Wednesday, December 30, 2009

TRICK 'R TREAT

(10 of 10)

I have been waiting on this film for over 2 years! The studio swept this under the rug because they didn't want to release it while it would compete with the latest "SAW" film around Halloween every year. Well, it was definitely worth the wait! This Horror Anthology is fresh and scary and is probably my favorite straight-to-video Horror Film this year! Anna Paquin and Dylan Baker are flawless in this! This was shot way before she starred in HBO's hit series "True Blood". I recommend this to every Horror fan. Whether you're the casual fan or the hardcore gore-hound, I'm almost certain that you won't walk out of this one disappointed!

AMUSEMENT

(10 of 10)

Three childhood girlfriends who have drifted apart over the years are re-united after a deadly secret from their past comes back to haunt them. This is a pretty fun and enjoyable film. It's got a great storyline with more than a few plot twists. It keeps you entertained from the high-paced beginning to the shocking conclusion. And it features a creepy clown! What more do you need?

The HILLS RUN RED

(9 of 10)

Here's a brutal little film about a young man who has spent a good portion of his free time trying to track down an infamous unreleased horror film that depicts people being murdered... for real! But as he and a group of his friends get closer to finding the actual film, they get much more than they bargained for! This one's blood-soaked and scary as hell. It's one of those films that tends to stay with you after the credits are done rolling. So get the popcorn ready, turn off the lights and get ready for a one-way ticket to terror!

CHILDREN OF THE CORN (2009)

(8 of 10)

Okay, put it out of your mind right now that this is a remake. Now, with that out of your mind, I have to say that this film stands it's own really well. The dynamics between this and the original are completely different. This film is a whole new experience. I expected to hate this with a passion. And to my surprise, I truly enjoyed it. It's creepy, atmospheric, semi-gory. (I.E. - There isn't alot of gore, but when there is, it's very profound). The children are creepy and violent as hell. Witness the wrath as a young couple fight like to survive the wrath of the CHILDREN OF THE CORN!

ALIENS IN THE ATTIC

(10 of 10)

This is quite entertaining and I'm sure the kids will love it. I know that I did! A group of kids have to protect their family from a gang of pint-sized space aliens who are hell-bent on taking over our planet! It's a whole lot of fun and I definitely recommend it. So, if you're in the mood for a quirky family comedy, I suggest you give this a try.

GLEE : Season 1 - Volume 1

(10 of 10)

I'm a GLEEK! I honestly can't get enough of this show. It's fresh, funny, and immensely entertaining. It's full of beautiful production numbers, teenage angst, and so much music that in just 13 episodes, there have been 2 soundtrack CD releases! It follows a Spanish teacher who tries to turn a rag-tag team of singers and dancers into champions. Every cliche type of teen is covered in this hit show. And it has one of the funniest "Villains" I've seen in a long time: The Cheerleader's female coach who will stop at nothing to put an end to Glee club. This 4-Disc DVD Set contains the first 13 episodes of the show's debut season. The show will return to finish up the season this Spring on the FOX Network. If you haven't seen an episode of this amazing show yet... then what are you waiting for?!

9

(7 of 10)

This was a very dark movie... it's themes were treacherous and I really wouldn't recommend it to children. It's odd and I still don't know what to think about it. Visually it's beautiful, story-wise it's quite strange. It follows these nine "creations" that a scientist has created and brought to life using the spark of his own life. They battle for survival as they are plagued by a giant robot-beast that has them dropping off like flies. I can't say I hated it, but it was way different than I expected.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

SAVE THE LAST DANCE 2

(6 1/2 of 10)

Well, I generally avoid a sequel to a smash-hit that has been completely re-cast, but I gave this one a shot. The story is completely different than it's predecessor... this follows Sara into Julliard, where she finds it hard adjusting to her now-hectic schedule. Her boyfriend from the first movie is gone entirely. They barely reference him in the beginning of the film. To me, I think SAVE THE LAST DANCE was a great stand-alone film. But if you must see this weak imitation, go for it...

Sunday, December 27, 2009

WERE THE WORLD MINE

(10 of 10)

I loved, loved, loved this movie. It's fun, fresh and very entertaining. I loved how the main character, Timothy turned the entire conservative town upside down. It's a great movie and I whole-heartedly recommend it!

NOAH'S ARC: JUMPING THE BROOM

(10 of 10)

This was worth the wait. I remember how furious I was when the show was over and how excited I was to hear that they were going to tie up the story with a theatrical motion picture. Unfortunately it didn't hit theaters where I live so I had to wait it out... and now It's finally on DVD. It truly was worth the wait and whether you're a fan of the show or never heard anything about it, I say rent it immediately. You won't be disappointed!

WILD COUNTRY

(7 1/2 of 10)

You know, it actually wasn't that bad. I do recommend watching it with subtitles though, the accents are pretty thick. I found myself re-watching some parts because I couldn't catch all the dialogue. It's got a couple good scares, but the characters are pretty unlikeable...

LAKEVIEW TERRACE

(6 1/2 of 10)

Racial Tensions rise when an inter-racial young couple move in next door to an insane cop. It's a twisted film that misses its mark. It felt generic to me and I really don't think it lives up to the hype. But if you don't go into it expecting much, you might still like it. It's got a great cast but I don't think the story had a big enough pay-off at the end.

THE LUCKY ONES

(10 of 10)

AMAZING! The dynamics between these seemingly un-connected individuals are fantastic. They all kind of fit together very well. Great Cast, Great Story, it's definitely worth the watch, Rent it!

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

(9 1/2 of 10)

Dakota Fanning is amazing as Lily. The cast is... perfect. The story is full of emotion and depth. The film takes you into the lives of these strong independent women who tell you their story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and you probably will too.

FINDING NORTH

(9 of 10)

I really liked the dynamics between the ultimate "Odd Couple" in this film. In the end, they both find what they're looking for.

NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST

(4 of 10)

I don't think it was that good. It was awkward for most of the film. It really didn't go anywhere. Michael Cera felt like the same annoying character he was in Juno. His friends and the drunken blonde girl were the only element that held my interest. There was absolutely NO Chemistry between the two leads and I think it hurt the film quite a bit. Well, that and the crappy storyline. I'm gonna have to recommend that you skip it. Unless you're 16 years old or a Juno fanatic and have to see every movie Michael Cera is in...

KEITH

(10 of 10)

NOT TO BE MISSED! It's a great love story that was perfectly casted. The chemistry between Elisabeth Harnois and Jesse McCartney is mesmerizing.

BABY CAKES

(10 of 10)

I love this film!!! I remember it from when I was a kid and haven't seen it in years. It really held up to the test of time because I like it just as much today as I did when I was a kid. You should definitely check it out!

Watch the first 10 Minutes of the film below:

THE MUDGE BOY

(10 of 10)

Deep and moving... it's a very powerful film. You genuinely feel for Duncan as he copes with the loss of his mother. Emile Hirsh is a phenomenal actor - and it shows in this breath-taking and heart-breaking film.

SUPER MARIO BROS

(8 1/2 of 10)

It was fun, goofy and entertaining. Full of laughs and action. I liked it! It wasn't what I expected, but it was, surprisingly enough, a good movie. John Leguizamo was hilarious as Luigi. If you haven't seen it and liked the game then you should definitely check this out!

JENNIFER'S BODY

(10 of 10)

Now here's a pretty fun Horror-Comedy. I haven't seen one of those in a while. Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox are great in this. After being possessed by a demon, Jennifer takes to eating high school boys to sustain the dark force that possesses her. Meanwhile, her best friend (Amanda Seyfried) has to ask herself how far she will let this go before she has to do the inevitable and put the demon (and her best friend) to rest for good! It's twisted, fast-paced and fun. Go rent it immediately!

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

(6 1/2 of 10)

I honestly don't get the hype. I mean it's very repetitive and slow-paced. I get what the filmmaker's were trying to do but I don't think they did it that well. But millions of people think otherwise. I'm not saying that I hated it, I simply don't get the hype. I went into this with extremely high expectations and I came out disappointed. I mean, I enjoyed The Blair Witch Project much more than this. But if you're an indie horror fan, you'll still be able to appreciate this film.

REDWOODS

(7 1/2 of 10)

Here's a story that brings up a very taboo topic: What happens when you find yourself in love with someone else after being with your partner for years? That's exactly the question that the main character in this film asks himself after his partner and son are away for a while. After they're gone he meets this handsome drifter who brings new life into his existence. Wherein he must choose between this amazing man or his partner and son. It's acted quite well and the cinematography is beautiful. It's a beautifully-filmed gay love story. And if this is your thing, I recommend it.

SAVE THE LAST DANCE

(8 of 10)

Julia Stiles shines in this contemporary classic that put her on Hollywood's watch list. It tells the story of how a young woman got her life back on track (after never fully recovering from the tragic passing of her mother) and the man that helped her do it. This romantic dramedy is worth the rental if you haven't seen it... or if you just forgot about this movie and are feeling nostalgic.

THE BLIND SIDE

(9 1/2 of 10)

Alright, I'm gonna say it... THIS IS THE FILM OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S CAREER! I am more than certain that this film will do for Sandra Bullock what 'ERIN BROCKOVICH' did for Julia Roberts. I suspect that this will make Sandra a strong contender in the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. So if you've been wanting to head out to the multiplex this holiday season and don't know what to see, this one's definitely worth your time and money...

Saturday, December 26, 2009

THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS

(8 1/2 of 10)

I Love Dolly Parton!!! She's got this amazing aura and Undeniable Charisma On-screen.
I went on a Dolly Parton fix a while back and it dawned on me that I hadn't ever seen this movie. So I gave it a shot. She somehow pulls off what could have been a trash cinema cult classic and instead turns it into a timeless masterpiece. Burt Reynolds is also hilarious in this classic film. If you haven't seen it, you should.

CARRIERS

(7 of 10)

I thought it was alright... certainly nothing to write home about though. The opening of the film was interesting enough, but the rest of it felt very generic. It didn't bring anything new to the We're-all-gonna-die-by-an-airborne-disease sub-genre. And when it felt like the story was gonna take a very interesting turn, it seemed to bail out as soon as it started to take off. I will say that the acting was very well done. Especially Piper Perabo. Either way, if you like this type of story and don't expect anything too interesting, it's still tolerable.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

STAN HELSING

(9 of 10)

This was an odd one. It felt like it tried to be "Scary Movie". I generally don't like spoof movies that much but I liked this one. I am a huge fan of Diora Baird. I loved her in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. They certainly got the casting right on this movie. The chemistry between the cast works well along side the many comedic moments in the film. I like the villains, but I think they could have gone farther with them. But don't get me wrong, this is still entertaining as hell and definitely worth viewing.

FOUR CHRISTMASES

(8 1/2 of 10)

I went into this one with pretty high expectations. And I came out of it pretty impressed. I mean, it didn't quite hit the bulls eye in my book but it got pretty close. I didn't care for the opening of the film at all but as it progressed, it got more and more entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Reese Witherspoon and Kristin Chenoweth. I still don't like Vince Vaughn. But he holds his own alright in this movie. I still find him and Reese to be an odd pairing, but if you ignore that and look at the many funny moments that pop up throughout the film, I think you'll enjoy it as well.

ALL ABOUT STEVE

(10 of 10)

Sandra Bullock has done it again. I loved her in The Proposal and I love her in this. She is the funniest that I've seen her be in her entire career. Here she plays Mary, an eccentric crossword-puzzle-designer who is dying to fit in. She would love nothing more than to be normal. When she is set up on a blind date with Steve, she falls head over heels. He on the other hand, doesn't. She spends the entire movie chasing after and searching for the one that got away. But instead, she finds more than what she expected to find. She finds herself... whereas I found myself head over heels for this movie! It's definitely one to check out next time you're searching for something to watch at your next movie night.

G-FORCE

(9 of 10)

What a cute movie! It reminds me alot of the CGI Versions of Garfield and Alvin and the Chipmunks. They both had this undeniable ability to entertain audiences of every age. This one is no exception. I watched this with my Grandparent's and they both loved it, as did I. It's fun, fresh, and action-packed. It's got some great musical ques as well. The characters are cute and the story is intriguing. It's a great family film and it really shouldn't be missed.

Monday, December 21, 2009

JULIE & JULIA

(10 of 10)

I haven't been this surprised by a film in over a year. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I seriously have had it on repeat all day. I simply can't get enough of it. I love how it shows the struggles of Julie and Julia in synchronicity. It's captivating as it shows both women work their asses of to achieve their goals. Even if what they find at the end of their journey isn't what they imagined at all. I've recommended this film to everyone I know, and now I'm recommending it to you. Go rent it!

WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE: THE MOVIE

(7 of 10)

I hate Selena Gomez. I'm just putting that out there. I also have never watched the TV Show that this is based off of. So, with that in mind, I didn't know what to expect from this movie. Well, who'd of thought I actually enjoyed it? Indeed I did enjoy it. It had some valuable life lessons burrowed into the central story about taking things in life for granted. And I think that's a very important topic to expose the pre-teens to at this day and age. Now, if I liked it, I think it's only fair that all my fellow Selena Gomez haters give it a shot if she's the only thing stopping you from watching it...

DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD (1991)

(8 OF 10)

I remember this film from when I was a kid and I loved it then. But with me not owning the DVD and feeling nostalgic, I Netflix'd it and watched it last night. In 1991 I would have given this film a 10, but to my surprise, it's just not as effective as it was back in 1991. But, with that being said I am still giving it an 8 for still having the ability to entertain me after all these years. Christina Applegate was wonderful in this film and the Babysitter would still be considered a bitch by today's standards, so clearly the filmmakers got something right...

PAGEANT

(10 of 10)


This behind-the-scenes Documentary of the 34th Miss Gay America Pageant is both fun and informative. It showcases the extraordinary world of Female Impersonation and brings the viewer backstage right along with the competitors as they all fight tooth and nail for the title. It's full of glamour, glitter, rhinestones, and talent! What more could you ask for in a Documentary titled, PAGEANT?!

TRANTASIA

(10 of 10)

While certainly not a film for everyone, I would still recommend this fascinating documentary to anyone with an open mind. I absolutely adore Mimi Marks, a showgirl at The Baton in Chicago. I've seen her in person and she is such a beautiful human being, inside and out. This documentary delves into the lives and struggles of a select group of talented and beautiful transsexuals who are all in Las Vegas to compete for the title of "The Most Beautiful Transsexual in the World". And in my opinion, the right girl definitely wins!