Movie Review: SKYLINE

photo © 2010 Sebastian Jespersen | more info (via: Wylio)In case you get called away while reading this review, let me just emphasize one thing: Skyline is easily one of the worst movies of the year, and it's an absolutely terrible film overall. This film took one of the most entertaining subject matters - an alien invasion - and made it one of the most boring exercises in film-making I've seen in quite some time. I don't understand how a group of filmmakers could make something this bad and have it released into theaters as opposed to on television.

There are no big name actors and it shows through the horrible acting displayed in one horrible scene after another. The movie starts with a pointless glimpse of the future before flashing back 15 hours and then quickly jumping back to where we began. There isn't a single memorable character, and I can only remember one character's name due to the abysmal yet comedic last scene. There is no character development and very little drama considering the fact that the world has started to be invaded by an all powerful galactic force. The aliens don't talk, are barely seen outside of their ships, and in the end, aren't explained at all. They have the depth of a bad video game villain, and only want one thing - brains. Basically if you look at the aliens odd blue light "weapon", your body is taken over and you are taken into the sky.

As I mentioned, the ending is so ridiculous that it's unintentionally one of the funniest scenes I've seen all year. It's so bad that it's worth renting when released on DVD just to fast-forward and see. Overall I warn you though - avoid this movie. I would give it a 1.5 out of 10.

Family Take: There is a lot of non-graphic violence and many instances of mild profanity. It's not terrible from a moral standpoint, and some middle to high schoolers might enjoy some of this.

If You Like Skyline Try: Well, you shouldn't like this movie. If you did, you probably haven't seen a good alien invasion movie. Try last year's District 9 - a much more serious and much better put together movie along the same lines.

Movie Review: UNSTOPPABLE

photo © 2008 Cliff | more info (via: Wylio)Unstoppable is kind of like a sports movie. If you've seen the ads, you know it's about a runaway train and two men who chase after it. You know the movie can only end one of two ways - either the men stop the train and all is well, or the train derails and devastates. So for just over an hour and a half, this movie needs to keep our attention despite the ending being completely predictable. The cast is led by Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, with Rosario Dawson also turning in a nice supporting performance. These cast members are really playing second fiddle to the train though, as that's what we all really want to see.

The movie is loosely based on a true story, but you quickly can tell how loosely by all of the "close calls" the train has with hitting stuff. There is a group of students on a train headed towards the runaway train. There are a couple of nervous horses on the tracks. These instances were a little cheap and unrealistic. It's not to say that there wouldn't be close calls in this type of situation, but the overacting of those involved in these situations was silly. Also, some of the instances aren't resolved on screen, just in a passing comment like "Oh, that van was moved by the way." My other problem has to do with the ending. I won't spoil it, but let's just say if you really think about it, it's kind of unrealistic.

On the plus side, despite being predictable and silly at times, the movie isn't slow. They quickly tell the story and then end the movie - there isn't a single wasted minute. I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. It's very entertaining, and it is quite fun. So while this won't win any intelligence awards, it isn't a waste of a movie outing. Overall I would give Unstoppable a 6.5 out of 10.

Family Take: There is some brief strong profanity and endless elements of peril. It's fine for teenagers.

If You Like Unstoppable Try: Unstoppable reminded me of the classic runaway movie Speed which also suffered from elements of stupidity but was still a very entertaining flick.

Movie Review: MORNING GLORY

photo © 2009 H. Michael Miley | more info (via: Wylio)

I love the world of broadcast news. I have a bachelor's degree in broadcasting and love being a in TV studio. There aren't a whole lot of movies set in the behind the camera TV-world, so I really look forward to them when they are released. Morning Glory, the latest "news-movie" to be released, debates the question of how much "bran" (hard news stories) vs. "donuts" (fluff pieces) should be shown during a national morning news show. Both pleasant and trivial, this movie offers nothing new to the niche genre, and will please some, while disappointing many more.

The film has an all-star cast led by Rachel McAdams (The Time Traveler's Wife, Red Eye) who plays 28 year-old Becky. Down on her luck and recently fired, she takes the only job she can get working for the low-rated Day Break news show. It's a program that wants to be like The Today Show, but cannot keep up to that pace of professionalism. Through a couple clever (or stupid) turns, she convinces a legendary reporter, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), to join the other resident host Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) after the firing of another host (Modern Family's Ty Burrell). The two veteran hosts don't get along - fighting over everything thrown at them including who says "goodbye" as the show closes. For poor Becky it's a nightmare - and the show doesn't improve. It will be cancelled unless something magical can happen in the six weeks they have left. You see where this is going.

Ironically enough, this okay film suffers from the very problem it's well-aware of - there is nowhere near enough "bran". This is a happy little movie that is too afraid to throw any real conflict into the mix. Every problem is solved with a smile, every fight is stopped with a hug - it's just too much. There are people who will probably love it for it's tidy little story-lines and unrealistic resolutions, but I am not one of them. While there were some genuine laughs, there was just too much stupidity for me to ultimately suggest seeing this movie. It's a good one to wait for on DVD. I would give it a 5.5 out of 10.

Family Take: While there is nothing objectionable other than a few strong instances of profanity and a small amount of sexual dialog, children simply won't be interested in this movie.

If You Like Morning Glory Try: Broadcast News may be overly dramatic, but it offers a far more realistic view of the newsroom.

Movie Review: DUE DATE

photo © 2010 SpreePiX | more info(via: Wylio)Robert Downey Jr. teams up with the star and the director of The Hangover - Zach Galifianakis and Todd Phillips - for the road comedy Due Date.

When two people get into an argument on an airplane, they find themselves on the "no-fly" list, having to make other arrangements to get from Atlanta to Los Angeles. One of these people is a no nonsense businessman and father to be, Peter Highman (Downey Jr.), and the other is a grieving yet oddly upbeat aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis). Through a series of "leave your brain at the door to enjoy" happenings, the two decide to travel cross country together attempting to arrive at the LA hospital in time for the birth of Highman's baby. This isn't Homer's Odyssey by any means, but the two do cross paths with numerous interesting characters and learn more about each other along the way.

While the film really never goes anywhere, being stuck in neutral with the perfect straight guy absorbing jokes from one of Hollywood's new leading funny guys, there are many worse ways to spend your time at the movies. There are more holes in the storyline than I could count, and law enforcement is seemingly non-existent after the first ten minutes of the movie, but again, I still found myself laughing quite a bit. And for all of the R-rated comedies released in the past few years, this is one of the cleanest of the bunch (but it still earns it's R rating.)

Overall, I would recommend this flick to those just looking to laugh. It's not complex, not award-worthy, not going to blow you away - but it is going to make you laugh for the better part of 90 minutes. I would give Due Date a 6.5 out of 10.

Family Take: When I wrote that this movie wasn't as dirty as many R-rated comedies, I didn't write that it was squeaky clean. There is endless strong profanity, drug content, and one scene involving sexual content (not involving nudity, but sound) that are enough to make this film only for the oldest of teenagers on up.

If You Like Due Date Try: Most of those interested in Due Date probably will have seen The Hangover, but it's worth mentioning as it is truly a new comedy classic.

Movie Review: CONVICTION

photo © 2009 kekkoz | more info(via: Wylio)

Hilary Swank returns to the big screen in another strong female role as Betty Anne Waters, the real life every day hero who changed the course of her life for a family member. Set primarily in Massachusetts, the Waters case revolves around the murder of a woman and the conviction of Kenny Waters (played by Sam Rockwell) - a lowlife type whose only real attributes are his daughter and his sister Betty. Believing he is innocent of the heinous crime, Betty Anne Waters spends numerous years going to college, law school, and then in investigation of the crime she truly doesn't believe her brother committed.

Many viewers may already know the ending if they remember the news coverage around the event - much of which involved recently re-elected Attorney General Martha Coakley (who is portrayed only briefly on screen in the film). If you know the outcome - which is a twist in itself - this movie is still worth seeing for the great acting from Swank and Rockwell. If you don't know the ending going in, don't read anything else about the film as the payoff will be that much greater.

Technically the film is a little choppy - the editing, pace, and supporting character development left quite a bit to be desired. That being said, the story itself is so fascinating and compelling that forgiving the films technical flaws becomes quite easy. I would give Conviction a 7.5 out of 10.

Family Take: The movie is rated R for grisly images of the crime scene in question and for quite a bit of profanity. Older teenagers could handle the story, but younger teens and children should seek entertainment elsewhere.

If You Like Conviction Try: The movie this most reminded me of is John Travolta's A Civil Action. Also set locally, this is another very compelling court case story involving water contamination.