All the Movies I've Seen

The Best Film Ever. Period.
Blade Runner is truly a work of art. It is a film that please your eyes, your brain, and your soul. Ridley Scott creates the most believable future put on film, and he crafts an ingenious story and memorable characters to back it up. The end result is a film so deep, so complex, and so entertaining, it becomes difficult to describe.

A grand, sweeping masterpiece of cinematography, acting, and storytelling. Lawrence of Arabia is a movie that has to be seen to be believed.

On the Waterfront is a film for the ages. With powerful acting, a brilliant narrative, and an inspirational message of standing up for what is right, On the Waterfront becomes one of the most moving films ever put on screen.

A movie experience like no other. Spielberg takes a true story and transforms it into a haunting, harrowing, and uplifting story of hope and redemption. Schindler's List is a film that must be watched by every person before they die.

By making you sympathize with these cold hearted killers, The Godfather becomes a true masterwork of a film, one that is filled with moral and emotional depth that few films have reached.

The Third Man is a movie based on shadows; the shadow of Harry Lime's death, the shadow of the war-torn city, and the shadows of the people, who are as mysterious as they are gloomy. Only the medium of black and white works for The Third Man, as the shadows of the city would be lost in a sea of vibrance in color, and all the gloominess and atmosphere of the film would be lost with it. The atmosphere makes The Third Man more than just a great movie; it transforms it into a masterpiece, one which still resonates to this day.

Raiders of the Lost Ark. What a perfect movie. Combining action, adventure, mystery, and romance into one legendary movie. This movie has stood the test of time so well that it still looks amazing to this day. I know very few people who haven't seen this. It's THAT GREAT. So what makes Raiders such a masterpiece? Well let's begin with the story.
The movie opens up in Peru, South America in the year 1936. Here we see a group of men wandering through the jungle in search of a hidden artifact. As the group progresses through the jungle, they lose many people to fear or betrayal. Only two people make it to the temple. There's Satipo, played by Alfred Molina, and our hero, Indiana Jones, played by the iconic actor Harrison Ford. The two weave their way through the traps and reach the artifact. As the building crumbles, Satipo turns out to be a double agent. Unfortunately, he dies in one of the traps (this isn't really a spoiler). We then witness the famous boulder chase scene, in which Indiana barely escapes...only to be trapped by the evil Dr. Belloq, played by Paul Freeman. Indiana gets away, but without the artifact in hand.
That's just the beginning. The real story begins when government agents hire Indiana to go after the Ark of the Covenant, which the Nazis seek. Indiana accepts and the whole movie is him searching for the Lost Ark in the country of Egypt. He's joined by his ex-flame, Marion Ravenwood, played by Karen Allen, and Sallah, played by John Rhys-Davies. Indiana's up against Belloq, Colonel Dietrich, played by Wolf Kahler, and Major Toht, played by Ronald Lacey.
Steven Spielberg knows how to craft a story, and this story is quite simple. There are no real sub-plots. Just a hero seeking a treasure and fighting evil men who want it for themselves. Unlike other adventure movies though, Raiders manages to capture adventure through storytelling and character, not just through special effects and action sequences. That's part of the reason why it holds up so well.
Another reason is the iconic characters. Indiana Jones is a very well-written character and Harrison Ford's acting makes him a landmark of American cinema. Many actors have tried to be like him, but none could catch the brains, wit, and charm of Ford's Indiana Jones. The supporting cast is also great, with Karen Allen being a superb love interest, John Rhys-Davies being a fun companion, and Paul Freeman being a wickedly awesome villain. Every other actor is also amazing. The supporting roles feel like real men and women and each one adds on to the central story.
An adventure movie is supposed to have adventure. Raiders succeeds at that and it's not hard to see why. Instead of relying on over the top special effects, Raiders creates amazing set pieces which feature our hero fighting Nazis, hi-jacking vehicles, and involve in amazing chase sequences. There's even some humor put in here and there, and surprisingly, all the jokes work. Who would've thought?
Well, all I have to say in conclusion is wow. I LOVE this movie. An American classic that will remain as entertaining tomorrow as it was today.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

Gloria Swanson is heavenly in her role as Norma Desmond, and she elevates this film from brilliant to masterful.

Part drama, part romance, and even part comedy, Casablanca truly is a cinematic work of art that stands on it's own as one of the greatest stories ever put on film.

A gripping, powerful, and moving look at prison life and the meaning of hope. This is truly one of the greatest films ever made.

If you can survive it's slow pace, 2001 becomes a sci fi masterpiece with innovative special effects and a twisted narrative that truly shows the revolution that the movie was when it was released in 1968.

A powerful, graphic, and bleak look at a terrifyingly realistic future, Children of Men is the best film of the past decade.

An incredible ending seals the deal in one of Hitchcock's most enduring and intriguing masterpieces.

A tale of murder, privacy, and binoculars. Alfred Hitchcock crafts this movie into an intriguing and suspenseful yarn, one that questions the amount of privacy one has in his life.

Uniquely bizarre and strangely prophetic, Fight Club is an insane look into our modern world that still manages to entertain and engage it's audience.

A brilliant western that doesn't hold back on the violence and horrors that was the American Frontier. Phenomenal performances, a top-notch script, and an overwhelming message of anti-violence makes Unforgiven an instant classic.

Not quite as good as the original, but nevertheless, The Godfather Part II is the sequel to end all sequels (Empire Strikes Back aside).

Chilling, tense, and thrilling, Ridley Scott's masterpiece, Alien, has defined sci fi horror for the past 30 years.

A one of a kind visual experience, Metropolis' haunting, hallucinatory look and tone make it a film that stands the test of time.

A film triumph, one that revolutionized cinema for years upon years to come. Citizen Kane is a masterwork of a film.

An amazing love story, one that's mature, funny, and emotional all at once.

You don't get just one, just two, or just three spectacular performances. No...you get twelve. Combine that with tense drama and a great central story, and you have yourself 12 Angry Men, an American landmark film.

A gritty, slow moving, film noir masterpiece that highlights Billy Wilder as an outstanding director.

One of the greatest sci-fi films ever made.

An amazing piece of film, and a more than worthy followup to one of the all time greats, Star Wars.

Terry Gilliam has weaved a masterpiece in Brazil, one that fully shows the capabilities of Gilliam's twisted, dark ideas.

Forget The Dark Knight or Iron Man. Slumdog Millionaire is the best film of 2008 hands down that will leave you speechless by the end of the film.

We are the people.

Klaatu barada nikto.

2009 was full of major blockbusters and sequels. Some were good. Some were bad. But it was a movie that was made for $30 million that out-shined the rest in every category. That movie was District 9, a groundbreaking movie that once again proves science fiction isn't about special effects, but about stories and ideas for the inner mind of the human.
This movie was made by South African director Neill Blomkamp and produced by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. It was originally going to be an adaption of the video game HALO. Thank god that failed to launch.
District 9 is a twist on the sci-fi genre. In 1982, a ship came into the atmosphere and hovered over Johannesburg, South Africa. We, the humans, went into the ship and found poor, famished lizard-like aliens inside. So, we decided to be nice to them, and house them until their ship is fixed. Well, that day never came it seems, and the humans are getting ticked at the aliens. The citizens of Johannesburg are especially frustrated. When riots break out between the humans and alien "prawns", the government decides to relocate the aliens to a new area.
Enter Wikus van der Merwe, played by now-famous actor Sharlto Copley. He has been assigned to evict the aliens of out their slum-like homes. As he enters the area, we see how the prawns are oppressed by slum-like conditions and Nigerian gangsters. It truly is a dark look at what is happening in South Africa right now. So, while visiting one of these houses, Wikus finds an alien substance that causes him to be outcast from human society. How? I will not tell. So, Wikus is trying to find a way to return to the life he once had.
Don't ask me how, but the actors in this movie outshine a lot of famous actors that star in giant blockbusters. Sharlto Copley in this movie is amazing, and he deserved an Oscar. David James, who plays military officer Koobus Venter, is also amazing as somewhat of a racist towards the aliens. And then there's Jason Cope as an alien named Christopher Johnson. His character is written brilliantly, and his performance just amplifies the aura of his character.
Then there's the story, which in itself is spectacular. The story twists are brilliant and the plot plays out perfectly. The major thing you notice is that this story is making a political statement about how life in South Africa can be like. It deals with racism, poverty, and corruption in the government. But this movie deals not only with that, but with this question. How would modern society deal with alien visitors? Would we be nice or would we be harsh?
The visual effects in this movie are just as good, if not better than many mega-blockbusters. And this movie was made for $30 million? WOW. The special effects in this movie merge with the story so well that you feel like you're part of this world, that this is happening right now in South Africa.
District 9 is a sci fi masterpiece. It poses a genius question then answers it through an amazing story, brilliant characters, great dialogue, and awesome special effects. District 9 is a ten in my book.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

By now, Christopher Nolan had established himself as a great director. He has revived the Batman series and brought us a flow of constantly great films. Now, he presents his greatest idea...THE DREAM POLICE!!!!!!! Not exactly, but it's pretty close. Inception is a revolution in modern cinema. This is a science fiction film based in dreams, which in itself is a whole new sub-genre of film. It becomes reminiscent of The Matrix, and while still not as groundbreaking, it's definitely more complicated.
Inception is a movie about Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Cobb is an extractor, or a dream thief. His job is to sneak into people's subconscious and steal their hidden secrets. This life has caused him to lose his wife and to be separated from his two kids. While working on a dream heist, the target, a billionaire named Saito, played by Ken Watanbe, is impressed by their work. Saito soon offers Cobb and his partner in crime, Arthur, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a job. His company's rival is getting a new CEO, Robert Fischer Jr., played by Cillian Murphy. Saito wants Cobb to plant an idea into Fischer's head, which is to break up his gigantic energy conglomerate into individual companies. In return, Saito promises to help Cobb return to his regular life back in the States. Inception, or the planting of an idea in someone's head seems impossible to Cobb and Arthur, but they accept, because Cobb wants to go home. So they round up a team to help them pull off the heist, which include the young architect Ariadne, played by Ellen Page, the chemist Yusuf, played by Dileep Rao, and the guy who can impersonate anybody in dreams, Eames, played by rising star Tom Hardy. This movie transforms into something like the Ocean's Eleven of dreams, except smarter and more serious.
The story of Inception is, yes, original (Hallelujah!) and it is brilliant. Christopher Nolan has brought us many great movies, but none quite as remarkable or insightful as this. The story does get dark, but not as dark as say, District 9 or The Matrix. Inception does play out like a heist film. It's stylish, sleek, and smart fun. In a few words, it's a science fiction heist film. Heists are confusing so if you mix it with science fiction, you get very, very confusing.
The acting in this is great. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a great performance and Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays off of him very well. Ellen Page does a great job and stands her ground with the bigger actors around her. Ken Watanbe, Cillian Murphy, and Dileep Rao all deliver good if not brilliant performances. But it's Tom Hardy that impressed me the most. he brought some additional life to this movie. He was the comedic relief and the witty charm that every heist film needs. Marion Cotillard though as Mal, Cobb's wife, was somewhat stale. Maybe it's how Nolan wrote her, but she could either be good, dull, or somewhat creepy.
Then there are the visual effects. The way they craft these dreams is incredible. These special effects are worth every penny of the ticket price. And thank god they steered away from 3D! That's the last thing I wanted to see in this film. The whole heist sequences are incredible from start to finish and they give you such an adrenaline rush that you're on the edge of your seat.
So the final word for Inception. Awesome. Breath-taking. Revolutionary. Best Movie of 2010. Heavenly.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

Everybody was hyped when they re-released James Bond in Casino Royale. But the only reason they did was because of the Bourne movie series. Paul Greengrass must've heard about the revival of Bond, so he decided to make the best Bourne film to knock the socks out of Casino Royale. That movie is The Bourne Ultimatum, the sleekest, roughest, most adrenaline-filled spy film ever made. This Bourne combines everything you love about the Bourne series and merges it seamlessly into one film. All the mystery, action, and thrills from the last two movies have been built up to this point, where the Bourne series kicks into full gear.
This one opens up in Russia as Bourne barely escapes the KGB. Six weeks later, Bourne is on the move, continuing the search for the men who trained him to be a killer. Bourne tries to evade capture and cover up any information about his past actions. Along the way, he tries to track down men who know about his past. But they just keep getting killed. So Bourne travels to places such as Tangier, New York, and London to hunt down the men who recruited him.
Matt Damon continues to shine in his role as the spy who can't remember a thing. Damon plays his role with a sense of calmness and it adds to his personification as one bad person to get into a fight with. His controlled emotions and incredible knowledge make him a truly believable spy. His aid, Nicky Parsons, played by Julia Stiles, is also very calm through the film, and unlike the last one, she seems more like an actual spy than just another government employee. David Straithaim, as the guy in charge of hunting down Bourne does a fantastic job, as well as Joan Allen, who reprises her role as Pam Landy, the woman originally dedicated to hunting Bourne down. Every other actor or actress feels somewhat real as a person involved in espionage.
The plot of this story is more smooth than in Supremacy and it certainly shows. This game of cat-and-mouse that Bourne is playing with the CIA is very enjoyable to watch, since he does it some darn well. These CIA pros can't seem to catch this guy. He's just that smart. Every scene in which Bourne has to blend in is so entertaining that it makes you wonder why the Bond series hasn't done it yet. The suspense is very high at times.
And then there's the action. The first film was more mystery than action. The second was more action than mystery. In this one, the two are balanced perfectly. The action in Ultimatum is staged beautifully and you believe that 95% of it could happen. Heck, I believed 100% at some points. Paul Greengrass uses the shaky cam less (thank goodness) and it helps this film a ton. It makes the action that must better.
Say what you will about Bond and his enterprise, but not a single Bond film can compare to this movie. The Bourne Ultimatum is just that good.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

After the success of the Spider-Man and the X-Men series, Marvel formed it's own movie company. Their first project was risky. Adapting a famous hero, Iron Man, into a great movie. Well, Marvel succeeded and proved that they were a force to be reckoned with in the movie industry. Iron Man was a fresh change of pace from the dark superhero movies. It was bold, witty, action-packed, and lots of fun from start to finish. Though not completely light-hearted, Iron Man still had a more upbeat tempo than the other two superhero movies that came out that year, The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk.
Iron Man starts off with Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr, being held hostage by Middle Eastern guerillas. We soon discover how it happened, as Tony Stark, the cocky, party man, weapons manufacturing billionaire gets captured after a weapons demonstration in Iraq. As we return to the present situation, we see Stark is being forced into building a missile for these guerillas so they can use it for their own despicable purposes. However, Stark decides to build a suit, a super suit if you may call it, made out of metal and weapons. The suit is a success and Stark narrowly escapes captivity. He is soon found by the US troops and returned to America. Stark though has been morally changed by his experience in Iraq, and decides to stop the production of weapons for the US military. Stark decides to re-build his suit with more advanced technology, and use it to fight crime, terrorism, and anything else that harms the world's infrastructure.
Unlike The Dark Knight, the plot for Iron Man is more simplistic and energetic and provides for a more...entertaining movie. Iron Man balances the dark messages and the fun action brilliantly and it all adds up to just an awesome ride.
The acting is also superb in every way, though the cast as a whole isn't as good as The Dark Knight. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Potts, Tony's assistant and love interest and she plays it very differently than other superhero girls. Jeff Bridges is a great villain and Terrence Howard makes for a great wingman. But like in Pirates of the Caribbean or The Dark Knight, one man steals the whole show. That man is Robert Downey Jr., in a comeback role as Mr. Tony Stark. Downey plays Stark with a rogue charm that makes you laugh and think, "why can't I be like him?". Not only does he handle his casual scenes amazingly, he also plays a very serious guy at times. Between him and Heath Ledger as the Joker, it's been a good year for superheroes.
The action is well-staged, the visual effects are perfect, and all the jokes are funny. These three elements, and much more, make Iron Man the best superhero movie of 2008. Period.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

I needed to see this movie. Why? Well, everyone told me about how good it was and how I needed to see Heath Ledger as the Joker. Now, I didn't get to see this in theaters, but believe me, when I got my hands on the DVD, I was ecstatic. As soon as I could, I watched this movie. And I wasn't disappointed at all. The Dark Knight is a masterpiece, a dark, edgy, entertaining, and action-packed movie that never lost my interest.
The Dark Knight is the second in the new Batman film series directed by movie genius Christopher Nolan. In this one, we see that Batman, played by Christian Bale, is having trouble coping with his life as a vigilante. His soul is conflicted between this life and the life he had before. To make matters worse, the love of his life Rachel Dawes, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal (No, unfortunately, it's not Katie Holmes), is in a relationship with Gotham political figure Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart. Bruce Wayne, Batman's secret identity is being somewhat upstaged by Dent because of Dent's success in ridding the streets of mobsters. Then along comes the Joker.
Out of nowhere, Heath Ledger's Joker strides in and takes the movie by storm. He busts in on a couple of mobsters and proposes a plan to let them re-gain control of Gotham for their own desires. The mobsters disagree, so the Joker is off on his own. His "plan" soon unfolds, as he creates scenarios that cause chaos (emphasis on CHAOS) throughout Gotham. The belief in Batman guarding Gotham is soon shaken and Wayne's faith in himself is also put to the test. And so the movie plays out in this way. the Joker is causing chaos in the street, causing a riot inside everyone's inner psycho being.
The Dark Knight is a brilliant movie. The story twists and turns like an unhinged roller coaster, as the suspense builds to an extent where it literally leaves you breathless. The action is top-notch and it only adds onto the central story surrounding The Joker and Batman. The visual effects are also good, and every element feels like a real thing that could happen.
The acting in this is great. Christian Bake is great, but when he's Batman, he still sounds constipated. Aaron Eckhart is spectacular as Harvey Dent, bringing this smart, honest politician to life in the big screen. Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman both reprise their roles from the first and each one succeeds. And finally, Michael Caine does something as Alfred, the butler. But it's Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel that's a step down. I thought she'd be a bit better than she was. Oh, and also the fact that she looks nothing like Katie Holmes AT ALL.
These elements add up to a great movie. Heath Ledger's performance makes it a classic. Heath Ledger (R.I.P.) gives an unforgettable last performance that did deserve an Oscar. He brings a dark, troubled, and suspenseful feel to the movie that couldn't be done by the Scarecrow in the last film. Ledger's performance is scary, crazy, but most of all, brilliant. He carries a good chunk of the movie on his shoulders.
So, the Dark Knight isn't perfect. Batman's voice still hasn't improved, Maggie Gyllenhaal isn't as good as the rest of the cast, and the movie is a bit too long. But these are minor complaints that shouldn't stop you from seeing this movie as soon as you can.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly.

Another masterful entry into the Steven Spielberg records.

One of the greatest and most effective comedies of all time.

An energetic, action packed triumph that outdoes the first in spectacle and emotion.

The greatest animated movie of all time.

A film triumph, one which shows how the idea of a few men can sweep across a nation.

Think Blade Runner, except lighter, bigger, and faster but definitely not dumber and you have Minority Report.

Before 1996, there was no 3D animation. We had only 2D animation from the minds at Walt Disney and that was about it. Enter PIXAR, an up-and-coming company that made 3D animated short films. They had won Oscars for their work in the movie business. So, Disney hired them to make a full-length movie. Boy did they deliver. And so the historic run of amazing films began with Toy Story, one heck of a masterpiece.

Due to Akira Kurosawa's fabulous direction, Rashomon becomes a tale of human truth and error that can also apply to today's society.

How can a movie with main characters that don't talk for the whole film be good? It's made by PIXAR.

Downbeat but masterful, Bicycle Thieves is a film for the ages.

Mediocre acting can't hold back one of the greatest ideas put on screen; Dark City's moral and visual strength makes it a must see for any science fiction fan.

My introduction to Scorsese is a brilliant one, one with constant twists and turns that form into a cohesive American tragedy.

Is it cheesy at times? Yes. Is it dated at times? Yes again. But as a science fiction film, Planet of the Apes is an interesting, creative, and epic look at a backwards society that has become one of the most famous ideas ever placed on screen.

Stale acting doesn't hold back The Matrix from being a great sci-fi film and a legendary action flick.

While the beginning starts off mediocre, and the acting has a few rough spots, The Terminator ultimately becomes not only a good movie, but a sci-fi classic.

Just as he did with his Terminator franchise, James Cameron amps up the action and thrills in this second entry to the Alien saga.

A cunning, thrilling, and realistic spy thriller.

It never gets old. NEVER.

One of the funniest movies of all time.

When everyone heard about this, they were befuddled. Disney's next idea is a PG-13 film (that's right; PG-13) that is based off a theme park ride. Everybody thought the mega-enterprise known as Disney had run out of ideas. And then everyone saw the movie. And it was amazing. I don't know how they pulled it off, but they made a theme park movie. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is a return to the fun, adventurous, swashbuckling films of earlier times. It hearkens back to when these types of movies were widely produced (the 50s) except with a bigger budget and more advanced technology.
The story goes like this. Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley, lives on a Caribbean island as the governor's daughter. She has it all; wealth, respect, and a planned marriage to a naval officer, Admiral James Norrington, played by Jack Davenport. But secretly Elizabeth does not like her lifestyle and would rather live a more carefree lifestyle. She also secretly has a deep affection for Will Turner, a blacksmith's assistant, played by Orlando Bloom. Will also has a passion for Elizabeth, so he is disappointed that she is in a higher social class.
Enter Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp. He's a pirate who enters on a sinking boat and tries to steal a new one. While at port, Jack sees Elizabeth fall into the ocean (you'll see how) and he saves her life. But the British still arrest him for being a pirate. That night a black pirate ship attacks the island in search of something. While they're looting, they capture Elizabeth. Will tries to save her but gets knocked out cold. When he wakes up the next morning, the village is in ruins and Elizabeth is gone.
Elizabeth is brought upon the pirate ship, known as the Black Pearl, and she meets the captain, Barbossa, played by Geoffrey Rush. Elizabeth strikes up a deal with Barbossa for her freedom, but after the deal is done, it's broken. So she is now a hostage on a pirate ship. Meanwhile, Will is desperate to help save Elizabeth, so he enlists Jack's help. Jack soon agrees and is broken out of jail by Will. The plot soon is formed into one. See, the crew of the Black Pearl has been cursed by Spanish treasure and they are all turned into skeletons who can't feel. So they need all the treasure back to break the curse. Following them are Jack, Will, first mate Gibbs, played by Kevin McNally, and a rag-tag crew behind them.
The story is straightforward yet somehow very complex. Complex in the way that there is so much going on at once and it's going so fast you can't understand at some points. You will be breathless at the end of the film, but it's all in good fun. And the pacing is just right for a movie of this genre. Every action scene is staged very well and is full of life.
The visuals in this movie are bright, vivid, and perfect for the time period. Each ship looks so real and the characters look the period they live in. The skeletons are good, but sometimes they look kind of phony. But it won't matter because you'll be hooked into the movie's plot.
Now to the acting. Every actor in this movie shows life, wit, and humor. Whether it's Zoe Saldana as the girl crew member with an attitude, Jonathan Pryce as the formal, civil governor, or Jack Davenport as the disciplined military officer, each supporting actor does fantastic. Orlando Bloom does a great job in this movie (the sequels, not so much) and he is the hero of this movie. Keira Knightley shows lots of life in this film and she is more than just a damsel in distress. Now, Geoffrey Rush plays a great villain. He is perfect as Barbossa. But all these actors are overshadowed by Johnny Depp.
Johnny Depp carries this whole film. Without him, this movie would be standard blockbuster fare. Johnny Depp plays Jack with such wit and humor that he eliminates every flaw in this movie. His character, I dare say is one of the greatest of all time.
So, because of Mr. Depp, Mr. Rush, great characters, and a thrilling plot, Pirates is a winner. A must-see movie that's full of life and charm.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

This movie wasn't just heartwarming, it was heartbreaking. It wasn't just happy, it was sad. And it wasn't just great, it was spectacular.

Funny, original, and downright entertaining, Aladdin is my favorite Disney film to date that's non-PIXAR related. Oh, and how about that genie. AWESOME.

The best movie of 2011. An ingenious idea executed perfectly by director Duncan Jones.

If you grew up in my family, you'd be assured two things. One: Christmas is celebrated at the grandparent's house, and two, you would watch the Music Man at least once a year. If I could choose the one movie I grew up with, this would be it. I've known these songs, these characters, and numbers ever since I can remember. And you know the scary part? I hadn't seen it all the way through until this past year. Crazy, right? What's also crazy is the fact that I can name every musical number in this movie (well, maybe that's not fully true, but it's pretty darn close). Now, you think I'd grow to flat-out HATE this movie. That is not the case. The Music Man is truly one of my all time favorites in fact.
The Music Man is based off a 1957 Meredith Wilson play, also named the Music Man. It stars Robert Preston reprising his role as Professor Harold Hill, who he portrayed in the play. Harold is a smooth-talking salesman who can dance, sing, charm, but most of all persuade. He's made loads of money because of his personality, but he's basically a fraud. He sells bands, boys bands, to small towns, claiming that the town will have, well, their own band. Problem is, Harold doesn't know a thing about bands. So, he leaves town after the payments come in.
Harold's next stop is in River City, Iowa (or as they like to say ioWAY) to sell another boys band. His plan works perfectly at first, but things are bumpy. The mayor, Shinn, played by Paul Ford, is onto his case and he sends the Buffalo Bills to get his papers (The singing Buffalo Bills, not the football team). Harold also encounters the lovely Marian the Librarian, played by Shirley Jones, who happens to see through his fraud. Harold and Marian soon develop feelings for each other, all while Harold's plan tries to stay afloat.
The story of The Music Man is a well told one, one with life, charm, and energy. Many musicals try to capture such energy, but The Music Man has so much life and spectacle that it's hard to not enjoy it. I'm not a musical fan, but I enjoy singing along to these ridiculously catchy tunes. The songs in the Music Man are unforgettable. Once you hear 76 Trombones, it will never leave your head. Marian The Librarian is a great number. And let's not forget that we have trouble (oh we got trouble) right here in River City (right here in River City), with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool...
And if these songs weren't enough, the acting is just as good. Robert Preston is PERFECT as Harold Hill. His life, his energy (I use these words a lot), and most of all his wit are unmatched by any performer. Every time he's on screen, you can't help but smile. His counterpart, Shirley Jones, plays off with him perfectly. While Harold is big and enthusiastic, Shirley's character, Marian, is quiet and down to earth. She brings Harold back down to the ground with such ease, that it's hard to believe that she's acting. The rest of the cast is also perfect. Buddy Hackett as Harold's right-hand man Marcellius is a great fit, Pert Kelton is a great motherly figure, and Paul Ford, well, is amazing. Ford's comedic timing and personality make his character, Mayor Shinn, one of the film's brightest spots.
Now here and there, flaws do occur. The movie is a bit long, and the music becomes tiresome. Some character traits are really annoying (example: Susan Luckey's character will not stop saying, "Eegads!"), and the villain is not that menacing. But these flaws are awfully minor compared to the pluses this film offers.
So, if you haven't grasped it yet, The Music Man to me is a masterful film. it is one that will literally have you stand up and dance, one that will leave melodies stuck in your head for years, and one that you will want to watch again and again.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

While not as good as Raiders, The Last Crusade is one heck of a good time.

Dr. Strangelove isn't as funny as people claim it to be. However, it exceeded my expectations in every other category, meaning this film is quite extraordinary.

The definitive action movie, but it also serves as a great Christmas movie.

Animation before 2002 was mostly clean, sanitized fun. But then came Shrek. Shrek was a game-changer in the animation genre and was one of the movies that spawned the animation renaissance of the 21st century. It brought heart, humor, story, pop culture jokes, and parodying into animation. It was a brand new take on the fairy tale genre and spawned many ripoffs and sequels (Well, the second was good). Shrek also spawned the rise of the animation department in Dreamworks (for better or for worse).
So, I've raved so much about this movie, what's it about? Well it all starts once upon a time in a swamp. There lives a big, green ogre named Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers. Shrek lives his live as a loner, a creature who everyone fears and attacks. And Shrek seems to enjoy it. One day, while taking a stroll, he comes across a donkey who's name is...Donkey. He is voiced by Eddie Murphy. Donkey is about to be put in captivity for his fairy tale qualities and he begs Shrek to help him. Shrek reluctantly does and Donkey follows him home. Shrek tries to kick him out, but Donkey remains. That night, fairy tale creatures, from the Seven Dwarves to The Big, Bad Wolf show up at Shrek's swamp for refuge. Shrek is furious and he demands an explanation. It turns out Lord Farquaad, voiced by John Lithigow, is capturing fairy tale creatures and locking them up. Shrek, not wanting these creatures in his swamp, decides to visit Farquaad to negotiate terms.
When he arrives, he shows up in the middle of a contest. Farquaad doesn't have a wife, and he wants to save a princess named Fiona, voiced by Cameron Diaz. The contest is to see who is to dave her. When Shrek defeats the competitors, Farquaad strikes him a deal. Save the princess and the fairy tale creatures will be moved. Shrek agrees and, with Donkey in tow, the two go out to save Fiona. And there's your plot.
Now the acting in this is great. The four major actors are all magnificent in their roles. John Lithigow plays a great villain, Cameron Diaz is great as the damsel in "distress", and Mike Myers plays a great villain turned hero. But it's Eddie Murphy's Donkey who steals the show. Eddie Murphy found his dream character in a fast-talking, wise cracking equine who is funny as all get out. Every time Donkey is in a scene, it's bound to be good. Also, I compliment any other actor in a minor role for bringing life to this movie.
The story is very straightforward. Save the princess. Except they parody it so well, that you feel like it's an actual fairy tale. The big, ugly creature gets a chance to prove himself to the world. We've seen it many times before, but not quite like this. Oh, and they're no side plots to distract you from the central story.
The animation in this is also great. It feels very fairy tale like, with a bit of cartoonish charm in it. They way they handled Shrek and Donkey's facial emotions is so good, that every emotion feels real.
Now, there are some minor problems to this film. The pop culture references do get annoying at points, and the relationship between Shrek and Fiona doesn't get fully fleshed out. But other than that I have no complaints.
So Shrek isn't the greatest animated film of all time. But with it's wit, charm, heart, story-telling, and acting, it's near the top.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

Dreamworks cuts out the pop culture references and still makes a great animated movie? Unbelievable.

American Graffiti is a brilliant time capsule, but what makes it a brilliant movie is that it blends in messages that even teens of today can relate to in their own life.

PIXAR scores again. How do they do it?

An awesome and enthralling look into the mind of a Vietnam veteran.

Though it cuts some good parts from the book out, To Kill A Mockingbird is still a great and innovative film which stood up to the prejudice of the 1960s and did what no other movie could at that time; attack racism.

Why did the aliens land on earth in the first place? Why should we care? ET is a magical ride for children and adults alike, mixing heartfelt messages and poignant imagery into a seamless whole. ET is pure delight, even if it is corny at points.

Lively, enchanting, and down-to-earth, Beauty and the Beast is a triumph for Walt Disney.

A Disney classic full of story, heart, and spectacle, even as the conspiracy with Kimba the white lion rages on.

It truly is a wonderful life, and this movie proves it.

This is an action movie done right.

Triumphant, heart-warming, and inspirational, Rocky is an American landmark of cinema that remains the ultimate in underdog stories.

A surprisingly original and all around awesome action film, featuring a badass Kurt Russell and the great prison of New York.

Thank god it wasn't a musical. That's what the film looked like in the beginning. Instead, Duck Soup is a gutbustingly hilarious look at the folly of government and leadership.

Bill Murray strikes again in this hilarious, heart-felt, and revolutionary comedy.

It runs too long in the end, but the complete experience of Cast Away is one not to be missed.

How a sequel should be made.

This gets five stars just for how many times I quote it. Then there's the fact that this movie is so popular, it's been parodized not once, but multiple times.

A fun, epic, and fully magical movie that stands as one of the greatest fantasy films ever made.

I dare you to tell me that you weren't hyped when you saw the trailers. The marketing of Cloverfield is the greatest in history. No clips, no pictures, no title; just a freaking scary trailer and a couple of rumors. Now when this was released, people were mixed. Some thought it lived up to the hype. Some thought it didn't. Some people hated the movie. Me? I LOVE THIS MOVIE. It is genius in my opinion. Many people hated the shaky camera, but I loved how they used it. The story was well-paced, the characters were memorable, and the monster was AWESOME. So what is Cloverfield about? It's quite simple...
Cloverfeld is a film directed by Matt Reeves and produced by the now famous director, JJ Abrams. The story centrals around a group of 20-something, whoopee I'm out of college New Yorkers who are having a party (This is the bad part of the film) when suddenly, BOOM, power outage. When the power returns, everyone's watching the news, seeing that an oil tanker fell into the river. As the group goes up to the roof to inspect the incident, something explodes downtown and launches some projectiles. As the friends escape, the Statue of Liberty head is thrown at them.
While New York is being evacuated, Rob Hawkins, played by Michael Stahl-David, receives a phone call from his good friend Beth, played by Odette Yustman. Beth has been trapped in her apartment building and needs help. So, being a complete moron (I'm sorry, this is courageous, but stupid) Rob gathers some friends and family (Jason Hawkins, played by Mike Vogel) to save Beth.
Now the plot is somewhat original, but it's basically the American Godzilla (The 1998 Godzilla doesn't count). It would've been more interesting in Chicago or Los Angeles, but then again there's no Statue of Liberty in those cities. What makes the story work, however, is the format they present it in. This shaky cam makes you feel like you're part of the chaos (well to me it does) and gives you a sense of suspense. Speaking of suspense, the scares in this movie are actually scary. They make you jump, if not out of your seat.
The actors are all minor actors, but they do a fantastic job of bringing these New Yorkers to life, though Odette Yustman doesn't do much at all except be "the distressing damsel". Their performances aren't brave heroes, they're just simple New Yorkers trying to save a life (And they're no 9/11 references! I think.)
So, if you get headaches easily, pass this up. If you hate monster movies, don't watch. But if you enjoy new forms of filmmaking and a tense, action packed, scary thrill ride, you'll love the heck out of Cloverfield, just like I did.

Rating: 10 out of 10: Heavenly

A depressing, yet brilliant tale that constantly surprises through superb cinematography and a haunting score.

Ice Age. One of my all-time favorite animated movies.

The moment Potter went dark.

Coolest. Animated. Movie. Ever.

This is the way parody movies should be made, cough cough, VAMPIRES SUCK, cough.

The romantic comedy is Hollywood's most hated genre. This must be an exception.

The first 2 hours are golden. The remaining time stretches out too far, but it still manages to be relevant and intriguing.

I can't believe it's taken me this long to see a Woody Allen movie. What is wrong with me? He's a freakin' genius.

Star Trek has never been my favorite sci fi series, but one has to respect The Wrath of Khan for the risks it takes and the villain Khan himself. Mix that in with moral dilemmas and some solid action and you have yourself a great science fiction film and the best Star Trek movie ever released.

A thrilling, engaging film with awesome performances by Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones.

You know when people say you should see a movie twice...this is one of those movies. One viewing can't justify this film. It's insanely complex, and I give it credit for that. But for the moment, I'm still scratching my head onto how to judge this movie. A second viewing is required.

In the end, it is Claude Rains haunting and chilling performance that carries The Invisible Man, a brilliant suspense and sci fi film.

Come on, it's Dumbo for cryin out loud!

Compelling, engrossing, and most of all thrilling, North By Northwest is a classic film, but it doesn't seem to hold up against Hitchcock's other works.

A genius reinvention of the famous Star Trek movies.

A welcome return to form for the Batman franchise, which reinvents the Caped Crusader like never before.

This beat Rocky and Raiders of the Lost Ark and Rear Window and Blade Runner? It's a great film, but come on. It's not that great.

While the film has an obsession with blowing crap up, Akira still manages to be wonderfully weird and creative with wonderful animation.

A quintessential summer blockbuster that's never been matched in charm and originality.

Serenity is what the Star Wars prequels should have been. Fun and well-acted but with a fair amount of darkness and philosophy to keep it from being goofy.

Some of the greatest song and dance numbers are present in Singin' in the Rain. Yes, they may add up to nothing, but the pure enjoyment they bring is worth watching.
Note: This got #5 on the AFI Top 100. BULL$%#&. It wasn't THAT great.

A grand, sweeping epic with great acting and a straightforward plot is what makes Mutiny on the Bounty such a fun, exciting piece of film.

The best animated movie of 2011. Funny, smart, and well-acted, this movie is better than many modern westerns.

Great, but a bit too much action.

Compelling, entertaining, and thought-provoking, Rise of the Planet of the Apes` is a summer blockbuster that stands above the rest. Andy Serkis gives my favorite performance of 2011 in this prequel that adds on to the original story.

One of the all time greats? Maybe not. But Modern Times is still a rousing, humorous look into the lives of American people in the Industrial Age.

If you can survive the first 10 minutes and the repetitive score, you have yourself a grand, funny Civil War adventure.

Worthy of such high praise? Not quite. But Chaplin's heartwarming tale of good deeds and city life is one that is a must see for any film fan.

James Bond finally gets some testosterone after he lost it in Die Another Day.

The Road Warrior starts off as a weird actioner that has some punch. It's the last half hour in which The Road Warrior finally kicks into gear and lives up to its name.

Blending the light and the dark of the Western genre with ease, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid becomes a classic western that stands the test of time.

A spectacular western and anti-war film, Josey Wales is a great introduction to the legend, Clint Eastwood, himself.

Dark, emotional, and action-packed, Spider-Man 2 is a Marvel winner on all levels.

Awesome, heartwarming, and genuinely funny on all levels, Despicable Me is a wonderful film that you'll remember for a long time.

A true American comedy.

A different, yet all together fun adaption of the worlds greatest detective, all thanks to the chemistry of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

Under the sea...under the sea...

It might not quite hit the target, but Silent Running has a great message and a real sense of isolation to make it a great science fiction film.

A fun, lively, hilarious romp from Dreamworks Animation.

One reason why this isn't five stars. Tunnel from Hell.

Not as good as Shrek, but a great movie in it's own way.

People were ticked when they heard they were remaking the 1969 John Wayne movie based off the Charles Portis book. But now that I've seen this movie I have to say it's not that bad. In fact, it's very good.

This is an amzing sports film. One of my all time favorites.

A contemporary costume drama., fueled by phenomenal performances from Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush

Great, but minor flaws keep this movie from being on par with it's predecessors.

A hysterical, adult comedy that has an honest, American feel to it.

Once again, this is a hard film not to like, isn't it?

Well yeah it's one of the first films ever made. Hard not to like, isn't it?

Hey what can I say. It's a classic.

More mature, more developed, and better acted, Order of the Phoenix continues the trend of great Harry Potter movies.

The hills are alive with the sound of music...

I can see why this was a hit. Ghost combines horror (what little of it it has), romance, and comedy into a movie everyone can enjoy.

A funny, action-packed movie that thoroughly entertains. But why does it have to be so disgusting?

Gutbustingly hilarious. Seriously.

It's pure harmless entertainment, yet it's also hysterical, heartwarming, and fun for the whole family.

People of all ages rejoice. The Muppets are back and they bring laughter and teardrops behind them.

Not a PIXAR masterpiece, but a great film nonetheless.

In 1999, Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released to big box office numbers and the hatred of fanboys everywhere. George Lucas had apparently lost his touch, had turned something so loved as a series and buried it under a mile of crap.
In 2002, Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones was released to big box office numbers and lukewarm reaction. Fans were still disappointed but people thought it wasn't nearly as bad as The Phantom Menace.
In 2005, Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released. And everyone shut up...for the opening scene at least.
Yes, Revenge of the Sith is the prequel we all wanted, one with a solid story, dark overtones, and gigantic action sequences. Yes, Hayden Christensen still couldn't act and the rest of the acting wasn't Oscar-worthy, but George Lucas knew that's not what fans wanted. Fans wanted Star Wars action. Fans got Star Wars action. And that satisfies me. Even if I'm not a fanboy.

A clever, funny movie that doesn't resort to bad jokes just to get a laugh. Oh and there's also a pretty good story too.

This is the most entertaining screwed-up family film of all time, all thanks to Danny Boyle's unconventional style.

A tense, masterful first half isn't quite given the payoff it deserved in the second half, but Close Encounters does provide a good, insightful ride that features the coolest mothership in movie history.
Note: This review is for the original 1977 version.

This world renowned, critically glorified, and historically controversial French film, The Rules of the Game, is one of the biggest disappointments I've come across in a long time. Don't get me wrong, I love the satirization of the upper class and the engaging love circle surrounding Christine, but the film's climax is dull, its major side plot is so-so, and the film's first half seems to drag on and on.

Flawed yet funny, Sullivan's Travels is a great movie, but it falls short of classic status.

Thrilling, tense, and fast paced, Pelham 123 is a showcase for its two leads, Travolta and Washington, who are brilliant.

An entertaining film that captures that spirit and essence of Shakespeare's (somewhat) original play.

For those of you who found Inception too confusing, avoid Primer at all costs. For anyone else, check it out. It's one of the greatest time travel films ever.

A very good return for the All American Hero.

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is such a bad a--! More than Bond, less than Bourne.

Half of it's a sappy romantic movie, half of it's an escapist movie. I enjoy the escapist part a lot more.

The drama, the action, and everything else has been improved.

Sleek and stylish, even if it's a bit flawed.

Once again, it's just a classic children's film.

Likable leads, solid jokes, and a crazy premise make Planes, Trains, and Automobiles more than just your average comedy.

Let the awkward situations commence!

Somebody needs to build this invention, because it will stop world hunger.

It's definitely not a classic, but Princess and the Frog is a fine addition to the long list of Disney animated films.

A holdiay classic full of cheer, goodwill, and a great performance from Will Ferrell.

Apollo 13 works when in it's action sequences. When it tries to create drama, the stoic acting and forced melodrama drag what could've been a masterpiece down to a solid historical film.

I don't quite get why this is hated so much. It is quite frankly, better than two-thirds of action films released today.

Loud, fast, and one heck of a fun ride from beginning to end.

An entertaining period drama.

This is the most offsetting movie in history. We have one of the greatest tales in cinema ever in Forrest Gump's tale. And then we have the depressing, demoralizing tale about Jenny. Nonetheless, this is a great movie, but I expected more.

Funny as heck, even if it lacks a big heart.

Slow and tedious to start, but once the Andromeda Strain kicks into gear, it becomes an engaging, entrancing, and rigorous movie about the paranoia of an unknown disease.

If you can survive the sugar coated first half, you'll find that the second half of West Side Story is truly a dark love story that has a semi strong message about gang violence and racism.

Critics give this one a lot of bad buzz. I actually loved this movie, even if it had it's flaws.

A fun, entertaining superhero movie, even if it lacks emotional depth.

Who knew we had such technology in the 1940s. Wow. So Captain America, Marvel's next piece of the Avengers. Captain America was one of Marvel's original superheroes. In fact, in one comic he punched Hitler himself. So how do you transform a Nazi killing hero into a PG-13 movie? Well, Marvel did just that. And they did it very well.
Captain America has a simple plot. Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, is a shrimp. He wants to help defend the USA in World War II, but he is to small to enlist. While at a science exhibition with his best friend, Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stan, he tries to enlist again. There he gets his shot to join the military as part of a super soldier project, made by Dr. Abraham Ersinke, played by Stanley Tucci. Rogers soon gets shipped off to boot camp, and he is chosen as the lucky winner to participate in the project because of his smarts and courage. Rogers successfully becomes the super soldier and becomes Captain America. This story tells how he tries to stop Johann Schmidt or Red Skull, played by Hugo Weaving, from bombing the major cities in the world. Along the way he is helped by crusty, old general Chester Phillips, played by Tommy Lee Jones, and the feminine tough girl Peggy Carter, played by Haley Atwell.
The story is as straightforward as it gets. Evil man wants to take over the world, superhero tries to stop him. It's very easy to follow. But that's what makes this film so great. Unlike other superhero films of the 21st century, Captain America just kicks back, relaxes, and becomes just pure fun. Each action scene is handled well and they are all awesome to watch. But the action isn't all that's good. The story is handled in such a simplistic way, the ending almost has a certain twist to it, which I won't tell you.
Chris Evans was the lone shining point of the Fantastic Four films, so here, in a good movie, he shines as Captain America. Hayley Atwell is also great along with Dominic Cooper as the father of Iron Man, Howard Stark. Every other main character though is either slightly good or just ok. Tommy Lee Jones is good, but he feels too stereotypical. Sebastian Stan is also good, but he has no emotional development whatsoever. And how this movie misuses the acting talent of Hugo Weaving. This villain is about as two-dimensional as villains get. He just wants to conquer the world. Hugo Weaving is such a great actor, and he has been in so many villainous roles that you think they would craft a great character for him. But no.
The visual effects are spectacular and equal the ones used in Thor. But the technology they have in this era is so...surreal. They use submachine guns, but they have god-like death rays. They have regular foot soldiers, yet they also have a formula that turns people into He-Men. The technology is cool, but it makes the film seem goofy at times when it could be serious.
All in All, I enjoyed this movie. It was fun, lighthearted, and action-packed. I wish there was some moral depth to fill it in, but for a movie that was rushed for the Avengers, I can't complain too much.

Rating: 8 out of 10: Great

A true martial arts movie, complete with awesome action pieces, and loud, over the top screaming.

One of my childhood favorites.

One heck of a good time.

I've grown to like this.

Great, but not amazing.

Hysterical, yet the plot undergoes a massive overhaul from the last one.

John Cusack gives a winning performance in this funny yet flawed action comedy.

Aardman delivers once again, as The Pirates is a wonderfully animated, incredibly witty comedy that is sure to delight all who enter the theater.

The movie has improved, but some flaws remain.

Way over the top, but thoroughly enjoyable.

Fun, but not as good as the first.

PIXAR's weakest film...until Cars 2...still worth watching though.

A convincing, heartfelt, and hilarious look at a kid's life "back in the day."

Bolt! Aaaahhhhh! Savior of the Universe! Buh buh buh BUH!

A magical, entrancing, and fun movie that outshines its flaws.

Harry starts off well, even if the actors are a bit underdeveloped.

A lot of people fall down big drops in this movie.

A great time for the whole family.

Sky High is one of Disney's live action triumphs, combining heart, humor, and action into one great, if flawed kids film.

Awesome.

It points the middle finger at McDonald's way too much, but it has good reason most of the time. Super Size Me is a startling, yet honest look at an American way that we should, and have tried, to put an end to.

Goofy, wild, and political, The Gods Must Be Crazy is a solid comedy that relies on its silliness to thrive.

It's semi-gratuitous in its usage of sex and gore. But in the end An American Werewolf in London shines due to its well constructed narrative and it's offbeat sense of humor.

Not as strong as other films of the Disney Renaissance, but Tarzan still manages to be an entertaining and heartfelt film filled with lovable characters and big action sequences.

Some segments are good, some segments aren't so good, but all in all, Melody Time is a worthy addition to the Disney timeline, as it still has some wonderful animation and lovely music to back it up.

Flawed, but loads of fun.

Is it as good as other Disney fairy tales? Well, no. But Tangled does have its moments, and has a great story and solid characters.

A fun holiday movie that shines through due to its wit and family friendly charm.

A very inspirational, yet somewhat cliched movie that shines through it's characters.

A conventional, yet inspiring debate tale that has a great performance from Denzel Washington.

Proving that claymatian is still around and better than ever, Wallace and Grommit is a lively romp that never shortens on story because of humor.

I'm not one to judge chick flicks, so I judge by acting. The acting in this is great.

A lighthearted, environmentalist romp that is sure to have the female audience saying, "Awww...they're so cute."

Yeah...it's a movie about giant ants...that's about it.

Enjoyable, but really loud and pointless.

THIS is the ultimate board game movie. Not Jumanji.

A return to form for the great American hero, but it still lacks the down to earth feel of the first film.

Things to Come is a film for the eyes. Story-wise, it lags and is incredibly disorganized. However, it is very prophetic and with a good beginning and a great ending to back it up, Things to Come is a solid, if not great science fiction film.

Soylent Green is a good movie. It's doesn't seem to strive for anything more however. Which is a shame, because it had the potential to.

Frankenstein's success is based on its monster. While visually the movie gets it right, it can't decide whether to sympathize or fear this creation, meaning that this movie falls short of greatness. But what Frankenstein gets right is near everything else, including the characters, cinematography, and atmosphere.

It's the A Team for the elderly, but it has more life, character, and humor than its counterpart.

It's no masterpiece, but Narnia is good in it's own way.

Enjoyably downbeat, this adaption of the classic play is a solid movie, led by a strong performance from Liam Neeson.

Same review as the first.

Will Smith is fantastic, and that dog...holy cow. But those zombies are kind of fake and the ending sucks.

A good film, yet it feels too kid-friendly at corny and points.

Who knew that rag dolls could make a good sci-fi movie?

Guns are more powerful than Kung Fu, unless you have inner peace.

A great tale of obsession, but it gets ridiculous in the last quarter.

It's still good, but it's incredibly overrated. Masterpiece my $#%.

Panned by critics, enjoyed by me.

Liar Liar is a good movie. I'm not lying.

Fun, zany, yet not as emotional. Why is that?

The offspring of Bond.

How did this become a good movie?

A good family film with lots of heart.

SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!

Good, but not as revolutionary or as smart. Kind of over the top actiony.

While it's nothing to get excited over, Scrooged is a pretty good film with many good laughs.

Oh if those penguins weren't in this movie, this would've been a failure.

Biggest product placement. Ever. But somehow, Real Steel isn't metallic as it sounds, bringing us a down to earth underdog story that has heart and action.

Confusing, cliched, yet enjoyable. All thanks to Sandra Bullock.

Solid, animated action fare.

While not as innocent as the book series, Curious George still is harmless and is great fun for little ones.

The most depressing dinosaur movie of all time, but it still manages to entertain.

Though the ending is what the heck, the rest is pretty good.

Smart to a certain extent. Then it goes into the action.

Surprisingly downbeat, yet very enjoyable.

A solid superhero movie, but compared to the other comic book movies of 2008, it's disappointing.

Boring and predictable, yet penultimately uplifting, La Misma Luna is the type of film that makes you go, "Meh."

It's fun at times...and that's about it.

The Martians invade!

The first half is awful, the second half is great.

TRON has a solid idea and groundbreaking SFX going for it, but it lacks in its storytelling and it's character development.

It's predictable from start to finish, but at least Invincible manages to make that journey a fun experience.

Your basic action-heist film that's loaded with style.

I expected more. A lot more.

It serves it's purpose. It's a big screen version of the tale we know and adore. But did it have to be so drab and boring?

It's the Goonies 2! Except this time with aliens! Don't believe me? Well let's take a look at the main characters...they're all 12 year old kids. We have the fat, obnoxious kid, the crazy, obsessive kid, the awkward, tall kid, the girl, and the leader who is shorter than almost everyone. They are the Goonies of the sci fi world. Still, I thought this would be a much better movie than this.
The first teaser trailer for this movie was awesome. It looked a bit like Cloverfield, except not as scary. Also, it came across as an original monster movie. That's not what this movie is. This movie is just a tribute to Steven Spielberg, the producer of this film, from JJ Abrams, the director of Super 8.
The plot is this. Joe Lamb, played by Joel Courtney, has a not-so-happy life. His mom died in a factory a year earlier and he hasn't gotten over it yet. The only happiness he seems to have are his friends, who are shooting a zombie movie to enter in a film festival. His dad, Jackson Lamb, played by Kyle Chandler, is against this, but Joe continues with the movie. One night while filming, the kids witness a train crash that is the equivalent to trainpocalypse. After the crash, the kids begin to question what they saw as mysterious disappearances of dogs, car engines, and people occur. While Jackson Lamb, the town deputy, investigates these disappearances, Joe is dealing with his emotions toward his dad and the girl member of the group, Alice Dainard, played by Elle Fanning.
The acting in this movie ranges from ok to very good. Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning have the two best performances in the film and they carry the emotional weight of the film, which is very little. Kyle Chandler does a great job with the detective part of the story, but he will can't seem to act as a dad. Noah Emmerich plays his character as just a stereotypical military tough guy with no other emotion. Ron Eldard plays Alice's dad and he does a good job. Every other actor is given something to do, but isn't utilized as well as they could've been.
The story of this movie is just a Spielberg tribute, it's original, yet it isn't at the same time. I could name references to E.T., The Goonies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and even a non-Spielberg film, Cloverfield. I thought this plot would be more engaging, yet it never fully developed into what it could've been. This movie had a build-up that started great and slowly descended downwards from good to so-so.
The visual effects are used well when they are needed and the whole 70s atmosphere is caught perfectly. Also, the trainpocalypse is one of the best special effects scenes of the summer. I would pay just to see that. But I expected the monster to be...scarier.
Overall, Super 8 becomes a Spielberg film, and not necessarily a great one. But if you ignore the references and just look at the film, it's not great, but it's good enough. J.J. Abrams has better work out there, but this isn't that bad. Super 8 was good fun and is better than a handful of films out there.

Rating: 6 out of 10: Fine

Slightly over the top, but overall, it's a fun ride.

While far from the best interpretation of Robin Hood, Ridley Scott's version does have some credibility of it's own, including some great political drama and action sequences. But the love story fails. BIG TIME.

Special effects? Great. Characters? Great. Story? Well...not so much.

A beautifully animated film with tons of action, but it lacks a compelling story or involving characters.

Half of this is a full-throttle awesome action ride. The OTHER half is the worst love story put on film.

A fun action film with a few major flaws, most notably in the pacing.

It's heart is in the right place, but slow pacing and a lack of characterization hold Brother Bear from becoming a classic Disney film.

An improvement over The Lost World. However, it still lacks the heart and story that made the first so great.

Silly yet enjoyable.

The epitome of over the top action.

A split decision. One that's charming, yet dull at the same time.

It's a fun ride, but it relies too heavily on potty jokes.

Well...I found some enjoyment out of this.

Praises all around for Tim Burton's creativity, but his story is "meh," and it hasn't aged well at all. Beetlejuice just makes the cut due to its likable characters, however.

A solid kids film that is weird, funny, and wildly imaginative.

While it's nothing special, Men In Tights has just enough laughs to keep it all afloat.

I think the little kid in this movie, Joey, is this movie. It's a film so wrapped up in how good it is, it fails to realize that it's not all that great.

For all it's creativity and action, this version of Shakespeare's tragedy doesn't hold up. We don't feel for these characters. The dialogue is horribly out of place. And the films center is on violence instead of love. Romeo + Juliet has its bright spots, but it isn't consistent enough to be a good film.

Nicholson's great and all and that first half is wonderful, but the second half drags on and on, and the movie loses its charm because of it.

The Hunger Games is a film of anticipation. It is a film that builds and builds to something that is supposedly savage and terrifying. All this anticipation is put to waste in the disappointing second half that kills all the impact the film has left on you.

The gags are so-so and the story never reaches it's full potential.

I don't care how good John Wayne is, or how good the finale is, the rest of this movie is mediocre, with shaky acting, horrible pacing, and the lack of a true sense of grit.

This is an angry movie.

Alice, Alice. Time for your regular remake. Of course. This time by, you guessed it, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp (they're a team now).

Westworld itself isn't a bad place. It's too bad that half of the movie consists of subplots not involving Westworld. Or that nothing really happens until two thirds of the way into the film.

Cool visual effects and a solid story can't make up for lousy writing and annoying side plots and characters.

I don't know what it is, but I seem to enjoy this movie. To a certain extent. Afterwards, I realize that this movie isn't that funny.

Funny, yet completely inconsistent.

This movie is right smack dab in the middle. It has potential to become more, but settles for less.

A mediocre movie that doesn't follow the book in the slightest.

Oh so close...

After a thorough re-watching and re-examining, this third entry into the Pirates series doesn't hold up. It's endless plot holes and stale acting cloak the big action sequences and offbeat humor that made the series so great in the first place.

The chemistry of Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace saves Lockout from being truly terrible. Needless to say, Lockout still has a boring story, bad villains, and a ton of implausibility to back it up.

Weird as all get out, but mostly harmless.

Definitely not as good as the first, but it will entertain your children.

Ah The Mummy, the silliest, most over the top impersonation of Indiana Jones I've ever seen.

This movie isn't good. But it isn't awful.

I remember this faintly, and it never was great in my opinion.

Well...kids will enjoy it.

PIXAR has been known for creating great animated movies and just amazing films. So when they fail it's really heartbreaking. But they haven't failed. Until now.
Cars 2 has broken PIXAR's winning streak. How? Well let's explain the story first.
Cars 2 opens up like a spy movie. More specifically, a James Bond movie. We see Finn McMissile, a British car agent voiced by Michael Caine discovering a terrorist plot to take down famous racing cars. After an amazing action sequence, Finn escapes and moves on.
Next plot. Lightning McQueen, voiced by Owen Wilson, has returned after winning another Piston Cup (his fourth). His best bud, Mater, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, is excited to see him. But Lightning wants to cool off with Sally, voiced by Bonnie Hunt. While trying to sneak into McQueen's date, Mater sees a news report on the World Grand Prix, created by an eco-maniac billionaire, Miles Axelrod, voiced by Eddie Izzard. On the show, a competitor, Francesco Bernulli, voiced by John Turrtoro, badmouths McQueen. Mater defends his friend, and McQueen has to interfere. This event drags McQueen into the World Grand Prix. So Mater, McQueen, and the pit crew back their bags and head off to Japan.
Here the spy story and racing story collide. While in Towkyo (ha ha not funny) Mater gets involved in the spy business with Finn and his partner Holly Shiftwell, voiced by Emily Mortimer. How? You'll see. So the whole story splits in two, with McQueen trying to win the Grand Prix while Mater tries to help McQueen by fighting spies.
This story is way too complicated for a PIXAR movie. PIXAR has been known for nice original stories that have one plotline, not multiple. Having two to three different plots throws the whole movie off. I managed to stick with it, but it wasn't enjoyable.
Owen Wilson, in my opinion is so-so. McQueen is given nothing to do though except race and make one-liners. Mater, however is the focus, and the creators do a good, if not great job of portraying him as a spy. Every other actor does good, but they don't do anything except get blown up or say jokes. Props to Michael Caine, though. He was awesome
The animation is beautiful, and the action is staged well. But, I never cared for the plot or characters like I did for the first one. I would've enjoyed seeing a Cars movie without the Radiator Springs cast. I would've loved to see Finn and Holly kick some car...butt.
Overall, Cars 2 was a disappointment. It could've been so much more, yet it relied on the Dreamworks strategy of over-marketing. I recommend it to any kid, but anyone 13 and over will probably lose interest. Fast.

Rating: 5 out of 10: OK.

It's a chick flick, one that says, "Anyone can be royalty!" Bah humbug.

Osmosis Jones is such a wildly inventive movie; it's a shame that it's buried underneath endless gross out jokes and annoying characters.

Funny at first...and then it becomes a standard gross out comedy.

Sloppy action sequences and a poor storyline kill Eagle Eye in the end.

I still don't get it...how was a stuffed bunny key to the survival of a civilization?

This movie is screwed up in so many ways I can't explain. Sorry Burton, this doesn't pass.

It fails to rise above mediocrity.

Well it's sweet...that's about it.

Giant Moles. Are you kidding me? Giant MOLES?!?!?

Silly and poorly acted, Logan's Run doesn't live up to the promise of the clever ideas it presents.

Fantastic Planet has fantastic artwork and scenery...which makes it so aggravating that it also has stale acting, stinted animation, and out of place scenes.

Despite a wickedly clever premise, Surrogates fails to live up to its potential due to bad writing, lousy action, and numerous plot holes.

This has got to be the most screwed up movie I've ever seen.

I'm sorry, but I can't enjoy this. Watching these two actors play off each other is like watching paint dry. It's stale, it's boring, and it doesn't add up to anything.

A ridiculous premise and an overlying sense of predictability bring down Rookie of the Year until the final out.

Mr. Popper's Penguins could've been a nice family film, but it's buried underneath cliches, bad jokes, and penguin poo.

Well it started spectacularly. Then it committed suicide.

Well...let's face it. I didn't enjoy this.

Um...okay...a zebra races in the Kentucky Derby...right...

Well...I never did love this movie, but I didn't hate it. It was just there.

It must've taken a lot of time, money, and effort to make such a mediocre movie.

Zzzzzzz...huh what?...the movies still on?...oh ok...I'll try to watch...zzzzzzzzzz

It is beautifully animated, but it lacks many things, including a good story, likeable characters, and most importantly, a sense of fun.

It was becoming a great movie. Then they kicked a dog off a bridge. And the movie went downhill.

Not nearly as entertaining as the first.

Well it wasn't THAT bad...

The Spy Kids series should have been over one movie ago.

I loved the book, and when I saw the movie, I was completely let down.

Yeah...this movie wasn't that great.

At first, it seemed fine. Then it all went downhill...

Every genre has this movie. One that has the parts to be good, but it fails to on every level.

At some points it seemed ok. But most of the time, it wasn't good at all.

Do you remember this movie? No? Didn't think so.

A big disgrace.

When dinosaurs get beaten by gymnasts, you know you're movie's messed up.

Stupid as all get out and only somewhat fun.

Dinosaurs? Really?

I liked it more than the original, but this movie is still not that good.

With the exception of the Doolittle and Bomb 20 confrontation, Dark Star is a lame, annoying spoof of 2001.