Finding Nemo (2003)

Really enjoyed this family classic, as I have other Pixar films. They really go out of their way to entertain their adult audience as well as the kids.

Rating: B

Zombie Apocalypse (2011)

Did this really debut on the Syfy channel? Not bad if it did. A fairly competent zombie movie interspersed with occasional cartoony special effects. Acting wasn’t bad, except for Taryn Manning, who’s terrible in almost everything she does. The film gets bonus points for some creative new scenes and ideas that I haven’t seen in other zombie flicks. You’ll have to check it out to see.

Rating: C

The Sure Thing (1985)

The exact opposite of Say Anything, in that this movie was very poorly written, while Say Anything was witty and fun.

Rating: D

Paintball (2008)

Your basic people paying to watch others fight to the death movie, only with paintball players. Production value was low across the board, and it really showed. Plot didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Editing was extremely jumpy.

Rating: F+

Volver (2006)

Penelope Cruz is a delight in this film, as are all the Spanish actors. The slow pace allows each subtle layer of the script to unfold in due time. I loved the character of her mother and the surprises she brings to the story.

Rating: B

Ride The Divide (2010)

Straight forward documentary about the 2700 mile Continental Divide mountain bike race that begins in Alberta and ends at the Mexican border. As an endurance athlete, it’s fun to watch others suffer from the comfort of my couch.

Rating: C

Bad Santa (2003)

Not the dark comedy I was hoping for. Short of a couple good laughs, there wasn't anything else redeeming in the movie.

Rating: D

Fast Five (2011)

I’ll bet if I was 7 this would be the greatest movie of all time. But as an adult, I can’t help wondering how I’m supposed to root for a group of people who do a billion dollars worth of infrastructure damage to the city of Rio, killing I don’t know how many countless innocent bystanders, all while stealing a bunch of money.

The acting was fair to poor. The stunts are beyond ridiculous. It might as well be a superhero movie, because each of the main characters would have died 10 times over in real life. It makes The Italian Job look like a documentary. At the same time, it looked and sounded amazing on Blu-Ray. It’s getting harder to check my brain at the door, but I still enjoy a seeing a 100 million+ dollars sprayed across the screen for my entertainment.

Rating: C

Wishful Thinking (1999)

This was a little romantic comedy with Jon Stewart and Drew Barrymore. You probably haven't heard of it because it wasn't anything great. I think it went straight to video. Enjoyed parts of it, but never really bonded with any of the characters.

Rating: C-

Survival of the Dead (2009)

Sort of a sequel to Diary of the Dead, but much better. Competent plot and direction. I liked the dueling family clans on the island sub plot. A worthwhile zombie rental.

Rating: C

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

I think this was my third viewing, but it's been a long time. I enjoyed seeing Tim Burton's vision after viewing decades of his work. He was a master craftsman from the start. This was such an original movie when it came out, and it holds up well over time. Very funny, touching, and unique.

Rating: A-

Diary of the Dead (2007)

Very weak as far as zombie movies go. The plot was dumb and so were the characters. They went beyond the call of duty when it came to making asinine choices. There was no depth or feeling in the script. Just a bunch of nameless actors going through the motions.

Rating: D

The Pianist (2002)

A brutally honest film surrounding an accomplished Polish pianist during the invasion of Nazi Germany. Roman Polanski follows the novel very closely. It's not a light film, but it does contain a level of optimism throughout.

Adrian Brody is perfectly cast in the lead role. Attention to detail borders on fanatical. Polanski is the right director to handle such a difficult subject. He went to great lengths to create a real quality piece of art. The Pianist is in an elite category of its own.

Rating: A+

Red State (2011)

Kevin Smith is back! Or at least taking a reprieve from making shitty films. Most people won’t know they are even watching a Smith film until the credits roll. It’s a huge departure from his usual fare--from everything really. I had no idea what to expect, which made it even better.

Red State is several movies rolled up into one twisted ride. Performances are outstanding, especially from the preacher. Spooky stuff. My heart was racing, only to be interrupted by uncomfortable laughter brought about by an especially dark scene. Hope to see more like this from Kevin in the future.

Rating: B+

The Trip (2010)

Slow, tedious, and pointless. Anyone else in the backseat of the car on this road trip would have unceremoniously removed their brains from their head Pulp Fiction style.

You know that guy who never stops doing annoying impressions. The person everyone wants to hit in the face with a shovel? Boost his level of annoying to 11 and then multiply him by two. Now sit through 3 meals a day with them over the course of a week. That's "The Trip" in a nutshell.

Rating: F

Knockaround Guys (2002)

Great cast of non mobster actors in a mobster-like movie. Simple plot sets the stage for one severe beating, a tongue removal, a four-way shoot out, and lots of double crossings. I liked it.

Rating: C+

The Prestige (2006)

A well crafted film, but an ultimately implausible story. Acting was solid all around, but I couldn't get over the idea that a few magic tricks were worth all that.

Rating: C-

Mr. Mom (1983)

Not as good as I remember it being, but not as bad as most of the other movies from the 80’s I’ve watched for a second time. The kids are well cast. Keeton does his thing bumbling around the house like a fish out of water. It’s fun to see life through an 80’s lens. A few jokes even hold up over time.

Rating: C

Funny People (2009)

I really liked the first half to three fourths of this movie. I was seriously toying with giving out a rare "A" grade. It needed a stronger 3rd act, but still solid overall. I actually like Adam Sandler in almost every serious role he's been in—it's the comedies I hate. Spanglish. Liked it. Punch Drunk Love. LOVED IT. Here he's great too. I call it the Robin Williams Phenomenon. Terrific supporting cast, just like all Judd's movies.

Rating: B

Chop Shop (2007)

A somewhat aimless look into the life of a homeless kid who hustles and works harder than most middle aged men. Unfortunately, he also is a little thief, so it’s hard to commiserate with him. It’s really more of a depressing documentary than a movie.

Rating: C-

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

I'm still not sure I fully understood the plot, but in the end it didn't matter, as the banter between Robert & Val made up for it. Also, Robert's narration was a nice touch, as were the random bits thrown in that had little to do with the film. For his directorial debut, I thought Shane Black did a great job. I'd love to see more of him behind the camera.

Rating: B-

Red Dawn (1984)

Yet another childhood classic ruined by a second viewing as an adult. Standards were so low back then. Was this written and directed by a teenager? The script makes no sense and the acting is abysmal. Why the hell would any invading army attack a worthless town in the boonies? And how did they get all those tanks there? I’d love to see this movie redone with a competent screenwriter and cast who can act. Hope the remake is better.

Rating: D-

Spider-Man (2002)

This was an opening weekend kind of movie. Went with my dad, and we had a great time. Lots of good action, a little romance, cool f/x, and great sound. Unfortunately it follows the basic superhero plot and includes unrealistic feats, even for a superhero.

Rating: C+

Zombie Girl: The Movie (2009)

This was hard to watch at times because the focus of the film was a precocious 12 year old girl and her pushover mother. I generally keep my distance from both. I think it’s great for parents to support their children in fulfilling their dreams, but there should be limits. Is it healthy for a tween to boss her mother around because she’s dubbed herself the director? There’s a reason other 12 year olds aren’t making feature length movies—because kids are stupid and have a lot to learn. By jumping through hoops and not cutting in line, you can reach the same goals in a much healthier fashion.

The documentary itself was ok. It dragged a lot and felt only slightly less amateurish than what I imagine Emily’s movie looked like.

Rating: D+