Edge of Darkness

CRAVEN!

2/5 Stars

Love Mel Gibson, the film just didn't do it for me. Kind of boring and unoriginal. I didn't seem to care who his daughter was and what she did. When we found out, I was uninterested all over again. The action and some combat approaches were appealing, but other than that, it was pretty bland.

Acting: Great!

Writing: Not so great

Cinematography: Expected

Story Line: Not captivating

Skip it. There are better films out there.

Toy Story 3

Well, FAO my Swartz!

4/5 Stars

I mean, come on, it's Toy Story 3! They successfully made three great Toy Story films. Loved the first the most still, then this one, then the second one. This one was by far the most sad, but a great ending to such and epic film series. The characters were all there making us laugh like always. I think there could have been a better plot and probably better developed new characters. On the whole, it was enjoyable and will always have my vote.

Acting: Amazing, duh!

Writing: Didn't meet expectations

Cinematography: Enjoyable

Story Line: Not my favorite

See it!! Great for the whole fam!

Crazy Heart

I keep feeling obliged to apologize for being less than you probably imagined me to be.

3/5 Stars

The previews pretty much sum this film up quite well. There are no surprises of any kind. It is a very slow film, but you get a great glimpse into the real life is a struggling human. This film captures the essence of those final chances we get to bring something great to this world. It is inspiring and warm, but also real and desolate. Not my cup of tea.

Acting: Phenomenal

Writing: Good enough

Cinematography: Fitting, not striking.

Story Line: Typical

Skip it, unless you want to take a nice nap on a Sunday afternoon.

Green Street Hooligans

Yes... cheeky slag!

4/5 Stars

Kept thinking of this movie well after I watched it. Every man would love to get caught up in this kind of gang and camaraderie. The thrill of actually punching someone and standing up for your manhood is every boys dream. Elijah Wood gets that chance. This was an enjoyable, not always predictable film. The language is bad, but is also smart. I enjoyed its originality and visual appeal.

Acting: Excellent

Writing: Convincing

Cinematography: Real

Story Line: Ups and Downs

See it. For mature audiences only.

Boondock Saints II

Let's do some gratuitous violence.

1/5 Stars

Loved the first one and hated the second. Just not as well written or engaging as the first. I fell asleep a number of time. Nothing beats the original. Just some classic lines and well thought out story-line. Because of my fatigue, I am not suitable to aptly give a review, but I do know that it was mutually agreed upon in the room as a fail. The tag line above pretty much captures the entire movie.

Acting: Mostly good

Writing: Below par

Cinematography: Expected

Story-Line: Can't remember

Skip it.

The Invention of Lying

Ok, you're annoying me. You're voice is shrill. Goodbye.

1/5 Stars

Just frustrated me throughout. I mean, its a cool concept for a film. I just wish they would have taken a totally different angle. As this man discovers that he is the only one in the world that can lie, he begins making up this "man in the sky" that is supposed to symbolize God. He begins to tell all these true and untrue stories about who God is, while all along lying that "the man in the sky" exists. So basically, this film is portraying God as a myth that we are buying into and throwing comedy and A list actors on top to add some sort of credibility. Sad.

Acting: Good

Writing: Yeah, right

Story-line: Neat concept, terrible delivery

Cinematography: Under-par

Skip it.

The Crazies

Don't ask me why I can't leave my wife and I won't ask you why you can.

5/5 Stars

Great thriller! Great beginning scene. Of course it had it's cheesy moments, but it kept me on the edge most of the time. I loved the creepy effect and how they could scare you by not necessarily even jumping out at you. This thriller will keep you on your toes. It seemed pretty logical as well. Except I still hate how people travel into the unknown with the lights off...

Acting: Believable

Writing: Dramatic

Cinematography: Well meditated

Story Line: Similar to most, but well done

See it. I've seen it twice now! Looking for my third.

Zombieland

Someone's ear is in danger of having hair brushed over it...

3/5 Stars

This film sure does start off with a bang. Pretty gory, yet funny at the same time. I take that back, the entire film is this way. It also has terrible language. I don't even like zombie movies that are only meant to be gory and scary. YET, this film is actually funny and comes about it from a different angle. It is very entertaining to watch the camera work and the usage of CGI. I surprisingly enjoyed it. Some of it is so sick its great.

Acting: Good enough

Writing: Clever

Story-line: Nothing extraordinary

Cinematography: Selling point

Prob should skip it, but I kinda enjoyed it... in a sick way.

Adam

I can see that you're upset, but I don't know what to do.

4/5 Stars

This is your not so typical comedic love story. Very enjoyable and entertaining from a fresh perspective. The film is slow in parts, but great nonetheless. Loved the well thought out dialogue and unique comedic timing. The characters are not seen in everyday films.

Astronomers especially would appreciate this film from more than one perspective.

Acting: Spotless

Writing: Rich

Story-line: Moving

Cinematography: Slightly above avg

See it.

The Natural

The only thing I know about the dark is you can't see in it.

3/5 Stars

Robert Redford - Just the man

This is your classic story about a baseball hero that just never gave up. I enjoyed the look and feel of the film. It is great for it's day in age! The only thing was that it was a little slow and of course predictable. If you are a baseball fan, you can truly appreciate the film. My heart simply wasn't in it as much as it could have been.

Robert Redford did a heck of a job, of course. I loved the dialogue and they inventive cinematography. This film goes to show that if you are truly gifted at something and want it bad enough, you should never stop at attaining it. Its heart warming, yet dated.

Acting: Classic

Writing: Simple, yet intriguing

Cinematography: Inventive for its time

Story Line: Predictable

See it if you love baseball or Redford.

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.