Old School (2003)

Just as funny as people said it was. There's something that rarely happens. Same guy who made Road Trip, which I enjoyed, and you quickly recognize his brand of humor. Plus Will Ferrel is allowed to get as wild and crazy as he wants to. Great cast and plenty of funny moments. The DVD has a lot of extra features that are worth checking out too.

Rating: B

Bandits (2001)

This was a pretty good flick, even if I guessed the ending halfway
through. Cate looked great with red hair. Billy and Bruce, on the
other hand, looked foolish with their hair pieces. Pretty good as far as buddy, chit chat, bank robbery, crime spree movies go.

Rating: C

We Bought A Zoo (2011)

Unrealistic and bland. He forks over every penny he has for this zoo and then they call him a fraud? Motives and reactions didn’t make any sense. It was never really clear why his son was so dark and twisted. That doesn’t come from your mom dying. The time they spend moping on and on about his dead wife are agonizing. His daughter was the one bright spot. This would have been a much better film if they simply bought a zoo and skipped all the dead mom crap. The sad truth of it all is that the zoo should have been shut down from the very start. Most of the animals are living in terrible conditions and being abused.

Here’s a much better plot. Single dad moves with his normal son and daughter to the country to buy a zoo and start over. Comedy ensues with the city folk running a zoo. Wife is a divorced crack addict. Romance blossoms with Scarlett J and Elle F. Drama happens when the mom cleans herself up and returns to claim the kids. Eventually mom realizes family is better off where they are at. Zoo marriage. Run credits. No need for downer-city with the dead wife and obnoxious son. No old photo montages to illicit tears.

Rating: D

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Didn't care for the original--cared for this one even less. Is it too much to ask not to mix the pirate genre with sci-fi? I'd give my left leg in exchange for a wooden one for a decent R rated pirate movie with a real plot, sweet violence, and high production value. Go ahead. Name me one highly acclaimed pirate movie. You can't!

Rating: D

About Schmidt (2002)

I thought Jack Nicholson did a great job once again.... comparable to his performance in As Good As It Gets. Cute film that I'd say sometimes borders on dark comedy. And man was I jealous of their RV. I think that would be a blast to travel around the country in.

Rating: B-

Contraband (2012)

An average action thriller about smuggling and betrayal. Nothing to write home about.

Rating: C

The Claim (2000)

Solid cast; especially Wes Bentley and Sarah Polley. The story was a good one. The film is set in the old west, surrounding a mining town, the railroad, and gold. Everything looked authentic and well executed.

Rating: B-

Be Kind Rewind (2008)

I never quite know what to expect when seeing a Michel Gondry film. They can be outright bad or outstandingly good. Either way, you have no choice but to roll the dice and find out. Be Kind Rewind falls somewhere in the middle, like The Science Of Sleep. Creativity is splashed all over the screen, but not necessarily in a cohesive
manner. The concept is brilliant, and could have resulted in comedic gold if told differently. Perhaps this movie itself should be re-shot, like so many blank tapes found in Mr. Fletcher's video store.

Rating: C

Haywire (2011)

I heard poor reviews on this one, but I was thoroughly entertained. Perhaps it’s because a Steven Soderbergh stlye action movie is very different than the run-of-the-mill Hollywood actioner. Think Out of Sight with George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez. I was a bit frustrated with being in the dark so long, but eventually things came together.

Fight scenes are quite good, especially when it’s a woman doing the ass kicking. Her acting is much better than most fighters/wrestlers turned movie stars. Steven has an eye for talent.

Rating: C+

Sin City (2005)

Don't make the mistake of confusing this Robert Rodriguez film with his Spy Kids series. Your children will be in therapy for many years as a result. Sin City is an ultra-violent work of art. It's beautiful on the big screen. The tag team of Rodriguez, Frank Miller, and Tarantino did a magnificent job translating the graphic novel into a film. The characters are rich and colorful within a matter of minutes... whereas other movies can't seem to develop a character by the time the credits roll.

The violence was as creative as it was excessive. I saw things in this film that will be with me for a lifetime, and I'm ok with that. Like Kill Bill, much of the violence is so violent, that you can't help but laugh at the pure brutality of it--at least I couldn't help it. Mickey Rourke deserved at least an Oscar nomination for his role.

If you get a chance, check out the "Recut" version on Blu-Ray. It is reordered, extended, and packed with exceptional special features.I can't wait for Sin City 2 coming out in 2013. I'm nervously optimistic at the very idea, yet terrified it will somehow tarnish the original, like the two Matrix sequels did to their originator.

Rating: A+

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

This is a psychologically draining film. I must have screamed out like a girl 8-10 times. So much better than I thought it would be. Extremely creative writing and execution. I was tense the whole time. Buckle up.

Rating: B

The Grey (2011)

I enjoy a good man-versus-nature survival story as much as the next guy, but I expect a satisfying resolution and that at least one person make it out alive. Those are the rules. The Grey provided some thrills, and a lot of chills. That place looked miserably cold. I wasn’t happy with the pacing. Long-winded dramatic speeches followed by quick deaths. Rinse and repeat. Very one note. Points for realism, but I needed more story.

Rating: C

I Am Legend (2007)

A twist on the zombie genre, much in the same vein as 28 Days Later, but less edgy. I'm not the first to say it was cool seeing New York deserted; overrun with plants and wildlife. Rather than another zombie flick, though, I would have preferred a drama about a man, his dog, and how he dealt with being the last man on earth. Maybe it could turn into a love story when he happens upon the last woman on earth. I
realize this was adapted from a book and two previous films, but can't we get something original for a change?

Rating: C

Chicago (2002)

Oh the humanity!! Not only did I have to put up with one overproduced show-tune after another, I had to stare at that squinty-eyed Rene Zellicker for most of the movie. *vomit*

Crap plot, crap music, crap girl power, crap acting. I'd rather gouge out my eyes and ear drums then have to see or hear that steaming pile of dump ever again.

Rating: F