The Lovely Bones

...He doesn't understand how much a father could love his child

2/5 Stars

Marky Mark - Kudos

Most of this film looked like that picture above. I had no idea that it was going to be so spiritual. It was a mix of Gone Baby Gone and What Dreams May Come. This girl that was murdered is stuck between Heaven and Hell. I loved the visual effects, just unexpected. It was odd and confusing at first. The film goes back and forth from real life to spiritual world. I didn't particularly enjoy it. I would rather not waste time watching her debate on whether or not to go to Heaven or try and help her family. I wanted to get more into the suspense and depth of figuring out who the murder was.

The main reason it only received two stars from me is because it was weird. I'm sorry. The acting was great, the story was believable, the writing seemed to work. It did keep my attention and intrigue. Susan Sarandon's character fit her perfectly. I feel as though, actually I know that it is her real attitude in life. Good job, Susan.

Two things I took away: Listen to your dog and listen to your instincts.

Acting - All, but the boyfriend were great

Writing - Better than most

Cinematography - The highlight of the film

Story Line - Unique, dull

See it if you want. I won't again.

The Hangover

Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon.

3/5 Stars

Bradley Cooper - Stud

Ed Helms - Great comedic subtleties

Zach Galifianakis - My new favorite comedic actor

Justin Bartha - Decent

Wow... extremely funny, yet extremely vulgar. I cannot recommend this one. Has some great one liners, but way too much language and nudity. I gave it three stars because it was a well developed film. I thought it was going to be stupid humor thrown on tape. It was, but it also had more of a story than I would have guessed. It didn't just throw a stand up routine on the screen, it was actually a moving, engaging film.

Yes, its extremely unrealistic. Yes, its stupid. Yet, somehow it keeps you engaged as to what all unfolded during that one night in Vegas. I am so thankful my nights in vegas for my friend, Tim Kortman's, bachelor party wen nothing like that. Actually, some of those parts would have been kind of fun, such as watching Brant White get knocked out by Mike Tyson or Tim marrying a stripper. Anyway, I've said too much.

Acting - Where do they find these people

Writing - Better than expected, yet probably improv

Cinematography - Subtle

Story Line - Intriguing

Don't See it. Skip it.

Dan in Real Life

Put it on my tab.

5/5 Stars

Steve Carell - Genuine. I like this guy.

I simply will never get tired of this film. It's funny, heart warming, real, and has a great soundtrack! This is a feel good flick. It makes you wish you had a family like this, yet thankful you don't necessarily. The part that reminded me most of our family was the talent show routine. We do a talent show every year at Christmas where the unique and peculiar talents of our family are revealed each year. Its enjoyable.

This film has a well developed story, slightly unrealistic at parts. I love the witty banter and comedic timing. Some scenes are so tense, you are forced to just burst out laughing. Its the perfect rainy day movie. (Voice Over) Clean, fun, and enjoyable for the whole family!

Acting - Spot on

Writing - Well thought out and witty

Cinematography - Not brilliant, not necessary

Story Line - Well developed

See it. Really.

Date Night

Unexpectedly Funny

4/5 Stars

Steve Carell - Same witty banter

Tina Fey - Mastered comedy

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. There were some scenes that I could have done without, but over all it was very enjoyable. It actually kept my attention though the second half was unrealistic. I figured that all of the funny scenes would be thrown into the previews, but was proven wrong. I actually laughed out loud a number of times. Then just as your enjoying this comedy, it reals you into a partially dramatic scene. I loved that fact that it was not all fun and games.

The series of events that this couple suffers through during the film are extremely unrealistic, but oddly understandable. You are rooting for them the entire time. I love the chemistry between Carell and Fey.

The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is because it barely made 4 stars. It just simply did not have enough gusto and was too unrealistic for my taste.

See it.

Away We Go

Away I went

2/5 Stars

John Krasinski - Both funny names

Maya Rudolph - I like them together

Please fast forward through the first scene... This film just simply did not have enough going on for me. It was very relaxed and slow paced. the plot did not develop much. For some reason, I was wondering the entire time where they went away from and never found out.

I do like the reality of the story. It is a beautiful representation of many US families that feel as though they missed the mark somewhere along the way. It goes to show that not everything is and needs to be cookie cutter.

Honestly, I don't have a whole lot more to say about the film, considering I fell asleep. You might just want to skip this review and see it for your self... then again maybe not.

Acting: Good enough

Writing: Semi-cliche

Cinematography: Dull

Story Line: Not captivating

Skip it.

The Boys Are Back

I have plenty of people to do something with, I just have no one to do nothing with.

4/5 Stars

This is not the most uplifting film in the world, but it portrays the realities of many people walking in it. This man comes to grips with hardship in full swing while struggling to maintain life as he now knows it. Not everything goes the way he plans. Trial and error seems to be his method. The overall theme is simply to say "yes" more. Too often we say "no" without any reason at all. Saying "yes" is "actually quite difficult, really".

The beauty and audacity of this film caught my attention. It is set in Australia, a place I am now in love with. The characters and plot seem realistic and down to earth. They try to go outside the normal as much as possible. They try to love in other forms. They try to simply life, but also have the face the reality of the harshness of our society and need for making a living.

I left off one star because I thought it should have taken us up more than it did. Don't get me wrong, the weight of the situations made this film set apart and real, but it almost seemed to try too hard sometimes. At times, I felt as though they were playing the sappy music too much in order to get more tears out of you. But all and all I loved it.

Acting: Great across the board

Writing: Great one liners

Cinematography: Captivating

Story line: Real and deep

See it, but know that its not a comedy by any means.

Hurt Locker

Tagline Tells All

3/5 Stars

The film definitely was as real as could be. I felt as though we were watching actual footage sometimes. The acting was phenomenal and the dialogue was believable. The situations were tense and the visual effects were addicting. I kept being drawn into each scenario. The only thing that kept taking me out (only to be drawn in again) was the lack of story line. I was waiting for the moment they started giving some character development or plot. I kept wanting to know more about who the characters were and what story was trying to be told. That only came in small doses.

You see, this isn't your typical film. It simply shows you many sides of war without giving you a story about particular people. It takes your through scene after scene to explain different sides of how war can be addicting yet traumatizing. Putting it all on the line for the sake of what is good. So, if you go into this movie with that understanding, you will do just fine. I simply wanted more of a story and less random tense war episodes. I wanted it to take me places that a movie of this caliber has not yet taken people. It did not.

Acting: Phenomenal

Writing: Brilliant

Cinematography: Captivating at times

Story Line: Missing

If you are into war movies and just car to watch some tense war moments, see it.