Cradle Will Rock (1999)

Written and directed by Tim Robbins with an all star cast. Tells the story of the Federal Theater Movement during the Great Depression. Good acting and witty dialogue.

Rating: C

Saw III (2006)

Do two movies make a pattern? They did in this case. When the sequel failed to measure up to the original, I should have known the third installment would outright suck. It attempts to make up in gore what it lacks in plot and direction.

Rating: D-

Equilibrium (2002)

The Book "The Giver" meets the video game Half Life 2. Don't expect a highly plausable story, watch it instead of the ass kicking.

Rating: C

Equilibrium (2002)

I couldn’t buy into the premise of the movie—that a population would forgo all emotion in favor of peace. Additionally, I didn’t believe the emotionless performances of the actors. The bald men on the show Fringe did a better job than this futuristic population. Acting was laughable and the dialogue was embarrassing. Even Christian Bale came off as amateur hour in this one. As for the action, it was like the Three Stooges were trying to rip off The Matrix. A failure.

Rating: F

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