Review: Evan Almighty

Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) is newly elected to congress when he asks God (Morgan Freeman) to change the world and God responds by commanding him to build an ark.

Great comedy with lots of laughs, neat message. Wanda Sykes who plays his secretary has some wonderful one liners. A lot of critics have bashed it, it's a comedy people I am not looking for some life defining message from it. Geesh. I think even God would get a chuckle from it. He created humor.

My favorite parts of the movie:

Ark building scenes
Theater sign
Wanda Sykes
hidden jokes (i.e. Morgan Freeman wearing a name tag "AL Mighty

4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Knocked Up

Allison (Kathrine Heigl) and Ben (Seth Rogen) hook up for one night only to find out 8 weeks later that they're pregnant.

A hilariously written movie. The dialogue is fabulous. It's awkward and real sounding, plus the stuff they say is just so bizarrely funny. The movie does have a lot of nudity, language, and drug use, which I always find slightly jarring and think, "Did they really need all that?" But maybe I am just not a part of that culture. Besides one of the funniest scenes was when Ben and Pete (Paul Rudd), who is Allison's brother-in-law, are in Vegas and they take mushrooms. Paul Rudd is so freaking funny in that scene. Wonderful.


My favorite parts of the movie:

the dialogue
Mushroom scene
making fun of the bearded roommate
Allison's talks with her boss (Alan Tudyk, Go Firefly) and supervisor chick
Celebrity Cameo's

4 out of 5 stars.

Upcoming Movie: The Dark Knight (July 2008)

The Joker played by Heath Ledger is the villian of choice for Batman this time around; however, it looks like they're setting up already for the third movie, Aaron Eckhart is set to play Harvey Dent, the man who becomes Two Face.

Review: Ocean's Thirteen

Danny (George Clooney), Rusty (Brad Pitt), and the gang are all back (minus the girls) to seek revenge for Willy Bank (Al Pacino) cutting out Ruben (Elliot Gould) from his hotel.

This third installment is even better than the 2nd one, back on par with the first movie. It's back in Vegas. Andy Garcia is back as Terry Benedict and helping out our theives. Even, Bruiser, the guy who fake beats up Danny in the first movie is back. Lots of great humor, caper stunts, they even poke fun at Brad Pitt at the end a little. A couple other suprise people show up, but I won't ruin it. Wonderfully shot. Just a great film.

My favorite parts of the movie:

the scenes about Oprah
Danny and Rusty's side comments about their relationships
suprises
the poor hotel rater
what they do to Terry Benedict

5 out of 5 stars.

Trailer: Enchanted

This trailer is worth watching just to see "Cyclops" break into song at the end....

Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

All the gang's back to save Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from Davy Jones' (Bill Nighy's) Locker and fight Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) for control of the sea.

Brilliant third installment to the Pirates trilogy. The action and special effects are over the top and wonderful. The story is perhaps not as good as the first two but still excellent. There are some very bizarre moments with Jack in Davy Jones' locker that reappear throughout the movie and don't quite fit in. However, Elizabeth kicks butt as always, which is refreshing and wonderful. The two bumbling British officers from the very first movie and went missing in the second are back and brilliant. Plus, Keith Richards makes his appearance as Jack's dad. The love story...well...I won't comment so I won't ruin it. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the film with all its action, humor, love story, and its throwbacks to the first two. Top notch.

Also, if you stay until the very last credit rolls, there is a special scene at the end that is "perhaps" where the story might go if they make another movie. Who really knows what that means? But it's worth the "Ten Years" of waiting through the credits to watch.

My favorite parts of the movie:

Special Effects
What Elizabeth becomes
The two bumbling British officers
throwbacks to the first two films
Getting to see un-tentaclly Davy Jones
The scene at the very end

5 out of 5 stars.

Trailer: Becoming Jane

Trivia Tidbit: The music in this trailer is a mashup of music from Sense and Sensibility and Little Women. The gentleman lead, James McAvoy, plays Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Trailer: National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Review: Shrek the Third

Shrek (Mike Myers) finds himself next in line to the throne after King Herold (John Cleese) croaks. He sets off to find the next heir, Arthur (Justin Timberlake) while Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) throws a coup de tat and imprisons a pregnant Fiona (Cameron Diaz).

Fun, fun, fun. Ok, maybe the story wasn't quite as good as the first two, but this third installment was still hilarious. So many funny moments, don't worry I won't ruin it. Also, the visuals were great, steps ahead of the previous animation. I mean you could see the fibers of Shrek's shirt blowing in the wind. It was crazy!
Great movie for lots of laughs.

My favorite parts of the movie:

the attacking princesses
Shrek's nightmare
the great supporting characters, donkey, puss, gingie, the three pigs, Pinocchio, wolf, Merlin...
a second ugly stepsister was voiced by Regis Philbin

4 out of 5 stars.

Coming Soon: Transformers

I admit it. I played Transformers with my brother growing up. However, I didn't remember their names. Optimus Prime seems familiar, but that could just be with the movie coming. Autobot is apparently in the picture. I was a little skeptical of this movie, but I will try to give it the benefit of the doubt. It's a Michael Bay film, King of Blowing Stuff Up, which I tend to enjoy. I really liked his recent film The Island. Plus, I love the picture I posted. Giving props to the 80's, obviously to the Transformers, and, of course, My Little Pony. I totally had a pink My Little Pony, the only one I owned. Yet, Kyle had loads of transformers... darn, spoiled little brothers.

Review: Spiderman 3

Spiderman (Tobey Maguire) battles 3 villains, New Goblin (James Franco), Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church), and Venom (Topher Grace), and romances two women, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) and Gwen Stacey (Bryce Dallas Howard), in this third installment to the series.

Well, I think my summary says it all. There were A LOT of storylines in this movie and a lot of flashing back to the other two movies, that seemed unnecessary. However, it was still a very fun, enjoyable movie to watch. The special effects and action were great. I loved the characters and their development. There were some cringe-worthy sappy moments. (I am not sure about that whole dance sequence). Yet, lots of laughs, especially at the expense of the editor of the Daily Bugle, J Jonah Jameson (J K Simmons). (Another of my random connections: I actually know someone who's related to the actor J K Simmons). Well worth seeing if you're a fan of the first two.

There have been lots of rumors about a forth installment and while they wrapped things up, they certainly left room for another movie. However, if director Sam Raimi doesn't come back, I highly doubt that will happen with the current cast.

My favorite parts of the movie:

Character development
J Jonah Jameson
Villian's stories, especially Harry's
Everybody was back, I mean everyone, including Stan Lee (creator of Spiderman, cameos in #1 and #2) and Bruce Cambell (He was the wrestling announcer in #1 and the annoying ticket taker in #2)

4 out of 5 stars

Sneak Peek: Ratatouille (9 mins)

Upcoming Movie Connections

May 4: Spiderman, stars Topher Grace as Venom

who starred in That 70's Show with guest star Lindsey Lohan, who's in

May 11: Georgia Rule,

and also starred in The Holiday with Cameron Diaz, who's the voice of Princess Fiona in

May 18: Shrek the Third

and starred in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with Johnny Depp (as well as Spiderman himself, Tobey Maguire)who's Captain Jack Sparrow in

May 25: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Trailer: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

AWESOME!

Can you say "Age-Appropriate?"

Husband finally decides that maybe it would be ok to see 300. So, last night we went to the cheap theater in town to watch it. I am sad to say that I almost enjoy the cheap theater experience more that the regular theater, but that's just first impressions. Anyway, one family brought their 4 or 5 year old. I don't think I could do that. The movie is extremely bloody and scary and there's nudity. I mean you get to watch someone being decapitated in slow motion for crying out loud. What 5 year old would enjoy that? Talk about emotional scarring.

Trailer: Hot Fuzz

The more I read and hear about this, the more I want to see it. Crazy.

Review: Blades of Glory

Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) team up to compete in pairs figure skating after being banned from the men's division.

Ah, I was ready for a good laugh after my first week at my new job and this movie didn't disappoint. Will Ferrell movies are just so stupidly funny and I was really in the mood for that. Consequently, I loved it. The physical comedy, the one liners, all the cameos. There were at least six professional figure skaters that made a cameo: Scott Hamiton, Nancy Kerrigan, Peggy Fleming, Brian Boitano, Sasha Cohen...and I can't remember the other one.

Great fun if your in the mood for a good laugh and don't mind getting slightly grossed out.

My favorite parts of the movie:

cameos
the phone conversation between Jimmy and Katie
Snowflake and the arrow
their Coach was played by Coach, Craig T. Nelson

4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer: Ratatouille

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It's still four months away and I am already giddy with excitement. I read an early review from a screening in Chicago so I am prepared for what they left out. The only part of the book that I wish could have been in the movie is when they go to St. Mungo's Hospital. Oh, well, I guess Kenneth Branagh didn't want to reprise his role as Professor Lockhart. ;)

Review: Shooter

Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a former sniper framed for an assassination attempt on the President.

I survived this movie after spending 13.5 hours moving. Suffice it to say I was rather tired but went anyway because I drag my husband to all sorts of movies. The only good thing I have to say about it was that the explosions were cool. Danny Glover as a bad guy didn't work for me. I kept thinking about Angels in the Outfield. So, yeah, the explosions were cool.

My favorite things about the movie:

hmm, let me think, the explosions were cool
oh wait, I also liked the crazy gun expert

2 out of 5 stars.