Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

As movies keep making money on each sequel that are produced, the quality usually ends up suffering. This is where the more money the film costs, not necessarily the film will be better. I have to admit that this wasn't the case with "Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol". This franchise actually improved.

In this 4th installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team, Benji (Simon Pegg) and Jane (Paula Patton) are racing against time to find a dangerous terrorist, Hendricks (Michael Niqvist) who has obtained access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning an attack on the U.S.

As the IMF team tries to stop the terrorist and his cohorts at the Kremlin, an explosion occurs. At this point, the IMF becomes implicated in the bombing which causes the President to invoke Ghost Protocol: a process whereas the IMF is disavowed with no assistance or backup at anytime. This doesn't seem to effect Hunt and his team, which now includes Brandt (Jeremy Renner) as they chase Hendricks to Dubai, Mumbai and other elaborate locations. After all this chasing, they still may be too late to stop a global disaster.

Considering all the animated films he's directed, this was well helmed by Brad Bird ("The Iron Giant" '99, "The Incredibles" '04, "Ratatouille" '07). This guy certainly has a future for more features in the live-action category. The pacing in this was at a rapid speed, which is crucial for this type of film and Bird nailed it! It was well penned by Jason Appelbaum and Andre Nemec based on the TV series, "Mission: Impossible" by Bruce Geller. As with the other installments, this one still had the theme music originally created by Lalo Schifrin for the TV series, and this just made it. I was raised on the TV series and the theme was, in my opinion, an intregal part of the series.

The visual effects were predominantly created by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) and were seamless. You know, the same guys the did the visuals for Star Wars. Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry Potter films, Jurassic Park, Transformers, Twilight Saga, Super8, etc. So this company definitely knows their stuff.

If you want pure fantastical escape with action, adventure, explosions, visual effects with a decent script and story, this mission, should you choose to accept it, is a winner. This review will self destruct in 10 seconds. Good luck people.

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                       Rated: PG-13                      133min.

The Adventures of Tintin

Steven Spielberg has got to be one of the best storytellers of our time. Even though he directs, they way he paces his work, the way he handles his actors in precarious situations adds to the storytelling. This is definitely true when it comes to "The Adventures of Tintin".

This is the story of a young lad, Tintin (Jamie Bell) who buys a model ship, the Unicorn at a market for a pound. This purchase really intrigues Tintin when, right after his purchase, a gentlman named Sakharine (Daniel Craig) insists on buying it from the lad at any cost. When Tintin refuses, he eventually kidnaps Tintin and his wonderful dog, Snowy and they board a ship bound for Morocco at the court of a sheikh, Ben Salaad (Gad Elmaleh), who also has a model of the Unicorn.

Sakharine, meanwhile, has manipulated mutiny against its drunken captain, Haddock (Andy Serkis), so he, Tintin and Snowy escape arriving in Morocco. Haddock ends up spilling his guts about his ancestry 300 years ago whereas Sir Francis Haddock was forced to battle the original Unicorn when attacked by Sakharine's ancestor, pirate Racham. But he managed to save some of his treasure and carefully provided clues with three scrolls hidden in three model Unicorns of its whereabouts. Will Tintin, Haddock, Snowy and help of the Thompson twins (Nick Frost and Simon Pegg) from Interpol be able to obtain all three scrolls before Sakharine?

Others to round out the cast are Daniel Mays as Allan/Pirate Funk #1, Toby Jones as Silk, and Enn Reitel as Nestor/Mr. Crabtree.

This was brilliantly directed by Spielberg ("Duel" (TV movie) '71, "Sugarland Express" '74, "Jaws" '75, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" '77, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" '81, "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" '82, "The Color Purple" '85, "Empire of the Sun" '87, "Jurassic Park" '93, "Schindler's List" '93, "Amistad" '97, "Saving Private Ryan" '98, "Minority Report" '02, "Catch Me If You Can" '02, "The Terminal" '04, "War of the Worlds" '05, "Munich" '05, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" '08, "War Horse" '11) and many others. As aforementioned, by his very resume, one can see how this guy was so influential when it came to the storytelling. Spielberg is truly an entertainer.

It was creatively written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish which was based on the comic book series "The Adventures of Tintin" by Herge. I have to believe that Spielberg had a certain amount of script input, because this story, many times, just has you on the edge of your seat, and this is a definite trademark of Spielberg's. It did jump around a slight bit, but not enough to take away from the roller coaster ride at hand.

The visual effects were created by Weta Digital, Ltd. (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and was handled with absolute seamlessness and realism. Looking at some characters makes you think, at a glance, that they are real and not animated, which makes one look twice. This is truly a wonderful film for all to see, young and old alike. It has all the elements of a classic: adventure, excitement, danger, great storytelling, and equally great effects all presented in 3D and IMAX. No matter what your age is, you will leave the multiplex feeling a little bit better than when you arrived, and isn't this what being entertained is all about?

Out of 4 stars: 4                          Rated: PG                        107min. 

Young Adult

Just the other week, I was thinking: "What has happened to Charlize Theron; what is she up to?"  Well my question has been answered, and it's in the form of "Young Adult", not that I thought she fell off the end of the Earth.

Mavis Gary (Theron) is a successful writer of young adult literature who, shortly after a divorce, returns to her hometown, Mercury, Mn., outside of Minneapolis, with a dual mission: to relive her glory days and steal away her now-married with a new baby high-school sweetheart, Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). However, her mission doesn't go exactly as planned. and she finds her homecoming more problematic than she expected. Instead, Mavis forms an unusal bond with a former classmate, Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt), who has also found it difficult to move past high school.

Others to round out the cast are Elizabeth Reaser as Beth Slade, Buddy's loving wife, Collette Wolfe as Sandra Freehauf, Matt's lonely, insecure sister, Jill Eikenberry and Richard Bekins as Hedda and David Gary, Mavis' parents, Mary Beth Hurt as Jan, and Louisa Krause as the front desk girl.

This was painstakingly well directed by Jason Reitman ("Thank You for Smoking" '05, "Juno" '07, "Up in the Air" '09). This guy doesn't have a lot of films in his resume, but the films he has done have been high-quality. He proves that quantity doesn't always equate with quality. His pacing in this to keep you on that edge is well crafted. This was equally well written by Diablo Cody ("Juno" '07, "Jennifer's Body" '09, "Tight" (video short) '10). She definitely deserved her Oscar for best screenplay directly written for the screen for "Juno". This film has that same feel to it, except this was a little more dramatic than Juno. Don't get me wrong, they both were comedy/drama, but the comedy is more subtle.

Theron has proven herself as a talented actor what with her Oscar for best actress for "Monster", but in this, she has proven she can equally perform comedy, even if it is subtle. Her transformation from feeling she is just an insecure, manipulative, sociopathic, husband-stealer to this incredibly hurt, insecure, lonely, individual was not only well crafted, writing wise, but equally carried out as far as Theron's acting ability was concerned. The wring and acting surely will be nominated for Oscars this year.

This is not a warm and fuzzy feeling film, but if you are seeking out talented acting, well-crafted writing and directing along with an interesting story including hurt, discovery, self-loathing, fear, self-absorption, and the like, you'll really get into this one.

Out of 4 stars: 4                        Rated: R                          94min.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Robert Downey Jr. seizes to amaze me. He is one of the the select few actors I would and could see in any film and, at least, be somewhat entertained because he was in it. Not very many others I could say that about. This is definitely the case with "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows", although I did like this film.

When Austria's crown prince is found dead, evidence seems to point to suicide. However, detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) deduces that the prince was murdered and that the crime is but a piece of a puzzle designed by an evil genius named Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson (Jude Law), who are accompanied by a gypsy (Noomi Rapace) whose life Holmes saved, and at times Holmes' brother, Mycroft (Stephen Fry), chase Moriarty across Europe in the hope that they can thwart his plot before it can come to fruition.

Others to round out the cast are Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, the first accomplice to Moriarty, Kelly Reilly as Mary Watson, Paul Anderson as Colonel Sebastian Moran, and Eddie Marson as Inspector Lestrade.

This was richly directed by Guy Ritchie ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" '98, "Snatch" 2000, "Swept Away" '02, "Revolver" '05, "Suspect" (TV movie) '07, "RocknRolla" '08, "Sherlock Holmes" '09). This guy can take what would seemingly be an ordinary story or plot and put just enough grit and quirkiness to keep your attention until the end. This was written by Michele Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney based on characters: Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This was slightly long-in-the-tooth, but was still intriguing enough to grab you, however it could've easily been confined to a 2 hour running time and still would've been fine.

The photography will surely be nominated come Oscar time, but considering the veteran Philippe Rousselot, afc/asc ("Hope and Glory" '87, "The Bear" '88, "Dangerous Liaisons" '88, "Henry & June" '90, "The Miracle" '91, "A River Runs Through It" '92, "Sommersby" '93, "Interview With the Vampire: The Vampire's Chronicles" '94, "Mary Reilly" '96, "Instinct" '99, "Remember the Titans" 2000, "Planet of the Apes" '01, "Big Fish" '03, "Constantine" '05, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" '05, "THe Brave one" '07, "The Great Debaters" '07, "Sherlock Holmes" '09, "Peacock" '10, "Larry Crowne" '11) shot it, it's no surprise of its expertise. The gritty shots coupled with the slow motion process was simply brilliant and certainly added to the feel of the story.

If you want to go to a film and just be purely entertained with great visuals and photography, not to mention, having fun with Downey as he and others run around Europe, you will revel with this. Just to see Downey doing something he is having fun with is certainly worth the price tag.

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                         Rated: PG-13                         129min.

New Year's Eve

As I've mentioned in other write-ups, romantic comedies aren't my favorite type of comedy, but once in a while, I feel I should give them a chance. As with the case of "New Year's Eve", it was not a great film, but certainly was a much better film than I would have ever expected.

New Year's Eve celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts. This chronicles different couples and singles' intertwined stories which are told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year. Can these individuals find all things they need to find in order to make their lives worthwhile in the confines of one New Year's Eve?

Cast alphabetically: Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris 'Ludicris' Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Hector Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Aston Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Til Schweiger, Hilary Swank, and Sofia Vergara.

This was well directed by veteran director Garry Marshall ("The Flamingo Kid" '84, "Overboard" '87, "Beaches" '88, "Pretty Woman" '90, "Frankie and Johnny" '91, "Dear God" '96, "Runaway Bride" '99, "The Princess Diaries" '01, "Raising Helen" '04, "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" '04, "Georgia Rule" '07, "Valentine's Day" '10) with very much the same feel as "Valentine's Day". But considering Marshall also directed Valentine's Day and Katherine Fugate wrote both this and Valentine's Day, it's certainly no shock. Fugate also wrote "Carolina" '03 and "The Prince and Me" '04.

One can't help but feel comfortable with this seasonal film with a cast that works well off of one another, thanks partly to Marshall's direction. There is some jumping around, script-wise, but I guarantee you'll leave the cineplex feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

Out of 4 stars: 2.5                        Rated: PG-13                     117min.

My Week with Marilyn

Biopics are usually a safe bet for a high-quality film. As with past films, such as "Walk the Line", "Moneyball" and "J.Edgar", this proves that concept. "My Week with Marilyn" just proves that concept once again with a well acted, directed and written film that will leave you in awe.
Film student Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), an employee of Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) documents the tense interaction between Olivier and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) during production of "The Prince and the Showgirl" which is being shot in England's famed Pinewood Studios back in 1956.

Olivier struggles to meet Monroe's many demands and acting ineptness, whereas Colin is intrigued by her. Colin's intrigue is answered when Marilyn invites him into her world where she struggles with fame, her beauty and her desire to be a great actress. 

Others to round out the cast are Dominic Cooper as Milton Greene, Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh, Dougray Scott as Arthur Miller, husband of Monroe, Zoe Wanamaker as Paula Strasberg, Monroe's overly protective acting coach, Emma Watson as Lucy, Toby Jones as Arthur Jacobs, and Judi Dench as Dame Sybil Thorndike.

This was incredibly well directed by Simon Curtis whose resume consists of all TV. As well as this was directed, Curtis certainly has quite the future in feature films where he will be in demand. This was equally well written by Adrian Hodges based on the books, "My Week with Marilyn" and "The Prince, the Showgirl and Me" by Colin Clark. It was incredibly insightful for Clark to chronicle his experiences with Marilyn and the production, because it definitely made for a perfect subject matter to make a film. What pains me is to realize how troubled Marilyn Monroe was. Her 'baggage' perpetually got in her way.

Come Oscar time, the film, Williams, Branagh and possibly Redmayne could be looking at nominations. Certainly costumes, art direction and photography will be looking at nods. If you are looking for a high-quality, well acted and artfully done film, this will fit the bill. For crying out loud, Michelle Williams even does her own singing. I'm telling you, one could shut their eyes and swear they were hearing Marilyn Monroe herself. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Out of 4 stars: 4                     Rated: R                        99min.

Arthur Christmas

One can tell this is the Christmas season in that we have seen a plethora of animated films, and not just animated, but seasonal animated. As with the case of "Arthur Christmas", you can tell Hollywood is trying to cash in on the holiday profits just as Madison Avenue does every year.

This story reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the center of the film is a story of a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur (James McAvoy), with the help of Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) and elf, Bryony (Ashley Jensen) who embark on an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawn due to a major screw up by Santa (Jim Broadbent) and Steve (Hugh Laurie), who runs the operation.

Others to round out the cast are Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Santa, Marc Wootten as Peter, Steve's kiss-ass assistant, Laura Linney as the North Pole computer, Eva Longoria as Chief De Silva, and Ramona Marquez as Gwen.

For a director who has no feature film experience, but a ton of TV experience, Sarah Smith really excelled in this category. The emotion that was emitted and the pacing of the film was veteran quality. Equally, the writing by Peter Baynham and Smith was executed well, with the exception of a few inconsistencies.

The animation by both Sony Pictures and Aardman were seamless and exuded that look you'd expect from a Christmas-type film, so it just puts you in that mood to enjoy and have fun with. The 3D effects were good, but not necessarily needed, but if you have them mixed with the clever animation, it just makes the 'ride' that much more fun.

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                  Rated: PG                        97min.

The Descendents

George Clooney is kind of a hit and miss for me; maybe it's the projects he chooses, however not one of my faves. But with the recent "The Descendents", he really excelled well here. He has done other worthy films, such as "Good Night, and Good Luck", "Syriana" and "Up in the Air", but he simply shined in this.

With his wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie) on life support after a boating accident, native Hawaiian islander land baron, Matt King (Clooney), takes his daughters, Alexandra and Scottie (Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller) along with Alexandra's friend, Sid (Nick Krause) on a trip from Oahu to Kauai to confront the young real estate broker, Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard), who was having an affair with Elizabeth before her misfortune.

Others to round out the cast are Beau Bridges as Cousin Hugh, Judy Greer as Julie Speer, Brian's wife, Matt Corboy as Cousin Ralph, Matt Esecson as Cousin Hal, Michael Ontkean as Cousin Milo, and Mary Birdsong and Rob Huebel as Kai and Mark Mitchell, Matt and Elizabeth's friends.

It was directed with incredible detail by Alexander Payne ("The Passion of Martin" '91, "Citizen Ruth" '96, "Election"'99, "About Schmidt" '02, "Sideways" '04). It was written by Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash. What makes this script is not the plot necessarily, but how the plot is treated. It's basically about infidelity, but the slant is one of the people is now in a coma and the one that was cheated on inadvertently found out she was cheating and now is bound and determined to find the other man perhaps for morbid curiosity, not sure. This change on an old plot idea makes it quirky and very different.

If you liked "About Schmidt" and "Sideways" you'll like this. Of course, Payne also involved with these films, makes them similar in many ways. The one difference in this and Schmidt and Sideways is that "The Descendents" is a drama with comedic overtones, whereas the other two films were both basically dramedies. Payne has definitely hit the nail on the head when it comes to bringing the dysfunction out in his characters. The only other filmakers that are as talented in this arena are the Coen Brothers, which are about as quirky in their filmaking. This is not a film for all audiences in that the comedy, when presented, is extremely subtle, so don't look for a film you can hardily laugh at, instead look for a film you can sink your teeth into for its pure quality.

Out of 4 stars: 4                      Rated: R                           115min.

Hugo

Martin Scorsese ceases to amaze me with his next project considering he usually directs such heavy-handed material, but with "Hugo" he continues to surprise me with his expertise at being able to pull off the unexpected.

Set in 1930's Paris, a 12 year-old orphan, Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father (Jude Law) and an automaton. Hugo's job is to maintain the station's clocks, but to him, his more important task is to protect a broken automaton and notebook left to him by his father. Accompanied by goddaughter, Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz) of an embittered toy merchant, Georges Melies (Ben Kingsley), Hugo embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of the automaton and find a place he can call home.
As mentioned above, this was directed by the incomparable Scorsese ("Mean Streets" '73, "Taxi Driver" '76, "New York, New York" '77, "Raging Bull" '80, "The King of Comedy" '83, "The Color of Money" '86, "Goodfellas" '90, "Cape Fear" '91, "Casino" '95, "Gangs of New York" '02, "The Aviator" '04, "The Departed" '06, "Shutter Island" '10) and many others. How he gets his actors to express themselves as they do with amazing character changes is pure genius. This was written by John Logan based on Brian Selznick's book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret".

Others to round out the cast are Sacha Baron Cohen as Station Inspector, Ray Winstone as Hugo's drunk Uncle Claude, Helen McCrory as Mama Jeanne, wife of Georges, Emily Mortimer as Lisette, Michael Stuhlbarg as Rene Tabard, Frances de la Tour as Madame Emile, and Richard Griffiths as Monsieur Frick.

Scorsese utilizes a lot of the same people to assist him with his projects and Sandy Powell as costume designer is no exception. She has desiged costumes for the likes of "The Miracle" '91, "The Crying Game" '92, "Michael Collins" '96, "Shakespeare in Love" '98, "Far From Heaven" '02, "Gangs of New York" '02, "The Aviator" '04, "The Departed" '06, "The Other Boleyn Girl" '08, and "Shutter Island" '10. She will be looking at a nomination for her work here I'm sure.

The cinematography of Robert Richardson, asc ("Platoon" '86, "Wall Street" '87, "Born on the Fourth of July" '89, "JFK" '91, "A Few Good Men" '92, "Natural Born Killers" '94, "Casino" '95, "Nixon" '95, "Wag the Dog" '97, "The Horse Whisperer" '98, "The Aviator" '04, "The Good Shepherd" '06, "Shine a Light" '08, "Shutter Island" '10) and many others was simply perfection. The extreme lights and darks in this just added more of the richness this film already exuded. This film too, will be nominated for an Oscar.

If you decide to see this on the large screen, definitely view it in 3D. It only adds to the story and the amazing visuals this film has to offer. This is a great 'ride' for one and all for the pure adventure and entertainment factor that will keep you glued to your seat.

Out of 4 stars: 4                      Rated: PG                          126min. 

The Muppets

What started as a small act on a program called "Sam & Friends" shown after the 11 o'clock news in Washington D.C., and subsequently went on to monopolize the Sesame Street program in 1969, has ended up being the entity we have loved since most of us were young. This is of course, is Jim Henson's "The Muppets". The reason Henson created these puppets was to get on TV, and that he succeeded ten-fold! This incarnation is one of many Muppet movies, but the first one in a number of years.

When 3 Muppet fans learn that Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) wants to drill for oil under the Muppet Theater, Gary (Jason Segel), Mary (Amy Adams) and Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) set out to find the Muppets who have been split up for years-- Kermit (voiced by Steve Whitmire) lives in his own mansion in Hollywood all the while depressed, Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goetz) ia a high-class plumber at Gonzo's Royal Flush, Fozzie (voiced by Eric Jacobson) performs with a tribute band called The Moopets, Miss Piggy (voiced by Eric Jacobson) is the plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, and Animal (voiced by Eric Jacobson) is at a celebrity anger management rehab center in Santa Barbara. Because of a contingency in the Muppet's deed to the theater, if a certain amount of money isn't paid by a certain deadline, the deed then goes to Richman.

Others to round out the cast are Rashida Jones as Veronica Martin, voice of Bill Barretta as Swedish Chef, Zach Galifianakis as Hobo Joe, Emily Blunt as Miss Piggy's receptionist, Alan Arkin as Tour Guide, and Jack Black as himself.

This was well directed by James Bobin who is a virtual newcomer to feature films. But considering the Muppets come from a huge TV background, which Bobin comes from also, it was a great fit for this TV veteran. It was written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller based on Jim Henson's brilliant and alive characters. The plot wasn't what I would call original, but I can't help but think that this was purposed, because the whole idea was to bring the Muppets back for a new generation to enjoy. Plot became unimportant as much as seeing Henson's creation intermingling once again on the silver screen, and that alone is worth the price of admission. This film is a film that will be enjoyed and honored by one and all for many years just as with the past projects. Com'on it's The Muppets!

Out of 4 stars: 4                           Rated: PG                       98min.

Happy Feet Two

I guess if the production companies are going to throw animated flicks at mercilessly, the holiday time is, at least, a more forgiving time to do this to us. As with others that are coming up, we have "Happy Feet Two", a sequel to, you guessed it, "Happy Feet".

Mumble (Elijah Wood), the penguin, now called the Master of Tap has an unusual problem: his son Erik (Ava Acres) is reluctant to dance. He obviously didn't pick up that dancing gene. Being embarrassed, Erik runs away from home and encounters The Mighty Sven (Hank Azaria)-- a penguin who can fly. Poor Mumble can't compete with Erik's unusual new role model.

But when the world is shaken by powerful forces, otherwise known as global warming, Erik gets a chance to see his father's true colors as Mumble gathers all creatures great and small, including a fellow peguin, Ramon (Robin Williams) and Brian the beachmaster (Richard Carter) to set things right again so as to free half the penguin nation from peril.

Others to round out the cast are Alecia Moore as Gloria, Mumble's partner, Brad Pitt as Will the Krill, Matt Damon as Bill the Krill, Robin Williams, who reprised his role as Lovelace, Sofia Vergara as Carmen, Benjamin 'Lil P-Nut' Flores Jr. as Atticus, and Common as Seymour.
This was equally well directed as the original was by George Miller ("Mad Max" '79, "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior" '81, "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" '85, "The Witches of Eastwick" '87, "Lorenzo's Oil" '92, "Babe: Pig in the City" '98, "Happy Feet" '06). It was written by Warren Coleman, Gary Eck, Paul Livingston, and Miller. This basically is where the problem lies with this project. The script just kept meandering from a global warning message to saving the penguins in peril to a father and son trying to bond. One can have all these elements in a film and succeed, but the script was too disjointed for this to be the final outcome.

This film was certainly visually stunning as with the first installment. Point being: if you liked the original "Happy Feet", you undoubtedly like this equally well. It's just a shame that the screenplay couldn't have been more cohesive considering all the the great messages it was trying to get across under the banner of entertainment.

Out of 4 stars: 2.5                    Rated: PG                            100min.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1

Movie franchises in and of themselves usually become weaker as they are produced. However, in the case of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-- Part 1", It actually was somewhat better, more than likely because it's a continuation than a sequel.

At last, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) are getting married. Wow! What a shock! When Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) finds out that Bella wants to spend her honeymoon as a human, he is horrified-- for Edward's passion could accidentally kill her. Bella does indeed survive her honeymoon, but a new complication arises when she discovers that she's pregnant-- and the child is growing at an alarming rate. The pregnancy sets the wolves against Bella and Edward, but Jacob vows to protect his friend at all costs.

Others to round out the cast are Billy Burke as Charlie Swan, Bella's dad, Peter Facinelli as Dr. Carlisle Cullen, Edward's dad, Sarah Clarke as Renee, Gil Birmingham as Billy, Jacob's dad, Elizabeth Reaser as Esme Cullen, Kellan Lutz as Emmett Cullen, Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale, Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale, and Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen.

This was effectively directed by Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters" '98, "Kinsey" '04, "Dreamgirls" '06) which is what made this installment anything palatable. It was written by Melissa Rosenberg based on Stephenie Meyer's novel, "Breaking Dawn".

As with the other installments, the demographic mostly involved here was targeted toward young girls and their 'soccer moms'. It was nothing more than an episodic TV show lengthened into 2 hours. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a total wash. What started out as a slow, agonizing pace of a plot, became a lot more exciting film as it progressed. I know a film has to build suspence, but com'on, this was a little long-in-the-tooth. They easily could've cut to the chase a little quicker and still not miss a beat.

This had some nice visuals, special effects make-up, and sound effects which helped, but if you're looking for a script that actually has some meat to it, this Twilight will just twinkle away into obscurity.

Out of 4 stars: 2.5                       Rated: PG-13                      117min.

Immortals

Fantasy films are always something you want to see on the huge screen, if for no other reason, than for the incredible visual effects strewn throughout the lavishly produced epic. This definitely pertains to "Immortals".

This is yet another good vs. evil film in that after the evil Titans were thrown into an impenetrable 'cage' within the walls of Mount Tartaros by the Gods. Enters King Hyperion (Mickey Roarke). He is bent on destoying mankind, so he conjures up an army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand to scorch Greece to find the lengendary Epirus Bow. This bow is a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares (Daniel Sharman). So only he who possesses the bow can unleash the Titans, so this would be a way for Hyperion to unleash destruction on mankind.

The people's only hope, secretly chosen by Zeus (Luke Evans), is Theseus (Henry Cavill), a peasant, who also is a great warrior. Rallying a band of fellow outsiders-- including visionary priestess Phaedra (Freida Pinto) and cunning slave Stavros (Stephen Dorff)-- this one hero will lead the uprising, or watch his homeland fall into ruin and his Gods vanish into legend.

This was certainly well directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar ("The Cell" 2000, "The Fall" '06) and by his very resume, he excels well at extravagant over-the-top fantasy productions. "The Cell" was certainly an interesting and very visually stunning film. This definitely follows suit. It was written by Charles Parlapanides & Vlas Parlapanides.

The visual effects predominantly by Prime Focus, Modus FX, Image Engine, and Rodeo FX were absolutely stunning and seamless. This was the best part of the film, which, I'm sure, is a lot of the reason why it was made. 

With all objectivity, even though mythology is not all that interesting to me, the story did keep my attention, but as mentioned above, it was truly the visuals that kept me glued to that seat as they will you, too.

Out of 4 stars: 3                         Rated: R                       110min.

J. Edgar

We've all seen biopics before, most recently being the superb "Moneyball", but where that film was more just informational, "J. Edgar" was not only informational, but extremely intense also.

As the face of law enforcement in America for 48 years, J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would've destroyed his image, his career and his life. In his day he was the most powerful man in the world, as the selling slogan of the film dictates, mostly because he had so much information on infuential people that was at his finger tips, being the one that spear-headed the FBI as we know it today and also instituting the fingerprint process forensically.

Even though this man was brilliant, through his domineering mother, Annie (Judi Dench), his right-hand man, Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) and his loyal secretary, Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts), he held on to these secrets with a death grip. Between his personal demons and all the politics going on at the time, it's amazing he was able to hold on as long as he did.
Others to round out the cast are Josh Lucas as Charles Lindbergh, Ed Westwick as Agent Smith, Damon Herriman as Bruno Hauptmann, the one accused of kidnapping and subsequently killing Lindbergh's baby, Stephen Root as Arthur Koehler, who headed up Hoover's forensic lab, Jeffrey Donovan as Robert Kennedy, Ken Howard as Harlan Fiske Stone, Josh Hamilton as Robert Irwin, and Christopher Shyer as Richard Nixon.

This was directed with perfection by Clint Eastwood ("Play Misty for Me" '71, "The Beguiled" '72, "High Plains Drifter" '73, "The Outlaw Josey Wales" '76, "Firefox" '82, "Pale Rider" '85, "Bird" '88, "Unforgiven" '92, "A Perfect World" '93, "True Crime" '99, "Blood Work" '02, "Mystic River" '03, "Million Dollar Baby" '04, "Flags of Our Fathers" '06, "Letters from Iwo Jima" '06, "Changeling" '08, "Gran Torino" '08, "Invictus" '09, "Hereafter" '10) and many more. This man just improves with age. How many people at the age of 81 can pack such a wallop as Eastwood does with his films? Not many, I will guarantee you. This was equally well written by Dustin Lance Black ("The Journey of Jared Price" 2000, "Pedro" '08, "Milk" '08, "What's Wrong with Virginia" '10). With not having a ton of experience under his belt, proves that this guy is truly a natural at writing.

This film will undoubtedly be nominated for several Academy Awards, i.e. Director, Writer, Actor, Picture. Speaking of acting, DiCaprio as Hoover was awe-inspiring. This man is such an under-rated actor. Of course, having the writer and director he had certainly doesn't hurt. Also the make-up of Hoover as old was brilliant and it could be nominated as well.

If you like fine acting, directing, writing, even photography by Eastwood's cinematographer, Tom Stern,afc/asc, you will revel over this. This has got to be one of the best biopics I have seen in a while, although "Moneyball" was superb as aforementioned. It had all the elements one would expect from a well-crafted American film.

Out of 4 stars: 4                       Rated: R                      137min.

Anonymous

One thing I can admire about period films is their ability to tell us a story with superb production values: great costumes, art direction, photography, make-up and music. Certainly "Anonymous" is no exception.

This is a political thriller advancing, if not advocating, the theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans) who penned Shakespeare's plays, set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I (Vanessa Redgrave), and the Essex rebellion headed up by the Earl of Essex (Sam Reid) and the Earl of Southampton (Xavier Samuel), but mercilessly manipulated by the Cecils, specifically Robert Cecil (Edward Hogg). Ben Johnson (Sebastian Armesto) is paid by the Earl of Oxford to insure that no knows that he wrote the plays, especially Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) who is an actor.

Others to round out the cast are David Thewlis as William Cecil, Jamie Campbell Bower as Young Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Joely Richardson as Young Queen Elizabeth I.
This was directed with power by veteran Roland Emmerich ("Joey" '85, "Ghost Chase" '87, "Moon 44" '90, "Universal Soldier" '92, "Stargate" '94, "Independence Day" '96, "Godzilla" '98, "The Patriot" 2000, "The Day After Tomorrow" '04, "10,000 BC" '08, "2012" '09). As his resume dictates, he is the king of big budget, huge production films. James Cameron possibly beats him out.

It was written by John Orloff ("Band of Brothers"-TV mini-series, '01, "A Mighty Heart" '07, "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" '10). I understand the need to shift from past to present in a script, however, this screenplay kind of meandered in spots so as to become a bit confused of what was going on. This affected the continuity of the story where it became a strain to keep up. This guy is certainly a talented writer, so I'm not sure what happened.
Trust me, it's not a bad film, just one that you really have to pay close attention to. Truly, if you like a lavish production, great costumes, production design, music, make-up, and visual effects, you'll revel. The acting, especially by Ifans was simply superb, possibly to the point of an Oscar nod. Who knows?

Out of 4 stars: 2.5                   Rated: PG-13                      130min.

Tower Heist

As I've mentioned before, comedy is my favorite genre. So when I saw my first trailer of "Tower Heist", I thought, Wow! A film I can sink my teeth into and get a great laugh or two. Well, except for a few inconsistencies and implausibilities, it definitely delivered.

This takes place at a very posh high-rise tower owned by one Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), who is a very wealthy business man who, by permission of the top consierge, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller), invests the staff's retirement fund. The one thing Kovacs didn't realize was the fact that Shaw is involved in a huge ponzi scheme and subsequently lost all of the the staff's money including Kovac's. When confronted with this problem, Shaw basically shrugged it off as the staff making a very bad investment and there was nothing he could do. This is all Kovacs needed to hear, because he congregates his staff together to ask if they'll conspire with him to steal their money back from Shaw. Not all agree except for Charlie (Casey Affleck), Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) who is actually a Wall Street victim resident, Lester (Stephen McKinley Henderson), the doorman, Enrique (Michael Pena), and Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe). But how can they mastermind a crime of these proportions? Enters Slide (Eddie Murphy), whom Kovacs runs into on the street. Kovacs propositions Slide about the 'job', because they need a seasoned pro to show them the ropes. Can they really pull it off?

Others to round out the cast are Judd Hirsch as Mr. Simon, Kovacs' boss, and Tea Leoni as Special Agent Claire Denham who tries to get the goods on Shaw.

As aforementioned, the implausibilities insue when this staff is being shown the ropes by a basic petty crook, Slide. Com'on, the staff are obviously not pros and then they bring this small time crook in to assist with a high-profile robbery or heist. This is a bit implausible, but then there wouldn't be a film and this being a comedy, one can get away with it. So Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson wrote a script that was not only funny, but even with the implausible script, you can still forgive, for the fact of the genre: comedy.

This was effectively directed by Brett Ratner ("Money Talks" '97, "Rush Hour" '98, "The Family Man" 2000, "Rush Hour 2" '01, "Red Dragon" '02, "After the Sunset" '04, "X-Men:The Last Stand" '06, "Rush Hour 3" '07, "New York, I Love You" (Segment "Brett Ratner") '09, "Cop House"-TV movie, '09). He definitely has proven time and again that he can handle comedy.
The cast is eclectic, however their chemistry works well off of one another. Broderick as Mr. Fitzhugh was great in that he basically had not much else to live for, because he lost everything in the market, lost his wife, kids, etc. So taking part in a heist just became another thing to do on the 'to do list' for the day. Stiller still played his self-loathing but constantly trying to right the wrongs, and Murphy plays his usual over-the-top performance that Murphy can always pull off.

This is certainly one of the best comedies I've seen in a while, however considering of the poor comedies lately, mostly because of poor writing, this is certainly not giving "Tower Heist" much credit.

Out of 4 stars: 3                     Rated: PG-13                       104min.

Puss in Boots

The "Shrek" franchise couldn't get better than it was. Or could it? Those guys at Dreamworks Animation were brilliant to spawn a spinoff using another character from their stable in the form of "Puss in Boots".

This is a story about the events leading up to to the sword fighting cat's meeting with Shrek and his friends, a prequel if you will. This is about Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) and Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) getting back together again after a long bitter separation, to locate the long missing magic beans so they can plant them, wait for the huge beanstalk to grow so they can climb the stalk to obtain the golden goose that lays the golen eggs. this way they can be rich beyond their dreams. Along the way, they come across Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) whom they agree they could use her help especially in plotting to dupe and overcome the guards of the beans, the giant Jack & Jill (Billy Bob Thorton & Amy Sedaris).

Others to round out the cast are Constance Marie, Puss in Boots' adoptive mom, Guillermo del Toro as Moustache Man/ Comandate, Rich Dietl as Bounty Hunter, and Ryan Crego as Luis.
It was incredibly paced well in its direction by Chris Miller ("Lea Press on Lambs" (short) '88, "Shrek the Third" '07). With this small amount of experience, this guy will make an incredibly talented director. He definitely found his niche. It was very well written by Tom Wheeler based on a screen story by Brian Lynch, Wheeler, and Will Davies which was based on characters created by Charles Perrault.

If you liked Shrek, you'll love this, and who didn't like Shrek? What's not to like? This was clever, witty, colorful, with a great story and it was just killer in 3D. This is pure fun for all who like to be entertained with a great story.

Out of 4 stars: 4                         Rated: PG                       90min.

In Time

Why are all films about the future based in grim, sad, troubling, and unfulfilled premises? Maybe they make for more interesting films, or maybe the writers want to see what we have now as something to cherish, so they make the future uncertain at best. As with the case of "In Time", this premise seems to follow suit.

In the not-too-distant future people have been engineered to stop aging at 25 years. And also being engineered to live only one more year, money no longer becomes the currency. In its place time becomes the commodity which people would kill and die for to obtain, so it's possible for their lives to last longer. The rich, with all their time, can theoretically live forever, whereas the rest, who don't have as much time, try to negotiate for their immortality.

A poor, young man, Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) comes into a fortune of time through a man, Henry Hamilton (Matthew Bomer), who's tired of living so long, but isn't able to save his mom, Rachel (Olivia Wilde) from her imminent fate. Because of surveillance cameras, the police, known as timekeepers headed up by Raymond Leon (Cillian Murphy), is on Salas' tail for suspicion of murder. So Salas grabs a hostage, Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried) who is the daughter of Philippe Weis (Vincent Kartheiser), a rich corporate man which becomes a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.

Others to round out the cast are Johnny Galecki as Borel, a co-worker/buddy of Salas', Alex Pettyfer as Fortis, a gang leader who steals time from people, Collins Pennie as Timekeeper Jaeger, and Bella Heathcote as Michele Weis, Philippe's wife.

This was cleverly written and directed by Andrew Niccol ("Gattaca" '97, "S1mOne" '02, "Lord of War" '05). It is an interesting premise in that instead of there being some sort of monetary currency, there is time, but considering the fact that most people are engineered to last about 26 years, one can see how time would become extremely valuble. There were a few inconsistencies in the script, but all in all a very interesting plot. Before I saw this, I thought this might be similar to 1976's "Logan's Run" where one's life ends at age 31. When one becomes 31, a group comes looking for you to 'terminate' you. In this film, when you run out of time, which is indicative by electronic numbers on your forearm, you immediately drop dead where you stand.
If you like sci-fi, especially a film with an original premise, literally a race against time itself, you will love this film. It's kind of like a dream where you wake up and say, oh it was just a dream. Don't worry, with all the grimness, you can say after the film, oh it was just a movie.

Out of 4 stars: 3                    Rated: PG-13                      109min.

The Thing

You know, I had no idea that this week's films were remakes, until I started writing my review. Really!! I know it sounds difficult to believe, but it just turned out that way. Now with the remake of "The Thing" it was just a higher tech, more CGI and more graphic type of film than its predecessor, John Carpenter's 1982 version of the same name.

Paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers as they're infected, one by one, by a mystery alien from another planet. Paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has traveled to the desolute region of Antarctica, by invite of Dr. Sander Halvorson (Ulrich Thomsen) for the expedition of her lifetime. Joining a fellow scientist, Adam (Eric Christian Olsen) and a Norwegian team that has stumbled across an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice, she discovers an organism that seems to have died in the crash years ago. But it is about to wake up.

When a simple experiment frees the alien from its frozen prison, Kate must join the crew's pilot, Carter (Joel Edgerton) to keep it from killing them off one at a time. And in this vast, intense land, a parasite can mimic anything it touches and will pit human against human as it tries to survive and flourish as with any living thing.

Others to round out the cast are Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Jameson, another pilot, Paul Braunstein as Griggs, Trond Espen Seim as Edvard Wolner, Kim Bubbs as Juliette, Jorgen Langhelle as Lars, Jan Gunnar Roise as Olav, Stig Henrik Hoff as Peder, Kristofer Hivju as Jonas, Jo Adrian Haavind as Henrik, Carsten Bjornlund as Karl, and Jonathan Lloyd Walker as Colin.

As aforementioned, Carpenter's 1982 version was way ahead of its time, visually and special make-up effects which were created by Rob Bottin. The special make-up effects in this version were by the creative team of Alex Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., and they were stunning. Coupled with the visual effects predominantly by Mr. X,inc., this version soared. But as far as the intensity, which this was, I felt the '82 version just edged out the 'keeping you on the edge of your seat' feeling.

This was directed by virtual newcomer Matthijs van Heijningen, and considering his lack of experience, this guy is going places. His pacing, lighting and intensity can only get better. I've seen seasoned directors with less quality. It was written by Eric Heisserer based the short story, "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell Jr.

If you're going to see this, better to see it on the large screen for the incredible effects. However, if you've seen the '82 version, and you go to see this, I can't help but think that you will be yearning to see the other version shortly thereafter. 

Out 4 stars: 3                      Rated: R                        103min.

The Three Musketeers

How many times has "The Three Musketeers" been rehashed over and over again? A bazillion times at least, however this one is definitely a better cut of the different incarnations. I really didn't think that Dumas' story could be improved on until I saw this rendition.

D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman) leaves home in rural France to fulfill his ambition of becoming one of the king's elite guardsmen, the Musketeers. In Paris he meets Athos (Matthew MacFadyen), Porthos (Ray Stevenson) and Aramis (Luke Evans)--- three of King Louis XIII's (Freddie Fox) finest swordsmen, who have been laid low by Milady De Winter's (Milla Jovovich) betrayal as a double agent. D'Artagnan rallies his new friends to foil Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz) and the Duke of Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) which plot to overthrow the monarchy and crown himself, Richelieu, king of France.

Others to round out the cast are Til Schweiger as Cagliostro, Juno Temple as the Queen, Mads Mikkelsen as Rochefort, Richelieu's General in charge of finding the Musketeers, James Corden as Planchet, servant of the Musketeers, Gabriella Wilde as Constance, D'Artagnan's love interest, and Carsten Norgaard as Jussac.

This was directed with such intensity coupled with just the right amount of humor by Paul W.S. Anderson ("Mortal Kombat" '95, "Event Horizon" '97, "Soldier" '98, "Resident Evil" '02, "AVP: Alien vs. Predator" '04, "Death Race" '08, "Resident Evil: Afterlife" '10). This is becoming a trademark of Anderson's which usually works for the type of films he's famous for. It was written by Alex Litvak and Andrew Davies based on Alexandre Dumas' novel "Les Trois Mousquetaires".

The production was lavishly done while not taking away from the principal story at hand. Even the visual effects by Mr. X,inc. and Rodeo FX were cool but, again, not totally over the top. This is a film all can enjoy. It's not totally overhauled as being 'original', but the ride will be just as fun.

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                    Rated: PG-13                      110min.

The Big Year

This year has certainly been a lackluster one for comedies. With the extreme exception of a few this year, most have been mediocre at best or I didn't bother because they just looked as though they would be a waste of time. However, with "The Big Year", I got a lot more than I thought I would get out of it.

Three avid bird watchers, technically called birders, Stu Preissler (Steve Martin), Brad Harris (Jack Black) and Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) converge on January 1st to compete in the prestigious event titled 'The Big Year' which runs a calender year whereas the one who spots the most rarest birds in North America wins the title of the champion birder in the world.

However, these guys, while on their trek, face different life crisis'. Stu faces a late-life crisis, Kenny is in the middle of a mid-life crisis, while Brad is wallowing in a no-life crisis.They soon discover , however, that there are more important things than coming out on top of the competition.

Others to round out the cast are Brian Dennehy as Raymond, Brad's dad, JoBeth Williams as Edith, Stu's wife, Dianne Wiest as Brenda, Brad's mom, Kevin Pollack as Jim and Joel McHale as Barry, Stu's associates, Rosamund Pike as Jessica, Kenny's wife, Rashida Jones as Ellie, a fellow birder of Brad's, and Anthony Anderson as Bill Clemont, Brad's boss.

This was incredibly well directed by David Frankel ("The Devil Wears Prada" '06, "Marley & Me" '08, and a ton of TV). His pacing of how he was able to orchestrate the eventual meeting of these guys in a slow but very realistic way was brilliant. It was equally well written by Howard Franklin based on Mark Obmascik's book. The script simply flowed from scene to scene with the greatest of ease.

The photography by Lawrence Sher ("Garden State" '04, "Dan in Real Life" '07, "The Promotion" '08, "I Love You, Man"'09, "The Hangover" '09, "Due Date" '10) was amazing. Along with Murray Close's still photography and Sher's cinematography, the shots of the different rare birds was just breathtaking.

The chemistry between these guys was perfect. Jack Black simply amazes me in that even though he played a 'loser' type character; one of which he's used to playing, he played this character with much more realness to it.

This was a comedy with a dramatic side to it. The humor was powder dry, which, in my opinion, can make it even funnier. If you like pratfall, physical comedy, you probably won't get into this; this, unlike most comedies these days, relies on dialogue to achieve that laugh.

Out of 4 stars: 4                     Rated: PG                         100min.

Footlose

Is Hollywood really running out of ideas when they have to stoop to producing remake after remake? Believe me, I saw the original "Footloose" back in the 80's and although it wasn't a terrible flick, it certainly wasn't anything to garner a remake.

This is a slightly different plot, but not a far cry off. Storyline as follows: Due to a fatal car accident three years prior, Rock 'n' Roll and dancing have banned in a small town. Enters Boston kid, Ren MacCormack (Kenny Wormald) who moves to this town after he loses his mom to leukemia and resides with his Aunt Lulu (Kim Dickens) and his Uncle Wes (Ray McKinnon). After finding out about the ban through classmate/buddy Willard (Miles Teller), Ren butts heads with the Rev. Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid) who challenges Ren's rebellious spirit and also has a problem with Ren's intentions toward his daughter, Ariel (Julianne Hough).

Others to round out the cast are Andie McDowell as Vi Moore, Shaw's wife, Patrick John Flueger as Chuck Cranston, Ariel's boyfriend, Ziah Colon as Rusty, Ariel's classmate/friend, and Ser'Darius Blain as Woody, Ren's boss at the gin mill.

The film was adequately directed by Craig Brewer ("The Poor and Hungry" 2000, "Hustle & Flow" '05, "Black Snake Moan" '06, and some TV) and it was written by Dean Pitchford and Brewer based on a story by Pitchford. There were some differences in plot, as aforementioned, between the original and this, but not enough to have this screenplay be based on a story. 
The real star here is Jamal Sims, the choreographer. The choreography was so absolutely superb, that if this film was judged solely on the dancing, it would receive a 4-star rating.

As with the original, this "Footloose" wasn't a great film, but certainly wasn't an awlful film either. Other than a rendition of the song Footloose at the opening which showed some good dancing and action, it did take a while for this story to get off the ground. But once it did, it became more interesting especially when Ren was trying to teach Willard how to dance as in the original. This film could've been 10 minutes shorter and still had the same flavor as with the original.

If you're a dancer or are fascinated with dancing, you'll love this, however if you're looking for a tightly written script, this really won't fill the bill. But, in any rate, even if the script is questionable, you'll have fun anyway while you're dancing down the aisle.

Out of 4 stars: 2.5                    Rated: PG-13                      113min.

Real Steel

Futuristic films of late have had some grim premises, such as "The Book of Eli", District 9", "I Am Legend", "I, Robot", "Minority Report", "9" and too many more to even mention, that it's a refreshing change to see something a bit lighter in the form of "Real Steel".

Set in the near future, where robot boxing not only has replaced human boxing, but also has become a top sport, a struggling promoter, Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) feels, through his 11-year-old son, Max (Dakota Goyo) whom he recently realized he had through his ex-girlfriend who died, he's found a champion in a discarded robot, Atom. As Charlie's rise to the top continues, Max wants to know his father, however the reciprical seemingly happens slowly if at all. But Max is determined to not only help Charlie continue with his rise to the top, but persists on finding out who his father really is, especially through Charlie's assistant, Bailey Tallet (Evangeline Lilly) of Tallet's boxing gym owned by her Dad who died years earlier.
Others to round out the cast are Anthony Mackie as Finn, a professional boxing odds better, Kevin Durand as Ricky, a nemesis of Charlie's, Hope Davis as Aunt Debra, sister of Max's Mom, James Rebhorn as Marvin, Debra's husband, Marco Ruggeri as Cliff, Karl Hune as Tak Mashido, a robot designer, Olga Fonda as Farra Lemkova, a boxing promoter, and John Gatins as Kingpin.

This slickly directed by Shawn Levy ("Just Married" '03, "Cheaper by the Dozen" '03, "The Pink Panther" '06, "Night at the Museum" '06, "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" '09, "Date Night" '10). He's one of the few directors that seems to be able to convey decent directing even with all the visual effects; just look at his resume to figure that one out. With the exception of a bit of choppiness in the script, I thought John Gatins wrote a fairly good screenplay which was based on a story by Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Leven.

Hugh Jackman was definitely well cast here as was Evangeline Lilly. Dakota Goyo as Max was a bit over the top, but given more roles in his future, experience can only serve him.
This is certainly worthy of viewing on the large screen, if for no other reason, that with all the visual effects and for John Rosengrant's stunning Robot designs, makes this ride fun.

Out of 4 stars: 3                     Rated: PG-13                      127min.

The Ides of March

We've all seen films about politics whether they be based on fact or fiction, but in the case of "The Ides of March", this was set in a fictional story, however it could've easily been based on a true story.

This is a political thriller centering around an idealistic staffer, campaign manager, Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) for a newbie presidential candidate, Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) gets a crash course on dirty politics, on both sides of the aisle, during his stint on the campaign trail along with Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who is the senior campaign manager whom he buts head with more than once along the way.

Others to round out the cast are Paul Giamatti as Tom Duffy, campaign manager for the Republican candidate, Evan Rachel Wood as Molly Sterns, a senior intern of Meyers, Marisa Tomei as the slimy news journalist, Ida Horowicz, Jeffrey Wright as Senator Thompson, Max Minghella as Ben Harpen, another senior intern of Meyers, Jennifer Ehle as Cindy Morris, wife of Mike Morris, and Gregory Itzin as Jack Sterns, Dad of Molly and head of the DNC (Democratic National Commitee).

This was perfectly directed by Clooney ("Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" '02, "Good Night, and Good Luck" '05, "Letherheads" '08) and suspect that Clooney could pick up yet another Oscar nomination. The way he just slowly built the tension mostly surrounding the Meyers character was brilliant. At one point in this film, one would really not want to be in Meyers shoes. It was effectively written by Clooney, David Heslov and Beau Willimon. It's know wonder it was well written considering one of the writers, Willimon wrote the play, "Farragut North" which the film was based on. This element can add much more richness to how the the script develops. Clooney could basically perform his role in his sleep, but I think this was to showcase what Gosling can do with an incredibly complex role. 

I really haven't seen quite the intensity in a political thriller to this degree since 1976's "All the President's Men" which was about the Watergate scandal and the uncovering of it as it broke out. This will continually keep you guessing of what is going to happen next and to whom. What is extremely refreshing here is that the film jabs at both sides of the aisle and not just one particular party, and you rarely, if at all, see this coming from Hollywood.

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                     Rated: R                        101min. 

Courageous

Sometimes seeing inspirational films, depending on how they are treated, can be quite fulfilling and even humbling. As with the case of "Courageous", certainly if you're a Dad, this can be quite humbling and a great learning experience. All of us being kids to Dads, this can be equally touching and emotional.

Four men, one calling: to serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they face danger every day. Yet when tragedy strikes close to home, these fathers, Adam Mitchell, Shane Fuller, Nathan Hayes, and David Thomson (Alex Kendrick, Kevin Downes, Ken Bevel, and Ben Davies) respectively, are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, and their faith. From this struggle will come a decision that changes all of their lives. With action, drama, humor, apprehension, redemption, and closure, the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures embraces God's promise to "turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers." Souls and emotions will arise and be stirred, and hearts will be challenged to be... courageous!

Others to round out the cast are Robert Amaya as Javier Martinez, another father going through what the other fathers are going through--a carpenter friend, T.C. Stallings as T.J., a gang leader, Rusty Martin as Dylan Mitchell, Adam's son, Angelita Nelson as Carmen Martinez, Javier's wife, Lauren Etchells as Emily Mitchell, Adam's daughter, Renee Jewell as Victoria Mitchell, Adam's wife, Ed Litton as Pastor Hunt, and Rusty Martin Sr. as Frank Tyson, Javier's boss.

This was painstakingly and carefully directed by Alex Kendrick ("Flywheel" '03, "Facing the Giants" '06, "Fireproof" '08), who seems to go over the top to bring this message across. The message was somewhat heavy-handed, but considering it's about an area that is sorely in need of addressing, I can understand his passion about the topic. It was equally well written by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick. They were able to peel off, layer by layer, these problems each of these fathers had in order for them to see their shortcomings, and the children also, which made this a well delineated script. 

Be sure to bring a half box of kleenex with you, because it is a tear-jerker at times. Again, considering the subject matter, and how this can affect so many people, I see how this can cause such emotion. Believe me, this is a good thing. 

Considering the cast are virtual unknowns, at least of mainstream films, the acting was superb. It was like watching people live their lives, instead of watching actors act. The writing, directing and other production values were right on the mark. 

This is a film everyone should see. It's a great message for those that are struggling with their families, their faith, and their hope. Kudos!

Out of 4 stars: 4                      Rated: PG-13                  130min. 

Dolphin Tale

Not as planned, but this turned out to be inspiration movie week. Now, I realize we've seen films about people who overcome all kinds of tragic obstacles, ("Never Cry Wolf", "127 Hours", "Soul Sufer"), but how many stories have we seen about a dolphin losing its tail and needing a new one to survive? I'd say none, but with "Dolphin Tale", this is what we got.

A lonely and friendless boy, Sawyer Nelson (Nathan Gamble) finds and untangles a hurt dolphin that is caught in a crab trap. An aquatic rescue team headed up by Dr. Clay Haskett (Harry Connick Jr.) and Phoebe (Austin Highsmith), is summoned and they bring the dolphin back to their facility for healing and rehab. After that point, Sawyer becomes very attached to Winter (the dolphin) because she responds possitively toward Sawyer. Sawyer's attachment becomes intensified more when it is learned that her tail must be amputated due to infection in order to save her life. Sawyer believes that Winter would be able to swim normally if it was given a prosthetic tail. As he goes online, he comes across a process that could be a possibility of a tail design.

Meanwhile, Sawyer's cousin, Kyle (Austin Stowell) has been injured in the military in Afghanistan, and when he and his Mom, Lorraine (Ashley Judd) goes to visit Kyle, they come upon one, Dr. Cameron McCarthy (Morgan Freeman) who constructs limbs for amputees. Sawyer gives Dr. McCarthy the business proposition of a lifetime: to design and construct a prosthetic tail for a dolphin.

Others to round out the cast are Kris Kristofferson as Reed Haskett, Clay's Dad, Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Hazel Haskett, Clay's daughter, and Frances Sternhagen as Gloria Forrest.
This was directed with just the right amount of heart by Charles Martin Smith ("Fifty/Fifty" '92, "Boris and Natasha" '92, "Air Bud" '97, "Roughing It" (TV Movie) '02, "The Snow Walker" '03, "Icon" (TV Movie) '05, "Stone of Destiny" '08, and acted in many films). It was well written by Karen Janszen and Noam Dromi based on a true story.

With the exceptions of a few inconsistencies in the script, this movie was actually much better than I thought. It represents a connection between a boy and a dolphin that is simply amazing and it has heart and a story that, for the most severe of cynics, will have you standing up and cheering by the film's end.

Out of 4 stars: 3                     Rated: PG                      113min.

Abduction

We've all seen CIA/espionage/spy related films before. The list is too numerous, however "Abduction" had enough difference to it to give it that edge, certainly an element of originality.

This is a thriller centered on Nathan (Taylor Lautner), a young man who sets out to uncover the truth about his life after finding his baby photo on a missing persons website. This only comes about when he and classmate, Karen (Lily Collins) are paired up for a sociology class project. Their assignment is to research missing kids and how it has effected our society. When going online, they see him as a child and Nathan starts putting two and two together, because now he must come to grips with who are these people claiming to be his parents. He confronts Kevin and Mara (Jason Isaacs and Maria Bello), his 'parents' and as they try to explain, two men break in and kill the parents. Nathan and Karen are now on the lam, being pursued by Burton (Alfred Molina), Dr. Bennett (Sigourney Weaver) and others. Nathan has valuble information that a Russian operative, Kozlow (Michael Nyqvist) wants, and will do anything to get it. Denzel Whitaker plays Nathan's buddy Gilly.

This was amazingly well directed by veteran director John Singleton ("Boyz n the Hood" 91, "Poetic Justice" '93, "Higher Learning" '95, "Rosewood" '97, "Shaft" 2000, "Baby Boy" '01, "2 Fast 2 Furious" '03, "Four Brothers" '05). This guy knows how to put an edge on a film and have you begging for more. It was written by newcomer, Shawn Christensen ("Walter King"- short '06), and if this script is without a lot of experience, I'd like to see more films by this guy. He will surely go far. There were a few places where things could've gotten really bad for Nathan and Karen that he left out, but certainly the road he took was a workable plot to use. Given more experience, Lautner will shine. How he transformed from this scared kid to this guy on the run was truly a realistic journey. 

If you like nail-biting, explosive, action-packed films with a decent plot, you'll love this. Certainly, it was a marketing genius to release this before Lautner's next "Twilight" film, which, of couse, Lautner is best known for.

Out of 4 stars: 3                        Rated: PG-13                           106min.

Moneyball

The first frame of "Moneyball" includes a quote from Mickey Mantle. He said, "It's unbelieveable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing all your life". This really sums up the entire feel of this film with a GM actually going out of his way to think 'outside the box'.
Oakland A's GM, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is handicapped with the lowest salary constraint in baseball. If he ever plans on winning the World Series, Billy must find a competitive advantage. Billy accidentally finds an economics major from Yale, Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) who, through Brand's statistical data ends up turning baseball on its ear after analysis and placing value on the players he picks for the team. Players, such as Scott Hatteberg (Chris Pratt), a retired catcher whom Billy wants to recruit as the first baseman isn't exactly Oakland's head coach, Art Howe's (Philip Seymour Hoffman) idea. After more analysis, Billy 'cleans house' which really angers Howe even more to the point where you think he may just quit.

As aforementioned, Billy, through Peter, is going 'outside the box' to get the best players for the least amount of pay and it finally starts paying off after much hassle from others.

The subtlety and sublimeness of the direction by Bennett Miller ("The Cruise" '98, "Capote" '05) was amazing. Not a lot of experience, but this is a seasoned director. I believe he chooses his projects extremely carefully. It was incredibly well written by Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin based on a story by Stan Chervin which was based on Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game".

Others to round out the cast are Robin Wright as Sharon, Billy's ex-wife, Stephen Bishop as David Justice, Jack McGee as John Poloni, Ken Medlock as Grady Fuson, and Glenn Morshower as Ron Hopkins.

Whether you're a baseball fan or not, you will not only love this, but you will leave the cineplex with a whole new respect for a man who defeated the odds when not many were supporting him except for Peter, his stat guy. This says, when one believes in something, stick with it until the end no matter the insurmountable odds.

Out of 4 stars: 4                       Rated: PG-13                     133min.