8.0

Entertainment Value: 7.8 (not an average)

No Country for Old Men (2007)

This Movie Is About: what life really is like. Or the forces in life that compels us into situations that we can't believe we're in. Moreover, it's about the choices that we make and the question of whether or not we actually have any real choice anymore in modern society. This idea is explored with this story of a drug deal gone wrong. A bunch of heroine and money close to 2 million dollars are just left standing around waiting for anyone to find it. And that person is Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) a retired welder in Texas. He takes the money like any sane person would and sealing his fate. The money obviously belongs to someone and those someone's hire a psychopath in the name of Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) who is the biggest bad ass you will ever meet in the movies or in real life. He kills the people who hires him and goes on his merry way to get the money or kill whoever has the money because he gave his word. While all this is happening, the local authorities, led by Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) are wondering what the hell went down in their little town. Thus the cat and mouse game starts and travels through out Texas where everything is bigger and this movie definitely follows that philosophy.

You Should Watch This Movie Because it's one of those movies where you don't quite know exactly what's going on while at the same time it's interesting. The movie, although slow, never slows down on the tension. You will be on the edge of your chair all the way until the very end. The stories interweave and connect with each other at certain points of the film and although some people will find the ending to be unsatisfactory, I think that's the whole point of the movie. But before we get into all that. The reason you should watch this movie and the reason you should watch any movie is because it is entertaining. Anton Chigurh is entertaining in a scary sort of way and everyone else has their own sort of Texan charm. Although this film is pretty much a straight up adaptation of the novel with the same name, I believe there is no substitute for seeing Chigurh's big shotgun on screen.

What's Hot: The dialog is back in Cohen fashion and it is so good to hear. There was plenty of nervous laughter whenever Chigurh made someone call a coin toss. It was sick and twisted and the audience loved every bit of it. As for the action, it is brutal and probably the closet thing to seeing someone get shot with a shot gun. The story itself works nicely as it takes us through the journey of three men who are all after each other but also running away from the same thing: modern society. This film doesn't really have a bad guy if you think about it. Instead, it's all about the forces of modern society and how that has corrupted everyone. I think that is something we can all relate to because we are being subjected to it in our daily lives and sometimes or most of the time we feel helpless in our being and can't see an end to the madness that we somehow got into.

What's Not Hot: The pacing is really slow at times. Or all the time. But I guess that was the intent but from an entertainment perspective it dragged the movie down. Some of the talking seemed self indulgent but if I can write dialog like that the entire movie would just be people talking. Some other minor things was how quickly the film glossed over what was going on. I had no idea who all the players were or what really happened in this drug deal. It's not a major thing as soon as you get into the story but when I think back on it, I really wished I knew exactly who everyone was. Or perhaps I just need to watch it again. Or perhaps it was the intention of the film that we don't know what's going on exactly because that's the way life is. You never really know what's going on in life but you live it the best way you know how and sometimes that's the wrong way but at least you're living right?

Last Comments: No Country for Old Men is all about society and the forces that move our hands for us. It's very sad and depressing which is reflected in the film by the lack of music and Chigurh's character. While the action scenes are brutal and entertaining to watch, it's hard to not scratch your head at the ending. Sure, it could be all about life and how it never ends and society will continue to be all fucked up long after we're gone but from a film perspective it left a big vacuum and I can't help feel a bit robbed of a resolution. Sure there is never a resolution in life but film isn't life and as close to life as this film comes, I think that most audiences will feel cheated at how the characters turned out. Nonetheless, this film, as a film, is a treasure to have and definitely one of the most unique experiences anyone will have this year. And if you are a fan of guns, violence, drugs and smart talking, then go give this film a good look.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 8.0 (Comac McCarthy: novel, Joel & Ethan Cohen: screenplay)
Direction: 8.8 (Joel & Ethan Cohen)
Acting: 8.6
Cinematography: 7.8
Sound: 7.0

Entertainment Value: 8.2 (not an average)

The Mist (2007)

This Movie Is About: David Drayton (Thomas Jane) and his son, Billy Drayton (Nathan Gamble) trapped in a grocery store after the worst storm in recent history. With the storm brought a strange mist into the small town and it isn't long before the people in the grocery store realize that there is something very bad in the mist. Now, David, along with a variety of different people ranging from small town hicks to out of town lawyers must work together and keep their nerves if they want to survive the creature in the mist. But the longer they spend in the grocery store, the more they realize that the real danger isn't on the outside but in the inside, and all around them.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: is you are a Stephen King then you will definitely want to watch this movie because you have no doubt read the story. It is one of his most famous short stories that has been termed "legendary" by many. The film does a great job in bringing the story to life and especially excels in creating the monster trapping the group of people in the grocery store as well as bringing out the dynamic between the groups of people. The real story isn't about them surviving the monster that is attacking them but the fear around them. It is a very interesting human condition to explore and it is explored very well in this film.

What's Hot: Watching the progression of relationships and dynamics unfold during this story was a great pleasure. Just seeing how fear changes people and their perception of the world and hope not only helps us enjoy the experience that much more, but makes us wonder what we would do in that situation. The characters themselves are distinct and very strong. I haven't sat in a movie and witnessed an entire audience cheer when someone got shot. It's that type of unified response by an action that shows great character development. This film is a horror movie so let's talk about that. The atmosphere is creepy and unsettling and even though the gore and the scares aren't quite up to par with standard horror movies these days, this movie always puts you on edge and makes you believe that anything can happen at any time and that danger is around every corner.

What's Not Hot: When I was watching this movie and it got to the end. I was thinking "great! I'm going to give this movie a really high score." But then you know what happened? Or what didn't happen? The movie didn't end. It just went on and on. And I get it. I thought it was just because the studio wanted an ending which the short story did not provide. So I was all for a little wrap up in the end but it didn't wrap it up. Instead it took everything that the movie packaged from the beginning, spilled it on the table, and smashed it to pieces with the added on ending. I won't ruin the ending for you because it is quite shocking and disturbing. The problem with this is that the ending is not deserved. I mean, everything that this movie stands for, the message, the theme, the character motivations get thrown out the window and replaced by pure shock. In fact, I was so shocked that when my beloved ending finally arrived, I didn't want it. Instead, I wanted a time machine which can take me back 20 minutes to when it all went to hell and just walk out of the theatre.

Last Comments: The Mist does so many things right that it's very impressive as an adaptation. The atmosphere is creepy and the characters are dynamic especially put in a situation with each other. The director is really like an invisible hand guiding these characters to each other and just letting them play out as nature would have it. The monsters are great and the visuals are top notch as you would expect. I hate to smash a film for 20 minutes and just forget about the previous 100 minutes but a movie is a whole and is only as strong as it's weakest link. And that weakest link comes with the added on 20 minute ending where everything just falls apart. It's shocking and bold and something that not many people will try. I normally would not have a problem with this kind of stuff and I generally promote it in my own writing. But this ending was inorganic to the story, the theme, the characters and everything that this film was trying to say. It disregarded everything the previous 100 minutes attempted to establish and just went for the shock factor for a reason that escapes my mind. I have not seen a film fall apart so drastically in such a short time in the history of my film watching career.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 6.0 (Frank Darabont)
Direction: 8.0 (Frank Darabont)
Acting: 7.8
Cinematography: 6.5
Music/Sound: 5.5

Entertainment Value: 7.4 (not an average)

Hitman (2007)

This Movie Is About: a gun for hire. He's only known as Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant) by the barcode that was etched into the back of his skull when he was raised and trained at the Agency. He's on a routine hit when he gets set up by his target. After that, he has to escape from the Russian secret service as well as a super detective, Mike Whittier (Dougray Scott) who has been hot on his case for years. Along the way, Agent 47 runs into Nika (Olga Kurylenko), a prostitute who was set up as well. So now these two must work together in order to solve the real mystery behind the target and why they were chosen to take the fall. Agent 47 soon realizes that the Agency, the same one that raised him ,is involved in his set up. From then, it is very clear what he must do in order to clear his name, protect Nika, and find that freedom that he has been looking for.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: if you have played the games then you owe it to yourself to watch this movie. Yes, for those of you who don't know, this movie is based on the award winning video game series with the same title. This film does a great job in bringing Agent 47 to life and it is a treat to see him talk and have a personality behind the killing machine. The action is fast and furious and although there isn't as much sex as some people would prefer, the story is actually very well thought out. The film itself for those who have not played the game, stands quite well on it's own as the hero isn't just some bad ass character that goes out and kills a bunch of people. There is actually real emotion here which is something difficult to do in bringing a video game character to the big screen.

What's Hot: Olga Kurylenko will be the source of guys' wet dreams after this movie. She looks great when you first see her in a emo/goth sort of way but when you see her put on the dress you just wanna die. Okay, so that's out of the way. The action is great. It really lives up to the Hitman game as the assassinations are all nicely crafted as well as the hand to hand combat. The entire story is a watered down version of the Bourne series but it compensates by having more action and having things be a bit more stylised than a strange up political action movie. The story will be very hit and miss with some people but for me it was more positive than negative. A video game character like Agent 47 really doesn't have character so to see him go through a nice change was something unexpected and well done. And while this film does try to be a film first and a game/film second, it does do small little things in the film that reminds us over and over again that this is from a video game and the whole movie should have that video game feel which is definitely does.

What's Not Hot: There are major issues which the way some things go down and the back story. In a game you have all this time to really go over what happened to our hero and where he's coming from. In the movie however, it's really difficult because the audience doesn't want to sit there and listen to a whole bunch of back story. It was a fine line that had to be walked and difficult not to cross. There are certain things this movie forces you to accept if you want to enjoy the rest of it. There are moments when you will think that is impossible or that's just stupid. At these moments it's important to remind yourself that this film should be viewed like you're watching a video game. However, there will be many people who cannot accept this and if that is the case, then this movie will fall into the ridiculous and those small logic issues will be the focus of the film which will be too bad.

Last Comments: In my opinion, Hitman does a brilliant job in bringing a video game to life, not only in terms of staying true to the original game in terms of visuals as well as tone, but it also adds a story and gives a lifeless character some real emotion and stakes. We really feel for Agent 47 when all he wants is freedom. Then to go see him have that connection with Nika who is suffering from the same issue really helps us make that connection. The grand action scenes, although reminiscent of Bourne, just doesn't have the same umph although there will be times when the violence is beautiful and art can be found in death. I don't believe they went far enough with that idea but then again they did so many things right with incorporating a compelling story that it can be forgiven. If you are a fan of the game then definitely go watch it. If you are not but you like action, then this one is worth considering if you need that adrenaline fix.

Breaking it Down:
Story: 6.8 (Skip Woods)
Direction: 8.2 (Xavier Gens)
Acting: 7.5
Cinematography: 8.5
Music/Sound: 7.0

Entertainment Value: 7.6 (not an average)

Beowulf (2007)

This Movie Is About about a great warrior named Beowulf based on an epic poem (Ray Winestone) who comes to this strange land in Denmark to slay a monster named Grendel. He arrives and all of the land is very happy, especially King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins) who tells him that he will give him half his kingdom's treasure as well as his wife along with this dragon horn thing that he got a while ago when he slayed a dragon. Okay, so Beowulf lays a trap for Grendel and then he kicks his ass, movie over right? Noooo. See I thought this was going to be about Beowulf and Grendel but it really isn't. It's about the dark monster that lives inside all of us. That darkness that tempts us in our dreams. That is what the movie is really about and really there is no other person better to play a metaphorical dark temptation than Angelina Jolie.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: if it's in 3D it's very unique and visually quite stunning. I haven't watched it in non-3D but I'm sure that it will not be the same experience. But just speaking of the 3D version, I was quite surprised that this film was done with all motion capture and CGI. I guess a lot of people knew that it wasn't live action but I didn't so I was surprised at this choice while realizing that it had to be done this way. Anyway, this is a great film visually, as the style and flare really shows through the animations. This will probably be the most epic animated film you will see until Lucifer comes out.

What's Hot: Like I mentioned above, the 3D is amazing. It will shock you in ways that only IMAX can. It doesn't really matter what the movie is, I think. Any movie in 3D is worth watching but having one which tells a story, or at least, tries to really sets it apart from those movies about the deep sea or deep space or deep something else. If you have some money to spend and don't mind watching a movie with really no substance than the visuals, then you can go and give it a look. It's a feat in cinematic technology and shouldn't be missed unless you're a hardcore nut about story and the integrity of film or whatever.


What's Not Hot: Well, where do I begin. The story is all over the place. While it's easy for me to sit here on my computer and smash the living hell out of this movie for all the right reasons, I must say first that this must have been a very hard project to do. You knew that the studio wanted big action, big set pieces of Beowulf doing some owning while at the same time the writers must have been thinking about how to bring that deep message from the poem onto the big screen. They did a good job and I don't know how I would have done it any better. But this story is very unsatisfying in the end. I won't ruin anything for you but let's just say that what the theme and the motives and the antagonist doesn't come through on the screen. It's there in the dialogue and the intention is very clear but when the credits come up, most people will be scratching their heads wondering what happened with that or where did that person go. But then that will only last a couple seconds before some idiot in the group starts raving about the animation and the 3D saying it's the best movie ever and comparing it to Transformers.

Last Comments: It's hard as an audience to ignore watching this movie just because of the technological advancements it's made in cinema but at the same time it doesn't really feel like a real movie. The story is no where near as polished as well as the animation. Motion capture and CGI makes for some stunning visuals especially in 3D but in the end it doesn't work all the time and stylistically clashes with the tone and the message of the film. With all of it's short comings, Beowulf is a good example of a film where the visuals might actually warrant audiences watching a bad story. Not a bad story, but an incomplete one. Some people or most people will go because of the great fights and the 'wow' factor that most high budget films are trying to go for now but some, I'm afraid very few, will be left there very disappointed and may be forced to turn to the visuals for some positives. I know which group I will fall in and sadly, I know it will not be the majority.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 6.0 (Neil Gaiman & Robert Avary)
Direction: 7.5 (Robert Zemeckis)
Voice Acting: 8.0
Animation: 8.5
Music/Sound: 7.5

Entertainment Value: 7.5

Surf's Up (2007)

This Movie Is About: Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) is a penguin in the Antarctic. He wants to be the best surfer in the world. That has been his dream ever since Big Z, a legendary surfer, came to his small little town of Shiverpool and gave him a limited edition necklace. He has struggled all this life with people not believing in him, always being the smallest guy in the fight and having a dream that no one else sees. But that's going to change when a talent scout comes looking for the next big thing and brings Cody to the biggest surfing competition, The Big Z Memorial where the 9 time defending champion, Tank Evans will attempt to get this 10th trophy. Cody is a small fish out in big waters as he's thrown over his head and the only person that can help him is a chicken (Jon Heder) and an old recluse, Geek, who is more than he seems.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: if you've seen animated movies, then you will know that any time you put penguins in animated form, they are super cute! Okay, so that will sell the female audiences, but what about you guys out there that want to see a 'real' movie? Just because this movie isn't live action doesn't mean it's not entertaining. Sure it's not as funny as some of the other animated films in recent memories and it's definitely not an instant classic like things out of Pixar but there is something special about this film that really makes it worth watching. I think it's the real human condition that this movie explores. We all want big things or have dreams that get us through our day and this movie explores that theme to the fullest. It puts us in Cody's situation and really makes us question what our dreams are really worth and if there aren't more important things, simplier things in life that should be appreciated.

What's Hot: When I turned this movie on, all I knew about it was that it was a surfing movie with penguins. I thought it was going to be stupid and no way could it be as entertaining as some of the other animated films. But as soon as the first scene came on, I realized that this is a mockumentry. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically a fictional movie shot like a documentry. So there is a crew that follows Cody around and does interviews with the people around him to comment on what's going on and their perspective on surfing and life in general. This was very interesting and gave the movie a whole new feeling and spin that made it real entertaining to watch not only because it was new but also helped bring the story and characters to life. There are also some serious golden moments in the background during interviews that are freakin' hilarious and that can only be achieved with this kind of style.

What's Not Hot: I'm afraid that this movie is a kids' movie, straight up. There isn't very much in here that will make people old enough to remember the Rolling Stones want to watch it. The subject of the movie is for kids and teenagers who has a dream or is so caught up in something and forgets to look at the big picture. But that's all expected when you go watch this movie but just don't go in there expecting something that you will talk about by the cooler the next day. It's fun and funny, but I'm afraid that's all it is.

Last Comments: Surf's Up while entertaining at certain parts, fails to bring that magic to cinema quite like Pixar. Part of it is the animation style but another is how the story deals with issues that might not be as universal as everyone might think. Surfing is fun and cool but not many people surf and while they do a good job in showing you all the aspects of surfing you're never really into it as much as some of the other animated films. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed watching this movie and getting lost for an hour and a bit in a world where penguins love to surf and following Cody as he tries to prove himself to his family and follow his dream. A great family film of course because it has such a sweet ending you could die.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 7.8 (Don Rhymer & Ash Brannon)
Direction: 8.5 (Ash Brannon & Chris Buck)
Voice Acting: 8.0
Animation: 7.2
Music/Sound: 6.0

Entertainment Value: 7.5 (not an average)

Talk to Me (2007)

This Movie Is About the true story of Petey Greene (Don Cheadle) who is a ex-con turned popular radio personality during the 1960s and the anti-war movement. He wants to be a DJ on the air for as long as he remembers but never knew why. All he knew was that he wanted to be on the air spinning the tunes. The only problem being an ex-con is that no one will give you a shot no matter how much you want it or how talented you are. That is, until Petey met Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who works for a radio station that needs a total remake on their morning show. So it's a match made in heaven as Petey takes this station to the very top. But when Petey gets to there, he realizes why he always wanted to be on the air, the reason for his being and how that will change his entire life.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: it's a very real movie. I mean, it's not real because it's a movie but it's real in the sense that it's a great representation of a small influencial figure in American history. It starts out fun and light and comedic in tone but as it moves deeper and deeper into the American culture and the problems with war and race within the borders and around the neighborhood, it gets much darker very quickly and really makes the movie a message about politics and black culture in the United States. If you like that kind of stuff, movies like American History X then you will definitely like this movie although this movie doesn't have the curb stomp but it does have more swearing.

What's Hot Don Cheadle is really coming into his own now. Granted I have only seen him in the Ocean's trilogy but he was always someone that was behind the stars. But now, he has his shot and he delivers in spades. He captures the personality of Petey Greene to perfection. I don't think there has been a better representation of a historical figure since Capote. Anyway, the topic is very hot. Any time you throw Vietnam or the black movement in a movie, it'll generate interest. This movie throws them both in there at once!

What's Not Hot: The marketing... just kidding. This film isn't something that everyone would want to see or understand. I mean, I'm not black and I didn't live through that time in that area so I cannot relate to it as much as some other people. But that's okay. I think this movie does well in bringing in the mass audience while at the same time doing justice to those that actually witnessed that era first hand. It tries to do a bit too much by attempting to bring in the R&B life of American and mix it with the politics at the time. At times, it worked and at times, it was a little awkard. For some, that will be okay but for others, it might be a little confusing and not that interesting to watch.

Last Comments: Talk to Me can be looked at as one of those niche films which appeal greatly to a certain group group while other audiences may not be able to understand or care about what this movie is trying to do. From a pure cinematic experience, the style is great and accompanied by great music and sound which is something most movies don't do very well anymore. Furthermore, the story of one man going from nothing to having it all and then seeing the results of that is something we can all relate to because no matter how big you get you always had to come from some place lower. That basic human condition is something that makes this movie entertaining enough for people to go out and give it a look.

Breaking it Down:
Story: 7.0 (Michael Genet & Rick Famuyiwa)
Direction: 8.2 (Kasi Lemmons)
Acting: 9.0
Cinematography: 7.5
Music/Sound: 8.5

Entertainment Value: 7.5 (not an average)

Dan in Real Life (2007)

This Movie Is About: Dan Burns (Steve Carell) who writes an advice colume in the paper every week answering questions about family. He is the perfect family man, or was at least. He has three daughters all different ages and on top of that, he has to deal with his own grief of losing his wife. All of this has to be solved when he and his girls go to a annual family reunion in Rhode Island for the holidays. Dan, confused about what to do with his daughters whom all want different things than him, goes to get the paper at the harbor only to meet the perfect woman, Anna Marie (Juliette Binoche). At first, it just seems like infactuation. Why not?! She's hot, she's foreign, she doesn't know what she wants in life just like Dan. So they start talking, and talking and talking until she suddenly has to go. Dan, disappointed, goes back to the cabin and tells everyone about this girl only to realize that she's in the cabin... as his brother, Mitch's (Dane Cook) new girl friend that he is absolutely in love with. That's the situation which plays out during this family outting. And it's never fun to wash woman's underwear, especially teenage girls.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: it's probably the realest romantic comedy you will see this year. When I say real obviously it's not real cause things just don't end the way this movie did but still it's a nice change to the normal emo dramas out there where the hero is dealing with life and what his role is and all that stuff. Usually those movies are boring with a lot of brooding and internal conflict that we never see. But this time, the conflict is right out there in the open and Dan is getting it hard from all fronts. The romance, of course, is the story but what's really interesting about this film is the way the family all comes together. Of course, not everyone plays a big role because that's impossible but just the way it touches on all the quirks and nuances of a big family really brings this film to a new level of reality and something we can all identify with. As a result, we really feel for Dan and his situation because it's a situation we've either all been in, or heard of or possibly will be in sometime down the road.

What's Hot: Steve Carell is back this time and although his performance does resemble his previous roles especially from The 40 Year Old Virgin, it is still unique and real at the same time to make his character the most enjoyable part of the film. He brings a certain type of awkward humor to the movie which counter balances his depressive moments and moments when we really don't want to be him. So we got that he's great. But what's even greater is that everyone in this movie is flawed like a bitch. Not just Anne Marie because she is soooo out of this world from perfect that we really feel for her being in a situation where she can potentially rip a family apart but also the supporting cast are all so human with their emotions and opinions it really makes the environment seem like a home video of sorts. Some people might not like that and would disagree with having so many things going on that doesn't relate to the A plot but I thought it just added flavor to a very well balanced diet.

What's Not Hot: Because they are in a small town and because everyone in this film is pretty nice, there will be slow parts. And this movie does drag a bit in the second act which can be expected. He can't spend all his time with Anne Marie after all. So what do they do with the time that he's not spending with his love interest? He goes out and wanders around talking about life. I know it sounds boring and it is. This movie has a very simple message about how family comes first and you should take your own advice and all that good stuff. It's a fine premise and theme but this movie really drills it into your head with non stop talk about themes using metaphors. It can get a bit tiring and by half way through the film you already know the lesson he will learn but he just doesn't learn it until the very end. Just a irk and nothing serious but something that was going to be problematic from day one.

Last Comments: Dan in Real Life is a romantic comedy at the core but in honestly, it is the most interesting romantic comedy that I have seen because it has the most basic and uninteresting set up. It's just a guy in a mid life crisis that goes away with his teenage daughters trying to get on with his life and doesn't know how. It's a very simple concept and something we can all relate to which is why I think it was so entertaining. You're with this person all the way because we likely know someone who is going through this or has gone through it. This film really brings common problems into the lime light and although no one is going to die or the world isn't going to blow up if Dan doesn't get with Anna Marie, we recognize that if he doesn't get with her, it might be his last chance at happiness. Having the audience make that connection and buying it is something extrodinary in the writing and pulled off brilliantly in the execution by the actors as well as the director and definitely worth watching.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 7.9 (Pierce Gardner & Peter Hedges)
Direction: 7.5 (Peter Hedges)
Acting: 8.2
Cinematography: 7.0
Music/Sound: 6.8

Entertainment Value: 7.6 (not an average)

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

This Movie Is About: finding love. But for someone like Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling), it's almost impossible. It's not because he doesn't want love but because he is probably the shiest person you know. He spends his days in his house looking out into the snowy world around him and even at work he turns down all social interactions. That is until one day when his co-worker shows him a site where you can customize a real life sized doll for yourself. He gets one to combat his loneliness and it seems like a normal thing to do until he gets it and to the shock of his brother, Gus (Paul Schneider) and his wife, Karin (Emily Mortimer), Lars completely thinks the girl's real and her name is Bianca. Gus and Emily take Lars to Doctor Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) to get Bianca checked out. Of course this is just a chance for the Doctor to give Lars a good examination. Upon inspection, the Doctor has deemed Lars completely healthy and that they will just have to accept Bianca as a manifestation of a psychological problem that will disappear once Lars finds what he's looking for, whatever that is.

You Should Watch This Movie: based on the concept alone. Just the fact that this movie presents a grown man living with a doll and thinking that she's completely real is instant comedy. But this film isn't really a comedy although it is pretty funny. This movie deals with loneliness and abandonment. These issues are common within everyone as we all fear being left alone with no one to love and no one that loves us. It's a very scary feeling and having that being the theme and pretty much the antagonist of the film, gives it that nice dramatic overtone that gives a very funny situation a lot of heart and makes it memorable.

What's Hot: I really enjoyed the setting of the film which is funny because it's in the middle of winter with snow all around. It's used as a nice metaphor for Lar's perception of the world as his entire social life is frozen because of a dark past which I will not spoil. The weather wanes with his emotion changes and it's just a nice detail that adds to the deep character of Lars. The subtext doesnt' stop there though as everyone in this film has their own way of dealing with lonliness and wanting to love someone. Everyone has problems in this film and Lars is the only person that does anything about it and because he brought Bianca into the community, everyone rallies around her to make Lars feel at home and at the same time, connects with everyone else in the community. There is a very touching moment in the end that really sums up the theme of the film which is no one is really alone and there will always be people who care about you. And Ryan Gosling is amazing which should be expected but I just thought I should throw that in there.

What's Not Hot: This movie has pretty poor marketing which is something that I really don't get. It's a character study film but at the same time it's marketed as a comedy. It's funny, don't get me wrong but it's not that funny. Mostly because it's so slow paced and it's just not that funny looking at a guy who's so messed up deal with life in a way that's not normal by our standards. There are golden moments of comedy but anyone going in here expecting anything other than a slow paced drama will be disappointed.

Last Comments: Lars and the Real Girl, although a very clever and deep film, will not be very entertaining for most people. I know this might upset a few people who have seen this movie because it is funny at moments, but there really isn't enough comedy in here to warrant it as a comedy. As a result, this falls into the light drama range and there really isn't all that much drama to begin with. That's because there is no real opposition to what Lars wants. It's just an internal battle between Lars and his past with Gus being sort of in there but in the end he's a really nice guy as well. There were plenty of chances for the community or at least parts of the community to turn on Lars and say this doll is ridiculous and maybe even try to destroy it but nothing like that happened. The town was just all very nice which made me more frustrated at Lars for not getting over his shit more than sympathizing with him. That's just my opinion about a minor part of an overall very emotional and clever film that deserves watching.

Breaking It Down:
Story:7.0 (Nancy Oliver)
Direction: 7.8 (Craig Gillespie)
Acting: 9.0
Cinematograhy: 7.5
Music/Sound: 5.5

Entertainment Value: 7.2 (not an average)

Rendition (2007)

This Movie Is About: family and the lengths we would go to be with our familly or be without them. That seems like a funny story line for a movie about rendition. For those of you, like me, who did not know what rendition is. It's basically the practice of sending prisoners to countries where torture is allowed. So the US would send terrorists to these countries, North Africa in this case to get their information. Most of the time the informaiton is not accurate because let's face it, information under distress is not very good information. That's the setting as we follow Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) as he is suspected of helping terrorists in a bombing in South Africa. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Douglas Freeman who's an agent from the CIA in charge of coordinating with the interrogation officer and trying to keep this thing under wraps as back in the US, Anwar's wife, Isabella (Resse Witherspoon) is desperately trying to get in touch with Corrine Whitman (Meryl Streep) who is incharge of the entire operation. This film takes us on a roller coster ride full of emotion and interweaving plot lines all coming together in the end for a well told story about rendition.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: there will always be questions regarding terrorism and the ways it is countered especially after the 9/11 days. This film looks at the issue from a sideways perspective and tackles it by focusing on a micro level with one man's struggle with the system. But what is brilliant about this movie and makes it worth watching is how this one man's life and struggle is intensified and echoed through all the branches of government in all countries. It's actually very emotional and eye catching to see how everyone affects each other when dealing with things like family and national security which in sense is taking care of a family. A country is much bigger but isn't it just like a big family in the end?

What's Hot: The acting is great. I think acting is something that is totally underrated these days. With celebrities and directors getting all the attention, there is very little room for people to appreciate real talent and dedication to the acting craft. I mean, I never heard of this Omar Metwally dude and he just blew me away. Jake will always be solid as so is Meryl. But what sets this apart is the great support these leads get with everyone doing their part in making the experience real. There is a nice story injected in here which takes the point of view from the other side. I'm not going to ruin too much of it but let's just say that terrorists are human too and they have feelings which are often ignored because we lose sight of their humanity and don't realize that they, like us, have a mother waiting at home.

What's Not Hot: The opening is painfully slow. When I say painful I literary mean I was falling asleep. I don't know if it was because I was very tired from the night before or what but yeah. There are long shots for character expression and it's just brutal. Moreover, because of all the stories going on at the same time, it's difficult to really connect them together. It doesn't help that one of the story lines work as a twist for the others because in the end it feels almost unnecessary and it leaves the audience more confused than anything else.


Last Comments: Rendition suffers from what most movies of its kind suffer from. Because it's made with a purpose, that is, it's dealing with a very sensitive topic and something that should be carefully considered, it loses a lot of the entertainment. Or at least for me it did. If you are into this kind of thing then this movie will be top class for you. But for me, and the average viewer, I just felt that this movie took the political side a bit too far, especially in the beginning and although the characters were compelling, they felt like serving the plot more than anything else. Although, if you look at this film from the perspective of family I think that most of these issues can be excused and the emotion will come through. It's difficult to look at it any other way and be entertained. The only problem this solution doesn't solve is the opening which will be epically slow either way. But it will be well worth it in the end.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 7.5 (Kelley Sane)
Direction: 8.0 (Gavin Hood)
Acting: 8.5
Cinematography: 7.5
Music/Sound: 7.0

Entertainment Value: 7.8 (not an average)

Saw IV (2007)

This Movie Is About appreciating your life. Everybody goes through the days when they wish they were dead. These are the people that some argue, deserves to die. So we got our good old friend Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) here, back to do some more owning even with the handcap of being dead! But that's okay for him because he is the mastermind. So this time the lead person on the verge of getting owned is Officer Rigg (Lyriq Bent). You might remember him from such hit Saw movies as Saw II and Saw III. He has stood by and watched helplessly as Jigsaw owned his colleagues and now it's his turn to play the game and find out exactly what happened to Eric Matthews and Detective Kerry.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: if you watched any of the Saw movies you know exactly what's in store for you. And if you've watched the third film, then you obviously seen one of the previous ones and because you came back to it, means that you appreciate what it was trying to do. Also, the previous film set up so much expectation and continued story that it seems it was almost necessary to watch this movie if you wanted to know how the puzzle unfolded and how Jigsaw was going to own people from beyond the grave. Anytime a puzzle as complicated as Saw is presented to an audience, it will be enticing and this film is definitely that.

What's Hot: Half of this movie is the back story of Jigsaw. Like who is this guy? You learn all about his dark past and how he became the man, the legend, he is today. Some people might think that this takes away from the story but it doesn't really harm it. In fact, I, at first, disliked the use of flashback for Jigsaw's history but upon futther thought, I have decided that it was actually nice for the writers to give the audience and long time fans a glimpse into the personal life of Jigsaw.

What's Not Hot: Notice how in the above paragraph I didn't mention anything about what Saw is known for. It's pretty much known for two things. 1, the gore. The hardcore ownage of the people playing these 'games'. We cringe and cry and scream but in the end that's the reason why we go to see these movies. And frankly, it isn't there this time around. There are plenty of games with that one big game that Rigg plays but in all honesty, they weren't that hardcore. I am a total wuss when it comes to horror and gore and I had no problem getting through it. 2. Saw is known for that twist that thing that fucks with you in the end of the movie that makes you say "Oh, man! I didn't see that coming" while at the same time making it totally obvious and perfect with the message. This movie does it since it's expected but it wasn't really a big deal and the punishment wasn't all that great. Death is not the best way to punish someone as these movies have demonstrated.

Last Comments: Saw IV has turned the franchise from a movie about a game into a crime/mystery film. Some may argue that this was the direction the franchise had to take in order to keep things interesting but I disagree. They could have just kept Jigsaw owning a group of people each year and having that twist be in it in order for them to learn their lesson. It could be an annual thing that comes out on Halloween. I think that would have been a much easier and profitable direction not to say that 30 million in the first weekend is not profitable. But now the plot has become so complex it seems like it would take three more movies to resolve, but maybe that's their plan all along. Saw IV fails to live up to the expectations of its predecessors and adds more confusion than clarity to the story that seems to have no end in sight.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 6.0 (Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan)
Direction: 7.5 (Darren Lynn Bousmann)
Acting: 6.5
Cinematography: 8.0
Music/Sound: 7.0

Entertainment Value: 6.0 (not an average)

Planet Terror (2007)

This Movie Is About: a science experiment gone wrong and the city is infected with the aftermath. A green smoke thing leaked into the air and has infected everyone in this town including the army. Now it's up to a group of people who are immune to band together and stop these super zombies and try to escape the city and find a safe haven. It sounds pretty simple until you get into the group of characters and it seems like everyone hates everyone else which makes it that much more interesting as opposition comes from all angles and the solution often results in massive amounts of blood and gore which is all fine and dandy and pretty much expected from a place called Planet Terror.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: it has a bunch of monsters, castration, monsters, tits, monsters, blood, blood, blood, gore, gore, gore, blood, more tits, explosion, explosion, blood, tits, monsters, blood, blood, explosion... happy ending. Now, if that doesn't make you want to watch this movie then please go to imdb.com and look at the cast. Everyone in this movie is freakin' hot for no reason. Hell, most of this movie has no reason but it's somehow awesome. You just have to throw out story, logic, ethics before you load'er up and you'll enjoy the ride.

What's Hot: Other than all the girls in this movie. Which by the way are ridiculous. Because I swear to God, all Robert Rodriguez did was go to his casting director and told him or her to get him the hottest girls they can find who are willing to be naked and/or sexually exploited on film. And man did he ever find a whole bunch. Other than Rose McGowan, there are plenty of fine botty to go around for your taste. I mean, other than that the zombies are kind of like water ballons. That is, whenever they are shot or pretty much just touched, they explode in a glory of blood and guts. It was pretty cool if you can believe that the body reacts this way in this place. The visuals are great as well since this is supposed to emulate an old school Grindhouse film. It has all the makings of a classic action/gore film.

What's Not Hot: Everything I say here will probably just be countered with "well it's that type of movie." Which is very true. Every shitty dialogue or contrived story line is apart of the experience and because it was marketed and made like that, they can get away with a whole bunch of shit. But I know there will be some of you out there that won't be able to accept that. Okay, so those of you sour-pusses might find the dialogue just brutal, or the logic of pretty much everything that happens in this movie. What else? Well, if you don't like excessive gore, or lesbian sex, then maybe this isn't for you either. Just think of the worse thing in the Catholic bible and it's in there. If you're Catholic you probably don't want to see this movie.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 5.0 (Robert Rodriguez)
Direction: 8.8 (Robert Rodriguez)
Acting: 7.5
Cinematograpy: 9.0
Music/Sound: 5.5

Entertainment Value: 7.2 (not an average)

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

This Movie Is About: Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) who's a private missing persons investigator given the chance of a life time when a state wide missing girl case gets thrown in his lap. Patrick, along with his girl friend, Angie Genarro (Michelle Monghan) has to use their knowledge of the Boston area and people to shed some light on a very bleak situation. But as they dig deeper and deeper into the truth and the reality of what happened to Amanda is revealed, Patrick realizes that thet truth does not lie between the crevice of wrong and right and sometimes doing the 'right' thing can be the worse decision you can make in your life.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: Ben Affleck directed it. But no seriously, he actually does a pretty good job in his directorial debute. But other than his brilliance, the film itself is definitely worth watching. It has many great layers on top of each other and it's a film that's definitely worth watching many times over. Just on the surface, the story is hella interesting. It's a kidnapping film which hasn't been very popular the last couple of years. Or I at least do not remember a great kidnapping movie for quite some time. The twists and turns come fast and furious as Patrick is put through the grinder as he continues to get deeper and deeper into the conspiracy of Amanda's disappearance.

What's Hot: The characters are full of life in this movie. Whether you follow our hero Patrick or the crusty Detective Remy Bressant (Ed Harris), you will be taken on an emotional roller coaster and squeezed for every last once of feeling. Patrick is definitely a very dynamic character but it's interesting how all the supporting characters each have their interpretation on Amanda's kidnapping and how they all justify their actions. In the end, everyone's motives make sense and come together as one theme. But it's the different sides that they take as I'm sure the audience will pick different sides as well. That's the essence of this film. Choice is something that we all are faced with but what happens when our choices affect the lives of others? What right do we have to make that choice and how do we live with ourselves if we make the wrong ones? That is the pivotal quesiton that this film presents. Everyone around Patrick has made their choice and it's time for Patrick to make his and his journey to his final decision is something quite special and well put together for a mystery-crime film and adds plenty of depth to a pretty standard storyline. Oh, and Ed Harris deserves an Oscar.

What's Not Hot: Michelle Monghan is very disappointing as the hot chick this movie. Not that it's a big deal but I think it was something to do with her eye brows. Okay, so that's out of the way. The plot twists and everything work well on a whole and of course they're air tight. I'm sure Affleck got plenty of help from story editors and script doctors to make this thing tighter than Donald Trump's prenuptual agreement. The problem I find with these twists is that they come too fast and all at the same time. As a result, it's told to us pretty good, and with a lot of flashbacks to make sure that we get it. Patrick does quite the job as a detective so it doesn't feel like manipulation but everything just happened so fast that the audience might get lost in the process. But the end result is easy enough to understand and I'm sure that most people won't even remember the twists when they walk out of the theatre. Other than that, there was a sequence in the middle involving another kid that I didn't feel was necessary. I thought that it really dragged the story down. Oh, and there wasn't enough Morgan Freeman. He has a couple of monologues but nothing serious. I guess he just wanted a easy ride this time around.

Break It Down:
Story: 8.5 (Dennis Lehane: novel, Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard: screenplay)
Direction: 8.0 (Ben Affleck)
Acting: 9.2
Cinematography: 7.8
Music/Sound: 6.8

Entertainment Value: 8.5 (not an average)

30 Days of Night (2007)

This Movie Is About the small town in the northern-most region of Alaska. Here, for 30 days in a year, it is cut off from civilization as it bears the harsh snow storms and the perpetual darkness. But what's more dark than just darkness? Darkness with vampires! That's the brilliant concept of this movie as this small town is razed by a group of vampires hell-bent on destroying all forms of life in order to prove that they are more than just myth. The surviving group of people left must hide out for 30 days of night before the sun can come up and the vampires go away. It's a race against evil, time, nature, and themselves.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: there really hasn't been a good horror flick in a while and a monster horror flick at that. These vampires are badass, and they tear apart in the town in no-time leaving the survivors led by Eden Oleson (Josh Harnett) on the verge of extinction. Every sound, every movement these people make may result in death. This makes the entire movie very very tense and fear is right around the every corner these guys take. And oh the blood! If you are a fan of blood on shirt, then you will like this movie for sure. There is indeed a lot of blood on shirt, pants, jacket, mouth, teeth and in the general vicinity of everywhere. Other than the fear, the lead character is very standard but also very deep. His other dimensions comes off his relationship with past love interest Stella (Melissa George). They were together in the past and although you never really find out why they separated, their sub-plot raises some interesting questions and adds more conflict to the story than just vampires.

What's Hot: The vampires are very well done and definitely very distinct in their appearance. The fangs are intense as are the finger nails. The pupils are all the way black and fills up most of the eyes. And they are hardcore. There is a scene which shows a overhead shot of what's going on in the city when the vampires are owning and oh, it is so grim but so beautiful at the same time. But let's not forget about the humans. They pretty much take the vampires' shit for a good half of the movie but in the end, they realize that they have to get mad, they have to get angry. And oh, man do they ever get angry. There are a couple of scenes where some guy just loses it and goes off on a suicide mission and owns a couple of vampires before getting done. Other than that, there is some constant axe ownage which is very well done and very graphic.

What's Not Hot: There are plenty of stories in this movie and it all adds to the immense depth and message in this film. The problem with that in a horror film is that it's easy to get lost in the story lines while trying to keep the main story going and make it scary and make it interesting without losing the audience. This movie kind of fell trap to that as it tried to put a little too much story into the action. The backstory with Eben and Stella never really gets flushed out in the end as well as the history of the vampires and what happens to them in the end. The ending is also an area that could have used a lot more work. They set up the climax brilliantly and it is one of the best I have seen in a long time, but they just didn't pay it off properly. I have not read the graphic novel but I am almost sure that it ends much darker and grim than the movie. Perhaps they were pressured by the Hollywood brass for a happy ending but it will be disappointing for the hardcores.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 7.0 (Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith: grahpic novel, Stuart Beattie & Brian Nelson: screenplay)
Directon: 8.5 (David Slade)
Acting: 7.8
Cinematography: 8.5
Music/Sound: 7.5

Entertainment Value: 8.2

色, 戒 (Lust, Caution) (2007)

This Movie Is About a young woman, Wang Jia Zhi (Tang Wei) whose family left her when the war started. As a result, she's all alone in occupied China. She's lucky enough to flee to Hong Kong where she meets her friends and her new family, lead by Kuang Yu Min (Wang Lee Hom). After Jia Zhi stars in a play, Yu Min gets the idea to use her to assassinate a politician, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung) who's collaborating with the Japanese in order to difference. She plays the role of a lonely wife, Mrs. Mak, in order to try to seduce Mr. Yee. So the game begins as the college group realizes that they are in much deeper than they had expected especially for the new Mrs. Mak who has to control her lust and be cautious especially when love and country are involved.

You Should Watch This Movie if you are into Asian pornography. Okay, just kidding. Other than the very vivid sex scenes, this movie has a great story and acting to go along with very deep characters. And when I say deep I mean, there's enough subtext in here to fill a quarry. The roller coster ride of emotion and plot twists are enough to keep your mind spinning and nothing is what it really appears. We're on the trip with Jia Zhi as she pretends to fall in love but only to find love in the most dangerous place and deciding if it's really worth it.

What's Hot: The sex scenes are off the wall. They are insane to do this in Asia and it's clear because this movie's is banned from China. But other than that, the characters themselves are a treat to watch come to life as they deal with their internal struggles. Country or love, that's the quesiton that every character asks themselves. The sides are clearly drawn and it's up to one girl to make her difference and shift the tides of balance of the war. Wang Lee Hom makes his acting debut as he plays the default love interest. But his character is also interesting as he's not what he appears. He's pretty good looking, of course. For the ladies, this film is a treat to watch.


What's Not Hot: What theme and what this story is about is a bit messy. Or it's a lot messy. You don't really know what it's about. This isn't a big deal. It's only a big deal for writers like me who are always looking for that thing that connects the story. But most of you will be so caught up in all the other positives of this movie that you will not even notice. The only thing you might feel is that this movie is really heavy. That's a result of the problem I mentioned above. Because there are so many things going on, it's one layer on top of the other. Also, the film is really slow and really long, although it never feels that it is overly long which is good. These are just minor points but just FYI.

Breaking It Down:
Story: 8.0 (Eileen Chang: novel, James Schamus: screen play)
Direction: 8.5 (Lee Ang)
Acting: 9.0
Cinematography: 8.8
Music/Sound: 7.8

Entertainment Value: 8.0

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

This Movie Is About: Alice, returning to the place that made her and kicking some serious zombie ass. No seriously, that's what this film is about. It's been 5 years since Resident Evil: Apocolypse and since that movie wasn't dooming enough, they had to come back 5 years later to finish off the business. The zombies that is. So now Alice, haunted by her past with Umbrella Corporations, joins up with a convoy headed by Claire Redfield (Ali Larter) to get the remaining survivors out of the desert and into the only place on earth that is safe from infection: Alaska.

You Should Watch This Movie Because: the general idea is that if you've seen the first two then you should see this one because it will tie up any loose ends that you had questions about. Since this is called Extinction, there is an expectation that this will be the last film in the franchise. This is also a good guess because they actually came out and told us that. But you shouldn't go see the movie expecting this because you will be very disappointed. Expect gore, cheap thrills, and a very good looking cast.

What's Hot: The weather? That's about it really. The setting is very nice as Las Vegas looks like a a post-apocolyptic world which is what the rest of the world looks like. That's all done very good and it's very satisfying to see Resident Evil get taken to such a big stage. Other than that, the only other thing worth noting is the cast. Even though everyone has been wandering around the planet with nothing left, they all have really good skin and they all look very hot still. Ali Larter leads the way but is followed up very closely with Ashanti and Spencer Locke. I saw this girl, Spencer Locke that is, a while ago when she did the voice for Monster House and I can see big things for her. She'll have to do more than just scream though for her next project or else she'll get type casted.

What's Not Hot: Where do I begin? There are just so many things wrong with this movie that I feel it's my obligation to tell you. But I also know that there will be many of you wanting to watching this film like I wanted to watch this film. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that this movie does not follow any sort of structure or logic. That is, the first 40 minutes of this movie has people wandering around getting owned by zombies. That might sound great. And for a lot of people, that's all they expect from movies now a days. Look at all of those people that liked Transformers, they were blinded by the special effects and their childhood dreams from seeing how bad that movie was. I guess it'll be the same as this film as many will just go because we all love Resident Evil. We all played the game and we want to see our characters come to life and be on the big screen. For some that's enough, but for many others, they will be left wanting.

Breaking It Down:
Story: Fail (Paul W.S. Anderson)
Direction: 8.0 (Russell Mulcahy)
Acting: 6.0
Cinematography: 8.5
Music/Sound: 5.5

Entertainment Value: Fail (not an average)