The Green Hornet 3D

I do not know what made me watch this film; I did not know what I expected to see. I guess I wanted to see an action film...I wanted to see Bruce Lee again.

As I sat in my seat watching this film I felt like getting up and walking out. First, I think I am over Seth Rogen’s acting style and movies.  Second, I realized that I hated watching the Green Hornet television show. I only wanted to watch the parts with Bruce lee. That meant that I had to tolerate 94% of the show focusing on the other guy (the Hornet) just to see the remaining 6% which contained Bruce lee. All of which made the whole show, like the movie, a grand disappointment.

Recommendation: I don’t recommend that you see this movie in the theater. In fact, leave this movie on the shelf!

Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Christoph Waltz

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Just the nap I needed!  That’s right, I saw another installment of the Harry Potter franchise and it put me to sleep as usual.  I walked into the theater filled with excitement and 15 minutes later I blacked out.  (The first 15 minutes are usually engaging; I am drawn in by the technological spender that is Harry Potter.)  After my 40 minute nap, I awoke only to realize that I did not miss much at all!

Recommendation: Needless to say, I do not recommend watching this film or any Harry Potter film in the theater.  Do, however, take it home as your 1st DVD pick!

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson

Faster

At the risk of saying something inflammatory, Dwayne Johnson was a beast in this film. His character was a sociopath that exerted an animal/predatory like energy. (I sat in my seat wondering how Mr. Johnson was able to accomplish such a transformation.)

I wish I could say that this was an excellent film, but I cannot.  The other characters, with the exception of that played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, let me down!

Recommendation: I suggest that you forego seeing Faster in the theater.  Instead, take it home as your 2nd DVD pick.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Carla Gugino, Moon Bloodgood, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Note: Mr. Johnson was outstanding!!!!!!!!!

Kevin Hart: Seriously Funny

I am so glad that Kevin Hart was not another Richard Pryor/Eddie Murphy imitator. Although he does present a uniquely African American style of comedy, I did not feel as though I was watching another "ghetto" comedy. His comedic style was fresh; I laughed the entire time the DVD was on.

Recommendation: If you need a good laugh, make this film your 2nd DVD pick.

Skyline

This film was lousy. It started out OK, but it quickly went down hill once the film’s focus shifted away from the main characters Donald Faison and Eric Balfour.

It was a bit like War of the Worlds and Independence day; however, its ending was less than stellar.

Recommendation:  Do NOT watch this film in the theater. Instead, leave it on the shelf!

Starring: Donald Faison, Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson, Brittany Daniel, Crystal Reed, Neil Hopkins, David Zayas,  Robin Gammell

Morning Glory

Harrison Ford legitimized this film.  Without him, it would have appeared whimsical and aimless like the movie Legally Blonde.

Had this film not starred Mr. Ford, I would have recommended that you wait for it to appear on regular television.

Recommendation: I suggest that you take it home as your 2nd DVD pick and watch it from your sofa. After all, it is funny; it extols the virtues of hard work and perseverance…it pays off! 

Starring: Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum

Due Date

Yes, this was another “road trip” film.

However, there was something a little different about Due Date. This movie made me feel strange. That is, I wanted to walk out on the film a thousand times because it was very predictable . Yet, I could not stop watching it. There was always something funny happening. The film was hilarious!

Recommendation:  Due Date was funny, but it wasn’t worth watching in the theater. Instead, take it home as your 2nd DVD pick.

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Juliette Lewis

Life As We Know It

This film is a must see for parents, expectant parents, and people who just need a good laugh. Life As We Know It made me laugh and it made me cry as well. (I laughed whole lot more than I cried.)

Recommendation: Don’t waste any time, go see this movie in the theater today. Or, take it home as your 1st DVD pick.

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Christina Hendricks, Jean Smart

Red

I’m not sure if you should trust my review of the movie RED.  I was so excited about the movie because a nice amount of the film was shot on the Gulf Coast. The movie (appeared) to cover New Orleans, Mobile, and Pensacola. It was like Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Mary-Louise Parker shinned a huge light on an area many people only know for its disasters (i.e., Katrina and the BP Oil spill).  I felt revitalized! Plus, I had the most awesome movie partner ever!

Recommendation: If the movie trailer looks interesting to you, go see this movie in the theater today. If not, view it as a DVD while taking your trip to the Gulf Coast.

Legend of the Guardians:The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Legend of the Guardians was the worst movie ever! It was another one of those feel good films where the main character (an owl) believes in himself and overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds. This motivational tale is great for children and those needing a bit of inspiration. However, the film trounces on the virtues of patience and meticulous planning. (These admirable attributes were the handy tools of the owl’s adversary.) The audience was asked to believe that these virtues should give way to raw courage.

I was NOT buying into that story!!!!!

Recommendation: Take your children to see Legend of the Guardians in the theater.  If not, take it home as your 2nd DVD pick.

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Emily Barclay, Ryan Kwanten

The Town

Today I saw a movie…a real movie.  There were NO special effects. There were NO over-the-top action sequences.  There was a plot, pure acting, and realistic action scenes.

What I liked most about The Town was that it did not sentimentalize violence.  To the contrary, it showed the criminal lifestyle as one smart people seek to escape.

Recommendation: Go see this movie in the theater today. Otherwise, take it home as your 1st DVD pick.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively

Eat Pray Love

You ever wonder what happened to the girl that jumped from mattress to mattress with different guys? Well, she eventually takes a break from mattress surfing to learn the lessons she should have learned when she was in her late teens; now, we can watch it all play out on the big screen.

Note though, a large portion of this film appears to be a huge advertisement for the country of Italy. (I couldn’t tell if I was watching a movie or the  travel channel).

Recommendation: Eat Pray Love is not worth watching in the theater, but it is worth watching it at home. So, take it home as your 2nd DVD pick.

Starring: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup

Piranha

Warning!!! Do not go into the theater expecting to see a film with a solid plot. Go to the theater to have fun. Go to see gore. Go to see teens getting their limbs gnawed off by prehistoric piranha!

Recommendation: Take a batch of best mates to see this silly film in the theater. If you cannot make it to the theater, take it home as your 2nd DVD pick.

Starring: Angry, prehistoric fish and their victims.

Takers

Nice! The movie Takers began a little clunky, but it improved as it progressed. The first part of the film, it seemed, was dedicated to delivering on the promise of featuring T.I.

Some films trick patrons into theaters by showing big name artists in its movie trailers, but the artists are given small parts in the actual film. That was not the case with Takers. (There was no bait-and-switch.) T.I. was prominently featured in this film.  There was LOTS of action, but the death scenes were not glorified.  That being said...

Recommendation: Go see Takers in the theater today. If not, TAKE it home as your 2nd DVD pick.

Starring: Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Michael Ealy, Tip "T.I." Harris, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Matt Dillon,

The Expendables

We all know (or should know) that the big three – Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger – set the modern standard for action films.  And very few films, since the 80s, have come close to matching or exceeding those films in terms of intensity (i.e., explosions, shootings, and car chases). 

Today, one of the big three has come back and set a new standard!  Stallone and his gang did more shooting and killing than I’ve seen in a LONG time!  This movie was Mantastic!!!!!  The whole time I was in the theater, I kept hearing the automated voice from the movie Demolition Man (a Sylvester Stallone film) in my head …Murder, Death, Kill!!!

Needless to say, I am going to see this movie again.

Recommendation: I suggest that you go see this movie in the theater today.  If not, take it home as your 1st DVD pick.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture

The Kids Are All Right

I am not exactly sure what to say about this film.  It was a little odd.  That is, I couldn’t imagine Julianne Moore and Annette Bening kissing.  Yet, the film was funny and a little exciting at times.  I guess the moral of this story is that no matter what type of family you have, you must remain vigilant in protecting it.

Recommendation: Do not go see this movie in the theater.  Do, however, make it your 3rd DVD pick.

Starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson

Shottas

Just when I thought I couldn’t watch another “gangster” film, Shottas took me by surprise.  It takes place in a Caribbean environment and its use of subtitles made this gangster tale fresh.  It was educational. That is, I had no idea that Kingston, Jamaica was a hotbed of violence. This was an excellent movie.

Recommendation: Make it your 3rd DVD pick.

Starring: Ky-Mani Marley, Spragga Benz, Paul Campbell, Wyclef Jean, Louie Rankin, J.R. Silvera, Carlton Grant Jr., Tyson Beckford