October Recap

October is just about over. I might be going to see a movie later today, but wanted to recap my month of movie watching - that is the name of the blog after all!

I saw 20 movies in theaters this month.

The films I saw this month:

• The Social Network
• Devil
• You Again
• Let Me In
• Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
• It's Kind of a Funny Story
• Secretariat
• Life as We Know It
• Never Let Me Go
• Buried
• Catfish
• Jackass 3
• Red
• Hereafter
• Waiting for Superman
• Inside Job
• Wall Street 2
• You Will Meet a Tall...
• Saw 3D
• The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

The Best:

(8.5) Let Me In - "will shake you to your core"

The Worst:

(3) You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - "not pleasant...not believable"

Biggest Pleasant Surprise:

(8) Hereafter - "a nice, touching story"

Biggest Letdown:

(3) You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - "Woody Allen is a very talented filmmaker..."

Funniest Film:

(5) Jackass 3 - "I haven't laughed so hard at a movie since I saw the 2006 film Borat."

All right, that's the October update. Hope you're enjoying reading my reviews, and be sure to post your own! Peace!

Movie Review: THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST

**SPOILER WARNING** No spoilers from the third movie will be revealed, however elements of the first two films are discussed.**

Not since The Lord of the Rings has a cinematic series been this satisfying. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is the completely satisfying conclusion in the film set based on the now enormously popular book trilogy from the late (great) Steig Larsson. The film opens in the hospital as our offbeat heroine is being operated on from injuries sustained at the end of the second film, The Girl Who Played with Fire. The 'girl' of course is Lisbeth Salander (played by the Oscar-worthy Noomi Rapace), and this final film works to solve the mystery of "The Section", the group out to kill Salander and anyone else who gets in their way.

The film is nearly 2 1/2 hours long, but after the first half an hour or so, the rest of the movie flies by. Where the first two movies were action packed thrillers, this one changes pace and spends more time forwarding character development and tying up all of the mysteries opened in the other two. This has bothered some critics, but not me - I thought it was brilliant. The acting is exceptional, and not just from the leads. This movie has some great supporting characters as well. And while this is a slower film opposed to the others, it still has some top notch suspense and one "jump" scene that trumps any others in the series.

If you haven't seen the other two, you don't want to start here. The trilogy is very closely connected and you need to go in order - starting of course with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am so sad that Larsson passed away, because I really want more Lisbeth. I haven't read the book series yet, and that's next on my "to-read" list. I have spoken to people that have both read the books and seen the movies, and everything I hear on both fronts is positive. I would give The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest an 8 out of 10.

Family Take: While this is the cleanest film in the R-rated trilogy, it's still too intense and violent for young children. Teenagers might be able to handle this one, but knowledge of the first two films is required - and those films contain graphic sexual content only appropriate for adults.

If You Like The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest Try: I would suggest renting The Lives of Others, a brilliant espionage thriller that was one of my favorite films of the year when it came out in 2006.

Movie Review: SAW 3D

It's the most wonderful time of the year. The most wonderful time of year if you like the Saw film series that is. As usual, there are no A or B-list stars, the real stars are the creative death devices. In the seventh go around, the 3D gimmick is employed to make the crazy traps come alive. And being the seventh entry, it's only natural that this Saw is in need of a good sharpening.

I've seen every film in this series, and this one falls somewhere in the middle as far as plot, quality, and creativity go. The movie is being advertised as the final Saw, and I hope that's true. I have always been intrigued by the overall premise - which isn't just to slice and dice innocent victims like so much of the "torture porn" does nowadays. These movies take moral and ethical dilemmas, and turn them into inventive life or death games. This seventh film lost a lot of the originality and the traps seemed quite repetitive, while many of the deaths were not justifiable in the realm of the Saw logic. Here the filmmakers just decided to splatter as much blood on their 3D audience for sheer shock value - and that is not something I am a fan of.

I will say, without spoiling the ending, that the last five minutes were extremely satisfying. If you're a Saw fan, you should see this movie if for nothing more than seeing how the saga concludes. If you've never seen one of these films and are curious, rent the first one. I am still impressed with how these movies connect to each other - there were characters in this final chapter that were introduced seven years ago when the series began. All in all, I would give this movie a 5 out of 10.

Family Take: The amount of violence alone should keep kids and teens far away from this film. There is also frequent strong profanity.

If you like Saw 3D try: As it's scary movie season, try 28 Days Later..., a much smarter thriller about a virus outbreak in Britain.

Movie Review: YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER

Woody Allen is a very talented filmmaker. This is obviously a statement he is trying to hide while parading around his latest "comedy", the abysmal You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. This hideous movie wastes so much talent, not to mention my time, that seeing it will be one of the biggest cinematic mistakes you'll make all year.

When an eccentric mother visits a psychic to try and cope with being left by her husband for a younger woman, she begins to impact the lives of all those around her by forcing the crazy readings on everyone she talks to. These people include a struggling writer, a conflicted middle-aged woman, a beautiful musician, and an art collector. The movie is not pleasant and the story is not believable. I wouldn't mind the believability thing had there been any humor at all (there isn't) - it is a comedy by the way.

Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, and Frieda Pinto are just some of the very talented people who obviously just wanted to add "worked with Woody" to the back of their headshots, because there is no other reason to be involved with such a terrible flick. I would give it a 3 out of 10 - and that's probably overly generous.

Family Take: There is quite a bit of sexual content - the movie is rated R - but for an R they keep it pretty mild. Kids wouldn't want to see it though just because the topics explored - infidelity, fraud, and turning over a new leaf - just aren't appealing to the younger crowd.

If You Like You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Try: Try learning how to tell a bad movie from a good one, because if you liked this I cannot help you at all.

Movie Reviews: INSIDE JOB/WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS

As if we don't get enough depression from turning on the news and hearing how poorly our economy is doing, Hollywood has now taken aim on the financial crisis. Last weekend I saw two movies dealing with the meltdown, and am reviewing them together 1) because they are similar in topic and 2) because I don't have a whole lot to say about them - despite really liking one and not minding the other.

Matt Damon narrates the documentary Inside Job that explores why, America got into the financial mess it's in today. There is one interview after another of people who are pointing fingers and crying foul. Why many of these interviewees decided to participate is beyond me, as they come off looking like the idiots they are. The film could have been polished a little better - the music and pacing are off in a number of spots. The topic matter and the interviews are fascinating though, making this well worth seeing. You'll leave angry - but that means the movie did it's job well. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps takes a fictional approach to the same financial topics Inside Job tackled, while slightly continuing the story director Oliver Stone started in the first go around back in the 80's. Here Stone directs Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Carey Mulligan, and Susan Sarandon in a slow moving story about interesting people. When Gordon Gekko (Douglas) learns his daughter is getting married to another Wall Street type, he turns the news into a opportunity to restore himself to his former glory. The film tires often, but it also entertains. It was strikingly similar to the first movie, and I'm sure that's a reflection of the times - but it could have been a little more original. The movie also loses points for having a terrible ending - it wraps up quickly and unrealistically. I really hope when the DVD comes out there is an alternative ending, because it would have to be better than the one offered up in theaters. I would give the movie 6.5 out of 10.

Family Take: Both of these movies are rated PG-13 and would be acceptable for teenagers interested in financial topics. Inside Job is a must see film for any business student. Both films have some profanity and mild sexual content.

If You Like Inside Job Try: Exit Through the Gift Shop - it's a documentary on a different topic, but it's even more riveting.

If You Like Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps: Try the original Wall Street - which you really should have seen first anyways.

Movie Review: WAITING FOR 'SUPERMAN'

The studio that released two of my favorite documentaries, An Inconvenient Truth, and Food, Inc. now take a close look at the American public education system in Waiting for 'Superman'. The title refers to waiting for some fantastic solution to a problem that needs more than just one savior. I am not a teacher, but as a library employee, I thought I knew a little bit more than the average person about the public school system, having to deal with the local establishments every now and then. The teachers I know are hardworking, dedicated professionals. I was never ignorant enough to think all teachers were excellent, but bad teachers couldn't be that big of a problem right? Wrong.

'Superman' is a fascinating movie that does an exceptional job of showing viewers how much red tape is involved any time someone tries to fight the corruption that is currently crippling our public schools. We meet a variety of nice students and their families who long for a better education. The climax of the film takes us to many different charter schools as these students await their respective lotteries for spaces into higher quality programs of education. The devastation in the eyes of both the parents and the children when their number doesn't come up is truly heartbreaking.

The documentary provides viewers fact after fact after fact of studies that show how faulty and corrupt the current state of education in America is. The results and conclusions are devastating. Some points take a little too long to make, and midway through the film drags a bit, but overall this is an exceptionally well made film. More importantly, it's a film that tries to make an impact, and if enough people watched it, I think a positive change would be inevitable. I would give Waiting For 'Superman' a 7.5 out of 10.

Family Take: There is nothing particularly offensive in this movie, but children most likely wouldn't be as interested in the subject matter. Their parents, however, should be.

If you like Waiting for 'Superman' try: Food, Inc. It's exceptional. And possibly even more important.

Movie Review: HEREAFTER

George (Matt Damon) has a gift. To him, it is a curse. Instead of things turning to gold, his Midas style touch involves connecting with those who have died. For every person he touches, he is able to see a loved one lost. This ability has ruined his social life, his family relationships, and any chance of being normal. Clint Eastwood's newest film about what happens when we die doesn't answer the age old question, but instead tells a nice, touching story of three people who are asking.

Along with George, we meet a French journalist, Marie. During a near-death experience involving a tsunami, she sees a glimpse of death, and the peace and comfort it brings. She uses this encounter with the hereafter to forward her writing career. Along with Marie and George, we also meet Marcus, a very young child. Upon the tragic accidental death of his twin brother, he begins searching every avenue possible to communicate with him.

Clint Eastwood weaves these three relatively depressing stories together to create a film that is ultimately uplifting. I am a very religious individual, and while there were scenes that were contradictory to my personal convictions, the overall story doesn't attack or discredit the beliefs of any group. Instead, it offers up the idea that an afterlife does exist, and doesn't go any further. Maybe Eastwood would have been breaking more ground if he had taken the story to another spiritual level, but I like the way he remained vague. He made an unoffensive, brilliantly acted, and well told film that I can highly recommend. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

Family Take: The opening tsunami sequence is one of the more violent moments I've seen in a PG-13 film. While there is relatively no blood, the battering of human bodies caused a number of gasps from the audience at my screening. There is also some mild sexual content, occasional strong profanity, and the overall topic that is really for mature audiences.

If you like Hereafter Try: After such a heavy film like Hereafter, I would suggest watching Ghost Town, a comedic take on the afterlife starring the hilarious Ricky Gervais of The Office fame.

Exciting News!

I'm happy to announce that some of my movie reviews will be appearing on "The Shrewsbury Lantern", a great e-Newspaper in my area. Feel free to stop by that site as well!

My first review for them, Red, was posted today:
http://shrewsbury.net/?page_id=7256

Be sure to hit it up and look around the rest of their site! Most of the reviews will be exactly the same as here, but definitely go to their site as well - it's much more popular than this blog! That being said, I check the traffic about once a week and impressed with the number of people who do stop by!

Happy movie watching!

Dan Barbour

Movie Review: JACKASS 3

The end credits for Jackass 3 feature childhood pictures of the cast of crazy stuntmen from the hit MTV series. After watching the utterly repulsive antics of the bunch, looking at these pictures one is left to ask - where did things go wrong? Grotesque humor, constant profanity, frequent nudity, and awkward violence highlight this third cinematic outing for the crew that's been around almost a decade. And while everything about my moral principles and beliefs say I should completely pan this disgusting film, I can honestly say I haven't laughed so hard at a movie since I saw the 2006 film Borat.

The leader of the pack, Johnny Knoxville, loosely hosts the numerous segments of pranks, gags, and stunts. There is no plot, no substance, and no character development. This film serves as a chance for the gang to perform antics that were too risqué for their show (which is no longer on the air - it ended in 2002.). Just a sampling of things that you'll see - various animals ramming, biting, and attacking the crew - various body parts super-glued to other people's various body parts - large amounts of vomit and human waste - and segments completely dedicated to shocking innocent bystanders Candid Camera-style through offensive behavior in public.

The movie was shot in 3D, but you can choose whether to see it in this extra dimension, or just see it in standard 2D. I chose the latter as I really didn't want to pay a glasses surcharge for the sake of seeing certain elements mentioned above come at me in 3D. I would suggest watching the trailer - if it appeals to you, then you'll love the movie. If it looks offensive or stupid to you, then avoid it like the plague. I would give it a 2 out of 10 for cinematic quality, and a 10 out of 10 for entertainment value - so I would average that to a final score of 6 out of 10. But watch at your own risk if you watch at all. And don't eat before you go.

Family Take: Any parents who take their kids to this movie should immediately be turned over to child protective services. If the antics above aren't enough to dissuade a parent, just keep in mind the nature of the film. It's imitative behavior at it's most dangerous.

If You Like Jackass 3 Try: Well, this is the third outing. There are two other Jackass movies.

Movie Review: RED

Like the Ocean's 11 films, RED (which stands for 'Retired Extremely Dangerous') gives a bunch of veteran actors a chance to goof off, be silly, and throw a party for themselves on screen. Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and most notably John Malkovich, are the cool kids in question, and like the Ocean's 11 films, it's an absolute pleasure simply to watch. The only downside is that the story is completely forgettable.

When a retired agent (Willis) suffering from the routine of normal life dodges a mysterious hit on his life, he goes on the hunt to clear his name and find out who is after him. He does this while also beginning a relationship with a customer service representative (Mary-Louise Parker) who is eager for adventure. They team up with other agents (Freeman and Mirren) to bring down the bad guys while proving old dogs can indeed learn new tricks.

While completely entertaining, this film lacks an interesting enough mystery to make it a great movie. Where the story is TV-movie-of-the-week quality, the acting is well worth the price of admission. Just seeing the likes of Helen Mirren firing a machine gun at corrupt politicians and Morgan Freeman getting into a hokey disguise is downright hilarious. I would give RED a 6.5 out of 10.

Family Take: This movie will entertain those aged 13 and up. There is some profanity, mild sexual content, and a lot of non-graphic violence.

If You Like RED Try: If watching senior citizens kick butt is your thing, you need to watch the old Disney movie The North Avenue Irregulars. It's funnier and better put together than RED, and it's made for the whole family (it's rated G).

Movie Review: CATFISH

Catfish is not a true story. This is something that's extremely easy to forget. The movie is a documentary style film that is so effective, part of you will wish the characters were real, while the other part of you is thankful some of them are complete fabrications. Nev is a photographer. He's friendly, likable, and moderately successful. He works in an office with his brother and his friend, two filmmakers. Nev's world is normal like yours and mine. Then through mail and online correspondence, he is introduced to a family in Michigan who saw one of his published photographs, and wants to see more. Their relationship seems odd but exciting, so Nev's brother and friend decide to make a documentary featuring these new acquaintances.

The film reinvents itself three or four times. What starts out as a light romantic comedy ultimately evolves into something dreadful...but all together brilliant. If you know nothing about this movie going in, don't do any research. It's more fun to let the mystery unravel. I could go on and on about the clever plot, brilliant twists, and perfect ending, but I would not want to spoil even the smallest detail. All I will say is that Catfish is one of the year's best films, and scores and 8.5 out of 10.

Family Take: Anyone in your family who has a Facebook account will probably want to see this movie. It's rated PG-13 and that's just about right. There are some very dark and tense moments, but the biggest objection for parents will be a short segment dealing with "sexting". It's not overly graphic, but it's bound to make some viewers uncomfortable. There is also some mild profanity.

If You Like Catfish Try: Bubble is a great film that is a completely different mystery tale told in the same documentary style.

Movie Review: BURIED

Buried is an experimental film from director Rodrigo Cortes. Ryan Reynolds, best known for his comedies The Proposal and Van Wilder, takes a break from his norm and plays contractor Paul Conroy, the sole person seen on screen in the entire film, with one small exception that I won't reveal. After an ambush, Conroy wakes up to find himself tied up and in a coffin. He doesn't know where he is exactly, or who his captors are. What he does know is that his air is running out, there is a mysterious cell phone in the coffin, and he is in desperate need of being rescued.

If you're at all claustrophobic, like I am, you'll find yourself looking to the side every now and then just to break from the effective filming style that puts you right inside the contained action. For nearly 100 minutes, we get one set, one actor, and many angles showing the same thing. This will bother some, and impress others. Two people actually walked out of my screening, and I can understand that.

Where the film falters is when our hero starts making unbelievably silly phone calls to loved ones and government officials. Where most people would do anything to be rescued, he loses his cool with almost everyone he talks to - even causing one person to hang up on him. One person he calls instructs him to conserve the cell phone's battery by changing it from vibrate to ring. He does this, then gets too jumpy when it rings, so he switches it back to vibrate. It just seemed unrealistic for someone in such a desperate situation.

I'll let you discover whether he is rescued or not, but overall this is one very clever little thriller. I would give it a score of 7 out of 10.

Family Take: This is not a movie for families. There is no sexual content, but Conroy suffers from an anxiety disorder which causes him to swear and use crass terms frequently throughout the movie. Older teenagers surely know every word used in the book and for them the R wouldn't be too much of a red flag for parents. There is also one scene of violence.

If You Like Buried Try: Alfred Hitchcock's Rope. It's a suspense film with Jimmy Stewart that will also bother those who are claustrophobic.

Movie Review: NEVER LET ME GO

Never Let Me Go, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, is an emotional workout of a movie. As the end credits started to roll, I just wanted to quickly run into another theater showing a comedy. It's not a bad movie. It's actually a very good one. But it's one of the most depressing movies I've seen in a good long time.

It's hard for me to get into the plot without spoiling anything. Let's just say that if The Twilight Zone show was crossed with an independent British film, it would look something like NLMG. Carey Mulligan (An Education), Andrew Garfield (The Social Network), and Keira Knightley (Atonement) star as three friends who meet at a seemingly normal boarding school as young children and grow into the people that life has destined them to be. We don't know much about their families, or the outside world for that matter. All we know is that there are many secrets, and as the movie progresses, we learn said secrets one by one by one.

To say this was a satisfying movie watching experience would be more than fair. To say it was an enjoyable way to spend just under two hours would be lying. Technically this film was made so well, and I can appreciate so much about it. For a movie that seemed to move slowly, I was completely enthralled. If you like movies solely as art, this is the one to put on your must see list. If you like movies as a means of escape and recreation, you might want to skip it. For me, I like both types of films, so I can objectively say this deserves an 7.5 out of 10.

*NEW* (At the end of each film review from now on, I'm going to give my brief summary of how this movie would be for families.)

Family Take: This is not a movie for families. It is rated R, but it's a very mild R. The film gets the R for some graphic images of print pornography. They are all contained in a brief scene, but the camera lingers on the images long enough to warrant the rating. Surprisingly, the person looking at the images is not doing it for sexual stimulation. In addition, there are a couple of sex scenes, but they are done in a way where no nudity is seen on screen. Even without that content factored in, the themes really are for older grades on up. I could see high school classes screening this film for conversations on ethics, but to say more might spoil something.

DVD Review: Frozen

Frozen is a movie with an original premise - three college students try to make one last ski run before the ski resort closes for five days but due to a mix up, the ski lift stops half way up the mountain - and really high up off the ground. Frostbite, wolves (or coyotes), lack of provisions, and each other stand in their way of survival, and while premise is smarter than the execution, Frozen still proves to be an edge of your seat thriller.

I really liked that the movie was short - it managed to build up in tension and not draw out any scenes that weren't needed. While this could almost have worked better as an episode of some television show - the acting was just okay - on DVD this seemed to be a nice diversion from normal thrillers or horror movies. And while it doesn't exactly do for skiing what Jaws did for swimming, if I was to ever go skiing again, I'm sure I'd think about the movie again.

On a regional side of things, the movie was obviously set and shot in New England (**UPDATE -CORRECTION** - I looked it up and apparently the movie was shot in Utah...but it was set in New England), as references to Papa Gino's and Watchusett Mountain, and a sign for Newbury Comics were heard/seen. I have written before about my admiration for movies set in my area - not that I like them by default, but it's just nice to see and hear things I'm familiar with already. I would give Frozen a score of 7 out of 10. Rent it, you won't be sorry.

New Facebook Group

Hi there! I have had a "My Month of Movies" Facebook page, but it's kind of confusing unless the MMOM program is underway. So I created a new page, "Dan Reviews Movies" - if you want to join, feel free. Click here to join. Despite not needing to be a member to comment on the blog, this is an easier way to connect because just about everyone has a Facebook. Feel free to open up a discussion and post your own reviews. Happy movie watching!!

Movie Review: LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

A couple of months ago I reviewed The Switch, the Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman film about a non-traditional family (I really really liked it, btw). Now we have Life as We Know It, another family-themed movie with a completely different approach.

Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel play Holly and Messer, two people who hate each other, but are linked by two of their married friends. These friends try and set them up together with disastrous results, but they don't give up. When these friends die suddenly in a car accident, Holly and Messer are shocked to learn that they have been chosen as the new guardians for their friend's only child, 1 year old Sophie. Will they put aside their differences and raise the baby, or will their worlds fall apart?

Life is a very depressing film. The characters are very likable, which makes the hardships they go through tough to watch at times. On the downside, the neighborhood the two live in have some of the most annoying neighbors that seriously almost ruined the film for me. We would go from a touching scene to a scene that seemed pulled out of a bad sitcom.

I didn't hate this movie at all - as a matter of fact I kind of liked the original concept. I just wish it was as good a movie as it could have been. One side annoyance - in the trailer, Katherine Heigl's character Holly doesn't notice that she has poo on her face, and her neighbor says "...you have poo on your face." In the movie, the neighbor's line is changed to "...you have sh** on your face." I think it's odd they felt the need to swear when the line was fine as it was. This isn't an edgy adult movie after all. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

Movie Review: SECRETARIAT

Another horse movie. Yippee (sarcasm)!!!! I like Diane Lane, I really do, despite not liking most of her movies. She is a good actress, and seems like a really nice person. In this movie though they make her look twenty years older than she is - but okay, she's acting - I guess. I also like John Malkovich a lot, he's hilarious most of the time. Maybe this movie would be passable? Well, it was, but it never really needed to be made in the first place, IMHO.

Secretariat was a horse that was incredible. The story of how this horse captured the attention of the country at the hands of an unlikely owner - a housewife played by Lane - is the movie in a nutshell. The movie is perfectly executed, but perfectly executed without adding anything to the horse movie genre. Yeah, Seabiscuit was a long time ago, but it was excellent, so we really didn't need this movie. That being said, if the trailer appeals to you, you'll probably really enjoy your time.

Overall I'm not sorry I saw this film, but I do hope they stop making these by the books sports movies. Yeah, I know, they are all based on true stories, but there are plenty of unique people out there whose stories could be told before giving us another movie like this. And I won't get into my opinion of horse racing in general. I'll leave it at my rating - I would give Secretariat a 6.5 out of 10.

Movie Review: IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY

It's Kind of a Funny Story is kind of a good movie. By 'kind of', I also mean it's kind of a lousy one too - it's an odd mix of nice characters and bad storytelling. It's part touching, part pretentious. It's self-aware, but also carelessly conceived. It's a hard movie to review, as I don't regret seeing it, but I wouldn't suggest rushing out to it either.

Craig (Keir Gilchrist) is sixteen and wants to kill himself. Or at least he thinks he might. Before he acts on his thoughts of ending it all, he checks into a hospital psychiatric ward and gets more than he bargained for. He meets Bobby (Zach Galafianakis from The Hangover), a fellow patient and unlikely mentor. He also meets Noelle (Emma Roberts from Valentine's Day), another teenager with issues all her own. In addition to these new friends, he meets a cast of eccentric and troublesome people as he serves out his 'sentence' in the medical facility.

The movie never decides whether it wants to be a comedy, drama, coming-of-age film, or romantic comedy. Maybe it's a little of all of those, but something about it felt disjointed. I liked the main characters, while the supporting ones seemed either underdeveloped (Craig's parents for two) or downright hokey (Craig's roommate). There were scenes that were hard to watch because they were so odd, and others that were genuinely touching. Maybe it's a fault of the editor, because there is a really good movie somewhere in here. For me though, I'd give it a 6 out of 10. Wait for the DVD, but do see it eventually.

Movie Review: LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS - THE OWLS OF GA'HOOLE

Oh where to begin? I would not have seen this movie if not for two facts - my movie pass being the biggest factor of all. It's also from the same studio that produced the brilliant Happy Feet (it's great, no lie), and I am a sucker for 3D movies. So that's why my brother and I decided to see the absurdly titled Legend of the Guardians - The Owls of Ga'Hoole. I couldn't say the title without laughing, so when I ordered my tickets, I simply said "Two for the 'Owl Movie'."

I have written already how this has been one of the best years for animated films. Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon are among the years best films, while Despicable Me was a worthy cinematic diversion. The streak unfortunately ends though with the Owl Movie, as it's animation is tops, but story, pacing, and everything else just seem to fall flat.

When two owl brothers are kidnapped by evil owls, one goes the path of the good, and the other the path of the evil. A whole lot of nothing happens that leads up to a big fight and then the movie ends. That's really the impression I got. I did find it funny how the movie featured two songs from the music group Owl City - nice touch....one of the only nice touches.

The movie is really not for kids as the ads may suggest. There is way too much violence, even a swear word. If you thought the climax of Toy Story 3 was too much for a child to handle, this movie will shock you. It's so dark and depressing, I don't really know who the makers of the film were trying to target. I don't give it my blessing, that's for sure. I would give it a 4 out of 10.

Movie Review: LET ME IN

I don't believe in vampires. I don't think many people really do. But if I was to be converted, I wouldn't expect my bloodsucking saints to be Abercrombie & Fitch model types as displayed in the Twilight Saga. Instead, I would expect vampires to be exactly like they are portrayed in the new movie Let Me In. Both a horror film and a psychological drama, this deeply effecting friendship story will shake you to your core.

The movie is based on a Swedish film called Let the Right One In and the novel of the same name. The American version which I'm reviewing here is set in the early 1980's - which was a brilliant idea as in an age of the internet and cell phones, this story wouldn't have been as realistic or plausible (as far as vampire stories can go anyways). Owen is a young boy with no friends. His parents are going through a divorce, and he is picked on at school. He is slowly sinking into a path that is reminiscent of a school shooter - with violence on his mind all the time. When a mysterious older man and young girl move in next door to Owen, he listens through the wall to learn who his new neighbors are. Outside he meets the young girl, Abby, who is strange, but a strange friend is better than no friend at all. Their relationship is the majority of the film, and it's an odd, exciting, and graphic thing to watch unfold.

I loved this movie, I really did, but it won't be for everyone. The violence is tasteful but frequent. A couple of the scenes are particularly hard to watch, but the violence always forwards the story. The pacing and the direction of the film are incredible, and I would highly suggest seeing it, even if you are like me and not a fan of vampires. I would give Let Me In an 8.5 out of 10.

Movie Review: YOU AGAIN

You Again boasts an all star cast comprised of veterans and relative newbies alike. Everything, and I mean everything, seems to be going for it being a GREAT movie...with the exception of a great script. Another movie that proves good writing matters, You Again does manage to be somewhat salvaged by it's impressive cast.

I could sort of compare this movie to a CBS sitcom - it's light, breezy, there are a few laughs, but in a week or two you won't remember much about it. Kristen Bell (oh how I miss Veronica Mars) plays a girl who was picked on all through high school, and when years later she learns that her beloved brother is marrying her high school nemesis, the fur begins to fly. Her loving mother, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, also has a nemesis of her own coming to town, played by Sigourney Weaver. Throw Betty White as the grandma in and what more could you want? Well, a little originality maybe.

We've seen it all before, but in it's defense, it's not trying to break barriers. It is entertaining. If the previews looked interesting to you, you're going to get about what you expect - you won't be blown away, but I wasn't looking for Slumdog Millionaire and you shouldn't either. I would give You Again a score of 6 out of 10.

Movie Review: DEVIL

The trailer for Devil was very good....until the title of the movie appeared. Devil. Ugh. How was I supposed to justify seeing a movie that is so blatantly touting the one thing I hate. Yeah, I am not going to get preachy on you, but personally I did not enjoy ordering up a ticket for Devil. Now on the flip side of things, I can honestly say this little Twilight-zoney thriller was simple, effective, and most surprisingly - pro-God.

Without spoiling anything, I will remain vague on specific plot details. Basically, a bunch of people from all walks of life get on an elevator. None of them know each other (or do they?), and they are only on together out of sheer coincidence (or are they?). When the elevator comes to a screeching halt, the panic sets in. This panic is fueled by sudden injuries that happen when the lights flicker out. Guards watching from a surveillance room struggle to help, but things seem to be out of their control.

While this isn't the best movie ever made, it was very entertaining. For a mere 80-minute run time, it didn't waste my time at all. I was totally into the story, the twist, and the message this movie sends. I would suggest trying it out, but read as little about it as possible. I would give Devil a not-so-hellish 7 out of 10.

Movie Review: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

(Back from my Vegas vacation!! Let the reviews commence...)

I remember the first day that I got a Facebook. It's like one of those life moments. I was in college when Facebook was invented, and I remember not totally understanding it at first. I remember the first person who wrote on my wall (Candice P!), and I remember wondering how long this craze would last. Well, hundreds of my 'face's uploaded later, Facebook is now my third most visited site (behind Google and Amazon), so when I heard they were going to make a movie about the origins of one of my favorite sites, I knew I would be there.

Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland) plays Mark Zuckerberg, the inventor (?) of the social network in question. The battle of who really created the site is at the forefront of the movie, and while I don't know how much of the film matches with reality, nobody really comes off looking great. And that is not a bad thing for the movie goer - the drama in this film felt real, tense, and while it's not a horror movie in most senses, the way friends turn on each other is devastating.

The acting and David Fincher's direction were great, but it was the script from Aaron Sorkin that really brought the story to life. Zuckerberg comes off as the most entertaining witty jerk, it's just hard not to laugh while at the same time feel so bad for the sorry rich person he might be. The book film is based on, The Accidental Billionaires, starts by saying that some parts of the book aren't true but it's probably what could have happened. I didn't feel like sitting around for a dozen hours reading about what might have happened - watching the story for two is a lot easier.

Overall I liked the movie a lot (no pun intended) - a whole lot actually. It's not exactly rewatchable, but it's nowhere near a waste of time. I feel sort of like I do after watching a Michael Moore documentary - I love it on one level, agree with much of what it's saying, but feel somehow like I was lied to a bit. But I guess that's why The Social Network is billed as a movie, not a documentary. So if you use the site, you will most likely find the film fascinating...and if you don't have an FB profile, why the heck not? I would give The Social Network an 8 out of 10.