Carolina Beach Today Movies

Public Enemies

2009-07-11T21:18:00.003-04:00

Folks are sure to criticize Michael Mann for his unorthodox storytelling here. Most of the film was shot on high definition digital making it look more like a BBC mini-series than a modern, glossy and romantic film. I think it was quite brave of Mann to take a look at this compelling story and say "if we make this on film, it's just going to become another glossy gangster movie-- they're a dime a dozen... let's find a way to experiment and see if it works!"

I think it did work. At first the back-and-forth switches from film to digital was jarring, but once I got into the mood of the story I found myself enthralled in the tale of Public Enemy #1 John Dillinger and the world that was after him. I think the digital effect added a "right-there" effect to the film. All acting was flawless, as expected.

I highly recommend. And the 2 1/2 hours didn't phaze me... I could have watched for another hour or two. Totally engrossing.

My Sister's Keeper

2009-07-11T21:08:00.003-04:00

Well, aside from the fact that the film ends totally differently from the book (!?) this was a really good story and a sweet movie. You will cry for two hours straight, but it's a good story and poignant. Interesting turn from Cameron Diaz, as well. The most startling performance was certainly from 17-year-oldSofia Vassilieva as cancer-stricken Kate Fitzgerald. This film is worth seeing for her acting alone.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

2009-07-11T21:03:00.002-04:00

Fun for kids. I got a little annoyed with the constant wimpyness of Ray Romano's character and the "girl-power"-ness of Queen Latifah's character as his wife. Other than that it was a sweet story. I've never REALLY enjoyed any of the Ice Age movies, so maybe I'm not the best critic on this one, but I'd say it's a good bet for an afternoon out with the kids.

The Proposal

2009-06-20T14:25:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since I've seen such a well-rounded romantic comedy! I was hoping it would be good but yo never know nowadays... This movie was great! So fun! Lots of laughs and surprisingly a few tears, too. It was refreshing to see Sandra Bullock not play bubbly and Ryan Reynolds is just hilarious no matter what... does anyone else remember watching him on "Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place" ?? I remember watching that show and going "this guys is gonna be so famous." Hmm! Guess I was right... well... I usually am. :)

Enjoy!

The Taking of Pelham 123

2009-06-20T14:22:00.003-04:00

Much better than I expected it to be. This movie is fast-paced, interesting, fairly unpredictable and includes a lot of great actors which, for me, really kept me on my toes. Great date night or afternoon lazy-ing around movie.

The Soloist

2009-06-20T14:19:00.002-04:00

A beautiful story. Lots of comedy and drama. I don't want to give too much away, and it wasn't quite as good as I think it could have been, but you can never go wrong with Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx is very good in this also (I liked him better in Collateral, though).

Anyway, if you're in the mood for a bittersweet tale, you're sure to enjoy this moving, unique and lovely film.

UP

2009-06-20T14:16:00.002-04:00

I was fortunate enough to catch this in 3D. What a charming little movie with a big heart! I would absolutely watch this again. Lots of laughs, a few tears, and an age-old story about keeping the wonder of life alive. Never stop dreaming...

Night at the Museum: Smithsonian

2009-06-20T14:14:00.002-04:00

Really hilarious! I laughed out loud a lot during this film. Even though it's for kids, it's got a lot of grown-up humor, and some cameos by comedy favorites from 30 Rock and The Office. I totally recommend this movie!!

Land of the Lost

2009-06-20T14:10:00.003-04:00

I was so in the mood to laugh, even if it was stupid. Now, maybe it's because I never watched the original, but Oh. My. God.

I don't know if this could have been worse. It was like rich teenaged boy got stoned and stole his dad's expensive video camera and mom's random halloween costumes and made a movie. We all just got suckered into watching it because of the name attached.

I'm sorry but... what the heck!???"

STAR TREK

2009-05-12T12:03:00.004-04:00

WOW! I've never seen one full episode of Star Trek, nor any of the films so my nostalgia/connection going into this film would be zilch. I can't even tell you how impressive this movie was. If you don't want to see it, GO ANYWAY! JJ Abrams (writer/director for Felicity, Lost, Mission Impossible 3) is a MASTER at creating characters you care about amidst unbelievable circumstances.

Star Trek is not only directed brilliantly, but the acting is five star, the dialogue natural, the comedy timed perfectly, the action compelling and the cinematography beautiful!

Chris Pine as Kirk stands out as a "where has he been!?" kind of actor (reminds me a LOT of Leonardo DiCaprio), and all the supporting cast was not only uncannily similar physically to the original characters but were wonderful actors as well.

RUN RUN RUN to see this movie!

State of Play

2009-05-10T16:02:00.002-04:00

I'm a sucker for political intrigue movies so it's no surprise I enjoyed State of Play. Besides Russell Crowe's distracting long hair and Ben Affleck's... "ness" I thought everyone was great, the directing was spot-on and interesting without being overdone, and the story was compelling. A few extra twists and turns I could have done without but overall I recommend this for a good night out.

17 AGAIN

2009-05-10T15:59:00.003-04:00

I've only seen one High School Musical but I took notice of Zac Efron right away-- great comic timing, refreshingly self-effacing for a "hot young hollywood" star, and dramatically talented. So, I was excited about 17 Again and I was not disappointed.

Great for the whole family this is a fun movie with a lot of heart and laughs. I definitely recommend, and think we should keep our eyes out for great things from Zac Efron as the years progress.

WOLVERINE

2009-05-10T15:49:00.002-04:00

I'm sure Cinema Tarzan will have another take on this film but it wasn't quite my cup of tea. I was actually really looking forward to it. After Australia I became a Hugh Jackman fan and from the Wolverine previews it looked like a more character-driven film. Now, I've never seen any of the X-Men movies so I don't have that nostalgia to draw from but I was expecting this to be something anyone could appreciate.

The first hour was really enjoyable. I thought the director did a great job and I really cared about the characters. Then, somewhere along the way it became more and more implausible and I just became totally disinterested. Well... may implausible is the wrong word, after all, it's sci-fi and you have to know what you're in for when you go see a sci-fi movie. I think I just felt like the filmmakers were constantly underestimating my intelligence. Like they expected me to ignore all the character inconsistencies and story holes-- that I should just be happy to watch the action without any believability or consistency simply because it had a famous brand name on it.

If you really want to see this I recommend renting it.

I LOVE YOU MAN - guest reviewer

2009-04-20T14:51:00.003-04:00

I really don't love you. Man.

A friend of mine and I needed to waste a few hours, and this was the only thing playing at the right time.

THINGS TO LOVE:

1. Can we all agree that Rashida Jones is DARLING? Yes? Okay, great, thanks.
2. My best friend for using her movie gift card. Otherwise it would have been a waste of time AND money.

THINGS NOT TO LOVE, Man:
1. Crude, unfunny "jokes"
2. The relationships between the female characters came across as shallow, uptight, and heartless.
3. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel seem to potentially have some comedic chemistry, but the LAME writing totally missed that mark.

Yes, there are some funny moments, but 2 hours of crass jokes and characters I could care less about?... YAWN! I think this was probably way more of a "guy movie" than we were expecting. Fart and Poo jokes get old really fast. I don't really want to see 2 guys make out, that doesn't make me laugh. Women gossiping about how lame men are and whining about being single... not funny, not flattering.

We were looking for a way to waste time, I think I would've rather sat outside the theater for two hours and watched people, I can guarantee that would've been far more interesting and entertaining.

SUMMERTIME... and the livin' ain't easy...

2009-04-17T21:12:00.002-04:00

Well, this summer has crept upon me and I realize I have not been to the movies is quite some time! I know you all love coming here to check on what's playing, so I thought I'd open up the floor to some of you who want to post your own reviews.

Please email me at CinemaJane@gmail.com and tell me what you saw and what you thought. I'll post some of the best reviews here and maybe that will help fill the void while my summer speeds ahead of me!

Cheers!

Jane

DUPLICITY

2009-03-22T19:12:00.003-04:00

I recommend avoiding this movie. The commercial was the most fun thing about it. Roberts and Owen have no chemistry and the director seemed to have forgotten that there would be an audience watching this movie who has not read the script; it was confusing as hell! And too long. Save your $.

GRAN TORINO

2009-03-21T09:16:00.003-04:00

This got off to a rocky start. Some of the acting is over-the-top or just plain bad. Clint Eastwood makes a habit out of grunting and growling like an old dog and, at first, it's quite distracting. But the more affection you feel for his character, the more you understand that he really IS an old dog just trying to make sense out of a long and painful life.

Eastwood's directing is always visually interesting and the story is intriguing. As the film went on I found myself really drawn into these characters and by the end I was totally touched and moved.

I highly recommend GRAN TORINO. This film has so much heart; so much grace and grit. Not for the whole family, but teenagers perhaps.

This is a beautiful tale of love, growth, sacrifice and relationship.

Four Stars!

WATCHMEN

2009-03-21T09:07:00.002-04:00

Okay. Great special effects, visually inventive and fun for the first hour. The second and third hour, however, got to be a bit much. This movie has, like, six endings. The plot started out as one thing and turned into something else entirely. I really got tired of looking at Billy Crudup's netherlands for 3 hours and I really didn't find any point to the story.

There was one cool character, Rorschach. A real solid performance turned in by Jackie Earl Haley. The only character with any moral conscious, zealous and rigid though he may be.

I was just really bored and would not recommend this film. I wanted my brain space back, my time back, and the 400 calories I gained on the bag of popcorn gone!

No thumbs up here.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

2009-03-03T14:02:00.004-05:00

Chances are if you're looking for a review of "Shopaholic" then you're already interested which means you're probably gonna go see it anyway. But just for humors sake I'll review...

This is a really cute flick. A little cheesy at times and the dialogue could definitely have used some work, but the story is sweet and it's certainly a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening.

THE READER

2009-03-02T10:00:00.006-05:00

I'm speechless after this film. Honestly, I still can't tell whether I liked it or not, which probably means that everyone will have a different reaction. Kate Winslet deserved her Oscar for this, hands down. There were so many things about this movie that I hated, especially the first 45 minutes-- not so much because of the story, but thinking of this 18 yr old kid filming incredibly intimate love scenes with a grown woman who he is not actually with. My heart broke for the robbing of innocence of the character and the actor. At the same time, if those scenes had not been so raw and bare the rest of the story would have suffered, and the moments I loved which touched me so deeply would not have had the impact that they did.

So then, was it a story worth telling? You'll have to decide that for yourself. To me, it was an honest look at the life of someone who gets one moment of redemption in their whole miserable life... but it's so beautiful and human and touching that it almost makes up for everything else.

The historical significance of this film is also not to be ignored. How does a one cope with such massive tragedy as the Holocaust when it effects your own life so directly? How did the second generation Germans (late 50s and 60s) come to terms with what the generation before them had done? And where does guilt and blame lie in all of it? How can guilt be measured and penance paid out of such chaos. It seems to be as futile as piecing together a mountain of ashes.

This is a highly emotional film, don't watch while distracted. I wouldn't recommend knowing too much before you go. Let it sink in and then come back and tell me what you thought.

Love, Jane

DOUBT

2009-02-25T19:16:00.005-05:00

If you get the chance to spend an hour and 45 min. with Meryl, Phillip and Amy PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go see this film.

I know a few people who shied away from it under the mistaken impression that the film is about pedophilia in the Catholic Church. It's not. It's about doubt. What does it do to you? To others? What is proof? Is proof relative? What is gossip and how does it create doubt? Can doubt destroy and build up at the same time?

All these questions and many more are raised . The film goes by very quickly and there was nothing visual in the realm of the abuse issue to make you uncomfortable... in fact, even the verbal references are implied.

These performances are outstanding and the material is unique and not to be missed. I recommend seeing this on the big screen so as not to have your attention divided (as it otherwise may be if viewing in a living room).

5 stars.

Showtime at Carolina Beach Carmike is 7:05 pm

Showtimes at Lumina Theatre - UNCW are 1:10 & 4:30

Thalian Hall Cinematique Showtime is March 2-4 at 7:30pm

THE INTERNATIONAL

2009-02-25T19:08:00.004-05:00

I didn't really want to see this but wound up going with some girlfriends last night as it was the only movie playing in our time range that looked remotely interesting.

I'm still not sure what this movie was about...

MegaBank sells weapons, trying to take over world. Check.

Clive Owen looking broodish. Check.

Naomi Watts looking distressed. Check.

Lots of important dialogue using vocabulary-words-of-the-week. Check.

Big shootout at the Guggenheim. Check.

Blood, action and suspense. Check.

Still-- I'm not really sure what happened. Were people dying out of revenge? Loyalty? Control? Betrayal? Wasn't there any female besides Naomi Watts they could have cast against Cardboard Clive? I like Watts, but she was too bland for this film which already had me dozing off. And all of the bad guys looked the same! How am I supposed to tell the difference?

I wasn't into it. But if you like things like The Rainmaker and The Firm, etc... you may enjoy this. It's not as good as either, but in the same vein.

PUSH

2009-02-10T19:55:00.004-05:00

The length (or lack thereof) of 14-looking-12-Dakota Fanning's skirt borders on kiddie porn, but that was my only real complaint in the movie. Seriously, though, it was obscene.

This is a good flick for a date night or a Friday night out. Lots of action, cool story, good acting and and interesting flick all around. Taking place in the course of one day, lots of hot people with crazy superpowers tear up Hong Kong to find/protect the girl who threatens to bring down the bad guys and juice up the good guys.

If you're in the mood for this kind of movie, you'll probably really enjoy this.

TAKEN

2009-01-31T23:47:00.005-05:00

Oh. My. God.

Go see this movie NOW

p.s. Don't take your potty break any later than when Liam drops his daughter at the airport. This movie moves like a steamtrain, baby!

THE WRESTLER

2009-01-27T21:57:00.003-05:00

Every so often a movie comes out where people say "Oh, this is such an important film." Most of the time they're wrong and just being pretentious. In fact, I haven't heard anyone say that about THE WRESTLER yet, but were I to hear it, this time... I would wholeheartedly agree.

THE WRESTLER is more important than any of the other nominated films, in my opinion. It's not for everyone as there is some really hard content (lots of nudity & intense violence) but for those of you who can stomach it, this film is the perfect example of a dark story that needs to be told.

It asks questions that most of Hollywood is afraid to ask... what comes after fame? What happens when the fans stop loving you? Is your life of fame worth losing everything for? What is real love? What is worth fearing?

I don't ever want to watch this movie again, but I would recommend it to anyone who is curious because it's HONEST. It's the most honest thing I've seen come out of Hollywood in a long, long time.

DEFIANCE

2009-01-26T18:51:00.003-05:00

First film I've like Daniel Craig in... even though he did go in and out of his Russian, I mean British, I mean Russian accent throughout the whole film.

It's a bit slow and long, but a cool story if you have a patience and time. The acting was great and it's based on a true story, so that's neat. The cinematography was beautiful even if the direction was a bit haphazard and the editing jolting.

There's other things out that are on my list of priorities to see, but it's worth renting.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

2009-01-24T23:37:00.003-05:00

I had no idea what to expect from this movie but I have to tell you it was really, really wonderful! The acting was spot on, the directing was interesting without being distracting and the story was epic. THIS is the kind of story Hollywood should be telling. Full of heartache and hope, Slumdog Millionaire follows an Indian boy through his life in the slums with his brother Salim and an orphan girl they befriend, Latika. All the events in his life lead up to one fateful day when anything is possible and all his dreams are within reach.

The characters are all consistent and yet unpredicatable, there are laughter and tears and you'll be so glad you went to see this great, great film.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

2009-01-24T17:59:00.006-05:00

I've been reading "The Feminine Mystique" lately. It's really quite informative, but also misses the mark in so many ways, as I'm sure any modern woman can tell you--- just because we're no longer afflicted with the "Happy Housewife Syndrome" thanks to the Feminist Movement, doesn't mean we're any happier or more satisfied. In fact, I think Feminism was its own worst enemy. It screamed at the top of its lungs that circumstances define EVERYTHING-- if you only change your circumstances then you'll be satisfied.

Revolutionary Road is beautifully filmed, with staggering performances and not a bit of hope for the human heart. In fact, I believe the main goal of this film was to show how hopeless they think life is unless you "change your circumstances."

For a group of such intelligent people as these actors and filmmakers, it's pretty remarkable how closed minded they all seem to be. This is the most narrow minded view of life I have every seen on film, and it is being touted as a cinematic triumph. Nominated for THREE Academy Awards! This is the kind of self-righteous film that makes Hollywood look completely out of touch with the real world. If you have the power to reach as many people as Hollywood does, would THIS be the story you wanted to tell them!? No way.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to see a movie about how depressing it is to be depressed in your marriage and to choose to let your circumstances swallow you up whole. I want to see a film that shows a couple who are oppressed in their circumstances, but find a way to fight through, save their marriage and choose to love each other in SPITE of their circumstances. THAT makes me excited about living my life.

My recommendation is to stay as far away from this awful waste of film and talent as you can.

MALL COP

2009-01-18T22:29:00.003-05:00

I'm a big fan of Kevin James, but someone needs to tell Sitcom actors that live-studio-audience, half-hour shows are completely different than films. The first 40 minutes of MALL COP are bleak at best, filled with lots of jokes that fall flat on account of the missing laugh track.

It gets better the second half, I even laughed out loud at a few things. But then the ending rolled around and somehow it went back to being painful.

This is a renter if you're really desperate.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

2009-01-11T07:54:00.008-05:00

A beautiful fairy tale. Full of wonder and laughter and heartache. It's everything the previews make it look like. They say there's only so many stories to tell, the trick is to find new ways of telling them.

David Fincher and his cast of "Benjamin Button" have certainly done this.

The film is 3 hours long, but I enjoyed every second of it. (A good restroom breaking point would be after Brad Pitt meets Tilda Swinton who plays Elizabeth - the woman in the elevator.)

There were a few things I think could have been left out or changed to make this film better, but overall I loved it. The acting is phenomenal. Phenomenal. Great for a rainy afternoon.

MARLEY & ME

2009-01-08T10:12:00.004-05:00

I loved this film. It's funny, heartwarming, sad, beautiful and real. This is not the fluffy comedy the commercials make you think it is. It's a real look at life and family and the beauty of friendship. Plus, it's the best performance from Jennifer Aniston I've seen in a while. Feel good movie for the whole family, although it does deal with some tough topics . You decide if your young kids are mature enough to handle. You'll love it. Go!

YES MAN

2009-01-08T10:08:00.004-05:00

This was a lot funnier than I expected it to be. There is definitely some off-color humor here that may not be suitable for anyone under 13, but the story is sweet and full of laughs. Worth a trip to the movies.

BEDTIME STORIES

2009-01-08T10:04:00.004-05:00

This was really fun and I was so glad to see Keri Russell back on screen. Big Fan. Great fun for the whole family. I definitely recommend.

AUSTRALIA

2008-12-02T18:50:00.001-05:00

Perfect. Best epic since Gone With the Wind. I'm serious, you MUST see this movie. I don't care if it's three hours long. I would have sat there for six. Go NOW!

FOUR CHRISTMASES

2008-11-30T16:48:00.004-05:00

I laughed my @$$ off in this movie. There were a few things that I could have done without but I definitely recommend this for a fun holiday afternoon treat, or a date night out. Probably not for the kids.

xo Jane

TWILIGHT

2008-11-30T16:45:00.007-05:00

I love Vampire movies so I was expecting this to be like "Interview..." or "Underworld". It's not as sophisticated as either of those, but I thought the acting here was really good and the story was very sweet. Imagine, for those of you who were teenagers in the 90's, that R.L. Stine and Judy Blume got together and wrote a book... TWILIGHT is what I would imagine they'd concoct.

The whole movie was shot like a music video; lots of extreme close ups and music montages. Although, I was surprised at how sophisticated the music WAS in this film. A few things were distracting like the bad vampire makeup and the occasional bout of forced dialogue. It was all a little too contrived for me. Lots of "Insert tense feeling here" moments, but overall, I suppose I liked it. Images and moments from the film kept creeping up on me for days after I saw it. This movie is definitely for the tween/teen crowd, but I appreciate that it is still wholesome and innocent, like young love.

I heard of a review for this film that said something to the effect of "If you liked the books, you'll love the movie. But it's probably not going to recruit any NEW fans just on the film alone."

I concur.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3

2008-10-29T22:37:00.004-04:00

I've never seen any of these films and wound up going to this one with a couple of very excited kids. What a pleasant surprise! The music was very catchy, though obviously catered toward a more pop generation, the acting was up to par with Disney, which isn't saying much, but the big surprise to me was Zac Efron. Through doing some of the cheesiest stuff I've seen, he completely committed as an actor to everything. His sheer devotion to the heart of that character absolutely MADE this movie. Zac Efron singlehandedly saved this film from being just another Disney-for-Tweens movie, and I think he's going to be a big, big star.

The other great joy to see on film was Kenny Ortega's choreography (a style you may recognize from another great film he directed... Newsies). Ortega is a master of masculine boys choreography. He knows how to make them look like boys instead of sissy boys. :)

Aside from an overall corniness, this movie ranks high on my list, and believe it or not-- I'd watch it again!

p.s. Watch for the junkyard scene. It's pretty rad.

MAX PAYNE

2008-10-29T22:35:00.004-04:00

This movie could have been so awesome. There's a good story base, and the effects were really cool. Unfortunately, the director forgot to hire good actors (aside from Mark Whalberg and Beau Bridges), and the producers forgot to hire a good writer. This came off looking like a big-budget Steven Segal movie. It was fun to look at, but painful to get through due to the lack of comedy and/or drama and/or good acting. At one point my husband and I just started laughing at how ridiculous this was.
And People, PLEASE stop hiring rappers to be in movies unless there is seriously no on else who comes through your casting office that can do his part better... in which case, you probably shouldn't be making your movie.
Really disappointing. Skip it.

Go rent 300. Now THAT'S what this should have been like!

BODY OF LIES

2008-10-22T10:55:00.004-04:00

Maybe I just wasn't in the mood. It's a very well-made film, Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio are excellent as expected and all the other actors are wonderful. Of course, DiCaprio has his little "speech" moment about the hollywood agenda for the Iraq war. Honestly, if I'd have known it was about the war, I wouldn't have seen it. I thought it was a spy movie like the BOURNE films.

I didn't know what the film was about the whole time I was watching and even after I left the theatre. It's like a "slice out of life" kind of flick where there's a moderate story line, but really you're just interested in the characters. Anyway. It's a very good movie, just not my kind of movie.

FLASH OF GENIUS

2008-10-15T06:35:00.005-04:00

I look forward to these indie flicks... the underdog stories that make their way into our lives-- unfortunately this is not one of them.
Greg Kinnear is a great actor here, there's no doubt about it. Lauren Graham lights up the screen as usual and Dermot Mulroney is, well, you know. But this tale of an inventor whose idea is swiped by the big Corporation is anything but glorious. Interesting and hopeful for the first hour it suddenly trails down, down, down until you are sodepressed FOR this character and angry with him that by the end, it doesn't even matter which way the Jury voted-- you pretty much just think the guy's a jerk who wasted his life.
FLASH OF GENIUS is only as good as the moral of the story... "don't miss out on your life... this is what happens if you do."If you want to see a good human interest story, go rent Erin Brockovich or The Insider.

APPALOOSA

2008-10-08T19:32:00.012-04:00

CINEMA JANE'S GUIDE TO THE MOST BORING EVENING EVER!!!

If you TiVo'ed last night's Presidental Debate, watch that.

Then, go see a 9pm showing of APPALOOSA.

______________________

I honestly have no idea why Ed Harris made this movie. It was well made I suppose... if not a bit awkward. The only interesting thing about this film was the friendship between Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen, which was still really subtle and dry. Renee Zellweger seemed really miscast, too. I kept waiting for this to pick up but, no dice.

I don't even know how this got investors, let alone a national release. If you want to see what this film SHOULD have been go rent OPEN RANGE with Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner.

EAGLE EYE

2008-10-03T20:54:00.006-04:00

I wasn't sure about this one but was in the mood to see an action movie, so I went. I was pleasantly surprised, I must say. Nice performances all around. The story never slowed down and, if you can get past the anti-patriot act agenda (which is annoying whether you agree or not), it's definitely worth watching. Good date night flick, it will entertain most anyone I would imagine.

GHOST TOWN

2008-09-24T08:44:00.006-04:00

Ghost Town was publicized as a goofy comedy, when in fact, it's a heartwarming tale with many many comedic moments. I don't want to give too much away, but this is a great film for everyone in the family, and will leave you feeling warm & fuzzy & happy as a clam! Go see it!

ALSO RENT: Heart & Souls, an old robert Downey Jr comedy with Kyra Sedgwick and Alfre Woodard in tow. It is, in fact, a bit better than Ghost Town.

RIGHTEOUS KILL

2008-09-17T13:27:00.016-04:00

The two Good-'Ole-Boys doin' a movie. The big "twist" in the film is pretty easy to figure out, but it doesn't matter. This movie is fast-paced, interesting and totally worth seeing. It's not great, but it's good, and one of the only good options in the movies right now. Rated R for violence, sexual content and mild violence.
Starring, AL PACINO (Which I can't say now without thinking of ALPA CHINO from Tropic Thunder), ROBERT DeNIRO, JOHN LEGUIZAMO, DONNIE WHALBERG, CARLA GUGINO, and BRIAN DENNEHY.

BURN AFTER READING

2008-09-17T13:27:00.015-04:00

Remember when I recommended "Miss Pettigrew..." and I said "when has Frances McDormand ever led you astray?"

NOW.

Now is when she has led me astray. I can't think of a bigger waste of my time than going to see "Burn After Reading". The film is made up entirely of deplorable characters, all doing wretched things to one another and we're supposed to be laughing.

"Look, it's a close-up of someone getting shot in the face! Ha Ha! That's HILARIOUS!"
"Look, that guy is getting hacked to death with a hatchet! I'm in STITCHES!!"

And there were actually people in the theatre laughing at this stuff. I was appalled. Absolutely appalled, as were the three people with me. The ONLY redeeming quality about this film is Brad Pitt who turns in a really, really funny performance... but it's still not good enough to make me recommend it to anyone. If you like violent humor, go see TROPIC THUNDER instead. At least Robert Downey, Jr. makes that worth watching.

Seriously, I can't say it enough. I wanted my 2 hours back, as well as the space in my brain that is now occupied by memories from this awful, awful film. I hated this movie.

INSTEAD: Rent these dark comedies... SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS, OFFICE SPACE, PUSHING TIN, GROSSE POINT BLANK

THE WOMEN

2008-09-17T13:27:00.014-04:00

The Bad News: Lots of mediocre acting from some great actresses. Meg Ryan's cheek implants and collagen were a little distracting and Cloris Leachman, the best actress in the film, appeared far too little. Also, lots of man-bashing.The Good News: A sweet story about friendship, visually fun to watch, funny moments, some nice real moments between friends.
I left the theatre feeling like "eh, whatever." The original might be more fun, but if there's nothing else you want to see, go see THE WOMEN in the theatres

MAMMA MIA!

2008-09-10T18:32:00.005-04:00

MAMMA MIA! discussion here...

TRAITOR - review

2008-09-03T13:24:00.001-04:00

This movie made me glad there are people who still want to make movies like this! Intense, questioning, dramatic, somber and well-crafted in all ways. (Though not quite as action-packed as "The Bourne..." films, to which it's being likened).

These are the kind of political movies I can get behind... they are asking questions instead of trying to provide answers. I love being given a set of questions to wrestle with when I go home. Some of the questions I found most interesting from this film were these:

Who is God to you?

Is God a God of Relationship or Mission?

What is Friendship?

Where does Trust originate and how is it maintained?

How far would you go to protect what you believe in?

What makes what you believe in worth protecting?

Is death ever cause for celebration?

What is the most important thing in the whole world-- to YOU?

There definitely was a slight agenda here toward the Left, but I really didn't feel it interfering with the heart of the story which was ultimately to ASK the audience to think for themselves.

BRAVO.

THE HOUSE BUNNY - review

2008-08-27T10:45:00.001-04:00

Yes, yes... that's right... of all the movies that opened this week, I went to see "The House Bunny". The Jury was still out on Anna Faris for me after seeing her in bit parts, but now I'm definitely a fan. She is hilarious!

This film lived up to my expectations of it... it was funny, fluffy, and light. I HAD hoped that they would not have glamourized the world of pornography the way they did, but I guess I understand that you can't get into anything too heavy when making a "legally blonde-ish" comedy.

But those were the only parts that didn't make me laugh! Apart from the occasional forced joke by supporting cast I was basically laughing for 2 hours.

Go with friends, but I wouldn't recommend this for any girl under the age of 16... I know that sounds crazy, but as light and fluffy as this film is I would imagine that a young girl who is still impressionable about what's attractive and the value of self worth could get the wrong message about this. There's lots of encouragement of sexually-driven behavior (dressing slutty, using your feminine wiles for power, etc...) that if viewed out of context and without thought might be harmful for a young-girl's self esteem. Sorry if I'm over-thinking this, I just have a real heart for young women.

Anyway, for the grown-up gals and college-pals... check it out! It's worth the money, for sure.

www.shelleylubben.com

A great resource for information on the truth behind the porn industry from a former porn star.

TROPIC THUNDER - review

2008-08-20T13:50:00.001-04:00

Soooooo... Look, to be honest, if it weren't for Robert Downey, Jr. this film would have really really... NOT been good. But BECAUSE of him, I think it's worth seeing! I haven't been a fan of Ben Stiller's for a while. He comes across to me as just an angry, unhappy guy and I think it shows in his work. Well, Ben wrote and directed this and it felt to me like he was just trying waaaay to hard to be funny, but there are some great celebrity cameos and a lot of really hilarious moments within the cast chemistry.

However, I have to say that I personally don't find death to be funny. Especially with the real war right now when terrible things ARE happening to people, I just don't want to see someone walking around with their hands blown off and another person disemboweling themselves after their guts are ripped open by a bayonet. That doesn't make me laugh.

The violence was too over the top and I wouldn't watch this again for that reason. But, if you like that sort of thing, then maybe you'll enjoy TROPIC THUNDER. Otherwise... maybe wait until the local cable stations release an edited version of it next year. Actually, now that I say it, that would be a great way to watch this movie! You get all the comedy without the sick humor. Yes... do that.

p.s. FYI: All the racial backlash is rubbish. The whole point of Downey's character is that he's a white man who's playing a black man-- AND they have a real black actor who gives him crap all the time about the fact that he IS a white man. It's part of the joke.

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS

2008-08-13T11:45:00.002-04:00

This movie is not for everyone. There are some pretty hilarious moments throughout, but it does get gratuitously gruesome when some of the drug-ring violence gets out of control. I would imagine it will become even more popular once it gets released on DVD and people start renting it as their go-to movie for "what-to-watch-when-we're-high".

Overall funnier than Step-Brothers, I thought, but still pretty hard to watch at times.
If you've never smoked pot, but wondered how it would feel PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is probably the closest you'll get to understanding what a trip is like. I left the theatre feeling buzzed. If you love this type of humor then you'll love this movie, if you're just looking for a good clean laugh this may not be the film for you.

SWING VOTE - review

2008-08-06T09:43:00.001-04:00

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I thought "typical Hollywood political movie with a liberal agenda." But I was proved wrong. The filmmakers stayed as neutral as I've ever seen and the other big surprise was that this really isn't a film about politics! It's about who you are when no one is looking. It's about family. And it's about being an American: how lucky we are-- even the least of us.

Kevin Costner turns in an endearing performance as a character of which we've seen one-too-many in this country. His daughter Molly (portrayed stunningly by young Madeline Carroll) is a passionate little girl who feels trapped by her lifestyle and is just looking to be loved.

This is not a film about politics. This is a story about a father and daughter. I left the theatre, proud to be an American where the PURSUIT of happiness is free and worth fighting for.

THE MUMMY: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008-08-01T13:48:00.001-04:00

I love the first Mummy. The second one was sufficiently entertaining and I would watch it again. The third one is... Ok, if you're considering it only in comparison to the other Mummy movies, it's the worst of the three, but still enjoyable.

Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh are the best things in the movie, for sure. And Michelle Yeoh's wardrobe is absolutely stunning. in fact, everyone's wardrobe is pretty great, so, kudos to the Costume Designer.

Maria Bello replaces Rachel Weisz as Evelyn and, though she does a good job, she doesn't have the same on-screen magic as Weisz.

All-in-all I'd say this is a great film to see if you've got kids with you (probably over age 9... there's a few disturbing images of things like flesh melting). Otherwise, you may be bored.

STEPBROTHERS - review

2008-07-31T22:55:00.001-04:00

Very funny for the first 45 minutes. Then it got a little old and the originally well-placed foul language became unfunny simply because I'd heard it too much by that point. When the plot finally starts picking up (the last 30 minutes) it gets better.

All in all, I walked out feeling like I had been in there for 3 hours. In fact, the length overrode the humor-- and it was pretty damn funny.

If you're waiting for something really good before you go to the movies, this isn't your movie. If you're bored and want to be entertained, you might as well see this.

THE DARK KNIGHT

2008-07-19T10:49:00.001-04:00

It's hard to know how to review this film, simply because it's been so highly anticipated that I want to respect the viewer who hasn't seen it.

It's good. It's really good. And it asks interesting questions of morality, justice and sacrifice. I was most delighted by Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, whose understated performances added exactly the grace and breath of calm that the film needed.

The role of Rachel Dawes couldn't have been more well-cast. Maggie Gyllenhaal is just lovely. Christian Bale is intense as usual, but he always adds so much to any performance that I wouldn't expect less of him here. And, of course, I must mention the enormously talented Heath Ledger whose performance is really wonderful, but extremely eerie to watch. Honestly, I couldn't get past the tragedy of his passing to completely enjoy his accomplishment here. I wish I had been able to, but I wasn't.

The film IS a little long, I think. A good point for a potty break would be when The Joker and the Commissioner are in a dark interrogation room together. Although it's hard to turn away when Ledger is on screen, there's about 3 minutes of "filler" dialogue here that you can skip if you need to run to the loo.

This is not comic-book Batman, this is a hero story for grown-ups. It's gritty and creepy and heavy. All-in-all I recommend this film for boys ages 12+, maybe a little older for girls, but that's up to you parents, I suppose... Look, if you wouldn't let your kids watch DEXTER, you may not want them to see this film just yet.

YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN - Review

2008-07-10T22:36:00.002-04:00

Posted on the behalf of Cinema Jane

WANTED - review

2008-07-10T19:05:00.001-04:00

I really do like movies, I swear! And I hate that I'm pretty much only giving negative reviews, but COME ON! Can someone put some decent material out there!?

Ok, so here's the deal with WANTED... James McAvoy is great-- best thing in the movie. Morgan Freeman is barely in it so he doesn't count. Angelina Jolie is beautiful but seemed to kinda phone this one in. I was hoping for her to put more thought into her character instead of relying on her looks. The action sequences were really cool, though, and the special effects and camera shots were interesting. Great job done by the director, too. It was more violent than I expected. I am not usually bothered by violence but this was really gratuitous.

Also, what I thought had the potential to be a really awesome and inspiring storyline turned out to be pretty hollow.

BOTTOM LINE: If you like to see lots of blood and action and don't really care about storyline than you'll probably love this. If story is pretty important to you, I wouldn't recommend it.

But please let me know if you DID see something redeeming about this story. I'd love to know :)

THE HAPPENING - review

2008-07-05T15:33:00.002-04:00

I'm a huge M. Night Shyamalan fan. HUGE. I was very excited to see this movie, and this is how I felt when it was over...

"ummm.... What?"

The first 30 minutes are spent watching person after person kill themselves and the rest of the movie is spent on menacing close-ups of the trees blowing in the wind and smatterings of misplaced humor. This movie (aside from it's glaringly obvious global-warming message) was completely random and without depth. Mark Wahlberg has one expression on his face the whole time and kind of talks like a sissy-boy throughout the movie. It was nice to see Zooey Deschanel play something besides a weirdo (delightful weirdo though she often may be) and I thought she carried her role off well despite the ridiculousness of the story. John Leguizamo had the most stand-out performance in the film and he made me want to go see more of his movies now, simply because he's in them.

This movie is... it's so ludicrous, I don't even know what to say. I guess I could see if he was going for a Hitchcock "The Birds" feel, but for some reason it just didn't come out that way. Mr. Shyamalan, if your reading, please stick to spiritually themes films instead of politically themed. Please.

What Happens in Vegas

2008-07-05T06:38:00.001-04:00

I really enjoyed this movie. Good romantic comedies are hard to find these days in the sea of mediocre material out there (27 Dresses, anyone?). And while this doesn't compare to the great classics like French Kiss or Pretty Woman, it does rise above the base humor of it's competitors. Diaz and Kutcher have a nice chemistry on screen, and the supporting cast is really funny. Aside from a few cheesy speeches that I could have done without there were lots of relatable story points on an emotional level and ultimately this left me feeling "warm and fuzzy." I would absolutely recommend this film to anyone looking for a delightful afternoon at the movies, and I will most certainly watch it again when it comes out on video.... I mean, dvd. :)

Prince Caspian

2008-06-27T08:34:00.001-04:00

When you go see Prince Caspian (and I say "when" because you must!), walk into the theater and try to set down your guard. Find that little kid in you that is aware of the intellectual, experienced adult side of you, but isn't ruled by it... and see this movie through those hopeful eyes. You will most certainly be entertained, and if you are a person of faith in any capacity I can't imagine you won't be deeply touched by this beautiful, creative, and incredibly well-crafted film. This is a perfect way to spend a slow afternoon-- just being swept away for 2 hours into the inspiring land of Narnia.

Also, Peter Dinklage is hilarious.

The Incredible Hulk

2008-06-27T07:47:00.001-04:00

I like action movies. A lot. I also like most superhero movies. I don't know, maybe it's because I'm a girl but I'm not really into monster movies... not "monster" as in huge, but as in actual green, slimy, dinosaur-y looking monsters-- who talk.

It's not like THE HULK was a bad movie. It was everything you'd want to see, I guess. It had all the right elements: love, suspense, chase scenes, special effects. It had all the right camera angles: the zoom in close on angry green eyes, the pan-up and pull-back on a roaring Hulk, the slow push-in on the Damsel in Distress as her hair blows in the... er... giant fan. Edward Norton and Liv Tyler were good, William Hurt, looking surprisingly more sophisticated than ever (and aging awesomely!), was also a great bad-guy. I'll totally give the producers credit for hiring actors that really know how to give depth to a character instead of getting the hottest young Hollywood cast they could find. That was cool.

Like I said, maybe it's because I'm not into monster movies that this film didn't make much of an impression on me. But for all those die-hard Hulk fans out there I would imagine it's exactly what you want to see, right? For everyone else... mmmmaybe go to Barnes and Noble instead and use your $10 and 2 hours to get a coffee and read something you actually ARE interested in.

P.S. If you happen to be leaving IRON MAN and a showing of THE HULK is ending soon after, I recommend popping in for the last 2 minutes... something really sweet happens that you don't need to have seen the rest of The Hulk to appreciate... but it will totally excite you... Did I say "totally" too much?

Get Smart

2008-06-27T07:46:00.001-04:00

I was really hoping this would have been funnier. Steve Carrell is amusing, but a little too over-the-top for my taste. Anne Hathaway was miscast here and too "floppy" for this character. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is pretty fun to watch and there's a cameo by Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld's Puddy) which was my favorite part of the movie. This would probably be better as a Friday night rental.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls

2008-06-27T07:43:00.002-04:00

Ok, look... I'm a huge fan of Indiana Jones so I was totally psyched about this movie and even though I had heard bad things, I went in with high hopes and determined to enjoy it... Alas... I think Spielberg and Lucas have officially lost their magic. It all mostly just felt forced to me and I couldn't help noticing that the lighting was really weird. It would be easy to pick apart but what would be the point?

If you are, like I was, determined to like this movie anyway, HERE'S THE GOOD STUFF... Cate Blanchett is gorgeous and awesome to look at. Shia LeBouf has some really great acting moments amidst his also great comic timing. It's fun too see Karen Allen again, too, and Harrison Ford is still charming and irreverent as usual.

Iron Man

2008-06-23T18:36:00.001-04:00

Best Superhero movie of the last 20 years. "Batman Begins" comes in a close second. Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is more Super-Genius than Superhero, which makes this more believable (and for me, therefore, more enjoyable) than the latter. Downey, Jr. is witty as always and his chemistry with Gwyneth Paltrow is palpable.

If you like action movies, you'll love this. If you don't... well, just go see it anyway.

P.S. stay till after the end credits for a rad surprise!

Sex and the City

2008-06-23T18:27:00.001-04:00

Eye candy with an entirely untrue message that women should base all their decisions upon their (ever fickle) emotions. Other main themes include "Marriage doesn't mean anything", "If you're unhappy for a season in your relationship or are ever attracted to other people, you should get out", and "brokenness doesn't require healing, just the ability to function in it the best you can." Overall, as a married woman myself, I felt this film portrayed relationships shallowly and is only contributing to the Doris Day complex that I, and so many other women, grew up with... you know, the one where you expect love to look like the old movies and then when it doesn't you just move on from one relationship to another in hopes of finding it instead of sticking with someone long enough to build the depth of intimacy that far surpasses anything some 2-hour movie could show... yeah, that one.

The fashion is fantastic, though.