Rated: Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language.

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Release Date: 16 October 2009

Runtime: 101 min

Director: Spike Jonze

Cast: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Pepita Emmerichs, Mark Ruffalo, Steve Mouzakis, James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, Forest Whitaker, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Dano, Michael Berry Jr.

Max (Max Records) is a lonely boy with an active fantasy life. When his sister Claire’s (Pepita Emmerichs) friends carelessly crush his snow fort in a snowball fight, and she doesn’t do anything about it, he goes into a rage and makes a mess of her bedroom. When his mother Connie (Catherine Keener) invites her boyfriend (Mark Ruffalo) to dinner, Max throws a tantrum in which he bites her, and runs out of the house, still in the wolf costume he likes to wear. At the nearby seashore, he finds an abandoned sailboat, and sets out in it.

He eventually reaches an island, where he finds several large talking wild things, vaguely humanoid in shape such as watery off-white colored eyes and snotty noses left un-wiped, with features resembling those of various animals . Carol (James Gandolfini), Ira and Judith (Forest Whitaker and Catherine O’Hara), Alexander (Paul Dano), Douglas (Chris Cooper), The Bull (Michael Berry, Jr.). Max convinces the wild things that he is a King with magical powers and claims he can ‘fix things’ within the group which begins with a ‘wild rumpus’. Like all things in life, the good things come to an end resulting in an increase in tension between Carol and the others in the group.

Eventually, Max admits to Alexander that he is neither a king nor does he have magical powers. Alexander warns Max to never let Carol know. But Max’s secret is exposed to the whole group, and Carol goes wild. Max is saved by K.W., who hides him from Carol in her stomach, then explains to him that their lives are already difficult, with Carol’s tantrums only making it worse. Hearing this, Max finally understands what his mother is going through, and decides that it is time to leave the island.

My initial reaction to the movie was “wow this is slow”, however once Max enters his imagination you see the story about being a child begin to unfold, from random tantrums, jealousy, anger, attention seeking…all emotions playing a role in the film. The personalities of the characters soon begin to clearly portray true life characters in Max’s life, even though we had only a moment to meet them at the beginning of the story. The audience is able to see how individuals become exaggerated in the mind of a child especially individuals who play an important role in that child’s life. As an observer you cannot help but feel the sadness of the characters in the film, and in some cases you cannot help but recall moments in your life that you felt the same way some of these wild things felt. The tagline of the movie really is as true as it gets, There’s one in all of us.

carole Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Rated: Rated R for horror violence/gore and language.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror

Release Date: 2 October 2009

Runtime: 88 min

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Bill Murray

In the horror comedy Zombieland focuses on two men who run into one another, who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus is a big wuss — but when you’re afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Moreover having a list or rules helps: Rule 1: Cardio, Rule 2: Beware of Bathrooms, Rule 3: Seatbelts, Rule 4: Doubletap (check out the 32 RULES) . Tallahassee is an AK-toting, zombie-slaying’ bad ass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita and Little Rock, who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

A hilarious film, clearly a hit for 2009. Zombieland is one of those movies people love because it does not require thinking, simply watching and laughing with the occasional OOHHH when a good hit is made. The movie is built around a road-trip concept loaded with stylish zombie kills and a blossoming relationship between possibly the only people left alive in Zombieland. The script itself is phenomenal, loaded with one-liners even Rodney Dangerfield would be proud of. The film includes horrific gore and is true to the genre of horror providing the audience with a reason to jump  a couple inches off their seats.

If you like zombie movies, horror comedies, or the joyously inventive massacre of the undead, I cannot recommend Zombieland enough. See it. Take a friend. Take your domesticated zombie. Just go. And 20 years from now, when you’re kids are experiencing Zombieland for the first time at a midnight showing on their college campus, you can tell them you saw it the first time around. And if the world is obliterated by a zombie apocalypse between now and then, at least you’ll have a few rules to live by.

carole Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy

Release Date: 9 September 2009

Runtime: 79mins

Director: Shane Acker

Cast: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Jennifer Connelly, Fred Tatasciore, Elijah Wood, Alan Oppenheimer

When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world where all humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. As they’ll soon come to learn, the very future of civilization may depend on them.

A truly gripping film that includes personalities that are familiar to us. #1 (Plummer) the elder leader, stubborn and stuck in his ways.  #2 (Landau) an older individual who inspires and has been around a long time, however younger in his mindset and in search of new things. #5 (Reilly) a younger male stuck between wanting to follow the rules and wanting to rebel, knowing that he can guide the others in the right direction. #6 (Glover) slightly off the ball, however is able to lead the others to the source of their problems. #7 (Connelly) macho woman, the savior and most skilled at combat there to defend. #8 (Tatasciore) the bodyguard and ‘pet’ of #1, does as is told. Last but not least #9 (Wood) the youngest of the group, the rebel looking for a better life, refusing to accept things as they are, insisting he can save the group from extinction.

The film is rated 13 for a reason, it was definitely not made with children in mind, it was genuinely scary at parts. Truly another winner in the animation world. Acker, with the help of animation superstar and creative genius Tim Burton, have managed to create a film (initially a animation short) that will appeal to mass audiences, including the not-so-into-animation movie watchers out there.

carole Adventure, Animation, Fantasy

Steve Carrel and Anne Hathaway star in the entertaining movie Get Smart as Maxwell Smart and Veteran agent 99. When the headquarters of U.S. spy agency control is attacked and the identities of its agents are compromised, the chief (Alan Arkin) has no choice but to promote his ever-enthusiastic analyst Maxwell Smart. Smart has always dreamed of working alongside superstar agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson), but instead gets paired up with the feisty Agent 99.

The pair set out on a mission to prevent the treat of world domination by the crime organization known as KOAS. Together they must prevent the doomsday plans of KAOS head Siegfried (Terrance Stamp). With little field experience and even less time to stop Siegfried. Smart who is armed with nothing but a few spy-tech gadgets makes for an attention-grabbing mission.

To my surprise, Carrel and Hathaway make for a great team despite the obvious age difference which is cleared up in the movie. I never really enjoyed Anne Hathaway’s performances before with the exception of Rachel Getting Married but I’m certainly a fan now, she is quite funny and sexy in Get Smart. You can expect all of the classic Carrel moments all wrapped into 110 minutes of comedy.

The movie is actually derived from the original “Get Smart” series which took place from 1965-1970, created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. If you enjoyed the original television series Get Smart, then you will definitely appreciate the movie which was released June 20, 2008.

Jenn Adventure, Comedy Anne Hathaway, Spy Movie, Steve Carrel

Rated: R

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama

Release date: February 13, 2009

Run time: 1 hr 58 mins

Director: Tom Tykwer

Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Ulrich Thomsen

Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) partners up with Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) in an attempt to expose a high-profile financial institute’s role in an international arms dealing ring.

With a plot such as this, you would expect the movie to be exciting and fast paced. The movie starts off quite slow, beginning with details of who exactly is the IBBC (the International Bank of Business and Credit) and what they can do. Salinger had been tracking the IBBC for years, turning it into a game for him, determined to bring them down.

The action in The International was very slow until the middle of the movie where the exhilarating shootout takes place in Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan. The movies ending left us wondering what Salingers determination and drive to take down the IBBC was even for, was it for the better of the world or was it a personal vendetta, an obsession.

Nothing is really ever answered. I heard from many sources that the movie left them feeling bored and wondering what happened. For those who haven’t seen the movie yet, you must stay focussed to follow along and understand the ending. This is the kind of movie where if you take a bathroom break, you’re left very confused. Hopefully you will be sitting with someone who can explain what just happened or if you’re in the comfort of your own home, press rewind (for all you VHS oldies) or back on your DVD remote. Overall it’s not a terrible movie, but if you’re looking for a fast paced non stop action movie, I would look elsewhere. If you like Clive Owen you will certainly like the movie.

Jenn Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller

Rated: PG-13

Release date: October 3, 2008

Run Time: 90 mins

Genre: Comedy,  Romance, Adventure

Director: Peter Sollett

Cast: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings

Some people would consider Nick and Norah to be a chick flick, I’m not totally convinced. It is a romantic comedy type movie, but it’s got some interesting twists and turns to it. The movie is very character-driven and, luckily, the cast was strong enough to carry it. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings make one quirky and fun pair with loads of chemistry (which is important when trying to convince the audience they belong together). The supporting cast members also shine in their roles. Ari Graynor, for instance, plays one of the most ridiculously likable drunks I’ve ever seen. The performances delivered by this young cast are really what make this movie.

So who and where is Fluffy? Fluffy is a mysterious band who announces a secret concert. The word spreads all through the city and before long punksters is racing all over from club to bar to find the band. Withdrawn Nick ad Norah (both for different reasons) come together by a random kiss when Norah asks Nick to pretend to be her boyfriend for a few minutes. And so the adventure begins for Nick and Norah, (who are both fans of Fluffy), as they try to discover Fluffys location. While trying to locate the band, Nick’s ex-girlfriend is all of a sudden interested in getting back with him and tries to seduce him, Norah’s sometimes boyfriend wants her to hang with him and Norah has loses her drunken friend Caroline.

This movie is simply fun and fresh, the characters are easy to relate to with well-developed characters who evolve effectively and realistically as the film goes on. Even the little parts make the movie realistic. Who else noticed the piece of gum that was shared throughout the movie, even after it fell out of a drunken girl’s mouth into a toilet full of vomit (which of course no one knew)!

Jenn Adventure, Comedy, Romance

Rated: PG

Runtime: 1 hr. 30 min.

Release date: July 24, 2009

Genre: Action, Adventure, Animated, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Cast: Bill Nighy, Zach Galifianakis, Sam Rockwell, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Nicholas Cage

Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer

G-Force is the first 3-D film to hit the big screen for Jerry Bruckheimer, who teamed up with Disney to produce this combination of live action and well-done animation. These exceptionally natural-looking Guinea Pigs each have a distinct personality and are to be trained by a covert government to work in espionage. Armed with the latest high-tech spy equipment, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws.

tapped for the G-Force are guinea pigs Darwin (voice of Sam Rockwell), the squad leader determined to succeed at all costs; Blaster (voice of Tracy Morgan), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and a love for all things extreme; and Juarez (voice of Penelope Cruz), a sexy martial arts pro; plus the literal fly-on-the-wall reconnaissance expert, Mooch, and a star-nosed mole, Speckles (voice of Nicolas Cage), the computer and information specialist.

I was quite impressed with the 3-d action, the humor is consistent and enjoyable, the story and special effects all work together to boost the overall effect of this film. G-Force is cute and fun and suitable for any age. I Suggest it to all, you will leave the theatre with a nice big smile!

Jenn Action, Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi 3-D, Animation, Disney, G-force, Guinea pig

I finally watched Tropic Thunder this weekend, I wasn’t going to watch this movie but after a little convincing from a friend I gave in. I knew Ben Stiller directed and starred in this comedy, so it couldn’t be that terrible (after hearing rumors that is was pretty bad). I’ve always enjoyed Stiller’s movies; this is another one I can add to the “like” list. I’m with most other reviewers on this one, if you like Ben Stiller you will like this movie, plain and simple.

The movies premise is that a Vietnam vet wrote a novel Tropic Thunder and this movie is basically the telling of the making of that movie (a movie within a movie if you will). The director of the movie is told to shoot the movie as a live action film, guerilla style. However the area in which they start shooting the film in is actually populated by heroin drug smugglers. The actors are unaware of this and think everything that happens is part of the movie.

Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller & Jack Black all played great rolls in the film, however it’s actually Tom Cruise who steals the spotlight in this one. Cruise plays the movie’s producer Les Grossman, who turns out to be freaking hilarious. I had no idea Cruise could be this funny. I’ve actually never really enjoyed his films, but after seeing him as a “wacko” in this comedy, I think he has found his calling. I would have to say that Downey’s role as an Australian playing a black man is a close second to being funny next to Cruise.

The movie was well directed and acted, it is supposed to be a comedy and it lives up to its genre, being funny. I laughed a lot and would definitely see it again.

Jenn Action, Adventure, Comedy

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

Release Date: June 19, 2009

Runtime: 97mins

Director: Harold Ramis

Cast: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Oliver Platt, Paul Rudd, June Raphael, David
Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Juno Temple, Olivia Wilde, Bill Hader, Harold Ramis, Rhoda Griffis, June Diane Raphael

Jack Black has a certain personality and comedic style that can either completely turn off a movie watcher from his films or completely draw them in. When news of a new Jack Black movie surfaced, it was not clear whether it would be like his much older movies such as Envy something not worth looking forward to or if it was going to be more like School of Rock or Nacho Libre then all the more reason to look forward to the summer blockbuster season. Primarily a musician, it seems as though Jack Black’s acting repertoire has been improving dramatically over the last few years and as a result, his fan base is growing. Moreover his choice in films and in acting partners has helped with his popularity, he seems to have acquired the knowledge of who would best compliment him in his films and he has done so repeatedly in recent movies.

This brings me to Year One. Besides the trailer seen in theaters I knew very little about this movie and assumed it would be Black (Zed) and Michael Cera (Oh) mocking the beginning of time similar to History of the World with Mel Brooks and Dom DeLuise. Needless to say, I was a little off on my assumptions. In this movie Zed is a hunter and Oh is a gatherer in a small forest tribe. When the tribe finds out that Zed ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, he is banished from the tribe and Oh joins him, although technically not by choice. They decide to go beyond the borders they were confined to as members of the village and venture off to find the end of the Earth. Along the way, they encounter Cain and Abel (David Cross and Paul Rudd), and Abraham (Hank Azaria). After, Zed and Oh notice the girls they wanted to “lay with”, Maya (June Diane Raphael) and Eema (Juno Temple), from their former tribe have been enslaved, they head off on a journey to save them. Like many a film, our main character begins looking for the meaning in his life and discovers in the end who he is on the inside is what matters.

I found this film to be entertaining in general, although I doubt it would make the Top Ten in Black’s career. My personal opinion? Black did what he always does in his films, use his explosive personality to enhance his jokes, although as mentioned before, Black is a character that you love or hate, on top of that the awkwardness of Cera made his character all that more lovable and his situations all that more hilarious, I believe his character outshone that of Black’s. What I believe caused the film to get bad ratings from critics is this became a classic case of showing the funniest parts in the trailer, therefore failing to save any surprises for the film. You should watch the film and judge it for yourself but take one piece of advice, the less you know about the movie going in the more pleased you will be with the result.

carole Adventure, Comedy

Rated: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Runtime: 1 hr 33 Mins
Release Date: June 5, 2009
Director: Brad Silberling
Cast: Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone

–
Based on the 1970s cult classic television series created by Sid & Marty Krofft, Land of the Lost directed by Brad Silberling stars Will Farrell as has been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall. Basically he sucked back in time, by back in time, I mean Dinosaur time. He has to survive in a dinosaur universe filled with fantastic creatures. He is not alone; with the assistance of his assistant Holly (Anna Friel) and survivalist will (Danny McBride) they must figure out how they’re going to escape this really bad situation.
If you’re a fan of the original television series and take is seriously you might be a little disappointed in this reinvention. With Will Ferrell starring in the film, you must be aware that it’s going to be silly and funny. There isn’t much of a plot, or character development in this film. It’s more like a bunch of TV episodes all put together in one long, silly adventure. Even though the film was without an interesting plot, Will Farrell does a pretty good job at keeping us entertained. I mean if you like Will Farrell then I’m sure you will enjoy this film.
You can tell by the trailers for Land of the Lost that if you are not a committed Will Farrell Fan, that this movie would probably not be your cup of tea. From what I’ve read from fan reviews and critics they either loved it or they hated it, no middle ground here people. Personally I would not watch it again. But give it a shot if you are a fan of Will Farrell, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Jenn Adventure, Comedy